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  System and method to handle playing cards, employing manual movable coverUSPTO Application #: 20070241497Title: System and method to handle playing cards, employing manual movable cover Abstract: A card shoe handling device includes a cover that is manually movable from a closed position to an opened position and a locking mechanism operable to selectively lock and unlock the cover in the closed position in response to a state of the playing card handling system. In the closed position the cover limits access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system and in the opened position the cover does not limit access to playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver from an exterior of the playing card handling system. (end of abstract)
Agent: Seed Intellectual Property Law Group, PLLC - Seattle, WA, US Inventors: Richard Soltys, Allen Fleckenstein USPTO Applicaton #: 20070241497 - Class: 273149 R (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070241497. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/791,398, filed Apr. 12, 2006. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]1. Field of the Invention [0003]This description generally relates to the field of table gaming, and more particularly to a playing card handling system to sort and/or shuffle or otherwise handle playing cards. [0004]2. Description of the Related Art [0005]There are numerous games played with playing cards. For example, blackjack, baccarat, various types of poker, LET IT RIDE.RTM., and/or UNO.RTM., to name a few. Games may be played with one or more standard decks of playing cards. A standard deck of playing cards typically comprises fifty-two playing cards, each playing card having a combination of a rank symbol and a suit symbol, selected from thirteen rank symbols (i.e., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A) and four suit symbols (i.e., , , .diamond-solid., and ). Some games may employ sets of playing cards including a fewer or a greater number of playing cards than those comprising a standard deck. Some games may include non-standard playing cards, for example playing cards with symbols other than the rank and suit symbols associated with a standard deck. [0006]In some instances playing card games involve wagering, where money and/or prizes may be won. In other instances playing card games are played without wagering, for fun or recreation. In either case, it is typically desirable to randomize the set of playing cards before dealing the playing cards to the participants (e.g., players and/or dealer). Randomizing is typically referred to as shuffling, which describes the act of riffling or interleaving the corners of two stacks of playing cards by hand. [0007]In other instances, it may be useful to arrange or otherwise sort playing cards into a defined order. For example, it may be desirable to form sorted packs or decks of playing cards after the playing cards are collected from one or more gaming tables in a casino. The packs or decks can then be checked for completeness, and reused, or sold. [0008]Numerous devices and systems have been developed for automatically randomizing or sorting playing cards. One approach attempts to mechanically replicate riffling or interleaving the corners of two stacks of playing cards. Such an approach is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,807,884; 5,261,667; 5,275,411; and 5,303,921. Another approach is to separate the playing cards into two distinct stacks and randomly move playing cards from each stack into a third stack. Such an approach is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,695,189; 6,068,258; 6,139,014; 6,325,373; and 6,568,678. Yet another approach is to place playing cards into random positions in a stack of playing cards carried by an elevator. Such an approach typically involves a gripper mechanism to support an upper portion of the stack, while the floor of the elevator is dropped to create a space into which the playing card is inserted. Such an approach is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,683,085; 5,944,310; 6,651,981; and 6,651,982. A further approach is to insert playing cards into selected compartments, either randomly or in a sorted order. Such an approach is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,149,154; 6,254,096; 6,267,248; 6,588,750; 6,588,751; 6,655,684; 6,659,460; 6,676,127; and 6,889,979. Still a further approach is to withdraw or eject playing cards in a random order from an array of playing card receptacles. Such an approach is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,382,024; 5,584,483; 5,676,372; 6,019,368; 6,299,167; and 6,698,756. [0009]Whether used for randomizing or sorting, card handling devices must deliver the randomized or sorted playing cards to the user (e.g., dealer). It will typically be desirable to present the playing cards in a highly aligned stack, in a manner that the playing cards are easily and quickly accessible by the user. This may be particularly desirable where the playing cards are delivered at a gaming table in a casino environment. Casinos highly value speed, which maintains customer interest, and which allows the maximum utilization of the casino facilities. Casinos also highly value security. Thus, casinos employ elaborate mechanisms and procedures to prevent players and/or casino personnel (e.g., dealers) from gaining a knowledge of a playing card value before the playing card is dealt. Consequently, devices and methods that facilitate the easy, quick and secure delivery of playing cards are desirable. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010]In one embodiment, a playing card handling system comprises: a playing card input receiver sized and positioned to receive a number of playing cards to be handled by the playing card handling system; a playing card output receiver sized and positioned to receive a number of playing cards handled by the playing card handling system; at least one playing card transport path between the playing card input receiver and the playing card output receiver, along which at least some of the playing cards pass from the playing card input receiver to the playing card output receiver; at least one intermediary playing card receiver positioned in the at least one playing card transport path between the playing card input receiver and the playing card output receiver; a cover manually movable from a closed position to an opened position, where in the closed position the cover limits access from an exterior of the playing card handling system to the playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver and in the opened position the cover does not limit access from the exterior of the playing card handling system to the playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver; and a locking mechanism operable to selectively lock and unlock the cover in the closed position in response to a state of the playing card handling system. [0011]In another embodiment, a playing card handling system comprises: a playing card input receiver positioned to receive a number of playing cards to be ordered by the playing card handling system; a playing card output receiver positioned to provide a number of playing cards ordered by the playing card handling system; ordering means for providing the playing cards received in the playing card input receiver to the playing card output receiver in an order different from an order of the playing cards in the playing card input receiver; a cover manually movable from a closed position to an opened position, where in the closed position the cover substantially limits access from an exterior of the playing card handling system to the playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver and in the opened position the cover does not substantially limit access from the exterior of the playing card handling system to the playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver; means for causing a delivery of at least some of the playing cards externally from the playing card handling system in response to at least one of a movement or a position of the cover; and locking means for selectively locking and unlocking the cover in the closed position in response to a state of the playing card handling system. [0012]In a further embodiment, a method of operating a playing card handling system comprises: receiving a number of playing cards to be handled by the playing card handling system at the playing card input receiver; providing at least some of the playing cards received at the playing card input receiver to the playing card output receiver in an order different from an order of the playing cards in the playing card input receiver; and selectively locking and unlocking a cover in a closed position in response to a state of the playing card handling system, where the cover is manually movable from the closed position to an opened position, and where in the closed position the cover substantially limits access from an exterior of the playing card handling system to the playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver and in the opened position the cover does not substantially limit access from the exterior of the playing card handling system to the playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013]In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are not intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings. [0014]FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a gaming environment having a playing card handling system in operation with a gaming table, according to one illustrated embodiment. [0015]FIG. 1B is a flowchart showing various states of the playing cards within the gaming environment of FIG. 1A. [0016]FIG. 2A is a front, top, right side, isometric view of a playing card handling system, according to one illustrated embodiment. [0017]FIG. 2B is a left, side, elevational view of the playing card handling system of FIG. 2A. [0018]FIG. 2C is a rear, top, right side, isometric view of the playing card handling system of FIG. 2A having a playing card output receiver in a lowered position. [0019]FIG. 2D is a rear, top, right side, isometric view of the playing card handling system of FIG. 2A having a slideably mounted cover in an open position and a playing card output receiver in a raised or card-delivery position. [0020]FIG. 2E is a rear, top, right side, isometric view of the playing card handling system of FIG. 2A having a pivotally mounted cover in an open position and a playing card output receiver in a raised or card-delivery position. Continue reading... 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