BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a customized dealer button of the present invention, showing dealer indicia surrounding an area where advertising text can be placed.
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the customized dealer button of FIG. 1, showing a substantially translucent button having dealer indicia surrounding an area where an advertising logo can be placed.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the customized dealer button of FIG. 1, showing an area where advertising text can be placed.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the customized dealer button of FIG. 1, showing an area where an advertising logo can be placed.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the customized dealer button of the present invention, showing a spinner having an area where advertising text can be placed.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the customized dealer button of FIG. 4, showing a spinner having an area where an advertising logo can be placed.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the customized dealer button of the present invention, showing a dealer button mounted on a pedestal and having an area where advertising text can be placed.
FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the customized dealer button of FIG. 6, showing a substantially translucent dealer button mounted on a pedestal and having an area where an advertising logo can be placed.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the customized dealer button of FIG. 6A, showing a dealer button mounted on a pedestal with the sample logo of dice being displayed.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the customized dealer button of FIG. 6A, showing a dealer button mounted on a pedestal with the sample logo of playing cards being displayed.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the customized dealer button of FIG. 6A, showing a dealer button mounted on a pedestal and showing dealer indicia surrounding an area where advertising text can be placed.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the customized dealer button of the present invention, showing a card place holder having an area where advertising text can be placed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a first embodiment of a poker button, hereinafter poker button 10, is disclosed. The poker button 10 of the present invention comprises a button 12 having a front surface 14 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A) and a back surface 16 (shown in FIGS. 2-3). Advertising indicia 18 is located on at lease one of the front surface 14 and the back surface 16 of the button 12. Advertising indicia 18, which could be the name of a casino, product or service, could either be used as a replacement to the standard “Dealer” label, or in addition to it (with the “Dealer” inscription being placed along a periphery of the button 12 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 1A).
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, another embodiment of the poker button 10 of the present invention, hereinafter poker button 100, is disclosed. Poker button 100 is substantially the same as poker button 10, except that the poker button 100 is not used as a “dealer” button but rather as a “spinner” to be used by players to cover or otherwise protect their playing cards. For this reason, the same reference numbers used in describing the features of the poker button 10 will be used when describing the identical features of the poker button 100. The poker button 100 can be used by players as a paper weight to weigh down their cards and prevent them from being accidentally removed by the dealer. The advertising indicia 18 can include the name of a gaming establishment or other sponsor, perhaps as a give-away to poker players or for sale.
Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, another embodiment of the poker button 10 of the present invention, hereinafter poker button 200, is disclosed. Poker button 200 is substantially the same as poker button 10, except that poker button 200 further comprises a substantially flat pedestal 20. For this reason, the same reference numbers used in describing the features of the poker button 10 will be used when describing the identical features of the poker button 200. The poker button 200 comprises a substantially flat pedestal 20 having a bottom surface 22 and a top surface 24. The top surface 24 of the pedestal 20 is coupled substantially perpendicular to the button 12 so that the button 12 is substantially perpendicular to a plane of a table when the bottom surface 22 of the pedestal is resting on the table. The button 12 comprises advertising indicia 18 located on at least one of the front surface 14 and the back surface 16 of the button 12 so that the advertising indicia 18 can be visible to players and bystanders at a poker table. Preferably, the poker button 12 and the pedestal 20 are substantially the same size, although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the pedestal 20 is larger or smaller than the poker button 12, so long as the pedestal 20 is capable of resting on a substantially flat surface and supporting the poker button 12 substantially perpendicular thereto. Preferably, an outer portion of the poker button 12 is substantially flat and coupled to the top surface 24 of the pedestal 20, although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the top surface 24 of the pedestal defines a recessed portion dimensioned to receive a portion of the poker button 12 or in which the poker button 12 is secured by some type of an adhesive (such as, but not limited to, an epoxy) to the top surface 24 of the pedestal 20.
Referring now to FIG. 10, another embodiment of the poker button 10 of the present invention, hereinafter poker button 300, is disclosed. Poker button 300 is substantially the same as poker button 10, except that the poker button 300 is not used as a “dealer” button but rather as a card protector to be used by players to cover or otherwise protect their playing cards. For this reason, the same reference numbers used in describing the features of the poker button 10 will be used when describing the identical features of the poker button 300.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 1A and 9, advertising indicia 18 may also be located on a perimeter 26 of either the front surface 14 or the back surface 16 of the button 12. The advertising indicia 18 may be an advertisement for the gaming establishment, a poker sponsor or other advertiser, or merely indicate that the poker button 12 is a dealer button.
The poker button 12 may be substantially opaque (see FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) or substantially translucent (see FIGS. 1A and 6A). In addition, the pedestal 20 may be substantially opaque (see FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9) or substantially translucent (see FIG. 6A).
Statement of Operation
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of advertising is disclosed wherein a poker button 12 is provided for use as a marker in a poker game. The poker button 12 may be used as a dealer button, a spinner, a card protector, a “kill” button or for some other poker related purpose. The poker button 12 is marked with advertising indicia 18 on at least one of the front surface 14 and the back surface 16 of the button 12 so that poker players are capable of viewing the advertising indicia 18 when playing or watching a poker game.
In another embodiment, the poker button 12 is coupled to a top surface 24 of a pedestal 20 so that the advertising indicia 18 can be displayed perpendicular to a table surface when the bottom surface 22 of the pedestal 20 is resting on a table.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while in the preferred embodiment the poker buttons 10, 100 and 200 comprise advertising indicia 18 for display preferably in a gaming establishment such as a casino, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from customizing buttons 12 to include advertising indicia 18 for private use, such as at home poker games, where players can use customized buttons 12 to advertise their own names, favorite sports teams or some other element of personal interest.
Patent Application
20080092419
