Gaming playing surface

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/559,376, entitled “Playing Surface,” filed Apr. 2, 2004 by Applicant herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to game equipment. More specifically, the present invention is a flexible, resilient playing surface that may aid a player handling flat objects, such as playing cards during the steps of shuffling and dealing or gaming chips or checks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Games are typically played at tables, with or without covers. It is known that flat objects, such as playing cards or gaming chips (also known as checks), can be difficult to handle at uncovered tables. In particular, the typical slick, hard surface of tables causes playing cards to slide when, for example, shuffling, dealing, or gripping and lifting the playing cards.

One response to this problem is to cover the table with a surface. The surface provides greater friction against objects such as playing cards and gaming chips thereby making the objects easier to handle. However, gripping and lifting objects, particularly flat objects such as playing cards and gaming chips, is often still difficult because the objects lie flush with the hard surface and do not provide a gripping surface. For example, to grip flat objects like playing cards or gaming chips, the player is often required to bend the cards or slide the card to the edge of a hard playing surface even when the surface is covered with a surface.

Therefore, it can be seen that there is a need in the art for a playing card surface that aids players in handling playing cards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a playing surface. The playing surface consists of a base having an upper surface. The upper surface of the base may be formed from a flexible, resilient material such as foam rubber such that the upper surface of the base deflects under pressure from a player handling flat objects disposed on the upper surface of the base. Optionally, the upper surface of the base is formed from, or overlaid with, a cover. Optionally, the cover is a textile material such as upholstery velvet. In a further optional embodiment, the cover includes printing thereon for use during play.

The base may take many different shapes including a larger shape for community use or a smaller shape for individual use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. A1 is a top view of a playing surface according to an optional embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. A2 is an elevated perspective view of a playing surface according to the optional embodiment of FIG. A1;

FIG. A3 is a side view of a playing surface according to the optional embodiment of FIG. A1;

FIG. B1 is a top view of a playing surface according to an alternate optional embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. B2 is an elevated perspective view of a playing surface according to the optional embodiment of FIG. B1;

FIG. B3 is a side view of a playing surface according to the optional embodiment of FIG. B1;

FIG. C1 is a top view of a playing surface according to an alternate optional embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. C2 is an elevated perspective view of a playing surface according to the optional embodiment of FIG. C1;

FIG. C3 is a side view of a playing surface according to the optional embodiment of FIG. C1.

DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout. Referring generally to FIGS. A1-A3, B1-B3, and C1-C3, the present invention is a playing surface 10. The playing surface 10 could be separate from a playing table (not shown) or could be integral with a playing table. That is, it is contemplated that in an optional embodiment, the playing surface 10 is removable from a playing table and, in an alternate optional embodiment, the playing surface 10 is affixed to a playing table. The removable embodiment could be used to adapt a table, such as a common household table, for game use. The affixed embodiment could be used to create a table surface specifically for game use.

In either case, the playing surface 10 includes a base 12 with an upper surface 14 formed from a flexible, resilient material that deflects or deforms under pressure and rebounds from the deflection or deformation. For example, the upper surface 14 of the base 12 could be formed from an elastomer foam padding material such as (but not limited to) foam rubber. It is noted that the upper surface 14 could be a different material from the base 12. In an optional embodiment, the entire base 12 and upper surface 14 are formed from a single piece of flexible, resilient material.

Optionally, a cover 16 is formed over, or attached to, the upper surface 14 of the base 12. The cover 16 may be formed from any natural or synthetic material. Optionally, the cover 16 is a textile material such as (but not limited to) upholstery velvet or polyester (to aid in printing images and text). As previously mentioned, the cover 16 may be a feature of the formation of the upper surface 14 of the base 12. Alternatively, however, the cover 16 is attached to the upper surface 14 of the base 12. The cover 16 may be attached in any manner including adhesive, bonding, mechanical fastener, or any other type of attachment. It is contemplated that the cover 16 may be fixed to, or removable from, the upper surface 14 of the base 12.

The upper surface 14 of the base 12 and/or the cover 16, in an optional embodiment including a cover 16, may include markings thereon such as through printing, silk screening, or any other process. For example, markings for card positions, game rules, decoration, or the like could be included on the upper surface 14 of the base 12 and/or the cover 16.

The base 12 may take any shape. Three examples of shapes for the base 12 are shown in the figures. However, these examples should be understood to be illustrative of a few of the many uses for the playing surface 10 rather than limiting upon the shape or use of the playing surface 10. Generally, the playing surface 10 aids players in handling objects, particularly flat objects like playing cards and gaming chips or checks, by deflecting at the edge of the object to give access to a surface that can be grasped.

Additionally, it is contemplated that the base 12 may vary in thickness. That is, the thickness of the base 12 measured from the upper surface 14 to the table upon which the base 12 rests could vary. The varying thickness may be continuous or may be stepped. For example, in one optional embodiment in which the shape of the base 12 includes two or more areas, the thickness may be a first thickness at a first area and a second thickness at a second area.

For example, the playing surface 10 could aid the user in many aspects of playing cards games like poker and bridge. In one optional embodiment, shown in FIGS. A1-A3, the playing surface 10 could be used as a shuffle station. In such an embodiment, the base 12 could take any shape, but is optionally square or rectangular and sized to aid the user in more rapidly (compared to just shuffling on a hard surface table) and efficiently shuffle the deck of cards (poker, bridge or other cards).

In such an embodiment, the base 12 could be placed on a surface such as a table. The player or dealer could place flat objects, such as a deck of playing cards on the device. The deck of cards could be shuffled in conventional fashion by dividing the deck into two halves with one to the left and the other to the right and interlacing the cards until all cards from both sides are combined on the playing surface 10.

In another optional embodiment, shown in FIGS. B1-B3, the playing surface 10 could be directed to use in games having a community area, such as Texas Hold 'em or Omaha poker. Such an optional embodiment would provide a playing surface 10 for, among other things, aiding in handling, dealing, and displaying community cards. Again, the base 12 could take any shape, but optionally is shaped to accommodate a community card area 20 and a burn card area 22. Optionally, the community card area 20 and burn card area 22 are adjacent and may, in a further optional embodiment, be contiguous.

In another optional embodiment, shown in FIGS. C1-C3, a playing surface 10 is directed to individual use as a player station. Such an embodiment is particularly directed to games in which each player has an individual hand of playing cards or stack of gaming chips or checks. For example, in stud poker, each player has his or her own hand and, thus, could use the playing surface 10 shown in FIGS. C1-C3. Although not necessary, the base 12 in the optional embodiment of FIGS. C1-C3 includes a face-up cards area 24 and a hole cards area 26. Again, the deflection of the upper surface 14 of the base 12 could aid players in handling playing cards in each player's individual hand by permitting the player to use a single hand, or even two fingers of a single hand, to grip and lift cards. While the optional embodiment shows the playing surface 10 as having a relatively larger face-up cards area 24 with a smaller projection for a hole cards area 26, it is contemplated that the areas 24, 26 need not be the shapes shown in the figures or be arranged with respect to one another in the same configuration. Similarly, the areas 24, 26 need not be adjacent or contiguous as shown but could be separate from one another or connected in some other manner.

It is further noted that the embodiments of FIGS. A1-A3, B1-B3, and C1-C3 are not mutually exclusive and could be used in combination. For example, the game of Texas Hold 'em incorporates elements of community cards as well as individual hands having hole-cards. In such a game, it is possible that players may use individual playing surfaces 10 like those shown in FIGS. C1-C3 or some variant. Simultaneously, the dealer may use a playing surface 10 such as that shown in FIGS. A1-A3 to aid in shuffling while dealing community cards to a playing surface 10 such as that shown in FIGS. B1-B3.

Further, it is noted that the present device is not limited to individual playing surfaces 10. Rather, it is contemplated that the playing surface 10 could be applied to, or laid over, an entire table such that each player and/or dealer at the table is using a common playing surface 10.

In use, flat objects, such as playing cards or gaming chips or checks may be handled by depressing the playing surface 10 so that the edge of the flat objects may be gripped and, optionally, lifted. As noted above, this contrasts with the hard surfaces often used, in which the player usually has to slide the cards to the edge of the table to grasp the edge of the cards so as to handle them.

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that the present invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention presented herein.