Dice Shaker Device

Abstract

A dice shaker device and method for providing a randomized state of at least one die. The dice shaker device includes a dice plate, a dice plate actuator configured to apply a reciprocating force to the dice plate, a casing, a circumferential ridge surface extending around an outer perimeter of the dice plate, and a dice rolling space at least partly defined by the casing, the dice plate, and the circumferential ridge surface. The circumferential ridge surface can be arranged in parallel with an upper surface of the dice plate, and the circumferential ridge surface can have a width that is equal to or less than half a width of the at least one die that the dice shaker device is arranged to provide a randomized state of.

1 . A dice shaker device arranged to provide a randomized state of a die, said dice shaker device comprising:
 a dice plate;   a dice plate actuator configured to apply a reciprocating force to the dice plate;   a casing;   a circumferential ridge surface extending around an outer perimeter of the dice plate; and   a dice rolling space that is at least partly defined by the casing, the dice plate, and the circumferential ridge surface;   wherein the circumferential ridge surface is arranged in parallel with an upper surface of the dice plate, and wherein a width of the circumferential ridge surface is less than half a width of the die that the dice shaker device is arranged to provide the randomized state of.   
     
     
         2 . The dice shaker device of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the circumferential ridge surface is greater than 36% of the width of the die that the dice shaker device is arranged to provide the randomized state of. 
     
     
         3 . The dice shaker device of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential ridge surface extends from the casing and towards the dice plate. 
     
     
         4 . The dice shaker device of  claim 1 , wherein the dice plate and the circumferential ridge surface are arranged to form a gap between the dice plate and the circumferential ridge surface. 
     
     
         5 . The dice shaker device of  claim 1 , wherein the dice plate actuator is configured to apply the reciprocating force to the dice plate such that the dice plate is movable between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         6 . The dice shaker device of  claim 5 , wherein the first position is such that the upper surface of the dice plate is arranged in parallel with or above the circumferential ridge surface. 
     
     
         7 . The dice shaker device of  claim 6 , wherein the second position is such that the upper surface of the dice plate is arranged below the circumferential ridge surface. 
     
     
         8 . The dice shaker device of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential ridge surface is arranged perpendicular to a lower portion of the casing. 
     
     
         9 . The dice shaker device of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential ridge surface is an integral part of a device frame to which the casing and the dice plate actuator are connected. 
     
     
         10 . The dice shaker device of  claim 1 , wherein the casing has a cylindrical lower portion. 
     
     
         11 . A method for randomizing a state of a die, the method comprising:
 providing the die in a dice rolling space that is at least partly defined by a casing, a dice plate, and a circumferential ridge surface of a dice shaker device, the circumferential ridge surface extending around an outer perimeter of the dice plate and being arranged in parallel with an upper surface of the dice plate;   applying a reciprocating force to the dice plate using a dice plate actuator such that the state of the die is randomized;   aligning the upper surface of the dice plate with the circumferential ridge surface, wherein a width of the circumferential ridge surface is less than half a width of the die; and   ceasing to apply the reciprocating force to the dice plate such that the die comes to rest on a plane jointly defined by the upper surface of the dice plate and the circumferential ridge surface.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising providing the circumferential ridge surface such that the width of the circumferential ridge surface is at least 36% of the width of the die. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising arranging the circumferential ridge surface such that the circumferential ridge surface extends from the casing and towards the dice plate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising arranging the dice plate and the circumferential ridge surface to form a gap between the dice plate and the circumferential ridge surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein applying the reciprocating force to the dice plate using the dice plate actuator comprises applying the reciprocating force to the dice plate using the dice plate actuator such that the dice plate is movable between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first position is such that the upper surface of the dice plate is arranged in parallel with or above the circumferential ridge surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second position is such that the upper surface of the dice plate is arranged below the circumferential ridge surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising arranging the circumferential ridge surface to be perpendicular to a lower portion of the casing. 
     
     
         19 . A dice shaker device arranged to provide a randomized state of a die, said dice shaker device comprising:
 a dice plate;   a dice plate actuator configured to apply a reciprocating force to the dice plate;   a casing;   a circumferential ridge surface extending around an outer perimeter of the dice plate; and   a dice rolling space that is at least partly defined by the casing, the dice plate, and the circumferential ridge surface;   wherein the circumferential ridge surface is arranged in parallel with an upper surface of the dice plate, and wherein a width of the circumferential ridge surface is less than half a width of the die and greater than 36% of the width of the die.   
     
     
         20 . The dice shaker device of  claim 19 , wherein the dice plate and the circumferential ridge surface are arranged to form a gap between the dice plate and the circumferential ridge surface.