Gaming device base and method of use

Abstract

A gaming device base having a storage area configured to store at least one non-currency gaming item is disclosed. The gaming device base further includes a horizontal support member having a substantially flat surface to support at least one gaming device. The gaming device base further has at least one door positioned beneath the horizontal support member and also may have at least one edge. The door includes the storage area configured to store the non-currency gaming item and further may be moved from an open to a closed position; the door may also include an angled portion. In the open position, the storage area may be accessed and, in the closed position, the door is positioned behind the edge of the horizontal support member. Players sitting in front of the edge of the horizontal support member may stretch or extend their legs behind the edge of the horizontal support member.

1 . A gaming device base comprising: 
 A) a horizontal support member comprising a substantially flat surface configured to support at least one gaming device; and    B) at least one door being positioned underneath the horizontal support member, the door comprising an exterior and interior surface, the interior surface comprising a storage area, the storage area being configured to store at least one non-currency gaming item, the door further being moveable from a closed position to an open position to provide access to the storage area.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming device base of  claim 1  wherein the storage area is bounded by four walls.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming device base of  claim 2  wherein one of the four walls is longer in length, in relation to the door.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming device base of  claim 1  wherein the horizontal support member has at least one edge, and the at least one door being positioned behind the edge of the horizontal support member.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming device base of  claim 4  wherein the door further comprises an angled portion, and in the closed position, the angled portion being an acute angle measured from a vertical plane, wherein players sitting in front of the edge of the horizontal support member may stretch their legs behind the edge.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming device base of  claim 1  wherein the door further comprises an angled portion, the angled portion comprising the storage area.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming device base of  claim 1  further comprising a retention device cooperating with the door to retain the door in the open position.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming device base of  claim 7  wherein the retention device is selected from the group consisting of a stop chain, a latch, a door stop and a hinge.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming device base of  claim 1  wherein the non-currency gaming item is selected from the group consisting of tickets, vouchers, smart cards, vip cards, player cards and credit cards.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming device base of  claim 1  wherein the storage area comprises at least one partition configured to subdivide the storage area into a plurality of sub-compartments within the storage area.  
   
   
       11 . A gaming device base comprising: 
 A) a horizontal support member comprising (i) a substantially flat surface configured to support at least one gaming device and (ii) at least one edge; and    B) at least one door being positioned behind the edge of the horizontal support member and underneath the horizontal support member, the door comprising an angled portion and a storage area, the storage area being configured to store at least one non-currency gaming item, the door further being moveable from a closed position to an open position to provide access to the storage area, and in the closed position, the angled portion being an acute angle measured from a vertical plane, wherein players sitting in front of the edge of the horizontal support member may stretch their legs behind the edge.    
   
   
       12 . The gaming device base of  claim 11  wherein the storage area is bounded by four walls.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming device base of  claim 12  wherein one of the four walls is longer in length, in relation to the door.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming device base of  claim 11  wherein the angled portion comprises the storage area.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming device base of  claim 11  further comprising a retention device cooperating with the door to retain the door in the open position.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming device base of  claim 15  wherein the retention device is selected from the group consisting of a stop chain, a latch, a door stop and a hinge.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming device base of  claim 11  wherein the non-currency gaming item is selected from the group consisting of tickets, vouchers, smart cards, vip cards, player cards and credit cards.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming device base of  claim 11  wherein the storage area comprises at least one partition configured to subdivide the storage area into a plurality of sub-compartments within the storage area.  
   
   
       19 . A method for storing at least one non-currency gaming item in a gaming device base comprising the following steps, not necessarily in order shown: 
 A) providing at least one non-currency gaming item;    B) providing a gaming device base comprising (i) a horizontal support member, (ii) at least one door and (iii) a storage area configured to store the at least one non-currency gaming item;    C) if the door is in a closed position, moving the door from the closed position to an open position to provide access to the storage area; and    D) placing the at least one non-currency gaming item in the storage area.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  comprising providing a gaming device base wherein the storage area is bounded by four walls.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  comprising providing a gaming device base wherein the horizontal support member has at least one edge, and the at least one door being positioned behind the edge of the horizontal support member.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  comprising providing a gaming device base wherein the door further comprises an angled portion, and in the closed position of the door, the angled portion being an acute angle measured from a vertical plane, wherein players sitting in front of the edge of the horizontal support member may stretch their legs behind the edge.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19  comprising providing a gaming device base wherein the door further comprises an angled portion, the angled portion comprising the storage area.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19  comprising providing a gaming device base wherein the gaming device base further comprises a retention device cooperating with the door to retain the door in the open position.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  comprising providing a gaming device base wherein the retention device is selected from the group consisting of a stop chain, a latch, a door stop and a hinge.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising step (E) moving the door to the closed position.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 19  comprising providing a gaming device base wherein the horizontal support member comprises a substantially flat surface configured to support at least one gaming device, wherein the at least one door is positioned underneath the horizontal support member, the door comprising an exterior and interior surface, the interior surface comprising the storage area, and the door further being moveable from the closed position to the open position to provide access to the storage area.  
   
   
       28 . A gaming device base comprising: 
 A) a horizontal support member comprising (i) a substantially flat surface configured to support at least one gaming device and (ii) at least one edge;    B) at least one support structure attached to the horizontal support member, the support structure configured to rest on a floor and support the horizontal support member from the floor;    C) a footrest attached to the support structure, at least a portion of the footrest extending under the horizontal support member and at least a portion of the footrest having an angled surface relative to the floor, wherein the footrest is configured to allow a player sitting in front of the edge of the horizontal support member to rest a foot on a portion of the footrest under the horizontal support member; and    D) a door attached to the support structure, the door being positioned beneath the horizontal support member, behind the edge of the horizontal support member, and above the plate, the door being moveable from an open position to a closed position and configured to provide access to a storage compartment when in an open position.    
   
   
       29 . The gaming device base of  claim 28  wherein the support structure comprises at least one vertical member, the vertical member having an edge defining a recess.  
   
   
       30 . The gaming device base of  claim 29  wherein a cavity is formed below the horizontal support member and above the footrest, the cavity having a shape to allow a player to place at least one foot on the footrest, wherein the recess of the edge has a shape that is substantially the same as the cavity.  
   
   
       31 . The gaming device base of  claim 29  wherein the edge comprises a middle portion that is substantially parallel to a vertical plane.  
   
   
       32 . The gaming device base of  claim 29  wherein the edge comprises a lower portion that extends forward and follows the shape of the footrest.  
   
   
       33 . The gaming device base of  claim 28  further comprising a compartment beneath the footrest.  
   
   
       34 . The gaming device base of  claim 28  wherein the support structure comprises at least one passage, the passage being configured to allow an object to pass through the support structure.  
   
   
       35 . The gaming device base of  claim 28  wherein the support structure comprises at least one recess, the recess being configured to allow an object to pass through the support structure.  
   
   
       36 . The gaming device base of  claim 28  wherein the storage compartment comprises at least one partition configured to subdivide the storage compartment into a plurality of sub-compartments within the storage compartment.  
   
   
       37 . The gaming device base of  claim 28  wherein the compartment is configured to store at least one non-currency gaming item wherein the non-currency gaming item is selected from the group consisting of tickets, vouchers, smart cards, vip cards, player cards and credit cards.  
   
   
       38 . A gaming device base, comprising: 
 A) a horizontal support means for supporting a gaming device;    B) a support structure means for supporting the horizontal support means;    C) a footrest means for allowing a player to rest a foot under the horizontal support member;    D) a storage compartment means for storing objects; and    E) a door means for providing access to the storage compartment means.    
   
   
       39 . The gaming device base of  claim 38  further comprising footrest storage means underneath the footrest.  
   
   
       40 . The gaming device base of  claim 38  further comprising a recess means for allowing an object to pass out of the support structure means.  
   
   
       41 . The gaming device base of  claim 38  wherein the support structure means comprises a recess means for allowing a player to place a foot on the footrest means by passing the foot through the recess in a sideways movement.