U.S. patent application number 11/220069 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-16 for electronic card table with hinged table top.
This patent application is currently assigned to PokerTek, Inc.. Invention is credited to Daniel Vincent Byrd, James T. III Crawford, Michael Scott Stanford, Gehrig Henderson White.
Application Number | 20060055114 11/220069 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38808986 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060055114 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
White; Gehrig Henderson ; et
al. |
March 16, 2006 |
Electronic card table with hinged table top
Abstract
A table game apparatus including a substantially planar table
top having an upper surface and a lower surface extending to a
border. The table top defines a centrally located electronic
display. A plate is attached to the lower surface for supporting
the table top. A support frame supports the table top. A hinge is
used for pivotal movement of the table top relative to the support
frame between a closed position and an open position. The plate
presents a plate aperture substantially co-extensive with the
electronic display and the plate is connected to the hinge for
supporting the table top.
Inventors: |
White; Gehrig Henderson;
(Charlotte, NC) ; Crawford; James T. III;
(Charlotte, NC) ; Stanford; Michael Scott;
(Charlotte, NC) ; Byrd; Daniel Vincent; (Matthews,
NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOWARD & HOWARD ATTORNEYS, P.C.
THE PINEHURST OFFICE CENTER, SUITE #101
39400 WOODWARD AVENUE
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48304-5151
US
|
Assignee: |
PokerTek, Inc.
Matthew
NC
|
Family ID: |
38808986 |
Appl. No.: |
11/220069 |
Filed: |
September 6, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60610262 |
Sep 16, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/309 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/00 20130101; A63F
2003/00164 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/309 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/00 20060101
A63F009/00 |
Claims
1. A table game apparatus for playing an electronic game
comprising: a substantially planar table top having an upper
surface and a lower surface extending to a border; said table top
configured for mounting a centrally located electronic display; a
plate attached to said lower surface for supporting said table top;
a support frame supporting said table top; a hinge for pivotal
movement of said table top relative to said support frame between a
closed position and an open position; and said plate presenting a
plate aperture substantially co-extensive with said electronic
display and said plate being connected to said hinge for supporting
and pivoting said table top.
2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of
biasing members interconnecting said support frame and said plate
for holding said table top in said open position.
3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said support frame
defines a cavity and a side wall.
4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including an electronic
control unit disposed in said cavity and electronically connected
to said electronic display.
5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including an access panel
disposed on said side wall.
6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support frame
includes a box frame and a leg frame supporting said box frame.
7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said leg frame
includes a pair of oppositely disposed and horizontal T-shaped
members and a pad disposed at the distal end of each leg of each
T-shape member for supporting said leg frame on a floor.
8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said leg frame
includes a post extending upwardly from each leg of each T-shape to
support said box frame.
9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 including a ring extending
about and connected to each of said posts to define a foot
rest.
10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said plate
includes a periphery spaced inwardly of said border and said side
wall engages said plate with said table top extending in a
cantilevered portion outwardly of said side wall and outwardly of
said periphery of said plate to said border.
11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said periphery of
said plate presents a first side and a second side parallel to one
another and a first end and a second end with a plurality of
diagonal corners interconnecting said sides and said ends.
12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said table top
defines a pair of first openings disposed along each side of said
plate and a second opening disposed at each end and at each corner
of said plate.
13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 including an electronic
player interaction area disposed in each of said openings for
player input.
14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including a plurality of
pieces disposed about said border to define a bumper.
15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said plate is
attached to said lower surface and extends to an edge disposed at
said border.
16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said plate is
spaced apart from said lower surface.
17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said side wall
engages said plate with said plate and said table top extending in
a cantilevered portion outwardly of said side wall.
18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said plate
defines a plurality of apertures for receiving electrical leads
from electrical components.
19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 18 including a plurality of
pieces disposed about said border to define a bumper.
20. A table game apparatus for playing an electronic game
comprising: a substantially planar table top having an upper
surface and a lower surface; said table top configured for mounting
an electronic display; a plurality of electronic player interaction
areas; a plate being spaced apart and coupled to said table top to
define a space there between; a support frame supporting said table
top; a hinge for pivotal movement of said table top relative to
said support frame between a closed position and an open position;
and said plate presenting a plate aperture substantially
co-extensive with said electronic display and said plate being
connected to said hinge for supporting and pivoting said table
top.
21. A table game apparatus as set forth in claim 20 including an
electrical lead extending in said space and being connected to said
electronic display.
22. A table game apparatus as set forth in claim 21 including an
electronic control unit being connected by said electrical lead to
said electronic display.
23. A table game apparatus for playing an electronic game
comprising: a substantially planar table top having an upper
surface and a lower surface; said table top configured for mounting
an electronic display; a plurality of electronic player interaction
areas; a plate being spaced apart and coupled to said table top to
define a space there between; a support frame supporting said table
top; a hinge for pivotal movement of said table top relative to
said support frame between a closed position and an open position;
and said plate being connected to said hinge for supporting and
pivoting said table top.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/610,262, filed Sep.
16, 2004, all of its contents incorporated herein in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The subject invention relates to a table game apparatus for
playing an electronic game.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] The prior art discloses an array of gaming tables having
table tops pivotally supported on a support frame, such as that
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,970, issued to Baerlocher et al. Such
gaming tables include a table top having an upper surface and a
lower surface extending to a border wherein the table top defines a
centrally located electronic display. The table top is attached by
a hinge to the support frame for allowing the table top to be
adjustable between a closed and an open position.
[0006] It is also known in the table art in general to support a
table top on a plate fixed to a support.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides such a table game apparatus
distinguished by a plate presenting a plate aperture substantially
co-extensive with an electronic display and connected to a hinge
for supporting and pivoting the table top.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table game apparatus of
the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
and
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the table game apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate
corresponding parts throughout the several views, a table game
apparatus 10 for playing an electronic game is shown. In one
embodiment, the apparatus 10 may provide an electronic card game,
such as poker, using virtual cards and virtual chips to a plurality
of players. One said apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Provisional
Patent Application 60/610,262.
[0014] The apparatus 10 includes a substantially planar table top
20 having an upper surface 22 and a lower surface 24 extending to a
border 26. A plurality of pieces 28 are disposed about the border
26 to define a bumper 30 that is rigid, by example and not meant to
be limiting, the bumper 30 may be enclosed in a leather or cotton
shell. The table top 20 defines a centrally located electronic
display 32 that is embedded into and substantially flush with the
upper surface 22 of the table top 20. The electronic display 32 may
show virtual cards representing the virtual dealer's cards, player
seat assignments, wager information for participants of the game,
pot information and/or other information. In an alternative
embodiment, the electronic display 32 may be implemented to cover a
large portion of the table top 20.
[0015] A plate 34 is attached to the lower surface 24 for
supporting the table top 20. The plate 34 includes a periphery 36
that is spaced inwardly of the border 26 and presents a first side
38 and a second side 40 parallel to one another and a first end 42
and a second end 44 with a plurality of diagonal corners 46
interconnecting the sides 38, 40 and the ends 42, 44. The table top
20 defines a pair of first openings 48 disposed along each side 38,
40 of the plate 34 and a pair of second openings 50 disposed at
each end 42, 44 and at each corner 46 of the plate 34.
[0016] An electronic player interaction area 52 is disposed in each
of the openings 48 for player input, displaying virtual cards and
other information to the players. In one embodiment each electronic
player interaction area 52 is embodied in a touch screen display.
Each electronic player interaction area 52 may include the display
and a computer contained with a single housing. The electronic
display or centrally located electronic display 32 may be
controlled or driven by a separate computer such as a personal
computer. In an alternative embodiment, the electronic player
interaction areas 52 and the electronic display 32 may be
implemented in a single display that covers a large portion of the
table top 20. The apparatus also includes a support frame 54 for
supporting the table top 20. The apparatus includes a hinge 56 for
pivotal movement of the table top 20 relative to the support frame
54 between a closed position and an open position.
[0017] The apparatus is distinguished by the plate 34 presenting a
plate aperture 58 substantially co-extensive with the electronic
display 32. The plate 34 is also connected to the hinge 56 for
aiding in the supporting and pivoting of the table top 20.
[0018] The apparatus includes a plurality of biasing members 60
interconnecting the support frame 54 and the plate 34 for holding
the table top 20 in the open position. Air springs, shown as an
example and not meant to be limiting, represent the biasing members
60.
[0019] The support frame 54 defines a cavity 62 with an oval shape
and a side wall 64 for housing electronics such as computers, game
controllers, fans, power supplies, etc. An electronic control 66
unit is disposed in the cavity 62 and electronically connected to
the electronic display 32. For example, the electronic control unit
66 may include a game computer (not shown) for running one or more
computer program applications which provide the electronic game to
the players. Another computer (not shown) may be provided for
controlling or driving the electronic display 32. The support frame
54 further includes an access panel 68 disposed on the side wall 64
that provides access to an on/off power switch (not shown) and a
reset switch (not shown). The side wall 64 engages the plate 34
with the table top 20 extending in a cantilevered portion outwardly
of the side wall 64 and the periphery 36 of the plate 34.
[0020] The support frame 54 includes a box frame 70 and a leg frame
72 for supporting the box frame 70. The leg frame 72 includes a
pair of oppositely disposed and horizontal T-shaped members 74 and
a pad 76 disposed at the distal end of each leg of each T-shape
member 74 for supporting the leg frame 72 on a floor. The leg frame
72 includes a post 78 extending upwardly from each leg of each
T-shape member 74 to support the box frame 70. A ring 80 extends
about and connects to each of the posts 78 to define a foot rest
82.
[0021] An alternative embodiment of the table game apparatus 10 is
shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the plate 34 is spaced apart
from and attached to the lower surface 24 of the table top 20 to
define a space 90 there between. Furthermore, the plate 34 extends
to an edge 84 disposed at the border 26. In this embodiment the
side wall 64 engages the plate 34 which results in the plate 34 and
the table top 20 extending in a cantilevered portion outwardly of
the side wall 64. The plate 34 also defines a plurality of
apertures 86 that are used for receiving one or more electrical
leads 88 or a wiring harness that extends into the space between
the plate 34 and the table top 20. For example and not meant to be
limiting, one end of the electrical lead can be connected to the
electronic display 32. While the body of the electrical lead would
extend throughout the space 90 and out one of the apertures 86 to
connect the other end of the electrical lead to the electronic
control unit 66 housed in the cavity 62. The apertures 86 can also
be used for the insertion of electronic devices, for example and
not meant to be limiting, speakers.
[0022] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The
invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described
within the scope of the appended claims.
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