Patents by Inventor Lawrence E. Wagoner

Lawrence E. Wagoner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Card mark sensor and methods for blackjack
    Patent number: 5364106
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for determining whether or not a hole card is a member of a blackjack pair without direct observation of the hole card. The cards are separably marked in groups of aces and of face cards and tens. Each mark is detectable by a card mark sensor. The card mark sensor is used to differentially determine whether or not the hole card is a member of predetermined group when a card is placed face down therein. Thus, when the dealer receives a face-up member of a blackjack pair, the hole card is inserted into the sensor and determined to be or not to be the other member of the blackjack pair immediately and without observation of the face of the hole card. If the hole card is the other member of the blackjack pair play is stopped, and the next hand is thereby more quickly started. If the dealer does not have blackjack, play continues without knowledge by either player or dealer of the actual value of the hole card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: No Peek 21
    Inventors: Donald J. Laughlin, Lawrence E. Wagoner
  • Card mark sensor and methods for blackjack
    Patent number: 5224712
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for determining whether or not a hole card is a member of a blackjack pair without direct observation of the hole card. The cards are separably marked in groups of aces and of face cards and tens. Each mark is detectable by a card mark sensor. The card mark sensor is used to differentially determine whether or not the hole card is a member of predetermined group when a card is placed face down therein. Thus, when the dealer receives a faceup member of a blackjack pair, the hole card is inserted into the sensor and determined to be or not to be the other member of the blackjack pair immediately and without observation of the face of the hole card. If the hole card is the other member of the blackjack pair play is stopped, and the next hand is thereby more quickly started. If the dealer does not have blackjack, play continues without knowledge by either player or dealer of the actual value of the hole card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: No Peek 21
    Inventors: Donald J. Laughlin, Lawrence E. Wagoner
  • Playing card marks and card mark sensor for blackjack
    Patent number: 5219172
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for determining whether or not a hole card is a member of a blackjack pair without direct observation of the hole card. The cards are separably marked in groups of aces and of face cards and tens. Each mark is detectable by a card mark sensor. The card mark sensor is used to differentially determine whether or not the hole card is a member of predetermined group when a card is placed face down therein Thus, when the dealer receives a face-up member of a blackjack pair, the hole card is inserted into the sensor and determined to be or not to be the other member of the blackjack pair immediately and without observation of the face of the hole card. If the hole card is the other member of the blackjack pair play is stopped, and the next hand is thereby more quickly started. If the dealer does not have blackjack, play continues without knowledge by either player or dealer of the actual value of the hole card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: No Peek 21
    Inventors: Donald J. Laughlin, Lawrence E. Wagoner