Playing card storage device

Abstract

This invention provides a playing card storage device for holding and / or manipulating a deck of cards. The device includes an open box comprising at least two opposing sidewalls, a bottom wall between the sidewalls, and a rear wall between the sidewalls. The bottom wall and the rear wall are connected along coupling ribs. In the longitudinal direction and in a direction from the rear wall toward the inside of the box, the outermost point of the sidewall opposite the bottom wall extends beyond the outermost point of the sidewall contacting the bottom wall.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a playing card storage device for holding, storing and manipulating a deck of playing cards, and its use in casinos and poker games. Background Technology

[0002] Today, poker is a widely known game. The game is typically based on the unpredictability of the order in which cards are dealt or drawn from a deck or set of cards that are randomly ordered, where a deck consists of more than one deck of cards that are randomly ordered at a set level.

[0003] For example, one poker game uses eight decks of cards in a randomized arrangement, totaling 416 cards. In some games, once a card is drawn from the deck, it cannot be reused because the order and placement of the drawn cards can be monitored. Players can flip cards themselves, resulting in damaged, broken, or destroyed cards. Reusing used cards may be used to predict the order, thus cheating.

[0004] Given the high risks involved, it is practically essential to avoid any source of fraudulent games or activities. The processing time from producing a deck of cards to using it on the game table needs to be as short as possible to largely eliminate the possibility of fraud. Manipulation of the cards themselves should be limited as much as possible, as each manipulation of one or more cards could become a source of fraudulent activity, such as removing cards or replacing one or more cards with another card or more whose rank and suit are known. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for safely handling, storing, and transporting playing cards without touching the cards themselves. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that facilitates the safe and ergonomic loading of played playing cards from a designated location on a holding device or game table back into any type of card holder adapted for carrying and allowing transport of the cards, such as a card box.

[0006] "Security" means that the card will not be touched by anyone after the game has been played. It prohibits players from approaching the card after the game ends. "A deck of cards" refers to one or more decks of cards, each containing a number of cards, typically 52 cards. The card storage device according to the invention is suitable for storing one or more decks of cards, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or even more decks of cards.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the invention, a playing card storage device is provided for storing a deck of playing cards. The playing card storage device includes an open box comprising at least two opposing sidewalls, a bottom wall between the sidewalls, and a rear wall between the sidewalls, the bottom wall and the rear wall being connected along coupling ribs. In the longitudinal direction and in a direction from the rear wall toward the inside of the box, the outermost point of the sidewall opposite the bottom wall extends beyond the outermost point of the sidewall contacting the bottom wall. According to some embodiments, the box may have a trapezoidal prism volume.

[0008] An open box may also include a front side (also called a front wall) and a top side (also called a top wall), which may be partially or fully open surfaces. Therefore, the front side (i.e., the side opposite the rear wall) may be partially or fully open. The top side (i.e., the side opposite the bottom wall) may be partially or fully open.

[0009] Therefore, in the longitudinal direction and pointing from the back wall towards the inside of the box, the outermost point of the side wall opposite the bottom wall, i.e., the point farthest from the back wall, extends beyond the outermost point of the side wall that touches the bottom wall, i.e., the point farthest from the back wall. For two side walls, the two points farthest from the back wall on the side wall opposite the bottom wall can extend from the back wall by the same length. Alternatively, for two side walls, the two points farthest from the back wall on the side wall opposite the bottom wall can extend further from the back wall than the point farthest from the back wall on the other side wall opposite the bottom wall.

[0010] Or in other words, laterally, the sidewall is defined by the rear wall and the edge defined by the intersection of the sidewall and the plane perpendicular to the sidewall, such that for both sidewalls, the point farthest from the bottom wall on the side of the sidewall opposite to the bottom wall has a vertical projection of the bottom wall that extends further from the coupling rib than the intersection of the sidewall that contacts the bottom wall and the plane.

[0011] Playing card storage devices are suitable for storing multiple playing cards, which can be inserted into the box via the face side (also known as the front wall, i.e., the side opposite the bottom wall), which is usually open. When the box is held in its upright position, it can be handled and manipulated without the risk of playing cards falling out of the open box.

[0012] Since direct manipulation of playing cards is a potential source of misconduct or fraud, it is important to minimize handling and manipulation of the cards. Playing cards drawn from, for example, a card dealer during a game should be securely stored once they are removed from the table. Played cards, once set aside during the game, can be immediately stored and held in a card storage device. Once the game ends, the played cards need to be returned to, for example, the casino's backyard or back office, optionally combined with undealt cards, so that the entire deck can be sent back to the logistics office for verification of its integrity. Undealt cards can be inserted into a card manipulation device, which can be used to transport the used deck back to the back office.

[0013] Alternatively, playing cards are drawn from a deck stored in a closed deck box via a card dealer. Played cards, once set aside during the game, can be immediately stored and held in the card storage device. Once the game ends, the deck box can be opened, i.e., the space within the box used to store the dealt cards is opened. The card storage device can be used as a tool to transfer played cards to the empty space within the deck box, adapted to receive played cards. The entire deck can be sent back to the back office using the deck box itself.

[0014] The sidewall has a sloping edge on the side opposite to the rear wall, which can contact the top surface of the opening of the card box installed in the card dealer. Playing cards in the playing card storage device can be easily transferred to the internal space of this card box.

[0015] According to some embodiments, the rear wall may have a perimeter that is substantially the same as (e.g., identical) the perimeter of the playing card to be held and manipulated by the playing card manipulation device, such as a rectangular perimeter.

[0016] According to some embodiments, the front side of the open box can be an open surface. The front side of the box is the side opposite to the rear wall. According to some embodiments, the top side of the open box can be an open surface. The top side of the box is the side opposite to the bottom wall.

[0017] According to some embodiments, the box can have a trapezoidal prism volume. According to some embodiments, the box can have a parallelepiped volume. A possible parallelepiped volume is a cuboid volume. According to some embodiments, the box can have a cubic volume.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the bottom wall may extend beyond the furthest point of the rear wall on the side that is in contact with the bottom wall.

[0019] According to some embodiments, the bottom wall may have a handle along the bottom wall edge away from the rear wall.

[0020] The handle can be a small lip or edge that can be grasped by two or more fingers. This handle can be used to manipulate the box and move it from one place to another. When the box is housed in a gap in a table, it can be used to lift the box from such a gap, for example, in a card game table.

[0021] Compared to the intersection point of the sidewalls that contact the bottom wall, the upper edge of the bottom wall (the edge opposite to the coupling rib or the edge of the bottom and rear walls) can extend further from the coupling rib. It is possible that the upper edge of the bottom wall (the edge opposite to the coupling rib of the bottom and rear walls) coincides with the vertical projection point of the bottom wall at the intersection point of the sidewalls that are opposite to the bottom wall.

[0022] According to some embodiments, two wall segments may be provided at a plane opposite to the bottom wall, each wall segment being connected to one side of the side wall along the length of one side of the side wall and facing the opposite side wall.

[0023] Two wall sections can provide openings or areas along the top side of the truncated parallelepiped volume in the lateral direction of the volume. These two sections provide a barrier to prevent playing cards from sliding out of the playing card storage device in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall. Playing cards cannot fall out of the playing card storage device in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall.

[0024] According to some embodiments, the rear wall may have a cut along a portion of the side away from the bottom wall.

[0025] The cut allows the cards closest to the bottom wall of the volume to be pushed laterally toward the front opening of the volume. The cut also allows the playing card storage device to be manipulated and carried for handling by the thumb of the person operating the device within the cut. Therefore, the cut facilitates holding the device by providing a position for the thumb of the person holding it.

[0026] According to some embodiments, the wall can be provided by a transparent polymer. The playing cards are visible from all sides at all times, which makes it clearer to those operating the playing card manipulation device about the contents and movement of the cards during manipulation.

[0027] According to some embodiments, the wall may be provided by an opaque or even non-transparent polymer.

[0028] According to some embodiments, the playing card storage device may have a holding device for holding game items or seals. The playing cards held within the device may form part of a pre-sealed deck, provided in a sealed deck box or vault. The playing cards are stored in a dealer so that cards can be drawn one by one from the deck. When the entire deck is to be inserted into the dealer, the deck box or vault is opened. The playing card storage device may have a special dedicated location for storing broken seals from the deck box in the vault. This prevents the loss of broken seals during gameplay.

[0029] According to some embodiments, the playing card storage device may have a retaining device to hold the lid or "cap" of the card box, which may include, for example, playing cards. The lid or cap refers to a component belonging to the card box, preferably a plastic component, that prevents access to the playing cards when placed in its intended position on the card box. The lid may be equipped with two "teeth" that engage with designated holes in the card box. It may also be equipped with two snap hooks that snap into designated holes in the bridge of the card box. The designated holes for the teeth and snap hooks may be replicated on the top side of a discard rack, allowing the lid to be stored on the discard rack. Below the retaining area of ​​the lid on the discard rack, a receiving element may also be provided that matches the precise geometry of the seal. During gameplay, the seal can be properly stored in this retaining area, which is closed when the lid is locked in its storage position on the discard rack, thus preventing loss of game items. During gameplay, it is anticipated that the card box will hold multiple decks of playing cards. Such a card box can be inserted (e.g., clicked) into a card dealer, through which playing cards are drawn from the card box by the dealer's mechanism. Before and after the game, a cover is provided to the card box to prevent cards from being drawn. During the game, this cover is removed from the card box, for example, before the card box is inserted into the card dealer. To properly store the cover, the playing card storage device may include a holding device to hold the cover removed from the card box.

[0030] According to a first aspect of the invention, the playing card storage device may further include a container for holding an open box, the open box being fully contained within the container.

[0031] This container can be used as a holder for a box. It can be used to temporarily store the box when putting or taking playing cards into or out of it. The container can be temporarily stored in, for example, a gap in a card game table. The box can be placed into and removed from the container as needed. If present, a handle can be used to insert or pull the box out of the container.

[0032] According to some embodiments, the container may have a lid that covers the insertion opening of the container defined by the container walls.

[0033] This opening can be used to insert playing cards through the opening in the box.

[0034] According to some embodiments, a slit may be provided between at least one of the lid and the container wall.

[0035] The slit is large enough to allow the playing cards to slide into the container. Therefore, the playing cards can slide into the container, thus into the box without opening the lid.

[0036] According to some embodiments, the face of the open box can be the open surface, and when the open box is inserted into the container, the face of the open box faces the lid.

[0037] According to some embodiments, the inner surface of the container can be adapted to the outer surface of the open box. When the playing cards slide into the container, they fall into the open box through the opening's sidewall.

[0038] If the bottom wall of the opening has a handle along the edge of the bottom wall away from the rear wall, the handle can be used to pull the opening box out of the container when the lid is opened.

[0039] According to some embodiments, the container may have a retaining device for holding the seal or game item. According to some embodiments, the container may have a lid rotatably fixed to the container on a first side of the container, the retaining device for holding the seal being part of the lid, for example present on the upper side of the lid, and the lid plate or "cap" being held on a side of the lid away from the first side.

[0040] According to some embodiments, the container may have a retaining device to hold the lid of the card box.

[0041] According to some embodiments, the container may have a lid rotatably fixed to the container on a first side of the container, a retaining device for holding the lid is part of the lid, for example, present on the upper side of the lid, and the lid is held on a side of the lid away from the first side.

[0042] Therefore, a location for storing the cover is provided during the playing of poker.

[0043] According to a second specific aspect of the first aspect of the invention, the playing card storage device may further include a cover to cover at least one of a facet opposite the rear wall and a top side opposite the bottom wall. The facet and / or top side of the opening box may be open, i.e., uncovered. During transport of the playing card handling device, the cover may be used to temporarily close these open sides or open faces of the opening box to prevent the cards held in the opening box from falling out. According to some embodiments, the cover may cover the facet opposite the rear wall and the top side opposite the bottom wall.

[0044] According to some embodiments, the lid may have a hook shape, also known as an L-shape, such as an L-shaped plate, for example, an L-shaped polymer plate. According to some embodiments, the short side of the L-shape may cover the face side of the open box. According to some embodiments, the long side of the L-shape may cover the top side of the open box.

[0045] According to some embodiments, two wall segments may be provided in a plane opposite to the bottom wall. For each sidewall, a wall segment is attached to one side of the sidewall along its length, with the edge of the wall segment oriented away from the opposite sidewall. The cover may include one or more sliding devices for receiving one of these wall segments during installation of the cover into the opening box. The cover may slide down from the face side of the opening box to the rear wall, with the sliding device adapted to the wall segment. Possibly, the sliding device may apply a force, such as a clamping force, to the wall segment, requiring minimal force to open or remove the cover from the opening box by sliding the cover in opposite directions.

[0046] According to some embodiments, the playing card storage device may include a coupling device to releasably couple an open box to a cover. Such a coupling device may be a hoop coupling device, one or more sets of magnets, or a physical coupling device of a convex and a concave part (where the convex part is connected to the concave part, for example by pushing the convex part against the concave part and, for example, snapping one into the other). This coupling device allows the two parts (i.e., the cover and the open box) to temporarily form a partially or completely closed volume, from which cards present in the open box can only be intentionally removed, or even while the coupling remains closed, from removal.

[0047] According to some embodiments, an opening or slit may be provided between the opening box and the cover when the opening box is coupled to the cover on the side opposite to the rear wall. The coupled playing card storage device can be inserted into a suitable opening in the game table, with its side facing upwards and extending above the table surface. Cards removed from the table can be provided into the playing card storage device through this slit or opening. The cards fall into the opening box and then down onto the rear wall. The slit preferably has at least the width of the short or long side of the playing card, which can be provided by determining the size of one of the lateral sides such that it does not touch one side of the cover closing the opening box, such as the short side of an L-shaped cover. For example, for the two points farthest from the rear wall on the side opposite to the bottom wall of the two side walls, the point farthest from the rear wall on the side opposite to the bottom wall of one of the side walls may extend closer to the rear wall than the point farthest from the rear wall on the side opposite to the bottom wall of the other side wall. Thus, a slit can be provided between the sidewall and the short side of the L-shaped cover, between the point furthest from the rear wall of one of the sidewalls relative to the bottom wall (which is relatively close). Alternatively, slits can be provided along both sidewalls. Again, as an alternative, the bottom wall of the opening box is sized such that the bottom wall of the opening box does not touch the cover when the opening box and the cover are coupled together. In this way, a slit can be provided between the cover and the bottom wall of the opening box.

[0048] The card manipulation device, along with the connected opening box and cover, can be positioned in an opening on the game table, so that the slit is flush with the surface of the table. Played cards can easily slide into the slit, and then the card will remain stored in the gap of the opening box.

[0049] According to some embodiments, the playing card storage device may include a cover, and the playing card storage device includes a retaining device for retaining the seal to retain the seal as part of the cover.

[0050] According to some embodiments, the playing card storage device may include a cover, and the playing card storage device includes a retaining device for holding the cover of the card box, the retaining device holding the cover of the card box as part of the cover.

[0051] According to some embodiments, the playing card storage device may include a cover having an L-shape, the playing card storage device including a retaining device for retaining a seal and / or a retaining device for retaining a cover for retaining a card dealer, the retaining device for retaining the seal and / or the retaining device for retaining a cover for retaining a card dealer being part of the short side of the L-shape.

[0052] Therefore, according to some embodiments, the cover may have a holding device for holding the cover of the card dealer. This provides a location for storing the cover of the card dealer during card games.

[0053] According to some embodiments, the cover may have a retaining device for holding the seal. Therefore, a location for storing the seal during card games is provided.

[0054] According to some embodiments, the cover and / or opening box may be provided by a transparent or opaque or non-transparent polymer, such as an opaque or black polymer.

[0055] The playing card storage device according to a first aspect of the invention can be used to store played playing cards during a card game. Once the card game ends, the playing card storage device holds the played cards. It can be used to return the played playing cards to the back office of the casino, or to insert the played playing cards back into the empty positions in the card box (usually using a card dealer) from which the playing cards are drawn.

[0056] This prevents anyone other than the dealer from touching the playing cards during a game, even cards that have already been played. Therefore, it prevents manipulation of the cards themselves, which could be a source of fraud, such as taking a card to cheat in another game with a stolen card.

[0057] According to a second aspect, the playing card storage device according to the first aspect of the invention is used to store playing cards (e.g., cards dealt from a deck of cards), and this is done, for example, during a card game. Therefore, the use of the playing card storage device according to the first aspect of the invention for storing playing cards in a casino (preferably at a casino table) is provided. The playing card storage device according to the first aspect of the invention is also used to transfer playing cards (e.g., cards dealt from a deck of cards) from, for example, a casino game table back to the casino's back office. Attached Figure Description

[0058] Figure 1 A playing card storage device according to a first aspect of the invention is schematically shown, wherein the container of the device is in the closed position.

[0059] Figure 2 It schematically shows the relationship with Figure 1 The same playing card storage device, with the container of the device in the open position.

[0060] Figure 3 schematically shown Figure 1 The open box of the playing card storage device is located inside the card box, which is itself coupled to the card dealer.

[0061] Figure 4 is a detailed view of Figure 3.

[0062] Figure 5 , 6 Figures 7 and 8 schematically illustrate another playing card storage device according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0063] Figure 8 schematically shown Figures 5 to 7 The open box of the playing card storage device is located inside the card box, which is itself coupled to the card dealer.

[0064] In the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar elements of the equipment or apparatus. Detailed Implementation

[0065] Figures 1 and 2 show a playing card storage device 10 for holding and / or manipulating a deck of cards. The playing card storage device includes a container 20 for holding an open box 100. Both the container 20 and the open box 100 are made of a transparent polymer material. The open box 100 fits perfectly into the container shown in Figure 1. The container 20 has a lid 21 that covers an insertion opening 22 of the container defined by container walls 23. A slit 24 is provided between the lid and at least one container wall 23. The container can be inserted into an opening on a casino table, the periphery of which fits well with the edge of the container wall 23. Thus, the slit 24 can be positioned directly above the surface of the casino table. When the playing card storage device 10 is positioned on the casino table, cards to be placed in the playing card storage device 10 can be inserted into the slit 24, thereby falling into the open box 100 of the playing card storage device 10.

[0066] The side 101 of the open box 100 is an open surface. When the open box 100 is inserted into the container 20, the side of the open box 100 faces the cover 21. The side of the open box 100 is the side opposite to the rear wall 102.

[0067] The inner surface 25 of container 20 is adapted to the outer surface of open box 100.

[0068] Container 20 has a retaining device 26 for retaining the seal and a retaining device for retaining the cover 30 or "cap" of the card box. More specifically, the cover 21 is rotatably secured to container 20 at a first side 27, and a retaining device for retaining the cover 30 is located at the upper side 28 of the cover 21, on the side 29 of the cover 21 away from the first side 27. The cover can be detachably attached to the side of the container by a detachable coupling device including a protruding part 32 and a recessed part 31.

[0069] The open box 100 includes at least two opposing sidewalls 110 and 111, a bottom wall 112 between the sidewalls, and a rear wall 102 between the sidewalls. The bottom wall 112 and the rear wall 102 are connected along a coupling rib 113. The open box 100 has a trapezoidal prism volume, or more precisely, a cube.

[0070] In the longitudinal direction 120 and in the direction from the rear wall 102 toward the inside of the open box 100, the outermost point 130 of the sidewalls 110 and 111 opposite the bottom wall 112 extends beyond the outermost point 140 of the sidewalls that contact the bottom wall 112. One of the sidewalls 111 is shorter in the lateral direction 120 than the others. The side of the container 20 that matches the shortest sidewall 111 and the top side of the open box 100 is shorter than the other walls in the lateral direction. When the lid 21 is in the closed position, a slit is provided between the lid 21 and these two shorter walls of the container. This, combined with the shorter sidewall 111, provides a slit 24 that allows a card to slide along the sidewalls 111 and the top side of the open box through the slit into the opening of the box.

[0071] Along the edge of the bottom wall 112 away from the rear wall 102, the bottom wall 112 has a handle 115, such as a lip. This handle 115 can be used to grasp the open box 100 when it is to be removed from the container 20. The person removing the open box 100 can pull it out of the container 20.

[0072] Two wall segments 150 and 151 are provided on the plane opposite to the bottom wall 112. Each wall segment 150 and 151 is connected to one side of the side wall 110 and side wall 111 along the length of the side of the side wall 110 and side wall 111, and faces the opposite side wall 110 and side wall 111. During the operation of the opening box 100, playing cards that fall into the opening box 100 are prevented from falling out of the opening box in a direction away from the bottom wall 112.

[0073] The rear wall 102 has a cutout 116 along a portion of the side away from the bottom wall 112. This cutout allows the thumb of a person carrying the open box to be positioned therein, thereby facilitating the carrying of the open box 100.

[0074] Positioned within the container, this open box is positioned within the opening of the game table, where it can be used to collect dealt cards during the game. When the game ends, the dealt cards are preferably reunited with the undealt cards in the deck held by the card box. As detailed in Figures 3 and 4, when the open box 100 is removed from the container 20 by, for example, opening the container lid 21 and pulling it out by means of the lip 115, the open box 100 can engage with the upper surface 201 of the opening or at least partially opening of the card box 200.

[0075] Due to its shape, the open box has two sloping sides 160, 161, with each side surface 110, 111 having one sloping side. By introducing a portion of the bottom side 112 into the volume of the card box 200 until the sloping sides 160 and 161 meet the upright sides 202 and 203 of the card box 200, the playing cards held in the open box can easily slide into the open volume of the card box 200 without needing to be removed or visibly manipulated. If the cards do not slide on their own, they can simply be pushed inward into the open volume of the card box. For precise orientation of the open box 100 and the card box 200, the card box may have a cutout 205 in its lower surface or bottom surface 204, where a handle 115, serving as a lip, fits snugly.

[0076] Figures 5 to 7 show another playing card storage device 1010 for holding and / or manipulating a deck of cards. Figure 5 schematically shows the open box 1000 and cover 1200 in the separated position, while Figure 6 shows the open box 1000 and cover 1200 when closed. Figure 7 The open box 1000 and cover 1200 are shown in the closed state.

[0077] The playing card storage device includes an open box 1000. The open box 1000 can be made of a transparent polymer material or an opaque (e.g., opaque or black) polymer.

[0078] The side surface 1101 of the open box 1000 is an open surface. The side surface of the open box 1000 is a wall opposite to the rear wall 1102.

[0079] The open box 1000 includes at least two opposing sidewalls 1110 and 1111, a bottom wall 1112 between the sidewalls, and a rear wall 1102 between the sidewalls. The bottom wall 1112 and the rear wall 1102 are connected along a coupling rib 1113. The open box 1000 has a trapezoidal prism volume, more precisely a cube.

[0080] In the longitudinal direction 1120 and in the direction from the rear wall 1102 toward the inside of the opening box 1000, the outermost point 1130 of the side wall 1110 and the side wall 1111 opposite to the bottom wall 1112 extends beyond the outermost point 1140 of the side wall that contacts the bottom wall 1112.

[0081] Two wall segments 1150 and 1151 are provided on the plane opposite to the bottom wall 1112. Each wall segment 1150, 1151 is connected to one side of the side wall 1110 and side wall 1111 along the length of one side of the side wall 1110 and side wall 1111, and is opposite to the opposite side wall 1110 and side wall 1111.

[0082] The rear wall 1102 has a cutout 1116 along a portion of the side away from the bottom wall 1112. This cutout allows the thumb of a person carrying the open box to be positioned therein, thereby facilitating the carrying of the open box 1000.

[0083] The playing card storage device 1010 also includes a cover 1200, which is an L-shaped polymer plate having a long side 1201 and a short side 1202. The cover 1200 may be provided with a transparent polymer material or an opaque (e.g., opaque or black) polymer.

[0084] Along the two long sides 1201 of the cover 1200, a series of sliding devices 1204 are provided, which are adapted to slide over the wall sections 1150 and 1151 of the opening box 1100 when the cover 1200 is mounted to the opening box 1100 by sliding the cover over the face side of the opening box 1100 in the longitudinal direction 1120. The sliding devices 1204 can be slightly clamped to the wall sections 1150 and 1151, so that minimal force is required to move the cover relative to the opening box, for example, to open or close the opening box with the cover.

[0085] The cover 1200 has a retaining device 1027 for retaining the seal 301 and a retaining device 1026 for retaining the cover plate 300 of the card box. More specifically, the retaining device 1026 for retaining the cover plate 300 and the retaining device 1027 for retaining the seal 301 are located on the outer surface of the cover, which is defined by the short side 1202 of the cover 1200.

[0086] As most clearly seen in Figure 7, one of the sidewalls 1110 is shorter in length in the lateral direction 1120 than the other sidewalls 1111. When the cover and the opening box are associated, a slit 1300 is provided between the cover 1200 and the edge of the shortest sidewall 1110, while the top edges of the other sidewall 1111 and the bottom wall 1112 touch the inside of the cover 1200. The combination of the opening box 1100 and the cover 1200, in the closed state, can be inserted into an opening in the casino table, the periphery of which fits well with the circumference of the combination of the opening box 1100 and the cover 1200. The depth of the opening in the casino table is preferably chosen such that at least a portion of the slit 1300 extends above the surface of the casino table. Cards to be placed in the playing card storage device 1010 can be inserted into the slit 1300 and fall into the opening box 1000 of the playing card storage device 1010.

[0087] The playing card storage device 1010 can therefore be used to collect dealt cards from the game during gameplay. When the game ends, the dealt cards are preferably reunited with the undealt cards in the deck held by the card box. As detailed in Figure 8, the open box 1000, with the cover 1200 removed, can be joined to the upper surface 201 of the opening or at least partially open of the card box 200. Due to its shape, the open box 1000 has two sloping sides 1160 and 1161, one on each sidewall 1110, 1111. By introducing a portion of the bottom side 1112 into the volume of the card box 200 until the sloping sides 1160 and 1161 meet the upright sides 202 and 203 of the card box 200, the playing cards held in the open box can easily slide into the open volume of the card box 200, and this does not require the playing cards present in the open box to be removed or obviously manipulated. If the cards do not slide on their own, simply push them inward into the opening of the card box.

[0088] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments, and that the invention can be practiced with various changes and modifications without departing from its scope. Therefore, the present embodiments are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive in all respects, and the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all variations falling within the equivalent meaning and scope of the claims are intended to be included therein. In other words, it is contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations, or equivalents falling within the scope of the basic principles and essential attributes claimed in this patent application. The reader of this patent application will also understand that the words “comprising” or “including” do not exclude other elements or steps, the words “a” or “an” do not exclude a plurality, and a single element can perform the function of several means listed in the claims. Any reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the individual claims. The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “a,” “b,” “c,” etc., when used in the specification or claims, are introduced to distinguish similar elements or steps, and not necessarily to describe an order or chronological sequence. Similarly, the terms “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” etc., are introduced for descriptive purposes and do not necessarily indicate relative positions. It should be understood that the terminology used so far is interchangeable where appropriate, and embodiments of the invention can be operated in a different order or in a different orientation than described or illustrated above.

Claims

1. A playing card storage device for holding, storing, and / or manipulating a deck of playing cards, wherein The playing card storage device includes an open box, the open box comprising at least two opposing side walls, a bottom wall between the side walls, a rear wall between the side walls, a top side opposite the bottom wall, and a surface side opposite the rear wall, the bottom wall and the rear wall being connected along coupling ribs. Furthermore, in the longitudinal direction and in the direction from the rear wall toward the inside of the box, the outermost point of the side wall opposite to the bottom wall extends beyond the outermost point of the side wall contacting the bottom wall, thereby forming an inclined edge on the side wall. The characteristic feature is that the side of the open box opposite to the rear wall is fully open, so that during use, when the inclined edge contacts the upper surface of the opening of the card box, the playing cards in the playing card storage device can be transferred into the internal gap of the card box.

2. The playing card storage device of claim 1, wherein, The top side is completely open.

3. The playing card storage device of claim 1, wherein, The rear wall has a perimeter that is substantially the same as the perimeter of the playing cards to be stored in the playing card storage device.

4. The playing card storage device according to claim 1, wherein, The box has a volume of trapezoidal prism.

5. The playing card storage device according to claim 1, wherein, The box has a cubic volume.

6. The playing card storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The playing card storage device has a retaining device for maintaining the seal.

7. The playing card storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The playing card storage device has a retaining device for holding the cover plate of the card box.

8. The playing card storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The rear wall has a cut along a portion of the side away from the bottom wall.

9. The playing card storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The playing card storage device further includes a cover to cover at least one of the face side opposite the rear wall and the top side opposite the bottom wall.

10. The playing card storage device according to claim 9, wherein, The cover covers the side opposite the rear wall and the top side opposite the bottom wall.

11. The playing card storage device according to claim 9, wherein, The cover has an L-shape.

12. The playing card storage device according to claim 11, wherein, The shorter side of the L-shape covers the side of the open box.

13. The playing card storage device according to any one of claims 11 to 12, wherein, The long side of the L-shape covers the top side of the open box.

14. The playing card storage device according to claim 9, wherein, The playing card storage device includes a coupling device to releasably couple the open box to the cover.

15. The playing card storage device according to claim 14, wherein, When the opening box is coupled to the cover, a slit is provided between the opening box and the cover on the side of the opening box opposite to the rear wall.

16. The playing card storage device according to claim 9, wherein, The cover and / or the opening box are provided with an opaque polymer.

17. The playing card storage device according to claim 9, wherein, The cover and / or the opening box are made of a transparent polymer.

18. The playing card storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 17 is used for storing playing cards on a casino table in a casino.

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