Playing card vault

Abstract

A card vault for attachment to an automatic card shuffling machine, card shoe, card verifying machine and card discard rack is disclosed. The card vault facilitates a system of reducing human handling of cards thereby reducing human error and cheating. Cards may be transferred in a card vault directly from the card verifying machine to an automatic card shuffling machine. After being dealt during one or more table games, the cards are placed in a discard rack and transferred to the card vault for transport to a card verifying machine where the deck is verified. The card vault and contained cards are tracked in substantially real-time using wireless technology such as a RFID transmitter and receiver.

1 . A card vault comprising:
 four sides and a bottom defining a space adapted to receive a plurality of playing cards;   an adjustable door configured to cover and expose an opening opposite the bottom; and   one or more locking mechanisms adjacent to said defined space wherein said one or more locking mechanisms are configured to removably attach said card vault to at least one of the following:
 an automatic card shuffling machine; 
 a card shoe; 
 a card verifying machine; and 
 a card discard rack. 
   
     
     
         2 . The card vault of  claim 1  further comprising a tracking device on said card vault operable to allow the location and movement of the card vault to be tracked in substantially real-time. 
     
     
         3 . The card vault of  claim 1  wherein said tracking device is a RFID transmitter. 
     
     
         4 . The card vault of  claim 1  wherein the adjustable door is slidably joined to the card vault. 
     
     
         5 . The card vault of  claim 1  wherein said one or more locking mechanisms are selected from the group consisting of clips, snaps, ribs, clamps, latches, fasteners, hooks and grips. 
     
     
         6 . The card vault of  claim 1  further comprising a processor, storage device, power supply, user interface and display. 
     
     
         7 . The card vault of  claim 1  further comprising a retention and release mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . A card vault comprising:
 a housing defining a space adapted to retain playing cards;   closure means for accessing and closing an opening in said housing; and   locking means operable to removably attach said card vault to at least one of the following:
 an automatic card shuffling machine; 
 a card shoe; 
 a card verifying machine; and 
 a card discard rack. 
   
     
     
         9 . The card vault of  claim 8  further comprising a tracking device on said card vault operable to allow the location and movement of the card vault to be tracked in substantially real-time. 
     
     
         10 . The card vault of  claim 9  wherein said tracking device is a RFID transmitter. 
     
     
         11 . The card vault of  claim 8  wherein said closure means is an adjustable door slidably joined to the card vault. 
     
     
         12 . The card vault of  claim 8  wherein said locking means includes clips, snaps, ribs, clamps, latches, fasteners, hooks and grips. 
     
     
         13 . The card vault of  claim 8  further comprising a processor, storage device, power supply, user interface and display. 
     
     
         14 . The card vault of  claim 8  further comprising a retention and release mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . A card tracking system comprising:
 a card vault adapted to attach to at least one of the following:
 an automatic card shuffling machine; 
 a card shoe; 
 a card verifying machine; and 
 a card discard rack; and 
   means for tracking a location of said card vault.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said means for tracking a location of said card vault comprises a transmitter on said card vault and a remote receiver. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein said transmitter is a RFID transmitter. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising means for transmitting said data to a casino management system. 
     
     
         19 . The card vault of  claim 15  further comprising a retention and release mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . A card tracking system comprising:
 a card vault adapted to attach to at least one of the following:
 an automatic card shuffling machine; 
 a card shoe; 
 a card verifying machine; and 
 a card discard rack; and 
   means for recording data associated with said card vault.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said means for recording data associated with said card vault comprises a processor, storage device, power supply, user interface and display. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20  further comprising means for transmitting said data to a casino management system.