WO1991008030A1 - Card reader for blackjack table - Google Patents

Card reader for blackjack table Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1991008030A1
WO1991008030A1 PCT/US1990/006943 US9006943W WO9108030A1 WO 1991008030 A1 WO1991008030 A1 WO 1991008030A1 US 9006943 W US9006943 W US 9006943W WO 9108030 A1 WO9108030 A1 WO 9108030A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
card
playing card
blackjack
specialized
reading
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1990/006943
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Arthur C. Miller
Original Assignee
Tech Art, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tech Art, Inc. filed Critical Tech Art, Inc.
Priority to EP91901108A priority Critical patent/EP0456807B1/en
Priority to MC90@@D priority patent/MC2174A1/en
Publication of WO1991008030A1 publication Critical patent/WO1991008030A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63FCARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F1/00Card games
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63FCARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F1/00Card games
    • A63F1/06Card games appurtenances
    • A63F1/18Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63FCARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F1/00Card games
    • A63F1/06Card games appurtenances
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63FCARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F1/00Card games
    • A63F1/06Card games appurtenances
    • A63F1/067Tables or similar supporting structures
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63FCARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F3/00Board games; Raffle games
    • A63F3/00003Types of board games
    • A63F3/00157Casino or betting games
    • A63F2003/00164Casino tables
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63FCARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F9/00Games not otherwise provided for
    • A63F9/06Patience; Other games for self-amusement
    • A63F9/0613Puzzles or games based on the use of optical filters or elements, e.g. coloured filters, polaroid filters, transparent sheets with opaque parts
    • A63F2009/0623Puzzles or games based on the use of optical filters or elements, e.g. coloured filters, polaroid filters, transparent sheets with opaque parts with mirrors
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63FCARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F9/00Games not otherwise provided for
    • A63F9/24Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for
    • A63F2009/2401Detail of input, input devices
    • A63F2009/2411Input form cards, tapes, discs
    • A63F2009/2419Optical
    • A63F2009/2425Scanners, e.g. for scanning regular characters
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63FCARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F9/00Games not otherwise provided for
    • A63F9/24Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for
    • A63F2009/2401Detail of input, input devices
    • A63F2009/2436Characteristics of the input
    • A63F2009/2442Sensors or detectors
    • A63F2009/2444Light detector
    • A63F2009/2445Light detector detecting reflected light

Definitions

  • the instant invention relates to an
  • apparatus for reading a playing card and more particularly relates to a device for reading a corner of a playing card whilst the playing card is face-down on a blackjack table.
  • the dealer has twenty-one and automatically wins. If the value of the down card held by the dealer could have been ascertained without breaching the necessary level of security at the table, the time
  • the instant invention intended to cure the above' mentioned shortcomings in the art, is comprised of a card reading means associated with a housing therefore, a light source associated therewith, means for energizing said light source
  • additional indicia is disposed on only the Ace cards in the upper right and lower left hand corners.
  • the card reader means is adapted to receive only the upper right hand or lower left hand corner of the dealer's down card so as to
  • Switch means may be
  • the card reader means is generally comprised of a receiving means to receive a corner of said card being read connected to said platform
  • surface means said surface means defining an aperture, part of said aperture being disposed generally vertically below said receiving means, wherein when said corner of said down card is inserted within said receiving means, at least a
  • portion of said corner of said down card overlays said aperture, said aperture being disposed generally vertically above a mirrored surface angled so that the image of the corner of said down card is viewable through the portion of said
  • the surface means is connected coplanarly to the blackjack playing table.
  • a further aspect of the invention lies in the method for increasing the speed of play of
  • the game of blackjack in a fair and secure manner comprising the steps of dealing a hand of blackjack to a plurality of players, including the dealer, ascertaining whether the dealer's down card is an Ace, and if said down card is an Ace
  • indicia from a portion of the playing card in a game of blackjack.
  • Fig. 1 shows a perspective exploded view
  • Fig. 2 shows the invention being used to read a faced down playing card on a typical blackjack table. 5.
  • Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the instant invention mounted to a blackjack table.
  • Fig. 4 shows a top plane view of the invention.
  • Fig. 5 shows a partial cut-away view of 10. an alternative embodiment of the instant invention.
  • Fig. 1 shows the card reader of the instant invention
  • Housing 12 is comprised generally of a hollow rectangular portion integrally connected to a horizontal upper planar portion, said horizontal upper planar
  • portion adapted to receive a card reading means 20.
  • the card in the preferred embodiment, the card
  • reading means is comprised of an upper horizontal platform member 22 connected to a lower horizontal platform member 24 in co-planar association.
  • the platform member 22 form a
  • the card reader 10 disclosed herein is intended to fit in generally coplanar arrangement with the covering material 32 of conventional blackjack table 30.
  • An opaque hood means 42 is preferably connected to the upper platform member 22 at a point whereby said hood
  • viewing means 50 Disposed within aperture 40 may be a 5.
  • viewing means 50 which must be a transparent material if used.
  • viewing means 50 is comprised of a first, angled segment and a second, horizontal segment 51. Angling the first segment 10. of viewing means 50 results in reduced glare off of the outwardly facing surface thereof, enhancing the dealers' readability of the reflected image of the corner of the playing card being viewed.
  • a 15. reflective surface 54 is disposed within the body of card reading means 20 and supported in position such that when a corner of the playing card 15 is inserted under cover 42 and thereby over aperture means 40, any indicia thereon same will be 20. reflected off of reflective surface 54 and through viewing means 50, allowing the dealer to determine whether or not the playing card is either an Ace or other than an Ace, as shown in Fig. 2.
  • the typical deck of cards used in the game of blackjack is modified by placing
  • light means may be provided in the fo m of a power
  • the housing means 12 is preferably
  • a removable panel member 66 to allow access to the interior of the card reading means for replacement of the bulb or for any other reason. Said removable panel member 66 may be secured to either housing means 12 or card reading
  • means 20 by any convenient means such as screws 68.
  • the device is used as follows: After the initial deal of a hand of blackjack, the dealer has one face-up card and one face- own card. If
  • his face-up card has a value of 10, it is desirous to ascertain the value of the dealers' down card. If the dealer's down card is an Ace, the hand can
  • Fig. 6 having been substituted into the deck or decks being used, the corner of the down card of the dealer is inserted under cover means 42, thereby moving toggle means 44 from the off to the on position, illuminating light 62, and enabling
  • Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment
  • viewing means 50 is comprised of a piece of transparent material disposed generally horizontally across aperture means 40, coplanar with upper platform 22.

Abstract

A card reader for a blackjack table comprised of a card reading means (20) and a housing (12) therefore, said housing attachable to the blackjack table. The card reading means (20) has associated therewith a light source, a means for energizing said light source (60), and a platform means (22) coplanar with said blackjack table defining an aperture (40) for reading a portion of a face-down playing card. Said aperture (40) is covered partially by a cover means (42) to minimize the opportunity of blackjack players other than the dealer to view the portion of the card being inspected. A reflective surface (54) is disposed generally below said aperture means (40) to reflect the portion of the face-down cad being read through the non-covered portion of the aperture to reveal to the dealer any indicia on the portion of the face down card being read. There is also disclosed herein a method for increasing the speed of play in an organized game of blackjack.

Description

CARD READER FOR BLACKJACK TABLE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates to an
5. apparatus for reading a playing card and more particularly relates to a device for reading a corner of a playing card whilst the playing card is face-down on a blackjack table.
Prior Art
10. The business of a modern gambling casino requires careful attention to efficiency and accuracy to enhance the fairness of play and the profitability of the various pits. Not only is the speed of play deemed critical by the individual
15. casinos, but most players prefer, and in fact demand, a rapid pace of play. Further, the element of fairness is of utmost importance to both casino owner and player alike.
In the game of blackjack, a time
20. consuming delay arises when the dealer's up card, that is, his exposed card, has a value of ten, and his down card is an Ace. In this case the dealer will play out the hand with the players at the table. After dealing to the last player, the
25. dealer will expose his down card. If his down card is an Ace and his face-up card has a value of ten.
the dealer has twenty-one and automatically wins. If the value of the down card held by the dealer could have been ascertained without breaching the necessary level of security at the table, the time
5. consumed in dealing out to the remaining players after the dealer had earlier obtained twenty-one could have" been avoided and a new hand commenced. Throughout the course of play, the unnecessary delays resulting from this occurence accumulate to
10. a substantial amount of time. This delay can be avoided if it can be determined when the dealer is dealt twenty-one.
Of course, if the dealer were to look at his down card after being dealt two cards he would
15. know whether or not he had twenty-one. However, casinos now forbid dealers to look at their down cards during a game of 21 for security reasons. That is, the exposure of any card not intended to be seen by anyone but the dealer imposes a risk to
20. the security of the hand. Further, a dealer, if so inclined, can easily cheat by looking at his down card and providing a serruptitious signal to a cohort player.
When weighed in light of the foregoing
25. discussion on the desirability of ascertaining the dealer's down card when his up card has the value of ten, some means are required to speed up play in a manner that is both fair to the players and
of low risk to the casino. The inventors are not aware of any devices currently available which address the aforementioned problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
5. The instant invention, intended to cure the above' mentioned shortcomings in the art, is comprised of a card reading means associated with a housing therefore, a light source associated therewith, means for energizing said light source
10. associated with said card reading means and a surface means for placing a playing card thereon to read the playing card using said card reading means. The apparatus is used in conjunction with a deck of cards wherein the Aces therein have a
15. marking at all four corners thereof, unlike a typical playing card wherein the indicia (eg. 5, 7, Q, A) are disposed in only the upper left hand and lower right hand corners. In the speciality deck contemplated with the instant invention,
20. additional indicia is disposed on only the Ace cards in the upper right and lower left hand corners. The card reader means is adapted to receive only the upper right hand or lower left hand corner of the dealer's down card so as to
25. reveal either the "ace" indicia if the down card is an ace or nothing at all if the down card is any other card in the deck. Switch means may be
operably associated with said card reader means wherein insertion of said dealer's down card in association with said card reading means activates said switch means, activating said light source to
5. illuminate the underside corner portion of said down card 'being read.
The card reader means is generally comprised of a receiving means to receive a corner of said card being read connected to said platform
10. surface means, said surface means defining an aperture, part of said aperture being disposed generally vertically below said receiving means, wherein when said corner of said down card is inserted within said receiving means, at least a
15. portion of said corner of said down card overlays said aperture, said aperture being disposed generally vertically above a mirrored surface angled so that the image of the corner of said down card is viewable through the portion of said
20. aperture which does not lie generally vertical below said receiving means. In this way, the dealer can insert either the upper right or lower left hand corner of his down card face-down in said receiving means, and read only that corner to
25. ascertain whether there is indicia corresponding to an Ace thereon by viewing through the portion of said aperture which is not covered by said
receiving means. The surface means is connected coplanarly to the blackjack playing table.
A further aspect of the invention lies in the method for increasing the speed of play of
5. the game of blackjack in a fair and secure manner comprising the steps of dealing a hand of blackjack to a plurality of players, including the dealer, ascertaining whether the dealer's down card is an Ace, and if said down card is an Ace
10. terminating the hand, or alternatively, if said down card is other than an Ace, continuing to play.
It is a principal object of the instant invention to provide an apparatus for reading
15. indicia from a portion of the playing card in a game of blackjack.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for speeding up the play in organized blackjack in a
20. fair and secure manner.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of reading specialized indicia from a playing card in a game of blackjack.
25. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows a perspective exploded view
of the invention before reading playing cards.
Fig. 2 shows the invention being used to read a faced down playing card on a typical blackjack table. 5. Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the instant invention mounted to a blackjack table.
Fig. 4 shows a top plane view of the invention.
Fig. 5 shows a partial cut-away view of 10. an alternative embodiment of the instant invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the card reader of the instant invention
15. generally designated by the reference numeral 10 comprised of a housing means 12 adapted to be connected to a conventional blackjack casino table by conventional attachment means (not shown) , such as by countersunk screws (not shown) passed
20. through apertures 18 defined by the horizontal upper surface of housing 12. Housing 12 is comprised generally of a hollow rectangular portion integrally connected to a horizontal upper planar portion, said horizontal upper planar
25. portion adapted to receive a card reading means 20.
In the preferred embodiment, the card
reading means is comprised of an upper horizontal platform member 22 connected to a lower horizontal platform member 24 in co-planar association. As it is preferred that the platform member 22 form a
5. smooth surface so as not to mar any of the playing cards which will come into contact therewith, the means for connecting said card reading means to said housing should be concealed. To this end, threaded bolts 14 are passed through apertures in
10. lower platform member 24 and downwardly through corresponding apertures defined by ledge members 28 of housing means 12. Upper platform member 22 may then be laminated to lower platform member 24 to conceal the heads 14' of bolts 14. As best
I5- shown in Figs. 1 through 3, the card reader 10 disclosed herein is intended to fit in generally coplanar arrangement with the covering material 32 of conventional blackjack table 30.
The upper and lower platform members 22
20. and 24 make up a portion of card reading means 20 and define an aperture 40 through which a corner of the dealers' down card can be read. An opaque hood means 42 is preferably connected to the upper platform member 22 at a point whereby said hood
25. means covers a portion of said aperture 40. An elongated slot means 41 is disposed in the upper platform member 22 adjacent said aperture 40
which is adapted to correspond to slot means 43 in hood means 42. Said slots 41 and 43 are sized and shaped to receive toggle member 44 of microswitch 46.
Disposed within aperture 40 may be a 5. viewing means 50, which must be a transparent material if used. In the preferred embodiment, shown in Figs. 1 through 3, viewing means 50 is comprised of a first, angled segment and a second, horizontal segment 51. Angling the first segment 10. of viewing means 50 results in reduced glare off of the outwardly facing surface thereof, enhancing the dealers' readability of the reflected image of the corner of the playing card being viewed.
In order to produce a reflected image, a 15. reflective surface 54 is disposed within the body of card reading means 20 and supported in position such that when a corner of the playing card 15 is inserted under cover 42 and thereby over aperture means 40, any indicia thereon same will be 20. reflected off of reflective surface 54 and through viewing means 50, allowing the dealer to determine whether or not the playing card is either an Ace or other than an Ace, as shown in Fig. 2.
Also in the preferred embodiment, as 25. shown in Fig. 6, the typical deck of cards used in the game of blackjack is modified by placing
indicia on all four corners instead of the usual fashion of placing indicia only on the upper left hand and lower right hand corners. In this way, if the card being viewed through the card reading
5. means is other n an Ace, its value will not be known by the deader.
To assist the dealer in reading the card under consideration clearly and easily, light means may be provided in the fo m of a power
10. source 60 connected to microswitch 46, said switch activating light 62 when toggle 44 is moved from the first, off position shown in Fig. 4 to the second, on, position shown in Fig. 2.
The housing means 12 is preferably
15. provided with a removable panel member 66 to allow access to the interior of the card reading means for replacement of the bulb or for any other reason. Said removable panel member 66 may be secured to either housing means 12 or card reading
20. means 20 by any convenient means such as screws 68.
The device is used as follows: After the initial deal of a hand of blackjack, the dealer has one face-up card and one face- own card. If
25. his face-up card has a value of 10, it is desirous to ascertain the value of the dealers' down card. If the dealer's down card is an Ace, the hand can
be called because the house wins, and no further time need be wasted on a moot hand. To ascertain whether or not the dealers' down card is an Ace, the special Aces referred to above and shown in
5. Fig. 6 having been substituted into the deck or decks being used, the corner of the down card of the dealer is inserted under cover means 42, thereby moving toggle means 44 from the off to the on position, illuminating light 62, and enabling
10. the dealer to inspect the underside of the corner of the down card being read as the corner of the down card placed in hood means 42 is reflected off of reflective surface 54. If no indicia is shown, the card is other than an Ace and the hand
15. continues. If the corner shows an Ace or other indicia, the dealer immediately knows that the downcard is an Ace and that the dealer has 21, at which time the hand can be terminated.
Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment,
20. wherein viewing means 50 is comprised of a piece of transparent material disposed generally horizontally across aperture means 40, coplanar with upper platform 22.
The instant invention has been shown and 25. described herein in what it is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made
therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A device for reading a portion of a specialized playing card in a game of blackjack, comprising:
5. a housing including a generally horizontally disposed top planar surface, said surface defining a means ' for viewing said portion of said specialized playing card while said playing card is disposed face-down on said top planar surface;
10. receiving means adapted to receive said portion of said specialized playing card to be read, said receiving means being integrally connected to said top planar surface generally vertically above a portion of said viewing means;
15. reflecting means for reflecting the image of said portion of said specialized playing card through said viewing means when said playing card is inserted within said receiving means.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an 20. illumination means for illuminating the portion of said specialized playing card to be read when said portion of said playing card is received by said receiving means.
3. The device of claim 2, further comprising 25. switch means associated with said receiving means for energizing said illumination means.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said device for reading is connected to a blackjack table in coplanar fashion.
5. The device of claim 3, wherein said device 5. for reading is connected to a blackjack table in coplanar fashion.
6. A device for reading specialized indicia from a downwardly facing playing card on a blackjack playing table during the game of blackjack, said
10. specialized indicia being disposed on only the Aces in the deck of cards being used, comprising: a receiving means for receiving a portion of a playing card having specialized indicia to be read, said playing card being downwardly facing;
15. indicia reading means functionally associated with said receiving means for reading said specialized indicia when present; said indicia reading means being disposed below the horizontal surface of a blackjack playing table.
20. 7. A method for increasing the speed of play of a game of blackjack in a fair and secure manner comprising the steps of: dealing a hand of blackjack to a plurality of players, including the dealer;
ascertaining whether the dealers' down card is an Ace, and if said down card is an Ace terminating the hand, or, alternatively, if said down card is other than an Ace, continuing to > play; wherein the step of ascertaining whether the dealers' down card is an Ace is carried out using a device for reading a portion of a specialized playing card, said device comprised of: 10. a housing includng a generally horizontally disposed top planar surface, said surface defining a means for viewing said portion of said specialized playing card while said playing card is disposed face-down on said top 15_ planar surface; receiving means adapted to receive said portion of said specialized playing card to be read, said receiving means being integrally connected to said top planar surface generally
20. vertically above a portion of said viewing means; reflecting means for reflecting the image of said portion of said specialized playing card through said viewing means when said playing card is inserted within said receiving means.
PCT/US1990/006943 1989-12-04 1990-11-28 Card reader for blackjack table WO1991008030A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP91901108A EP0456807B1 (en) 1989-12-04 1990-11-28 Card reader for blackjack table
MC90@@D MC2174A1 (en) 1989-12-04 1990-11-28 CARD READER FOR BLACK-JACK TABLE

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US446,205 1989-12-04
US07/446,205 US5039102A (en) 1989-12-04 1989-12-04 Card reader for blackjack table

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1991008030A1 true WO1991008030A1 (en) 1991-06-13

Family

ID=23771707

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1990/006943 WO1991008030A1 (en) 1989-12-04 1990-11-28 Card reader for blackjack table

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US5039102A (en)
EP (1) EP0456807B1 (en)
KR (1) KR0180707B1 (en)
AU (1) AU6950891A (en)
MC (1) MC2174A1 (en)
PT (2) PT96077A (en)
WO (1) WO1991008030A1 (en)

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EP0456807B1 (en) 1999-07-14
PT8634T (en) 1993-07-30
EP0456807A4 (en) 1992-04-01
EP0456807A1 (en) 1991-11-21
AU6950891A (en) 1991-06-26
PT96077A (en) 1992-08-31
KR920700728A (en) 1992-08-10
KR0180707B1 (en) 1999-02-01
MC2174A1 (en) 1992-05-22
PT8634U (en) 1995-12-29
US5039102A (en) 1991-08-13

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