US5374061A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Card dispensing shoe having a counting device and method of using the same
Assignee: SHFL Enterteiment Inc
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Filing: 1992-12-24
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Granted: 1994-12-20
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Expires: 2012-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A system which uses a specially coded deck of cards indicating the value and suit of the card or a value related to the count of the card as well as whether the card belongs to a particular set of cards senses the code on the card and sends the detected signal to a processor. The processor determines a running count, a betting count, a true count or other information related to the profitability of a particular wager or particular action, such as an insurance bet as well as an indication of whether the card belongs to the particular set of cards assigned to the table. The counts are displayed centrally and/or remotely from the shoe which dispenses the cards. The electronics for the system may be internally included as part of the shoe or externally included as a separate unit in which the shoe is secured.
Inventors
- 👤 Jim Albrecht
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:55
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F1/00; A63F1/06; A63F1/14; A63F9/00; A63F9/24; A63F2009/2401; A63F2009/2411; A63F2009/2419; A63F2009/242
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for determining at least one count during dealing of a set of playing cards, comprising: means for holding said set of cards; means for sensing a mark on each of said plurality of cards as each of said cards is dealt, said mark indicative of a value of each card and further indicative of said card belonging to said set; means for incrementing said at least one count resulting in at least one accumulated count as each card is dealt; and means for displaying said at least one accumulated count.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for determining at least one count during dealing of a set of playing cards, comprising: means for holding said set of cards; means for sensing a mark on each of said plurality of cards as each of said cards is dealt, said mark indicative of a value of each card and further indicative of said card belonging to said set; means for incrementing said at least one count resulting in at least one accumulated count as each card is dealt; and means for displaying said at least one accumulated count.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mark is recorded optically and said means for sensing is an optical character reader.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said optically recorded mark is a bar code.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said optically recorded mark consists of existing card graphics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mark is encoded magnetically and said means for sensing is a magnetic scanner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means for signaling when one of said cards is sensed as not belonging to said set of cards.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for signaling generates an audible signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for signaling generates a visual signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for signaling is integral with said means for displaying.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one accumulated count includes a running count, a betting count, a true count or other indicator of relative distribution of dealt cards.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for displaying is remotely located from said means for holding.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for incrementing and said means for displaying are remotely located from said means for holding.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for determining at least one count continuously incremented during dealing of a set of cards, said apparatus comprising: means for sensing a code on each card of said set and generating a signal for each card indicative of said code; means for processing said signal to increment said at least one count relating to said cards which have been dealt resulting in at least one accumulated count indicative of relative distribution of said dealt cards; and means for displaying said at least one accumulated count.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for determining at least one count continuously incremented during dealing of a set of cards, said apparatus comprising: means for sensing a code on each card of said set and generating a signal for each card indicative of said code; means for processing said signal to increment said at least one count relating to said cards which have been dealt resulting in at least one accumulated count indicative of relative distribution of said dealt cards; and means for displaying said at least one accumulated count.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: means for signaling when a card is sensed not belonging to said set.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said card is optically recorded and said means for sensing is an optical character reader.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said optically recorded mark is a bar code.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said optically recorded mark consists of existing card graphics.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said code is magnetically recorded and said means for sensing is a magnetic scanner.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for signaling generates an audible signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for signaling generates a visual signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for displaying is remotely located from said means for sensing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for displaying and said means for processing are located remotely from said means for sensing.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for calculating at least one count or other indication of relative distribution relating to playing cards dealt from a set of coded playing cards during a game of blackjack, the method comprising the steps of: initializing said at least one count to establish an initial value for said at least one count; sensing a code on each of said playing cards, said code indicative of a value of said card and whether said card belongs to said set; generating a signal indicative of said sensed code; processing said signal to increment said at least one count and providing an accumulated count for each of said at least one counts; and displaying each of said accumulated counts.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for calculating at least one count or other indication of relative distribution relating to playing cards dealt from a set of coded playing cards during a game of blackjack, the method comprising the steps of: initializing said at least one count to establish an initial value for said at least one count; sensing a code on each of said playing cards, said code indicative of a value of said card and whether said card belongs to said set; generating a signal indicative of said sensed code; processing said signal to increment said at least one count and providing an accumulated count for each of said at least one counts; and displaying each of said accumulated counts.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of: activating a signal when said sensed code indicates a card does not belong to said set.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said code is optically recorded.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said code is magnetically recorded.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said optically recorded code is a bar code.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said displaying is performed remotely from said sensing.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said processing and said displaying are performed remotely from said sensing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of: removably holding said set of cards such that said sensing may be performed as each card of said set is being dispensed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-19 | 1998-06-20 | 1998-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-19 | 2002-06-20 | 2002-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-19 | 2006-06-20 | 2006-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |