Abstract:
The present invention provides a game chip rack for use in card game. The game chip rack includes a first portion including a plurality of game chip slots, each of the plurality of game chip slots configured to receive a plurality of game chips. A second portion is rotatably mounted to the first portion, such that the first portion is rotatable with respect to the second portion. A timer is mounted to the first portion, the timer includes a time display, ante display, big and small blind displays, and a control panel. The control panel is used to set the a round time, an ante amount, an ante increment for each round, and small blind, and a small blind increment, such that at the expiration of a game round the round time is automatically resets and the ante and small blind are automatically increased in relation to the ante and small blind increment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to card game accessories, and more particular to a game chip rack for use in card games.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In the latter half of the twentieth century, legalized gambling has become a major industry with billions of dollars wagered each year. As a result of the popularity of a number of television programs, there has been a particular reinsurgence in card games such as poker.  
         [0003]     Poker is a well-known card game that has existed for hundreds of years. However, there is no one universal game of “poker.” Rather, there are various types of poker, each with its own rules that are based in the same general set of principles. During hands of play, a dealer deals players cards from a deck of cards. It is the player&#39;s objective to put together the best card hand possible from the cards that he has available. The player may wager money in one or more betting rounds against the other players that are added to a community pool known as the pot. After the betting rounds are completed and there are no cards left to deal, a showdown occurs in which the players reveal their cards. The player with the best hand wins the showdown and wins the pot.  
         [0004]     The winner of a showdown is guaranteed winnings from the pot because of an ante. The ante is an amount of chips that are given by one or more players to initialize the pot before any cards are dealt. The ante may be provided either by a select number of players or by all of the players. A community ante is when every player puts in some of its own money at the start of each hand. Additionally or alternatively, individuals can be selected to pay antes by a revolving blind, wherein one or more players are required to pay a preset blind into the pot.  
         [0005]     During the poker game, in particular during tournament play, the ante and/or blinds are increased at set time intervals or rounds. Typically, the dealer keeps track of the round time, informing the players of the increase in the ante and/or blind amounts. However, in the instances where there is no set dealer, the dealing of the cards rotating from player to player, it can be difficult to keep track of the time and ante or blind amounts.  
         [0006]     Thus, there exists a need for an improved game timer which informs the players of an increase in the ante and/or blind amounts.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention provides a game chip rack for use in card games. The game chip rack includes a first portion having a plurality of chip slots each configured for receiving a plurality of game chips. A second portion is rotatably mounted to the first portion, such that the first portion is rotatable with respect to the second portion  
         [0008]     A timer is mounted to the first portion. The timer includes a time display for displaying a remaining time in a game round. At the expiration of each game round, the time display is reset to the round time. A control panel is included on the timer and used to set the round time.  
         [0009]     The timer further includes an ante display for displaying the current ante amount. The control panel is used to set the ante amount and an ante increment for each round. At the expiration of a game round, the ante amount is automatically increased in relation to the ante increment.  
         [0010]     Big and small blind displays are included on the timer for displaying the current big and small blind amounts. Similarly to the ante amount, the control panel is used to set the small blind amount and a small blind increment. At the expiration of a game round, the small blind amount is automatically increased in relation to the small blind increment. The big blind can be set and increased in relation to the small blind amount, or in the alternative the control panel can be used to set the big blind amount and a big blind increment. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the chip rack of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts a side view of the chip rack of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts a timer of the chip rack of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts a flow chart for setting the timer of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5 . depicts a flow chart for setting the small and big blinds for the timer of  FIG. 3 ; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts an alternative flow chart for setting the small and big blinds on the timer of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     The present invention provides a chip rack including a timer for continually informing players of the remaining round time and the ante amount in a card game. Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1 a  chip rack  10  of the present invention. A top portion  12  of the chip rack  10  includes a plurality of chip slots  14  evenly dispersed about the circumference  16  of the chip rack  10 . The bottom portion  18  of the chip rack  10  is a rotary pedestal, allowing the top portion  12  to be rotated with respect to the bottom portion  18 .  
         [0019]     The top portion  12  of the chip rack  10  can optionally include one or more playing card holders  20 . The playing card holders  20  are configured to receive a portion or a complete deck of playing cards therein, allowing a player to easily remove the deck of playing cards for use. A timer  22  is further included on the top portion  12  of the chip rack  10 . The timer  22  can be positioned on a top or side surface of the chip rack  10 , allowing for easy viewing by the player. Although an exemplary embodiment of a timer will now be described, any suitable electronic timer can be used with the present invention. Examples include the POKER GENIE (www.thepokergenie.com) and the timers disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,357,746; 5,140,564; 4,888,748; and 4,769,797.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the timer  22  is angularly positioned on the top portion  12  of the chip rack  10 . The angular position of the timer  22  can be adjusted and presents a front face portion  24  of the timer  22  to the players for easy viewing. A back portion  26  of the timer includes a battery access panel  28 . The battery access panel  28  is removeably attached to the timer  22  to allow for easy battery replacement.  
         [0021]     In the above Figures the chip rack  10  is depicted as having a substantially circular cross sectional area. However, it is contemplated that the chip rack  10  can have any cross sectional area which allows for placement of the chip slots  14  around the circumference thereof. For example, but not limited to, the cross sectional area of the chip rack  10  can be rectangular, elliptical, triangular, hexagonal, or octagonal in shape.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the timer  22  of the present invention includes a time display  30 . The time display  30  displays the remaining time remaining in the current round, counting down to zero time. A control panel  32  is provided on the timer  22  and includes control buttons for setting the round time. The control panel  32  includes a set button  34  and up and down arrows  36  and  38  for setting the round time. Start and stop buttons  40  and  42  are included to start and stop the timer  22 .  
         [0023]     To set the round time the set button  34  is depressed until the time display  30  flashes. The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the time. When the desired round time is displayed, the set button  34  is depressed storing round time. To start the game round the start button  40  is depressed. To stop the timer  22 , the stop bottom  42  is depressed. The players can restart the timer  22  by repressing the start button  40 . Alternatively, the timer display  30  can be cleared by holding down the stop button  34  until the time display  30  flashes or displays zero time. Additionally, an audible or other visual indicator can be provided.  
         [0024]     At the completion of each game round, an audible and/or visual signal can be provided, such as from a speaker  35 , and the time display  30  is automatically reset to the round time. The next round is then started by depressing the start button  34 .  
         [0025]     For games having a set number of game rounds, the timer  22  is programmed to reset the time display  30  at the completion of each game round. Initially, the game round round time is set by successively depressing the set button  34  until the time display  30  flashes. The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the time. The set button  34  is depressed storing round time. To set the number of game rounds, the set button  34  is successively depressed until a flashing “R” or an analogous indicator is displayed in the time display  30 . The number of game rounds is entered by using the up and down arrows  40  and  42  to increase or decrease the number of game rounds. The set button  34  is depressed storing the number of game rounds. To start the game the start button is depressed  40 .  
         [0026]     At the completion of the round, an audible and/or visual indication can be provided and the time display  30  is automatically reset to the round time. The next round is then started by depressing the start button  34 . At the completion of the last game round, the time display  30  does not reset and an audible and/or visual indicator can be provided.  
         [0027]     The timer  22  can further include an ante display  44 . The ante display  44  displays the current ante amount. The timer  22  is programmed to increase the ante amount for each successive round. Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a flow chart for setting the timer  22 . Initially, the round time is set  100 . The set button  34  is successively depressed until the time display  30  flashes. The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the time, until the desired round time is displayed. The set button  34  is depressed storing the round time.  
         [0028]     The initial ante is then set  102 . The set button  34  is successively depressed until the ante display  44  flashes or an analogous indicator is shown. The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the ante amount, until the desired initial ante amount is displayed. The set button  34  is depressed storing the initial ante amount.  
         [0029]     The incremental amount to increase the ante is then set  104 . The set button  34  is successively depressed until a flashing “I” or an analogous indicator is displayed in the ante display  44 . The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the ante increment, until the desired ante increment is displayed. The set button  34  is depressed storing the ante increment.  
         [0030]     Alternatively, the ante increment can be a factor of the previous ante amount. For example, the ante amount can increase by a factor of 1.5 times the previous ante amount. To set the ante increment, the set button  34  is successively depressed until a flashing “F” or an analogous indicator is displayed in the ante display  44 . The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the ante increment factor, until the desired ante increment factor is displayed. The set button  34  is depressed storing the ante increment factor.  
         [0031]     At the completion of a game round, the time display  30  is automatically reset to the round time. Additionally, the ante amount is automatically incrementally increased. The next round is then started by depressing the start button  40 .  
         [0032]     The timer  22  can further include big and small blind displays  46  and  48 . The big and small blind displays  46  and  48  display the current big and small blind amounts. The timer  22  can be programmed to increase the big and small blind amounts for each successive game round. Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a flow chart for setting the big and small blind amounts. Initially, the small blind amount is set  108 . The set button  34  is successively depressed until the small blind display  48  flashes. The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the initial small blind amount until the desired amount is displayed. The set button  34  is depressed storing the initial small blind amount.  
         [0033]     The incremental amount to increase the small blind is then set  110 . The set button  34  is successively depressed until a flashing “I” or an analogous indicator is displayed in the small blind display  48 . The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the small blind increment, until the desired small blind increment is displayed. The set button  34  is depressed storing the small blind increment.  
         [0034]     Alternatively, the small blind increment can be a factor of the previous small blind amount. For example, the small blind amount can increase by a factor of  1 . 5  times the previous small blind amount. To set the small blind increment factor, the set button  34  is successively depressed until a flashing “F” or an analogous indicator is displayed in the small blind display  48 . The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the small blind increment factor, until the desired small blind increment factor is displayed. The set button  34  is depressed storing the small blind increment factor.  
         [0035]     In an embodiment, the big blind amount is a function of the small blind amount. For example the big blind amount is twice the small blind amount. The setting of the small blind automatically sets the big blind amount, wherein the big blind amount incremental increases as the small blind amount increase.  
         [0036]     At the completion of the each game round, an audible and/or visual indication can be provided and the time display  30  is automatically reset to the round time. Additionally, the ante amount and small and big blind amounts are automatically incrementally increased. The next game round is then started by depressing the start button  40 .  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a flow chart for independently setting the big and small blind amounts. Initially, the small blind is set  108 . The set button  34  is successively depressed until a flashing “I” or an analogous indicator is displayed in small blind display  48 . The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the initial small blind amount until the desired amount is displayed. The set button  34  is depressed storing the initial small blind amount.  
         [0038]     The incremental amount to increase the small blind is then set  110 . The set button  34  is successively depressed until a flashing “I” or an analogous indicator is displayed in the small blind display  48 . The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the small blind increment, until the desired small blind increment is displayed. The set button  34  is depressed storing the small blind increment.  
         [0039]     Alternatively, the small blind increment can be a factor of the previous small blind. For example, the small blind amount can increase by a factor of 1.5 times the previous small blind amount. To set the small blind increment factor, the set button  34  is successively depressed until a flashing “F” or an analogous indicator is displayed in the small blind display  48 . The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the small blind increment factor, until the desired small blind increment factor is displayed. The set button  34  is depressed storing the small blind increment factor.  
         [0040]     The big blind is then set  116 . The set button  34  is successively depressed until the big blind display  46  flashes. The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the initial big blind amount until the desired amount is displayed. The set button  34  is depressed storing the initial big blind amount.  
         [0041]     The incremental amount to increase the big blind is then set  118 . The set button  34  is successively depressed until a flashing “I” or an analogous indicator is displayed in the big blind display  46 . The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the big blind increment, until the desired big blind increment is displayed. The set button  34  is depressed storing the big blind increment.  
         [0042]     Alternatively, the big blind increment can be a factor of the previous big blind amount. For example, the big blind amount can increase by a factor of 1.5 times the previous big blind amount. To set the big blind increment factor, the set button  34  is successively depressed until a flashing “F” or an analogous indicator is displayed in the big blind display  46 . The up and down arrows  40  and  42  are used to increase or decrease the big blind increment factor, until the desired big blind increment factor is displayed. The set button  34  is depressed storing the big blind increment factor.  
         [0043]     At the completion of the game each round, an audible and/or visual indication can be provided and the time display  30  is automatically reset to the round time. Additionally, the ante amount and small and big blind amounts are automatically incrementally increased. The next round is then started by depressing the start button  40 .  
         [0044]     All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.  
         [0045]     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.