Abstract:
A card vault for attachment to an automatic card shuffling machine, card shoe, card verifying machine and card discard rack is disclosed. The card vault facilitates a system of reducing human handling of cards thereby reducing human error and cheating. Cards may be transferred in a card vault directly from the card verifying machine to an automatic card shuffling machine. After being dealt during one or more table games, the cards are placed in a discard rack and transferred to the card vault for transport to a card verifying machine where the deck is verified. The card vault and contained cards are tracked in substantially real-time using wireless technology such as a RFID transmitter and receiver.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/941,488 filed Jun. 1, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The embodiments of the present invention relate to a playing card vault for use in casino environments. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Card shuffling machines are well-known in the art and have been used for decades to randomly and automatically arrange playing cards. Card shoes and discard trays or racks are also well-known in the art and have been used for decades to hold cards proximate a dealer so that the cards may be dealt to players and used cards may be stored out of the way, respectively. There are also card verifying machines which are used to verify decks of cards including the rank and suit of cards forming one or more decks. 
         [0004]    Despite the numerous electronic devices now involved with card shuffling and dealing, there are times when cards are being needlessly handled by casino personnel. Such card handling opens up opportunity for collusion between dealers and players and inadvertent mishandling of the cards. 
         [0005]    Therefore, it would be advantageous to utilize a card holding device or vault for maintaining cards at all critical times except during the dealing process. In addition, the card vault should be universal in its ability to attach to various of the currently available card handling devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Accordingly, a first embodiment of the present invention is a card vault comprising: four sides and a bottom defining a space adapted to receive a plurality of playing cards; an adjustable door configured to cover and expose an opening opposite the bottom; and one or more locking mechanisms adjacent to said defined space wherein said one or more locking mechanisms are configured to removably attach said card vault to at least one of the following: an automatic card shuffling machine; a card shoe; a card verifying machine; and a card discard rack. In another embodiment, the card vault includes an identification tag such as a RFID tag for tracking the location and movements of the card vault and contained cards at all times. 
         [0007]    A card tracking system of the present invention comprises: a card vault adapted to attach to at least one of the following: an automatic card shuffling machine; a card shoe; a card verifying machine; and a card discard rack; and means for tracking a location of said card vault. Another card tracking system of the present invention comprises: a card vault adapted to attach to at least one of the following: an automatic card shuffling machine; a card shoe; a card verifying machine; and a card discard rack; and means for recording data associated with said card vault. 
         [0008]    Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a card vault of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the card vault of the present invention attached to an automatic card shuffling machine; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the card vault of the present invention attached to a card shoe; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of one embodiment of the card vault of the present invention attached to a card verifier; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the card vault of the present invention attached to a discard rack; and 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed. 
         [0015]    Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout.  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a card vault generally referred to by reference numeral  100 . The rectangular card vault  100  includes two long walls  110 , two short walls  120  and a bottom  130  (collectively a housing) defining a card storage space  140 . An adjustable door  150  conceals the card storage space  140  and any cards therein. In one embodiment, the door  150  is slidably joined to the card vault  100  via grooves  155  along inner surfaces of the long walls  110 . Universal locking mechanisms  160  are integrated on the card vault  100  adjacent to the card storage space  140 . The locking mechanisms  160  may be integrated on any or all walls of the card vault  100  and may number one or more. The locking mechanisms  160  may be magnets, clips, snaps, ribs, clamps, latches, fasteners, hooks, grips or any other suitable means for attaching the card vault  100  to one or more card handling devices. As detailed below, the universal locking mechanisms  160  are used to removably attach the card vault  100  to multiple card devices, including electronic card devices. Optionally, a tracking device  170 , like a RFID transmitter or tag, may be connected to the card vault  100  to allow the location of the card vault  100  to be tracked by a RFID receiver. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows the card vault  100  attached to a card shuffler  180 . The locking mechanisms  160  of the card vault  100  engage a side edge  190  of the automatic card shuffling machine  180 . Alternatively, locking mechanisms (not shown) adjacent to the side edge  190  of the automatic card shuffling machine  200  mate with the locking mechanisms  160  of the card vault  100 . As cards are shuffled they are ejected into the attached card vault  100 . The card vault is then sealed and transported to a card shoe  210  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). The tracking device  170  can then be activated to allow the location of the card vault  100 , and importantly the cards therewithin, to be tracked within a casino environment via one or more terminals, hand-held devices or similar means incorporating receivers or transceivers configured to receive signals from said tracking device  170 . The received signals are then interpreted to determine a substantially real-time location of the card vault  100 . Alternatively, the tracking device  170  may be activated at all times such that it intermittently sends a tracking signal to allow the location and movements of the card vault  100  and contained cards to be tracked via one or more terminals, hand-held devices or similar means. 
         [0017]    Now referring to  FIG. 3 , the card vault  100  is shown attached to a card shoe  210 . The universal locking mechanisms  160  of the card vault  100  engage an upper surface or edge  220  of the card shoe  210 . Alternatively, locking mechanisms (not shown) adjacent to the upper surface of edge  220  of the card shoe  210  mate with the locking mechanisms  160  of the card vault  100 . Cards  230  in the card vault  100  fall into the card shoe  210  as the door  150  to the card vault  100  is slid open. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows the card vault  100  attached to a card discard rack  240 . The card discard rack  240  is positioned on a card table and used to deposit cards which have been played in a hand by players and a dealer. The universal locking mechanisms  160  of the card vault  100  attach to the discard rack  240  so that as cards are placed therein the cards fall directly into the card vault  100 . In one embodiment, the discard rack or tray  240  rests flush on the gaming table and the card vault  100  hangs thereover. Supports (not shown) on the subject gaming table provide a place for the card vault  100  to rest. Optionally, the discards can be placed directly into the card vault  100  that is positioned on the card table. Thereafter, the card vault  100  is sealed for transport to the casino&#39;s backroom where the process is repeated or the cards are destroyed or prepared for sale. During the transport to the casino&#39;s backroom, the tracking device  170  can be activated to allow the location of the card vault  100  to be tracked. Alternatively, the tracking device  170  may be activated at all times such that it intermittently sends a tracking signal to allow the location and movements of the card vault  100  and contained cards to be tracked. 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  shows the card vault  100  attached to a card verifying device  250  like the Deckchecker manufactured and sold by the present applicant. The Deckchecker verifies the integrity of card decks. More particularly, the Deckchecker counts the number of cards and determines the rank and suit of each card it receives. As shown, the card vault  100  is attached to a side, output portion of the card verifying device  250 . So, as the cards are verified, the cards are output into the card vault  100 . The card vault  100  may be attached to the card verifying device  250  after the shuffling process or after the cards have been used in play or both. 
         [0020]    Advantageously, use of the card vault  100  limits human contact with the cards to game play thereby minimizing collusion or inadvertent mishandling of the cards. Also, with the tracking device  170  integrated on the card vault  100 , the location of the cards may be tracked in substantially real-time throughout a casino environment at nearly all times. The universal locking mechanisms  160  allow a single card vault design to engage an automatic card shuffling machine, card shoe, card discard rack and card verifying machine. 
         [0021]    In one practical example the card vault  100  is attached to the output section of the automatic card shuffling machine  180  such that cards are shuffled into the card vault  100 . Shuffle data and a card vault ID, location, date and time are reported to a tracking system. Such reporting may be triggered automatically by the attachment of the card vault  100  to the card handling device. Alternatively, the reporting may be manually triggered by the casino personnel causing the attachment such as, for example, pressing a signal button on the card vault  100  or card shuffling machine  180 . In such an embodiment, the card vault  100  may include a processor, storage device, power supply, user interface  101  and display  102 . Casino personnel may then utilize the user interface to input or record data such as shuffle data and a card vault ID, location, date and time. The data can then be sent by a transmitter to a system receiver. The cards may be verified by a card verifier (e.g., Deckchecker) or the automatic card shuffling machine  180  may integrate such capabilities. The verifying data may also be reported to the tracking system as described above. The card vault  100  is then sealed. A seal may also incorporate a RFID tag or similar device. The shuffling and verifying of the cards takes place in a casino backroom or other designated area. The sealed card vault  100  is then transported to a designated gaming table. The movement of the sealed card vault  100  is tracked from the backroom to the gaming table. At the gaming table, the card vault  100  is unsealed and attached directly to the card shoe  210 . At this time, the card vault ID is reported to the tracking system as set forth above. The same or a separate card vault is attached to the card discard rack  240 . In one embodiment, the card shoe  210  includes an electronic reader for identifying the cards as they are removed from the card shoe  210 . After the cards have been used to play game, they are placed into the card discard rack  240  which may also include an electronic reader for once again verifying the played cards. Once the cards from the card shoe  210  are exhausted or played to a cut card, the card vault attached to the card discard rack  240 , which contains all the played cards, is removed and sealed. The card vault ID, location, date and time are reported to the tracking system as set forth above. The sealed vault holding the played cards is then returned to the backroom so the cards may again go through the cycle. If the cards are sufficiently worn, they may be destroyed or prepared for sale to casino patrons. 
         [0022]    The tracking system may be a local area wireless network which communicates with the casino management system or other casino systems. In one embodiment, one or more user terminals having displays allow casino personnel to locate all card vaults in substantially real-time. Hand-held devices with displays may also be used to locate the card vaults. A storage device integrated into the tracking system also maintains a record of the location of each card and a corresponding time stamp. The tracking procedure may take many forms including the use of transmitters and receivers (or transceivers), RFID technology or GPS technology. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, the card vault  100  includes a card retention and release mechanism designed to hold the cards in the card vault  100  until the card vault  100  is connected to a card handling device (e.g., automatic card shuffling device). A card retention and release mechanism may comprise a spring-biased arm which contacts one end of the card stack contained in the card vault  100  thereby retaining the cards  230  in the card vault  100  via pressure. Upon connecting the card vault  100  to the card handling device, the spring-biased arm is released mechanically and/or electronically allowing the cards to release into the card handling device. The release may be manually or automatically triggered. Other retention and release mechanisms can be used. 
         [0024]    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.