Device and method for continuously shuffling cards

Patent 6254096 Issued on July 3, 2001. Estimated Expiration Date:

April 15, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

793489

2001220

2001918

2016030

2043343

2778644

2937739

2950005

3312473

3690670

More ...

Inventors

Assignee

Shuffle Master, Inc.

Application

No. 060598 filed on 04/15/1998

US Classes:

273/149RCard shufflers and dealers

Examiners

Primary: Layno, Benjamin H.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Mark A. Litman & Associates

Foreign Patent References

9840136 WO. 09/08/1998

International Class

A63F 001/12

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for moving playing cards from a first group of cards into a second group of cards, wherein the second group of cards is randomly arranged or shuffled. The apparatus comprises a card receiver for receiving the first group of cards, a single stack of card-receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, an elevator for moving the stack, a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack for moving cards one at a time into a selected one of the compartments, another card moving mechanism for moving cards from one of the compartments to a second card receiver and a microprocessor that controls the card-moving mechanisms and the elevator.