Combination discard rack and multi-deck card loader for use with an automatic card shuffling machine

Abstract

A card loader and discard rack is disclosed. The card loader and discard rack includes a top member with a handle, a bottom member, a central receptacle having a rear wall and two side walls, a pair of spaced gripper members attached to, and extending from, the top member to removably attach to the bottom member, the pair of spaced gripper members able to separate and contract, the pair of spaced gripper members each having a ledge near a bottom thereof for supporting a stack of cards, and the pair of spaced gripper members defining a card-holding space. A card-stack rear support may be attached to, and extend from the top member such that the pair of spaced gripper members and card-stack rear support define a card-holding space.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A card loading apparatus comprising:
 an upper member with a handle; and   a pair of spaced elongated holders attached to, and extending from, said upper member, said pair of spaced holders configured to hold and release a stack of cards.   
     
     
         2 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said pair of spaced elongated holders comprise:
 a pair of spaced gripper members, said gripper members able to separate and contract, said pair of spaced gripper members each having a ledge near a bottom thereof for supporting a stack of cards. 
 
     
     
         3 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said upper member includes a lever configured to control movement of said pair of spaced gripper members. 
     
     
         4 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising cushions on inner surfaces of said spaced gripper members. 
     
     
         5 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising ramp mechanisms on said spaced gripper members, said ramp mechanisms configured to interact with structures in an automatic card shuffling machine to separate said pair of spaced gripper members and release cards held thereby. 
     
     
         6 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said handle is configured to control movement of said pair of spaced elongated holders. 
     
     
         7 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a card-stack rear support attached to, and extending from, said upper member. 
     
     
         8 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said pair of spaced gripper members and card-stack rear support define a card-holding space. 
     
     
         9 . A card loading apparatus comprising:
 an upper member with a handle; and   a pair of spaced elongated gripper members attached to, and extending from, said top member, said gripper members able to separate and contract, said pair of spaced gripper members each having a ledge near a bottom thereof for supporting a stack of cards.   
     
     
         10 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said upper member includes a lever configured to control movement of said pair of spaced gripper members. 
     
     
         11 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising cushions on inner surfaces of said spaced gripper members. 
     
     
         12 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising ramp mechanisms on said spaced gripper members, said ramp mechanisms configured to interact with structures in an automatic card shuffling machine to separate said pair of spaced gripper members and release cards held thereby. 
     
     
         13 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said handle is configured to control movement of said pair of spaced elongated gripper members. 
     
     
         14 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a card-stack rear support attached to, and extending from, said upper member. 
     
     
         15 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said pair of spaced gripper members and card-stack rear support define a card-holding space. 
     
     
         16 . A card loading apparatus comprising:
 an upper member with a handle;   a pair of spaced elongated holders attached to, and extending from, said upper member, said pair of spaced elongated holders configured to hold and release a stack of cards;   a rear wall and pair of side walls; and   a pair of spaced angled supports allowing said card loading apparatus to be horizontally placed on a gaming table to function as a discard rack.   
     
     
         17 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a base configured to engage with said card loading apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said upper member includes a lever configured to control movement of pair of spaced elongated holders. 
     
     
         19 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said rear wall and said pair of side walls are fabricated of red, translucent plastic. 
     
     
         20 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a card-stack rear support.