Gambling chip

• US 5,895,321 A
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gaming Partners International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Etablissements Bourgogne et Grasset SA (Gaming Partners International Corporation)
• Inventors: Boiron, Dominique, Gassies, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US08/750,800
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148 R, 273/288, 463/29, 463/25, 40/27.5
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 21/00 Coins coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms G07F1/06; Emergency money; Beer or gambling coins or tokens, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14852 incorporating articles with a data carrier, e.g. chips memory cards, chip cards B29L2017/006
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14467 Joining articles or parts of a single article B29C45/14377, B29C45/14385, B29C45/14581, B29C45/14614 and B29C45/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/047 the record carrier being shaped as a coin or a gambling token
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07724 the record carrier being at least partially made by a molding process molding in general B29C45/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/06 Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

The gambling chip 10, having the general shape of a disc, includes two identical half-discs 11 and 12 in contact via axial spacing rings 21 and 22 respectively located on their internal faces. The half-discs 11 and 12 made of rigid plastic are fastened together by injection of a plastic seal 14 on the edge 35 of the chip into a peripheral annular region 16 lying between the two half-discs 11 and 12. The half-discs 11 and 12 have a central recess 26, 27 forming an internal central region 28 taking an electronic identification device 30 embedded in a wafer based on epoxy resin.

Claims

1. A gaming token, comprising:

first and second plates disposed adjacent each other about a common central axis;

a projection extending from at least one of said first and second plates, said projection facing the other of said at least one of said first and second plates, an area between an outer periphery of said projection and an outer edge of said first and second plates defining an interior region;

a third plate disposed in said interior region about said projection of said at least one of said first and second plates;

said first and second plates and an inner periphery of said projection defining a central region receiving an insert, said insert being an electronic element which stores information associated with said token, said information including at least one of an identification number, a casino identifier, and a value of said gaming token.

2. The gaming token of claim 1, wherein said electronic element includes a receiver/transmitter having an antenna, and is powered by inductive coupling.

3. The gaming token of claim 1, wherein said insert is held in said central region by at least one of an adhesive, and a resin, and said insert is one of covered with a varnish and encapsulated within a wafer.

4. The gaming token according to claim 1, wherein said plates are one of substantially disc or polyhedral-shaped, or said projection is one of substantially polyhedral and ring-shaped.

5. The gaming token according to claim 1, wherein said projection is one of continuous or discontinuous.

6. The gaming token according to claim 1, wherein said projection extends from said first plate, and an opposing side of said second plate is substantially flat.

7. The gaming token according to claim 1, wherein said projection is a ring, extending from both said first and second plates, which can mate to interlock.

8. The gaming token according to claim 1, wherein said first and second plates are identical.

9. The gaming token according to claim 1, wherein said projection from said at least first and second plates includes a first projection from said first plate and a second projection from said second plate, said first and second projections including at least one stud and at least one complementary recess to facilitate connection of said first and second projections.

10. The gaming chip of claim 1, wherein said inner periphery of said projection has at least one shoulder which can support said insert.

11. The gaming token of claim 1, wherein said central region is at least partially filled with one of an adhesive and a resin.

12. The gaming token of claim 1, wherein said first and second plates are made from at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

polyacetal and acetal copolymers;

polyamides and their copolymers;

poly (alkylens terephthalates) polymers, including polybutylene terephthalate (PBT);

thermoplastic polyurethanes (PUT);

vinyl polymers, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC); and

polyolefins, including polyethylenes (PE) and polypropylenes.

13. The gaming token of claim 1, wherein said third plate is made from at least one material selected from the group consisting:

polyacetal and acetal copolymers (POM);

polyamides and their copolymers;

poly (alkylens terephthalates) polymers, especially polybutylene terephthalate (PBT);

thermoplastic polyurethanes (PUT);

vinyl polymers, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC); and

polyolefins, including polyethylenes (PE) and polypropylenes.

14. A gaming token, comprising:

first and second plates disposed adjacent each other about a common central axis;

a projection extending from at least one of said first and second plates, said projection facing the other of said at least one of said first and second plates, an area between an outer periphery of said projection and an outer edge of said first and second plates defining an interior region;

a third plate disposed in said interior region about said projection of said at least one of said first and second plates; and

a plurality of radial projections on at least one of said first and second plates.

15. The gaming token according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of radial projections extend one of radially inward from an outer periphery of said at least one of said first and second plates and extends radially outward from said projection.

16. A gaming token, comprising:

first and second plates disposed adjacent each other about a common central axis;

a projection extending from at least one of said first and second plates, said projection facing the other of said at least one of said first and second plates, an area between an outer periphery of said projection and an outer edge of said first and second plates defining an interior region;

a third plate disposed in said interior region about said projection of said at least one of said first and second plates; and

a projection which extends from a center from at least one of said first and second plates.

17. A gaming token, comprising:

first and second plates disposed adjacent each other about a common central axis;

a projection extending from at least one of said first and second plates, said projection facing the other of said at least one of said first and second plates, an area between an outer periphery of said projection and an outer edge of said first and second plates defining an interior region;

a third plate disposed in said interior region about said projection of said at least one of said first and second plates; and

at least one of said first and second plates include at least one of a peripheral cutout and an aperture, said third plate extending through said at least one of said peripheral cutout and said aperture.

18. The gaming token of claim 17, wherein said at least one of a peripheral cutout and an aperture is beveled to lock said third plate and at least one of said first and second plates.

19. A gaming chip, comprising:

first and second coaxial discs having first and second coaxial substantially ring-shaped projections, respectively, said first and second projections mating to separate a space between said first and second discs into a central region and an outer annular region; and

a sealant, injection molded into at least said outer annular region.

20. The gaming chip of claim 19, wherein said central region receives an insert, said insert being at least one of a ballast, said sealant, and an electronic element which can store and transmit information associated said gaming chip.

21. The gaming chip of claim 20, wherein said insert is held in said central region by at least one of an adhesive, and a resin, and said insert is one of covered in varnish and encapsulated in a wafer.

22. The gaming chip according to claim 19, said first and second projections mating to form one of a continuous barrier to prevent said sealant from entering said central region, and a discontinuous barrier to permit introduction of said sealant into said central region.

23. The gaming chip of claim 19, at least one of said first and second discs including at least one radially extending finger in said outer annular region to guide the application of said sealant.

24. A gaming chip, comprising:

first and second discs, each having a circular projection which can mate to separate a surface between said first and second disks into a central region and an outer annular region;

a sealant disposed between said first and second discs in said outer annular region; and

said circular projection of said first and second discs preventing said sealant from entering into said central region.

25. The gaming chip of claim 24, wherein said sealant and said first and second discs form the exterior of said gaming chip.

26. The gaming chip of claim 24, wherein an electronic device, capable of storing and transmitting information associated with said gaming chip, is disposed in said central region.

27. The gaming chip of claim 26, further comprising a U-shaped projection disposed within said central region, an inner portion of said U-shaped projection defining a receiving area for said electronic element, and a region between said U-shaped projection and said circular projection defining an antenna receiving area.

28. The gaming chip of claim 24, wherein said circular protrusion includes at least one extension and at least one recess which can mate with an identical configuration in an adjacent disc.

29. The gaming chip of claim 24, wherein said first and second discs include at least one of a peripheral cut-out and an aperture, said sealant extending through said at least one of a peripheral cut-out and aperture to further form the exterior surface of said gaming chip.

30. The gaming chip of claim 29, wherein:

said at least one peripheral cut-out and aperture form a pattern;

said sealant having a different color from said first and second discs such that the extension of said sealant forms patterns on said exterior surface of said chip.

31. The gaming chip of claim 29, wherein said at least one of a peripheral cut-out and an aperture are beveled to lock said sealant with said first and second discs.

32. A system for using gaming chips, comprising:

a plurality of gaming chips, comprising;

first and second discs, each having a projection which can mate to separate a surface between said first and second disks into a central region and an outer annular region;

a sealant disposed between said first and second discs in said outer annular region; and

an electronic element, disposed in said central region, capable of storing and transmitting information associated with said gaming chip; and

an electronic reader, capable of communicating with at least one of said plurality of chips placed in proximity to said reader by retrieving said information from said electronic element in at least one of said plurality of chips.

33. A gaming chip, comprising:

first and second adjacent plates, at least one of said first and second plates having a projection to separate said first and second plates;

at least one of said first and second plates having at least one of an at least one peripheral cut-out and at least one aperture;

a sealant filling an area between said first and second adjacent plates and extending into said at least one of an at least one peripheral cut-out and at least one aperture.

34. The gaming chip according to claim 33, wherein said at least one of an at least one peripheral cut-out and at least one aperture form at least one of a pattern and a decoration on an exterior surface of said gaming chip.

35. The gaming chip according to claim 33, wherein said at least one of an at least one peripheral cut-out and at least one aperture is beveled to interlock said sealant with said first and second plates.

36. A gaming token, comprising:

first and second plates disposed adjacent each other about a common central axis;

a projection extending from at least one of said first and second plates, said projection facing the other of said at least one of said first and second plates, an area between an outer periphery of said projection and an outer edge of said first and second plates defining an interior region; and

a third plate disposed in said interior region about said projection of said at least one of said first and second plates to connect said first and second plates,

wherein at least one of said first and second plates includes at least a peripheral cut-out and an aperture, wherein said third plate overlaps into said at least a peripheral cut-out and an aperture to lock said third plate with said at least one of said first and second plates.

37. A gaming token, comprising:

first and second plates disposed adjacent each other about a common central axis;

a projection extending from each of said first and second plates, said projections facing the other of said first and second plates, an area between an outer periphery of said projections and an outer edge of said first and second plates defining an interior region;

at least a portion of said projection of said first plate having a lip;

at least a portion of said projection of said second plate having a groove for receiving said lip; and

a third plate disposed in said interior region about said projections of said first and second plates to connect said first and second plates,

wherein at least one of said first and second plates includes at least a peripheral cut-out and an aperture, wherein said third plate overlaps into said at least a peripheral cut-out and an aperture to lock said third plate with said at least one of said first and second plates.

38. The gaming token of claim 37, wherein said first and second plates have identical shapes.

39. A gaming token, comprising:

first and second plates disposed adjacent each other about a common central axis;

a projection extending from at least one of said first and second plates, said projection facing the other of said at least one of said first and second plates, an area between an outer periphery of said projection and an outer edge of said first and second plates defining an interior region; and

a third plate disposed in said interior region about said projection of said at least one of said first and second plates, said third plate fastening to said first and second plates free of adhesive.