Patent Publication Number: US-9833691-B2

Title: Card dealing shoe

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/963,827 filed Aug. 9, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,480,905, issued Nov. 1, 2016, which application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/681,468, which was filed Aug. 9, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to playing card dispensing apparatus, and in particular, to playing card dealing shoes that are configured to facilitate play of both wagering and non-wagering card games. 
     Playing card dealing shoes used for delivering cards in the play of card games are well known. In operation, one or more decks of randomly ordered cards may be placed laterally in a stack onto a sloped surface of an enclosed space within the shoe. These shoes typically have a card feed slot at the lower end of the sloped surface through which the cards can be separated from the stack one at a time, and an opening to facilitate manually engaging the top card in the stack to force it through the slot by sliding it laterally away from the stack. 
     While shoes of this type are adequate for delivering cards one-by-one to game players of a card game, there is room for improvement, particularly for reasons of security and game integrity. Although the shoe is typically placed on the casino table in full view of the dealer and/or players, many events can occur that pose challenges to the integrity or security of the game, intentionally or otherwise, and regardless of whether the game is played for money or fun. Therefore there is a continual need for improvements in the shoes of the general type described above to identify such events, eliminate weaknesses and minimize potential threats to game security and integrity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In some embodiments, the invention is generally directed to a card dealing shoe for facilitating play of card games which includes: an elongated housing defining a card staging area therein, the housing including a sloped base, opposing side walls and a sloped front wall separated from the base adjacent to a front end of the housing to form a card feed slot from which cards may be manually removed from the card staging area; a sensing device or camera mounted in the base for capturing an image of each card as the card is moved through the slot; a control system in communication with the camera for receiving the captured image and identifying the rank and suit of the card removed from the card staging area, the control system including a processor and a data storage device, wherein the control system is further configured to detect the existence of an alarm condition; and a card restraining apparatus mounted on the elongated housing and configured for alternating between a non-restraining condition and a restraining condition, wherein the restraining condition includes activation of a physical restraint that prevents cards from being added to and removed from the card staging area through the slot, wherein the card restraining apparatus is in communication with the control system and actuated from the non-restraining condition to the restraining condition responsive to the detection of an alarm condition. 
     In some embodiments of the aforementioned shoe, the card restraining apparatus further comprises a retractable slot blocking member mounted in the base and configured for movement between a non-slot blocking position and a slot blocking position upon the actuation of the restraining condition to prevent a card from being added to the card staging area through the slot and removed the card staging area through the slot. 
     In other embodiments of the aforementioned shoe, the card restraining apparatus further comprises a barrier mounted on the housing and an adjustable biasing member in communication with the barrier for biasing the barrier against the card in the card staging area immediately adjacent to the slot, wherein the force of the bias is adjusted upon the actuation of the restraining condition to prevent a card from being added to the card staging area through the slot and removed from the card staging area through the slot. 
     In some embodiments, the control system is programmed with game play information for one or more games, including the amount of cards to be removed from the card staging area and manner in which each card removed is to be used in determining the game outcome. The control system may be further configured to trigger the alarm condition upon the end of a round of game play. 
     In some embodiments, the control system is programmed to determine the direction of movement of a card through the slot based on the captured image, and trigger the alarm condition upon the determination of a card being inserted into the slot in the direction of the card staging area. 
     In some embodiments, the control system is programmed to detect a lack of desirable randomness of cards in the card staging area and trigger the alarm condition if the lack of desirable randomness is detected. The lack of desirable randomness may be at least partially based on the identification of each card in a plurality of cards removed from the card staging area. In some embodiments, the lack of desirable randomness is at least partially based on a plurality of game outcomes, that is, whether they are winning or losing, favoring one type of win, such as player hand win in Baccarat, or resulting in a high amount of statistically unlikely outcomes. 
     Some embodiments of the invention are directed to a card dealing shoe for facilitating play of card games that comprises: an elongated housing defining a card staging area therein, the housing including a sloped base, opposing side walls and a sloped front wall separated from the base adjacent to a front end of the housing to form a card feed slot from which cards may be manually removed from the card staging area; a camera mounted in the base for capturing an image of each card as the card is moved through the slot; a control system in communication with the camera for receiving the captured image and identifying the rank and suit of the card removed from the card staging area, the control system including a processor and a data storage device mounted in the housing, wherein the control system is programmed with game play information for one or more games, including the amount of cards to be removed from the card staging area and manner in which each card removed is to be used in determining the game outcome and outcome of side wagers in the game, and wherein the control system is further configured to detect the existence of an alarm condition; and a card restraining apparatus mounted on the elongated housing and configured for alternating between a non-restraining condition and a restraining condition, wherein the restraining condition includes activation of a physical restraint that prevents cards from being added to and removed from the card staging area through the slot, wherein the card restraining apparatus is in communication with the control system and actuated from the non-restraining condition to the restraining condition responsive to the detection of an alarm condition. 
     In some embodiments, the aforementioned shoe further includes one or more indicator lamps configured for illuminating upon the determination of a side wager outcome and the detection of an alarm condition. The shoe may further include a cover and the one or more indicator lamps are mounted on the cover. 
     In some embodiments, the shoe further includes a camera cleaning system including a source of compressed air mounted in the housing and a conduit, wherein the conduit includes an inlet for receiving pressurized air from the source of compressed air and an outlet adjacent to the camera for directing pressurized air in the direction of the camera. 
     In some embodiments, the base includes a ramp adjacent to the slot for facilitating card removal through the slot and over the ramp, the ramp including an indented portion at a corner thereof for facilitating grasping a corner of the card. 
     In some embodiments, the width of the slot is adjustable. 
     Some embodiments of the invention are directed to a card dealing shoe comprising: an elongated housing defining a card staging area therein, the housing including a sloped base, opposing side walls and a sloped front wall separated from the base adjacent to a front end of the housing to form a card feed slot from which cards may be manually removed from the card staging area; a camera mounted in the base for capturing an image of each card as the card is moved through the slot; a control system in communication with the camera for receiving the captured image and identifying the rank and suit of the card removed from the card staging area, the control system including a processor and a data storage device, wherein the control system is further configured to detect the existence of an alarm condition; and a card restraining apparatus mounted on the elongated housing and configured for alternating between a non-restraining condition and a restraining condition responsive to the detection of an alarm condition, wherein the restraining condition includes activation of a retractable slot blocking pin mounted in the base and configured for movement between a non-slot blocking position and a slot blocking position upon the actuation of the restraining condition to prevent a card from being added to the card staging area through the slot and removed the card staging area through the slot. 
     In some embodiments, the pin is driven by an electric motor. 
     The control system may be programmed with game play information for one or more games, including the amount of cards to be removed from the card staging area and manner in which each card removed is to be used in determining the game outcome and outcome of side wagers in the game, wherein the control system is configured to trigger the alarm condition upon the end of a round of game play. 
     In some embodiments, the card restraining apparatus further comprises a barrier mounted on the housing and an adjustable biasing member in communication with the barrier for biasing the barrier against the card in the card staging area immediately adjacent to the slot, wherein the force of the bias is adjusted upon the actuation of the restraining condition to prevent a card from being added to the card staging area through the slot and removed from the card staging area through the slot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Certain embodiments are disclosed with reference to the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary card dealing shoe constructed according to some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the shoe of  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a close-up detail view of the card feed slot area of the shoe along section E; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a card dealing shoe of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a close-up view of the card dealing shoe in  FIG. 4  along section A; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of a card dealing shoe of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of another exemplary embodiment of a card dealing shoe of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a restraining element of the card dealing shoe shown in  FIG. 7  removed from the shoe; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exploded view of the restraining element shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application. The drawings provide and illustrate specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Unless otherwise apparent or stated, directional references, such as “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “frontward,” “rearward,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom” and the like are intended to be relative to the orientation of a particular embodiment of the invention as shown in the figures. In addition, a given reference numeral in the drawings indicates the same or similar structure when it appears in different figures, and like reference numerals identify similar structural elements and/or features of the subject invention. 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrates an exemplary card dealing shoe constructed in accordance with some embodiments of the invention and generally referred to by the reference numeral  10 . Shoe  10  includes an outer frame  12  consisting of a sloped front wall  14 , rear wall  16 , sloped support base  18  and opposing side walls  20  and  22 , all of which cooperate to form a generally elongated housing defining an interior enclosed card stack receiving space or staging area (not shown) beneath a cover  24 . 
     Cover  24  may be removed to allow for a stack of cards (not shown) to be placed face-down within the receiving or staging space so that they stand sideways with their respective side edges contacting sloped support base  18 . In some embodiments, rear wall  16  provides for keyed entry into the housing and must be accessed for in order to remove cover  24 . The entire stack is tilted on sloped support base  18  at an angle which generally corresponds with the angle of sloped front wall  14  and a top card in the stack, generally identified by reference numeral  26 , is forced against the interior side of front wall  14  by the remaining cards in the stack behind it, which in turn may be pressed by a pushing device (not shown) that pushes the stack of cards towards front wall  14 . Sloped front wall  14  therefore provides a barrier against which card  26  and the stack may remain at rest. 
     Front wall  14  extends towards sloped support base  18  to define a card feed slot  28 . Card feed slot  28  has a height that is no less than the width of an edge of a playing card, and a width that is no less than the length of a playing card, thus allowing at least one playing card to pass through slot  28 . Front wall  14  includes a cut-away portion  30 , which reveals a greater surface area of the face down side of card  26 . Front wall  14  may further include brushes that extend into slot  28 . 
     When dealing cards from shoe  10 , cut-away portion  30  permits finger access to card  26  so that a frictional engagement can be formed for causing card  26  to move down through slot  28  and out over a ramp  32 . Ramp  32  includes a hollow interior portion and containing a card recognition sensor with a window  34 , which is substantially flush with the card traveling surface of ramp  32 . The sensor in this embodiment is a camera, but could be any image capturing device or a scanner. A light source (not shown) may be included to enhance the detection capabilities of the sensor. The light source may include any means for creating illumination to assist the sensor, such as an LED or light emitting paint disposed on surfaces adjacent to the sensor as necessary. The sensor and/or window  34  may be positioned so that the corner area of each card passes over window  34  and allows the sensor to read card information including rank and suit. As each card is moved down through slot  28  it physical contacts window  34  thus allowing the sensor to read the card. Ramp  32  may be configured to interchangeably allow for an indented corner portion  36  for creating a free space to facilitate using the thumb in removing and grasping card  26  from ramp  32  or a solid corner portion  36 A. Once the card is removed, the successive card in the stack is pressed against front wall  14  to become card  26 . 
     Information obtained from the sensor may be communicated to an control system mounted within frame  12  of shoe  10 . The control system may include one or more processors, data storage devices and other computer components for processing the card recognition data from the sensor. Data from the sensor may alternatively or also be communicated to a remote system. The control system may use a variety of methods for identifying each card associated with the data received from the sensor, such as by comparing one or more images or patterns included in the data received in connection with each card drawn from shoe  10  against a database of known images or patterns for each card until a likely match is determined. 
     The control system may be configured or otherwise be made aware of the game being played for purposes of using the information received to detect game outcomes or bonus game outcomes. For example, shoe  10  may be used with the game of baccarat and the control system can be configured to apply the rules of baccarat as cards are identified by the sensor in order to determine the results of the game and indicate the game outcome, that is, whether the banker hand won, the player hand won or a tie occurred. The game outcome may be indicated by illuminating lamps on shoe  10 , such as lamps  38  and  40 . Lamps  38  and  40  may also be used to indicate that wagers placed on side wagers or bets should be paid, such as the DRAGON 7® or Panda 8™ which are part of the EZ BACCARAT® game and all available commercially in various jurisdictions throughout the world from DEQ Systems Corp. 
     The control system is further configured to make an assessment of conditions for the purpose of detecting whether an alarm condition exists. The alarm conditions may be related to a variety of detectable events, such as in the case of game play or in an effort to thwart tampering. For example, the alarm condition may be triggered if a card is inserted into the card receiving or staging area rather than being removed. In another example, the alarm condition may be triggered upon game events such as the end of a round. Data regarding a variety of factors may be collected and compared with normal data for purposes of determining whether an alarm condition exists. 
     The control system may be further configured to detect the relative randomness of the order of cards in the stack in order to alert if the stack of cards lacks randomness or otherwise fails to satisfy a desirable or preset criteria for randomness. In some embodiments, the control system performs this analysis each time a new card is drawn with the help of an algorithm to determine whether there is sufficient likelihood that the cards have been randomly shuffled prior to being inserted in shoe  10 . In other embodiments, the results of the game are compared with preset statistical values, based on the odds or other factors, which may relate to the number or amount of wagers paid out to players in the game. For example, if particular outcome or set of outcomes occur which is statistically unlikely, or a player position is consistently winning large wagers over a period of time, then these events may cause the control system to trigger the alarm condition. If for any reason there is a detection of non-randomness, then an alarm condition is triggered. 
     By triggering the alarm condition, the control system may communicate a signal, actuate an audio device on shoe  10  or elsewhere, illuminate a lamp such as a flashing lamp on shoe  10  or elsewhere, and/or actuate the engagement of a card restraining apparatus operatively associated with shoe  10  to prohibit further game play, and in particular, prohibit further game play by physically restraining the cards and/or restricting movement of any cards through slot  28  from or into the card staging area. 
     In one embodiment, the restraining apparatus involves the actuation of a locking pin  42  to restrict movement through slot  28 . Pin  42  is retractably mounted in ramp  32  to be driven into slot  28  by a electrical motor  43  housed in ramp  32  for the purpose of creating a barrier to card removal from, or insertion into, the card staging area. Pin  42  may also be driven into slot  28  to block card removal or card insertion upon the control system detecting that a round of game play has ended, and then retracted upon the occurrence of a new game, a game reset or after all wagers are received and the game is locked for further wagers, for example, which is detected by the control system. 
     The control system may be further configured to provide a variety of reports or other information relating to the cards dealt and play of the game in which the cards are dealt. For example, the control system may communicate with a display device for presenting real-time and historic results of the game play and/or side wagers. The control system is also capable of identifying when more than one card has passed over the sensor window  34  and when a card has been inserted through slot  28  from the outside to become the new next card dealt. For example, the card passing over the sensor window  34  may result in abnormal data, including images or patterns from which it can be determined that the card passed over the sensor window  34  from the outside of slot  28  to the inside of shoe  10 , rather than the other way around. The control system may react to a detection of such activity be causing pin  42  to be driven into slot  28  to prevent further card removal. 
     In some embodiments, a shoe  110  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , includes a feed slot  128  with an adjustable width to allow for different dimensions of cards and ensure that a desirable portion of each card passes over the sensor, among other things. A slot adjuster bar  144  may be moved laterally, from a position in which it is flush with side wall  120 , into the space defined by slot  128 , thus decreasing the width of slot  128 . Slot adjuster bar may also be used to force sideways movement prior to drawing cards out over ramp  132 , causing more area of the card to contact window  134  for viewing by the sensor, and thus increasing the likelihood of improved sensing efficiency. 
     In some embodiments, a shoe  210  as shown in  FIG. 6  includes a sensor window cleaning system with an air compressor  246  mounted in a base  218  and conduits  249  having an inlet at the air compressor  246  and one or more outlets adjacent to the sensor and or window  234  for delivering pressurized air from compressor  246  thereto. 
     In some embodiments, a shoe  310  as shown in  FIGS. 7-9  includes a card restraining apparatus with a card restraining member or barrier  348  disposed behind the front wall (not shown in  FIGS. 7-9 ). Barrier  348  includes dual arms  350  and  352  which contact the front card of the stack and when actuated restrain card removal thereof between game rounds or during game play at times when cards should not be removed from the stack in shoe  310 . Barrier  348  is pivotally mounted about joints  354  and  356  and biased against the cards in the card staging area by one or more adjustable biasing members  358  and  360  mounted at joints  354  and  356 . The adjustable biasing members may include springs. During normal game play, biasing members  358  and  360  may apply some amount of biasing force through barrier  348  onto the cards in the card staging area but the amount is not sufficient to restrict movement of cards from the card staging area through slot  328 . Upon actuation of the card restraining apparatus, such as after detection of an alarm condition by the control system, the tension of biasing members  358  and  360  is increased to increase the biasing force upon which barrier  348  applies to the front card in the card staging area, thus preventing the removal of a card from the card staging area or the insertion of a card into the card staging area. 
     It should be understood that the term camera is intended to have its broadest meaning to include any component that accepts radiation (including visible radiation, infrared, ultraviolet, etc.) and provides a signal based on variations of the radiation received. This can be a digital camera or an analog camera with a decoder such as a digitizer, or receiver that converts the received radiation into signals that can be analyzed with respect to image content. The signals may reflect either color or black-and-white information or merely measure shifts in color density and pattern. Area detectors, semiconductor converters, optical fiber transmitters to sensors or the like may be used. Any convenient software may be used that can convert to radiation signals to information that can identify the suit/rank of a card from the received signal. The term camera is not intended to be limited in the underlying nature of its function. Lenses may or may not be needed to focus light, mirrors may or may not be needed to direct light and additional radiation emitters (lights, bulbs, etc.) may or may not be needed to assure sufficient radiation intensity for imaging by the camera. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the control system of the invention may include various computer and network related software and hardware, such as programs, operating systems, memory storage devices, data input/output devices, data processors, servers with links to data communication systems, wireless or otherwise, and data transceiving terminals, and may be a standalone device, incorporated in the shoe or another platform, such as a mobile device. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the precise types of software and hardware used are not vital to the full implementation of the system and methods of the invention. 
     Software for use with the control system may be configured for real time evaluation of the card values as well as wagering actions of all players. As each card image is received, the control system recognizes the images printed on the face of each card. The control system, including software, will keep track of the card rank and suit, and value in the game, the number of cards played, and the rank and suit of the cards which should remain in the card staging area, and along with other devices, such as bet sensors, be able to determine when a player wagers and how well a player is playing in the game. The control system may be configured for communication to a LAN or WAN server CPU or mainframe computer system. 
     It should be readily apparent that additional computerized or manual systems may also be employed in accordance with the invention in order to achieve its full implementation as a system, apparatus or method or provided added features. The shoes described herein may be integrated with other components, subcomponents and systems that exist on gaming tables such elements as bet sensors, display devices, progressive jackpot meters, play analysis systems, wagering analysis systems, player reward or comp systems, player movement analysis systems, security systems, and the like may be provided in combination with the shoe and control system described herein. 
     While exemplary systems and methods, and applications of methods of the invention, have been described herein, it should also be understood that the foregoing is only illustrative of a few particular embodiments with exemplary and/or preferred features, as well as principles of the invention, and that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the described embodiments should not be considered as limiting of the scope of the invention in any way. Accordingly, the invention embraces alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims and equivalents thereto.