Abstract:
A casino gaming station includes a free standing gaming table and a free standing canopy which can be positioned above the gaming table where the canopy is supported by a pedestal positioned adjacent to the table. The gaming table has an upper surface with markings thereon for use in the playing of one of the games of chance of a casino. The pedestal supports an upwardly extending vertical post with the upper end of the post extending horizontally outward of the pedestal and over the table. At the outer end of the vertical extension is the canopy having a motion video camera therein directed downward towards the surface of the table.

Description:
The present application relates to casino tables, the upper surfaces of which are used to conduct a game of the casino and, in particular, to an easily relocateable casino table and the associated facilities needed to carry out a casino game. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The gaming area of a casino is normally divided into sections with each section offering a different game of chance to its patrons. Each section of the casino is, in turn, occupied by a plurality of gaming tables, with each gaming table offering an aesthetic appearance to enhance the attraction to patrons. Tables also include table security to protect the integrity of the game during the play and to some extent, to protect the dealer. The dealer is primarily responsible for providing table protection and game integrity, but in the absence of adequate surveillance cameras and the like, his efforts can be compromised by professional cheaters. Existing gaming tables are provided with various electronic devices, such as monitors positioned near each player which require the provision of various electrical hookups and the like. To accommodate the requirements of the gaming table, electrical hookups are provided through the floor in the general location of each of the tables. 
   The demand for the various games of a casino will change over time. A casino will at one time find the tables in a first section dedicated to a first game of chance all in use while only a fraction of the tables in a second section dedicated to a second game of chance are in use. At another time only a fraction of the tables of the first game will be in use while all the tables of the second game are in use. Under such circumstances, the space of a casino floor would be more efficiently used if the mix of tables allocated to the first and second games of chance could be readily increased or decreased to accommodate the preferences of the patrons. However, it is presently very difficult for a casino to reallocate the number of tables available for each of the games. 
   One method of altering the mix of tables allocated to the various games of chance has been to provide replaceable leaves for the upper surfaces of the tables such that the table can be converted from one game to another by replacing the leaves which form its upper surface as described in our prior patent 5,839,960. Replacing the leaves of the table will facilitate the changing from a first game to a second game where the table requirements of both the first and second games are approximately the same. For example, a blackjack table may be converted into a poker table by replacing the leaves of the upper surface. A roulette table, on the other hand, is not readily convertible to a craps table or a poker table. 
   One of factors which has inhibited casinos from readily changing the mix of tables on the gaming floor has been the need for surveillance to maintain the integrity of the game being played on the table. In the past surveillance has been carried out by providing cameras in the ceiling of the establishment. The size and configuration of various gaming tables may differ greatly from game to game, and therefor the surveillance requirements of the various games are correspondingly different from game to game. The surveillance needs of a crap table, for example are different from the needs of a roulette table, and any effort to change the mix between two such types of tables will also require the reconfiguration of the cameras needed for surveillance. It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a method whereby the mix of tables dedicated to each game of a casino could be easily altered without compromising the need for adequate surveillance or aesthetic qualities which protect and attract patrons. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, the present invention is embodied in a casino gaming station comprising a free standing gaming table and a free standing canopy which can be positioned above the gaming table where the canopy is supported by a pedestal positioned adjacent to the table. The gaming table has an upper surface with markings thereon for use in the playing of one of the games of chance of a casino. The markings further include designated play stations with each play station useable by one of the participants of the game of chance, and a dealer station for use by representative of the house in the playing of the game. 
   The table may have any of a number of additional amenities including monitors which display activities elsewhere in the casino for the further entertainment of the players and a telephone to permit players to make reservations for other activities without leaving the table. 
   The pedestal supports an upwardly extending vertical post with the upper end of the post extending horizontally outward of the pedestal and over the upper surface of the table. At the outer end of the vertical extension is the canopy. Within the canopy is a motion video camera, the lens of which is directed downward towards the surface of the table for recording the play of the game of chance on the upper surface thereof. The pedestal and canopy include means for transmitting video signals received from the camera to a remote supervisor&#39;s office for viewing the action on the upper surface of the game table. The outer surface of the canopy, which is visible by patrons in the casino has means, such as a video display, for projecting advertising material and the like for notifying patrons of the type of game being played at the gaming station. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A better and more complete understanding of the present invention will be had after a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a gaming table, pedestal and canopy in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the table depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a top elevational view of the table shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the table shown if  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a gaming station  10  includes a table  11  for use in a casino is supported on an enlarged pedestal  12  across which is an overhanging top  13 . The top  13  has an elevation and overhang suitable for use by a plurality of patrons participating in the game, not shown, who sit on suitably chairs, not shown. 
   The upper surface  16  of the top  13  has markings thereon to designate a plurality of play stations  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  22 , each of said play stations for use by one of the participants in the game at the table. In one embodiment of the inventions, each of the play stations  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  22  are numbered (bearing numbers  1  through  6 ) and each numbered play station is further identified by a caricature, such as the caricature of an animal. The upper surface  16  has further markings to designate a dealer station  24  for use by a dealer  25 , and markings as needed for use in the play of the game of the table, not shown. A retainer  26  is positioned near the dealer station  24  for retaining chips needed in the play of the game. The periphery of the top  13  includes a plurality of video screens  28 ,  29 ,  30  which permit patrons participating in the game to view activities elsewhere in the casino. The screens  28 ,  29 ,  30  make use of touch screen technology to permit participants in the game to interact with activities elsewhere in the casino. The table top  13  may also be provided with a plurality of telephones  32 ,  34 ,  36 , the phones connectable by jacks within the pedestal of the table, not shown, to enable participants to make reservations and other commitment without leaving their play station. 
   The table  11  includes cables  42 ,  43  with connectors  46 ,  47  at the ends thereof which are received in sockets  38 ,  40  in the floor of the casino for providing electrical power to the table  11  and communication to the video screens  28 ,  29 ,  30  and to the telephone jacks, not shown. 
   Positioned near the table  11  is a pedestal  50  supporting an upwardly extending vertical post  52 , the upper end of which supports a horizontally outwardly extending portion  54  at the end of which is a canopy  56 . The pedestal  50  is depicted in  FIG. 1  as a unitary member having an arcuate configuration extending from the post  52  to the horizontal extension  54 , however, the post  52  and extension  54  may have any of a number of configurations within the spirit of the invention. The pedestal  50  is provided with a base  55  having sufficient weight and has sufficient width  58  to adequately support the canopy  56  over the center of the upper surface  16  of the table  11  while the pedestal  50  is positioned sufficient far from the base  12  of the table  11  so as to not interfere with the activities of the patrons or the dealer who are engaged in the play of the game. The canopy  56  has an outer surface  60  which is provided with an LED display, or any other means, for projecting advertising material which can be seen by patrons passing the casino game station  10 . 
   Centrally located along the lower surface of the canopy  56  is a transparent dome  62  into which is fitted a video camera  64 . Cables  66 ,  67  for providing power to the video camera  64  and video output signal extend through the post  52  and extension  54  to the pedestal  50  and have connectors  68 ,  69  at the distal end thereof for connecting into sockets  70 ,  71  in the floor of the casino. The output from the video camera  64  can therefore be viewed by a supervisor in a remote location in the casino to detect cheaters participating in the game. 
   The post  52  also includes a table  72  thereon, the upper surface of which can be used as best suits the dealer, but is depicted as having a retainer  74  for retaining extra chips so as to be readily accessible to the dealer  25 . A monitor  76  on the post  52  projects a view of the game being played on the upper surface  16  of the table  11  as seen through the eyes of video camera  64  such that patrons can see the same view of the game seen by supervisors in the remote location. 
   It should be appreciated that the video camera  64  could be powered by batteries and that the cable  66  and connectors  68 ,  70  can be eliminated by the provision of a cellular phone system or other wireless system for transmitting the view from the video camera  64  to a second monitor  77  viewed by a supervisor in a remote location. In similar fashion, the electronics within the table  11  may also be powered by batteries such that the table  11  and the canopy  56  are freely moveable without requiring the connection of cables as depicted and described above. 
   The table of the present invention is best used. in conjunction with a headset  78  and a microphone  80  for maintaining audio communication with a remote supervisor  81  and with other dealers in the casino. 
   Neither the table  11  nor the pedestal  50  are secured to the floor of the casino and, therefore, readily moveable from location to location. A table  11  with an upper surface  16  dedicated to a first game, for example poker, it can be easily removed and replaced by a second table  11  with an upper surface  16  dedicated to a second game, for example craps, such that the mix of the tables of a casino floor can be easily changed. The promotional material projected on the outer surface  60  of the canopy  56  will inform patrons in the casino of the game being played on the upper surface  16  of the table  11 . 
   The play of a game on a gaming station  10  can be readily changed by first replacing the table  11  dedicated to a first game with the table  11  dedicated to a second game. If the space demands of the two games are substantially the same the advertising material being projected on the outer surface  60  of the pedestal  50  and canopy  56  at the site can be changed from that related to the first game to that related to the second game. If, on the other hand, the table requirements of the second game differ greatly from those of the first game, a pedestal and canopy  56  suitable for use with the table of the second game can be substituted for that used with the first game. As can be seen, the present invention enables the operators of a casino to readily change the mix of tables to accommodate the interests of patrons to thereby more efficiently use the space of the casino floor. 
   While the present invention has been depicted with respect to a single embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and variations can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. It is, therefore, the intent of the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.