Method for televising an event involving a game table incorporating integral lighting

• US 7,234,702 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2004
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peerless Media, Ltd. (Allied Gaming & Entertainment, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WPT Enterprises Inc. (Allied Gaming & Entertainment, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cuomo, James Joseph, Lipscomb, Steven Roy, Conti, John Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US10/916,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20050093241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 273/309, 273/292, 273/274, 273/DIG.24, 463/12, 463/13, 463/46, 463/40, 473/1, 473/4, 473/15, 473/30, 473/34
• US Class Current: 273/309
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 25/00 Card tables; Tables for other games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/067 Tables or similar supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/005 Poker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00164 Casino tables
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/3674 Details of play tables, designed as a table
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/24 Luminescent, phosphorescent

Abstract

The present invention relates to a game table with a plurality of player stations with an integral lighting system. The game table, for example, a poker table, includes a light window adjacent all of the player stations. An illumination device is fixedly disposed beneath the light window. With such a configuration, lighting is provided from beneath the table, which minimizes shadows during television taping.

Claims

1. A method for televising an event involving a game table having a tabletop that defines a permanently and entirely opaque, planar, horizontally oriented playing surface portion having a plurality of player stations and a dealer station, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing the game table with an elongated, entirely translucent, planar light window portion that is coplanar with the plane of the entirely opaque playing surface portion, said light window being adjacently disposed only at an outer edge of the planar playing surface portion, and said elongated light window portion extending substantially around the periphery of the planar playing surface portion and past the plurality of player stations, and further providing the game table with an integral light source configured to continuously project light upward through the light window portion; and

(b) televising the event using cameras located above the planar playing surface portion of the game table.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the elongated light window provided in the step (a) of providing is formed of milk-colored plexiglas.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the elongated light window provided in the step (a) of providing extends around the entire periphery of the opaque playing surface.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein the elongated light window provided in the step (a) of providing has a generally oval shape.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the elongated light window provided in the step (a) of providing is discontinuous around the periphery of the opaque playing surface.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the light source provided in the step (a) of providing includes one or more fluorescent light fixtures.

7. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the step (a) of providing further provides the game table with a trough rigidly secured to the underside of the tabletop, for carrying the light source, wherein the trough is disposed at least partially beneath the opaque playing surface.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step (a) of providing further provides an arm rest extending substantially around the outer periphery of the elongated light window.

9. A method for televising an event involving a game table having a tabletop that defines a permanently and entirely opaque, planar, horizontally oriented, generally oval-shaped playing surface portion having a plurality of player stations and a dealer station, the method comprising the steps of

(a) providing the game table with an elongated, entirely translucent light window portion that is coplanar with the opaque playing surface portion, said light window being adjacently disposed only at an outer edge of the opaque playing surface portion, and said elongated light window portion extending around a substantial portion of the periphery of the generally oval-shaped playing surface portion and past the plurality stations, and further providing the game table with an integral light source configured to continuously project light through the elongated light window portion to the space above the playing surface portion;

and

(b) televising the event using cameras located above the opaque playing surface portion of the game table.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein the elongated light window provided in the step (a) of providing is formed of milk-colored plexiglas.

11. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein the elongated light window provided in the step (a) of providing extends around the entire periphery of the opaque playing surface.

12. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein the elongated light window provided in the step (a) of providing is discontinuous around the periphery of the opaque playing surface.

13. The poker table as recited in claim 9, wherein the light source provided in the step (a) of providing includes a plurality of fluorescent light fixtures arranged adjacent to the elongated light window.

14. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein the step (a) of providing further includes providing an arm rest extending around the outer periphery of the elongated light window.