Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a three-dimensional game. In some embodiments, the three-dimensional game is a maze game where a player maneuvers at least one ball around tracks and barriers disposed within an enclosure. The player is able to select which track they would like to attempt, and then work with gravity and carefully shift, flip, turn and twist the enclosure to guide the ball. In some embodiments, the enclosure includes a first portion and a second portion. A handle is externally coupled to each portion of the enclosure to manipulate parts of the three-dimensional game to create new pathways, to align pathways enabling completion, or both. A current game state can be preserved by resting the three-dimensional game on a pedestal configured to receive the enclosure.

Abstract: A single box call having a plurality of replaceable soundboard inserts and a plurality of replaceable striker members, selectively used in combination together for producing distinctly different sounds that imitate turkey calls. The box call includes a housing having two receiving slots for receiving two soundboard inserts and a fastening means for fastening the soundboard inserts to the housing; and a lid assembly having a lid, a handle, a connecting means for connecting the lid assembly to the housing, a replaceable striker member, and an attachment means for attaching the striker member to the bottom of the lid.

Abstract: A toy set is provided including a reconfigurable toy capable of transitioning between a first configuration and a second configuration. The toy set also includes a launch mechanism having an activation means and a toy receiver. A propulsion mechanism transfers movement of the activation means to the reconfigurable toy to propel the reconfigurable toy in a second configuration from the launch mechanism along a propulsion axis.

Abstract: A top launcher includes at least one track segment having a guiding path for translating a rotatable top thereon. Also included is a launching member moveable between a first position and a second position, the launching member resiliently biased toward the first position. Further included is an engagement portion of the launching member for engaging the rotatable top and launching the rotatable top as the launching member moves toward the first position.

Abstract: Card shufflers usable in forming and dispensing randomized playing card hands for use in playing card games include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a wheel configured to rotate within the card shuffler. The rotatable wheel may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein. Related methods involve the use of such card shufflers in playing card games.

Abstract: A transparent, automatic ball blower configured to generate random outcomes for a game by air-mixing Ping-Pong-style balls in a mixing chamber. During game play, the balls extracted from the mixing chamber via an extractor pipe are subsequently carried by a computer-controlled, motorized ball carrier mechanism to an inlet of a ball accumulator compartment. The ball accumulator compartment may be located proximate to the ball mixing chamber. The ball carrier mechanism moves and drops the extracted balls, one-at-a-time, into the ball accumulator compartment. The balls fall into the ball accumulator compartment by means of gravity alone. The balls fill the ball accumulator compartment which, in one version, accommodates a single vertical layer of balls allowing visual inspection of the balls. At the end of game play, the balls are released from the ball accumulator compartment into the mixing chamber through a computer-controlled, motorized ball release gate.

Abstract: A system includes a tackle training apparatus that comprises a cylindrical structure. The cylindrical structure comprises at least one recessed portion in a curved surface of the cylindrical surface. Each recessed portion of the at least one recessed portion corresponds to a security strap. The system comprises placing a first flat surface of the cylindrical structure on a playing surface of a practice field, wherein the cylindrical structure stands upright upon the playing surface. The system comprises placing a ball in a recessed portion of at the least one recessed portion, wherein the recessed portion and a corresponding securing strap secure the ball to the tackle training apparatus. The system includes a player approaching the cylindrical structure in a tackling disposition, wherein the player targets the ball with a facemask portion of a helmet worn by the player.

Abstract: A story based card game has a series of sequential rounds, the card game comprising a plurality of sets of location cards, one set of location cards for each of a plurality of locations associated with an aspect of the story, each set of location cards including one card for each round of the game, wherein each round includes at least one correct location card for that round, wherein the correct location card for each round includes text indicating that the it is the correct card for that round and including a continuation of the story, whereby the series of correct locations cards for the rounds of the game combine to form a story summary.

Abstract: One or more methods, apparatuses, and/or systems are disclosed herein for selectively grasping one or more target objects. The apparatus includes a string and a winding mechanism. The winding mechanism is configured to selectively unwind and wind the string, wherein a first portion of the apparatus is configured to be separated from a second portion of the apparatus when the string is unwound and wherein the first and second portions are configured to be adjacent to one another when the string is wound. A plurality of members are pivotally mounted to the apparatus and operably coupled to the winding mechanism, wherein the plurality of members are configured to grasp an object responsive to actuation of a button that is located within an area defined by the plurality of members.

Abstract: A traveling toy includes a gyroscopic unit, a traveling unit and an ornamental toy unit. The gyroscopic unit includes a motor having co-rotatable upper and lower output shafts, a rigid body having a rotational symmetry, and mounted co-rotatably on the upper output shaft of the motor, a driving gear mounted co-rotatably on the lower output shaft, and a transmission gear meshing the driving gear. The traveling unit is disposed below the gyroscopic unit, and includes a first bottom wheel adapted for traveling on a surface, and a gear train disposed between and meshing the transmission gear and the first bottom wheel. The ornamental toy unit is provided on the gyroscopic unit.

Abstract: A cockpit yoke assembly adapted for mounting on top of a RC transmitter for controlling the operation of a model airplane. The yoke assembly includes a first control arm with a throttle knob. The first control arm is attached to a first ball and socket linkage adapted for attachment a first joystick on the transmitter. A rudder control lever is attached to the first control arm. The yoke assembly includes a second control arm with an elevator knob. The second control arm is attached to a second ball and socket linkage adapted for attachment to a second joystick on the transmitter. An aileron control lever is attached to the second control arm. The first and second ball and socket linkage are used for moving the first and second joysticks fore or aft and left or right during the operation of the model airplane.

Abstract: A card dealing shoe with card reading capability for facilitating play of card games includes a control system configured to detect the existence of an alarm condition and a card restraining apparatus mounted on the elongated housing and configured for alternating between a non-restraining condition and a restraining condition, wherein the restraining condition includes activation of a physical restraint that prevents cards from being added to and removed from the card receiving or staging area in the card dealing shoe, wherein the card restraining apparatus is in communication with the control system and actuated from the non-restraining condition to the restraining condition responsive to the detection of an alarm condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides shuffled playing cards which eliminate the need for a game host to shuffle cards before games by taking a lot of time as well as eliminate the possibility of cheating. A shuffled playing cards (1) obtained by shuffling a predetermined number of decks of playing cards (12) using a shuffling machine is packaged as an individual pack. The shuffled playing cards (1) is individually packaged and sealed with an adhesive label (13). A bar code (13a) which represents a unique shuffled card ID has been printed on the adhesive label (13). The shuffled card ID is registered in a database by being associated with information which allows identification of a shuffling machine used to shuffle the playing card set.

Abstract: A card dealing shoe including a sloped base with an opening, a roller mounted for rotational motion on an axle connected at each of the opposing side walls, and a pivoting lever having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end protrudes from the opening in the sloped base, the pivoting lever being configured to pivot from a first position wherein the first end protrudes from the opening in the sloped base and the second end restricts rotational motion of the roller to a second position in which the second end permits rotational motion of the roller, wherein the lever is biased towards the first position.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a security apparatus for use on a playing card shoe to prevent the removal of playing cards from the splaying card shoe. Playing card shoes generally have an elongated body including a card cradle for supporting a plurality of playing cards, The card cradle has an outlet opening adjacent to a front end of the elongated body, through which playing cards can be removed from the playing card shoe, A cradle cover is removably attached to the elongated, body, covering the card cradle and playing cards therein. A faceplate is removably attach to the outer front, end of the elongated body, and defines a mouth through which playing cards can be drawn from the outlet opening. The security apparatus prevents the removal a playing cards from the shoe, where the security apparatus is removably attached to the playing card shoe to block and/or cover the outlet opening.

Abstract: A track set is provided. The track set includes a first track segment and a carriage. The first track segment has a first pivot and is rotatable about the first pivot from a first position to a second position. The carriage is rotationally coupled to an end of the first track segment by a second pivot. The carriage is configured to rotate about the second pivot as the first track segment rotates from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A method of playing a game bonus triggered by the rank of the player hand. In a first embodiment, a number of bonus hands is displayed, each assigned a bonus value. A number of bonus hands are chosen, the number chosen being dependent on the rank of the player hand. The values of the chosen bonus hands are revealed. Alternatively, a number of bonus hands is displayed, the number being dependent on the rank of the player hand. After the bonus values are revealed, the player is paid an amount based on the bonus values.

Abstract: A toy glove is disclosed, and includes an inflatable user engagement portion and a fluid retention portion. The fluid retention portion is affixed to the user engagement portion and includes an attachment layer, an absorbent layer, and a retention layer. The absorbent layer is configured to absorb and retain fluid, and is compressible under an applied force so that fluid stored in the absorbent layer is displaced therefrom under pressure. The retention layer covers the absorbent layer and is semi-permeable so that the retention layer inhibits fluid at an equilibrium state from flowing therethrough and allows at least a portion of the fluid displaced from the absorbent layer under pressure to pass therethrough.

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 device and method is provided for simulating an outcome of a game, the device including a die having a plurality of faces, each face of the die being associated with an index value, a first wheel having a surface for rolling of the die, and a randomization mechanism coupled to the wheel and configured to cause a randomized motion of the wheel and die for a period of time to generate an outcome of game play, the outcome of game play being defined at least in part based on the index value of an exposed face of the plurality of faces of the die after the completion of the randomized motion.