Playing card shufflers and related methods

Abstract

A device for forming a random set of playing cards. The device may include a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards, a randomizing system for randomizing an order of the initial set of playing cards, and a card collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic playing card shuffler comprising:
 a housing configured to be utilized at a gaming table, the housing comprising a playing card receiver positioned at a playing surface of the gaming table, the playing card receiver for receiving a group of playing cards to be shuffled from a location proximate the playing surface of the gaming table;   a randomizing system configured to randomize the order of the group of playing cards to provide randomized playing cards;   a collection surface for supporting the randomized playing cards; and   an elevator for raising the collection surface to an elevation adjacent to the playing surface of the gaming table to enable a dealer to manually remove all of the randomized playing cards at one time from the location proximate the playing surface of the gaming table.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 1 , wherein the group of playing cards is configured to be inserted into the playing card receiver from above the playing surface of the gaming table. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 1 , wherein the randomizing system is further configured to sort the group of playing cards into a selected order. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 1 , wherein the collection surface and the playing card receiver are configured to receive cards from or deliver cards to the playing surface of the gaming table from a location directly adjacent a portion of the playing surface. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is supported by a support plate at a location directly adjacent the gaming table. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is positioned within the gaming table. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an upper, substantially flat playing surface, the upper, substantially flat playing surface configured to be positioned substantially at an elevation with playing surface of the gaming table. 
     
     
         8 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 7 , wherein the collection surface is configured to be positioned at an elevational level at least at the upper, substantially flat playing surface of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 1 , further comprising a movable cover over the collection surface, the movable cover allowing manual access to the collection surface when the movable cover is opened and preventing manual access to the collection surface when the movable cover is closed. 
     
     
         10 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 9 , wherein the movable cover is configured to be elevated over the housing in an open position. 
     
     
         11 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 9 , wherein the movable cover is configured to be elevated by an extension coupled to the elevator. 
     
     
         12 . A playing card shuffler comprising:
 a housing comprising a playing card support surface in a playing card receiver for accepting a group of playing cards to be shuffled, the playing card support surface configured to be positioned at an elevational level substantially the same as a playing surface of the gaming device;   a randomizing system for randomizing the order of the group of playing cards resulting in randomized playing cards; and   a collection surface for supporting the randomized playing cards, playing card shuffler configured to enable a dealer to manually remove all of the randomized playing cards at one time from a location proximate the playing surface of the gaming device.   
     
     
         13 . The playing card shuffler of  claim 12 , further comprising an elevator for raising the collection surface to an elevation to enable the dealer to manually remove all of the randomized playing cards at one time from the location proximate the playing surface of the gaming device. 
     
     
         14 . The playing card shuffler of  claim 12 , further comprising a movable cover configured to be elevated over the housing in an open position to enable the dealer to unload the randomized playing cards from the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The playing card shuffler of  claim 12 , wherein the playing card support surface is configured to receive the group of playing cards from the location proximate the playing surface of the gaming device. 
     
     
         16 . The playing card shuffler of  claim 12 , wherein the playing card support surface is configured to be positioned at an elevational level adjacent the playing surface of the gaming device. 
     
     
         17 . The playing card shuffler of  claim 12 , wherein the collection surface is configured to be raised to an elevational level at least at an upper surface of the housing. 
     
     
         18 . A method of shuffling playing cards, the method comprising:
 accepting a group of playing cards to be shuffled from a location proximate a playing surface of a gaming table and through an upper portion of the housing;   altering an order of the group of playing cards; and   providing the altered group of playing cards back through the upper portion of the housing to the location proximate the playing surface of the gaming table.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein altering the order of the group of playing cards comprises at least one of randomizing the group of playing cards or sorting the group of playing cards. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising delivering the altered group of playing cards at least to an elevation of the playing surface of the gaming table.