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EP 1 392 407 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
(45) |
Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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11.07.2007 Bulletin 2007/28 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 17.05.2002 |
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(51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC):
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(86) |
International application number: |
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PCT/AU2002/000596 |
(87) |
International publication number: |
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WO 2002/094397 (28.11.2002 Gazette 2002/48) |
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PLAYING CARD SUPPLY METHOD AND APPARATUS
SPIELKARTENZUFÜHRVERFAHREN UND -VORRICHTUNG
PROCEDE ET APPAREIL DE DISTRIBUTION DE CARTES A JOUER
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(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR |
(30) |
Priority: |
18.05.2001 AU PR510501 10.10.2001 AU PR816301
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(43) |
Date of publication of application: |
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03.03.2004 Bulletin 2004/10 |
(73) |
Proprietor: Marlow, John Keith |
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Gold Coast,
Queensland 4218 (AU) |
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(72) |
Inventor: |
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- Marlow, John Keith
Gold Coast,
Queensland 4218 (AU)
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(74) |
Representative: Gee, Steven William |
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D.W. & S.W. GEE
1 South Lynn Gardens
London Road Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire CV36 4ER Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire CV36 4ER (GB) |
(56) |
References cited: :
GB-A- 2 162 073 US-A- 5 722 893
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US-A- 4 497 488
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for supplying playing or gaming
cards or playing pieces as used for example for playing card or other games in gambling
establishments but not limited to that use. The present invention also relates to
playing or gaming cards or pieces for playing card or other games.
Background Art
[0002] Casinos and other gambling establishments use conventional playing cards for playing
a number of card games for example blackjack and poker. Usually a number of decks
of playing cards are provided at each gaming table with the cards being either shuffled
by hand or by machine prior to being dealt to the players. One problem encountered
in this conventional arrangement is that the effectiveness of the shuffle depends
upon the skill of the dealer or the efficiency of the card shuffling machine to ensure
that cards dealt are arranged randomly and this is often impossible or very difficult
to achieve. Further as a finite number of cards are used in the decks that are shuffled,
a problem of card counting can arise in that skilled individuals can count the cards
being dealt to relatively accurately predict the next card to be dealt. Particular
cards can also be susceptible to being marked which leads to potential cheating. A
further disadvantage of the known arrangements is that a large number of decks of
cards are used and decks of cards are required to be regularly replaced which leads
to a substantial cost to the gambling establishment.
[0003] Gaming cards carrying pre-printed material such as bingo cards are also used for
playing gambling games in gambling or other establishments. Such cards usually have
a one-off use and thus are required to be discarded after use. Other games use playing
pieces or other tokens which carry an identifying marking with the pieces or tokens
being, dealt to a player and the player gambling in accordance with the piece or token
received and/or expected to be received. Such games encounter the same disadvantages
outlined above in relation to playing card games.
Summary of the Invention
[0004] The present invention aims in one aspect to provide a method and apparatus for supplying
playing or gaming cards or pieces for playing a card game or other game such that
the respective cards or pieces supplied carry randomly derived or selected indicia.
The present invention aims in a further aspect to provide a method and apparatus for
supplying playing or gaming cards or pieces carrying removable indicia thereon. The
present invention in yet a further aspect aims to provide a method and apparatus for
supplying and reusing playing or gaming cards or pieces. The present invention in
yet a further aspect aims to provide playing or gaming cards or pieces for playing
card or other games. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
from the following description.
[0005] The present invention thus provides in a first aspect, a method of supplying playing
or gaming cards or pieces for playing a card game or other game, said method including
the steps of providing a plurality of carrier members and characterised by the steps
of randomly deriving or selecting indicia, applying respective said indicia to respective
said carrier members such that each said carrier member defines a playing or gaming
card or piece, the identity of which is defined by said applied indicia, said indicia
being displayed temporarily by said carrier members, and supplying said carrier members
for use as playing or gaming cards or pieces in a card game or other game.
[0006] The method may also be characterised by the step of removing said applied indicia
from the carrier members to enable the carrier members to be reused.
[0007] The playing or gaming cards or pieces defined by the carrier members may comprise
physical playing or gaming cards or pieces as well as visual representations of playing
or gaming cards or pieces as displayed for example on a monitor or other display device.
The term "indicia" as used throughout the specification includes known indicia as
used on playing or gaming cards or pieces including in the case of playing cards,
the suit of a card, and value information including court card information as well
as electronic representations thereof. Thus the card indicia may range from say an
ace of clubs to a king of spades and include all suits and all values of conventional
playing cards. In the case of gaming cards, the indicia may comprise numbers or other
markings, symbols or characters as well as electronic representations thereof and
similarly in the case of playing or gaming pieces.
[0008] In a further aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for supplying playing
or gaming cards or pieces for playing a card game or other game, said apparatus including
storage means for storing a plurality of carrier members, and characterised by means
for randomly generating or selecting indicia for application to each said carrier
member, means for applying respective said indicia to respective said carrier members
whereby each said
carrier member defines a said playing or gaming card or piece, said applied indicia
defining the identity of a said playing or gaming card or piece and being displayed
temporarily by said carrier members, and means for supplying said carrier members
carrying said indicia for playing a card game or other game.
[0009] The apparatus also suitably includes means for removing said applied indicia from
said carrier members to enable said carrier members to be reused.
[0010] In yet a further aspect, the present invention provides carrier members for use in
the method of the invention. The carrier members may themselves comprise playing or
gaming cards, playing pieces or other like members which carry the indicia for physically
playing a game. Alternatively, the indicia carried by the respective carrier members
are used to identify respective playing or gaming cards or pieces corresponding to
the indicia carried by the carrier members.
[0011] Thus the carrier members in one aspect may comprise blank cards formed of cardboard,
plastics or other material of the size and configuration of conventional playing cards
or gaming cards. Alternatively, the carrier members may comprise playing pieces having
an area or region which can carry identifying indicia. Where the carrier members are
of this form, the means for applying the indicia to the respective carrier members
or by which the carrier members are treated to carry the indicia may comprise means
for printing or otherwise applying, the indicia onto the carrier members using an
ink, dye or other marking medium to create an image of the indicia which is removable
from the carrier members to enable the carrier members to be reused. In the above
arrangement, the means for removing the card indicia comprise means which clean or
wipe the ink, dye or other marking medium from the carrier members to enable the carrier
members to be reused. Alternatively, the means for removing the card indicia may be
chemical means, light or other physical means.
[0012] In an alternative arrangement, the indicia may be provided on stickers or other removable
members and the means for applying the indicia to the respective carrier members comprise
means for physically applying the removable stickers or members carrying the indicia
to the carrier members. The means for removing the indicia in this aspect may comprise
means for physically removing the stickers or other members carrying the indicia.
[0013] In yet an alternative arrangement, the carrier members may be treated with a light
sensitive material which for example may be applied as a coating to or on the carrier
members and the means for applying the indicia may comprise means for subjecting the
light sensitive material to light of a particular pattern or having certain characteristics
which enable the indicia to be displayed on the light sensitive material. Thus the
light sensitive material may comprise a photochromatic ink or coating such that the
indicia can be displayed when exposed to a light pattern corresponding to a particular
indicia. Alternatively, the means for applying the indicia may comprise means for
subjecting the light sensitive material to light of a particular light polarization
to display particular card indicia. In yet an alternative arrangement, the means for
applying the indicic comprises means for subjecting the light sensitive material to
light of a particular frequency or frequencies.
[0014] The image formed by the exposure of the light sensitive material to light may only
appear for a certain period of time such that when re-exposed to a different light
pattern, a new image showing a new indicia is apparent on the carrier members. Alternatively,
the image may be removed by exposing the light sensitive material to light of an alternative
frequency, polarization or the like provided by suitable indicia removal means in
the apparatus.
[0015] In a further form, the light sensitive material may be replaced by a magnetically
sensitive material and the means for applying the indicia comprises means for subjecting
the magnetically sensitive material to a magnetic field of a particular pattern for
display indicia corresponding to that pattern. Re-exposure of the magnetically sensitive
material to a magnetic field of a different pattern corresponding to different indicia
will in effect "remove" the first card indicia and display the different card indicia.
The carrier members carrying the magnetically sensitive material may thus be reused.
[0016] In another form, the material applied to the carrier members may comprise a thermo
chromatic material and the means for applying the indicia comprises means for subjecting
the material to heat from heat applying means which applies heat of a particular pattern
corresponding to the particular indicia or image to be displayed. The indicia or image
may fade after a period of time or alternatively may be effectively removed when subject
to heat of a different pattern.
[0017] In another form, the carrier members carry an optically responsive imprintable material
and the apparatus includes means for applying an imprinting signal to the carrier
members to display the indicia to be carried by the carrier members.
[0018] In a further form, the carrier members may be adapted to carry other physically applied
images representing playing card indicia. Such images may be applied by chemical means
or by a light source and may be removed by a reverse process to provide the carrier
members for reuse.
[0019] The carrier members in a further form may comprise or incorporate electronic circuitry
which includes a re-programmable memory and a display device such as a liquid crystal
display or LED display. The indicia for display by the carrier members may be programmed
by external programming means into the memories of respective carrier members for
display and use of the carrier members as cards in playing a card game or gaming cards
or pieces in other games. The indicia for display are suitably derived randomly as
above. Carrier members of this type may then be reused by simply reprogramming the
memories with further randomly derived card indicia.
[0020] In yet a further form, the indicia carried by the carrier members may be read from
a reader to be displayed on a monitor or other display means as playing cards, gaming
card or other playing pieces. In this configuration, the carrier members may be in
the form of electronic chips, cards or other members which carry electronic or magnetic
storage means which may store the indicia or a representation of the indicia. The
indicia or an electronic representation of the indicia may be stored in, or programmed
into the storage means of the carrier members by any suitable external application
means which may comprise an electronic or magnetic transducer. The indicia or representation
thereof for storage in the storage means is suitably derived or selected randomly.
[0021] The stored indicia or representations thereof stored on the carrier members may be
read or determined by any suitable reading means which can read the indicia and display
the indicia on suitable display means such as a monitor or other visual display unit.
For reuse, the storage means of the carrier members may either have the indicia stored
therein removed in a separate device or alternatively, the storage means may be simply
reprogrammed such that storage of new indicia information will replace the previously
stored indicia information.
[0022] The indicia may be randomly derived from any number of pre-stored indicia. In the
case of playing cards, the card indicia may be randomly derived or selected from one
or more card decks. The method and apparatus allows for the use of carrier members
or playing cards for any card game using any number of card decks. Any number of card
decks may selected from which the card indicia may be randomly selected. Selection
of the number of card decks may be undertaken by means of an electronic controller
on the apparatus which may be programmed or switchable to select the number of decks
to be used.
[0023] The randomly derived or selected indicia applied or applicable to each card or playing
piece may if desired be recorded and displayed on a display device on the apparatus
or on another form of display for example a video wall to enable other persons to
ascertain the cards or pieces being dealt. Thus for example, the dealers cards can
be monitored. This information can also be transmitted electronically and interfaced
to other computer or storage devices for future reference for example to allow players
or gaming authorities to check the value or indicia of particular cards or pieces
which have been dealt over a period of time. Furthermore, the randomly derived or
selected indicia can be transmitted to locations remote from the point of selection
to enable players to play a game from anywhere in the world. A system may also be
set up to enable persons to bet on someone else's dealt hand. This of course may apply
to any number of persons who can remotely view the hand being dealt and bet accordingly
irrespective of the actions of the persons at the local site where the cards or carrier
members are dealt. Thus a particular player say in game of blackjack may after having
been dealt the first two cards which are viewable by other persons at the remote site
to decide not to bet on a third card. Players at the remote location however may also
decide not to bet on a third card or alternatively bet on the third card and possibly
a fourth and fifth card depending upon whether cards at the local site may be dealt
to other players. Thus any number of players may participate in the one game. This
system of course can also apply to other forms of game using playing cards, gaming
cards or playing or gaming pieces.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0024] In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical
effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred
embodiments of the invention. The embodiments describe relate in particular to card
games however it will be appreciated that the same principles may be applied for use
in other games such as gambling games using cards or other gaming pieces. In the drawings:
Fig. 1 illustrates schematically a first form of playing card supplying and reusing
apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 illustrates a first form of carrier member carrying card indicia;
Fig. 3 illustrates a second form of carrier member carrying card indicia;
Fig. 4 illustrates schematically in sectional view, a further form of the apparatus
of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 5 illustrates schematically a second form of playing card supplying and reusing
apparatus according to a further embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[0025] Referring to the drawings and firstly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated schematically
a first form of playing card supplying and reusing apparatus 10 according to the present
invention. The apparatus 10 includes card storage means 11 which is arranged to store
a plurality of cards 12 in a stack 13. The stack 13 of cards 12 may be arranged vertically
as illustrated, horizontally or in any other orientation. The cards 12 in this embodiment
and as shown in Fig. 2 are adapted to carrying conventional playing card indicia 14
in the case illustrated the ace of diamonds and may comprise simple blank cards formed
of plastics, paper or cardboard of the size and configuration of conventional playing
cards upon which playing card indicia 14 may be removably printed or otherwise marked
or may comprise "cards" formed of or carrying any other material which may carrying
playing card indicia. For example, the cards 12 may be impregnated with a chemical
which when subject to light or heat will display playing card indicia or any other
indicia corresponding to the pattern of light or heat applied to the cards 12.
[0026] In another form and as shown in Fig. 3, the cards 12 may be a thin member 15 again
of a similar size and configuration to of conventional playing cards and encapsulating
data storage means in the form of a programmable memory 16 and a display device 17
which may comprise a liquid crystal display means, LED display means or any other
electrical or electronic display means. The programmable memory 16 may be programmed
by suitable external electronic means such as a transducer to store indicia information
and cause the display device 17 to display card indicia in this case the card value
two of spades. Alternatively, the display device 16 may be such as to respond itself
to light or light waves of a certain frequency to display a particular card indicia.
[0027] The apparatus 10 further includes a card indicia applying device 18 for applying
card indicia onto individual cards 12 supplied from the stack 13 which for example
may be delivered one by one from the lower end of the stack 13 by a suitable individual
card displacement device such as a driven roller 19 or pusher onto conveying means
20 for conveyance to the card indicia applying device 18. In a simplified form, the
conveying means 20 may comprise a chute to direct cards under the influence of gravity
into the indicia applying device 18 whilst in an alternative configuration, the conveying
means 20 may comprise rollers including opposed cooperating rollers and/or a conveyor
belt or belts.
[0028] The card indicia applying device 18 in one embodiment may be a printing device having
a printing head 21 for printing card indicia onto respective cards 12 however as referred
to above the card indicia applying device 18 may apply stickers carrying card indicia
onto the carrier members 12 or alternatively, the device may be electrical or electronic
programming means for programming card indicia into a particular card 12 or light
or magnetic field applying means to cause a card indicia or image to be displayed
on the card 12.
[0029] Associated with the indicia applying device 18 is a control unit 22 which controls
operation of the indicia applying device 18. Associated with the control unit 22 is
a random card indicia generator or selector 23 which determines the card indicia to
be applied by the applying device 18 to respective cards 12. The random card indicia
generator or selector 23 can randomly select or generate a signal representing a particular
card indicia selected for example from a card deck of an infinite number of cards
so as to ensure complete randomness of selected card indicia. Alternatively, the random
card indicia generator or selector 23 may be set to randomly select card indicia from
one or more standard card decks depending upon the requirements of the game or the
establishment conducting the game. Upon the random indicia generator or selector 23
randomly selecting the indicia to be applied to a particular card, the control unit
22 causes the indicia applying device 18 to apply the randomly selected indicia to
the card 12 fed to the device 18. Cards 12 carrying the applied indicia are then fed
individually from the indicia applying device 18 by suitable feeding means 24 such
as a chute, feed rollers and/or feed belts for playing a game. If desired the apparatus
10 may be incorporated into a gaming table so that cards 12 may be delivered directly
for playing a game on the table for example for delivering cards for playing the game
of blackjack.
[0030] The apparatus 10 also includes a card indicia removal device 25 for removing the
indicia applied to the cards 12. Card delivery means 26 in the form of a chute (and/or
rollers or belts) are provided to deliver cards 12 to the device 25. The card indicia
removal device 25 may comprises apparatus for cleaning, wiping or otherwise removal
of the card indicia by physical means and for this purpose may include a wiping head
27 which may be motor driven to wipe the indicia from the cards 12. The wiping head
27 for example may comprise a rotatable brush. Alternatively, the card indicia removal
device 25 may comprise chemical cleaning means, or light, heat or magnetic field applying
means. Alternatively the device 25 may comprise a device for re-programming of a card
12 where the card 12 is an electronic device of the type described with reference
to Fig. 3. In some situations, it may not be necessary to use a separate card indicia
removal device 25 as for example reprogramming of a Fig. 3 type card 12 to display
different card indicia may occur within the card indicia applying device 18.
[0031] Where a card indicia removal device 25 is employed, cards 12 after removal of the
indicia are fed back to the card storage means 11 to be placed in the stack 13 with
other cards 12 by for example, rollers 28 and/or with chutes and/or conveyor belts.
The cards 12 with indicia removed and stored in the storage means 11 may then be reprinted
or reprogrammed for reuse in the manner described above.
[0032] Fig. 4 illustrates the layout of a practical embodiment of the apparatus 10 in which
like components to those of Fig. 1 have been given like numerals. All the components
of the apparatus 10 are provided in a common housing 29 which includes a card deposit
chute 26 at its upper end which receives cards 12 and directs cards past the card
indicia removal device 25. After passing the device 25, the cards 12 with indicia
removed are deposited in card storage means 11 to form a stack 13 ready to be reprogrammed
or reprinted. Individual cards 12 from the lower end of the stack 13 are displaced
consecutively by displacement roller 19 onto chute 20 to pass through the card programmer
or imager 18 by which the indicia as selected by the random indicia generator or selector
23 and under control of the control unit 22 is placed on cards 12. As referred to
above, the cards 12 may be playing cards, chips or other writable medium compatible
with the programming or imaging device 18 and indicia removal device 25. The programmed
or printed cards 12 are then by are fed out through the chute 24 for use in playing
a game. Typically, the control unit 22 may include a programmable microprocessor which
may also incorporate the random indicia generator or selector 23. The housing 29 also
houses a power supply 30 for the electrical components of the apparatus 10. Cards
12 carrying the randomly generated or selected indicia may be delivered to a shoe
to be dealt by the dealer in the game. Alternatively, the dealer may by depression
of a switch, cause cards 12 in the stack 13 to be delivered to the programming or
imaging device 18 for supply to players in the game on demand.
[0033] Referring now to Fig. 5, there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the invention
which incorporates the principles of the invention as described with reference to
the embodiment of Fig. 1 but which is adapted to display playing cards carrying particular
card indicia through a monitor or other display device 31. It will be appreciated
that this information may be transmitted to a remote site for remote viewing for example
on monitor 32 or for remote playing of a game. In this embodiment, the playing card
delivery apparatus 10 is arranged to supply cards, electronic chips or other readable
devices 33 which carry randomly generated card indicia. The cards, chips or other
readable devices 33 may include magnetic or electronic storage means such that the
card indicia may be magnetically or electronically stored therein. The card indicia
is derived randomly in the same manner as previously described and may be applied
to the devices 33 by any suitable magnetic or electronic programming means which will
store the random card indicia in respective devices 33. To enable a playing card or
playing card indicia represented or carried by a device 33 to be displayed, an image
or signal detection pad 34 is provided upon which the readable devices 33 may be placed.
The card indicia carried by the devices 33 may then be detected and read through the
monitor or other display device 31 and displayed as at 35 and/or displayed at the
remote monitor 32.
[0034] At the cessation of the game, the readable devices 33 are delivered back to the apparatus
10 where the indicia carried thereby are removed either by separate electronic or
magnetic removal means or during or by reprogramming with new card indicia.
[0035] The playing cards or pieces or images of the indicia carried thereby may be used
for playing any card game. The cards however may be in the form of other gaming cards
such as bingo cards wherein the numbers carried are randomly generated and applied
and removed as above. The playing cards may also comprise playing pieces for playing
any other form of game where random selection is required, the playing pieces carrying
or being capable of carrying indicia or other information identifying the playing
piece.
[0036] Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention,
all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled
in the art are deemed to fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
1. A method of supplying playing or gaming cards or pieces for playing a card game or
other game, said method including the steps of providing a plurality of carrier members
(12) and characterised by the steps of randomly deriving or selecting indicia (14), applying respective said
indicia (14) to respective said carrier members (12) such that each said carrier member
(12) defines a playing or gaming card or piece, the identity of which is defined by
said applied indicia (14), said indicia (14) being displayed temporarily by said carrier
members (12), and supplying said carrier members (12) for use as playing or gaming
cards or pieces in a card game or other game.
2. A method according to claim 1 and characterised by the step of removing said applied indicia (14) from said carrier members (12) to
enable said carrier members (12) to be reused.
3. Apparatus (10) for supplying playing or gaming cards or pieces for playing a card
game or other game, said apparatus (10) including storage means (11) storing a plurality
of carrier members (12), and characterised by means (23) for randomly generating or selecting indicia (14) for application to each
said carrier member (12), means (18) for applying respective said indicia (14) to
respective said carrier members (12) whereby each said carrier member (12) defines
a said playing or gaming card or piece, said applied indicia (14) defining the identity
of a said playing or gaming card or piece and being displayed temporarily by said
carrier members (12), and means (24) for supplying said carrier members (12) carrying
said indicia (14) for playing a card game or other game.
4. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3 and characterised by means (25) for removing said applied indicia (14) from said carrier members (12)
to enable said carrier members (12) to be reused.
5. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3 or claim 4 characterised in that said playing or gaming cards or pieces comprise visual representations of playing
or gaming cards or pieces as displayed on a monitor or other display device (32).
6. Apparatus (10) according to claim 4 characterised in that said means (18) for applying the indicia (14) to the respective carrier members (12)
comprises means (21) for printing the indicia (14) to create an image of the indicia
(14).
7. Apparatus (10) according to claim 6 characterised in that said means (25) for removing said indicia (14) comprises means (27) for cleaning
or wiping said image from a said carrier member (12).
8. Apparatus (10) according to claim 4 characterised in that said means (25) for removing said indicia (14) comprises chemical means or a light
source.
9. Apparatus (10) according to claim 4 characterised in that said indicia (14) are provided on stickers or other removable members and wherein
said means (25) for applying the indicia (14) to the respective carrier members (12)
comprise means for applying said removable stickers or members carrying the indicia
(14) to the carrier members (12) and wherein said means (25) for removing the indicia
(14) comprise means for removing the stickers or other members carrying the indicia
(14).
10. Apparatus (10) according to claim 4 characterised in that said carrier members (12) carry a light sensitive material and wherein said means
(18) for applying said indicia (14) comprises a light source for subjecting said light
sensitive material to light.
11. Apparatus (10) according to claim 10 characterised in that said light sensitive material comprises a photochromatic coating and wherein said
light source applies a pattern of light to said coating corresponding to said indicia
(14) to be displayed.
12. Apparatus (10) according to claim 10 characterised in that said means (18) for applying said indicia (14) comprises means for applying light
of a particular polarization to said light sensitive material to display particular
card indicia (14).
13. Apparatus (10) according to claim 10 characterised in that said means (18) for applying said indicia (14) comprises means for applying light
of a particular frequency or frequencies to said light sensitive material.
14. Apparatus (10) according to claim 11 characterised in that said means (25) for removing said indicia (14) comprises means for exposing said
light sensitive material to light.
15. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3 or claim 4 characterised in that said carrier members (12) carry a magnetically sensitive material and wherein said
means (18) for applying said indicia (14) comprise means for applying a magnetic field
of a particular pattern to said carrier members (12) whereby said carrier members
will display indicia (14) corresponding to said pattern.
16. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3 or claim 4 characterised in that said carrier members (12) carry a thermo chromatic material and wherein said means
(18) for applying said indicia (14) comprises means for subjecting said carrier members
(12) to heat of a pattern corresponding to indicia (14) to be displayed.
17. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3 or claim 4 characterised in that said carrier members (12) carry an optically responsive imprintable material and
characterised in that said means (18) for applying said indicia (14) comprise means for applying an imprinting
signal to said carrier members (12) to display said indicia (14).
18. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3 or claim 4 and characterised in that said carrier members (12) comprise electronic circuits including a re-programmable
memory (16) and a display device (17) for displaying said indicia (14) and characterised in that said means (18) for applying said indicia (14) comprise means for externally programming
said memory (16) for displaying indicia (14) on said display device (17).
19. Apparatus (10) according to claim 4 characterised in that said carrier members (12) comprise readable devices (33) carrying electronic or magnetic
storage means for storing said indicia (14) or a representation of said indicia (14)
and wherein said means for supplying said carrier members (12) comprises means (34)
for reading said readable devices (33) and displaying on display means (31) indicia
(14) or representations thereof carried by said readable devices (33).
20. Apparatus (10) according to claim 19 and characterised in that said means for applying said indicia (14) comprises means for externally programming
said storage means for storing said indicia (14) or a representation of said indicia
(14) and wherein said means for removing said indicia (14) comprises means for removing
said stored indicia (14) or representation thereof or reprogramming said storage means
with new indicia (14) or representations thereof.
21. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3 or claim 4 characterised in that said indicia (14) applied to said carrier members (12) comprise card indicia whereby
said carrier members (12) define playing cards and wherein said apparatus includes
control means (22) for selecting the number of decks of cards from which said card
indicia (14) may be randomly derived or selected.
22. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3 or claim 4 and characterised by means for transmitting and displaying said randomly derived or selected indicia (14)
at a remote location.
23. Apparatus (10) according to claim 3 or claim 4 and characterised in that said carrier members (12) include a writable medium and wherein said means for applying
said indicia (14) comprise means for programming said writable medium.
24. Carrier members (12) for use in the method of claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said carrier members (12) comprise blank cards of the size and configuration of conventional
playing cards or gaming cards.
25. Carrier members (12) for use in the method of claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said carrier members (12) comprises playing pieces having an area or region for carrying
said indicia (14).
26. Carrier members (12) for use in the method of claim 1 or claim 2 and characterised by display means (17) for displaying said indicia (14) and reprogrammable memory means
(16) for storing indicia information for display by said display means (17).
1. Methode zur Verteilung von Spielkarten oder Steinen zum Spielen eines Karten- oder
anderen Spieles, wobei die besagte Methode die Schritte der Bereitstellung einer Vielzahl
von Trägerelementen (12) einschließt, und die durch die Schritte gekennzeichnet ist, zufällig Merkmale (14) abzuleiten oder auszuwählen, die entsprechenden besagten
Merkmale (14) auf die entsprechenden besagten Trägerelemente (12) anzuwenden, so dass
jedes besagte Trägerelement (12) eine Spielkarte oder einen Stein definiert, dessen
Identität von dem besagten angewendeten Merkmal (14) definiert wird, wobei die besagten
Merkmale (14) vorübergehend von den besagten Trägerelementen (12) angezeigt werden,
und die die besagten Trägerelemente (12) zur Verwendung als Spielkarten oder Steine
eines Karten- oder anderen Spiels zur Verfügung stellt.
2. Methode nach Anspruch 1, die durch den Schritt des Entfernens der besagten angewendeten
Merkmale (14) von den besagten Trägerelementen (12) gekennzeichnet ist, um es den besagten Trägerelementen (12) zu ermöglichen, wiederverwendet zu werden.
3. Gerät (10) zur Verteilung von Spielkarten oder Steinen zum Spielen eines Karten- oder
anderen Spieles, wobei das besagte Gerät (10) Lagerungsmittel (11) beinhaltet, die
eine Vielzahl von Trägerelementen (12) lagern, und das durch Mittel (23) zur zufälligen
Erzeugung oder Auswahl von Merkmalen (14) zur Anwendung auf jedes der besagten Trägerelemente
(12) gekennzeichnet ist, Mittel (18) zur Anwendung der entsprechenden besagten Merkmale (14) auf die
entsprechenden besagten Trägerelemente (12), wobei jedes Trägerelement (12) eine besagte
Spielkarte oder einen besagten Stein definiert, wobei die besagten angewendeten Merkmale
(14) die Identität der besagten Spielkarte oder des besagten Steins definieren und
vorübergehend von den besagten Trägerelementen (12) angezeigt werden, sowie Mittel
(24) zur Verteilung der besagten Trägerelemente (12), die die besagten Merkmale (14)
zum Spielen eines Karten- oder anderen Spiels tragen.
4. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 3, das durch Mittel (25) zur Entfernung der besagten angewendeten
Merkmalen (14) von den besagten Trägerelementen (12) gekennzeichnet ist, um es den besagten Trägerelementen (12) zu ermöglichen, wiederverwendet zu werden.
5. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 3 oder Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Spielkarten oder Steine visuelle Darstellungen von Spielkarten oder
Steinen einschließen, wie die Anzeige auf einem Monitor oder anderem Anzeigegerät
(32).
6. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Mittel (18) zur Anwendung der Merkmale (14) auf die entsprechenden Trägerelemente
(12) Mittel (21) zum Druck der Merkmale (14) einschließen, um ein Bild der Merkmale
(14) zu erzeugen.
7. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Mittel (25) zur Entfernung der besagten Merkmale (14) Mittel (27) zur
Reinigung oder Säuberung des besagten Bildes von einem der besagten Trägerelemente
(12) einschließen.
8. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Mittel (25) zur Entfernung der besagten Merkmale (14) chemische Mittel
oder eine Lichtquelle einschließen.
9. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Merkmale (14) auf Plaketten oder anderen entfernbaren Mitteln zur Verfügung
gestellt werden, und bei dem die besagten Mittel (25) zur Anwendung der Merkmale (14)
auf die entsprechenden Trägerelemente (12) Mittel zur Anwendung der besagten entfernbaren,
die Merkmale (14) tragenden Plaketten oder Mittel auf die Trägerelemente (12) einschließen,
und bei dem die besagten Mittel (25) zur Entfernung der Merkmale (14) Mittel zur Entfernung
der Plaketten oder anderer, die Merkmale (14) tragender Mittel einschließen.
10. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Trägerelemente (12) ein lichtempfindliches Material tragen und bei dem
die besagten Mittel (18) zur Anwendung der besagten Merkmale (14) eine Lichtquelle
einschließen, um das besagte lichtempfindliche Material Licht auszusetzen.
11. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das besagte lichtempfindliche Material eine photochromatische Beschichtung einschließt
und bei dem die besagte Lichtquelle ein Lichtmuster auf die besagte Beschichtung aufbringt,
das den besagten anzuzeigenden Merkmalen (14) entspricht.
12. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Mittel (18) zur Anwendung der besagten Merkmale (14) Mittel zur Anwendung
von Licht mit einer bestimmten Polarisation auf das besagte lichtempfindliche Material
einschließen, um bestimmte Kartenmerkmale (14) anzuzeigen.
13. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Mittel (18) zur Anwendung der besagten Merkmale (14) Mittel zur Anwendung
von Licht mit einer bestimmten Frequenz oder Frequenzen auf das besagte lichtempfindliche
Material einschließen.
14. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Mittel (25) zur Entfernung der besagten Merkmale (14) Mittel einschließen,
um lichtempfindliches Material Licht auszusetzen.
15. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 3 oder Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Trägerelemente (12) ein magnetisch empfindliches Material tragen, und
bei dem die besagten Mittel (18) zur Anwendung der besagten Merkmale (14) Mittel zur
Anwendung eines Magnetfeldes mit einem bestimmten Muster auf die besagten Trägerelemente
(12) einschließen, wodurch die besagten Trägerelemente Merkmale (14) entsprechend
dem besagten Muster anzeigen.
16. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 3 oder Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Trägerelemente (12) ein thermochromatisches Material tragen und bei
dem die besagten Mittel (18) zur Anwendung der besagtem Merkmale (14) Mittel einschließen,
um die besagten Trägerelemente (12) einer Hitze mit einem Muster auszusetzen, das
den anzuzeigenden Merkmalen (14) entspricht.
17. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 3 oder Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Trägerelemente (12) ein optisch reagierendes bedruckbares Material tragen,
und dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Mittel (18) zur Anwendung der besagten Merkmale (14) Mittel einschließen,
um ein Prägezeichen auf die besagten Trägerelemente (12) zur Anzeige der besagten
Merkmale (14) aufzubringen.
18. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 3 oder Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Trägerelemente (12) elektronische Kreisläufe einschließlich eines reprogrammierbaren
Speichers (16) und einer Anzeigevorrichtung (17) zur Anzeige der besagten Merkmale
(14) einschließen, und dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Mittel (18) zur Anwendung der besagten Merkmale (14) Mittel zur externen
Programmierung des Speichers (16) zur Anzeige der Merkmale (14) auf der besagten Anzeigevorrichtung
(17) einschließen.
19. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Trägerelemente (12) lesbare Vorrichtungen (33) einschließen, die elektronische
oder magnetische Speichermittel zur Speicherung der besagten Merkmale (14) oder einer
Repräsentation der besagten Merkmale (14) tragen, und bei dem die besagten Mittel
zur Lieferung der besagten Trägerelemente (12) Mittel (34) zur Ablesung der besagten
lesbaren Vorrichtungen (33) und zur Anzeige der von den besagten lesbaren Vorrichtungen
(33) getragenen Merkmale (14) oder der Repräsentationen derselben auf Anzeigemitteln
(31) einschließen.
20. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 19, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Mittel zur Anwendung der besagten Merkmale (14) Mittel zur externen
Programmierung der besagten Speichermittel zur Speicherung der besagten Merkmale (14)
oder einer Repräsentation der besagten Merkmale (14) einschließen, und bei dem die
besagten Mittel zur Entfernung der besagten Merkmale (14) Mittel zur Entfernung der
besagten gespeicherten Merkmale (14) oder der Repräsentationen derselben bzw. zur
Reprogrammierung der besagten Speichermittel mit neuen Merkmalen (14) oder Repräsentationen
derselben einschließen.
21. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 3 oder Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten, auf die besagten Trägerelemente (12) angewendeten Merkmale (14) Kartenmerkmale
einschließen, anhand derer die besagten Trägerelemente (12) Spielkarten definieren
und bei dem das besagte Gerät Steuermittel (22) zur Auswahl der Anzahl von Kartenpacks
einschließt, von denen die besagten Kartenmerkmale (14) zufällig abgeleitet oder ausgewählt
werden können.
22. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 3 oder Anspruch 4, das durch Mittel zur Übertragung und Anzeige
der zufällig abgeleiteten oder ausgewählten Merkmale (14) von einer entfernten Position
gekennzeichnet ist.
23. Gerät (10) nach Anspruch 3 oder Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Trägerelemente (12) ein beschreibbares Mittel einschließen, und bei
dem die besagten Mittel zur Anwendung der besagten Merkmale (14) Mittel zur Programmierung
des besagten beschreibbaren Mittels einschließen.
24. Trägerelemente (12) zur Verwendung bei der Methode nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Trägerelemente (12) leere Karten in der Größe und Konfiguration von
herkömmlichen Spielkarten einschließen.
25. Trägerelemente (12) zur Verwendung bei der Methode nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die besagten Trägerelemente (12) Spielsteine einschließen, die über einen Bereich
oder eine Region für das Tragen der besagten Merkmale (14) verfügen.
26. Trägerelemente (12) zur Verwendung bei der Methode nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2,
die durch Anzeigemittel (17) zur Anzeige der besagten Merkmale (14) und durch reprogrammierbare
Speichermittel (16) zur Speicherung der Merkmalinformation zur Anzeige durch die besagten
Anzeigemittel (17) gekennzeichnet ist.
1. Méthode d'approvisionnement en cartes ou pions à jouer ou à miser pour jouer à un
jeu de cartes ou à un autre jeu, ladite méthode comprenant les étapes consistant à
fournir une pluralité d'éléments porteurs (12) et caractérisée par les étapes consistant à tirer ou à sélectionner au hasard des marques (14), à appliquer
lesdites marques (14) respectives auxdits éléments porteurs (12) respectifs de façon
que chacun desdits éléments porteurs (12) définisse une carte ou un pion à jouer ou
à miser, dont l'identité est définie par ladite marque (14) appliquée, lesdites marques
(14) étant affichées temporairement par lesdits éléments porteurs (12), et à fournir
lesdits éléments porteurs (12) à utiliser comme cartes ou pions à jouer ou à miser
dans un jeu de cartes ou un autre jeu.
2. Méthode selon la revendication 1 et caractérisée par l'étape consistant à ôter ladite marque (14) appliquée desdits éléments porteurs
(12) afin de permettre auxdits éléments porteurs (12) d'être réutilisés.
3. Appareil (10) d'approvisionnement en cartes ou pions à jouer ou à miser pour jouer
à un jeu de cartes ou à un autre jeu, ledit appareil (10) comprenant un moyen de stockage
(11) stockant une pluralité d'éléments porteurs (12), et caractérisé par un moyen (23) de produire ou de sélectionner au hasard une marque (14) à appliquer
à chacun desdits éléments porteurs (12), un moyen (18) d'appliquer lesdites marques
(14) respectives auxdits éléments porteurs (12) respectifs par lequel chacun desdits
éléments porteurs (12) définit ladite carte ou ledit pion à jouer ou à miser, ladite
marque (14) appliquée définissant l'identité de ladite carte ou dudit pion à jouer
ou à miser et étant affichée temporairement par lesdits éléments porteurs (12), et
un moyen (24) de fournir lesdits éléments porteurs (12) portant lesdites marques (14)
pour jouer à un jeu de cartes ou à un autre jeu.
4. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 3 et caractérisé par un moyen (25) destiné à ôter lesdites marques (14) appliquées desdits éléments porteurs
(12) afin de permettre auxdits éléments porteurs (12) d'être réutilisés.
5. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication 4 caractérisé en ce que lesdits cartes ou pions à jouer ou à miser comportent des représentations visuelles
de cartes ou de pions à jouer ou à miser telles qu'elles sont affichées sur un moniteur
ou un autre dispositif d'affichage (32).
6. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 4 caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen (18) d'appliquer les marques (14) aux éléments porteurs (12) respectifs
comprend le moyen (21) d'imprimer la marque (14) afin de créer une image de la marque
(14).
7. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 6 caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen (25) d'ôter ladite marque (14) comporte le moyen (27) de nettoyer ou
d'effacer ladite image sur l'un desdits éléments porteurs (12).
8. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 4 caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen (25) d'ôter ladite marque (14) comporte un moyen chimique ou une source
de lumière.
9. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 4 caractérisé en ce que lesdites marques (14) sont fournies sur des autocollants ou autres éléments amovibles
et où lesdits moyens (25) d'appliquer les marques (14) aux éléments porteurs (12)
respectifs comportent les moyens d'appliquer lesdits autocollants amovibles ou éléments
portant les marques (14) sur les éléments porteurs (12) et où lesdits moyens (25)
d'ôter les marques (14) comportent les moyens d'ôter les autocollants ou autres éléments
portant les marques (14).
10. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 4 caractérisé en ce que lesdits éléments porteurs (12) portent un matériau sensible à la lumière et où ledit
moyen (18) d'appliquer ladite marque (14) comprend une source de lumière afin de soumettre
à la lumière ledit matériau sensible à la lumière.
11. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 10 caractérisé en ce que ledit matériau sensible à la lumière comporte un revêtement photochromatique et où
ladite source de lumière applique un type de lumière sur ledit revêtement correspondant
à ladite marque (14) qui doit être affichée.
12. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 10 caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen (18) d'appliquer ladite marque (14) comporte le moyen d'appliquer de
la lumière d'une polarisation particulière sur ledit matériau sensible à la lumière
pour afficher une marque (14) de carte particulière.
13. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 10 caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen (18) d'appliquer ladite marque (14) comporte le moyen d'appliquer de
la lumière d'une fréquence ou de fréquences particulières sur ledit matériau sensible
à la lumière.
14. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 11 caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen (25) d'ôter ladite marque (14) comporte le moyen d'exposer à la lumière
ledit matériau sensible à la lumière.
15. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication 4 caractérisé en ce que lesdits éléments porteurs (12) portent un matériau sensible magnétiquement et où
lesdits moyens (18) d'appliquer lesdites marques (14) comprennent le moyen d'appliquer
un champ magnétique d'un type particulier sur lesdits éléments porteurs (12) par lequel
lesdits éléments porteurs afficheront les marques (14) correspondant audit type.
16. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication 4 caractérisé en ce que lesdits éléments porteurs (12) portent un matériau thermochromatique et où ledit
moyen (18) d'appliquer lesdites marques (14) comporte les moyens de soumettre lesdits
éléments porteurs (12) à une chaleur d'un type correspondant à la marque (14) qui
doit être affichée.
17. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication 4 caractérisé en ce que lesdits éléments porteurs (12) portent un matériau imprimable réagissant optiquement
et caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens (18) d'appliquer lesdites marques (14) comportent les moyens d'appliquer
un signal d'impression sur lesdits éléments porteurs (12) pour afficher lesdites marques
(14).
18. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication 4 caractérisé en ce que lesdits éléments porteurs (12) comportent des circuits électroniques comprenant une
mémoire reprogrammable (16) et un dispositif d'affichage (17) pour afficher lesdites
marques (14) et caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens (18) d'appliquer lesdites marques (14) comportent les moyens de programmer
extérieurement ladite mémoire (16) pour afficher les marques (14) sur ledit dispositif
d'affichage (17).
19. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 4 caractérisé en ce que lesdits éléments porteurs (12) comportent des dispositifs de lecture (33) comportant
des moyens de stockage électronique ou magnétique pour stocker lesdites marques (14)
ou une représentation desdites marques (14) et où ledit moyen d'approvisionner lesdits
éléments porteurs (12) comporte le moyen (34) de lire lesdits dispositifs de lecture
(33) et d'afficher sur les dispositifs d'affichage (31) les marques (14) ou leurs
représentations portées par lesdits dispositifs de lecture (33).
20. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 19 et caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen d'appliquer lesdites marques (14) comporte le moyen de programmer extérieurement
ledit moyen de stockage pour stocker lesdites marques (14) ou une représentation desdites
marques (14) et où ledit moyen d'ôter lesdites marques (14) comporte le moyen d'ôter
lesdites marques (14) stockées ou leur représentation ou de reprogrammer ledit moyen
de stockage avec de nouvelles marques (14) ou leurs représentations.
21. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication 4 caractérisé en ce que lesdites marques (14) appliquées sur lesdits éléments porteurs (12) comportent une
marque de carte par laquelle lesdits éléments porteurs (12) définissent des cartes
à jouer et où ledit appareil comprend un système de commande (22) pour sélectionner
le nombre de paquets de cartes à partir desquels lesdites marques de cartes (14) peuvent
être tirées ou sélectionnées au hasard.
22. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication 4 et caractérisé par des moyens de transmission et d'affichage en un endroit éloigné desdites marques
(14) tirées ou sélectionnées au hasard.
23. Appareil (10) selon la revendication 3 ou la revendication 4 et caractérisé en ce que lesdits éléments porteurs (12) comprennent un support inscriptible et où lesdits
moyens d'appliquer lesdites marques (14) comportent le moyen de programmer ledit support
inscriptible.
24. Des éléments porteurs (12) à utiliser dans la méthode de la revendication 1 ou de
la revendication 2 caractérisée en ce que lesdits éléments porteurs (12) comportent des cartes vierges de la taille et de la
configuration des cartes à jouer ou des cartes à miser traditionnelles.
25. Des éléments porteurs (12) à utiliser dans la méthode de la revendication 1 ou de
la revendication 2 caractérisée en ce que lesdits éléments porteurs (12) comportent des pions de jeu présentant une aire ou
une zone destinée à porter lesdites marques (14).
26. Des éléments porteurs (12) à utiliser dans la méthode de la revendication 1 ou de
la revendication 2 et caractérisés par un dispositif d'affichage (17) pour afficher lesdites marques (14) et un dispositif
de mémoire reprogrammable (16) destiné à stocker les données des marques à afficher
par ledit dispositif d'affichage (17).