U.S. patent application number 10/997477 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-25 for composite gaming chip and method of manufacturing.
Invention is credited to Ned Henry Finch, Nancy Deters Slayton.
Application Number | 20060108738 10/997477 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36460218 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060108738 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Finch; Ned Henry ; et
al. |
May 25, 2006 |
Composite gaming chip and method of manufacturing
Abstract
A gaming chip is formed of a composite material comprising a
polymer and from about 5 to 50% by weight of organic filler. The
gaming chip may be formed by injection molding. In a specific
embodiment, the gaming chip comprises at least one first portion in
which the composite material comprises a first colored pigment and
at least one second portion in which the composite material
comprises a second colored pigment different from the first colored
pigment to thereby provide a multicolor gaming chip.
Inventors: |
Finch; Ned Henry;
(Cincinnati, OH) ; Slayton; Nancy Deters;
(Cincinnati, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DINSMORE & SHOHL, LLP
1900 CHEMED CENTER
255 EAST FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
US
|
Family ID: |
36460218 |
Appl. No.: |
10/997477 |
Filed: |
November 24, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/288 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 21/00 20130101;
A63F 2003/00703 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/288 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/00 20060101
A63F003/00 |
Claims
1. A gaming chip, formed of a composite material comprising a
polymer and from about 5 to about 50 percent by weight of inorganic
filler.
2. The gaming chip of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises
polyolefin.
3. The gaming chip of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises
polypropylene.
4. The gaming chip of claim 1, wherein the filler comprises metal
oxide, metal hydroxide, metal carbonate, or a mixture of two or
more thereof.
5. The gaming chip of claim 1, wherein the filler comprises clay,
calcium carbonate, or a mixture thereof.
6. The gaming chip of claim 1, wherein the composite material
comprises from about 50 to about 95 percent by weight polypropylene
and from about 5 to about 25 percent by weight calcium carbonate
filler.
7. The gaming chip of claim 1, comprising at least one first
portion in which the composite material comprises a first colored
pigment, and at least one second portion in which the composite
material comprises a second colored pigment different from the
first colored pigment.
8. The gaming chip of claim 7, wherein the first portion extends
substantially around a perimeter of the chip and substantially
across a body of the chip within the perimeter of the chip.
9. The gaming chip of claim 8, wherein the first portion is
provided with at least one surface indentation in which the second
portion is located.
10. The gaming chip of claim 8, wherein each body surface of the
first portion is provided with at least one indentation and a
second portion is located in each indentation.
11. The gaming chip of claim 10, wherein the perimeter of the first
portion includes indentations and a second portion is located in
each indentation.
12. The gaming chip of claim 10, wherein the first portion is
provided with apertures extending between the body surfaces.
13. The gaming chip of claim 1, wherein the gaming chip is
injection molded.
14. A method of manufacturing a gaming chip, comprising injection
molding a composite material in the form of a gaming chip, the
composite material comprising a polymer and from about 5 to about
50 percent by weight of inorganic filler.
15. The method of claim 14, comprising injection molding a first
portion including a chip perimeter and a chip body extending within
the chip perimeter, the first portion having at least one surface
indentation, and injection molding a second portion to at least
partially fill the indentation.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first portion comprises a
first colored pigment, and the second portion comprises a second
colored pigment different from the first colored pigment.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein each body surface of the first
portion is provided with at least one indentation and a second
portion is injection molded into each indentation.
18. The gaming chip of claim 17, wherein the first portion is
provided with apertures extending between the body surfaces and at
least one of the second portions is formed by injecting composite
material from one body surface to the other body surface through
the apertures.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the perimeter of the first
portion includes indentations in which second portions are
injection molded.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first portion and the
second portions are injection molded to be substantially coplanar
on faces of the gaming chip.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to a gaming chip, and,
more particularly, to a gaming chip formed of a composite material
and having an improved combination of look, feel and durability.
The invention is also directed to methods of manufacturing a gaming
chip.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Gaming chips or tokens are well known for use in card games
and the like. Many times, such gaming chips are formed entirely of
plastic, for example by injection molding, and are therefore easily
mass produced. However, such chips are relatively light weight and
often are not preferred for use where a heavy, more substantive
feeling chip is desired. Chips formed of clay typically have a
heavy, substantive feel. However, clay chips are relatively fragile
and often crack or break when they are dropped, or even during
normal handling, and therefore require careful handling to avoid
chip destruction. Such careful handling is often inconvenient
during card playing and associated activities.
[0003] Other gaming chips have been formed entirely of metal and
these chips are typically of a higher weight and provide a more
substantive feel as compared with plastic chips. However, metal
chips are significantly more expensive to produce as compared with
injection molded plastic chips. The metal chips can also be
advantageous for use in applications where detection of the
presence of the metal chip by, for example, conductivity
measurements, are desired.
[0004] Composite gaming chips formed of both metal and plastic
materials are also known. For example, the Jones U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,968,582 and 4,827,640 disclose gaming tokens which may be formed
of both metal and plastic components in combination. The Boiron
U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,949, the Shumi et al U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,372,320
and 6,488,210 and the Zurawski et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,514,374
disclose additional gaming tokens or chips which may be formed of a
plurality of materials and components. However, gaming chips or
tokens which are formed of a plurality of components are often of a
construction which does not facilitate mass production.
Accordingly, further improvements in gaming chips are desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide novel gaming chips which have a good substantive feel. It
is an additional object of the invention to provide gaming chips
and methods for manufacturing gaming chips which are amenable to
mass production.
[0006] In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a gaming
chip which is formed of a composite material comprising a polymer
and from about 5 to about 50 percent by weight of inorganic
filler.
[0007] In a further embodiment, the invention is directed to a
method of manufacturing a gaming chip. The method comprises
injection molding a composite material in the form of a gaming
chip, the composite material comprising a polymer and from about 5
to about 50 percent by weight of inorganic filler.
[0008] The gaming chips according to the present invention are
advantageous in comprising plastic material while exhibiting a good
substantive look and feel, and exhibiting improved resistance to
cracking and breakage as compared, for example, with clay chips.
Additionally, the gaming chips may be manufactured according to a
method which facilitates mass production. These and additional
objects and advantages will be more fully apparent in view of the
following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The following detailed description will be more fully
understood in view of the drawing in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a gaming chip
according to the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the gaming
chip of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2;
[0012] FIG. 2A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the gaming
chip of FIG. 1 taken along line 2A-2A;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top view of a first portion included in the
embodiment of the gaming chip shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the first portion of
FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a mold in which the
first portion shown in FIG. 3 is formed during manufacture of a
gaming chip according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The gaming chips according to the present invention are
formed from a composite material comprising a polymer and an
inorganic filler. The composite material provides the gaming chips
with a good, substantive feel, and improved durability, whereby the
chips resist cracking and breaking during normal handling and even
when dropped.
[0017] More particularly, the composite material comprises a
polymer and from about 5 to about 50 percent by weight of inorganic
filler, based on the weight of the gaming chip. The polymer may
comprise the substantial balance of the composite material, and
therefore be present in an amount of from about 50 to about 95
percent by weight. Alternatively, the composite material may
contain additional components, for example, pigments, stabilizers,
processing aids, additional filler materials, and the like. It is
preferred however that at least about 30 percent by weight, more
preferably at least about 50 percent by weight, of the gaming chip
comprises polymer. In a more specific embodiment, the composite
material comprises a polymer and from about 5 to about 25 percent
by weight of inorganic filler. In an additional embodiment, the
composite material comprises from about 75 to about 95 percent by
weight polymer, and optionally coloring pigment, and from about 5
to about 25 percent by weight of inorganic filler.
[0018] Any polymer which provides the desired rigidity to the
gaming chip may be included in the composite material. In one
embodiment, however, it is preferred to include a polymer which is
easily injection molded, in order to facilitate mass production. In
one embodiment, the polymer comprises polyolefin, examples of which
include, but are not limited to, polyethylene homopolymers and
copolymers, and polypropylene homopolymers and copolymers,
polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyurethane, or the
like, and any combination thereof. In a specific embodiment, the
polymer comprises polyolefin, and, more specifically,
polypropylene.
[0019] Any inorganic filler which increases the weight of the
polymer may be used, but it is preferred that the inorganic filler
also contribute to provide a clay-like feel to the surface of the
gaming chip. In one embodiment, the filler comprises metal oxide,
metal hydroxide, metal carbonate, or a mixture of two or more
thereof. Included within these groups are clays, typically
comprising hydrated aluminum silicates and alkali and alkaline
earth oxides, hydroxides and carbonates, and the like. In a more
specific embodiment, the filler comprises clay, silica, calcium
carbonate, or a mixture thereof.
[0020] In a yet further embodiment, the composite material
comprises a polyolefin such as polypropylene and an inorganic
filler such as calcium carbonate. For example, the composite
material in a more specific embodiment comprises from about 50 to
about 95 percent by weight polypropylene and from about 5 to about
25 percent by weight calcium carbonate filler, and optionally
contains one or more coloring pigments in small amounts sufficient
to provide desired coloring.
[0021] With reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 set forth top
and cross sectional views of a first embodiment of a gaming chip 10
according to the invention. The gaming chip 10 includes a perimeter
12 and a body 14 within the perimeter 12. The body 14 as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 includes opposed faces 14a and 14b. In one
embodiment, the faces 14a and 14b are substantially planar in their
configuration, whereby any variations in the thickness of the chip
10 across the body 14 are less than several mils. In one specific
embodiment, there is a slight variation in the thickness of the
body at selected areas, as described in further detail herein. The
gaming chip 10 is of a substantially circular shape as shown in
FIG. 1, although other shapes of gaming chips are equally within
the scope of the invention.
[0022] The gaming chip may be formed of a composite material of a
single color or alternatively may be formed of two or more colors
by providing separate portions of the composite material with
different colorings. The gaming chip 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed
of two composite material portions. More particularly, the gaming
chip 10 comprises a first portion 20 in which the composite
material comprises a first colored pigment, and a second portion 22
in which the composite material comprises a second colored pigment
different from the first colored pigment of the first portion 20,
thereby combining to form a multi-colored gaming chip. Within the
present description, the term "colored pigment" encompasses any
additive which colors the composite material and includes, but is
not limited to, inorganic coloring pigments, organic coloring
pigments, dyes and the like. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second
portion 22 may be formed as a single part, with all areas
interconnected together. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the
first portion 20 may be formed as a single part, with all areas
interconnected together. However, the gaming chip may alternatively
comprise any number of parts of the first and second portions of
differing color as desired for identification, aesthetic or
manufacturing purposes. Similarly, the gaming chip may include
additional portions formed of additional differently colored
composite material.
[0023] In a specific embodiment, the first portion is provided with
at least one surface indentation in which the second portion is
located to form the completed chip. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the first
portion 20 of the gaming chip 10 in more detail. The first portion
20 extends substantially around and forms the perimeter 12 of the
chip and extends substantially across the body 14 of the chip
within the perimeter 12.
[0024] In one embodiment, each body surface 21a and 21b of the
first portion 20 is provided with at least one indentation and the
second portion 22 is located in each indentation. Further, the
perimeter of the first portion may include indentations, with a
second portion located in each indentation. In the embodiment shown
in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first portion 20 is provided with surface
indentations 30 in the form of stripes adjacent the chip periphery,
with additional surface indentations 32 and 34 in the form of
playing card indicia (heart, club, spade, diamond) adjacent the
chip periphery on opposite faces of the first portion 20, and
indentations 36 and 38 in the vicinity of the center of the
opposite faces of the first portion. The various indentations 30,
32, 34, 36 and 38 are all interconnected with one another, with
apertures 40 extending between the body surfaces to interconnect
the indentations on one body face 21a with those on the opposite
body face 21b. In one embodiment, indentations at the chip
periphery may extend from one body face 21a to the opposite body
face 21b to provide the periphery surface 42 of the chip with a
multicolor pattern.
[0025] The second portion 22 of the gaming chip 10 is located in
the indentations of the first portion 20. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1
and 2, parts 50 of the second portion are located in the
indentations 30, parts 52 of the second portion are located in the
indentations 32, parts 54 of the second portion are located in the
indentations 34, parts 56 of the second portion are located in the
indentations 36, and parts 58 of the second portion are located in
the indentations 38. Additionally, parts 60 of the second portion
are located in the apertures 40 of the first portion. Thus, the
second portion parts are interconnected to form a single piece.
[0026] In the embodiment of the gaming chip set forth in FIGS. 1
and 2, the surfaces of the second portion 22 are substantially
coplanar with the non-indented surfaces of the first portion 20,
whereby any variations in the thickness of the chip in the body 14
are less than several mils. In one embodiment, there is a slight
variation in the thickness of the body, for example, at a
peripheral area of the center parts 56, 58 of the second portion.
For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, which is an enlarged
cross-sectional view taken along line 2A-2A in FIG. 1, the center
parts 56, 58 are shown as including an indentation 62 at their
periphery. The indentation may contribute to an improved handling
of the gaming chip by a user, counter or sorter, or may facilitate
placement of a decorative sticker on the surface of the gaming
chip, if desired, or merely provide a desirable aesthetic
feature.
[0027] The gaming chip as described herein may be manufactured
according to any suitable method. However, in a specific
embodiment, the gaming chip according to the present invention is
formed by injection molding the composite material. If the gaming
chip is formed from a homogeneous composite material of a single
color, the gaming chip may be injection molded in a single step
according to conventional injection molding techniques. In a
specific embodiment of this method, a gaming chip as shown in FIGS.
1 and 2 is formed from two portions of the composite material,
wherein the portions are of different colors. For example, as shown
in FIG. 5, a first portion of a first colored composite material is
formed by injection molding in a mold configured to provide the
first portion with the desired indentations and, optionally,
apertures. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, for example, the mold
70 includes an upper mold half 71a and a lower mold half 71b which
cooperate to form a recess in the shape of the first portion 20.
The mold 70 further includes pins 72 which form the apertures 40 of
the first portion as shown in FIG. 4. In a second step of the
injection molding process, the thus formed first portion 20 is
transferred to a second mold which is configured to allow injection
molding of the second portions in the surface indentations of the
first portion 20. The mold will also allow injection molding of the
composite material forming the second portion in the apertures 40
contained in the first portion 20. The apertures 40 facilitate
injection molding of the second portions as the composite material
may be injection molded through the apertures to distribute
material to indentations on both faces 22A and 22B of the first
portion 20.
[0028] Accordingly, the aperture in the first portion facilitates
manufacture of the present gaming chips in two or more colors in
mass quantities using injection molding techniques. One skilled in
the art will appreciate that other plastic molding techniques
and/or other manufacturing techniques may be used in preparing
gaming chips according to the invention and the resulting gaming
chips are equally within the scope of the present invention.
[0029] The size of the gaming chip, including the thickness and
diameter, may be varied in order to increase or decrease the weight
and substantive feel of the chip. In one embodiment, the chip is
configured to have a weight of from about 5 to about 15 grams, more
specifically from about 5 to about 10 grams, more particularly of
about 8.5 grams.
[0030] The examples and specific and preferred embodiments set
forth herein are exemplary in nature only and are not intended to
be limiting of the gaming chips and methods defined by the
following claims. Additional examples and embodiments of the
invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art
and are encompassed by the following claims.
* * * * *