Abstract: A pai gow poker game without a house commission is disclosed. After shuffling the cards and determining the order in which players are dealt, the players place wagers on the game outcome. Then, the dealer deals to the player positions and the dealer position. The dealer, either before or after setting the dealer hand, evaluates the dealer cards to determine whether the dealer qualifies. To qualify, the dealer hand must achieve a predetermined rank, such as higher than a king high rank. If the dealer does not qualify, then each player is rewarded at a 1:2 payout rate in relation to his wager. If the dealer does qualify, then the game proceeds according to traditional pai gow play. Payouts to players are made without paying a house commission. Bonus wagers may be placed and rewarded based on bonus events or based on a comparison of the dealt cards to predetermined potential outcomes.

Abstract: A card shuffling machine for a game of chance includes a base portion and a rotatable body in communication with the base portion. The rotatable body portion includes a plurality of slots disposed therein. Each of the plurality of slots is configured to receive a card of the defined set of cards. Each of the cards includes indicia relevant to an outcome of the game of chance. The shuffling machine includes at least one reader associated with one of the plurality of slots and configured to communicate with the card disposed in the one slot to obtain information about the indicia of the card. The card shuffling machine includes a display in communication with the at least one reader for displaying the indicia of the card when the card is in the slot.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-turning device with the ability to mix and identify balls located in a portable compartment with auxiliary control elements. The device is presented as a whole as a small portable stand-alone device with the ability to perform random drawings. The invention is therefore in the field of devices intended for games of chance and arcade games, such as lotteries, bingo, roulettes, board games, etc.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus which, for each of a plurality of plays of a primary game: randomly generates one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes, displays the generated primary game outcome, and displays any award associated with the displayed primary game outcome. If a bonus triggering event occurs, the gaming apparatus: determines a first part of a constant value, causes the determined first part of the constant value to be provided to a first player, determines a second part of the constant value, wherein the determined first part of the constant value and the determined second part of the constant value form the constant value, and causes the determined second part of the constant value to fund a designated award.

Abstract: Two modified roulette wheels are used to generate a pair of cards for a card game. Players may wager on one or more outcomes selected from a group of predetermined outcomes including one of the wheels producing a winning card value, the wheels producing equal card values, one or more of the wheels producing a card value below a first predetermined value, and one or more of the wheels producing a card value above a second predetermined value. The wheels are spun to produce one or more game outcomes from the group of predetermined outcomes, and the wagers are settled.

Abstract: A stacking device for mahjong tiles includes a main frame, a link rod, a side frame, and a lift seat. The main frame is coupled with a turning wheel having a guide trough. The guide trough has an annular indentation section. The link rod has a retaining pivot portion, a link pivot portion, and a guide roller pivot portion pivotally connected with a first guide roller. The first guide roller is located in the guide trough. The side frame is provided with two rails. The rails are provided with a slide seat connected with a push board. The slide seat has a slide groove. The turning wheel can bring the slide seat to displace. The lift seat includes a platform and a slide board beneath the platform. The link pivot portion is pivotally connected to a lower end of the slide board.

Abstract: A playing card wagering game method which involves players placing a three part wager and utilizing the standard counting technique of cribbage. Cards are dealt four down to all players that ante and the dealer. Players inspect their cards and are given the choice of folding (withdrawing from the game) or placing a second wager. A common fifth card is revealed and upon inspection players are again given the choice of folding or placing a third wager. After each player decides on whether to fold or stay, the dealer then reveals dealer's cards. Dealer maintains a point requirement to open. All remaining players which did not fold are then resolved where the highest hand (initial four dealt cards including common card) wins and tying hands push. Player's winning hands are paid in accordance with paytables.

Abstract: A card recognition system comprises an imaging device configured to capture a raw image of at least a portion of a card, and a processor operably coupled with the imaging device. The processor is configured to perform an image processing analysis of the raw image to identify measurements of at least one of a rank area around a rank of the card, and a suit area around a suit of the card, and automatically generate a calibration file based, at least in part, on the image processing analysis. A card handling device comprises a card infeed, a card output, and a card recognition system. A method for tuning a card handling device comprises capturing a plurality of images from a deck of cards, storing the images in memory, analyzing the plurality of images for card identification information, and generating a calibration file including parameters associated with the card identification information.

Abstract: A table game system comprises a predetermined number of decks of game cards (100s) which are shuffled in a random order and individually packaged as one package (406), an unique ID code (404) is attached to the package (406) of shuffled game cards (100s), an ID code reader (R) for obtaining the ID code (404) of the packages (406) at the game table (411) to identify the package (406) which will be used for the next game, a card storage unit (402) that stores the predetermined number of decks of game cards plucked out from the package (406). The system determines whether the quantity of the cards stored in the card storage unit (402) is a predetermined quantity, and outputs the determination with the ID code (404) of the package (406) in which the plurality of cards stored in the card storage unit (402).

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus which provides for modified roulette games, and various wagering options, in which one or more roulette balls are propelled onto a spinning roulette wheel, among other things, including a roulette wheel overlay apparatus and system and associated table layouts.

Abstract: A card shoe apparatus includes a card guide unit that guides cards that are manually drawn out one by one from a card housing unit onto a game table, a code reading unit that, when a card is drawn out from the card housing unit, reads from that card a code that indicates a rank (number, rank) of that card, a authenticity determination unit that determines the authenticity of the card based on the information of the authenticity of the card, a winning/losing determination unit that determines the winning/losing of a card game based on the ranks of the cards sequentially read by the code reading unit, and an output unit that outputs the results of the determination made by the winning/losing determination unit. The card guide unit includes a card entry/exit restriction unit that restricts the entry/exit of the card to/from the card housing unit.

Abstract: A positioning mechanism for use in conjunction with rod and connector construction toy sets, such as K'NEX, to enable incrementally adjustable positioning of rods relative to associated connectors. The new mechanism includes first and second positioning members. The first, positioning member is, mounted on a rod for angular movement and includes a cylindrical outer surface with multiple detent notches. The second positioning member has a convergent pair of resilient fingers engaged with a spaced pair of the detent notches to releasably retain the first positioning member in any incrementally adjusted position. The second positioning member includes mounting studs engageable with laterally spaced connectors of an assembly, and a separate locating element engageable with at least one of the connectors to fix the second positioning member against rotation.

Abstract: The building components of the present invention provide building components which are compatible with high-stress and/or high-impact devices or mechanisms due to at least their composition or their configuration. Consequently, the building components of the present invention provide a more robust building component. In some embodiments, the building components of the present invention are be die-cast, metal building components manufactured from any desirable metal, such as zinc. Alternatively or additionally, the building components may include a configuration that provides for at least one offset coupling configuration such that building components may be coupled together in a structurally secure configuration. Thus, in some embodiments, the building components of the present invention provide a building component for constructing toy vehicles that is compatible with wheeled boosters typically provided for die cast toy vehicles.

Abstract: A toy character is provided including a body supporting an eye assembly. The eye assembly may include a base, a plate and three or more segments connecting the base and plate. The three or more segments may define two cavities therebetween. Two light emitting sources may each be arranged with the base and oriented within their respective cavities such that activation of the light emitting sources directs light output toward the plate. The plate may include two regions corresponding to the two cavities which may illuminate when the respective light emitting sources are activated. The toy character may include two eye assemblies. The toy character may include a control system configured to direct operation of the light emitting sources. The control system may direct illumination sequences according to software instructions included within the control system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a toy vehicle play set with a chamber, a moveable platform, a resilient stencil, and an airbrush. The platform is configured to move from within the chamber to the top surface of the chamber. Moreover, the resilient stencil is configured to be placed over the platform, and any object on the platform, when the platform has been raised. The resilient stencil is configured to be pliable and contain a series of apertures that create a design. The airbrush is then configured to spray ink onto the stencil and object beneath the stencil, coloring the design of the stencil onto the object.

Abstract: An integrated training system for articles of footwear is disclosed. Each article of footwear includes a set of physical characteristics associated with an athletic skill. A customized training program is provided with each article of footwear to provide custom tailored training for improving the particular athletic skill associated with the selected article of footwear.

Abstract: A playing card handling device is disclosed. The device includes a first side and a second opposite side. Components of the device include a card infeed tray, a card output tray and a card handling zone. The card infeed tray and card output tray are on the same first side of the device and an upper surface of the card infeed tray and an upper surface of the card output tray are in the same plane. Card handling devices of the present invention also include a touch screen display, as well as a movable card gate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a taxidermy mannequin includes providing a mold having an open end, a wall having an internal surface and an opposing external surface, and an internal cavity surrounded by the internal surface of the wall. The method further includes applying a layer of a mold release material to a portion of the internal surface, applying a powder material on an exposed surface of the mold release material, applying a layer of a glue mixture on an exposed surface of the powder material and the mold release material layer, applying a granular or fibrous material on an exposed surface of the glue mixture layer, allowing the glue mixture to at least partially dry, filling at least a portion of the internal cavity of the mold with a liquid expandable urethane foam, allowing the expandable urethane foam to expand and harden, and removing the taxidermy mannequin from the mold.

Abstract: A substantially planar playing field for a horseshoe game. A plurality of horseshoe courses are arranged on the playing field. Each of the horseshoe courses comprises an elongated planar portion having opposed ends and a horseshoe pit on at least one of the opposed ends of the elongated planar portion. A plurality of the horseshoe courses on the playing field have a horseshoe pit on each of the opposed ends of the elongated planar portion of the horse shoe course. Each of the pits has a stake rising above the pit. At least one, and preferably a plurality of the courses have included in the horseshoe course a challenge for the player. The courses are arranged on the playing field to enable the players to traverse a predetermined game path to play each course in sequence to complete the game.

Abstract: A card disposal system for a table game of the present invention includes a discharge opening for disposal of cards after a game, a disposed card receiving board for receiving the cards from the discharge opening, a disposed card information acquiring means that acquires information on the number (rank) of the card placed in the discharge opening, a group information acquiring means that acquires group information of the card disposed of, a card counter serving as a number counting means that counts the number of cards that are placed in the discharge opening for disposal, a deck examination means that determines whether cards to be disposed of includes all the cards within a predetermined number of decks, and an output means that outputs a result of the determination.