Card shoe

Abstract

A card shoe comprising security features. The card shoe may include a housing and a flexible flag to at least partially overlie a front cover and an opening in the front cover. The card shoe may include an opening between a playing card support and a bottom of the front cover sized to allow only one playing card to be withdrawn at one time. The card shoe may include identification tags and areas for advertising. A form of advertising may include light-emitting diodes incorporated into the housing of the card shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A card shoe comprising:
 a housing comprising a playing card support and a front cover; and   a horizontal gap between the playing card support and a bottom of the front cover for withdrawing a playing card, wherein the gap is sized to allow only one playing card to be withdrawn at one time.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising light emitting diodes incorporated into the housing and a power source for the light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the playing card support is a plate arranged on a bottom of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a projecting ridge arranged near a top inside surface of the front cover, such projecting ridge preventing a playing card from being pushed back into the card shoe. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a wedge arranged on the card support surface, the wedge comprising:
 a friction wall arranged on an inside rear wall of the wedge; 
 a roller arranged transversely in the wedge and configured to make contact with the card support surface, wherein the roller rotates in a first direction when the wedge approaches a front of the card shoe and in a second direction when the wedge approaches a back of the card shoe; and 
 a rod arranged transversely in the wedge and connectable to the roller such that when the roller rotates in the first direction the rod is pushed up and rotates freely in a first direction that is opposite the first rotate direction of the roller, and when the roller initiates rotation in the second direction the rod is pushed down and toward the back of the wedge against the friction wall to prohibit rotation of the rod and roller. 
 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a card cut gauge arranged on the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the card cut gauge comprises at least one tab to indicate the distance from a rear of the card shoe of a length of a number of playing cards. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising an identification tag. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein a wall of the housing includes an opening for receiving the identification tag. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the opening is covered with a transparent window. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a top cover arranged on a top of the housing, the top cover having an arrow head design. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising at least one magnet in the top cover and at least one magnet in the housing, the magnets cooperating to hold the cover to the housing. 
     
     
         13 . A card shoe comprising:
 a housing;   light emitting diodes incorporated into the housing; and   a power source for the light emitting diodes.