Patent Publication Number: US-10306978-B2

Title: Poker table and method for operating thereof

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a method to improve the efficiency of poker. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for improving the game by using a sophisticated dispenser in poker tables. 
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority tea IL application no 243685 filed on Jan. 19, 2016 and IL application no 250127 filed on Jan. 15, 2017. The content of both applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART 
     A poker table is a table specifically designed for playing card games, usually poker. The players sit around the table. A professional poker table in a casino or a game room is divided into up to ten zones. Each zone is designated to one player. It is common that a dealer distributes the cards to the players. 
     During each game, a sum of money is invested by the players, and the poker club earns a fraction, therefore the club is interested in increasing the number of games per period, and the period of distributing the cards to players is a non-utilized period. 
     The intention of the invention is, to provide a solution for non-utilized periods, by introducing a more sophisticated table and method of operating thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention describes a novel poker table divided into table zones, usually, about ten, depending on the size of the table. Each zone is designated for a player. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention a poker table is described where a cards distribution assembly is disposed at the center of the poker table and upon pressing a button by the dealer a vertically movable cover of the cards distribution assembly lifts. 
     The cards distribution assembly distributes the cards to each of the players from below the vertically movable cover. 
     When cards are dealt, the vertically movable cover descends back to the height of the rest of the table, i.e., to the height of table zones. 
     In another embodiment of the invention narrow grooves are located around the inner contour of the encircling wooden banister (Rail) of the table, one for each zone. Each groove is located in front of each player and the game cards pop out through the grooves and laid face down in front of the player. 
     The tracks through which the cards are conveyed are located underneath the table. One track for each zone. The conveyed cards may be stored in storage compartments located underneath the table near the grooves. The cards in the storage compartments are simultaneously dealt to the players by pressing a button by the dealer. 
     The cards are shuffled below the table in a shuffling machine connected to the main track. The cards are ejected from the shuffling machine through the main track to a cartridge. The cartridge is an interject station from which the cards are transferred to dispenser by any known transporting/conveying mechanism. The cartridge is designed to store up to four packs of game cards in its four small compartments. The main track exits the cartridge to a distributing device (dispenser) that distributes the cards to the conveying tracks, which lead the cards to the storage compartments. 
     An embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of “one embodiment,” “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments. Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment. 
     Reference in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “some embodiments” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiment, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions. It is understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The Embodiments and features of the inventions are best described and explained in conjunction with the drawings. 
       Embodiments of the present disclosure are herein after described in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like numeral denote like elements. The figures are provided for illustration and depict exemplary embodiments of present disclosure. The figures are provided to facilitate understanding of present disclosure without limiting the breadth, scope, scale or applicability of present disclosure. The numeral denotes in parentheses are old numbers that were used in the priority application and had to be renumbered to avoid confusion caused by the incorporation of both applications. 
         FIG. 1  depicts a poker table, including a distributing assembly, at the first to third steps, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts the poker table of  FIG. 1 , upon lifting the table of the cards distribution assembly, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  focuses on the cards distribution assembly of  FIG. 1 , for detailing how the cards distribution assembly performs the fifth step, described in  FIG. 2 , according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  focuses on the center of the cards distribution assembly of  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  depicts the bottom of the cards distribution assembly of  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  magnifies the mechanism for lifting the vertically movable cover of the cards distribution assembly of  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows the poker table from above, according to another embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 7 a    shows a detailed version of the groove of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 8  shows the poker table from underneath, at the first stage of retrieving cards into the cards dispenser, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  shows the poker table from underneath, at the stage of distributing the cards to storage compartments, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  shows the poker table from underneath, at the stage of returning the remainder of the deck of cards into a compartment in the shuffler, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention wilt be understood from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, and so on, are not described in detail. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a poker table  10  includes a cards distribution assembly  74  disposed at the center of poker table  10 . 
     At the first step, the dealer inserts a non-shuffled packet into an insertion box  56  of a shuffling machine and presses button  70 . 
     Then, at the second step, the shuffling machine shuffles the packet of box  56 . The shuffled packet is transferred to box  57  manually or automatically. 
     Then at the third step, a cards transferring mechanism  80   (18) , shown in  FIG. 2  transfers some of the cards of the packet of box  56 , from box  57 , or from another box, into cards distribution assembly  74 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts the poker table of  FIG. 1 , upon lifting the table of the cards distribution assembly. 
     At the fourth step, which is upon pressing a button  76 , the dealer takes the rest of the shuffled packet out of box  57 , and a vertically movable cover  81   (20)  of cards distribution assembly  74  lifts. 
     At the fifth step, cards distribution assembly  74  distributes cards, from below vertically movable cover  81   (20) , to each of the players. 
     At the sixth step, vertically movable cover  81   (20)  descends back to the height of the rest of the main table, i.e., to the height of table zones  14 A and  14 B, as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  focuses on the cards distribution assembly of  FIG. 1 , showing the vertically movable cover  81   (20)  broken, for detailing how the cards distribution assembly performs the fifth step, described in  FIG. 2 . 
     At the third step, described in  FIG. 1 , of which some of the cards of the packet of box  56  have been transferred from box  57  into cards distribution assembly  74 , the cards have been transferred into a rotatable cartridge  82   (26)  of cards distribution assembly  74 . 
     At the fifth step, in which cards distribution assembly  74  distributes the cards, from rotatable cartridge  82   (26) , to each of the players, an outlet  36  of cartridge  82   (26)  faces a first table zone  14 A (enumerated in  FIG. 2 ), and removes several cards, say four cards from cartridge  82   (26)  to a first platform  83   (25A) . 
     Then, cartridge  82   (26)  rotates, as depicted by arrow  52 , for making outlet  36  to face a second table zone  14 B (enumerated in  FIG. 2 ), and removes several cards, say four cards from cartridge  82   (26) , to a second platform  84   (25B) , and so on. 
     After removing the cards from outlet  36  of cartridge  82   (26)  to platforms  83   (25A) , to  84   (25B) , etc., the removed cards are thrown altogether simultaneously, each through the platform thereof to its table zone, i.e., from platform  83   (25A)  to table zone  14 A, from platform  84   (25B)  to table zone  14 B, etc. 
     Platforms  83   (25A) ,  84   (25B) , etc. are shaped as a track, for directing the cards thereof to the table zone associated thereto. For instance, platform  83   (25A)  is shaped as a track, for directing the cards thereof to table zone  14 A only. Thus, platform/track  83   (25A)  provides that a non-significant air pressure or push or kicking on the card is sufficient for reliably moving the card from platform  83   (25A)  and there through, to land on table zone  14 A. 
       FIG. 4  focuses on the center of the cards distribution assembly of  FIG. 1 . A step motor  50  carries cartridge  82   (26) , for providing the rotation  52  of cartridge  82   (26) , described in  FIG. 3 . 
     A card removing mechanism  34 , such as motorized cylinders  42 , provide the removal of the cards  46  from cartridge  82   (26) , described in  FIG. 3 . 
     A card throwing mechanism  48  provides the throwing of cards  46 , described in  FIG. 3 . 
     According to one embodiment, card throwing mechanism  48  includes an air pump  38  for supplying pressurized air to an air pipe  40 A, for blowing air on cards  46 . 
     According to another embodiment, card throwing mechanism  48  includes an electro-mechanical hammer  30 A, for kicking one card  46  at a time, or several cards simultaneously. 
     Card throwing mechanism  48  is adapted to perform the throwing of all of the removed cards  46  simultaneously, such as by including hammer  30 A for kicking cards  46  towards table zone  14 A, and another hammer  30 B for simultaneously kicking cards  46  towards table zone  14 B; or by including pipe  40 A for blowing cards  46  towards table zone  14 A, and another pipe  40 B for blowing cards  46  towards table zone  14 B. 
     Cartridge  82   (26) , step motor  50  and card throwing mechanism  48  are packaged by a package  44 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts the bottom of the cards distribution assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  magnifies the mechanism for lifting the vertically movable cover of the cards distribution assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
     The lifting and descending steps of vertically movable cover  81   (20)  of cards distribution assembly  74  may be applied by motors  66  for rotating threads  28 , for converting torque  85   (12)  thereof to vertical linear motion  32  of vertically movable cover  81   (20) . 
     Thus, in one aspect, the invention is directed to a poker table  10 , including an assembly  74 , for distributing cards  46  to various table zones  14 A,  14 B of poker table  10 . 
     The cards distribution assembly  74  may be adapted to perform the distribution of the cards  46  to various table zones  14 A,  14 B simultaneously. 
     The cards distribution assembly  74  may include:
         a cartridge  82   (26) , for housing the cards  46  to be distributed;   a step motor  50 , for rotating cartridge  82   (26) , for inducing an outlet  36  thereof to face at each rotational state of cartridge  82   (26) , one of the table zones  14 A,  14 B, associated with that rotational state;   a card removing mechanism  34 , for removing, on each of the rotational states, at least one card  46  from cartridge  36  onto a platform ( 25 A,  25 B) associated with one of the table zones ( 14 A,  14 B); and   a card throwing mechanism ( 48 ), for throwing the removed cards ( 46 ), from each of the platforms  83   (25A) ,  84   (25B)  to table zones  14 A,  14 B associated therewith.       

     Card throwing mechanism  48  may include at least one air blowing mechanism  54  for blowing the cards, or at least one hammer  30 A, for kicking the cards. 
     At least one air blowing mechanism  54  and/or the at least one hammer  30 A may include a separate mechanism for each of table zones  14 A,  14 B, thereby the card throwing mechanism  48  may be adapted to perform the throwing of all of the removed cards  46  simultaneously. 
     Card throwing mechanism  48  may be adapted to perform the throwing of all of removed cards  46  simultaneously. 
     Cards distribution assembly  74  may be disposed substantially at the center of poker table  10 , between table zones  14 A,  14 B. 
     Cards distribution assembly  74  may include a vertically movable cover  81   (20) , for being disposed at the height of table zones  14 A,  14 B, while not distributing cards  46 , and for being disposed above the height of table zones  14 A,  14 B while distributing cards  46 , for forming gap  58  between vertically movable cover  81   (20)  and table zones  14 A,  14 B, for distributing the cards there through. 
     Poker table  10  may further include a cards transferring mechanism  80   (18) , for transferring cards from shuffling machine  56 ,  57  into cards distribution assembly  74 . 
     Cards transferring mechanism  80   (18) , for transferring cards from shuffling machine  56 ,  57  into cards distribution assembly  74  may include:
         a card removing mechanism (like  34 ) for removing cards  46  from shuffling machine  56 ,  57  onto a platform [like  83   (25A) ,  84   (25B) ]; and   a card throwing mechanism (like  48 ), for throwing removed cards  46 , from each of the platforms [like  83   (25A) ,  84   (25B) ] into cards distribution assembly  74 .       

     In another aspect, the invention is directed to a method for operating a poker table  10 , the method including the step of:
         distributing cards  46  by assembly  74 , from a center of poker table  10  to various table zones ( 14 A,  14 B) thereof, each associated with an active player, and not distributing to table zones which are not currently used by active players.       

     The distribution of cards  46  to the various table zones ( 14 A,  14 B) may be simultaneous.
         The distribution of cards  46  may include the steps of:   rotating cartridge  82   (26)  housing cards  46 , for inducing an outlet  36  of cartridge  82   (26)  to face at each rotational state of cartridge  82   (26) , one of the table zones ( 14 A,  14 B), associated with that rotational state;   removing, on each of the rotational states, at least one card  46  from cartridge  36  onto a platform  83   (25A) ,  84   (25B)  associated with one of table zones  14 A,  14 B; and   throwing the removed cards  46 , from each of the platforms  83   (25A) ,  84   (25B)  to table zones  14 A,  14 B associated therewith.       

     In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned:
         numeral  10  denotes the poker table according to one embodiment of the invention;   numeral  85   (12)  denotes rotational movement;   numerals  14 A and  14 B denote different table zones, each for one player;   numeral  80   (18)  denotes a cards transferring mechanism;   numeral  81   (20)  denotes a vertically movable cover of the cards distribution assembly;   numeral  86   (24)  denotes a keyboard for inputting parameters to a controller operating the shuffling box and the cards distribution assembly;   numerals  83   (25A)  and  84   (25B)  denote platforms, each associated with one table zone, the platforms for removing the cards from the cartridge thereto, and for then throwing the cards there through; preferably the platforms are shaped as tracks; for the embodiment throwing the cards by air blowing, the platforms may include air channels;   numeral  87   (27)  denotes a tray, which may fixed to the cartridge and be rotated thereby, such that the tray provides continuity from the outlet of the cartridge to each of the platforms, one at a time;   numeral  28  denotes a thread;   numerals  30 A and  30 B denote hammers, each for kicking cards to a different table zone;   numeral  32  denotes vertical motion of the vertically movable cover;   numeral  34  denotes the card removing mechanism;   numeral  36  denotes the outlet of the cartridge;   numeral  38  denotes an air pump;   numerals  40 A and  40 B denote air pipes, each for blowing cards to a different table zone;   numeral  42  denotes a motorized wheel;   numeral  44  denotes a package:   numerals  46  denote a card;   numeral  48  denotes the card throwing mechanism;   numeral  52  denotes an arrow indicating the rotation of the cartridge;   numeral  54  denotes the air blowing mechanism;   numeral  56  denotes an insertion box of a shuffling machine;   numeral  57  denotes a box of the shuffling machine for removing the shuffled cards;   numeral  58  denotes a gap between the vertically movable cover and the table zones, formed by lifting the vertically movable cover;   numeral  64  denotes a chips tray;   numeral  66  denotes a motor;   numerals  70  and  72  denote operating buttons;       

     numeral  74  denotes the cards distribution assembly;
         numeral  76  denotes another operating button;       

     Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should be interpreted according to this definition. 
     Another embodiment of the invention ( FIG. 7 ) describes a novel poker table  10  divided into table zones  14 , usually, about ten, depending on the size of the table. Each zone is designated for one player. A narrow groove  15  is located around the inner contour  12  of the encircling wooden banister (rails)  16 , one for each zone. Each groove  15  is located in front of each player and the game cards pop out through grooves  15  and laid face down in front of the player ( FIG. 7 a   ). Dealer zone  11  is located in front of table mechanism  13 . 
     On the table, in front of the dealer are  2  openings for boxes, which are located underneath the table. The boxes are attached to, or part of shuffling machine  21  (described in  FIG. 8 ). Box  17  for new shuffled cards to be distributed to players and box  18  for used or unused cards, which are directed to shuffling machine  21 . When dealer presses button  24  the cards are shot to the players. Button  24  is part of shuffling machine  21  and when pressing button  24  shuffling machine  21  starts to shuffle and at the same time cards are shot to the players. 
     Tracks  19  through which the cards are conveyed, are located underneath the table ( FIG. 8 ). One track for each zone. The conveyed cards are stored in storage compartments  20  underneath the table near grooves  15 . The cards in storage compartments  20  are simultaneously dealt to the players when dealer presses button  24 . 
     The cards are shuffled below the table in shuffling machine  21 . The cards are ejected from shuffling machine  21  to cartridge  23 . Cartridge  23  is an interject station located between box  17  and main track  22 . Cartridge  23  is designed to store up to four packs of shuffled game cards in its four small compartments. Main track  22  exits cartridge  23  into turning disk  25  where dispenser  26  is located. Dispenser  26  distributes the cards to conveying tracks  19  ( FIG. 8 ) which lead the cards to storage compartments  20 , from where the cards pop up through grooves  15 . 
     Dispenser  26  is located on turning disk  25 .  FIG. 8  shows main track  22  facing cartridge  23  to be loaded with a deck of cards. The cards which are to be dealt to the players are separated from the deck by a roller devise installed in dispenser  26 , dragging the cards from compartment  27 . 
     When cards are in dispenser  26 , turning disk  25  turns around (as shown in  FIG. 9 ) and dispenses the separated cards through tracks  19  to storage compartments  20  in front of each participant player, while skipping the unoccupied seats. 
     The remaining cards, which were not dealt to players and remained in dispenser  26  are returned through main track  22  to box  18  in shuffling machine  21 .