Card reader for blackjack table
AssigneeTech Art, Inc.
InventorArthur Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for speeding the pace of a game of blackjack is provided. The device is comprised of a housing having a top surface. A card reader for reading at least a portion of a playing card is located within the housing. An indicator cooperating with the card reader is provided to inform the dealer if his down card is of a desired value. There is also disclosed herein a method for increasing the speed of play in an organized game of blackjack.
Claims11
A device for reading alpha-numeric indicia on cards of a deck of playing cards in a game of blackjack to indicate to a dealer whether or not the dealer has been dealt "21," comprising:
- (a) a housing having a means for receiving at least a portion of a playing card when such card is disposed face down on a blackjack table;
- (b) means for directly reading at least a portion of the alpha-numeric indicia on said card while the card is disposed adjacent said means for receiving;
- and
- (c) means for indicating, based on the portion of the alpha-numeric indicia read, when the dealer has been dealt "21," said indicating means being connected to said means for reading.
A device for reading alpha-numeric indicia on a playing card in a game of blackjack to indicate to a dealer that the dealer has been dealt a blackjack pair, comprising:
- a housing having an upper member, said upper member defining a top surface and a card reading aperture;
- means for receiving said portion of the playing card to be read, said means for receiving being connected to said upper member;
- means for directly reading alpha-numeric indicia on at least a portion of a playing card, said means for directly reading including a character recognition device being generally in registry with said aperture;
- and
- means operatively associated with said means for directly reading to inform a blackjack dealer of the presence of a blackjack pair.
A method of using a card reading device for increasing the speed of play of a game of blackjack in a fair and secure manner, said card reading device having a means for directly reading at least a portion of a playing card while said playing card is disposed face down on said device, means for receiving said at least a portion of said playing card to be read, said means for receiving adapted to align said face down card with said means for reading alpha-numeric indicia on said card, said method comprising the steps of:
- dealing a hand of blackjack to a plurality of players, including the dealer;
- ascertaining whether the dealer's down card is an Ace if the dealer's up card has a value of ten, and if said down card is an Ace, determining the hand, or, alternatively, if said down card is other than an Ace, continuing to play;
- ascertaining whether the dealer's down card has a value of ten if the dealer's up card is an Ace, and if said down card has a value of ten, terminating the hand, or, alternatively, if said down card does not have a value of ten, continuing to play;
- wherein the step of ascertaining whether the dealer's down card is an Ace is carried out using said card reading device to directly read a portion of said playing card.
A device for reading alpha-numeric indicia from a downwardly facing card on a playing table during the game of blackjack to determine if a dealer has been dealt "21," comprising:
- means for receiving a portion of a playing card having alpha-numeric indicia, the playing card being downwardly facing;
- means for reading alpha-numeric indicia on said card, said means for reading including character recognition means;
- and
- means for informing the dealer when the dealer has been dealt "21" operatively associated with said means for reading.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.