Playing card case

Abstract

The playing card box according to the invention includes a container adapted to be coupled to a card distribution shoe, the container defining a volume. The container includes a set of playing cards in the volume, the volume of the container being sealed by one or more seals. The container includes a top wall, a front wall, and side walls, the top wall being slidably connected to the side walls and adapted to slide toward the front wall, the top wall being prevented from sliding by at least a first seal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a deck of cards suitable for insertion into a dealing device, and a method for dealing cards from a dealing device including such a deck of cards. Background Technology

[0002] Card games are very popular in casinos and similar establishments. Such card games are prone to potential fraud and cheating.

[0003] The first source of potential fraud and deception lies in arrangements between the dealer and the players, such as giving signals about the next card to be dealt. For this purpose, it must be made completely impossible for the dealer to see the next card while dealing. Sophisticated dealing shoes and systems are designed to prevent the dealer and players from knowing information about the next card (or multiple cards).

[0004] Another potential source of fraud and deception could be the use of counterfeit cards in the deck during the game itself or during the creation and transport of the deck to the dealing table.

[0005] The next potential source of fraud and deception is related to minor defects visible on the cards themselves, affecting the information about their rank and suit. Such minor defects could be slight color variations, deviations in the printed patterns, or minor deviations in the rectangular shape due to imperfect card cutting. High levels of quality control should be used to reduce or even eliminate any kind of card defect.

[0006] Finally, the source of fraud or deception is the leakage of information about the order in which cards exist within a deck used during the game. This information is obtained during the deck's production process and during its transport from the deck manufacturer, through the casino's locked area, to the table where the deck is dealt. To mitigate the risk of information leakage, the transportation and production chains must be kept as short as possible in both time and distance. Summary of the Invention

[0007] One of the objectives of this invention is to further reduce the risk of information leakage during the transportation of a deck of cards from the deck and / or deck manufacturer, possibly via a locked area of ​​the casino, to the table where the deck is dealt.

[0008] According to a first general aspect of the invention, a playing card box is provided, the box comprising a container adapted to be coupled to a card distribution shoe. The container defines a volume, and the container includes a set of playing cards within the volume. The volume of the container, and thus the box, is sealed by one or more seals.

[0009] The container includes a top wall, a front wall, and side walls. The top wall is slidably connected to the side walls and adapted to slide toward the front wall. The top wall is prevented from sliding by at least a first seal, i.e., at least a first seal of the one or more seals. Therefore, the container includes a top wall, a front wall, and side walls, and after the box is opened, the top wall is slidably connected to the side walls and adapted to slide toward the front wall, with the top wall prevented from sliding by at least a first seal of the one or more seals.

[0010] A seal is a closure that must be broken to open and thus reveal tampering. Therefore, a sealed container means that it cannot be opened without breaking at least one seal. Once a container has been opened, it can always be noticed that it has been opened by the presence of at least one broken seal, traces of an opened seal, or by the fact that the container itself is damaged or even destroyed.

[0011] The box is adapted to be coupled to the card distribution shoe. Therefore, the box can be coupled to the card distribution shoe without any additional means of linking the box to the card distribution shoe, which typically comes from the card dealing device.

[0012] Because the box is adapted to couple to a card distribution shoe typically from a dealing device, the dealer does not need to manipulate or touch the deck in the container during the time between receiving the box at the game table and starting the game by dealing cards from the box. Furthermore, the box can be sealed at the manufacturing plant where the deck is made and inserted into the box. Therefore, during the transport of the deck between the manufacturer and the game table (during which time the box remains sealed), no one can possibly touch the cards in the deck. After the box is sealed, the cards never leave the box unless they are actually pulled out one by one by the card distributor. Because the box is sealed, no one can see or even touch or manipulate the cards during this transport. Therefore, no one can obtain information about the order and identification of the cards in the deck from the deck manufacturer before the game begins. The box can be opened by removing at least one of the seals before it is inserted into the card distribution shoe typically from a dealing device. Alternatively, the box is inserted into the card distribution shoe, and then opened by removing at least one of the seals.

[0013] The seals used can be any type of seal, such as safety sealing tape, or the box can be sealed with lead and / or wax or any combination of such seals.

[0014] The container can be made of a polymeric material, such as a thermoplastic polymer (e.g., polypropylene (PP)) or a thermosetting polymer (e.g., polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, and mixtures thereof (e.g., PC / ABS mixtures)). Preferably, the container consists of one or more injection-molded parts. Several walls or elements can be parts of one injection-molded part. The volume of the container can be provided by a combination of several walls (e.g., a bottom wall, two side walls, a rear wall, a front wall, and a top wall). One of these walls, preferably the front wall, is provided with a discharge tool that allows the card in the volume to be removed from the volume once the container is opened. As an example, the container may include a top wall, a bottom wall, two side walls, a rear wall, and a front wall, with the bottom wall, side walls, and rear wall forming a single integral part, such as an injection-molded part. The container can be partially transparent; that is, some walls can be transparent, translucent, opaque, or opaque, or part of the wall, or the entire wall.

[0015] According to a first specific aspect of a first general aspect of the invention, a playing card box is provided, wherein the container includes a top wall, a front wall, and a side wall, the top wall being slidably connected to the side wall and adapted to slide toward the front wall, the top wall being prevented from sliding by at least a first seal. Thus, once this first seal is broken, the top wall can slide relative to the side wall. According to some embodiments, the lower edge of the top wall is oriented toward the front wall, the upper edge of the front wall is oriented toward the top wall, and the lower edge of the top wall may extend above the upper edge of the front wall.

[0016] The seal prevents the top wall from sliding toward the front wall relative to its slidably engaged or attached sidewalls. This arrangement at the lower edge of the top wall, extending above the upper edge of the front wall, prevents the cards from sliding at a slit, which may exist along the contact point of the two edges. If the top wall is also adapted to slide toward the rear wall, this seal prevents the top wall from sliding toward the rear wall relative to its slidably engaged or attached sidewalls. In an alternative embodiment, if the top wall is also adapted to slide toward the front wall, a first seal prevents any sliding of the top wall toward the front wall, and a second seal prevents any sliding of the top wall toward the rear wall. Sliding toward the rear wall can be used to free up space at the front of the container to load a deck of cards to be played into the container during the manufacture of the box. It is necessary to prevent this rearward sliding of the top wall during transport and during gameplay because this could provide the possibility of unauthorized handling of the cards present in the box after the box is opened.

[0017] Therefore, a sealed box means that the top wall covers the opening defined by the side and front and rear walls of the container in its sealed state. After the box is opened, the top wall can slide under certain conditions. Even if the cards can be removed from the box, sliding of the top wall towards the front and / or rear walls can still be prevented after opening the box, provided that one or more associated seals preventing top wall sliding are not removed or broken. Alternatively, when the box is coupled to a card distribution shoe, the card distribution shoe can impede and prevent the top wall from sliding towards the front wall. In this case, optionally, a second seal can prevent the top wall from sliding towards the rear wall.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the upper edge of the top wall is oriented away from the front wall, and a pushing tool is provided in the volume of the container to push the playing cards toward the front of the container. The box includes a stop tool to prevent the upper edge of the top wall from sliding beyond the pushing tool.

[0019] According to some embodiments, when the upper edge of the top wall is oriented away from the front wall and a pushing tool is provided in the volume of the container to push the playing cards toward the front of the container, the pushing tool may include a stop tool to prevent the upper edge of the top wall from sliding beyond the pushing tool.

[0020] The pushing tool may have a protrusion on its side facing the top wall, the protrusion sliding within a recess in the top wall. This recess in the top wall is provided along the length of the top wall but terminates before the upper edge of the top wall. In this way, the top wall can be slid to the front end of the box, but there is no recess near the upper edge of the top wall to prevent further sliding. The protrusion will strike the end of the recess and prevent further sliding of the top wall. The recess in the top wall may be provided along at least a portion of the length of the top wall. Preferably, the recess in the top wall is provided along the entire length of the top wall.

[0021] Therefore, according to some embodiments, the stopping tool may include a protrusion on the pushing tool side oriented toward the top wall, and the stopping tool may also include a recess in the top wall, the recess in the top wall being disposed along the length of the top wall and terminating before the upper edge of the top wall, the protrusion on the pushing tool sliding in the recess in the top wall.

[0022] According to some embodiments, the upper edge of the top wall is oriented away from the front wall. A pushing tool is provided within the container's volume to push the playing cards toward the front of the container. The top wall may include a stop to prevent the upper edge of the top wall from sliding beyond the pushing tool. The top wall may include a protrusion projecting into the box, extending further than the upper side of the pushing tool oriented to the top wall. This allows the top wall to slide to the front of the box, but the protrusion prevents the top wall from sliding beyond the pushing tool. The protrusion will strike the back of the pushing tool and prevent further sliding of the top wall.

[0023] Therefore, according to some embodiments, the stopping tool may include a protrusion on the inside of the top wall (e.g., at the upper edge of the top wall) that protrudes into the box such that the protrusion extends beyond the upper side of the pushing tool. This upper side is oriented towards the top wall.

[0024] During the use of the box, the cards are pulled out of the box, and the remainder of the deck is pushed forward by a pusher. The pusher also moves forward within the box. During gameplay, a new volume is created between the back of the pusher and the back wall. Once the game ends and the box is removed from the dealing device again, the top wall can slide towards the front wall, opening the newly created volume behind the pusher. Dealt cards can be collected and placed into this newly created volume behind the pusher. A stop can be, for example, an inward protrusion on the top wall or an upward protrusion on the pusher; the stop sliding within a recess in the top wall prevents the top wall from sliding beyond the stop. The inward protrusion on the top wall can extend deeper into the volume than the upper side of the pusher. The protrusion can be adjacent to the upper edge of the top wall, i.e., the edge closest to the back wall. The upward protrusion on the pusher can slide within a recess in the top wall. The recess can run along the entire top wall from its upper to lower edge, but terminates before the upper edge of the top wall. In this way, the undealt cards still in front of the pushing tool remain untouched and cannot be touched. The undealt cards and their order remain confidential, so the cards can be restored without worrying about their markings and order being known.

[0025] Therefore, according to one aspect of the present invention, a method for collecting playing cards in a box is provided. The method includes...

[0026] - Collect playing cards, preferably dealt cards drawn from an unsealed box according to the invention;

[0027] - Open the volume behind the push tool in the box;

[0028] - Insert the collected playing cards into the volume behind the pusher in the box;

[0029] - The volume behind the pushing tool in the closed box.

[0030] According to some embodiments, the container may be provided with at least one storage location for storing one or more spare seals. Once the box is used, the spare seals inside the sealed box can be used to seal the box again. Each of the one or more storage locations may store one spare, unused seal, or may store multiple spare seals for sealing the box after use. The spare seals, also known as return seals, are thus used to seal the box after use. To avoid errors, new boxes may be sealed with seals of a given color, while return seals are made of a different color than the seals used to seal new boxes. Additionally or alternatively, the return seals and the seals on new boxes may be provided with distinct markings (e.g., markings embossed in the seals), or markings or the like. Most preferably, one or more storage locations are located on or within the rear wall of the container. When the resealed box is returned to the casino's back office, the one or more storage locations may also be used to store damaged seals on new boxes.

[0031] Therefore, the provided method for collecting playing cards in a box may also include the following steps:

[0032] - Remove the spare seal from the box before the volume behind the pusher in the closed box; and

[0033] - Use a spare seal to seal the box.

[0034] The seals, namely the seals on the new deck of cards and (optionally) the return seals, may be equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or RFID strips that are destroyed and cease to function when the seals are breached.

[0035] Therefore, based on some embodiments of the seal or playing card box according to the invention, at least one seal may include an RFID tag that is destroyed when the seal is damaged.

[0036] According to a second specific aspect of a first general aspect of the invention, a playing card box is provided, wherein the container includes a top wall and a front wall, the lower edge of the top wall being oriented toward the front wall, the front wall having a card ejection tool that allows cards to be removed from the volume of the container after the box is opened, and at least an inner surface portion of the top wall adjacent to the lower edge is profiled to prevent cards different from those closest to the card ejection tool from being removed from the box via the card ejection tool.

[0037] To prevent cards that are different from the one in front of the ejector from being pulled out by the ejector, it has been found that the irregular surface (such as a serrated surface) near the lower edge of the top wall prevents such incorrect cards from being pulled out by the ejector. It should be understood that the serrated or irregular surface has protrusions and indentations that are substantially parallel to the lower edge of the top wall, i.e., the edge closest to the front wall. The irregular (e.g., serrated) surface also prevents playing cards from being pushed into the box by the ejector.

[0038] According to a third specific aspect of the first general aspect of the invention, a playing card box is provided, wherein a pushing tool is provided within the volume of the container for pushing playing cards toward the front end of the container, the pushing tool (or pusher) being forced against the front wall by a spring. The spring may be a constant torque spring. The constant torque spring may include a coil. The coil may be housed in the pushing tool. Alternatively, the constant torque spring, such as a coil, may be located at the front end of the container near the front wall within the box.

[0039] The use of springs results in a constant force being applied from the pushing tool toward the front wall and its discharge tool onto the deck. This constant force ensures a constant resistance to each card drawn from the box. The dealer will always have to use the same force to draw the cards from the box, which reduces the risk of errors and incorrect dealing.

[0040] According to some embodiments, a pushing tool is provided within the volume of the container. The pushing tool includes at least one wheel that displaces the pushing tool within the volume under the influence of gravity when a box is inserted into a card dispensing boot. The pushing tool can be displaced within the container by at least two wheels (one wheel on each side of the pushing tool) to displace the pushing tool within the volume under the influence of gravity when a box is inserted into a card dispensing boot. One or more wheels may be located below the pushing tool and rotate on the bottom wall of the container.

[0041] In other embodiments, the container may include two sidewalls, with a wheel contacting and traveling over a ridge on the inner surface of each of these sidewalls, one wheel on each side. Alternatively, the wheel may contact a recess on the inner surface of each of the sidewalls and extend therein.

[0042] Optionally, the container includes two sidewalls, and the pushing tool is displaceable within the container by at least two pairs of wheels (one pair on each side of the pushing tool), each of the wheels contacting and traveling over a ridge on the inner surface of each of the sidewalls. Alternatively, the pushing tool is displaceable within the container by at least two pairs of wheels (one pair on each side of the pushing tool), each of the wheels contacting and traveling within a recess on the inner surface of each of the sidewalls.

[0043] It should be understood that the ridges or recesses can slope slightly downwards from the rear wall to the front wall of the container. When the card is pulled out of the box, these ridges or recesses will guide the pushing tool toward the front wall of the container.

[0044] Springs (such as constant torque springs (e.g., coil springs) and combinations of such wheels or pairs of wheels can also be used to provide improved and smoothly guided movement of the tool in the container and thus in the box.

[0045] According to some embodiments, a pushing tool is provided within the volume of a container, the container including a bottom wall, and the pushing tool including at least one protrusion on its side contacting the bottom wall. The protrusion can slide in at least one recess in the bottom wall. This at least one recess can exist along the length of the bottom wall from the front end to the rear end of the container. The pushing tool may have more than one protrusion, such as two or more protrusions, and the bottom wall includes a recess for each protrusion. Each protrusion slides in a recess. Each recess can exist along the length of the bottom wall from the front end to the rear end of the container. One or more protrusions sliding in one or more recesses will guide the pushing tool along its path from the rear end of the container down to the front end of the container.

[0046] Therefore, according to some embodiments, a pushing tool may be disposed in the volume of a container, the container including a bottom wall, the pushing tool including at least one protrusion on the side of it contacting the bottom wall, the bottom wall including at least one recess along the length of the bottom wall from the front end to the rear end of the container, the protrusion of the pushing tool on the side of it contacting the bottom wall sliding in the recess along the length of the bottom wall.

[0047] According to a fourth specific aspect of the first general aspect of the invention, a playing card box is provided, wherein the container includes a front wall having a card ejection tool that allows cards to be removed from the volume of the container after the box is opened, and when the container is sealed, the card closest to the card ejection tool in a deck can be sealed to the container by at least one seal. According to some embodiments, the box may include a closing cover for sealing the card ejection tool, and the closing cover can be sealed to the container by at least one seal. Sealing the card ejection tool prevents the cards from being pulled out of the container. Preferably, this closing cover is made of a polymeric material, most preferably of a transparent or translucent polymeric material. This transparent or translucent polymeric material allows the color of the backs of the playing cards in the box to be seen (even before the box is opened). Thus, the correctness of the backs of the playing cards can be visually checked without opening the box.

[0048] Although the first card—that is, the card in the deck closest to the card ejector when the box is sealed—may be a counterfeit or fake card, providing a seal for this first card allows for a sealed box at the ejector. However, placing the cover closer to the ejector is preferable because it provides a greater guarantee against unauthorized touches to the deck.

[0049] According to a fifth specific aspect of the first general aspect of the present invention, a playing card box is provided, wherein each of the cards can have a card identification code, the box includes a data storage tool for storing information about the card identification codes of the cards in a deck of cards held by the box. The data storage tool can also store information about the order of the cards in the deck of cards held by the box.

[0050] To enhance the prevention and detectability of fraudulent transactions involving a deck of cards within the box's volume, each card in the box may have a card identification code, which can be a unique identifier. The card identification code may include information about the card's rank and suit, combined with a sequence of characters, optionally combined with a random sequence of characters. It can be a binary code consisting of 0s and 1s, or it may be a string. Characters should be understood as alphabetic, digits 0 through 9, punctuation marks, and special characters (such as &, @, #, §, $, etc.). The character is selected from any other ASCII character, etc. The card identifier code can be a unique card identifier code. A unique card identifier does not mean strict uniqueness, but rather refers to what should be understood in the context of this invention, i.e., a playing card used in card games such as those in casinos. The identifier is unique if no second playing card with the same card identifier can be found. The card identifier can be said to be unique if the probability of finding a second playing card with the same card identifier is one in ten thousand or less (such as one in a million or less, for example, one in ten million or less). The card identifier code can be printed once or multiple times on the front of each card. It can be printed as a string or binary code, or this string or binary code can first be converted to a barcode, QR code (two-dimensional code), etc. According to some embodiments, microdot encryption can be used to print the card identifier string or code. The use of microdots to identify the card rank and suit on the front of the card is known from US9254435.

[0051] The brand identification string or code may be invisible to the naked eye. It can be detected by ultraviolet illumination or by radiation of invisible light with a given wavelength or wavelength range. Ultraviolet illumination sources, such as LED (light-emitting diode) ultraviolet illumination, can be used with a suitable camera system to make the brand identification string or code readable.

[0052] A data storage device (such as a SIM card or micro SIM card) can be integrated into the box. The dealing device can have a data reading device that can be coupled to the data storage device when the box is inserted into the dealing device. The data reading device of the dealing device can read the stored data. When the dealing device has a card reading device that reads the card identification code on the card, the read code can be compared with the card identification code stored in the data storage device. If the read code does not match one of the card identification codes stored in the data storage device, fraud may have occurred with respect to a set of cards in the box. If this happens, an alarm can be generated. When the data storage device includes information about the order of the cards in the box, an alarm can be generated if the read card identification code is different from the identification code subsequently stored in the order of the data storage device.

[0053] Data storage devices can also be part of a seal used in a sealed container. A damaged seal can be adapted to be inserted into a reading device, which will then read the stored data.

[0054] The box can provide a box identification code. The box identification code can be a concatenation of defined character sets extracted from each card, arranged in the order the cards appeared in the deck within the box's volume. Therefore, comparing the order of the parts of the box identification code with the parts of the card identification codes in the order they were drawn from the box may reveal incorrect card order or incorrect cards drawn from the box. This could also be an indication that fraud has occurred with respect to a deck stored in the box.

[0055] According to a sixth specific aspect of the first general aspect of the invention, a playing card box is provided, wherein the box may include a tracking and tracing tool. This tracking and tracing tool can provide information about the location of the box at any given time. In such a tracking and tracing tool, a box identification code can be used to identify the box.

[0056] According to a second general aspect of the invention, a method for providing a card dealing device is provided. Similarly, a method for providing playing cards to a game table is provided, and a method for bringing playing cards to and optionally removing them from the game table is provided. The method includes:

[0057] • Provides a dealing device including a dealing boot, the dealing device being adapted to receive a deck of cards according to a first general aspect of the invention;

[0058] • Provides a playing card box according to a first general aspect of the invention;

[0059] • Couple the playing card box to the dealing shoe; and

[0060] • Open the box by removing at least one of one or more seals.

[0061] Before the card box is used in a card game, i.e., before the first card is drawn from the box via the dealing shoe, all seals may be removed. Seals may also be removed before the card box is coupled to the dealing shoe. Alternatively, some seals remain in place and are only removed after the box has been used and optionally recycled. Once the game is over, the box is removed from the dealing shoe again. Since used boxes are typically returned to restricted areas of the casino, and boxes can still contain many unused (undrawn) cards, used boxes can be resealed with new seals to prevent unauthorized access to unused cards.

[0062] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the playing card box is a playing card box of a first specific aspect of the first general aspect of the present invention, and the method further includes:

[0063] • Collect the dealt cards during the game;

[0064] • At the end of the game, slide the top wall toward the front wall to open the part of the container beyond the pushing tool;

[0065] Place the dealt cards into the open section behind the container's pusher.

[0066] During or after the game, dealt cards can be collected and stored together. Used cards can be placed behind the pusher by opening its compartment. This returns all used cards to the restricted area of ​​the casino. Once the used cards are placed behind the pusher, the compartment is closed again and sealed with a new seal. This allows for counting used cards within the restricted area and identification of missing dealt cards. Removing or retaining dealt cards can also be a source of fraudulent activity.

[0067] This is especially true when all cards have card identification codes. Played cards can be counted within a restricted area, and missing dealt cards can be identified by their card identification codes. Optionally, missing cards can be marked using their card identification codes. If a marked card is identified using a different box during another game, a link can be established between the boxes where the marked card appeared, and the marked card is removed from that box. This allows marked cards to be identified on the spot during gameplay. Once a marked card is noticed, the game can be interrupted, thus preventing the impact of cheating.

[0068] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the playing card box is a playing card box of the fifth specific aspect of the first general aspect of the present invention, wherein the method further includes

[0069] • Obtain data stored in data storage tools;

[0070] • Read the card identification codes from the dealt playing cards;

[0071] • Compare the read card identification code with the obtained data stored in the data storage tool.

[0072] This allows for the immediate identification of inappropriate cards or flawed card sequences during gameplay. Once a flawed hand or sequence is discovered, the game can be stopped, preventing casino losses due to fraudulent activity.

[0073] According to a third general aspect of the invention, a component toolbox is provided, comprising a box according to a first aspect of the invention, and a dealing device including a dealing shoe adapted to receive the box. The dealing device includes a dealing shoe, which may have a holding tool for receiving and holding the box when it is inserted into or placed on the dealing shoe. The dealing device may also include a spout, which can be mounted (e.g., anchored) to the dealing shoe once the box is inserted into or placed on it. The spout may cover the front wall of the box and may include an opening allowing cards to be drawn from the box through the front wall and the spout.

[0074] The card dealing device, and especially the card dealing shoe, may be equipped with one or more of the following tools:

[0075] • One or more sensors that detect the presence of the box or detect the cards being drawn;

[0076] • A card reader that reads the rank and suit of the drawn cards;

[0077] • A camera that detects and reads license plate identification codes;

[0078] • The data storage tool of the read box is a data reading tool;

[0079] • A tool for reading box identification codes;

[0080] • A processor configured to compare the card identifier code with the box identifier code;

[0081] • A signaling tool that provides a signal when a discrepancy is found between the read license plate identifier code and the license plate identifier code to be read according to the box identifier code. The provided signal can be a visual or auditory signal, such as an alarm, siren, flashing light, etc.

[0082] The dealing shoe may have a top surface with a recessed portion on the bottom wall of the receiving box. The circumference of the recess surrounds and matches the bottom wall of the box. Thus, during use, the box can fall snugly into the recess and remain submerged along its depth. This prevents the box from slipping out of the dealing shoe during use. Alternatively, or additionally, the dealing shoe may have a retaining tool to hold the box in or on the dealing shoe during use.

[0083] According to a fourth general aspect of the invention, a seal is provided, which is adapted for use in conjunction with a box according to a first general aspect of the invention. The seal according to the fourth aspect of the invention can be used to seal a box according to the first general aspect of the invention.

[0084] The seal has a body or rod and a head, the head being wider than the body. For the body, at least one barb is provided, having an opening oriented toward the head of the seal. The radial cross-section of the seal (a cross-section perpendicular to the axis of the body) can be polygonal, such as a triangle, rectangle, or square, or ellipse or a similar shape. The width of the head of the seal extends beyond the outermost point of at least one barb. The seal may include at least two barbs, the at least two barbs being disposed opposite each other relative to the axis of the T-shaped body.

[0085] The head of the seal can be tilted relative to the axis of the body, forming an angle other than 90°. When the barb is against the body of the seal, the outer point of the head can be further away from the axis of the body than the outer point of the barb.

[0086] The cross-section of a seal that conforms to a plane parallel to the axis of the body (with the barb coplanar with the plane) can have a T-shaped cross-section.

[0087] As an example, the seal may have a T-shaped cross-section in the axial direction, i.e., a T-shaped cross-section can be formed according to a plane parallel to the axis of the body (the barbs are coplanar with said plane). The opening of this barb is oriented towards the head of the T-shape. The T-shape may be provided by a cylindrical body with one or more barbs disposed thereon. The radial cross-section of the seal, i.e., the cross-section perpendicular to the axis of the body of the T-shape and substantially parallel to the head of the T-shape, is circular or elliptical. Alternatively, the axial cross-section of the seal may be polygonal, such as triangular, rectangular, or square. At least when the barb is located closest to the axis of the body, the width of the head of the seal extends beyond the outermost point of at least one barb. Preferably, the seal includes at least two barbs positioned relative to each other with respect to the axis of the body of the T-shape.

[0088] Therefore, according to some embodiments of the invention, at least one seal has a T-shaped cross section in the axial direction, and at least one barb is provided along the main body of the T-shaped cross section of the seal, the at least one barb having an opening oriented toward the head of the T-shaped cross section.

[0089] The seal can be made of polymeric materials, preferably thermoplastic materials such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PP (polypropylene), PC (polycarbonate) or ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymer).

[0090] According to a fifth general aspect of the invention, the box according to the first general aspect is provided with one or more grooves for receiving a seal according to a fourth general aspect of the invention. The one or more grooves have an inlet opening whose circumference is radially smaller than the circumference of the T-shaped head of the seal and radially larger than the circumference of the T-shaped body of the seal. When the seal has only one barb, the maximum width of the inlet is less than the length provided by the distance between the outermost point of the barb and the body of the T-shape, increasing with the minimum width of the body of the T-shape. When the seal has two or more barbs, the maximum width of the inlet opening is less than the maximum distance between the two outermost points of the two barbs. The depth of the one or more grooves is greater than the maximum axial distance between the bottom of the body of the T-shape and the outermost point of the barb.

[0091] Thus, when the seal is introduced into the groove, one or more barbs are pressed against the T-shaped body during insertion, and once fully inserted, the barbs anchor below the groove and prevent pull-back. Pulling the seal out of the groove will damage the barbs, thereby damaging the seal.

[0092] As an example, in addition to a groove extending upwards from the front wall, the front wall of the box may be provided with a volume enclosed by the material of the front wall. The volume below the groove is wider than the groove. The top wall is provided with an opening having the same circumference as the inlet opening of the groove. When the top wall completely closes the box, the inlet opening and the opening in the top wall coincide. A seal according to the fifth aspect of the invention is inserted into the groove of the front wall through the opening in the top wall. The barb will open and will prevent the seal in the volume below the groove. The box can thus be sealed. Damaging the seal will result in a loose barb being left in the volume below the groove. If the front wall is made of a transparent material, such as a transparent polymeric material, the integrity of the inserted seal can be checked at any time.

[0093] As an alternative example, the box includes a closure lid, which, in addition to a groove extending upward from the closure lid, may have a volume sealed by the material of the closure lid. The volume below the groove is wider than the groove. The top wall is provided with an opening having the same circumference as the inlet opening of the groove. When the top wall completely closes the box, the inlet opening and the opening in the top wall coincide. A seal according to the fifth aspect of the invention is inserted into the groove of the closure lid through the opening in the top wall. The barb will open and will prevent the seal in the volume below the groove. Damaging the seal will result in a loose barb being left in the volume below the groove. The box can thus be sealed. If the closure lid is made of a transparent material, such as a transparent polymeric material, the integrity of the inserted seal can be checked at any time.

[0094] According to a sixth general aspect of the invention, the box according to the first and / or fifth general aspects is provided with a tracking and / or real-time tracking tool. The tracking / real-time tracking tool may be an RFID chip provided to the box (e.g., disposed inside the volume of a sealed container). A scanner can be used to track and trace the sealed box at any time, identifying the box without damaging the seal. The RFID may be linked to a box identification code, or even carry the box identification code.

[0095] In alternative embodiments, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tags can be used for tracking and tracing, and even for real-time tracking of the box's location.

[0096] Typically, tracking and / or real-time tracking tools can utilize integrated circuits added to or embedded in the case. The integrated circuit (IC) can be a data storage device for storing information about the card identification codes of a deck of cards held by the case, or it can be a similar but separate integrated circuit that optionally stores the case identification code. This integrated circuit can be a SIM card, nano SIM card, micro SIM card, or mini-SIM card, etc. The integrated circuit storing the case identification code can be integrated into the case, for example, on the outer surface of one of the case walls or on the bottom side of the case.

[0097] ICs can also be used as data storage tools for storage plate identification codes and / or box identification codes.

[0098] The playing card processing device may include a data reading tool adapted to read card identification codes from a data storage device and also to read box identification codes. When a box is inserted into the card dealing device, the data reading tool, optionally an additional data reading tool, may be coupled to an integrated circuit. The read box identification codes can be used to verify the extent to which the box is permitted to be used during the game.

[0099] The independent and dependent claims set forth specific and preferred features of the invention. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent or other dependent claims, and / or, as appropriate, with features set forth in the foregoing and / or following description.

[0100] The above and other features, characteristics, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the principles of the invention by way of example. This description is given for illustrative purposes only and does not limit the scope of the invention. The reference numerals used below refer to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0101] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a playing card box according to the present invention. Figure 1B It is based on such Figure 1A The longitudinal section of plane AA is shown.

[0102] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the front view of a box in an unsealed state.

[0103] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the seal used in a playing card box according to the present invention.

[0104] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a card dealing device equipped with a playing card box.

[0105] Figure 5 An embodiment of a seal that can be used in conjunction with a box according to the invention is shown schematically.

[0106] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a playing card box according to the present invention. Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the cross-section of a playing card box.

[0107] In different accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same, similar, or analogous elements. Detailed Implementation

[0108] The invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments. It should be noted that the term "comprising" as used in the claims should not be construed as limited to the tools (means) listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. Therefore, it will be interpreted as specifying the presence of the mentioned features, steps, or components, but not excluding the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, or components, or combinations thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising tool A and tool B" should not be limited to a device consisting only of components A and B. This means that, for the purposes of this invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.

[0109] Throughout the specification, the phrase "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" is used. Such a reference indicates that a particular feature described with respect to an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Therefore, the appearance of the phrase "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places in this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may refer to the same embodiment.

[0110] Furthermore, specific features or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0111] Figure 1A A front view of a playing card box 100 according to the present invention is shown. Figure 1B It is based on such Figure 1A The longitudinal section of the playing card box 100 in plane AA is shown. Figure 2 A front view of box 100 in an unsealed state is shown.

[0112] The playing card box includes a container 101 adapted to be coupled to a card distribution shoe. Container 101 defines a volume 102 for providing a set of playing cards 103. The volume 102 of container 101 is sealed by a seal 104.

[0113] Container 101 includes a top wall 110, a front wall 111, and side walls 112, 113. The top wall 110 is slidably connected to the side walls. The container also includes a rear wall 114 and a bottom wall 115. A pusher 120 is provided at the rear of the deck of cards. Container 100 includes a stop 130 to prevent the upper edge 121 of the top wall 110 from sliding beyond the pusher 120. A recess 122 is provided in the top wall 110, terminating near the upper edge 121. A protrusion 123 is provided for the pusher 120, sliding within the recess 122. In the unsealed state, if the top wall 110 slides towards the front wall 111, the upper edge 121 will strike the protrusion and will be prevented from sliding further towards the front wall 111. The top wall 110 cannot slide beyond the pusher 120.

[0114] The pusher 120 is forced toward the front wall 111 by a constant torque spring 140, the coil of which is located within the pusher itself. The tip of the coil is anchored to the front side of the box near the front wall 111. The extended portion of the coil is located in a recess in the bottom wall 115. The coil of the spring 140 causes the pusher 120 to press against the back of the deck of cards 103 with a constant pressure toward the front wall 111.

[0115] To seal the box 100, one or two seals 104 are provided, each being a rectangular plate with barbs 144 at the outer ends near the sides on both long sides. The front wall 111 of the box 100 is covered by a sealing cover 150, the edge of which has protrusions that engage with recesses in the side walls 112 and 113. The sealing cover is made of a transparent polymeric material. At the bottom of the cover 150, two fingers 171 and 172 close an opening 170 in the front wall 111 that allows a card to be removed from the volume 101. The fingers prevent the card from being removed from the volume. The sealing cover also extends beyond the lower edge 122 of the top wall 110 and hooks into a small opening at the lower edge of the top wall. Thus, the top wall cannot slide against either the front wall 111 or the rear wall 114.

[0116] exist Figure 3 The image shows a seal 104. The seal has a body 141 and a head (not shown). Two barbs 144 are provided symmetrically with respect to the axis 142 of the seal body 141. In the cover 150, there are two slits 151 and 152. Figure 3As shown, the closure 150 positioned above the front wall 111 seals the front wall 111 of the box 100 by introducing one or two seals 104 into one or two slits 151, 152 of the closure 150. Barbs also protrude through two slits 161, 162 at the upper edge of the front wall 111 and are clamped behind the front wall 111. The seals are made of a rigid polymer material, and the barbs 144 will break when the seals are pulled out of the opening. In this sealed state, the complete internal volume 102 cannot be reached. The volume 101 is sealed, and nothing can then enter or be removed from the volume without breaking the seals. To open the volume 101 of the box 100, one or two seals 104 are pulled out from slits 151, 161 and / or slits 152, 162. The barb 144 will break during the pull-out process, so the seal will no longer function when it is introduced back into the slit after being pulled out, and will loosely insert into the slit. Therefore, the fact that the seal has been removed can be detected.

[0117] Figure 5 An alternative seal 104 is shown. Also here, the seal has a body 141 or a rod and a head 145, which is wider than the body 141. For the body 141, a barb 144 is provided, its opening oriented toward the head 145 of the seal 104. The radial cross-section of the seal (a cross-section perpendicular to the axis of the body) is polygonal. The width of the head 145 of the seal extends beyond the outermost point of at least one barb.

[0118] The head 145 of the seal 104 can be tilted relative to the axis 142 of the body 141, forming an angle other than 90°. When the barb is against the body of the seal, the outer point 146 of the head 145 can be further away from the axis 142 of the body 141 than the outer point 147 of the barb 144. The seal cross-section (with the barb coplanar with the plane parallel to the axis of the body) has a T-shaped cross-section.

[0119] Once box 100 is inserted into the dealing box and used, a new empty volume is created behind the pushing tool 120 as the pushing tool 120 gradually slides towards the front wall 111. The volume of the small volume 180 existing behind the pushing tool 120 when the box is sealed increases. When the game ends, box 100 is removed from the dealing shoe, and the top wall 110 can slide towards the front wall 111. Thus, volume 180 is opened. Due to the presence of the stop tool 130, the top wall 110 will not slide beyond the pushing tool 120. Dealed cards can be inserted into volume 180, and the top wall 110 can slide backward toward the rear wall 114. Optionally, the closing cover 150 can be placed back onto the front wall 111, and a new seal can be inserted into slits 151, 161 and / or slits 152, 162. Therefore, a used, resealed box can be provided.

[0120] On the back of the box, the memory card is located in a 180-cubic-meter container. Figure 1B (Not shown in the image). Once the box is inserted into the card dealing device, the memory card can be read by the card dealing device.

[0121] To distinguish between newly sealed boxes and used, resealed boxes, the seals used can be different colors for differentiation.

[0122] exist Figure 4 The invention provides a dealing device 1000 including a dealing shoe 1001, which may have a holding tool 1010 for receiving and holding a card box 100 when it is inserted into the dealing shoe 1001. The dealing device 1000 also includes a spout 1002 that can be mounted on the dealing shoe 1001 once the card box 100 is inserted. The spout 1002 covers the front wall 111 of the box and includes an opening 1011 that allows cards to be withdrawn from the box 100 via the front wall 111 and through the spout 1002. The spout prevents the top wall from sliding against the front wall. The holding tool prevents the top wall from sliding against the rear wall.

[0123] The dealing shoe 1001 has a top surface 1020 with a recess 1021 for receiving the bottom wall 115 of the card box 100. In this embodiment, the recess 1022 has two different areas with different depths, the deepest being a portion of the bottom wall 115 where the unfolded end of the coil for receiving the spring is located. The circumference of the recess 1021 matches the bottom wall 115 of the box 100. Thus, the box 100 fits snugly into the recess 1021 and remains recessed along the depth of the recess during use. During use, the box 100 cannot slip out of the card box 1001.

[0124] The card-dealing boot 1001 is equipped with sensors, cameras, etc. When these sensors, cameras, etc. are placed in the card-reading boot 1001 during use and covered by the orifice 1002, they are located at two ridges 1030 at the front end of the adjacent box.

[0125] Figure 6 and Figure 7 A second embodiment of the box 2000 is shown. The same reference numerals refer to those applicable to... Figure 1A and Figure 1B The same features as box 100. Box 2000 has a pushing tool 120 with two protrusions 2001 that slide in two recesses 2002 in bottom wall 115. Top wall 110 has a protrusion that extends into the volume of container 101. This protrusion prevents the upper edge 121 of top wall 115 from passing over pushing tool 120.

[0126] The box contains a SIM card 2100, which includes data about the card identification code and the order of the cards in the box 2000. This SIM card also includes the box identification code. Inside the container, there is a storage location (such as a pocket) for carrying a spare seal, which can be used to seal the box after it has been used and returned to the casino backstage area. Once the dealt cards are inserted into the volume between the pusher 120 and the rear wall 114 of the box, the top wall slides away from the rear wall 114. A latching system 153 is provided in the closing cover 150 to lock the closing cover 150 onto the front wall 111.

[0127] It should be understood that although preferred embodiments and / or materials for providing embodiments according to the present invention have been discussed, various modifications or changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A playing card box comprising a container adapted for coupling to a card distribution boot in use, the container defining a volume, the container including a set of playing cards in the volume, the volume of the container being sealed by one or more seals, wherein the container includes a top wall, a front wall, and a side wall, the top wall being slidably connected to the side walls and adapted to slide toward the front wall, the top wall being prevented from sliding by at least a first seal, wherein a lower edge of the top wall is oriented toward the front wall, the front wall having a card ejection tool allowing cards to be removed from the volume of the container after the playing card box has been opened. in, A pushing tool is provided in the volume of the container to push the playing cards toward the front end of the container. The pushing tool is forced toward the front wall by a spring, the coil of which is housed in the pushing tool.

2. The playing card box according to claim 1, wherein, The lower edge of the top wall is oriented toward the front wall, the upper edge of the front wall is oriented toward the top wall, and the lower edge of the top wall extends above the upper edge of the front wall.

3. The playing card box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The upper edge of the top wall is oriented away from the front wall, and the playing card box includes a stop to prevent the upper edge of the top wall from sliding beyond the pushing tool.

4. The playing card box according to claim 3, wherein, The stop tool includes a protrusion on the push tool side facing the top wall, and the stop tool also includes a recess in the top wall, the recess in the top wall being provided along the length of the top wall and terminating before the upper edge of the top wall, the protrusion on the push tool sliding in the recess in the top wall.

5. The playing card box according to claim 3, wherein, The stopping tool includes a protrusion on the inner side of the top wall that protrudes into the deck box such that the protrusion extends beyond the upper side of the pushing tool.

6. The playing card box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, At least the inner surface portion of the upper wall adjacent to the lower edge is irregularly shaped to prevent cards different from those closest to the card ejection tool from being removed from the deck box by the card ejection tool.

7. The playing card box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The spring includes a torque spring.

8. The playing card box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The container includes a bottom wall, and the pushing tool includes at least one protrusion on the side that contacts the bottom wall. The bottom wall includes at least one recess along the length of the bottom wall from the front end to the rear end of the container, and the protrusion of the pushing tool on the side that contacts the bottom wall slides in the recess along the length of the bottom wall.

9. The playing card box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Each of the cards has a card identification code, and the deck box includes a data storage tool for storing information about the card identification codes of the cards in the deck held by the deck box.

10. The playing card box according to claim 9, wherein, The data storage tool stores information about the order of the cards in the deck of cards held by the deck box.

11. The playing card box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The at least one seal has a T-shaped cross section in the axial direction, and at least one barb is provided along the main body of the T-shaped cross section of the seal, with its opening oriented toward the head of the T-shaped cross section.

12. The playing card box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The container is made of polymer material.

13. A method of providing a card dealing device, the method comprising: A dealing device including a dealing boot is provided, the dealing device being adapted to receive a deck of cards according to claim 1 or 2; Provide a playing card box as described in claim 1 or 2; Couple the playing card box to the boot; as well as The playing card box is opened by removing at least one of the one or more seals.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises: To obtain data stored in a data storage tool; Read the card identification code from the dealt playing cards; The read card identification code is compared with the data obtained and stored in the data storage tool.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein, The method further includes: Collect the dealt cards during the game; When the game ends, slide the top wall toward the front wall, thereby opening a portion of the container beyond the pushing tool; The dealt cards are placed in the open portion of the container behind the pushing tool.

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