Patent Publication Number: US-9839837-B2

Title: Integrated blackjack hole card readers and chip racks, and improved covers for chip racks

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of prior filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/452,255, filed Apr. 20, 2012; application Ser. No. 29/399,004, filed Aug. 8, 2011; application Ser. No. 29/399,334, filed Aug. 12, 2011; and application Ser. No. 29/399,000, filed Aug. 8, 2011, and the disclosures of the foregoing applications are expressly incorporated by reference herein as though fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The inventions disclosed herein relate generally to table wager games where chips are used, and, more particularly, to apparatus used for storing such chips having devices associated therewith for reading the hole card of a blackjack dealer during the game of “21.” 
     Background of the Invention 
     The game of blackjack, or “21,” is played in gambling casinos, private clubs and homes throughout the world. It is the most widely played table game in the world. A conventional gaming table used for playing blackjack has a plurality of player locations around the outer periphery of the table, and a dealer location located generally opposite the player locations. From the dealer&#39;s location, the dealer effects the operation of the game, including dealing of the cards, paying winning wagers and collecting losing wagers. 
     An important function of the dealer in modern day blackjack is to utilize a hole card reader (“reader”) which is associated with most commercial blackjack tables adjacent the dealer position. One such reader in use today employs a refractive or reflective element located beneath the playing surface of the table which the dealer uses to read a portion of the hole, or down, card in the dealer&#39;s dealt hand to determine if the dealer has twenty-one when the up-facing card initially dealt to the dealer is an ace or has a value of ten. One such reader is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,039. In that patent, an “optical” type reader is disclosed in which, in one embodiment, an optical quality prism is associated with a housing. The reader defines an aperture over which is adapted to be placed the portion of the dealer&#39;s down card to be read when the dealer&#39;s up facing card is an ace or has a value of ten. If the dealer determines that he or she has blackjack upon the initial deal, the hand is called, thus resulting in increased hands per hour. 
     Heretofore, blackjack hole card readers have been installed in a special cutout created in the blackjack table at a location between the standard chip rack and the player positions. This has required the creation of an aperture in the table surface and felt covering (“layout”) over the table, adding unnecessarily to the time to construct the table and/or retrofit the table to accommodate the hole card reader. 
     It would be advantageous to integrate the reader, whatever type of reader it may be (e.g. optical or digital), with the chip rack, so that the reader and the chip rack form a substantially integral unit which occupies the location in which the chip rack alone has heretofore been placed. 
     In addition, chip racks are typically provided with a locking cover to avoid the theft of chips when the chip rack is not being used but contains gambling chips. Heretofore, such covers are attached to the chip rack, or the table, or both, using a single locking mechanism, located centrally of one side edge of the cover. The use of a single locking connection has led to the opportunity to bend one or more corners of the cover away from the chip rack to permit unauthorized access to the contents of the chip rack. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a fortified locking mechanism for chip rack covers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of this disclosure is directed generally to the integration of blackjack hole card readers and chip racks. In one embodiment, a chip rack of standard configuration is provided, and defines a recess or opening into which the reader can be mounted. In other embodiments, the chip rack and reader are manufactured as a single unit. Numerous other structures for accomplishing the purposes of the invention are also contemplated. 
     A modified chip rack cover locking assembly is disclosed as well. In one such embodiment, a single locking device is associated with the cover, but two or more connections are made with the chip rack or gaming table so as to fortify the connection between the cover of the chip rack and the chip rack itself. Alternatively, two or more locking mechanisms may be employed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a left front perspective view of a first embodiment of an integrated blackjack hole card reader and chip rack. 
         FIG. 2  is a right front perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is a right side elevational; view thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is a left rear perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 8  is a front elevational partially exploded view thereof. 
         FIG. 9  is a right front assembled perspective view of a card reader suitable for use with the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a front assembled elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 11  is a left side assembled elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 12  is a left front exploded perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 13  is a right rear exploded perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 14  is a left front assembled perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 15  is a right elevational partially exploded thereof. 
         FIG. 16  is a right front partially exploded view thereof. 
         FIG. 17A  is a left front perspective view of a chip rack and hole card reader and a locking security cover assembly therefore with the cover assembly in the fully installed position. 
         FIG. 17B  is a left front perspective view of the chip rack and hole card reader and a locking security cover therefore with the cover assembly in a partially installed/removed position. 
         FIG. 18  is a right front perspective view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19  is a left rear perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 20A  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 20B  is a cross sectional elevational view taken along lines B-B of  FIG. 20A . 
         FIG. 20C  is a cross sectional elevational view taken along lines C-C of  FIG. 20A . 
         FIG. 20D  is a cross sectional elevational view taken along lines D-D of  FIG. 20A . 
         FIG. 20E  is a cross sectional elevational view taken along lines E-E of  FIG. 20A . 
         FIG. 20F  is a cross sectional elevational view taken along lines F-F of  FIG. 20A . 
         FIG. 20G  is a cross sectional elevational view taken along lines G-G of  FIG. 20A . 
         FIG. 20H  is a cross sectional elevational view taken along lines H-H of  FIG. 20A . 
         FIG. 21A  is a right side elevational view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 17A . 
         FIG. 21B  is a right side elevational view thereof with the cover assembly in a partially installed/removed position. 
         FIG. 22  is a front elevational view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 17A . 
         FIG. 23  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 24  is a rear elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 25  is a right rear perspective view of the cover assembly removed from its association with the chip rack and hole card reader assembly. 
         FIG. 26  is a bottom right rear perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 27  is a rear elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 28  is a front elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 29  is a right side elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 30  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 31  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 32  is a bottom left front perspective view of the cover insert member removed from its association with the cover assembly. 
         FIG. 33  is a bottom right rear perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 34  is a left side elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 35  is a bottom plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 36  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 37  is a rear elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 38  is a right rear bottom exploded perspective view of the cover assembly. 
         FIG. 39  is an exploded left front top elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 40  is a bottom right front perspective exploded view of the cover insert member. 
         FIG. 41  is a left rear top perspective view of the cover insert member. 
         FIG. 42  is a right top front perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 43  is an exploded right front perspective view of the chip rack and integrated hole card reader along with the cover assembly. 
         FIG. 44  is a left front top perspective view of another chip rack suitable for use with the cover assembly shown in  FIGS. 17-43  with the hole card reader removed therefrom. 
         FIG. 45  is a front elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 46  is a rear elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 47  is a bottom left front perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 48  is a left front top perspective view of an integrated chip rack and hole card reader. 
         FIG. 49  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 50  is a left rear top perspective view thereof. 
         FIG. 51  is a front elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 52  is a left front top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an integrated chip rack and hole card reader. 
         FIG. 53  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 54  is a front elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 55  is a right side elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 56  is a top left front perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of a chip rack and integrated hole care reader. 
         FIG. 57  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 58  is a front elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 59  is a right side elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 60  is a still further alternative embodiment of an integrated chip rack and hole card reader. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments of the disclosure herein, it should be observed that the inventive embodiments of the invention reside primarily in combinations of structural components and manufacturing, installation and use steps. 
     Accordingly, the apparatus components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
     In this document, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. 
     The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “comprise” or any other variation thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements need not necessarily include only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. 
     The term “plurality of” as used in connection with any object or action means two or more of such objects or actions. 
     A claim element proceeded by the article “a” or “an” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element. 
     As used herein, the term “hole card reader” includes any device which can be used to assist the dealer in a game of blackjack to detect if he or she has been dealt  21  in the initial deal. 
       FIGS. 1 through 16  show a first embodiment of a chip rack and hole card reader, which comprises a chip rack or rack  10  which may be of standard configuration, and incorporates a plurality of chip slots  14  surrounded by a peripheral wall  12 . It is to be noted that the number and size of chip slots  14  is not relevant to the invention disclosed herein, the number and size thereof being merely a matter of choice for the casino. In addition, the overall configuration of the chip rack and reader may take any shape desired, the particular shapes illustrated herein being nearly illustrative of any of the myriad options thereof which will occur to those of skill in the art after having had the benefit of reviewing this disclosure. 
     Rack  10  defines a card receiving area  20 , which may be comprised of a slightly lowered area  22 , which may or may not have a beveled leading edge  24 . Sidewalls  12  of chip rack  10  may be of any width desired, the embodiment shown herein including a slightly wider wall width on the dealer position-facing side  26 . In the embodiment in which the card receiving area  22  is lowered relative to the remainder of side wall  26 , side wall  26  includes planar sections  27  and  29  on either side of lowered area  22 . 
     A hole card reader  30  is integrated with front wall  26  in such a way that it is oriented to receive the dealer&#39;s down card in the appropriate circumstances for reading by the dealer. Reader  30  may or may not incorporate a top piece  32 . Reader  30  defines an aperture  48  (shown in  FIGS. 12-13 ) through which the dealer may view a portion of his or her down card. A refractive or reflective element is associated with the reader  30 , such as an optical prism  34  best seen in  FIGS. 12-13 , or a mirror, to refract or reflect the image of the portion of the dealer&#39;s down card placed in registry with aperture  48 . In one embodiment, aperture  48  extends under top piece  32 , such that when the dealer&#39;s down card is placed in registry with aperture  48  the portion of the dealer&#39;s down card to be read sits in registry with the reflective element, and can be seen by the dealer. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 8-16 , reader  30  may be integrated with chip rack  10  in the form of a unitary reader component which can be removably fastened to rack  10 . It is to be understood, however, as will be exemplified elsewhere in this disclosure, and/or as will occur to those of skill in the art after having read this disclosure, the card reader feature of the invention may be integrated with the chip rack in a number of different fashions. Similarly, the card reader may be of the “optical” type such as those shown herein, or may be a digital reader which detects whatever aspects of the dealer&#39;s hole card is necessary to give rise to an output signal to indicate that the dealer either does or, optionally, does not have blackjack. 
     In the embodiment shown, however, reader  30  is a removable component comprised generally of upper and lower housing sections  46 ,  49  respectively, a lower support plate  44 , mounting bolt  37  and reflective member such as prism  34 . Top piece  32  may optionally be employed, and, if so employed, may be connected to top housing section  46 . 
     Upper housing section  46  defines aperture  48  through which the dealer may view the reflected portion of his or her down card to be read when the down card is placed in registry with aperture  46 . Top piece  32  and upper housing section  46  define a slot  33  into which may be placed the dealer&#39;s down card. However, neither top piece  32  nor slot  33  is necessary elements of the functional aspects of the invention. 
     Mounting means such as bracket or pocket  40  may be employed to secure reader  30  to rack  10 . Bracket  40  defines a lower aperture through which is passed a fastened such as bolt  37 . Thereafter, a fastener such as nut  41  may be threaded thereon to removably connect reader  30  to rack  10 . Other structure for mounting reader  30  to rack  10  will occur to those of skill in the art after having the benefit of reviewing this disclosure. 
     Rack  10 , in the embodiment disclosed in  FIGS. 1-8 , defines an aperture  28  which is sized and shaped to receive reader  30  therein, permitting reader  30  to nest within bracket or pocket  40  for connection thereto. As reader  30  may tend to wear or even break with extended use, the removability of reader  30  is advantageous. 
     It is to be understood that card receiving area  20  need not include a recessed or lowered surface  22 , but may be co-planar with or even raised from front wall  26 . Moreover, reader  30  need not be removably connected to rack  10 , but may be integrated therewith as a single unit. 
       FIGS. 17A-43  show a novel locking cover assembly  60  associated with a chip rack, either of the type having an integrated hole card reader, or a prior art chip rack without an integrated reader. 
     In one embodiment, cover assembly  60  is adapted to be releasably joined to either chip rack  10 , chip rack  210  or playing table  11 . Cover assembly  60  may or may not define an aperture  62  through which the contents of the chip rack  10  can be viewed. It is customary to employ glass, Lexan® or the like thereover to provide a transparent covering. Cover assembly  60  may, but need not necessarily, define one or more handles  84 ,  86  to facilitate the raising and lowering of cover assembly  80 . Cover assembly  80  may include a lock aperture  88  which is intended to lie in registry with locking device  89 . The locking device  89  may be of any suitable type that will occur to those of skill in the art, such as a manual key lock mechanism, a biometrically actuated lock, a key pad lock, or the like. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 25-31, 38-40 and 43  cover assembly  60  may be comprised of a top or cover member  80  which defines a lower peripheral edge  63 , which is adapted to nestably mate in registry with top wall  26  of chip rack  210  when the cover assembly  60  is placed in registry with rack  210 . In embodiments where chip rack  10  employs a recessed card receiving area  20 , such as that shown in  FIGS. 1-3, 7-8, 16-18 and 20 , cover member  60  may (but need not) employ an extended area  65  to prevent access into the interior of chip rack  210  when cover assembly  60  is placed thereover. 
     In one embodiment, chip rack  210  is attached to the playing table through fasteners (not shown), one type of which are passed through apertures such as apertures  70  shown in  FIGS. 17-18 . Other structures for attaching chip rack  210  to the playing table  11  are contemplated to be within the scope of this invention. Any number of apertures or other connecting apparatus are envisioned. 
     Cover assembly  60 , as discussed above, is ideally comprised of top or cover member  80  and cover insert member  100 . Cover insert member  100  nests within cover member  80  (as seen, for example, in  FIG. 26 ) and has associated therewith a locking mechanism to be discussed in more detail below. Cover insert member  100  may employ one or more tabs  102  adapted to engage corresponding notches  74  defined by chip rack  210 . 
     Cover insert member  100  may connect to cover member  80  in any suitable manner, such as by threaded sockets  111 ′ associated with the underside of cover member  80  being engaged by threaded screws or the like after passing said screws or the like through apertures  111  defined by cover insert  100 . 
     Cover insert member  100  defines a pair of arcuate slots  110 ,  112  therein adapted to permit the rotational movement of respective cam members  114 ,  116 , respectively. Lock mechanism  89  is connected to cover insert  100  via aperture loop  117  defined by cover insert  100  by passing the barrel of lock  89  therethrough and securing nut  118  to threaded post  119  of lock  89 , thereby sandwiching cam  114  in place with respect to lock  89 . A spacer such as cylindrical collar  121  may be used along with nut  122 , which can be threadingly engaged to threads  123  on the exterior wall of the barrel of lock  89 . 
     Cam  114  defines a lock tab  130  at one end thereof which is adapted to be rotatable with cam  114  into and out of engagement with an appropriate receiving slot such as slot  140  defined by sidewall  212  of chip rack  210  (shown in  FIGS. 17A-24 and 43-47 ). In the alternative, or in addition thereto, tab  130  may engage a corresponding slot or other receptacle (not shown) defined by the playing table T. 
     Rack  10  defines a card receiving area  20 , which may be comprised of a slightly lowered area  22 , which may or may not have a beveled leading edge  24 . Sidewalls  12  of chip rack  10  may be of any width desired, the embodiment shown herein including a slightly wider wall width on the player position-facing side  26 . 
     A linkage member, such as link  160 , is preferably connected to the upper ends  115 ,  155  of first and second cams  114 ,  154 . Any suitable fasteners, such as screws  161 , may be employed to connect link  160  to first and second cam members  114 ,  154 . In this way, when lock mechanism  89  is rotated, it causes first locking cam  114  to rotate as well, which causes link  160  to drive second locking cam  154  in the same manner. In this way, locking tabs  130 ,  158  can be caused to be placed into and out of locking engagement with slots  140 ,  160  of chip rack  210  (or corresponding slots or cutouts in the playing table) (not shown). 
     Cover insert  100  may be connected to cover member  80  in any suitable manner, such as by the use of fasteners which can be threaded into or otherwise connected to corresponding sockets  111 ′ in the underside of cover member  80  after being passed through corresponding apertures  111  defined cover insert  100 . Any other manner of securing cover insert member  100  to cover  80  is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. 
     Link  160  may be located above or below the upper surface  101  of cover insert member  100  (shown in  FIG. 42 ). The location of link  160  above surface  101  was chosen because locating link  160  in this manner places it between cover member  80  and cover insert member  100 , such that it is not able to contact any of the contents of chip rack  210  while it and the first and second locking cams  114 ,  154  are being moved to lock and unlock cover  60 , and is more pleasing aesthetically. 
     Upper housing section  46  defines aperture  48  through which the dealer may view the reflected portion of his or her down card to be read when the down card is placed in registry with aperture  46 . Top piece  32  and upper housing section  46  define a slot  33  into which may be placed the dealer&#39;s down card. However, neither top piece  32  nor slot  33  are necessary elements of the functional aspects of the invention. 
     Mounting means such as bracket or pocket  40  may be employed to secure reader  30  to rack  10 . Bracket  40  defines a lower aperture through which is passed a fastener such as bolt  37 . Thereafter, a fastener such as nut  41  may be threaded thereon to removably connect reader  30  to rack  10 . Other structure for mounting reader  30  to rack  10  will occur to those of skill in the art after having the benefit of reviewing this disclosure. 
       FIGS. 52-55  depict another modified chip rack  310  in accordance with this invention. In this embodiment, card reader prism  334  is integrated within top wall  26  of chip rack  310 , and playing cards can be placed at least partially in registry with at least a portion of prism  334  through which a dealer can view said portion of a downwardly facing playing card. 
       FIGS. 55-59  depict yet another modified embodiment of a chip rack  410  of this invention, in which a hole card reader  430  is permanently or removably integrated into chip rack  410  in such a manner that upper wall  426  of chip rack  410  is substantially coplanar. Wall  426  defines an aperture in which prism  434  may reside to facilitate reading of cards as discussed previously. Again, this modification is for esthetic purposes only as it provides a pleasing and streamlined appearance. 
       FIG. 60  depicts a still further modified variation of the chip rack of this invention. In this embodiment, a digital hole card reader such as digital reader  530  is integrated, either removably or permanently, with chip rack  510 . Indicator lights, such as lights  532  and  534 , or other indication apparatus, such as an audible sound generator, are activated by reader  530  in accordance with pre-determined programming within reader  530 , or in accordance with an electrical circuit associated with reader  530 . Any of the known digital hole card readers, or compatible apparatus, may be employed in this embodiment, such as the reader taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,134 to Laughlin. It is to be understood that a digital reader, such as reader  530  and indicator lights  532 ,  534 , may be utilized with any of the chip racks disclosed herein, and may also be utilized with cover apparatus  60 . 
     Moreover, cover apparatus  60  may be employed with any embodiment of the chip racks disclosed herein or those chip racks which do not employ a hole card reader, which will become apparent to those of skill in the art after having the benefit of reading this disclosure. 
       FIGS. 48 through 51  depict a slightly modified chip rack and integrated hole card reader, wherein a wall  255  is interposed between the card reading area  225  and chip slots  14 . 
       FIGS. 52 through 55  depict a still further embodiment of a chip rack and integrated hole card reader, wherein a card receiving slot  320  is defined by wall  26  of housing  310 . A card reader  330  is integrated within wall  26  in such a way that, when a playing card is placed in slot  320 , a corner of said card can be read through aperture  348 . The arrangement shown in  FIGS. 52 through 55  presents a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
       FIGS. 56 through 59  depict yet another chip rack and integrated hole card reader, wherein card reading area  22  is disposed of, such that wall  26  of rack  410  is flat, which also provides a more appealing appearance. 
       FIG. 60  depicts a further embodiment of an integrated chip rack and hole card reader in which a digital hole card reader is incorporated into the chip rack. In this embodiment, a digital reader such as reader  530  is incorporated with rack  510  in such that a card, or portion thereof, that is placed in registry with an aperture  533  in wall  26  will be electronically read or sensed and the value of the card determined. If the dealer has a blackjack pair, blackjack will be indicated by an audible, visible or tactile alarm. One such alarm may be blackjack indicator light  532 . If the dealer does not have blackjack, either no alarm is provided or a blackjack absence alarm may be given, such as through blackjack absence indicator light  534 . 
     Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments of the present invention. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause or result in such benefits, advantages, or solutions to become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.