PLAYING CARD SYSTEM

by

Binh Quach

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional

Patent Application serial number 60/735,791, titled "Easy To Shuffle Playing

Cards" and filed November 10, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002] This present invention relates, generally, to the field of gaming, and more

particularly to playing cards used in games.

Description of Related Art

[0003] Various games require the use of one or more playing cards. While there

are many possible variations of playing cards, a standard deck of playing cards

generally consists of fifty-two playing cards, each with different markings. The

fifty-two cards may be categorized by their markings into four different suits

with thirteen ranks in each suit. The four suits are generally hearts, diamonds,

spades, and clubs. The thirteen ranks are generally Ace (A) ₇ 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,

Jack (J), Queen (Q), and King (K). The suits and ranks may have different values

and/or significance in different games. Occasionally, a standard deck is packaged

with one or more Joker cards.

[0004] Each playing card in a standard deck is generally constructed of a sheet of

paper or plastic. One side, the face side, displays the suit and rank. The other

side, the back side, generally does not indicate the markings on the face side.

This back side may instead display a variety of designs. Possible designs may

include a manufacturer's logo, a distributor's design, an artistic design, a novelty

design, or any of various custom designs. In a standard deck of cards, all fifty-

two cards generally display the same design on their back side.

[0005] Examples of games commonly played with at least one standard deck of

playing cards includes poker, blackjack, bridge, gin rummy, go fish, and various

others. Many of these card games may include elements of chance. To ensure a

fair game in a game of chance, players must be dealt playing cards at random.

Such randomization may be achieved through shuffling of the cards. Shuffling

the playing cards randomly reorders a deck to produce a different permutation

in the order of the playing cards of the deck, which contributes to the random

distribution of playing cards to each player

[0006] There are a variety possible shuffling techniques and a wide range in the

quality of randomization resulting from these techniques. Good randomization

of a deck of cards may require multiple shuffles using different shuffling

techniques. Some games require that a deck be randomized multiple times

throughout the course of the game or series of games. These multiple acts of

randomization may consume a good deal of playing time. Furthermore, shuffling

skills may vary from player-to-player due to differences in experience and/or

manual dexterity. There are also many opportunities for mistakes, such as

inadvertently revealing the markings on one or more cards during the act of

shuffling. In the event of such a mistake, the exposed card may simply be

returned to the deck, which may be shuffled again or subjected to more extensive

shuffling to ensure the randomization of the deck. Some games and/or the

players of the same may regard such mistakes very seriously. As such, some

players may choose to abort the current game and start a new one as a result of

the card exposure. In the hands of an inexperienced and/or unskilled player,

shuffling may be even more time-consuming than it already needs to be and

possibly even disruptive to the game.

[0007] Inexperienced and/or unskilled shuffles may also result in poorly

randomized cards. Poor randomization may decrease the chance element in

games of chance, which may give some players an unfair advantage or

disadvantage. Poor randomization may also affect a player's ability to bluff if

other players can predict what cards he or she actually holds. The ability to bluff

may be a very important part of the strategy in various card games (e.g., poker).

Bluffing depends, in part, on restricting players from seeing or knowing the suit

or rank of the playing cards dealt to their opponents. Dealing playing cards face¬

down may be one way to allow a player to access and see only his or her own

playing cards. Different types of playing cards, decks of playing cards, and/or

card games may utilize different systems of markings, shuffling, and/or dealing.

[0008] Another possible danger with respect to randomization is intentional and

illicit manipulation of the cards by a player who is highly skilled at shuffling

and/or dealing. A player with a stake in the outcome of the game may be capable

of manipulating that outcome by deliberately shuffling and/or dealing the cards

into a non-randomized and/or predictable order to achieve a predetermined,

unfair result. To minimize manipulation, players may perform a procedure

commonly referred to as 'cutting the deck.' After the deck is shuffled, a non-

shuffling party may 'cut the deck' by selecting a random number of contiguous

cards from anywhere in the deck and moving those cards elsewhere in the deck,

while keeping all cards face-down. This procedure, when combined with

shuffling and dealing, further adds to the time-consuming nature of ensuring

proper randomization of the deck of cards, especially if shuffling, dealing, and

cutting have to be performed multiple times. There is, therefore, a need for

improved systems and methods for efficiently maintaining the randomness and

secrecy of playing card distribution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In various embodiments, the invention includes a playing card, with a

face side displaying markings that are significant in a game. The invention, in

various embodiments, further includes an adjustable barrier that shields the

markings from view. The adjustable barrier helps to prevent opponents from

accidentally and/or purposefully peeking at one's cards.

[0010] Some embodiments of the invention comprise one or more sets of fifty-

two playing cards, each with adjustable barriers hiding the signifying markings

on their face side. The markings on these sets of the invention may be the same

as the markings on a standard deck of cards. Therefore, these sets may be used in

the same and/or similar games as those utilizing one or more standard decks of

cards.

[0011] Some embodiments of the invention further include a shuffler to be used

with one or more sets. The shuffler randomizes the order and/or arrangement of

the one or more sets through an agitation mechanism. Various embodiments of

the agitation mechanism may include shaking, spinning, mixing, and others. The

shuffling system of the invention minimizes manipulation by giving players the

ability to hide the markings of the cards before it is placed in a shuffler and keeps

them hidden during shuffling and dealing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Fig. IA illustrates an example of a face side of a playing card as found in

the prior art.

[0013] Fig. IB illustrates an example of a back side of a playing card as found in

the prior art.

[0014] Fig. 2A illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary encased playing

card, according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0015] Fig. 2B illustrates a plan view of the front of an exemplary encased

playing card, according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0016] Fig. 2C illustrates a plan view of the back of an exemplary encased playing

card, according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0017] Fig. 3A illustrates a notched lid of an exemplary encased playing card,

according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0018] Fig. 3B illustrates a closing edge and a stopping edge on an exemplary

encased playing card, according to various embodiments of the present

invention.

[0019] Fig. 4A illustrates an exemplary shuffler as may be implemented in

various embodiments of the present invention.

[0020] Fig. 4B illustrates an exemplary shuffling system, according to various

embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a playing card with

an adjustable barrier on the face side of the playing card. The barrier may be

adjusted by a player to hide or reveal the markings (e.g., rank or suit) on the face

side of the playing card. Various embodiments of the present invention include

one or more sets of these playing cards wherein the face side of each card is

hidden by the adjustable barrier. The markings on the face side of each card may

have varying degrees of significance in terms of specific meaning, value, and/or

status for a player in various games. Some embodiments of the present

invention include at least one set of fifty-two playing cards with the same

markings as a standard deck of cards.

[0022] In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one set of cards

wherein the face side of the card is hidden by an adjustable barrier is shuffled in

a shuffler by, for example, manually spinning the shuffler. Cards may then be

dealt by a designated dealer from the shuffler, or the randomized cards may be

chosen from the shuffler by the players themselves. A player can reveal the

markings on his or her cards to themselves or any other appropriate party by

adjusting the barrier on each card. For example, a player may slide the barrier

open to review the cards that they have been dealt. At the end of the game (e.g. a

hand of poker), the players can adjust the barriers on each card to reveal or again

hide the card markings, and the cards may be placed back in the shuffler to be

shuffled for the next game.

[0023] Fig. IA illustrates an example of a face side 110 of a playing card from a

standard deck of cards as may be found in the prior art. The face side 110 of a

playing card typically displays markings that have some significance in a game.

In a standard deck of cards, these markings include rank 130 and suit 140. Fig. IB

illustrates an example of a back side of a playing card as may be found in the

prior art. The back side 120 of a card may display a design that has no particular

significance in a game.

[0024] Fig. 2A illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary encased playing

card, according to various embodiments of the present invention. Playing card

system 200 comprises a face side 110 of a card, a back side 120 of a card, and

further includes an adjustable barrier 210 that may hide markings on the face

side 110. . In the illustrated embodiment, the playing card system 200 would

shaped as a rectangular prism when it is in a closed position. A closed position

includes, for example, one where the markings on the face side 110 of the playing

card system 200 are completely hidden. Other embodiments of playing card

system 200 may include different shapes and sizes. For example, sides and/or

corners can be rounded.

[0025] Fig. 2B illustrates a plan view of the front of an exemplary encased

playing card, according to various embodiments of the present invention. As

illustrated in Fig. 2B, the adjustable barrier 210 can be adjusted to reveal the

markings of the playing card, including rank 130 and suit 140, if any, on the face

side 110 of the playing card 200.

[0026] In the embodiment depicted in Figs. 2A-C, the barrier 210 is a sliding lid

of an encased playing card system 200. The playing card system 200 in the

presently illustrated embodiment may comprise grooves that conform to the

shape and size of the barrier 210. The barrier 210 may be configured to slide

back and forth easily in the aforementioned grooves. The face side 110 is an

interior side of the playing card system 200. The markings, which may include

rank 130 and/or suit 140, on the face side 110 may be visible only when the

barrier 210 is adjusted to certain positions. In other positions, the markings on

the face side 110 may be hidden.

[0027] Fig. 2C illustrates a plan view of the back of an exemplary encased playing

card system 200, according to various embodiments of the present invention. The

back side 120 is the underside of the playing card system 200. Any design that

could be displayed on a back side of a standard playing card can be displayed on

the back side 120 of the playing card system 200 according to the various

embodiments of the present invention. Further, any of those designs can also be

displayed on the barrier 210.

[0028] Fig 3A illustrates a notched lid of an exemplary encased playing card,

according to various embodiments of the present invention. In the presently

illustrated embodiment the sliding lid barrier 210 comprises a notch 310, located

on the underside of the barrier 210. In various embodiments, the notch 310 may

appear in a variety of shapes, sizes, depths, and/or locations on the barrier 210. In

the embodiment pictured in Fig. 3A, the notch 310 is configured as a raised line

along the underside of the barrier 210. However, other embodiments may

include different shapes, sizes, depths, and/or positions. Various embodiments of

a notch 310 may also include different depths ranging from protrusion to

indentation on the barrier 210.

[0029] Fig. 3B is an illustration of an embodiment of a portion of the playing card

200 wherein barrier 210 not pictured for ease of illustration. In the embodiment

pictured in Fig 3B, the playing card system 200 further comprises a closing edge

320. The closing edge 320 and notch 310 can coordinate to fix the barrier 210 in a

closed position in the context of the playing card system 200. Like notch 310, the

closing edge 320 may be expressed differently in various embodiments, for

example, in different shapes, sizes, depths, and/or locations on the barrier 210.

The configuration of the closing edge 320 corresponds to the configuration of

notch 310 to hold the barrier closed. The notch 310 and closing edge 320 should

be able to respond to user adjustment with minimal effort on the user's part. A

user should be able to easily adjust the barrier into and out of a closed position

with a minimal degree of physical effort but not so little effort that the barrier

inadvertently comes open during, for example, the act of shuffling.

[0030] Fig. 3B further illustrates a stopping edge 330 on playing card system 200.

The stopping edge 330 works with a notch 310 to prevent further user

adjustment away from closed position. Like the closing edge 320, the stopping

edge 330 may be configured differently in various embodiments, for example, in

different shapes, sizes, positions, and/or depths. The configuration of the

stopping edge 320 corresponds to the configuration of notch 310 to stop the

barrier from adjusting further away from closed position. In embodiments where

the barrier 210 is a sliding lid, the notch 310 and the stopping edge 330 prevent

the barrier 210 from sliding completely out and detaching completely. The

stopping edge 330 accomplishes this by catching the notch 310 before that

detachment can happen and stopping the barrier 210 from adjusting towards

positions where detachment can occur.

[0031] In some embodiments, the barrier 210 may be a pivoting lid. In such an

embodiment, a stopping edge 330 would only allow the barrier 210 to pivot

within certain ranges around an axis. In various embodiments, a stopping edge

330 may work with a different notch on the barrier 210 than the notch working

with a closing edge 320. Various embodiments may also include multiple notches

310, closing edges 320, and stopping edges 330. Other embodiments are

envisioned including, for example, a hinged lid.

[0032] Fig. 4A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a shuffler 400. A shuffler

400 comprises a body 420 configured to hold multiple shuffling playing card

systems (200), an opening 410 large enough for a playing card 200 to enter and

exit the body 420, and an agitation mechanism 440. Fig. 4A illustrates a large

spherical cage embodiment. In various other embodiments, the body 420 may be

configured differently in different shapes, sizes, and transparencies. For example,

the body 420 may be an opaque cylinder capable of shuffling hundreds of

playing cards 200; it may also be a clear cube capable of shuffling only one set of

fifty- two playing cards 200.

[0033] In the shuffling system illustrated in Fig, 4B, playing cards 200 enters the

body 420 through an opening 410. The opening 410 may be configured

differently in various embodiments, such as different shapes and sizes. In the

illustrated embodiment, the opening 410 appears as a round hole in the body 420

of the shuffler 400. Other embodiments of the opening 410 may include a slot or

a funnel. Some embodiments of the invention may further comprise a door 430 to

cover the opening 410. The agitation mechanism 440 is a mechanism that

randomly rearranges the plurality of playing cards 200 contained in the body 420

of the shuffler 400.

[0034] Various embodiments of the shuffler 400 may comprise various agitation

mechanisms 440, which shuffle by shaking, spinning, mixing, and/or various

other ways of rearranging the playing cards. With a traditional deck of playing

cards as may be found in the prior art, such a shuffler or agitation mechanism

could not be used as to do so would result in the exposure of various markings

on a playing card. This exposure would eradicate the unpredictability and/or

secrecy that are important elements in many card games. These problems are

solved by the barrier 210 component of the playing card system 200, which

prevents exposure of the markings, which may include rank 130 and suit 140, on

the face side 110 of the playing card system 200, while still allowing for varied

options in shuffling. Significantly, embodiments of the present invention allow

for quick and efficient methods of shuffling even in the absence of traditional

shuffling skills and/or dexterity.

[0035] In many casinos and home games, various card games require that

someone shuffle and deal the cards. With dealers, there is always a danger of

dealer manipulation and/or mistake. A skilled dealer may be able to deal one or

more known cards from anywhere in the deck; and an unskilled dealer may deal

a player too many or too few cards or flip cards over inadvertently. If anyone

sees markings that he or she is not supposed to, an unfair advantage or

disadvantage may arise. Dealer manipulation and/or mistake may be minimized

by the shuffler 400, because the dealer does not handle the playing cards 200

directly. Because dealer manipulation is minimized, the need for a cut is also

reduced. Because the markings of playing cards can be kept secret before,

during, and after a shuffle, the shuffling system further allows each player to

choose his or her next playing card 200. This may introduce an additional

randomization element to the randomization created by one or more shuffles in a

shuffler 400.

[0036] The embodiments discussed herein are illustrative. These embodiments

are described with reference to illustrations; various modifications or adaptations

of the methods and or specific structures described may be apparent to those

skilled in the art. All such modifications, adaptations, or variations that rely

upon the teachings herein, and through which these teachings have advanced

the art, are considered to be within the spirit and scope of the various

embodiments. Hence, these descriptions and drawings should not be considered

in a limiting sense, as it is understood that the present invention is in no way

limited to only the embodiments illustrated.