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EP 3 068 257 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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04.12.2019 Bulletin 2019/49 |
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Date of filing: 28.10.2014 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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International application number: |
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PCT/US2014/062523 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 2015/073200 (21.05.2015 Gazette 2015/20) |
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CARD BACK DESIGN AS A WAY TO PREVENT CARD SORTING
KARTENRÜCKSEITENENTWURF ZUR KARTENSORTIERUNGSVERHINDERUNG
MOTIF DE DOS DE CARTE POUR EMPÊCHER UN TRI DE CARTES
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL
NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
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Priority: |
12.11.2013 US 201361902955 P 04.08.2014 US 201462032676 P
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Date of publication of application: |
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21.09.2016 Bulletin 2016/38 |
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Proprietor: The United States Playing Card Company |
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Erlanger, KY 41018 (US) |
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Inventors: |
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- JESSEN, Kurt
Cincinnati, OH 45224 (US)
- OLDENDICK, Matt
Cincinnati, OH 45211 (US)
- MCCORMICK, Chris
California, KY 41007 (US)
- BOGARD, Josh
Maineville, OH 45039 (US)
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Representative: Intès, Didier Gérard André |
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Cabinet Beau de Loménie
158 rue de l'Université 75340 Paris Cedex 07 75340 Paris Cedex 07 (FR) |
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References cited: :
WO-A1-2006/004926 KR-A- 20090 032 356 US-A- 5 887 873 US-B1- 6 659 869
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JP-A- 2007 135 622 KR-U- 20100 012 583 US-A1- 2007 057 468
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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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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to playing cards, and more particularly playing card
back designs to prevent card sorting.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Playing cards are an essential functional element of many casino table games. Casinos
rely on manufacturers of cards to provide defect free products and expect that cards
will not be "marked" in any way by printing defects. Playing cards back designs are
a critical aesthetic element of table game play for the casino as they contain pleasing
patterns and the casino logo.
[0003] The manufacturing process for cards has sources of variance in the final appearance
of the artwork on the card. Primary sources of variances occur during printing and
when cutting the playing card shapes. These variances can cause the design to be skewed
with respect to the card edges as cut and is often referred to in the industry as
"cut registration." When this variances occur and a regular pattern is used for the
back design, the variances can be obvious to the human eye.
[0004] These variances can be used by unscrupulous players and in combination with dealer
handling of the card to sort the cards by value. This is referred to as edge sorting.
For example, if all of the high value cards are rotated with respect to the rest of
the deck, it will be obvious to the players when viewing the card backs on subsequent
games that a high value card is in play before the rank and suit (face) is revealed.
Players can use this to their advantage when placing their wagers, or by changing
their bets in the middle of game before cards faces are exposed. This gives the players
an unfair advantage over normal game odds and can lead to significant losses in revenue
for the casino. Patent documents relating to cards include:
JP-A-2007135622 which relates to a gift card system using one card set including cards.
[0005] US-A-5887873 which relates to a unique deck of playing cards.
[0006] US-B1-6659869 which relates to a card manufacturing machine, a card vending machine, and methods
therefor.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] The present invention utilizes playing cards back designs to decrease the ability
to perform card edge sorting in a card game. The playing cards each having a back
design made up a plurality of irregular design elements. The irregular design elements
result in an irregular pattern along the edges of the playing card. This back design
masks the variances, making the differing pattern in the edge cuts difficult to detect
with the naked eye.
[0008] The irregular design element can take the form of uncommon polygons with irregular
sides, where the uncommon polygons are used in a repeating pattern. The use of the
uncommon polygons creates a complex pattern making it difficult to discern the pattern
difference along the edges of the playing cards. Using uncommon polygons with greater
than five sides serves to make it increasingly more difficult to detect individual
elements of the repeating pattern.
[0009] Furthermore, the repetitive design pattern of the uncommon polygons can be skewed
at an angle relative to the card edges. The use of the skewing angle substantially
prevent the formation of a uniform edge pattern, making it increasingly difficult
for the detection of cut registration defects along the edges with the human eye.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010]
FIG. 1 depicts a prior art card back design using regular geometric design elements;
FIG. 2 depicts a first embodiment of a playing card back design using irregular geometric
design elements;
FIG. 3 depicts a second embodiment of a playing card back design using irregular geometric
design elements;
FIG. 4 depicts a third embodiment of a playing card back design using irregular geometric
design elements, include line elements;
FIG. 5 depicts a close up, sectional view of the embodiment of FIG, 4;
FIG. 6 depicts the playing card back design of FIG. 4 with a perfect cut;
FIG. 7 depicts the playing card back design of FIG. 4 with a first imperfect cut
FIG. 8 depicts the playing card back design of FIG. 4 with a second imperfect cut;
FIG, 9. depicts a fourth embodiment of a playing card back design using irregular
geometric design elements;
FIG. 10 depicts a fifth embodiment of a playing card back design using irregular geometric
design elements; and
FIG. 11 depicts a sixth embodiment of a playing card back design using irregular geometric
design elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Many playing cards are manufacture with back designs having symmetrical, repeatable,
and easily recognizable geometric patterns. During the manufacturing process such
designs can be susceptible to cut registration issues. Cut registration issues can
arise when the edges of the playing cards display differing patterns, creating variances
in the design along the edges of the playing card.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a prior art playing card 10. The playing card
10 back design 12 includes a symmetrical, repeatable, geometric pattern made of diamond
element 14. The edges 16, 18, 20, and 22 of the playing card 10 includes differing
pattern elements (variances). A top edge 16 of the playing card 10 includes a full
diamond pattern, a bottom edge 18 of the playing card 10 includes a half diamond pattern,
a first side edge 20 of the playing card 10 includes a half diamond pattern, and a
second side edge 20 of the playing card 10 includes a full diamond pattern. These
variances can be used by unscrupulous players and in combination with dealer handling
of the card to sort the cards by value.
[0013] The present invention utilizes playing cards back design made up of irregular design
elements. The irregular design elements mask the variances, making the differing pattern
in the edge cuts difficult to detect with the naked eye.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 2, there is provide a playing card 30 having a back design 32 made
up of uncommon polygons 34 with irregular sides, where the uncommon polygons are used
in a repeating pattern. The use of the uncommon polygons 34 creates a complex pattern
making it difficult to discern the pattern difference along the edges 36, 38, 40,
and 42 of the playing cards. Using uncommon polygons 34 with greater than five sides
serves to make it increasingly more difficult to detect individual elements of the
repeating pattern.
[0015] Furthermore, the repetitive design pattern of the uncommon polygons 34 can be skewed
at specific angle
α relative to the card edges 36, 38, 40, and 42. The use of the skewing angle
α substantially prevent the formation of a uniform edge pattern, making it increasingly
difficult for the detection of cut registration defects along the edges 36, 38, 40
and 42 with the human eye.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 3, there is provide another embodiment of a playing card 50 having
a back design 52 made up of uncommon polygons 54 with irregular sides. The uncommon
polygons 54 are seemingly provided in a random pattern on the back of the playing
card 50. The use of the uncommon polygons 54 and the seemingly random pattern creates
a complex pattern making it difficult to discern the pattern difference along the
edges 56, 58, 60, and 62 of the playing cards.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 4-5, there is provide a playing card 70 having a back design 72
made up of made up of a symmetrical, repeatable, geometric pattern. However, it is
also contemplated that the back design can include uncommon polygons. The design pattern
is skewed at specific angle
α relative to the card edges 76, 78, 80, and 82, or, be skewed in a curvilinear manner.
Line element 86 are further provided across the back design 72, from either between
the side edges 80 and 82 or the top and bottom edges 76 and 78 of the playing card
70. Referring to FIGs. 6-8 there is shown the playing card 70 show perfect and more
imperfect cut registration. FIG. 6 depicts a perfect cut playing cards 70', FIG. 7
depicts an imperfect cut playing card 70" having a cut registration of 0.12", and
FIG. 8 depicts a second imperfect cut playing card 70'" having a cut registration
of 0.24". As can be seen in the figure is in difficult to discern the cut registration
difference along the edges of the playing cards 70', 70", and 70'''.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 9, in a further embodiment, there is provide a playing card 90
having a back design 92 with irregular repeating patterns 94. For example, the irregular
repeating patterns 94 can be in the form of a kaleidoscope effect. Line elements 96,
purposeful skew relative to playing card edges 98, 100, 102, and 104, can further
be includes to make it increasingly difficult for the detection of cut registration
defects along the edges 98, 100, 102, and 104 with the human eye.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 10, in another embodiment of irregular pattern, a playing card
100 is provided with a swirl design 102.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 11, in another embodiment of irregular pattern, a playing card
120 is provided with a digital design 122.
[0021] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is
not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition,
unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the
accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations
are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope of the
invention, which is limited only by the following claims.
1. A plurality of playing cards (30, 50, 70, 90, 100, 120) each comprising:
a face side and a backside, each respective backside includes a back design (32, 52,
72, 92) having a plurality of irregular shaped design elements that result in an irregular
pattern along the edges of the playing cards, characterized in that the irregular shaped design elements are configured to mask from the human eye the
variances in the irregular pattern on the edges of the plurality of playing cards.
2. The plurality of playing cards (70, 90) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the back
design (72, 92) further comprises a plurality of line elements (86, 96).
3. The plurality of playing cards (70) as set forth in in claim 2, wherein the plurality
of line elements (86) are linear or curvilinear across the backside of the playing
cards.
4. The plurality of playing cards (70) as set forth in claim 3, wherein the plurality
of line elements (86) are skewed at an angle α with respect a side edge (76, 78, 80,
82)of a respective playing card.
5. The plurality of playing cards (30, 50, 70) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality
of irregular design elements are uncommon polygons (34, 54, 74) having more than five
sides.
6. The plurality of playing cards (30, 50, 70) as set forth in claim 5, wherein the plurality
of irregular design elements are provided in an irregular pattern.
7. The plurality of playing cards (30, 70) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the irregular
design elements (32, 72) are skewed at an angle α with respect a side edge of a respective
playing card(36, 38, 40, 42, 76, 78, 80, 82).
8. The plurality of playing cards (90, 100, 120) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
irregular design elements are selected from a group consisting of a kaleidoscope design
(94), a swirl design (102), and a digital design (122).
9. A method of manufacturing a plurality of playing cards (30, 50, 70, 90, 100, 120)
to prevent card edge sorting, comprising:
providing a plurality of playing cards, each including a face side and a backside,
and
placing a plurality of irregular shaped design elements on the backside of the respective
playing cards, wherein the plurality of irregular shaped design elements being arranged
to create an irregular pattern (32, 52, 72, 92) along a plurality of side edges of
the respective playing cards, and being characterized in that the irregular shaped design elements are configured to mask from the human eye the
variances in the irregular pattern on the edges of the plurality of playing cards.
10. The method of manufacturing a plurality of playing cards (70, 90) to prevent card
edge sorting as set forth in claim 9, further comprising placing a plurality of line
elements (86, 96) across the backside of the respective playing cards.
11. The method of manufacturing a plurality of playing cards (70) to prevent card edge
sorting as set forth in claim 10, wherein the plurality of line elements (86) are
linear or curvilinear.
12. The method of manufacturing a plurality of playing cards (70) to prevent card edge
sorting as set forth in claim 11, wherein the plurality of line elements (86) are
skewed at an angle α with respect at least one side edge of the respective playing
cards.
13. The method of manufacturing a plurality of playing cards (30, 70, 90) to prevent card
edge sorting as set forth in claim : 9, wherein the irregular design elements are
skewed at an angle α with respect at least one of the side edges (36, 76, 98) of the
respective playing cards.
1. Mehrere Spielkarten (30, 50, 70, 90, 100, 120), die jeweils umfassen:
eine Vorderseite und eine Rückseite, wobei jede jeweilige Rückseite ein Rückseitendesign
(32, 52, 72, 92) mit mehreren unregelmäßig geformten Designelementen beinhaltet, die
zu einem unregelmäßigen Muster entlang der Ränder der Spielkarten führen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die unregelmäßig geformten Designelemente dazu ausgestaltet sind, die Abweichungen
in dem unregelmäßigen Muster an den Rändern der mehreren Spielkarten vor dem menschlichen
Auge zu verbergen.
2. Mehrere Spielkarten (70, 90) nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Rückseitendesign (72, 92)
ferner mehrere Linienelemente (86, 96) umfasst.
3. Mehrere Spielkarten (70) nach Anspruch 2, wobei die mehreren Linienelemente (86) über
die Rückseite der Spielkarten linear oder krummlinig sind.
4. Mehrere Spielkarten (70) nach Anspruch 3, wobei die mehreren Linienelemente (86) in
einem Winkel α in Bezug auf einen Seitenrand (76, 78, 80, 82) einer jeweiligen Spielkarte
geneigt sind.
5. Mehrere Spielkarten (30, 50, 70) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die mehreren unregelmäßigen
Designelemente ungewöhnliche Polygone (34, 54, 74) mit mehr als fünf Seiten sind.
6. Mehrere Spielkarten (30, 50, 70) nach Anspruch 5, wobei die mehreren unregelmäßigen
Designelemente in einem unregelmäßigen Muster bereitgestellt sind.
7. Mehrere Spielkarten (30, 70) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die unregelmäßigen Designelemente
(32, 72) in einem Winkel α in Bezug auf einen Seitenrand einer jeweiligen Spielkarte
(36, 38, 40, 42, 76, 78, 80, 82) geneigt sind.
8. Mehrere Spielkarten (90, 100, 120) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die unregelmäßigen Designelemente
aus einer Gruppe bestehend aus einem Kaleidoskopdesign (94), einem Wirbeldesign (102)
und einem digitalen Design (122) ausgewählt sind.
9. Verfahren zum Herstellen von mehreren Spielkarten (30, 50, 70, 90, 100, 120), um das
Sortieren von Kartenrändern zu verhindern, umfassend:
Bereitstellen von mehreren Spielkarten, die jeweils eine Vorderseite und eine Rückseite
beinhalten, und
Platzieren von mehreren unregelmäßig geformten Designelementen auf der Rückseite der
jeweiligen Spielkarten, wobei die mehreren unregelmäßig geformten Designelemente angeordnet
sind, um ein unregelmäßiges Muster (32, 52, 72, 92) entlang mehrerer Seitenränder
der jeweiligen Spielkarten zu erzeugen, und dadurch gekennzeichnet sind, dass die unregelmäßig geformten Designelemente dazu ausgestaltet sind, die Abweichungen
in dem unregelmäßigen Muster an den Rändern der mehreren Spielkarten vor dem menschlichen
Auge zu verbergen.
10. Verfahren zum Herstellen von mehreren Spielkarten (70, 90), um das Sortieren von Kartenrändern
zu verhindern, nach Anspruch 9, ferner umfassend das Platzieren von mehreren Linienelementen
(86, 96) über die Rückseite der jeweiligen Spielkarten.
11. Verfahren zum Herstellen von mehreren Spielkarten (70), um das Sortieren von Kartenrändern
zu verhindern, nach Anspruch 10, wobei die mehreren Linienelemente (86) linear oder
krummlinig sind.
12. Verfahren zum Herstellen von mehreren Spielkarten (70), um das Sortieren von Kartenrändern
zu verhindern, nach Anspruch 11, wobei die mehreren Linienelemente (86) in einem Winkel
α in Bezug auf mindestens einen Seitenrand der jeweiligen Spielkarten geneigt sind.
13. Verfahren zum Herstellen von mehreren Spielkarten (30, 70, 90), um das Sortieren von
Kartenrändern zu verhindern, nach Anspruch 9, wobei die unregelmäßigen Designelemente
in einem Winkel α in Bezug auf mindestens einen der Seitenränder (36, 76, 98) der
jeweiligen Spielkarten geneigt sind.
1. Pluralité de cartes à jouer (30, 50, 70, 90, 100, 120) comprenant chacune :
un côté face et un côté dos, chaque côté dos respectif comprend une conception de
dos (32, 52, 72, 92) ayant une pluralité d'éléments de conception de forme irrégulière
qui se traduisent par un motif irrégulier le long des bords des cartes à jouer, caractérisée en ce que les éléments de conception de forme irrégulière sont configurés pour dissimuler de
l'œil humain, les variations du motif irrégulier sur les bords de la pluralité de
cartes à jouer.
2. Pluralité de cartes à jouer (70, 90) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle la conception
de dos (72, 92) comprend en outre une pluralité d'éléments de ligne (86, 96).
3. Pluralité de cartes à jouer (70) selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle la pluralité
d'éléments de ligne (86) sont linéaires ou curvilignes d'un côté à l'autre du côté
dos des cartes à jouer.
4. Pluralité de cartes à jouer (70) selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle la pluralité
d'éléments de ligne (86) sont obliques selon un angle α par rapport à un bord latéral
(76, 78, 80, 82) d'une carte à jouer respective.
5. Pluralité de cartes à jouer (30, 50, 70) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle la
pluralité d'éléments de conception irréguliers sont des polygones (34, 54, 74) non
communs ayant plus de cinq côtés.
6. Pluralité de cartes à jouer (30, 50, 70) selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle la
pluralité d'éléments de conception irréguliers sont prévus selon un motif irrégulier.
7. Pluralité de cartes à jouer (30, 70) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle les éléments
de conception irréguliers (32, 72) sont obliques selon un angle α par rapport à un
bord latéral d'une carte à jouer (36, 38, 40, 42, 76, 78, 80, 82) respective.
8. Pluralité de cartes à jouer (90, 100, 120) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle
les éléments de conception irréguliers sont sélectionnés dans un groupe comprenant
une conception de kaléidoscope (94), une conception de tourbillon (102), et une conception
numérique (122).
9. Procédé pour fabriquer une pluralité de cartes à jouer (30, 50, 70, 90, 100, 120)
pour empêcher le tri de bord de carte, comprenant les étapes suivantes :
prévoir une pluralité de cartes à jouer, comprenant chacune un côté face et un côté
dos, et
placer une pluralité d'éléments de conception de forme irrégulière sur le côté dos
des cartes à jouer respectives, dans lequel la pluralité d'éléments de conception
de forme irrégulière est agencée pour créer un motif irrégulier (32, 52, 72, 92) le
long d'une pluralité de bords latéraux des cartes à jouer respectives, et étant caractérisé en ce que les éléments de conception de forme irrégulière sont configurés pour dissimuler de
l'œil humain, les variations du motif irrégulier sur les bords de la pluralité de
cartes à jouer.
10. Procédé pour fabriquer une pluralité de cartes à jouer (70, 90) pour empêcher le tri
de bord de carte selon la revendication 9, comprenant en outre le fait de placer une
pluralité d'éléments de ligne (86, 96) à travers le côté dos des cartes à jouer respectives.
11. Procédé pour fabriquer une pluralité de cartes à jouer (70) pour empêcher le tri de
bord de carte selon la revendication 10, dans lequel la pluralité d'éléments de ligne
(86) sont linéaires ou curvilignes.
12. Procédé pour fabriquer une pluralité de cartes à jouer (70) pour empêcher le tri de
bord de carte selon la revendication 11, dans lequel la pluralité d'éléments de ligne
(86) sont obliques selon un angle α par rapport à au moins un bord latéral des cartes
à jouer respectives.
13. Procédé pour fabriquer une pluralité de cartes à jouer (30, 70, 90) pour empêcher
le tri de bord de carte selon la revendication 9, dans lequel les éléments de conception
de forme irrégulière sont obliques selon un angle α par rapport à au moins l'un des
bords latéraux (36, 76, 98) des cartes à jouer respectives.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description