1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a machine for singulating a card from among a set of cards in a game of chance, and more particularly to a wheel selectively spinnable about a central axis and randomly stopped for selecting one of a plurality of playing cards carried by the wheel.
2. Related Art
A game of chance is a game whose outcome is strongly influenced by some randomizing device, and upon which contestants may or may not wager money as they forecast an outcome. Common randomizing devices include dice, spinning tops, playing cards, roulette wheels, prize wheels, and numbered balls drawn from a container. Playing games of chance have been known throughout all of human history, and is considered to be a popular pastime by many. Players of games of chance are attracted to new and exciting methods of game play, as well as new and exciting randomizing devices. For this reason, the gaming industry is continuously developing new games, and new randomizing devices to maintain player interest and attract new players.
Games of chance that include money wagers are typically regulated by governing authorities. These governing authorities enforce laws and regulations that are enacted to curtail certain kinds of games, as well as certain kinds of randomizing devices. For example, in some jurisdictions the use of dice or roulette wheels to resolve a game outcome, i.e., as the randomizing device, have been curtailed while other randomizing devices such as playing cards are permitted. More frequently, playing cards enjoy a less restrictive use in games of chance played for money, whereas dice and roulette wheel randomizing devices are subject to greater restrictions.
Therefore, there is a desire within the gaming industry to develop new and interesting methods of game play and randomizing devices which utilize playing cards in unique and interesting ways.
A card shuffling machine is provided for singulating a card from among a set of cards in a game of chance. The shuffling machine comprises a stationary base for establishing a generally vertical central axis. A turntable is movably supported above the base for free rotation within a generally horizontal plane about the central axis. The turntable includes a defined plurality of trays. Each tray is equally circumferentially spaced apart from the other trays about the central axis. The turntable further includes a plurality of dividers. The plurality of dividers are equal in number to the defined plurality of trays, and spaced one from another in equal circumferentially spaced increments about the central axis. A detent is fixed relative to the base and operatively interacts with the dividers. The detent is effective to apply a pulsating resistance to the free rotation of the turntable and thereby progressively slow its rotation to a stopped condition relative to the base. A set of cards are provided, equal in number to the defined plurality of trays. Each card bears an indicia related to a decision for a game of chance. One card is removably disposed in each of the trays. By this machine, a random one of the cards is singulated from the set of cards by progressively slowing the freely rotating turntable to rest through the interference of the detent.
The subject invention thus provides a new and unique randomizing device for playing a game of chance, and more particularly to one which utilizes playing cards.
According to another aspect of this invention, a method is provided for playing a game of chance with the card shuffling machine as described above. The method comprises the steps of providing a bet selection region, making a forecast on the outcome of the game of chance by associating a marker on the bet selection region with at least one of many possible game outcomes. The turntable is accelerated to a maximum rotating speed and then allowed to freely rotate about the central axis. The turntable is progressively slowed and then stopped at a random angular position relative to the base. One of the cards is removed from its respective tray in response to the random angular position of the turntable relative to the base. A game decision is announced based on the indicia of the one card removed from its tray.
Thus, a game of chance played according to the subject invention provides a novel and exciting variation over methods of game play currently available. Furthermore, the subject method is adaptable to a variety of different games.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated when considered in connection with the following detailed description and appended drawings, wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a card shuffling machine for singulating a card from among a set of cards in a game of chance is generally shown at 10 in
The stage section 20 of the turntable 14 includes a plurality of trays 24. In the exemplary embodiment of this invention depicted in
The card 26 may be dimensionally similar to those used for playing card games like poker, blackjack and the like. Instead of the traditional rectangular configuration, the cards 26 may be shaped in other interesting or effective geometries. A set of cards 26 is equal in number to the defined plurality of trays 24. Thus, in keeping with the previously proposed example of thirty-eight trays 24, a set of cards would consist of thirty-eight distinct cards 26. Reference may be had to
The rim section 18 of the turntable 14 is provided with a plurality of dividers 28. The plurality of dividers 28 are equal in number to the defined plurality of trays 24. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment where thirty-eight trays 24 are provided, the number of dividers 28 is also thirty-eight. The dividers 28, like the trays 24, are also spaced one from another in equal circumferentially-spaced increments about the central axis A. Thus, if the trays 24 are spaced one from another 9.47°, the dividers 28 are likewise spaced one from another 9.47°. Accordingly, the space between each divider 28, on center line, occupies a sector equal to 9.47°, or whatever arcuate measure is achieved when the number 360 is divided by the number of dividers 28. Preferably, although by no means necessarily, the dividers 28 are oriented so as to perfectly bisect the angular sector between each adjacent tray 24. Said another way, a radial extending from each divider 28 to the central axis A is preferably, but not necessarily, offset from the center-line of each adjacent tray 24 by an angular measure equal to the total number of trays 24 divided by 720. In this manner, the space or gap between each divider 28 may be exclusively associated with one specific tray 24.
A detent 30 is fixed relative to the base 12 and operatively interacts with the dividers 28. The detent 30 functions to apply a pulsating resistance to the free rotation of the turntable 14 and thereby progressively slow the turntable to a stopped condition relative to the base 12. In the exemplary embodiment of this invention as depicted in the drawing Figures, the detent 30 comprises a resiliently flexible tongue supported in a retractable clamping holder 32 so that the tongue 30 can be withdrawn from the movement path of the dividers 28. In this example also, the dividers 28 comprise upstanding pegs which are fixed to the rim section 18 of the turntable 14 at exactly equally radially spaced measurements from the central axis A. Thus, as the turntable 14 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in
The clamping holder 32 is provided with clamping screws 34 used to tighten or loosen the clamping force upon the detent 30. Preferably, the clamping force is set so that an operator of the card shuffling machine 10 can manually withdraw the detent 30 out of the path of the rotating dividers 28, thereby allowing the turntable 14 to freewheel. When the detent 30 is returned to its position within the path of the moving dividers 28, the detent 30 is operative to frictionally encounter the dividers 28, with each frictional encounter retarding the spin of the turntable 14 until there are enough such encounters to stop the turntable 14. However, those with skill in the art will readily appreciate many alternative detent type mechanisms, both mechanical and electromagnetic, which may be employed to achieve substantially similar results from that of the preferred embodiment just described.
As alluded to previously, each card 26 bears an indicia related to a decision for a game of chance. Almost any of the known games of chance can be played using the card shuffling machine 10 of this invention, so long as the number of cards 26 and the number of their represented indicia result in a probability of decision which is equivalent to the traditionally played game. For example, it is possible to play a game of chance which conforms substantially to the traditional rules of roulette using cards 26 bearing indicia substantially as depicted in
In another example, the card shuffling machine 10 of this invention can be used to play a game according to the traditional rules of craps. The randomizing device used in the traditional game of craps consist of a pair of six-sided dice, each side of the dice bearing a dot representative of the whole numbers 1 to 6. Considering the pair of dice together, thirty-six possible combinations can be achieved by the two dice. Accordingly, as shown in
The card shuffling machine 10 must include some type of pointing device, which is fixed relative to the base 12, for indicating one of the plurality of trays 24 when the turntable 14 comes to rest. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the pointer is integral with the detent 30, in that the tray 24 residing between the dividers 28 on opposite sides of the detent 30, when the turntable 14 comes to rest, will determine which card 26 is to be singulated for the purpose of determining game outcome. Although, a separate and distinct pointer may be used, spaced from the detent 30, to indicate one of the plurality of trays 24 when the turntable 14 stops rotating.
Referring now to
In a variation of this technique, the indicia borne on each card 26 may include a machine-readable code such as, for example, a bar code. Instead of the video capture device, the machine may include a card reading device 42 as depicted in
Through use of the invention as described here in
The turntable 14 can be made conveniently separable from the base 12, so that a different turntable 14 having a different number of trays 24 can be substituted to play different games. Thus, the subject card shuffling machine 10 is readily adaptable from one game method to the next. Although not illustrated in
A method for playing a game of chance using the subject card shuffling machine 10 includes the steps of providing a bet selection region, and then making a forecast on the outcome of a game of chance by associating a marker on the bet selection region with at least one of the many possible game outcomes. As described above, when using the electronically posted version of this invention as illustrated in
The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.
This is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/468,299 filed Aug. 29, 2006, which claims the filing date benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/712,036 filed Aug. 29, 2005, and further claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/872,634 filed Dec. 4, 2006.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3841637 | Piazza et al. | Oct 1974 | A |
3936054 | Garcia | Feb 1976 | A |
5770533 | Franchi | Jun 1998 | A |
7165769 | Crenshaw et al. | Jan 2007 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20080073842 A1 | Mar 2008 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60872634 | Dec 2006 | US | |
60712036 | Aug 2005 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11468299 | Aug 2006 | US |
Child | 11947202 | US |