U.S. patent number 3,877,473 [Application Number 05/395,831] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-15 for bingo type chip dispenser.
Invention is credited to Leslie Williams.
United States Patent |
3,877,473 |
Williams |
April 15, 1975 |
Bingo type chip dispenser
Abstract
An open based plastic tube carries the disc-like chips stacked
therein and these are prevented from discharge through the base by
a pair of small projections on the inner wall near the base.
Manipulative pincer-type means engage through the side walls of the
tube just above the base and when these are actuated, the prongs
engage between the lowermost chip and the one next above thereby
forcing the lowermost chip past the projections so that it
discharges through the base. When the manipulative means is
released, gravity moves the stack of chips down the tube so that
the next chip is ready for dispensing. An alternative embodiment
has a pair of pivotal jaws in the base thereof with legs extending
downwardly below the base so that the tube can be pressed upon a
supporting surface thereby discharging one chip at a time each time
the tube is depressed.
Inventors: |
Williams; Leslie (Winnipeg,
Manitoba, CA) |
Family
ID: |
23564709 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/395,831 |
Filed: |
September 10, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/297 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
11/0002 (20130101); A63F 3/062 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
9/00 (20060101); A63F 3/06 (20060101); G07d
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;133/5A,5R
;221/223,267,289,297,221,250,299 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Kocovsky; Thomas E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ade; Stanley G.
Claims
What I claim as my invention is:
1. A storage container and dispenser for disc-like chips used for
bingo and the like, comprising a cylindrical casing having an open
base, and adapted to hold a plurality of said chips in stacked
relationship therein, means adjacent the open base restraining the
chips from discharge through said base and manipulative means
exteriorly of said cylindrical casing engageable through apertures
in the wall of said case, to urge the lowermost chip past the means
for restraining the chips from discharge, said means exteriorly of
said cylindrical casing comprising a flexible, substantially oval
band freely surrounding said casing, and a plurality of inturned
wedge shaped inwardly facing portions on the inner surface of said
band engageable within said apertures and adapted to separate the
lowermost chip from the chips superadjacent thereto within said
casing, and to discharge said lowermost chip past said means for
restraining said chips from discharge.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means to
facilitate the placing of chips upon a game card such as a bingo
card. Normally various forms of markers are used by people playing
bingo and many of these take the form of small disc-like plastic
chips.
These are often carried in a box or bag and have to be handled
individually and placed upon the correct square. When a person is
playing a plurality of bingo cards, this procedure is extremely
awkward and there is always the possibility of the balance of the
chips being spilled inadvertently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes disadvantages normally inherent
with the use of conventional plastic chips in the playing of games
like bingo by providing a tube or cylinder within which the chips
may be stacked and means on said cylinder to dispense said chips
one by one as and when required.
The principal object and essence of the invention is therefore to
provide a device of the character herewithin described which
enables a player to dispense one chip at a time and upon the
requisite square on a playing card such as a bingo card.
Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the
character herewithin described in which the tube can be grasped
with one hand and the thumb and forefinger used to dispense the
chip through the open base of the cylinder.
Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the
character herewithin described which includes an embodiment whereby
downward pressure of the tube upon the playing card automatically
dispenses a chip upon the card.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of
the character herewithin described which is preferably made of
transparent plastic to that the contents of the tube can be viewed
at all times.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the
character herewithin described which prevents the chips from being
spilled inadvertently.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the
character herewithin described which is simple in construction,
economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose
for which it is designed.
With the foregoing object in view, and such other or further
purposes, advantages or novel features as may become apparent from
consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present
invention consists of the inventive concept which is comprised,
embodied, embraced, or included in the means, method, process,
product, construction, composition, arrangement of parts, or new
use of any of the foregoing, herein exemplified in one or more
specific embodiments of such concept, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment sectioned in part to
show the interior thereof.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary partially sectioned view of the lower end
of a further embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned fragmentary view of a still further
embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the lower end of a still further
embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a section through the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a conventional plastic chip
often used for playing bingo.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference
character 10 illustrates a cylindrical tube or casing preferably
made of transparent plastic and having a friction type cap 11 on
the upper end thereof.
The lower end 12 is open and the tube is designed to receive a
stack of disc-like chips 13 one upon the other as clearly
illustrated in FIG. 1.
A plurality of small projections 14 extend inwardly from the wall
of the tube or casing 10 adjacent the lower end 12 thereof and the
lowermost chips specifically designated 13A rests upon these
projections thus preventing the chips from discharging
inadvertently through the base 12.
Means are provided to discharge chips one at a time through the
base when desired and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this means
takes the form of a pair of resilient plastic fingers 15 one upon
each side of the casing thereof and being secured by the upper ends
16 thereof to the outer wall of the casing 10. Wedge shaped
portions 17 are formed on the lower ends of these fingers 15 and
are inturned substantially at right angles to the main portion of
the fingers, these wedge shaped lower ends 17 engaging through
apertures 18 formed within the wall of the casing just above the
projections 14.
When it is desired to dispense a chip through the base 12, these
fingers are pressed inwardly in the direction of arrows 19 so that
the wedge shaped lower ends 17 engage between the lowermost chip
13A and the one next above specifically designated 13B.
The wedging action of the lower ends 17 forces this lowermost chip
13A past the projections 14 thus enabling the lowermost chip to be
deposited upon the game card or the like (not illustrated).
When the resilient fingers 15 are released, they return to the
outermost position so that the entire stack of chips 13 moves
downwardly whereupon the next succeeding chip 13B becomes the
lowermost chip 13A and is ready for dispensing when required.
Reference should be made to FIG. 6 in which a conventional chip is
shown in side elevation. The perametrical edge 20 of these chips is
beveled as clearly shown thus facilitating the engagement of the
wedge shaped lower ends 17 when moved inwardly. Alternatively the
edges may be rounded as in FIG. 6 but the action is similar.
FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment in which the fingers 16A are
provided with wedge shaped lower ends 17A and downwardly extending
projections 21.
Situated in the wall of the tube or cylinder casing 10 is a pair of
pivotal portions 22 pivoting upon a pin 23 and having beveled upper
faces 24 together with inwardly extending chip restraining portions
14A.
In operation this embodiment, movement of the fingers 16A in the
direction of arrows 19A separates the lowermost chip 13A from the
chip immediately thereabove 13B and the projecting portions 21
strike the upper ends of the pivoting portions 22 thus rocking them
and moving the restraining portions 14A out of the way so that the
chip can be dispensed through the open base. The sloping upper
sides 24 engage the upper portions 20A of the beveled perimeter of
the chip 13A. These pivotal portions are preferably spring biassed
(not illustrated) so that they normally return to the position
shown in FIG. 2, when the fingers 16A are released.
FIG. 3 shows a still further embodiment which includes combination
dispensing end restraining portions 25 pivoted upon pins 26, to the
enlarged base 27 of the cylindrical casing 10 adjacent the lower
open end 12 thereof.
These portions include chip engaging jaws 28 on the inner sides
thereof and downwardly and outwardly curving legs 29 which extend
below the base 12 of the tube. The portions 25 are normally biassed
to the position shown in FIG. 3 by means of small leaf springs
30.
In operation of this embodiment, downward pressure of the tube or
casing upon a supporting surface 31 causes the portions 25 to pivot
in the direction of arrows 32 thus causing the jaws 28 to move the
lowermost chip 13A through the open base 12 yet restraining the
remainder of the chips from discharging. Upon release of the
downward pressure upon the cylindrical casing 10, the portions 25
return to the original position and are then embracing the next
suceeding chip 13B.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show the preferred embodiment of the invention which
includes an oval shaped resilient band 33 engaged around the
cylindrical casing 10 adjacent the lower end 12 thereof. A pair of
wedge shaped portions 34 are formed on the inner wall of the band
33 and these normally engage just within apertures 18 adjacent the
base 12. Pressure upon the widest portion of the band, at which
points are located the wedge shaped portions 34, forces these wedge
shaped portions through these apertures and separates the lowermost
chip 13A, forcing it past the projections 14 in a manner similar to
that described for the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.
Release of the pressure of course permits the oval band 33 to
return to the position shown in FIG. 5. The direction of the inward
pressure is shown by reference character 35 in FIG. 5.
Various modifications may be constructed or performed within the
scope of the inventive concept disclosed. Therefore what has been
set forth is intended to illustrate such concept and is not for the
purpose of limiting protection to any herein particularly described
embodiment thereof.
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