Playing card vault

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/941,488 filed Jun. 1, 2007.

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a playing card vault for use in casino environments.

Card shuffling machines are well-known in the art and have been used for decades to randomly and automatically arrange playing cards. Card shoes and discard trays or racks are also well-known in the art and have been used for decades to hold cards proximate a dealer so that the cards may be dealt to players and used cards may be stored out of the way, respectively. There are also card verifying machines which are used to verify decks of cards including the rank and suit of cards forming one or more decks.

Despite the numerous electronic devices now involved with card shuffling and dealing, there are times when cards are being needlessly handled by casino personnel. Such card handling opens up opportunity for collusion between dealers and players and inadvertent mishandling of the cards.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to utilize a card holding device or vault for maintaining cards at all critical times except during the dealing process. In addition, the card vault should be universal in its ability to attach to various of the currently available card handling devices.

Accordingly, a first embodiment of the present invention is a card vault comprising: four sides and a bottom defining a space adapted to receive a plurality of playing cards; an adjustable door configured to cover and expose an opening opposite the bottom; and one or more locking mechanisms adjacent to said defined space wherein said one or more locking mechanisms are configured to removably attach said card vault to at least one of the following: an automatic card shuffling machine; a card shoe; a card verifying machine; and a card discard rack. In another embodiment, the card vault includes an identification tag such as a RFID tag for tracking the location and movements of the card vault and contained cards at all times.

A card tracking system of the present invention comprises: a card vault adapted to attach to at least one of the following: an automatic card shuffling machine; a card shoe; a card verifying machine; and a card discard rack; and means for tracking a location of said card vault. Another card tracking system of the present invention comprises: a card vault adapted to attach to at least one of the following: an automatic card shuffling machine; a card shoe; a card verifying machine; and a card discard rack; and means for recording data associated with said card vault.

Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a card vault of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the card vault of the present invention attached to an automatic card shuffling machine;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the card vault of the present invention attached to a card shoe;

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of one embodiment of the card vault of the present invention attached to a card verifier;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the card vault of the present invention attached to a discard rack; and

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20090289414 - Dispenser for holding playing cards - Dispenser (18) to accommodate electronic cards (1). The electronic cards (1) have a layer on which a predetermined image is to be provided. The dispenser (18) has an opening (24) for allowing the electronic cards (1) to be removed from the dispenser (18). The dispenser also has an imaging unit ...


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Amusement devices: games

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