Gaming table apparatus with prize compartment feature

Abstract

A gaming table apparatus including a prize container mounted in the table top and a player interface on for receiving a request to participate in the game in which a potential outcome is winning the prize contained in the compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gaming table apparatus, comprising:
 a gaming table top defining a generally planar upper side and a lower side, the upper side facilitating play of a game thereon, the table top including at least one opening, wherein the opening defines a space through the table top from the upper side to the lower side;   a prize container defining a compartment for securely containing a prize therein and including a generally planar upper panel, the container being mounted to the table top about the space such that the compartment is adjacent to the lower side of the table top and the upper panel of the container is adjacent to the upper side of the table top, the upper panel of the container being constructed of a transparent material to form a window revealing the interior of the compartment from the upper side of the table top; and   a player interface on the upper side of the table top for receiving a request to participate in the game in which a potential outcome is winning the prize contained in the compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper side of the table top comprises a plurality of evenly-spaced openings with a corresponding plurality of prize containers mounted about the spaces defined by each opening of the plurality of evenly-spaced openings. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper panel of the container is in a planar relationship with respect to the upper side of the table top. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper panel of the container covers the space defined by the opening at the upper side of the table top. 
     
     
         5 . The gaining table apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the compartment is positioned within the space without traversing the plane defined by the upper side of the table top. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the player interface comprises indicia disposed on the upper side of the table top. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the player interface comprises a touchscreen display device mounted on the upper side of the table top. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the player interface comprises at least one sensing device mounted to the table top, wherein the sensing device includes an upper sensing surface positioned in a planar relationship with the upper side and configured to detect the presence of an object placed thereon. 
     
     
         9 . A gaming table apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a lower portion and upper portion, the upper portion including the upper panel and a upper portion peripheral rim, the lower portion having a bottom wall and opposing side walls, the side walls including a lower portion peripheral rim, wherein the upper portion peripheral rim is mounted to the lower side of the table top. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a support frame mounted to the lower side of the table top for supporting the lower portion of the container adjacent to the upper portion. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lower portion peripheral rim and upper portion peripheral rim are non-permanently connected to one another. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the opening and upper panel are both square-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . A gaming table apparatus, comprising:
 a gaming table top defining a generally planar upper side and a lower side, the upper side facilitating play of a game thereon, the table top including at least one opening, wherein the opening defines a space through the table top from the upper side to the lower side;   a prize container defining a compartment for securely containing a prize therein, the prize container including an upper portion and a lower portion adjacent to one another, the upper portion including a generally planar raised upper panel, wherein the upper portion is mounted to the table top about the space such that the raised upper panel is in a planar relationship with the upper side of the table top, the upper panel of the container being constructed of a transparent material to form a window revealing the interior of the compartment from the upper side of the table top; and   a player interface on the upper side of the table top for receiving a request to participate in the game in which a potential outcome is winning the prize contained in the compartment.   
     
     
         14 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the upper side of the table top comprises a plurality of evenly-spaced openings with the upper portion of a corresponding plurality of prize containers mounted about the spaces defined by each opening of the plurality of evenly-spaced openings. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the upper panel covers the space define( the opening at the upper side of the table top. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the upper portion includes a peripheral rim mounted to the lower side of the table top. 
     
     
         17 . A gaining table apparatus, comprising:
 a gaming table top including a generally planar upper side and a lower side, the upper side facilitating play of both an underlying and secondary game thereon and including a plurality of evenly-spaced player positions defined thereon, the table top including an opening at each of the player positions, wherein each opening defines a space through the table top from the upper side to the lower side;   a prize container for each of the openings of the plurality of openings, each prize container defining a compartment for securely containing a prize therein and including an upper portion and a lower portion adjacent to one another, the upper portion including a generally planar raised upper panel, the raised upper panel being in a planar relationship with the upper side of the table top and covering the lower portion and the opening, the upper panel of the container being constructed of a transparent material to form a window revealing the interior of the compartment from the upper side of the table top; and   a player interface defined at each of the player positions of the plurality of player positions defined on the upper side of the table top, the player interface configured to receive a request to participate in the secondary game in which a potential outcome is winning the prize contained in the compartment, and including a sensing device mounted to the table top, wherein the sensing device includes an upper sensing surface positioned in a planar relationship with the upper side of the table top and configured to detect the presence of an object placed thereon, wherein the request to participate in the secondary game being is indicated by detecting the presence of an object placed on the upper sensing surface.   
     
     
         18 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the opening and raised upper panel are both square-shaped. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming table apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the upper panel covers the space defined by the opening at the upper side of the table top. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the upper portion includes a peripheral rim mounted to the lower side of table top.