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).

  • Patent number: 10933301
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Publication number: 20200188767
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Patent number: 10668362
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Patent number: 10279245
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Publication number: 20170326437
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Patent number: 9731190
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Patent number: 9713761
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Publication number: 20170072294
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Publication number: 20150290528
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: David E. SAMPSON, Steven L. Forte
  • Publication number: 20150014927
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Savant Shuffler LLC
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Patent number: 8844930
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Savant Shuffler LLC
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Publication number: 20130300059
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Patent number: 8485527
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Savant Shuffler LLC
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Publication number: 20130026709
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Patent number: 8342526
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Savant Shuffler LLC
    Inventors: David E. Sampson, Steven L. Forte
  • Patent number: 6299167
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventors: Randy D. Sines, Steven L. Forte, Leonard A. Hale
  • Patent number: 6019368
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventors: Randy D. Sines, Steven L. Forte, Leonard A. Hale
  • Patent number: 5934672
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Digideal Corporation
    Inventors: Randy D. Sines, Steven L. Forte
  • Patent number: 5934998
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventors: Steven L. Forte, Randy D. Sines
  • Patent number: RE38982
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Digideal Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Forte, Randy D. Sines