US5067713A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coded playing cards and apparatus for dealing a set of cards
Assignee: Technical Systems Corp
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Filing: 1990-03-29
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Granted: 1991-11-26
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Expires: 2010-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A deck of cards is coded by marking each card on its face with a bar code which is essentially invisible to the human eye, but can be read by a detector matched to the source of wavelength of the light used to irradiate each card as it is passed over the surface of a portable housing which houses the detector and the associated reading means. Appropriate hardware is also housed in the housing to process the coded information read. The software provided stores a number of predetermined "hands" which are to be dealt. It can also deal a random deal, more random than can be dealt by human shuffling of the deck. A method is provided to deal a preselected "deal" to a chosen number of players, typically four, the apparatus indicating to the human dealer to which location each card is to be dealt.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack A. Soules
- 👤 Bryan D. Carpenter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:43
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F1/00; A63F1/06; A63F1/14; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/0604; A63F2009/0609; A63F9/24; A63F2009/2401; A63F2009/2411; A63F2009/2419; A63F2009/242
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for manually dealing coded playing cards to each of plural locations so that a preselected set of cards will be dealt to each specific location, without contacting the sides of the cards, the apparatus comprising, a housing having a platform with a surface over which a plurality of coded cards are passed face down and read, one card at a time; reading means for electro-optically reading each said one card as it is moved past the reading means without using a guide means to orient the card; means for storing the number of predetermined "hands" or sets which are to be dealt as chosen; code-processing means for processing the code read from each card in a predetermined manner to execute a program which identifies each location to which each card is to be dealt; and, indicating means to indicate the location to which said each card read, is to be dealt.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for manually dealing coded playing cards to each of plural locations so that a preselected set of cards will be dealt to each specific location, without contacting the sides of the cards, the apparatus comprising, a housing having a platform with a surface over which a plurality of coded cards are passed face down and read, one card at a time; reading means for electro-optically reading each said one card as it is moved past the reading means without using a guide means to orient the card; means for storing the number of predetermined "hands" or sets which are to be dealt as chosen; code-processing means for processing the code read from each card in a predetermined manner to execute a program which identifies each location to which each card is to be dealt; and, indicating means to indicate the location to which said each card read, is to be dealt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electro-optical reading means is sensitive to actinic radiation in the wavelength range above about 7000 Angstroms (700 nm) but below about 2.2×10 5 Angstroms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said area of said deck is comparably similar in area to that of said playing card, said reading means is a light source and matching detector mounted within said housing and directed upwardly through a portion of said surface, said portion being permeable to the wavelength to which said detector and source are sensitive; and said apparatus is portable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said code-processing means permits a dealer to verify the location to which a card is designated, at any time during or after the deal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said code-processing means is a solid-state device with no moving parts, hence essentially free of risk of failure due to mechanical malfunctions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said actinic radiation is in the infrared wavelength, said reading means comprises an infrared light source and matching detector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said actinic radiation is in the ultraviolet wavelength, said reading means comprises an ultraviolet light source and matching detector selected from a visible light detector and an ultraviolet light detector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said actinic radiation is in the visible wavelength, said reading means comprises a visible light source and matching infrared detector.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for manually sorting while dealing a set of coded cards having an essentially invisible bar code printed on the face of each card without contacting the sides of the cards, comprising, manually sliding said cards, one at a time, face downwards, over the upper surface of a card reading means; reading each card electro-optically as it is moved past the reading means without using a guide means to orient the card; storing a number of predetermined "hands" or sets which are to be dealt as chosen; processing the code read from each card in a predetermined manner to execute a program which identifies each location to which each card is to be dealt; electronically indicating the location to which said each card read, is to be dealt; and, manually dealing each of the coded playing cards to each of plural locations indicated, so that a preselected set of cards will be dealt to each specific location.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for manually sorting while dealing a set of coded cards having an essentially invisible bar code printed on the face of each card without contacting the sides of the cards, comprising, manually sliding said cards, one at a time, face downwards, over the upper surface of a card reading means; reading each card electro-optically as it is moved past the reading means without using a guide means to orient the card; storing a number of predetermined "hands" or sets which are to be dealt as chosen; processing the code read from each card in a predetermined manner to execute a program which identifies each location to which each card is to be dealt; electronically indicating the location to which said each card read, is to be dealt; and, manually dealing each of the coded playing cards to each of plural locations indicated, so that a preselected set of cards will be dealt to each specific location.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-25 | 1995-05-27 | 1995-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-25 | 1999-05-27 | 1999-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-25 | 2003-05-27 | 2003-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |