Patents by Inventor Steven L. Forte
Steven L. Forte 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).
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Patent number: 10933301Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one at a time to randomly designated single-card receptacle in a receiving or dealing rack, and a method for shuffling and for dealing cards.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2020Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Publication number: 20200188767Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one at a time to randomly designated single-card receptacle in a receiving or dealing rack, and a method for shuffling and for dealing cards.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2020Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Patent number: 10668362Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one at a time to randomly designated single-card receptacle in a receiving or dealing rack, and a method for shuffling and for dealing cards.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2016Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Patent number: 10279245Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one at a time from the bottom of a group that may be a deck in a deck-crib, to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a receiving or dealing rack, and methods for shuffling and for dealing cards. Either the deck-crib or the receiving rack is moved by a motor to align a single-card receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty single-card receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A single card is moved from the deck-crib by a card mover mechanism that may include an auxiliary card pusher to ensure that the card is placed fully into the selected single-card receptacle. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for dealing as a player hand or a dealer hand. A card presentation pusher may make a group of the cards in the dealing rack available to be grasped by the dealer for removal.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Publication number: 20170326437Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one at a time from the bottom of a group that may be a deck in a deck-crib, to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a receiving or dealing rack, and methods for shuffling and for dealing cards. Either the deck-crib or the receiving rack is moved by a motor to align a single-card receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty single-card receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A single card is moved from the deck-crib by a card mover mechanism that may include an auxiliary card pusher to ensure that the card is placed fully into the selected single-card receptacle. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for dealing as a player hand or a dealer hand. A card presentation pusher may make a group of the cards in the dealing rack available to be grasped by the dealer for removal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2017Publication date: November 16, 2017Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Patent number: 9731190Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one at a time from the bottom of a group that may be a deck in a deck-crib, to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a receiving or dealing rack, and methods for shuffling and for dealing cards. Either the deck-crib or the receiving rack is moved by a motor to align a single-card receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty single-card receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A single card is moved from the deck-crib by a card mover mechanism that may include an auxiliary card pusher to ensure that the card is placed fully into the selected single-card receptacle. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for dealing as a player hand or a dealer hand. A card presentation pusher may make a group of the cards in the dealing rack available to be grasped by the dealer for removal.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Patent number: 9713761Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one at a time from the bottom of a group that may be a deck in a deck-crib, to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a receiving or dealing rack, and a method for shuffling and for dealing cards. Either the deck-crib or the receiving rack is moved by a motor to align a single-card receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty single-card receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A space is provided in the dealing rack in one embodiment, where a dealer's hand can reach cards and remove them from the dealing rack. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for dealing as a player hand or a dealer hand. A card reader may be included, and positions in the receiving or dealing rack of cards identified by the card reader can be stored in memory in the controller.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Publication number: 20170072294Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one at a time to randomly designated single-card receptacle in a receiving or dealing rack, and a method for shuffling and for dealing cards.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Publication number: 20150290528Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one at a time from the bottom of a group that may be a deck in a deck-crib, to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a receiving or dealing rack, and methods for shuffling and for dealing cards. Either the deck-crib or the receiving rack is moved by a motor to align a single-card receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty single-card receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A single card is moved from the deck-crib by a card mover mechanism that may include an auxiliary card pusher to ensure that the card is placed fully into the selected single-card receptacle. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for dealing as a player hand or a dealer hand. A card presentation pusher may make a group of the cards in the dealing rack available to be grasped by the dealer for removal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventors: David E. SAMPSON, Steven L. Forte
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Publication number: 20150014927Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one-at-a-time from the bottom of a group that may be a deck in a deck-crib, to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a receiving or dealing rack, and a method for shuffling and for dealing cards. Either the deck-crib or the receiving rack is moved by a motor to align a single-card receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty single-card receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A space is provided in the dealing rack in one embodiment, where a dealer's hand can reach cards and remove them from the dealing rack. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for dealing as a player hand or a dealer hand. A card reader may be included, and positions in the receiving or dealing rack of cards identified by the card reader can be stored in memory in the controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Applicant: Savant Shuffler LLCInventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Patent number: 8844930Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one-at-a-time from the bottom of a group that may be a deck in a deck-crib, to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a receiving or dealing rack, and a method for shuffling and for dealing cards. Either the deck-crib or the receiving rack is moved by a motor to align a single-card receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty single-card receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A space is provided in the dealing rack in one embodiment, where a dealer's hand can reach cards and remove them from the dealing rack. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for dealing as a player hand or a dealer hand. A card reader may be included, and positions in the receiving or dealing rack of cards identified by the card reader can be stored in memory in the controller.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Savant Shuffler LLCInventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Publication number: 20130300059Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one-at-a-time from the bottom of a group that may be a deck in a deck-crib, to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a receiving or dealing rack, and a method for shuffling and for dealing cards. Either the deck-crib or the receiving rack is moved by a motor to align a single-card receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty single-card receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A space is provided in the dealing rack in one embodiment, where a dealer's hand can reach cards and remove them from the dealing rack. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for dealing as a player hand or a dealer hand. A card reader may be included, and positions in the receiving or dealing rack of cards identified by the card reader can be stored in memory in the controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2013Publication date: November 14, 2013Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Patent number: 8485527Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one-at-a-time from the bottom of a group that may be a deck in a deck-crib, to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a receiving or dealing rack. Either the deck-crib or the receiving rack is moved by a motor to align a receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A space is provided in the dealing rack in one embodiment, where a dealer's hand can reach cards and remove them from the dealing rack. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for a player hand or a dealer hand. A card reader may be included, and positions in the receiving or dealing rack of cards identified by the card reader can be stored in memory in the controller.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2012Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Savant Shuffler LLCInventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Publication number: 20130026709Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one-at-a-time from the bottom of a group that may be a deck in a deck-crib, to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a receiving or dealing rack. Either the deck-crib or the receiving rack is moved by a motor to align a receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A space is provided in the dealing rack in one embodiment, where a dealer's hand can reach cards and remove them from the dealing rack. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for a player hand or a dealer hand. A card reader may be included, and positions in the receiving or dealing rack of cards identified by the card reader can be stored in memory in the controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Patent number: 8342526Abstract: A card shuffler that moves cards one-at-a-time from the bottom of a deck in a deck-crib to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a dealing rack. The dealing rack is moved by a motor to align a receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A space is provided in the dealing rack where a dealer's hand can reach cards and remove them from the dealing rack. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for a player hand or a dealer hand. A card reader may be included, and positions in the dealing rack of cards identified by the card reader can be stored in memory in the controller.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Savant Shuffler LLCInventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
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Patent number: 6299167Abstract: A playing card shuffler for shuffling a stack of playing cards with random distribution. The playing card shuffler includes an infeed playing card stack holder supporting an unshuffled playing card stack and discharges playing cards from incremental positions of the unshuffled playing card stack directly to the shuffled card receiver.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1999Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Inventors: Randy D. Sines, Steven L. Forte, Leonard A. Hale
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Patent number: 6019368Abstract: A playing card shuffler having an unshuffled stack holder which holds an infeed array of playing cards. One or more ejectors are mounted adjacent the unshuffled stack holder to eject cards from the infeed array at various random positions. Multiple ejectors are preferably mounted on a movable carriage. Extractors are advantageously used to assist in removing playing cards from the infeed array. Removal resistors are used to provide counteracting forces resisting displacement of cards, to thereby provide more selective ejection of cards from the infeed array.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1997Date of Patent: February 1, 2000Inventors: Randy D. Sines, Steven L. Forte, Leonard A. Hale
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Patent number: 5934672Abstract: A slot machine is modified to identify subsets of related symbols in a randomly selected set of symbols. The symbols within the subset can then be directed to wheels or other movable visual displays in an order such that related symbols will appear first to a player. A deciding symbol will be indexed on the last wheel to reach a stationary position. Slowing of the speed at which symbols are displayed to a player on the final wheel to be indexed further adds to the anticipation and suspense of playing the enhanced games. Additional enhancement of play on the slot machine can be achieved by optically extending the viewed area of one or more rotating wheels.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1996Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Assignee: Digideal CorporationInventors: Randy D. Sines, Steven L. Forte
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Patent number: 5934998Abstract: A blackjack or other card game system having a plurality of player counters which count the blackjack hands or other player jackpot tally events dealt to players. The system also includes at least one dealer counter which counts the number of bust hands of the dealer or other dealer jackpot tally events. Displays are included for both the dealer and players to indicate the counts. The counters are typically zeroed at the end of each hand if a tally event has not occurred. Jackpots are awarded when the tally counts exceed predefined thresholds. A tabletop retrofit game system is shown for mounting upon blackjack tables. A special round of play having modified rules can be used as part of the jackpot award.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1998Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Inventors: Steven L. Forte, Randy D. Sines
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Patent number: RE38982Abstract: A blackjack or other card game system having a plurality of player counters which count the blackjack hands or other player jackpot tally events dealt to players. The system also includes at least one dealer counter which counts the number of bust hands of the dealer or other dealer jackpot tally events. Displays are included for both the dealer and players to indicate the counts. The counters are typically zeroed at the end of each hand if a tally event has not occurred. Jackpots are awarded when the tally counts exceed predefined thresholds. A tabletop retrofit game system is shown for mounting upon blackjack tables. A special round of play having modified rules can be used as part of the jackpot award.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1995Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Digideal CorporationInventors: Steven L. Forte, Randy D. Sines