PLAYING CARDS STORING DEVICE

Abstract

A playing card storing device is for holding and/or manipulating a set of playing cards and includes an open box having at least two mutually opposite lateral walls, a bottom wall between the lateral walls and a backwall between the lateral walls. The bottom wall and the backwall are connected along a coupling rib. In longitudinal direction and a sense from the backwall towards the inner side of the box, the outmost point of the side of the lateral walls opposite to the bottom wall extends beyond the outmost point of the side of the lateral walls contacting the bottom wall.

Claims

1.-18. (canceled)

19. A playing cards storing device for holding, storing and/or manipulating a set of playing cards, wherein the playing cards storing device comprises an open box comprising at least two mutually opposite lateral walls, a bottom wall between the lateral walls and a backwall between the lateral walls, the bottom wall and the backwall being connected along a coupling rib, and wherein, in longitudinal direction and a sense from the backwall towards the inner side of the box, the outmost point of the side of the lateral walls opposite to the bottom wall extends beyond the outmost point of the side of the lateral walls contacting the bottom wall.

20. The playing cards storing device according to claim 19, wherein the face wall of the open box is a partially or completely open surface.

21. The playing cards storing device according to claim 19, wherein the top wall, i.e. the side opposite the bottom wall, is partially or completely open.

22. The playing cards storing device according to claim 19, wherein the backwall has a perimeter substantially identical to the perimeter of the playing cards to be stored in the card storage device.

23. The playing cards storing device according to claim 19, wherein the box has a volume of a trapezoidal prism, preferably a cuboid.

24. The playing cards storing device according to claim 19, wherein said playing cards storing device has a holding means to hold a seal.

25. The playing cards storing device according to claim 19, wherein said playing cards storing device has a holding means to hold the cover plate of a cartridge.

26. The playing cards storing device according to claim 19, wherein the backwall has a cut out along a part of the side remote from the bottom wall.

27. The playing cards storing device according to claim 19, wherein the playing cards storing device further comprises a cover to cover at least one of the face side being opposite to the backwall and the top side being the opposite to the bottom wall.

28. The playing cards storing device according to claim 27, wherein the cover covers the face side being opposite to the backwall and the top side being the opposite to the bottom wall.

29. The playing cards storing device according to claim 27, wherein the cover has an L shape.

30. The playing cards storing device according to claim 29, wherein the short side of the L-shape covers the face side of the open box.

31. The playing cards storing device according to claim 29, wherein the long side of the L-shape covers the top side of the open box.

32. The playing cards storing device according to claim 27, wherein the playing cards storing device comprises a coupling means to releasably couple the open box to the cover.

33. The playing cards storing device according to claim 32, wherein at the face side of the open box opposite to the backwall, a slit is provided between the open box and the cover when the open box and the cover are coupled.

34. The playing cards storing device according to claim 27, wherein the cover and/or the open box are provided from non-transparent polymer.

35. The playing cards storing device according to claim 27, wherein the cover and/or the open box are provided from transparent polymer.

36. The use of a playing cards storing device according to claim 19 to store playing cards in a casino, preferably at a casino table.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a playing cards storing device according to the first aspect of the invention, in which the container of the device is in closed position.

[0059] FIG. 2 illustrates schematically the same playing cards storing device as in FIG. 1, in which the container of the device is in opened position.

[0060] FIG. 3 illustrates schematically the open box of the playing cards storing device of FIG. 1, positioned in a cartridge, the cartridge itself being coupled to a card dealer shoe.

[0061] FIG. 4 is a detail of FIG. 3.

[0062] FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate schematically another playing cards storing device according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0063] FIG. 8 illustrates schematically the open box of the playing cards storing device of FIGS. 5 to 7, positioned in a cartridge, the cartridge itself being coupled to a card dealer shoe.

[0064] In the figures, the same references refer to the same or a similar element of the device or apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

[0065] A playing cards storing device 10 for holding and/or manipulating a set of playing cards is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The playing cards storing device comprises a container 20 for holding an open box 100. The container 20 and the open box 100 are both provided from transparent polymer material. The open box 100 fits completely into the container as shown in FIG. 1. The container 20 has lid 21 covering an insert opening 22 of the container delimited by container walls 23. Between the lid 21 and at least one of the container walls 23, a slit 24 is provided. The container may be inserted in an opening in a casino table, which openings perimeter nicely fits with the rim of the container walls 23. As such, the slit 24 may be located right above the casino table surface. When the playing cards storing device 10 is located in the casino table, cards which need to be placed in the playing cards storing device 10, can be inserted in the slit 24, thereby falling into the open box 100 of the playing cards storing device 10.

[0066] The face side 101 of the open box 100 is an open surface, the face wall of the open box 100 faces the lid 21 when the open box 100 is inserted in the container 20. The face side of the open box 100 is the side opposite to the backwall 102.

[0067] The inner surface 25 of the container 20 fits the outer surface 103 of the open box 100.

[0068] The container 20 has a holding means 26 to hold a seal and a holding means to hold the cover plate 30 or cap of a cartridge. More particular, the lid 21 is rotatably fixed to the container 20 at a first side 27 of the container 20, the holding means for holding the cover plate 30 is present at the upper side 28 of the lid 21, at the side 29 of the lid 21 away from this first side 27. The lid can be detachably connected to the side of the container by a detachable coupling means comprising a male 32 and a female 31 part.

[0069] The open box 100 comprising at least two mutually opposite lateral walls 110 and 111, a bottom wall 112 between the lateral walls and a backwall 102 between the lateral walls. The bottom wall 112 and the backwall 102 are connected along a coupling rib 113. The open box 100 has a volume of a trapezoidal prism, more precisely a cuboid.

[0070] In longitudinal direction 120 and a sense from the backwall 102 towards the inner side of the open box 100, the outmost point 130 of the side of the lateral walls 110 and 111 opposite to the bottom wall 112 extends beyond the outmost point 140 of the side of the lateral walls contacting the bottom wall 112. One of the lateral walls 111 has a length in lateral direction 120 which is shorter as compared to the length of the other lateral walls 110. The sides of the container 20 matching the shortest lateral wall 111 and the top side of the open box 100 are shorter as compared to the other walls in lateral direction. When the lid 21 is in closed position, a slit is provided between the lid 21 and these two shorter walls of the container. This combined with the shorter lateral wall 111 provides the slit 24 allowing cards to be slipped through the slit along the lateral wall 111 and the top side of the open box, into the void of the open box.

[0071] Along the rim of the bottom wall 112 being remote from the backwall 112 the bottom wall 102 has a grip 115, e.g. a lip. When the open box 100 is to be taken out of the container 20, this grip 115 can be used to provide grip to the open box 100. The person taking out the open box 100 can pull the open box from the container 20.

[0072] At the plane opposite the bottom wall 112, two wall sections 150 and 151 are provided, each wall section 150 and 151 being connected to the side of the lateral wall 110 and 111 along the length of the side of the lateral wall 110 and 111 and facing towards the opposite lateral wall 110 and 111. Playing cards dropped in the open box 100 are prevented to fall out of the open box in a direction away from the bottom wall 112 during manipulation of the open box 100.

[0073] The backwall 102 has a cut out 116 along a part of the side remote from the bottom wall 112. This cut out may serve to allow a thumb of a person carrying the open box, to be positioned in, thereby facilitating the carrying of the open box 100.

[0074] This open box, positioned in a container, on its turn positioned in an opening in the playing table, can be used to collect dealt cards from the game during the game. When the game is ended, the dealt cards preferably are reunited with the undealt cards from the set of playing cards, which are held by a cartridge. As shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, the open box 100, when taken out of the container 20 by e.g. opening the containers lid 21 and pulling out the open box 100 by means of the lip 115, can be united with the open or at least partially opened upper surface 201 of the cartridge 200.

[0075] Due to its shape, the open box has two sloping sides 160 and 161, one on each side surface 110 and 111. By introducing part of the bottom side 112 inside the volume of the cartridge 200, until the sloping sides 160 and 161 meet the upstanding sides 202 and 203 of the cartridge 200, the playing cards held in the open box can easily slide into the opened volume of the cartridge 200, and this without the playing cards being present in the open box, to be taken out or significantly being manipulated. The cards just need to be pushed inwards the open volume of the cartridge, if they don't slide by themselves. To precisely orient the open box 100 and the cartridge 200, the cartridge may have in its lower or bottom surface 204 a cut out 205, in which the grip 115, being a lip, snuggly fits in.

[0076] An alternative playing cards storing device 1010 for holding and/or manipulating a set of playing cards is shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. 5 shows schematically the open box 1000 and the cover 1200 in disassociated position, while FIG. 6 shows the open box 1000 and the cover 1200 when being closed. FIG. 7 shows the open box 1000 and the cover 1200 in closed state.

[0077] The playing cards storing device comprises an open box 1000. The open box 1000 may be provided from transparent polymer material or from untransparent, e.g. opaque or black polymer.

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

[0079] The open box 1000 comprising at least two mutually opposite lateral walls 1110 and 1111, a bottom wall 1112 between the lateral walls and a backwall 1102 between the lateral walls. The bottom wall 1112 and the backwall 1102 are connected along a coupling rib 1113. The open box 1000 has a volume of a trapezoidal prism, more precisely a cuboid.

[0080] In longitudinal direction 1120 and a sense from the backwall 1102 towards the inner side of the open box 1000, the outmost point 1130 of the side of the lateral walls 1110 and 1111 opposite to the bottom wall 1112 extends beyond the outmost point 1140 of the side of the lateral walls contacting the bottom wall 1112.

[0081] At the plane opposite the bottom wall 1112, two wall sections 1150 and 1151 are provided, each wall section 1150 and 1151 being connected to the side of the lateral wall 1110 and 1111 along the length of the side of the lateral wall 1110 and 1111 and facing away from the opposite lateral wall 1110 and 1111.

[0082] The backwall 1102 has a cut out 1116 along a part of the side remote from the bottom wall 1112. This cut out may serve to allow a thumb of a person carrying the open box, to be positioned in, thereby facilitating the carrying of the open box 1000.

[0083] The playing cards storing device 1010 further comprises a cover 1200, being an L-shaped polymer plate, having a long side 1201 and a short side 1202. The cover 1200 may be provided from transparent polymer material or from untransparent, e.g. opaque or black polymer.

[0084] Along the two long sides 1201 of the cover 1200, a series of sliding means 1204 are provided, which are adapted to slide over the wall sections 1150 and 1151 of the open box 1100, when the cover 1200 is mount to the open box 1100 by sliding the cover over the face side of the open box 1100 in longitudinal direction 1120. The sliding means 1204 may slightly clamp to the wall sections 1150 and 1151 such that a minimum force is needed to move the cover versus the open box, e.g. for opening or closing the open box with the cover.

[0085] The cover 1200 has a holding means 1027 to hold a seal 301 and a holding means 1026 to hold the cover plate 300 of a cartridge. More particular, the holding means 1026 for holding the cover plate 330 and the holding means 1027 to hold a seal 301 are present at the outer surface 1208 of the cover, which surface is delimited by the short sides 1202 of the cover 1200.

[0086] As best visible in FIG. 7, one of the lateral walls 1110 has a length in lateral direction 1120 which is shorter as compared to the length of the other lateral walls 1111. When the cover and the open box are associated, a slit 1300 is provided between the cover 1200 and the edge of the shortest lateral wall 1110, while the top edges of the other lateral wall 1111 and the bottom wall 1112 touch the covers 1200 inner side. The combination of the open box 1100 and cover 1200, in closed state, may be inserted in an opening in a casino table, which openings perimeter nicely fits with the circumference of combination of the open box 1100 and cover 1200. The depth of the opening in the casino table is preferably chosen such that at least part of the slit 1300 extends above the casino tables surface. Cards which need to be placed in the playing cards storing device 1010, can be inserted in the slit 1300, thereby falling into the open box 1000 of the playing cards storing device 1010.

[0087] This playing cards storing device 1010 thus can be used to collect dealt cards from the game during the game. When the game is ended, the dealt cards preferably are reunited with the undealt cards from the set of playing cards, which are held by a cartridge. As shown in detail in FIG. 8, the open box 1000, with a removed cover 1200, can be united with the open or at least partially opened upper surface 201 of the cartridge 200. Due to its shape, the open box 1000 has two sloping sides 1160 and 1161, one on each lateral walls 1110 and 1111. By introducing part of the bottom side 1112 inside the volume of the cartridge 200, until the sloping sides 1160 and 1161 meet the upstanding sides 202 and 203 of the cartridge 200, the playing cards held in the open box can easily slide into the opened volume of the cartridge 200, and this without the playing cards being present in the open box, to be taken out or significantly being manipulated. The cards just need to be pushed inwards the open volume of the cartridge, if they don't slide by themselves.

[0088] Although the present invention has been illustrated by 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 present invention may be embodied with various changes and modifications without departing from the scope thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. In other words, it is contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the basic underlying principles and whose essential attributes are claimed in this patent application. It will furthermore be understood by the reader of this patent application that the words comprising or comprise do not exclude other elements or steps, that the words a or an do not exclude a plurality, and that a single element may fulfil the functions of several means recited in the claims. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the respective claims concerned. The terms first, second, third, a, b, c, and the like, when used in the description or in the claims are introduced to distinguish between similar elements or steps and are not necessarily describing a sequential or chronological order. Similarly, the terms top, bottom, over, under, and the like are introduced for descriptive purposes and not necessarily to denote relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and embodiments of the invention are capable of operating according to the present invention in other sequences, or in orientations different from the one(s) described or illustrated above.