Card dispenser

Abstract

A card dispenser comprising a housing having a card chamber and at least one card dispensing aperture, a compression means adapted to apply pressure to a set of cards when in use, a motor, a control mechanism connected to the motor, a launch mechanism activated by the control mechanism to dispense a single card, and a reset mechanism adapted to reset the launch mechanism. The card dispenser is designed to dispense a single card at irregular time intervals and optionally at random locations about a periphery of the car dispenser.

1 . A card dispenser comprising:
 a housing having a card chamber and a card dispensing aperture,   a compression means adapted to apply pressure to a set of cards when in use,   a driver mechanism,   a control mechanism connected to the motor,   a launch mechanism activated by the control mechanism to dispense a single card, and   a reset mechanism adapted to reset the launch mechanism,   wherein the control mechanism is adapted to randomly activate the launch mechanism to dispense a card in a random direction and/or at irregular time intervals through the card dispensing aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The card dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an upper housing and a base which are rotatably connected together. 
     
     
         3 . The card dispenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the control mechanism and the launch mechanism are located within the upper housing. 
     
     
         4 . The card dispenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the upper housing comprises a door, lid or cover closing the card chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The card dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression means comprises a spring mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The card dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression means comprises a spring-loaded arm located within or above the card chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The card dispenser according to  claim 5 , wherein the spring mechanism is attached to a door, lid or cover that encloses the card chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The card dispenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the driver mechanism is an electric motor or a wind-up motor. 
     
     
         9 . The card dispenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the driver mechanism is located in the base. 
     
     
         10 . The card dispenser according to  claim 8 , wherein the wind-up motor is connected to a winding dial located on an exterior surface of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The card dispenser according to  claim 8 , wherein the wind-up motor is charged by winding the upper housing relative to the base. 
     
     
         12 . The card dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is adapted to randomly activate the launch mechanism to dispense a card at irregular time intervals. 
     
     
         13 . The card dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the reset mechanism automatically resets the launch mechanism after a card has been dispensed. 
     
     
         14 . The card dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the reset mechanism is a lever extending through the housing which is adapted to reset the launch mechanism when used. 
     
     
         15 . The card dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism comprises one or more notched wheels that are rotated by the driver mechanism and are arranged to activate the launch mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The card dispenser according to  claim 15 , wherein notches on the one or more notched wheels are irregularly located about a surface or a circumference of the one or more notched wheels. 
     
     
         17 . A method of dispensing cards using the card dispenser according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 positioning a set of cards within the card chamber;   arranging the compression means to apply pressure to the set of cards; and   activating the driver mechanism, wherein the control mechanism connected to the driver mechanism controls the launch mechanism, which effects dispensing of a card through the card dispensing aperture in a random direction and/or at irregular time intervals.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein when the control mechanism comprises at least one notched wheel and a retention pin, as the at least one notched wheel rotates a notch on the at least one notched wheel physically impacts the retention pin and causes the retention pin to move to release the launch mechanism, which effects movement of a sprung wheel drive rack, the wheel drive rack comprising one or more drive wheels at a lateral end of the wheel drive rack, which causes a card to be dispensed through the card dispensing aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein as the at least one notched wheel continues to rotate and the notch moves on, pressure on the sprung retention pin is removed and the retention pin moves back to an original position of the retention pin.