Abstract: Portable handheld ceramic tile infrared burners and methods for using the same are disclosed for use to heat objects including to broil steak and other foods. In particular, a portable handheld ceramic tile infrared burner comprising a ceramic tile infrared burner assembly, a handle for maneuvering the ceramic tile infrared burner assembly during use, and a gas supply line for connecting to a gas source is disclosed. In some embodiments, the handle and gas supply line are integrated such that the gas supply line serves as the handle for maneuvering the ceramic tile infrared burner assembly during use. In some embodiments, the ceramic tile infrared burner assembly is at least partially enclosed in a housing. The handle may be connected to the housing or to the ceramic tile infrared burner assembly. The portable handheld ceramic tile infrared burner may further comprise one or more heat shields.

Abstract: Portable handheld ceramic tile infrared burners and methods for using the same are disclosed for use to heat objects including to broil steak and other foods. In particular, a portable handheld ceramic tile infrared burner comprising a ceramic tile infrared burner assembly, a handle for maneuvering the ceramic tile infrared burner assembly during use, and a gas supply line for connecting to a gas source is disclosed. In some embodiments, the handle and gas supply line are integrated such that the gas supply line serves as the handle for maneuvering the ceramic tile infrared burner assembly during use. In some embodiments, the ceramic tile infrared burner assembly is at least partially enclosed in a housing. The handle may be connected to the housing or to the ceramic tile infrared burner assembly. The portable handheld ceramic tile infrared burner may further comprise one or more heat shields.

Abstract: A card shuffling device is described where the device is configured to be mountable below a table top and accessible by an aperture formed in the table top. Cards are inserted into an aperture on the top of the card shuffling device with the face of the cards being in a horizontal plane. The cards are transported to a shuffling compartment where the cards are shuffled by ejection of the cards in a vertical direction. The shuffled cards are returned to the region of the aperture by an elevator mechanism for dispensing. A card counting device may also be included, where the counting is performed by ejecting the cards from a deck of cards in a vertical direction such that the cards pass individually through a sensing region.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a shuffling apparatus to a table is described. A bezel plate has an aperture permitting access to a top aperture in a shuffler apparatus. An aperture in the table top is covered by the bezel plate and a top portion of the shuffler apparatus is accessible through an aperture in the bezel plate. The bezel plate may be captivated to the table top using straps extending through the aperture in the table top and being affixed to the underside of the table top. The shuffler may be supported against the underside of the bezel plate by a bracket affixed to the underside of the table top. Alternatively, the bezel plate may be placed on the table top and the shuffler hung from an underside of the bezel plate by a bracket extending through the aperture in the table top.

Abstract: A device for shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The cards are placed in a compartment having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and dimensioned so that the cards are constrained in rotation in two of the three axes. The device is oriented so that a thickness dimension of the deck is horizontal, and groups of cards of the deck of cards are ejected in a vertical direction so as to provide a spacing of between a top edge of cards at rest and a bottom edge of the cards being ejected. The time duration of the ejection process is sufficient to effectively randomize the deck of cards. The ejection of cards may be by a plurality of pistons, and the pistons may be actuated by a motor, a solenoid or by air pressure.

Abstract: A card shuffling device is described where the device is configured to be mountable below a table top and accessible by an aperture formed in the table top. Cards are inserted into an aperture on the top of the card shuffling device with the face of the cards being in a horizontal plane. The cards are transported to a shuffling compartment where the cards are shuffled by ejection of the cards in a vertical direction. The shuffled cards are returned to the region of the aperture by an elevator mechanism for dispensing. A card counting device may also be included, where the counting is performed by ejecting the cards from a deck of cards in a vertical direction such that the cards pass individually through a sensing region.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of automatically shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The apparatus includes three compartments disposed laterally with respect to each other and at least one compartment movable vertically with respect to another other compartment. Cards placed in one of the compartments are dispensed into the other two compartments so as to cut or strip the deck, and are returned to the original compartment by interleaving cards from the other compartments. The process may be repeated to substantially randomize the deck for use in playing a game of cards. The cards may be removed either through a top aperture through which the cards were introduced into the apparatus or using a removable tray.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of automatically shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The apparatus includes three compartments disposed laterally with respect to each other and at least one compartment movable vertically with respect to another other compartment. Cards placed in one of the compartments are dispensed into the other two compartments so as to cut or strip the deck, and are returned to the original compartment by interleaving cards from the other compartments. The process may be repeated to substantially randomize the deck for use in playing a game of cards. One of the compartments may be operable, either manually or by motive means so as to project outside the envelope of the apparatus so as to accept or dispense a deck of cards.

Abstract: A device for shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The cards are placed in a compartment having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and dimensioned so that the cards are constrained in rotation in two of the three axes. The device is oriented so that a thickness dimension of the deck is horizontal, and groups of cards of the deck of cards are ejected in a vertical direction so as to provide a spacing of between a top edge of cards at rest and a bottom edge of the cards being ejected. The time duration of the ejection process is sufficient to effectively randomize the deck of cards. The ejection of cards may be by a plurality of pistons, and the pistons may be actuated by a motor, a solenoid or by air pressure.

Abstract: A device for shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The cards are placed in a compartment having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and dimensioned so that the cards are constrained in rotation in two of the three axes. The device is oriented so that a thickness dimension of the deck is horizontal, and groups of cards of the deck of cards are ejected in a vertical direction so as to provide a spacing of between a top edge of cards at rest and a bottom edge of the cards being ejected. The time duration of the ejection process is sufficient to effectively randomize the deck of cards. The ejection of cards may be by a plurality of pistons, and the pistons may be actuated by a motor, a solenoid or by air pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a shuffling apparatus to a table is described. A bezel plate has an aperture permitting access to a top aperture in a shuffler apparatus. An aperture in the table top is covered by the bezel plate and a top portion of the shuffler apparatus is accessible through an aperture in the bezel plate. The bezel plate may be captivated to the table top using straps extending through the aperture in the table top and being affixed to the underside of the table top. The shuffler may be supported against the underside of the bezel plate by a bracket affixed to the underside of the table top. Alternatively, the bezel plate may be placed on the table top and the shuffler hung from an underside of the bezel plate by a bracket extending through the aperture in the table top.

Abstract: A device for shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The cards are placed in a compartment having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and dimensioned so that the cards are constrained in rotation in two of the three axes. The device is oriented so that a thickness dimension of the deck is horizontal, and groups of cards of the deck of cards are ejected in a vertical direction so as to provide a spacing of between a top edge of cards at rest and a bottom edge of the cards being ejected. The time duration of the ejection process is sufficient to effectively randomize the deck of cards. The ejection of cards may be by a plurality of pistons, and the pistons may be actuated by a motor, a solenoid or by air pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of automatically shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The apparatus includes three compartments disposed laterally with respect to each other and at least one compartment movable vertically with respect to another other compartment. Cards placed in one of the compartments are dispensed into the other two compartments so as to cut or strip the deck, and are returned to the original compartment by interleaving cards from the other compartments. The process may be repeated to substantially randomize the deck for use in playing a game of cards. The cards may be removed either through a top aperture through which the cards were introduced into the apparatus or using a removable tray.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of automatically shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The apparatus includes three compartments disposed laterally with respect to each other and at least one compartment movable vertically with respect to another other compartment. Cards placed in one of the compartments are dispensed into the other two compartments so as to cut or strip the deck, and are returned to the original compartment by interleaving cards from the other compartments. The process may be repeated to substantially randomize the deck for use in playing a game of cards. One of the compartments may be operable, either manually or by motive means so as to project outside the envelope of the apparatus so as to accept or dispense a deck of cards.