Table-flush shuffling system

Abstract

A flush-mountable playing card randomization system having a shuffling zone with a playing card insertion area comprising a playing card support surface at a first elevation with respect to a highest level within the randomization system. Associated with the playing card support surface is a playing card mover moving individual playing into a first side of the shuffling zone. There is a randomized playing card collection surface at a second elevation with respect to the randomization system. The collection surface at the second elevation is at least 5 centimeters lower than the playing card support surface, with an exposed or exposable playing card collection area. The system may be retracted to enable manual access.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A playing card randomization system flush-mounted to a gaming table top having an outer edge comprising:
 i) a playing card randomization system having a shuffling zone;   j) on one side of the shuffling zone is a playing card insertion area comprising a playing card support surface at a first elevation with respect to a highest level within the randomization system;   k) associated with the playing card support surface is a playing card mover that moves individual playing cards from the playing card support surface one-at-a-time into a first side of the shuffling zone;   l) a randomized playing card collection surface at a second elevation with respect to the randomization system;   m) the collection surface at the second elevation being at least 5 centimeters lower than the playing card support surface with respect to the highest level within the randomization system;   n) an elevator supporting the playing card support surface;   o) the random playing card collection surface covered by the gaming table top or a moveable lid; and   p) a support base for the playing card support system extending beyond the outer edge of the gaming table top so that the playing card insertion area is accessible from a vertical direction to insert playing cards.   
     
     
         2 ) The playing card randomization system of  claim 1  wherein the shuffling zone comprises a vertical stacked array of compartments into which compartments individual playing cards are inserted from the playing card support surface. 
     
     
         3 ) The playing card randomization system of  claim 1  wherein the shuffling zone comprises a carousel array of compartments into which compartments individual playing cards are inserted from the playing card support surface. 
     
     
         4 ) The playing card randomization system of  claim 2  wherein there is a moveable cover over the playing card collection area to allow access to randomized playing cards by hand or by an elevator that is upwardly moveable by force applied to the elevator. 
     
     
         5 ) The playing card randomization system of  claim 4  wherein the elevator is present and is upwardly moveable only by manual force applied to a top end of the elevator. 
     
     
         6 ) The playing card randomization system of  claim 5  wherein there is a handle on the top end of the elevator. 
     
     
         7 ) The playing card randomization system of  claim 2  wherein the playing card randomization system is supported on a sliding system selected from the group consisting of rollers and slides. 
     
     
         8 ) The playing card randomization system of  claim 7  wherein rollers on a track support the playing card randomization system so that retraction of the playing card randomization system exposes the playing card collection area for manual removal. 
     
     
         9 ) The playing card randomization system of  claim 3  wherein there is a moveable cover over the playing card collection area to allow access to randomized playing cards by hand or by an elevator that is upwardly moveable by force applied to the elevator. 
     
     
         10 ) The playing card randomization system of  claim 9  wherein the elevator is present and is upwardly moveable only by manual force applied to a top end of the elevator. 
     
     
         11 ) The playing card randomization system of  claim 10  wherein there is a handle on the top end of the elevator. 
     
     
         12 ) The playing card randomization system of  claim 9  wherein the playing card randomization system is supported on a sliding system selected from the group consisting of rollers and slides. 
     
     
         13 ) The playing card randomization system of  claim 12  wherein rollers on a track support the playing card randomization system so that retraction of the playing card randomization system exposes the playing card collection area for manual removal. 
     
     
         14 ) The playing card randomization system of  claim 12  wherein glides on a track support the playing card randomization system so that retraction of the playing card randomization system exposes the playing card collection area for manual removal. 
     
     
         15 ) The playing card system of  claim 7  wherein a handle is present to allow manual force to extract the playing card randomization system horizontally. 
     
     
         16 ) The playing card system of  claim 8  wherein a handle is present to allow manual force to extract the playing card randomization system horizontally. 
     
     
         17 ) The playing card system of  claim 12  wherein a handle is present to allow manual force to extract the playing card randomization system horizontally. 
     
     
         18 ) The playing card system of  claim 13  wherein a handle is present to allow manual force to extract the playing card randomization system horizontally. 
     
     
         19 ) The playing card system of  claim 14  wherein a handle is present to allow manual force to extract the playing card randomization system horizontally.