Abstract:
A playing card system is disclosed comprising a face side displaying markings, which can be hidden and revealed by an adjustable barrier. A set of these playing cards may be used in the same games as those using a standard deck of cards. A shuffler randomizes the order and/or arrangement of the one or more sets through an agitation mechanism. The shuffling system allows for heightened randomization and secrecy of the markings, and minimizes opportunities for manipulation.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/735,971, titled “Easy To Shuffle Playing Cards” and filed Nov. 10, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This present invention relates, generally, to the field of gaming, and more particularly to playing cards used in games. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   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), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack (I), 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. 
   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&#39;s logo, a distributor&#39;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. 
   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 
   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. 
   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&#39;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. 
   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 
   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&#39;s cards. 
   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. 
   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 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates an example of a face side of a playing card as found in the prior art. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates an example of a back side of a playing card as found in the prior art. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary encased playing card system, according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates a plan view of the front of an exemplary encased playing card system, according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates a plan view of the back of an exemplary encased playing card system, according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary encased playing card, according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates a perspective view another exemplary encased playing card, where the barrier has been adjusted, according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a notched lid of an exemplary encased playing card system, according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates a closing edge and a stopping edge on an exemplary encased playing card system, according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates an exemplary shuffler as may be implemented in various embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates an exemplary shuffling system, according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   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. 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. 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. 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. 
   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. 
     FIG. 1A  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. 1B  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. 
     FIG. 2A  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary encased playing card system, according to various embodiments of the present invention. Playing card  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 .  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 . 
   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. 
     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 . 
   In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-C , the playing card system  200  is shaped like 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. The sides and/or corners of the playing card system  200  may be curved, such as, for example, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3A . 
     FIG. 3A  illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary encased playing card system  200 , according to various embodiments of the present invention. In  FIG. 3A , the barrier  210  is fixed in a closed position in the context of the playing card  200 .  FIG. 3B  illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary encased playing card system  200 , where the barrier  210  has been adjusted to reveal the face side  110  of the playing card system  200 . 
     FIG. 4A  illustrates a notched lid of an exemplary encased playing card system  200 , according to various embodiments of the present invention. In the presently illustrated embodiment, the sliding lid barrier  210  comprises a notch  410 , located on the underside of the barrier  210 . In various embodiments, the notch  410  may appear in a variety of shapes, sizes, depths, and/or locations on the barrier  210 . In the embodiment pictured in  FIG. 4A , the notch  410  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  410  may also include different depths ranging from protrusion to indentation on the barrier  210 . 
     FIG. 4B  is an illustration of an embodiment of a portion of the playing card system  200  wherein barrier  210  is not pictured for ease of illustration. In the embodiment pictured in  FIG. 4B , the playing card system  200  further comprises a closing edge  420 . The closing edge  420  and notch  410  can coordinate to fix the barrier  210  in a closed position in the context of the playing card system  200 . Like notch  410 , the closing edge  420  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  420  corresponds to the configuration of notch  510  to hold the barrier  210  closed. The notch  410  and closing edge  420  should be able to respond to user adjustment with minimal effort on the user&#39;s part. A user should be able to easily adjust the barrier  210  into and out of a closed position with a minimal degree of physical effort but not so little effort that the barrier  210  inadvertently comes open during, for example, the act of shuffling. 
     FIG. 4B  further illustrates a stopping edge  430  on playing card system  200 . The stopping edge  430  works with a notch  410  to prevent further user adjustment away from closed position. Like the closing edge  420 , the stopping edge  430  may be configured differently in various embodiments, for example, in different shapes, sizes, positions, and/or depths. The configuration of the stopping edge  430  corresponds to the configuration of notch  410  to stop the barrier from adjusting further away from closed position. In embodiments where the barrier  210  is a sliding lid, a notch  410  and a stopping edge  430  prevent the barrier  210  from sliding completely out and detaching completely. The stopping edge  430  accomplishes this by catching the notch  410  before that detachment can happen and stopping the barrier  210  from adjusting towards positions where detachment can occur. 
   In some embodiments, the barrier  210  may be a pivoting lid. In such an embodiment, a stopping edge  430  would only allow the barrier  210  to pivot within certain ranges around an axis. In various embodiments, a stopping edge  430  may work with a different notch on the barrier  210  than the notch working with a closing edge  420 . Various embodiments may also include multiple notches  410 , closing edges  420 , and stopping edges  430 . Other embodiments are envisioned including, for example, a hinged lid. 
     FIG. 5A  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a shuffler  500 . A shuffler  500  comprises a body  520  configured to hold multiple shuffling playing card systems ( 200 ), an opening  510  large enough for a playing card system  200  to enter and exit the body  520 , and an agitation mechanism  540 .  FIG. 5A  illustrates a large spherical cage embodiment. In various other embodiments, the body  520  may be configured differently in different shapes, sizes, and transparencies. For example, the body  520  may be an opaque cylinder capable of shuffling hundreds of playing card systems  200 ; it may also be a clear cube capable of shuffling only one set of fifty-two playing card systems  200 . 
   In the shuffling system illustrated in  FIG. 5B , playing card systems  200  enter the body  520  through an opening  510 . The opening  510  may be configured differently in various embodiments, such as different shapes and sizes. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening  510  appears as a round hole in the body  520  of the shuffler  500 . Other embodiments of the opening  510  may include a slot or a funnel. Some embodiments of the invention may further comprise a door  530  to cover the opening  510 . The agitation mechanism  440  is a mechanism that randomly rearranges the plurality of playing card systems  200  contained in the body  520  of the shuffler  500 . 
   Various embodiments of the shuffler  500  may comprise various agitation mechanisms  440 , which shuffle by shaking, spinning, mixing, and/or various other ways of rearranging the playing card systems  200 . With a traditional deck of playing cards as may be found in the prior art, such a shuffler  500  or agitation mechanism  540  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. 
   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  500 , because the dealer does not handle the playing card systems  200  directly. Because dealer manipulation is minimized, the need for a cut is also reduced. Because the markings of the playing card systems  200  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 system  200 . This may introduce an additional randomization element to the randomization created by one or more shuffles in a shuffler  500 . 
   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.