U.S. patent application number 12/502339 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-20 for shuffler for playing cards.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fairplay, Inc.. Invention is credited to Michael Kourgiantakis, Konstatinos Trichas, John Tsiambouris.
Application Number | 20110012303 12/502339 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43448828 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110012303 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kourgiantakis; Michael ; et
al. |
January 20, 2011 |
SHUFFLER FOR PLAYING CARDS
Abstract
A shuffler for playing cards provides a complete and random
shuffle. The shuffler includes a chute and means for biasing cards
toward a longitudinal wall in the chute. A preliminary urging means
is positioned adjacent the card receiving end of the chute for
urging the playing cards to travel to the distal end of the chute.
A cut restricter removeably extends into the chute to stop the
travel of a portion of the playing cards. There is a further means
for advancing the remaining cards towards the distal end of the
chute where they will come to rest along the longitudinal wall of
the chute. There is also provided means for returning the remaining
cards toward the card receiving end of the chute to intermingle
those cards with the stopped portion of the cards.
Inventors: |
Kourgiantakis; Michael;
(Richmond Hill, CA) ; Tsiambouris; John;
(Mississauga, CA) ; Trichas; Konstatinos; (North
York, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas & Karceski, P.C.
536 GRANITE AVENUE
RICHMOND
VA
23226
US
|
Assignee: |
Fairplay, Inc.
Richmond Hill
CA
|
Family ID: |
43448828 |
Appl. No.: |
12/502339 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/149R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 1/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/149.R |
International
Class: |
A63F 1/12 20060101
A63F001/12 |
Claims
1. A shuffler for playing cards comprising: a chute having a first
longitudinal wall and a second longitudinal wall, a card receiving
end, and a distal end; means for biasing the cards toward the first
longitudinal wall; a preliminary urging means, adjacent the card
receiving end of the chute, for urging the playing cards to travel
toward the distal end of the chute; a cut restrictor removably
extending into the chute to stop the travel of a portion of the
cards; a means for advancing the remaining cards toward the distal
end of the chute; and a means for returning the remaining cards
toward the card receiving end of the chute to intermingle with the
stopped portion of the cards.
2. The shuffler of claim 1, wherein the urging means, the means for
advancing and the means for returning are positioned below the
cards in supporting relation to edges of the cards.
3. The shuffler of claim 2, wherein the preliminary urging means
comprises a unidirectional roller for frictional rolling engagement
with the cards.
4. The shuffler of claim 2, wherein the means for advancing the
cards comprises a roller for frictional rolling engagement with the
cards.
5. The shuffler of claim 2, wherein the means for returning the
cards comprises a roller for frictional rolling engagement with the
cards.
6. The shuffler of claim 5, wherein the means for advancing the
cards and the means for returning the cards comprise a
bidirectional roller which is rotated in a first direction to
advance the cards and rotated in a second direction to return the
cards.
7. The shuffler of claim 1, wherein the cut restrictor is mounted
above the chute.
8. The shuffler of claim 7, wherein the cut restrictor is a flap
hingedly mounted to alternate between lowered position extending
into the chute to stop the travel of a portion of the cards and a
raised position clear of the chute.
9. The shuffler of claim 8, wherein the cut restrictor is mounted
to a guide supported from one of the longitudinal walls of the
chute.
10. The shuffler of claim 1, wherein the means for biasing the
cards toward the first longitudinal wall comprises a guide
positioned on the second longitudinal wall to direct the remaining
cards toward the first longitudinal wall.
11. The shuffler of claim 1, wherein the means for biasing the
cards toward the first longitudinal wall comprises the orientation
of the preliminary urging means at an angle transverse to the first
longitudinal wall.
12. The shuffler of claim 11, wherein the angle is less than
30.degree..
13. The shuffler of claim 12, wherein the angle is between
1.degree. and 10.degree..
14. The shuffler of claim 13, wherein the angle is between
2.degree. and 3.degree..
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a shuffler for
playing cards, and more particularly to a shuffler for providing a
complete and random shuffle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many card shufflers are known for shuffling packs of playing
cards. Many of the common shufflers employ a technique of
separating the cards into two stacks, each in a separate magazine,
and then simultaneously ejecting them into a receptacle at a
pre-determined rate. There is a possibility that if ejection of
cards occurs at a constant and pre-determined rate, that the order
of the shuffled cards might be predictable or determinable if the
positions of the cards in the deck are known before the shuffle. In
such instance it is not certain that a shuffle executed by such a
shuffler could be truly random, in that the exact placement of the
cards is subject purely to chance and cannot be predicted. Card
players traditionally look upon cutting the deck in the shuffling
process as a reliable way to ensure that cards have not been
sequentially placed in order to cause a predetermined shuffle and a
dishonest deal of the cards.
[0003] The technology in card shufflers is becoming increasingly
complex as improvements are made to ensure the integrity and
completeness of a shuffle. With such increasing complexity there
comes increasing manufacturing and development costs. The
increasing costs put the purchase of a shuffler beyond what a
recreational card player would consider reasonable. There is a need
for a reliable, random and inexpensive card shuffler. The shuffler
should also be capable of completing a thorough shuffle of the
cards quickly. In order avoid unduly delaying a card game, it is
desirable that a shuffling session to completely randomize the
cards ready for another round of play should take no longer than
about one minute.
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide card
shuffler that produces a random shuffle.
[0005] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
card shuffler that has a shuffling motion which is analogous to a
manual shuffle.
[0006] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a card shuffler which will complete multiple shuffle cycles to
result in a thorough shuffle.
[0007] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a card shuffler which will complete completely randomize the cards
in a very short time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] There is disclosed a shuffler for playing cards comprising a
chute having a first longitudinal wall and a second longitudinal
wall, a card receiving end and a distal end. A means is provided
for biasing the cards toward the first longitudinal wall in the
chute. A preliminary urging means is positioned adjacent the card
receiving end of the chute for urging the playing cards to travel
toward the distal end of the chute. A cut restrictor removably
extends into the chute to stop the travel of a portion of the
cards. A means for advancing the remaining cards toward the distal
end of the chute where they will come to rest along the first
longitudinal wall of the chute. A is provided means for returning
the remaining cards toward the card receiving end of the chute to
intermingle with the stopped portion of the cards.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card shuffler according to
the present invention holding a deck of cards.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a card shuffler of FIG. 1
shown from above, without a deck of cards, and having a portion of
a wall cut away.
[0011] FIG. 3. is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of
the shuffler of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4. is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line
4-4 of the shuffler of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a top view of the shuffler of FIG. 1 showing a
deck of cards shown at the receiving end of the chute.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a top view of the shuffler of FIG. 1 showing the
deck of cards split at the cut restrictor and the remaining
advanced toward the distal end of the chute.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a top view of the shuffler of FIG. 4 showing the
deck of cards split at the cut restrictor and the remaining cards
positioned at the distal end of the chute.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a top view of the shuffler of FIG. 4 showing the
deck of cards interleaving at the receiving end of the chute.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Referring now FIGS. 1-8 of the drawings a shuffler for
playing cards is shown generally by reference numeral 10. A chute
12 may be mounted on a base 22, which also provides a platform for
supporting an electric motor or motors, a gearing system, a
transmission, a power source, and a switch, all of which are
conventional.
[0018] The chute 12 has a first longitudinal wall 14, a second
longitudinal wall 16, a card receiving end 18 and a distal end 20.
The chute 12 is preferably slightly wider than the deck 15 of cards
which is to be shuffled. The width of the chute must be sufficient
to allow the cards to agitate and spread apart from one another to
permit cutting of the deck and interleaving of cards, but not so
wide as to allow single cards to slide laterally apart from the
deck, fall flat, or angle over so as to block the progress of
neighboring cards. The chute 12 should be about two and one half
standard card lengths long, in order to permit a portion of the
deck to cut completely away from the remaining deck and become
lined up end to end in register with the remainder of the deck.
Preferably the chute has a height which is somewhat greater than
the height of the cards when at rest on their side edges therein. A
loading notch 17 can be provided in the longitudinal walls 14, 16
to allow a user to reach into the chute 12 and grasp the deck 15 of
cards before and after shuffling. A colored masking card can also
be slid into the chute 12 along the loading notch 17 in order to
cover the bottom card in the shuffled deck to hide the bottom card
in the deck to prevent exposure upon removal of the shuffled deck
from the shuffler.
[0019] The present invention can be adapted to shuffle multiple
decks by providing multiple chutes side by side in series. It may
be possible to increase the width of the chute somewhat to
accommodate two decks, but there are limitations upon the
functional width of a single chute, as discussed above.
[0020] A deck of playing cards is shown by reference number 15. At
times during the shuffling process, the deck of cards 15 will be
shown split into a stopped portion of the deck 15A and a mobile
portion of the deck 15B.
[0021] The shuffler 10 has a preliminary urging means 24 adjacent
the card receiving end 18 of the chute 12. This preliminary urging
means 24 urges the deck 15 of cards to commence travelling toward
the distal end 20 of the chute 12. The preliminary urging means 24
may take many forms, including a roller, a rotating drum, rotating
shaft or spindle, a powered belt or conveyor which frictionally
engages the deck of cards and carries it along in the desired
direction. In any event, the preliminary urging means requires
sufficient surface area to frictionally engage and move the deck 15
of cards. The preliminary urging means may operate from above,
below or on either side of the deck 15, as routine variations of
the present invention. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS.
1-8, the preliminary urging means is a unidirectional rotating
roller that is positioned below the deck 15 in supporting relation
to edges of the cards for frictional rolling engagement with the
cards to move the cards in the direction of the distal end 20 of
the chute. The shuffler 10 could be adapted to permit the cards to
stand so that the shuffle is an end to end shuffle, but with the
cards standing vertically. A cut restrictor 26 is provided to
removably extend into the chute 12 to stop the travel of a portion
15A of the deck of the cards. The cut restrictor 26 can be oriented
to extend into the chute from either side, to project up from the
bottom of the chute 12, or to descend into the chute 12 from above.
The cut restrictor 26 could take the form of a guillotine, a pop-up
barricade, a spring-loaded divider etc.
[0022] The cut restrictor 26 could be electrically powered and
switched for timed operation with the other motorized elements of
the device. More than one cut restrictor could be used together in
order to effect multiple smaller cuts of the cards and permit
multiple smaller portions of cards to advance, while stopping
multiple smaller portions of cards.
[0023] The cut restrictor may also have a contact switch attached
to it so that when the rollers on are moving the cards in the
direction towards the receiving end; they would be pushing the cut
restrictors flap up so they can pass through underneath. As this
flap is being pushed up, it would activate a switch that would keep
the rollers spinning in that direction and then once the cards have
all made it past, the flap would then swing back down deactivating
the switch, which would change the direction of the rollers once
more to move the cards to the distal end.
[0024] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
cut restrictor, shown generally by reference 26, takes the form of
a hinged flap mounted from above the chute 12 to alternate between
a lowered position extending into the chute 12 to stop the travel
of a portion 15A and a raised position clear of the chute. The cut
restrictor 26 is mounted to a support arm 28 attached to at least
one of the longitudinal walls 14, 16. The support arm 28 may be
attached to both walls 14 and 16 to provide additional stability.
It has been found to be particularly preferable to construct the
cut restrictor 26 in a "T" shape having a hinged mounting above the
joint of the arms of the "T". Gravity will force first arm 32 of
the "T" to extend down into the chute 12, leaving the shorter arm
30 to rest below the underside of the support arm 28. When the deck
15 of cards is urged forward by the preliminary urging means 24 and
comes into contact with the first arm 32 it will hold fast against
the onslaught of playing cards, cutting the deck in to a stopped
portion 15A in physical contact with the cut restrictor 26, and a
mobile portion 15B which pass by beyond the extent of the cut
restrictor 26.
[0025] A means 34 is provided for advancing the remaining cards in
the deck 15B toward the distal end 20 of the chute 12. A means 36
also is provided for returning the remaining cards 15B to the card
receiving end 18 of the chute 12. As with the preliminary urging
means 24, the means for advancing 34 and the means for returning 36
could take many take forms, including a roller, a rotating drum,
rotating shaft or spindle, a powered belt or conveyor which
frictionally engages the deck of cards from any desired orientation
and carries it along in the desired direction.
[0026] In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the means for advancing 34 and the means for returning
36 are positioned below the deck 15 in supporting relation to edges
of the cards. It is preferred for both means 34 and 36 to comprise
rollers for frictional rolling engagement with the cards. Separate
unidirectional rollers could be used to fulfill each of the
advancing and returning functions. They could be independently
mounted, and operated systems whose control is synchronized to
engage and disengage from the cards at the appropriate time to
perform the advancing and returning functions. It is preferred;
however, for the means for advancing 34 and the means for returning
36 the deck of the cards to comprise bidirectional rollers rotated
in a first direction to advance the cards and rotated in a second
direction to return the cards. While it may be possible to use a
single bidirectional roller to complete the advancing and the
returning functions; it is preferred to use a plurality of
bidirectional rollers in series, so as to provide smoother and more
effective transportation of the deck 15B. The chute 12 may be
provided with a floor, through which the upper surfaces of the
rollers project. Alternatively, if the rollers are spaced
sufficiently close together to permit the cards to glide freely
above the rollers without binding, it is not necessary to have a
floor, per se, and instead the cards can simply be supported on the
rollers. Alternatively, partial sections of floor may be provided
between the rollers to bridge any gaps.
[0027] Although the advancing 34 and returning 36 rollers may rest
under a portion of the entire deck 15 of cards, movement of cards
resulting from the frictional engagement with the rollers will only
occur in respect of cards which have not been stopped by contact
with the cut restrictor 26. The effect of the contact between the
advancing means 34 and returning means 36 on the stopped portion
15A of the deck of cards causes the stopped portion 15A to be
agitated or "dance" in place.
[0028] There are provided means for biasing the deck 15 toward the
first longitudinal wall 14. The means for biasing could be provided
in several different ways, alone or in combination. Examples of
biasing means which could be employed in the present invention are
described briefly in the following paragraphs.
[0029] In a first example, the longitudinal walls 14, 16 of the
chute 12 could be oriented at an oblique angle. The effect of
angling the chute 12 would be to cause the cards to lean toward the
longitudinal wall 14, and as they move through the chute would
cause the cards to bias toward the longitudinal wall 14.
[0030] A second example of a means for biasing would be to orient
the chute 12 on its base 22 at a slight transverse downward slope
toward the first longitudinal wall 14 of the chute 12. Such a
downward slope could be providing a thickened area causing the base
of the shuffler to tilt on a slight downward slope toward the first
longitudinal wall 14. Alternatively, one or more adjustable feet
could be provided on the base 22 to provide an adjustable tilt,
capable of biasing the cards toward the first longitudinal wall
14.
[0031] A third example of means for biasing the cards could be
accomplished by positioning the urging means, the advancing means
and the returning means on a slight transverse downward slope
toward the first longitudinal wall 14. If the chute 12 has a floor
38, then the floor cold also be tilted on a slight transverse
downward slope toward the first longitudinal wall.
[0032] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
means for biasing the cards toward the first longitudinal wall 14
is provided the orientation of the preliminary urging means 24
toward the first longitudinal wall 14. The preliminary urging means
24 remains in the same vertical plane as the rollers which comprise
the advancing means and the returning means 34, 36. The preliminary
urging means 24 does not need a downward slope or tilt. Instead,
the preliminary urging means is oriented at an angle transverse to
the first longitudinal wall 14. The angle of orientation is
preferably less than 30.degree.. In most instances an orientation
of between 1.degree. and 10.degree. is sufficient to achieve the
desired biasing. It is most preferred that the angle of orientation
be 2.degree.-3.degree. degrees. The shuffler can be provided with
an mechanism for adjusting the angle of orientation, in order to
optimize the strength of the biasing force to operate with playing
cards of weights and sizes. The transverse orientation of the
preliminary urging means 24 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Each of the
rollers 34, 36, 37 and 24 are shown having a plurality of parallel
hatch marks suggesting the surface and orientation of the rollers.
It will be noted that the hatch marks on the roller which functions
as the preliminary urging means 24 are oriented transversely toward
the first longitudinal wall 14 to illustrate the transverse
orientation of the urging means 24. The angle of the hatch marks
shown in FIG. 2 is for illustrative purposes only, and is not
intended to be shown to scale. As the preliminary urging means 24
spins, in frictional engagement with the deck 15, it will bias the
deck toward the first longitudinal wall 14 as they move toward the
distal end of the chute. The impact of the biasing means is
applicable to the portion of the deck 15A which is stopped against
the cut restrictor and the mobile portion 15B of the deck as it
travel through the chute 12. This adjustment of the angle of tilt
will permit selective adjustment of the biasing force which urges
the cards toward the first longitudinal wall 14, thereby allowing
the shuffler to be adjusted for use with cards that may have
different weights and densities. The result of this biasing is that
the cards will rest against the first longitudinal wall 14 when the
entire deck 15 is at the receiving end 18 of the chute 12. When the
deck 15 is moved by the urging means 24, it will tend to move
forward along the first longitudinal wall 14. As the remaining
cards in the mobile portion of deck 15B move past the cut
restrictor 26 will also they will experience a further biasing
toward the first longitudinal wall 14 even as they are advanced
toward the distal end 20 of the chute 12. A guide 40 is positioned
on the second longitudinal wall 16 to direct the remaining cards
toward the first longitudinal wall. The guide 40 projects into the
chute 12. The cards in the mobile portion 15B of the deck will
contact the guide 40 and be further biased toward the first
longitudinal wall 14
[0033] Both the receiving end 18 and the distal end 20 of the chute
12 may be provided with bumpers 42. The bumpers 42 can be
constructed from any suitable sound and motion absorbing material.
Felt and rubber have been found to be suitable materials from which
to construct the bumpers. The bumpers serve cushion the motion of
the moving cards, enabling them to decelerate more gently, thereby
reducing wear and tear on the cards. The sound absorbing quality of
the bumpers 42 also acts to baffle the noise of the cards impacting
upon the ends of the chute 12.
[0034] The shuffler can be fitted with a removable cover that will
fit over the longitudinal walls of the chute. The cover will
restrain any cards which may kick up during the shuffling process
and dampen the overall sound of the shuffler in operation. If the
cover is made of opaque material, it will hide the motion of the
cards during the shuffle process. This will insure that users and
other card players cannot observe the positioning of any particular
card during the shuffle.
[0035] In use the shuffler functions to shuffle a deck of cards as
follows. The deck 15 of cards are placed into the shuffler 10,
adjacent the receiving end 18 of the chute 12 resting against the
first longitudinal wall 14 of the chute 12. The shuffler is
switched on, activating preliminary urging means, which by
frictional rolling engagement with the deck, cause the deck to move
toward the distal end 20 of the chute. When the deck 15 of cards is
urged forward by the preliminary urging means 24 and a portion of
the deck 15A comes into contact with the cut restrictor 26 and is
stopped in physical contact with the cut restrictor 26, and the
remaining cards in the mobile portion 15B of the deck pass by
beyond the extent of the cut restrictor 26.
[0036] The advancing means 34 is activated, being the rollers
rotating in a first direction, and, by frictional rolling
engagement advancing the cards remaining mobile portion 15B of the
deck toward the distal end 20 of the chute 12. The stopped portion
15A of the deck of cards remain blocked from forward motion by the
cut restrictor 26 and are agitated or "dance" in place. The mobile
portion 15B contact the guide 40 and are biased while in motion,
coming to rest against the bumper 42 at the distal end of the chute
12, resting against the first longitudinal wall 14.
[0037] The rotation of the rollers is then reversed providing the
returning means 36 which, by frictional rolling engagement with the
mobile portion 15B of the deck, brings same toward the receiving
end 18 of the chute 12. The cut restrictor is only capable of
swiveling in one direction. The mobile portion 15B of the deck
pushes against the flap 32 of the cut restrictor, swiveling it out
of the way and allowing the mobile portion 15B of the deck to pass
under the flap and travel to rejoin the stopped portion 15A of the
deck. The reversal in direction of the rollers to cause returning
means 36 also somewhat effects the stopped portion of the cards at
the receiving end of the chute so that they do not crowd the cut
restrictor 26. In essence, the stopped portion 15A of the cards are
in a state of equilibrium. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the cut
restrictor 26 is positioned ahead of the first roller 37 of the
rollers which serve as the advancing means 34 and returning means
36. The first roller 37, when it rotates as the returning means 36,
will counter the motion of the preliminary urging means 24
preventing the stopped portion 15A of the deck from moving towards
the cut restrictor 26. The counter motion also causes the cards to
agitate or "dance" at this point.
[0038] As the mobile portion 15B passes under the cut restrictor
26, the cards randomly interleave with the dancing cards of the
stopped portion 15A of the deck, and the full deck 15 is reunited
in the receiving end 18 of the chute 12, completing a shuffle
cycle. The entire cycle is repeated a desired number of times to
ensure complete randomized mixing of the cards.
[0039] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that
modifications of the shuffler of the present invention may be
adopted without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example the shuffler according to the present invention could
be modified to operate on manually, using hand cranks to turn the
various rollers to move and shuffle the cards. Changes may be made
in the combination and arrangement of the various parts and
elements, described herein without departing from the spirit and
scope of this invention. It will be apparent that the scope of the
present invention is limited only by the claims set out
hereinbelow.
* * * * *