Improved Means for Shuffling Playing Cards.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Shuffling Playing Cards.
I, CHARLES VIVIAN VICARS CHILDS, of 45 Sloane Gardens, London, S.W.
Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to improved means for shuffling playing cards and the
object of my invention is to construct a box or other suitable receptacle into which
the playing cards are inserted and in which box the cards are automatically shuffled
by merely turning or revolving said box.
In order that my invention may be readily understood reference is made to the
accompanying drawings wherein similar letters indicate corresponding parts in both
figures and in which :-
Figure 1, represents a longitudinal section of my invention, and
Figure 2, represents a cross section thereof.
In carrying out my invention I make a box having a flat bottom A and sides B
which are preferably made of wood and a rounded top C which is preferably made
of or lined with metal. Said box is provided at one end with a hinged or other
lid D and the opposite end of said box is permanently closed.
Each of the sides B is formed at a suitable part with a series of apertures or the
like E into which the ends of a corresponding series of bars F are loosely mounted
or inserted. Each of said bars F is formed or provided at about midway of its
length with a stop or the like G and the box is provided at each side with a
handle H. The lid D is adapted to be closed and kept closed by any suitable
means and the action of the whole apparatus is as follows:-
The playing cards are inserted into the box and the lid D closed and fastened.
The box is next revolved in the direction of the arrow (Figure 1) so as to bring
the lid uppermost which causes some of the cards to be caught and supported
by the stops G whilst the remainder of said cards fall between the stop G on to the
end K of the box. The box is continued to be revolved whereby the cards which
are at the bottom will slide along the inside of the curved cover or top C until the
lid is lowermost when the whole of the cards will fall against the said lid D. The
box may of course be revolved as many times as desired and at each revolution
the cards will be shuffled.
I prefer the bars F to be loosely mounted or supported as their relative position
will thereby, in practice, be changed.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the construction of the
box exactly as described and shown, as said box may have almost any shape and
dimensions; also, instead of a hingedly connected lid I may employ a sliding lid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An apparatus for shuffling cards, which apparatus consists of a box adapted to
be revolved and having preferably a curved top and a lid; said box being provided
with a series of suitably mounted bars F having stops or the like G all arranged
and operating substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In an apparatus for shuffling cards a series of stops Ġ arranged in such a
manner as to allow some of the cards to fall between them whilst the remainder of
said cards are supported by them, for the purpose and substantially as described
and illustrated.

page_text: 3. In an apparatus for shuffling cards a series of loosely mounted stops G adapted
so as to allow the relative portions of said stops to be changed, substantially as
described and illustrated.
Dated this 14th day of September 1894
HORN, SON & Co.,
Applicant's Agents.