Patent Publication Number: US-2013237302-A1

Title: Poker table accommodating multiple dealers to facilitate play of multiple poker games simultaneously

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/416,347 filed Mar. 9, 2012 which is incorporated herein for all purposes. This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/416,250 and 13/454,001 filed Mar. 9, 2012 and Apr. 23, 2012, respectively, which are both incorporated herein for all purposes. This application is related to co-pending U.S. Patent Application Nos. ______ and ______, filed ______ and ______, respectively, which are both incorporated herein for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The embodiments of the present invention relate to a poker table configured to accommodate two or more dealers for conducting two or more poker games simultaneously 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional casino style poker tables are elliptical in shape and accommodate ten or eleven players and a dealer. The poker table includes a table cut-out at the dealer station allowing the dealer to sit comfortably close to the table so that the dealer is able to deal cards and pass chips to players and also reach chips and cards passed in the direction of the dealer by the players. 
     Applicant has invented a poker game concept whereby players are able to play two poker games simultaneously. Thus, it would be advantageous to develop a new poker table configured to accommodate two dealers for conducting the two poker games simultaneously. 
     SUMMARY 
     The embodiments of the present invention are directed to an elliptical, poker table incorporating two dealer stations with each dealer station including one or more of the following: automatic card shuffler, chip rack and chips, poker cards and drop box. In one embodiment, the two dealer stations are positioned oppositely on long sides of the poker table and may be offset from one another. The poker table layout may include two chip areas at each player station to accommodate different distinguishable sets of poker chips—one for each poker game being played simultaneously. In one embodiment, the poker table depicts two common card areas proximate each dealer station to further maintain the independence of each poker game being played simultaneously. 
     In another embodiment, using a single chip set, the layout depicts distinguishable betting areas for each game and the table incorporates a physical chip stack separator at each player position. 
     In another embodiment, one dealer may be a live person and one dealer may be electronic and driven by a processor. In another embodiment, the poker table having two independent dealer stations may be convertible to a dealer table with a single dealer table. 
     Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an overhead view of a poker table according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an overhead view of the poker table of  FIG. 1  with distinct common card areas proximate the dealer stations according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an overhead view of player position with distinct betting areas suitable for a single chip set embodiment according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional perspective view of a chip stack separator of the type useable at each player station to maintain an independence of chips for each player according to the embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an overhead view of a poker table with a single live dealer station and player displays facilitating an electronic dealer according to the embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed. 
       FIG. 1  shows an overhead view of a poker table  100  according to the embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the poker table  100  is elliptical in shape but those skilled in the art will recognize that other shapes are possible (e.g., circular and square). The poker table  100  incorporates a pair of dealer stations  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  and accommodates ten players at ten player stations  115 - 1  through  115 - 10 . The poker table  100  may accommodate more or less than ten player stations. Depending on the embodiment, each dealer station  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  may include an automatic card shuffler  120 , chip rack and chips  130  and drop box  140 . In one embodiment, as shown, the dealer stations  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  are positioned oppositely on long sides of the poker table  100  in an offset relationship. Other dealer station positions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the embodiments of the present invention. Each dealer station  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  is defined by a cut-out area  112 . Two dealer stations  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  permit two poker games to be played simultaneously on the poker table  100 . While two dealer stations  110 - 1  and  110 - 2  are shown, more than two dealer stations are conceivable. A padded railing  155  circumscribes the poker table  100  in a conventional fashion. 
     A poker table layout  150  depicts two chip areas  160 ,  165  at each player station  115 - 1  through  115 - 10 . The two chip areas  160 ,  165 , like the poker chips, may be colored differently or otherwise distinguished from one another to allow players to keep chips from the two poker games segregated.  FIG. 2  shows the poker table  100  of  FIG. 1  with distinct common card areas  170 - 1  and  170 - 2  proximate the dealer stations  110 - 1  and  110 - 2 , respectively. The common card areas  170 - 1  and  170 - 2  may be defined by different colored borders or otherwise distinguished. 
     In one embodiment, a single chip set may be used to play the two poker games (e.g., Limit Texas Hold&#39;em). In such an embodiment, separation of the poker chips is important to know which pot which chips should be placed.  FIG. 3  shows a table layout  200  depicting multiple betting areas  205 - 1  and  205 - 2  near each player station  210 - 1  through  210 - 10  (although only one set of betting areas  205 - 1 ,  205 - 2  is shown for one of the player positions). In one embodiment, the cards for each poker game and betting areas for each poker game are color-coded. For example, cards, common card areas and betting areas for a first poker game are red and cards, common card areas and betting areas for a second poker game are blue. Similarly, dealer buttons may be color-coded to match the color of the corresponding poker game. 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , each player&#39;s chip stack may be segregated using a physical chip stack separator  215  at each player station  210 - 1  through  210 - 10 . As shown, the physical chip stack separator  215  extends from a slot or groove  216  in the poker table  217  to form a barrier between a first chip area  218  for the chips associated with the first poker game and a second chip area  219  for the chips associated with the second poker game. The chip stack separator  215  reduces the opportunity for players to intentionally or inadvertently mix chips from a first poker games with those from a second poker game. 
     In another embodiment, two simultaneous poker hands are managed by a live dealer, located at a live dealer station  400 , and an electronic dealer, managed by a processor (not shown). In such an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , each player position at the table  300  includes a display  405 , and a common display  410  which may be used to display common cards. A processor including, or in communication with, a random number generator controls play of one game of poker facilitated by said player displays  405  and common card display  410 . User interfaces incorporated into the displays  405  are configured to allow players to make poker game decisions, including making wagers, folding, raising and calling. Electronic poker tables are known in the art and need not be explained in minute detail herein. One such electronic poker table is promoted and sold under the name PokerPro by PokerTek, Inc., headquartered in North Carolina. As set forth above, relative to two live dealers, the live dealer and electronic dealer/system conduct two poker games substantially simultaneously at the poker table. If the two poker games are configured to start together, the live dealer may trigger the start of the electronic dealer via a game interface integrated into the poker table or via a remote control unit. If the two poker games are configured to continue independently of one another, the live dealer need only focus on the live poker game while the electronic dealer/system handles the electronic poker game. 
     As detailed above, the poker tables  100  and  300  and poker table layouts  150  and  200  facilitate the play of two poker games simultaneously. The play of two poker games simultaneously satisfies the need for “action” by poker players, especially younger players accustomed to playing multiple tables simultaneously in an online environment. In addition, the card room or poker club benefits from additional poker table revenue, which may be greater than twice normal poker table revenues, without raising overhead significantly (e.g., an additional dealer). 
     The poker table  100  may be suitable to conduct any number of simultaneous poker games including Texas Hold&#39;em, Omaha and Seven Card Stud. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.