Abstract:
A system (e.g., electronic gaming device) for facilitating card games using modified, simulated playing cards. The modified cards have a distinctive color arrangement permitting hearts and diamonds, and spades and clubs, to be more readily distinguished thereby allowing card games to proceed at a faster pace. For example, a first suit, hearts, with all markings, heart shapes and numbers being a red color on a white background; a second suit, diamonds, with all markings, diamond shapes and numbers being a white color against a red background, a third suit, spades, with all markings, spade shapes and numbers being a black color on a white background; and a fourth suit, clubs, with all markings, club shapes and numbers being a white color against a black background. Other arrangements are disclosed.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/986,778 filed Nov. 26, 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/978,383 filed Oct. 29, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of playing cards and more specifically to playing cards with suits made distinctive by background screening, reversed border coloring and reversed solid coloring. 
         [0003]    The use of playing cards has been around for hundreds of years, and the concept of four suits, with colors being two red and two black, has likewise been conventional for hundreds of years. The use of suits with two through ten sequentially numbered face cards, with three picture cards, jack, queen and king, and with an ace, is, and has been standard for poker, black jack and many other card games. 
         [0004]    It is said that the game of poker was first played in New Orleans around 1820. As first played the game had a 20 card deck of tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings and Aces. It was not until around 1845 that the game was played with a full, 52 card deck. 
         [0005]    All card players, using standard two color decks, will, from time to time, experience errors trying to read their hand or the board when playing card games. While such errors may only injure one&#39;s pride in a friendly home game, the same errors in a casino cash game could be financially very costly. 
         [0006]    These errors tend to be approximately ninety-five percent suit based, which is to say, the player will mistake one suit for another. Hearts and diamonds have always, since the first card design, been red markings, shapes and numbers with a completely white background. Likewise, spades and clubs have always been black markings, shapes and numbers with a completely white background. Thus it can be seen that a player may mistake a heart for a diamond or vice-versa, and likewise mistake a spade for a club and vice-versa. 
         [0007]    Over the years, after untold thousands of card games with traditional cards, no one has been successful in solving this problem with suit color likeness and still maintaining the same two age-old acceptable colors, red and black. There have been attempts to use four colors instead of just red and black as well as suit-based color tones, but these attempts are generally not acceptable to card players. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    For the first time in the long history of the playing card deck of fifty two cards, the present invention will eliminate card playing errors due to suit color likeness and still maintain the acceptable colors of red and black and be a help to all players, especially those with poor visibility. The present invention will allow instant identification as between spades and clubs and as between hearts and diamonds. The speed of identification will increase player and dealer satisfaction and lessen fatigue. This will lead to increased speed of play which will translate into increased revenue for card rooms, casino pits, card rooms, and on electronic gaming devices like video poker, and legal online sites. 
         [0009]    The present invention will make it easier for the player to identify his or her cards by suit when taking a “peek” because the identification can be made without seeing the shape of the suit. It will also be easier for the player to memorize “down” cards because there are now four distinctive suits. 
         [0010]    One embodiment of the present invention is a playing card deck with fifty-two cards divided equally into four suits, being hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs. The thirteen cards of each suit are sequentially numbered face cards, two through ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace with the following distinctive color arrangement:
       a) A first suit, hearts, with all markings, heart shapes and numbers being a red color;   b) A second suit, diamonds, with all markings, diamond shapes and numbers being a red color with a background, whether partial or whole, screened or tinted a pink color;   c) A third suit, spades, with all markings, spade shapes and numbers being a black color; and   d) A fourth suit, clubs, with all markings, club shapes and numbers being a black color with a background, whether partial or whole, screened or tinted a grey color.       
 
         [0015]    A further embodiment of the present invention is a playing card deck with fifty-two cards divided equally into four suits, being hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs. The thirteen cards of each suit are sequentially numbered face cards, two through ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace with the following distinctive color arrangement:
       a) A first suit, hearts, with all markings, heart shapes and numbers being a red color with a background, whether partial or whole, screened or tinted a pink color;   b) A second suit, diamonds, with all markings, diamond shapes and numbers being a red color;   c) A third suit, spades, with all markings, spade shapes and numbers being a black color with a background, whether partial or whole, screened or tinted a grey color; and   d) A fourth suit, clubs, with all markings, club shapes and numbers being a black color.       
 
         [0020]    It is understood that the pink screened background as applied either to the heart suit or the diamond suit will not obscure the markings, suit shapes or numbers on any card but only serve as a quick visual identification of suit to the player. Thus the player will not mistake a heart for a diamond and vice-versa. 
         [0021]    Likewise, it is understood that the grey-screened background as applied either to the spade suit or the club suit will not obscure the markings, suit shapes or numbers on any card but only serve as a quick visual identification of suit to the player. Thus the player will not mistake a spade for a club and vice-versa. 
         [0022]    Another embodiment of the present invention is a playing card deck with fifty-two cards divided equally into four suits, being hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs. The thirteen cards of each suit are sequentially numbered face cards, two through ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace with the following distinctive color arrangement:
       a) A first suit, hearts, with all markings, heart shapes and numbers being a red color on a white background;   b) A second suit, diamonds, with all markings, diamond shapes and numbers being a white color against a red background in a form commonly known as reversed solid.   c) A third suit, spades, with all markings, spade shapes and numbers being a black color on a white background; and   d) A fourth suit, clubs, with all markings, club shapes and numbers being a white color against a black background, in a form commonly known as reversed solid.       
 
         [0027]    It is further intended that the above stated distinctive color arrangement be interchangeable as between the heart and diamond suits and as between the spade and club suit. 
         [0028]    Another embodiment of the present invention is a playing card deck with fifty-two cards divided equally into four suits, being hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs. The thirteen cards of each suit are sequentially numbered face cards, two through ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace with the following distinctive color arrangement:
       a) A first suit, hearts, with all markings, heart shapes and numbers being a red color on a white background;   b) A second suit, diamonds, with all markings, diamond shapes and numbers in a border being a white color against a red background in a form commonly known as reversed solid, with all markings, diamond shapes and numbers on the card face and boxed by the border being a red color on a white background.   c) A third suit, spades, with all markings, spade shapes and numbers being a black color on a white background; and   d) A fourth suit, clubs, with all markings, club shapes and numbers in a border being a white color against a black background in a form commonly known as reversed solid, with all markings, club shapes and numbers on the card face and boxed by the border being a black color on a white background.       
 
         [0033]    Another embodiment of the present invention is a system configured to allow a player to play a card game comprising: a processor; means for randomly generating game outcomes; a display; a player interface; and wherein said processor and display are configured to cause one or more simulated cards from a plurality of simulated playing cards to be displayed, said plurality of simulated playing cards including four suits, said suits being hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs, comprising: a first group of simulated heart-suited cards with all markings, heart shapes and numbers being a red color on a white background; a second group of simulated diamond-suited cards with all markings, diamond shapes and numbers being a white color on a non-white background; a third group of simulated spade-suited cards with all markings, spade shapes and numbers being a black color on a white background; and a fourth group of simulated club-suited cards with all markings, club shapes and numbers being a white color on a non-white background. Other system configurations relate to different embodiments of the modified cards. Such a system allows the benefits of the modified playing cards to be enjoyed by those playing electronically implemented card games (e.g., video poker). 
         [0034]    It is further intended that the above stated distinctive color arrangement be interchangeable as between the heart and diamond suits and as between the spade and club suit. 
         [0035]    It is an object of this invention that the inventive deck and color arrangement be applicable to electronic depictions of playing card decks as common in video and computer games and on the internet as well as to manual playing card decks. 
         [0036]    It is a further object of this invention that the inventive deck and color arrangements be applicable to all traditional and “jumbo” versions of playing card numbers, markings and suit shapes as well as card size and not limited to any version whether depicted herein or not. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0037]      FIG. 1  illustrates the heart suit of one embodiment of the present invention with all markings, heart shapes and numbers being a red color having a white background; 
           [0038]      FIG. 2  illustrates the diamond suit of one embodiment of the present invention with all markings, diamond shapes and numbers being a red color but having a pink background; 
           [0039]      FIG. 3  illustrates the heart and diamond suits of one embodiment of the present invention with an alternative face arrangement and the distinctive contrast between these two suits with hearts having a white background and diamonds having a pink background; 
           [0040]      FIG. 4  illustrates the spade suit of one embodiment of the present invention with all markings, spade shapes and numbers being a black color having a white background; 
           [0041]      FIG. 5  illustrates the club suit of one embodiment of the present invention with all markings, club shapes and numbers being a black color but having a grey background; 
           [0042]      FIG. 6  illustrates the spade and club suits of one embodiment the present invention with an alternative face arrangement and the distinctive contrast between these two suits with spades having a white background and clubs having a grey background; 
           [0043]      FIG. 7  illustrates the diamond suit of one embodiment of the present invention with all markings, diamond shapes and numbers being a white color against a red background; 
           [0044]      FIG. 8  illustrates the diamond suit of another embodiment of the present invention with all markings, diamond shapes and numbers in a border being a white color against a red background in a form commonly known as reversed solid, with all markings, diamond shapes and numbers on the card face and boxed by the border being a red color on a white background; 
           [0045]      FIG. 9  illustrates the club suit of one embodiment of the present invention with all markings, club shapes and numbers being a white color against a black background; 
           [0046]      FIG. 10  illustrates the club suit of another embodiment of the present invention with all markings, club shapes and numbers in a border being a white color against a black background in a form commonly known as reversed solid, with all markings, club shapes and numbers on the card face and boxed by the border being a black color on a white background; and 
           [0047]      FIG. 11   a - 11   c  illustrate several screen shots of an electronic gaming device displaying simulated playing cards having the features according to the cards described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0048]      FIG. 1  illustrates all thirteen cards of the heart suit  1  with sequentially numbered face cards, two through ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace. All markings  2 , heart shapes  3  and numbers  4  are a red color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. In this embodiment, the background  5  of each card of the heart suit  1  is a white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. 
         [0049]      FIG. 2  illustrates all thirteen cards of the diamond suit  6  with sequentially numbered face cards, two through ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace. All markings  7 , diamonds shapes  8  and numbers  9  are a red color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. In this embodiment, the background  10  of each card of the diamond suit  6  is screened or tinted a pink color. 
         [0050]    It is understood that in this embodiment, the diamond suit  6  would have the background  10  screened or tinted a pink color while the background  5  of the heart suit would be a white color. However, in an alternative embodiment, the heart suit  6  would have the background  5  screened or tinted a pink color while the background  10  of the diamond suit  6  would be a white color. 
         [0051]      FIG. 3  illustrates four numbered cards from the heart suit  1  and diamond suit  6  of the present invention with an alternative face arrangement and the distinctive contrast between these two suits with hearts  1  having a white background and diamonds  6  having a pink background. 
         [0052]    The embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , as in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , shows the diamond suit  6  with the background  10  screened or tinted a pink color while the background  5  of the heart suit is a white color. However, in an alternative embodiment, the heart suit  1  would have the background  5  screened or tinted a pink color while the background  10  of the diamond suit  6  would be a white color. 
         [0053]    In  FIG. 3 , the alternative face arrangement depicts a boxed outline  11  around the number of suit shapes pertaining to the card number. In an alternative embodiment the background of the suit, whether hearts  1  or diamonds  6 , which is to be screened or tinted a pink color, be only screened or tinted within the boxed outline  11 , with the remainder of the background a white color. 
         [0054]      FIG. 4  illustrates all thirteen cards of the spade suit  12  with sequentially numbered face cards, two through ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace. All markings  13 , spade shapes  14  and numbers  15  are a black color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. The background  16  of each card of the spade suit  12  is a white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. 
         [0055]      FIG. 5  illustrates all thirteen cards of the club suit  17  with sequentially numbered face cards, two through ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace. All markings  18 , club shapes  19  and numbers  20  are a black color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. In this embodiment, the background  21  of each card of the clubs suit  17  is screened or tinted a grey color. 
         [0056]    It is understood that in this embodiment, the club suit  17  would have the background  21  screened or tinted a grey color while the background  16  of the spade suit would be a white color. However, in an alternative embodiment, the spade suit  12  would have the background  16  screened or tinted a grey color while the background  21  of the club suit  17  would be a white color. 
         [0057]      FIG. 6  illustrates four numbered cards from the spade suit  12  and club suit  17  of the present invention with an alternative face arrangement and the distinctive contrast between these two suits with spades  12  having a white background and clubs  17  having a grey background. 
         [0058]    The embodiment depicted in  FIG. 6 , as in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , shows the club suit  17  with the background  21  screened or tinted a grey color while the background  16  of the spade suit  12  is a white color. However, in an alternative embodiment, the spade suit  12  would have the background  16  screened or tinted a grey color while the background  21  of the club suit  17  would be a white color. 
         [0059]    In  FIG. 6 , the alternative face arrangement depicts a boxed outline  11  around the number of suit shapes pertaining to the card number. In an alternative embodiment the background of the suit, whether spades  12  or diamonds  17 , which is to be screened or tinted a grey color, be only screened or tinted within the boxed outline  11 , with the remainder of the background a white color. 
         [0060]    It is intended that the pink or grey color screened or tinted on the background of the intended cards be of reduced intensity so as not to obscure the markings, suit shapes or numbers of said cards, which markings, suit shapes or numbers should be in distinct contrast to the background. 
         [0061]    In an alternative embodiment  FIG. 7  illustrates all thirteen cards of the diamond suit  6  with sequentially numbered face cards, two through ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace with all markings  7 , diamond shapes  8  and numbers  9  being a white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks against a background  10  of a red color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks in a form commonly known as reversed solid. 
         [0062]    The distinctive color arrangement depicted in  FIG. 7  can be applied to the heart suit  1 , in which case all markings  2 , heart shapes  3  and numbers  4  would be a white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks against a background  5  of red color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. In this case, all markings  7 , diamond shapes  8  and numbers  9  of the diamond suit  6  would be a red color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks against a background  10  of white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. 
         [0063]    In an alternative embodiment  FIG. 8  illustrates all thirteen cards of the diamond suit  6  with sequentially numbered face cards, two through ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace with all markings  7 , diamond shapes  8  and numbers  9  in a border  22  being a white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks against a background  23  of red color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks in a form commonly known as reversed solid, with all markings  7 , diamond shapes  8  and numbers  9  on the card face  24  boxed by the border  22  being a red color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks on a background  25  of white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. 
         [0064]    The distinctive color arrangement depicted in  FIG. 8  can be applied to the heart suit  1 , with all markings  2 , heart shapes  3  and numbers  4  in a border  22  being a white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks against a background  23  of red color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks in a form commonly known as reversed solid, with all markings  2 , heart shapes  3  and numbers  4  on the card face  24  boxed by the border  22  being a red color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks on a background  25  of white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. In this arrangement all markings  7 , diamond shapes  8  and numbers  9  of the diamond suit  6  would be a red color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks against a background  10  of white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. 
         [0065]    In an alternative embodiment  FIG. 9  illustrates all thirteen cards of the club suit  17  with sequentially numbered face cards, two through ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace with all markings  18 , club shapes  19  and numbers  20  being a white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks against a background  21  of a black color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks in a form commonly known as reversed solid. 
         [0066]    The distinctive color arrangement depicted in  FIG. 9  can be applied to the spade suit  12 , in which case all markings  13 , spade shapes  14  and numbers  15  would be a white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks against a background  16  of black color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. In this case all markings  18 , club shapes  19  and numbers  20  of the club suit  17  would be a black color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks against a background  21  of white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. 
         [0067]    In an alternative embodiment  FIG. 10  illustrates all thirteen cards of the club suit  17  with sequentially numbered face cards, two through ten, a jack, a queen, a king and an ace with all markings  18 , club shapes  19  and numbers  20  in a border  22  being a white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks against a background  26  of black color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks in a form commonly known as reversed solid, with all markings  18 , club shapes  19  and numbers  20  on the card face  24  boxed by the border  22  being a black color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks on a background  25  of white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. 
         [0068]    The distinctive color arrangement depicted in  FIG. 10  can be applied to the spade suit  12 , with all markings  12 , spade shapes  14  and numbers  15  in a border  22  being a white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks against a background  26  of black color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks in a form commonly known as reversed solid, with all markings  12 , spade shapes  14  and numbers  15  on the card face  24  boxed by the border  22  being a black color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks on a background  25  of white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. In this case all markings  18 , club shapes  19  and numbers  20  of the club suit  17  would be a black color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks against a background  21  of white color as commonly and traditionally used in playing card decks. 
         [0069]    It is intended that all embodiments of the invention be applicable to all electronic depictions or simulations of playing card decks as common in video and computer games and on the internet as well as to decks of playing cards used manually. 
         [0070]    The game of video poker is used herein to describe the embodiments of the present invention as utilized in an electronic environment. Of course, any card game facilitated by an electronic gaming device, disseminated over the Internet or to hand-held devices may equally benefit from the embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0071]    Video poker has been popular for decades and continues to attract players. Video poker is a simple game to play. In general, the basic game of video poker comprises a player placing a wager of one to five credits; displaying five random, simulated cards face-up; allowing the player to hold or discard each face-up card; replacing all discards with new random, simulated cards; and providing a payout based on the rank of the final five-card poker hand. Many variations of basic video poker exist but each variation utilizes simulated playing cards. Random game outcomes are commonly generated by a random number generator or similar means. Different random number generators operate differently but are intended to generate truly random outcomes. 
         [0072]    With the embodiments of the present invention, the cards described herein are incorporated into the video poker game or any card game facilitated by an electronic gaming device. A processor which controls the electronic gaming device is programmed to incorporate simulated cards corresponding to the cards described herein relative to live games of chance. 
         [0073]      FIGS. 11   a  through  11   c  show various screen shots of an electronic gaming device displaying poker hands of a video poker game utilizing cards as described herein. As shown in  FIGS. 11   a  through  11   c  the suits of clubs and diamonds are modified as set forth herein. Of course, spades and hearts can be modified as well. In  FIG. 11   a,  the screen shot  50  shows a five-card poker hand formed of simulated cards  10           ,  8           ,  6           ,  9            and  5            with the  6            and  9            modified as described above. In  FIG. 11   b,  the screen shot  55  shows a five-card poker hand formed of simulated cards A♦, A         , Q♡, Q          and K♦ with the A♦, A          and K♦ modified as described above. In  FIG. 11   c,  the screen shot  60  shows a five-card poker hand formed of simulated cards K         ,  9 ♦,  2           , K          and A          with the  9 ♦ and K          modified as described above. 
         [0074]    Similarly, a server processor facilitating an online card game accessible via the Internet is programmed to incorporate simulated cards corresponding to the cards described herein relative the live games of chance. The simulated cards may be transmitted to wireless hand-held devices as well. For example, the simulated cards may be used with card games played on cell phones. The cards are especially helpful considering the small size of the cell phone displays, 
         [0075]    While video poker is discussed above, those skilled in the art shall recognize that any electronically implemented card game, including, but not limited to, blackjack, poker, war, Let it Ride®, Caribbean Stud Poker®, 3-Card Poker and Pai Gow, may benefit from utilizing the modified cards are described herein. 
         [0076]    Accordingly, the benefits provided by the cards in live games of chance (e.g., easy to read, quicker game pace, etc.) are realized in card games facilitated by electronic gaming devices, the Internet and hand-held devices. 
         [0077]    Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.