Transparent table

Abstract

 Transparent table (1) comprising a board (2) and at least one leg (3) wherein its board is transparent in the direction from the bottom side of the board to its top side, while under the board there is at least one recording device (4) for monitoring of events and activities above the top side of the board.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention refers to a transparent table which enables monitoring of the activities happening above this table. This solution can be used advantageously as a gaming table or a monitoring worktable.

State of the Art

[0002] Gambling is popular all over the world but like in all areas of human activities, unfortunately there are some players who do not play fair. In gambling, they use gaming tables with a solid, non-transparent board, often covered with a cloth, and monitoring systems when the cameras are situated above the table and they record the players and their hands from above So far nobody has been interested in what is hidden under the hands of possible unfair players when playing In a similar way, with the monitoring systems situated above the table, the activities happening above the worktables, monitoring tables etc. are checked.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] The task of the technical solution according to this invention is to design a transparent table which will provide a possibility of monitoring (immediate as well as continuous) of the activities happening above this table. In case the table is used e.g. as a gaming table, it will ensure monitoring of players when gambling and therefore also fair behaviour during these games.

[0004] The above specified disadvantages are eliminated by a transparent table comprising a board and at least one leg characterised in that its board is transparent in the direction from the bottom side of the board to its top side, while under the board there is at least one recording device for monitoring of events and activities above the top side of the board.

[0005] In order to ensure thorough monitoring of the events above the top side of the table it is advantageous if the transparent table has a board transparent in both directions.

[0006] Transmissivity for light and therefore also for the lens of the recording device can be advantageously achieved by a plastic foil transparent in one way stuck to the transparent board (e.g. from glass) of the transparent table.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment the top side of the board is equipped with an anti-reflective surface preventing undesirable reflections.

[0008] In order to simplify monitoring of activities above the top side of the transparent table, it is suitable when the recording device is a camera.

[0009] The board of the transparent table can advantageously consist of three layers. In this case, the bottom layer is made of clear or highly transparent material, e.g. glass or plastic. The middle layer is formed by a safety semitransparent foil and the top layer is made of clear or highly transparent material, e.g. glass, with anti-reflective adjustment (surface). Glass, as traditional material, brings advantages mainly due to its hardness, durability and hygienic soundness. In the bottom layer, the glass can also be replaced with plastic material, which will decrease the weight of the board. The safety semitransparent foil meeting safety standards will ensure that the glass will not shatter when it cracks and it will enable using of clear or highly transparent materials in the bottom and top layers.

[0010] This transparent table eliminates the above specified disadvantages and thus it protects the operators of these facilities. Under the transparent table with a semitransparent or transparent board, it is possible to place one or even more recording devices which can form compact camera systems interconnected by known means among each other and they can also be connected to the existing transmitting and monitoring system. It is also possible to transmit recordings of the events above the top side of the transparent table in a wireless way.

[0011] The transparent table enables watching what is happening above the table during various activities from under the table (e.g. it enables watching the hands of the players), which has not been possible so far. Compared to the current system of monitoring when it is necessary to have several cameras which record the events above the table only from the top view, this transparent table simplifies the monitoring, makes it cheaper and increases its efficiency. The table reveals what has been hidden so far.

[0012] The transparent table can also be used when handling valuable objects, raw materials etc., e.g. when sorting diamonds in diamond mines, and in other areas where thorough checks of what is happening above the table are required.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] The technical solution according to the invention will be clarified by means of figure 1 which shows a side view of the transparent table under which there is a recording device and by means of figure 2 which shows a top view of this transparent table.

Examples of the Embodiments

[0014] The transparent table 1, illustrated in figure 1, comprising a board 2 from transparent or semitransparent material, for example glass or another clear material, to which legs 3 are connected by available means. Under the transparent table 1 there is a recording device 4, for example a camera 41, which records all the activities happening above the top side of the board 2 of the transparent table 1. It is an advantage that the recording device 4 can be placed above the centre of the ground plan of the transparent table 1, e.g. on the join of the legs 3 of the transparent table 1. Figure 1 schematically shows a field of view of the recording device 4. The camera 41 records everything and transmits it to the monitor for the operators who thus have a perfect control of all these activities, or the recording is backed up for possible later inspection. The shape, size or design of this table 1 is not important.

[0015] It is also not important whether the board 2 of the transparent table 1, gaming table or monitoring worktable, is transparent only from one side of the board 2 upwards or if the board 2 is transparent in both directions, and also what its shape is.

[0016] If the board 2 is made of glass, this glass can be stained in such a way so that the board does not differ from the current table boards too much due to its appearance, and therefore not to be intrusive (e.g. green or reddish brown colour) while the staining of the glass will not have any negative impacts on its transparency. Possible reflections in the glass can be eliminated by means of anti-reflective adjustment of its surface.

[0017] Implementation of the transparent gaming table or monitoring worktable 1 with the board 2 made of semitransparent material does not change its structure in any way. Permeability for light and therefore also for the camera lens 41 can be provided by a plastic foil stuck on the glass board 2 of the transparent table, for example a perforated foil transparent in one way, e.g. MAO 40, intended for advertising prints, silk-screen printing, stickers for public transport windows, shop windows and glasses in administrative buildings, and also transparent acryl and polycarbonate. The method of MAO 40 printing can be silk-screen printing, airbrush, electrostatic and inkjet with solvent inks. When printed by means of MAO 40 and stuck to the top side of the board 2, thanks to transparency the recording camera 41 will be able to monitor the persons that will for example play card games above the gaming table adjusted or monitoring transparent worktable 1 adjusted in this way, while this foil will not restrict visibility in the direction of the lens of the recording camera 41. The surface of the foil is white and the glued part is black. The foil transparent in one way is fitted with system of openings with rectangle sections the dimensions of which will ensure transparency only in one direction. Moreover, on the foil there can be symbols which are necessary for playing of various games.

Industrial Applicability

[0018] The transparent table can be used as a gaming table, mainly in casinos or gambling houses, but also as a worktable or a monitoring table in hotels, banking institutions, facilities processing precious stones, i.e. everywhere where it is necessary to perform thorough checks of guests, customers or employees and their activities (money transactions, precious stones, items etc.).

Claims

1. A transparent table (1) comprising a board (2) and at least one leg (3) characterised in that its board (2) is transparent in the direction from the bottom side of the board (2) to its top side, while under the board there is at least one recording device (4) for monitoring of events and activities above the top side of the board (2) of the transparent table (1).

2. The transparent table, according to claim 1, characterised in that its board (2) is transparent also in the direction from the top side of the board (2) to its bottom side.

3. The transparent table, according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the transparent board (2) of the transparent table (1) is equipped with a foil transparent in one way.

4. The transparent table, according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the board (2) consists of three layers where the bottom and top layers are made of clear or highly transparent material and the middle layer is formed by a safety semitransparent foil.

5. The transparent table, according to claims 1 to 4, characterised In that the top side of the board (2) is equipped with anti-reflective surface.

6. The transparent table, according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the recording device is a camera (41).

Drawing