Chip racks including a rack for holding chips and a card reader and related devices

Abstract

Chip racks include a rack for holding chips and a card reader. Gaming devices may include such chip racks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a chip rack comprising:
 supporting casino chips on chip receiving slots of a chip rack;   sliding cards between a card playing surface of a gaming table and a card receiving surface extending outward relative to the chip receiving slots of the chip rack, the card receiving surface located distal from a dealer and the chip receiving slots positioned between the dealer and the card receiving surface; and   orienting at least one face-down card of the cards over at least a portion of a card reader positioned at the card receiving surface, causing the card reader to display at least one characteristic of a portion of the at least one face-down card of the cards to the dealer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein orienting the at least one face-down card over the at least a portion of the card reader comprises reflecting the at least one characteristic of the portion of the at least one portion of the at least one face-down card off of a reflective surface of the card reader toward the dealer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sliding the cards between the card playing surface of the gaming table and the card receiving surface comprises sliding the cards at an elevation higher than an elevation of the chip receiving surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sliding the cards between the card playing surface of the gaming table and the card receiving surface comprises maintaining the cards on a side of the chip receiving slots distal from the dealer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein orienting the at least one face-down card over the at least a portion of the card reader comprises maintaining a portion of the card receiving surface interposed between the at least one face-down card and the chip receiving slots. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sliding the cards between the card playing surface of the gaming table and the card receiving surface comprises lowering or maintaining at least substantially constant an elevation of the cards with respect to the card playing surface of the gaming table. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sliding the cards between the card playing surface of the gaming table and the card receiving surface of the chip rack comprises maintaining the cards in continuous contact with the gaming table and the chip rack when sliding the cards between the card playing surface of the gaming table and the card receiving surface of the chip rack. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein maintaining the cards in continuous contact with the gaming table and the chip rack when sliding the cards between the card playing surface of the gaming table and the card receiving surface of the chip rack comprises sliding the cards over a beveled leading edge of the card receiving surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein orienting the at least one face-down card over the at least a portion of the card reader, causing the card reader to display the at least one characteristic of the portion of the at least one face-down card, comprises placing the portion of the at least one face-down card between a reflective surface and a cover of the card reader extending over a portion of the reflective surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the card reader to display the at least one characteristic of the portion of the at least one face-down card comprises reflecting the at least one characteristic of the portion of the at least one face-down card off an optical prism of a reflective surface of the card reader toward the dealer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising aligning at least a corner of the at least one face-down card with a protrusion of the card reader and when orienting the at least one face-down card over the at least a portion of the card reader. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the card reader to display the at least one characteristic of the portion of the at least one face-down card to the dealer comprises activating indicator light. 
     
     
         13 . A method of using a chip rack comprising:
 placing casino wagering chips on recesses in a chip rack;   sliding cards between a card playing surface of a gaming table and a card receiving surface of a flange portion extending outward from the recesses on a side of the recesses opposite a dealer; and   aligning a face-down card of the cards with a card reader on the card receiving surface to enable the dealer to determine a value of the face-down card.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the card reader is positioned centrally with respect to the chip rack and wherein aligning the face-down card with the card reader comprises positioning the face-down card at least substantially centrally with respect to the chip rack. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the card reader is positioned proximate a distal edge of the card receiving surface and wherein aligning the face-down card with the card reader comprises positioning the face-down card proximate the distal edge of the card receiving surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the chip rack is at least partially received within a cutout in the gaming table with the flange portion supporting the chip rack from the playing surface and wherein sliding the cards between the card playing surface and the card receiving surface comprises maintaining the cards in continuous contact with the gaming table and the flange portion when sliding the cards between the card playing surface of the gaming table and the card receiving surface of the flange portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the card receiving surface comprises a recessed portion of the flange portion and wherein sliding the cards between the card playing surface of the gaming table and the card receiving surface of the flange portion comprises lowering or maintaining at least substantially constant an elevation of the cards with respect to the card playing surface of the gaming table. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the recesses are slanted with respect to horizontal and wherein sliding the cards between the card playing surface of the gaming table and the card receiving surface of the flange portion on the side of the recesses opposite the dealer comprises sliding the cards between the card playing surface of the gaming table and the card receiving surface of the flange portion proximate to where each of the recesses is at maximum elevation with respect to horizontal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein aligning the face-down card with the card reader comprises reflecting the value of the face-down card off a reflective surface of the card reader oriented toward the dealer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein aligning the face-down card with the card reader comprises placing the value of the face-down card between the reflective surface and a cover extending over a portion of the reflective surface.