U.S. patent application number 13/146018 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-05 for weighted gaming chip and method of producing a chip of this type.
Invention is credited to Pierre Chapet, Christophe Leparoux.
Application Number | 20120080841 13/146018 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41210511 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120080841 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chapet; Pierre ; et
al. |
April 5, 2012 |
WEIGHTED GAMING CHIP AND METHOD OF PRODUCING A CHIP OF THIS
TYPE
Abstract
The invention relates in particular to a gaming chip comprising
a weighting disc (3), the dimensions of which are smaller than
those of the chip, the weighting disc (3) being embedded in the
thickness of said chip. The chip is notable in that it comprises a
continuous ring (5) which is formed from a transparent material,
extends through the thickness of the chip and surrounds the
weighting disc (3) as closely as possible.
Inventors: |
Chapet; Pierre; (Beaune,
FR) ; Leparoux; Christophe; (Beaune, FR) |
Family ID: |
41210511 |
Appl. No.: |
13/146018 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
January 30, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2009/051099 |
371 Date: |
December 12, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/148R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 21/00 20130101;
A63F 11/0051 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/148.R |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 23, 2009 |
FR |
0950429 |
Claims
1. Gaming chip comprising: a weighting disc, the dimensions of
which are smaller than those of the chip, the weighting disc having
a first and second substantially planar surface and an edge and
being embedded in the thickness of said chip, wherein the weighting
disc further comprises a continuous ring which is formed from a
transparent material and extends through the thickness of the chip
and surrounds and covers the edge of the weighting disc such that
the edge of said weighting disc remains visible through said ring,
wherein said ring of transparent material covers the edge of the
weighting disc and overlaps a portion of said weighting disc on
said first and second surface forming a first and second inner
rim.
2. Chip according to claim 1, wherein said ring has a thickness
which is substantially equal to the thickness of the chip.
3. Chip according to claim 2, wherein said ring further comprises a
means for attaching a decorative element to said weighting disc,
said decorative element further comprising a first and second
substantially planar surface and an edge.
4. Chip according to claim 3, wherein said attachment means
comprise radial fingers which project from the edge of said
ring.
5. Chip according to claim 4, wherein the decorative element covers
said radial fingers.
6. Chip according to claim 5, wherein the decorative element is
obtained by injection-moulding material.
7. Chip according to claim 6, wherein the decorative element is
produced from a material weighted by particles.
8. Chip according to claim 6, wherein the decorative element is
produced from an opaque material.
9. Chip according to claim 3, wherein the decorative element
further comprises a plurality of surface relief portions formed on
said first substantially planar surface.
10. Chip according to claim 9, wherein said ring comprises radial
notches formed in the edge thereof, said notches being positioned
angularly between two edge relief portions formed on said edge of
said decorative element, wherein said edge relief portions extend
in part over said first and second substantially planar
surface.
11. Chip according to claim 10, wherein said chip comprises a layer
of material which is injection-moulded on the decorative element,
the surface of which is level with the surface of the portions in
relief.
12. Chip according to claim 1, wherein said weighting disc and said
transparent ring are circular.
13. Method of producing a chip comprising a weighting disc, the
dimensions of which are smaller than those of the chip, said method
comprises: arranging the weighting disc in a mould; and
injection-moulding a continuous ring made of a transparent material
around the weighting disc such that the transparent material
surrounds and covers the edge of the weighting disc so that the
edge of said weighting disc remains visible through said ring,
wherein said ring of transparent material covers the edge of the
weighting disc and overlaps a portion of said weighting disc on
said first and second surface forming a first and second inner
rim.
14. Production method according to claim 13, wherein the method
comprises a second injection-moulding step to provide a decorative
element around said ring.
15. Production method according to claim 14, wherein the
injection-moulding moulded decorative element comprises portions
which are in relief, and in that the injection-moulded ring
comprises radial notches which result from the weighting disc being
supported by the edge thereof during said first injection-moulding
process, said second injection-moulding step being carried out in
the following manner: arranging an assembly comprising the
weighting disc surrounded by said ring made of transparent material
in a second mould in such a way that said notches are positioned
angularly between two impressions which are produced in said second
mould and are intended to form two of said portions in relief of
said decorative element, injection-moulding material in said second
mould to form the decorative element.
16. Method according to claim 15, wherein the method comprises a
third step of injection-moulding material over an assembly
comprising said weighting disc, said ring obtained after said first
injection-moulding process in said first mould and said decorative
element obtained after said second injection-moulding process in
said second mould, said third injection-moulding step being carried
out in a third mould, the impression of which has a depth which is
substantially equal to the depth of said ring.
17. A gaming chip comprising: a weighting disc having dimensions
which are smaller than those of the gaming chip, the weighting disc
having a first and second substantially planar surface and an edge,
the weighting disc being embedded in the thickness of said chip; a
continuous ring formed from a transparent material and extends
through the thickness of the chip and substantially surrounds the
weighting disc such that the edge of said weighting disc is visible
through said ring and having a plurality of radial notches formed
on the edge of said ring of transparent material, wherein said ring
of transparent material overlaps a portion of said weighting disk
on said first and second surface forming a first and second inner
rim, said first and second inner rim being configured to project
over a portion of the respective first and second surface of the
weighting disc, said weighting disc further comprising a means for
attaching a decorative element to said weighting disc; and a
decorative element comprising a first and second substantially
planar surface and an edge, said decorative element having a
plurality of surface relief portions formed on said first
substantially planar surface and a plurality of edge relief
portions formed on the edge, wherein said edge relief portions
extend in part over said first and second substantially planar
surface, and wherein said plurality of radial notches formed in the
edge of said ring of transparent material are positioned angularly
between two of said plurality of edge relief portions.
18. A method for producing a gaming chip comprising: forming a
first part of said gaming chip by arranging a weighting disc in a
mould and held in place by a plurality of supporting fingers, a
first injection-moulding of a continuous ring made of a transparent
material around the weighting disc such that the transparent
material surrounds and covers the edge of the weighting disc so
that the edge of said weighting disc remains visible through said
ring and produces a plurality of radial fingers that project from
the edge of the ring, wherein said ring of transparent material
covers the edge of the weighting disc and overlaps a portion of
said weighting disc on said first and second surface forming a
first and second inner rim, and withdrawing the supporting fingers
from the weighting disc forming a plurality of notches in the ring
of transparent material; forming a second part of said gaming chip
by a second injection-moulding an opaque material to provide a
decorative element around said ring of transparent material,
wherein said decorative element is connected to said ring of
transparent material by the plurality of radial fingers, said
decorative element having a plurality of relief elements disposed
on a face and edge of said decorative element; and forming the
finished gaming chip by a third injection-moulding of an opaque
material over an assembly comprising said weighting disc, said ring
of transparent material obtained after said first
injection-moulding process and said decorative element obtained
after said second injection-moulding process, wherein said third
injection-moulding is carried out in a third mould, the impression
of which has a depth which is substantially equal to the depth of
said ring, wherein said material that is injected in said third
injection-moulding fills the notches within the ring of transparent
material to form a plurality of visible markings on the gaming
chip.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming chip of the type
comprising a weighting disc, the dimensions of which are smaller
than those of the chip, the weighting disc being embedded in the
thickness of said chip.
[0002] Chips of this type are described in particular in the patent
application FR 2 656 538.
[0003] The chips are formed from a synthetic material which is not
sufficient to provide the chip with the required weight alone.
[0004] Chip weight is an important aspect for the croupiers who
handle them. For example, the weight of said chips is generally
approximately 12 to 15 g for cylindrical chips. Chip weights which
are lower or greater than the range to which the croupier is
accustomed have a detrimental effect on the croupier's ability to
handle them.
[0005] A first solution to this problem is to insert (or embed) a
metal weight in the form of a disc into the chip.
[0006] A second solution is to mix the chip material with
densifying particles, i.e. particles which have a greater density
than those of this material in order to obtain a heavier material
which is referred to by those skilled in the art as "filled
material".
[0007] A third solution is to produce a chip comprising both a
weighting disc and a filled material. A chip of this type is
described in the patent application FR 2 656 538.
[0008] For counterfeiters wishing to produce counterfeit chips with
the same weight as genuine chips in a casino, it is easier to
insert weighting discs into chips than to produce chips using a
filled material, which is difficult to purchase commercially.
[0009] In addition, in order to forge authentic chips which
comprise both a weighting disc and a material filled with
densifying particles, the counterfeiters increase the size of the
weighting discs in the chips, the weighting discs being embedded in
a non-filled material which can easily be purchased
commercially.
[0010] The chips obtained in this way have a weight which is
similar to those which are conventionally handled by croupiers so
it is difficult to distinguish counterfeit chips by handling them
if their outer appearance does not indicate their counterfeit
origins.
[0011] The object of the invention is to provide weighted chips,
the authenticity of which can be easily confirmed.
[0012] For this purpose, the invention relates to a chip of the
aforementioned type which is notable in that it comprises a
continuous ring made of a transparent material which extends over
the thickness of the chip and surrounds the weighting disc of the
chip as closely as possible.
[0013] A croupier can easily confirm that a weighting disc is the
same size as that of a genuine chip in a single glance due to the
transparency of the ring which passes through the thickness of the
chip and completely surrounds the weighting disc.
[0014] In this way, a person with illegal intentions producing
weighted chips is no longer able to increase the size of the
weighting discs in the chips as a substitute for the material
filled with metal particles, thus making the process of
counterfeiting the chips more difficult. It should also be noted
that in genuine chips the weighting discs are generally barely
thinner than the chip, which prevents the weight of the chip from
being increased by increasing the thickness of the disc.
[0015] The chip according to the invention also comprises the
following features taken alone or in combination: [0016] said ring
has a thickness which is substantially equal to the thickness of
the chip; [0017] said ring comprises means for attaching a
decorative element; [0018] said attachment means comprise radial
fingers which project from the edge of said ring; [0019] the
decorative element covers said radial fingers; [0020] the
decorative element is obtained by injection-moulding material;
[0021] the decorative element is produced from a material weighted
by particles; [0022] the decorative element is produced from an
opaque material; [0023] the decorative element comprises portions
which are in relief; [0024] said injection-moulded ring comprises
radial notches formed in the edge thereof, said notches being
positioned angularly between two portions which are in relief;
[0025] it comprises a layer of material which is injection-moulded
on the decorative element, the surface of which is level with the
surface of the portions in relief.
[0026] The invention also relates to a method of producing chips of
this type.
[0027] In particular, the object of the method according to the
invention is the production of a chip comprising a weighting disc,
the dimensions of which are smaller than those of the chip, which
is notable in that it comprises the following steps: [0028]
arranging the weighting disc in a mould, [0029] injection-moulding
a continuous ring made of a transparent material around the
weighting disc.
[0030] The method according to the invention also comprises the
following steps, taken alone or in combination: [0031] arranging
the weighting disc in a mould; [0032] injection-moulding a
continuous ring made of a transparent material around said
weighting disc; [0033] it comprises a second injection-moulding
step to provide a decorative element around said ring; [0034] the
injection-moulded decorative element comprises portions which are
in relief, and the injection-moulded ring comprises radial notches
which result from the weighting disc being supported by the edge
thereof during said first injection-moulding process, said second
injection-moulding step being carried out in the following manner:
[0035] arranging an assembly comprising the weighting disc
surrounded by said ring made of transparent material in a second
mould in such a way that said notches are positioned angularly
between two impressions which are produced in said second mould and
are intended to form two of said portions in relief of said
decorative element; [0036] injection-moulding material in said
second mould to form the decorative element.
[0037] A clearer understanding of the invention will be facilitated
by the following description of embodiments with reference to the
appended drawings, in which:
[0038] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first assembly which
comprises a weighting disc and a ring and is obtained after a first
step of injection-moulding transparent material around said
weighting disc,
[0039] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second assembly which
comprises the first assembly shown in FIG. 1 and a decorative
element obtained after a second step of injection-moulding a filled
material around said first assembly, and
[0040] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a chip obtained after a
third step of injection-moulding a layer of decorative material on
the second assembly shown in FIG. 2.
[0041] FIG. 1 shows a first part 1 of the chip obtained after a
first step of producing a chip according to the invention.
[0042] The first part of the chip comprises a weighting disc 3
which is cylindrical and substantially planar.
[0043] The weighting disc 3 is made of metal or a heavy metal alloy
such as brass.
[0044] In another embodiment which is not described but would also
be in accordance with the invention the weighting disc 3 may also
be produced in the form of a disc comprising an electronic chip
which is coated in resin, the resin/chip assembly being embedded in
a plastics material filled with densifying particles such as
tungsten particles.
[0045] The first part 1 of the chip also comprises a ring 5 which
surrounds the weighting disc 3 around the edge thereof as closely
as possible.
[0046] The ring 5 is formed from a transparent material such as a
transparent plastics material.
[0047] The ring 5 is circular and continuous, i.e. it completely
surrounds the edge of the weighting disc 3 without being truncated
in the vicinity of the edge of the weighting disc 3.
[0048] The edge of the weighting disc is thus completely visible
through the ring 5.
[0049] In order to remain arranged against the weighting disc 3,
the ring 5 encloses the weighting disc 3 between two inner rims 7,
each rim 7 projecting over a face of the weighting disc 3.
[0050] The thickness of the ring 5 is substantially equal to the
final thickness of the chip.
[0051] On its edge 9, the ring 5 comprises means 11 for attaching a
decorative element shown in FIG. 2.
[0052] These attachment means are in the form of radial fingers 11
which project from the edge of the ring 5.
[0053] The fingers 11 are substantially parallelepiped-shaped.
[0054] The fingers 11 are distributed uniformly in groups of two
about the axis of the ring 5.
[0055] The ring 5 also comprises radial notches 13 which are formed
at regular intervals about the axis of said ring 5.
[0056] The radial notches 13 are arranged in pairs and are formed
in part in the edge of said ring 5 between two fingers 11 in a
group of two fingers 11. The notches 13 of a pair of notches are
aligned axially and separated from one another by a portion of the
ring 5, of which the thickness is reduced but the diameter is the
same as the rest of the ring.
[0057] Each of the radial notches 13 represents a partial
truncation 15 of an edge 17 of the ring 5 for reasons which shall
be explained below.
[0058] The first part 1 of the chip currently being described is
produced as follows:
[0059] In a first stage, the weighting disc 3 is arranged in a
mould and is held in place by supporting fingers (not shown) which
are distributed around the weighting disc 3 and which abut the edge
of the weighting disc 3.
[0060] The transparent plastics material is injection-moulded
around the weighting disc 3 in the mould to form the ring 5.
[0061] The fingers for supporting the weighting disc are then
withdrawn from the mould before the first part 1 of the chip thus
obtained is removed from the mould.
[0062] The withdrawal of the supporting fingers thus leaves
impressions which form the notches 13 in the ring 5.
[0063] FIG. 2 shows a second part 19 of the chip which is obtained
after a second step in the production of a chip according to the
invention.
[0064] The second part 19 of the chip is formed from the first part
1 of the chip and a decorative element 21. The decorative element
21 is in the form of a flattened ring which surrounds the ring 5
and is connected thereto by the attachment fingers 11.
[0065] The decorative element 21 is thinner than the ring 5 with
the exception of the decorative portions thereof which are
described below.
[0066] The decorative element 21 is obtained by a second step of
injection-moulding a second material around the ring 5. The second
material is preferably not transparent. The second material is an
opaque material which is filled with material liable to increase
the weight thereof such as clay or barium sulphate particles, metal
particles or any other densifying particles.
[0067] By way of example, the transparent plastics material used to
form the ring has a density of 1 whereas the second material used
to form the decorative element 21 has a density of 2.34.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 2, the decorative element 21 has elements
23, 24 and 25 which are in relief.
[0069] The elements 23 and 24 in relief are formed on one of the
two substantially planar opposing faces 27 of the annular
decorative elements 21 and form, for example, elements 23
indicating the value represented by the chip and decorative
elements 24.
[0070] The elements 25 in relief are formed on the edge 29 of the
decorative elements 21 and extend in part over the substantially
planar opposing surfaces 27. The elements 25 in relief form, for
example, elements indicating the value of the chip for a croupier
assigned to handle them, the number of elements 25 in relief which
are formed on the edge of the chip matching the value attributed to
the chip for example.
[0071] The elements 23 and 24 in relief on the one hand and the
element 25 in relief on the other are of such a thickness that they
are level with the lateral surface(s) and with the edge of the
finished chip respectively.
[0072] In order to form the decorative element 21, the first part 1
of the chip is arranged in a second mould in such a way that the
notches 13 are positioned angularly symmetrically between two
consecutive peripheral impressions formed in the second mould in
order to produce two elements 25 which are in relief on the edge of
the decorative element 21. The projecting fingers 11 are received
in complementary recesses (not shown) of the second mould in order
to ensure the angular position of said notches.
[0073] In fact, as will be explained below, the notches 13 will be
filled with a layer of material 30 in order to form visible
markings which visually break up the surface of the transparent
ring 5 on the chip, said transparent ring not being interrupted
between two axially aligned layers.
[0074] Therefore, by positioning the first part of the chip in the
second mould in a particular manner, the markings are always
arranged angularly in the same manner in relation to the decorative
elements 25 on all the genuine chips in such a way that the
positioning thereof represents an additional marker providing a
visual indication to a croupier that the chip is a genuine
chip.
[0075] It is also provided that empty gaps 31 in the form of
annular sectors are left between the annular decorative elements 21
and the ring 5 in such a way that the covering layer 30, which is
injection-moulded in the third step in the production of the chip,
covers the depth of the chip.
[0076] The layer 30 is thus more solid and this makes the
destruction thereof difficult.
[0077] The covering layer 30 which is injection-moulded in a third
step is opaque, and is preferably a colour which is different from
that of the filled material from which the decorative element 21 is
formed in such a way that the elements 23, 24 and 25 in relief,
which are level with the surface of the finished chip, are visible
(see FIG. 3).
[0078] In order to form the layer 30, the second part 19 of the
chip, which is obtained after injection-moulding the filled
material on the first part 1 of the chip, is arranged in a third
mould.
[0079] The third mould has an impression, the depth of which is
substantially equal to that of the final chip, and therefore
substantially equal to the thickness of the ring 5.
[0080] The second part 19 of the chip is held in the third mould by
the filled disc 3 or by the ring 5 in such a way that the
injection-moulded layer 30 does not show any indication of having
been held when the chip is removed from the mould.
[0081] The layer 30 is injection-moulded in such a way that the
layer 30 does not cover the ring 5. The ring 5 therefore remains
completely visible.
[0082] Since the third mould has an impression with a depth which
is substantially equal to that of the final chip, the surface of
the layer 30 is level with the surface of the portions 23, 24 and
25 in relief.
[0083] The weighting disc 3, which is slightly thinner than the
ring 5, may also be covered by an adhesive decorative element,
provided that this decorative element does not cover the
transparent ring 5.
[0084] The thickness of the ring 5 is substantially equal to that
of the finished chip and therefore extends through the thickness of
the chip. It is thus possible to verify that the chip does not have
a weighting disc with a greater surface area than those in genuine
chips which would pass through the ring. The transparent ring 5 is
continuous and not interrupted visually except by the markings
formed by the layers 30.
[0085] The description above has shown how the invention enables
the authenticity of a weighted chip to be verified easily.
[0086] It should, however, be understood that the invention is not
limited to the specific embodiment described and any equivalent
means are included in the scope of the invention.
[0087] In particular, the ring and the weighting disc may have
different, non-circular shapes such as a rectangle, flower, star or
ellipse without departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *