EP0444373A1 - Chip for game table - Google Patents

Abstract

This chip comprises a central part (6, 17, 24), produced in a heavy material, in the shape of a circular disc, a first part made from synthetic material forming a ring (7, 19) surrounding the central part and covering over the latter at least over a part of each of its faces, and a second part made from synthetic material (9, 23) covering over the ring of the first part made from synthetic material on each of its faces and over at least a part of its edge. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a token for a game table.

It is the rule in casinos to bet when playing different games using chips called American chips. There are two types of tokens, value tokens and worthless tokens. The value tokens are marked with the value of each token, the player having to use one or more tokens simultaneously according to the amount he wishes to bet.

There are also worthless tokens, used exclusively for American roulette, which do not contain any numerical mention, but carry a sign (letter, logo, drawing) which makes it possible to identify them as belonging to a particular roulette table. It goes without saying that at a game table, it is advisable to have a certain number of worthless tokens of different colors, in general seven, which makes it possible to assign a color to each player of the table, and therefore to distinguish the bets of each player.

Each color of worthless tokens receives a particular value which is assigned to it by the player according to the bets authorized at the table at which it is located.

Whether they are value tokens, or worthless tokens, all these can bear the mark of the casino to which they belong, indications of value, as well as various distinctive signs constituted for example by indentations at the level of their edges allowing a croupier to immediately identify, in a stack of tokens, the value of the different tokens when it comes to valuable tokens. Indentations on the edge of worthless tokens, whatever their form, can identify the gaming table, to which they belong, or the casino.

It should also be considered that these tokens are manipulated on numerous occasions, that they are subjected to friction phenomena on each other or on the game tables. They should therefore be made of a resistant material, and have a sufficient weight to allow easy handling.

Tokens currently on the market have the drawback of being complex to produce, which results in a high cost price. In particular, when it is desired to make tokens with indentations on the edge to identify their value, it is generally proceeded to the realization of a disc in synthetic material which, when it is always in a malleable form, undergoes cuts at the level of its edge, in which are engaged pieces of different colors before realization of a compression molding . Furthermore, tokens made of thermosetting material by compression molding have other drawbacks: poor resistance to wear, brittle edges, dull colors, very rapid soiling. In particular, they are unsuitable for sorting in an automatic machine.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by providing a token which, depending on the details of its structure, can just as easily constitute a valuable token as a worthless token.

To this end, the token it relates to comprises a central part made of a heavy material, in the form of a circular disc, a first part made of synthetic material forming a crown surrounding the central part and covering the latter at least over a part of each of its faces, and a second part in synthetic material covering the crown of the first part in synthetic material on each of its faces, and on at least part of its edge.

In particular, these tokens offer very good resistance to wear and impact and get dirty much less quickly due to the thermoplastic material used. On the other hand, the fact of making them by injection allows a partial automation of the production.

According to a first embodiment of this token, it comprises a metal part, on which is overmolded a part made of synthetic material comprising an overhanging crown, and covering the central part of the metal part, and a second part made of synthetic covering the crown of the first part on each of its faces and on at least part of its peripheral edge or edge.

This solution is particularly suitable for making a worthless token.

According to another embodiment of this token, it comprises a central part made of synthetic material loaded with materials capable of increasing its weight such as particles of clay or barium sulphate, this first part comprising a crown surrounding the central part in the form of a disc, and coming from molding with it, and a second part made of synthetic material covering the crown on each of its faces and on at least part of its peripheral edge.

This embodiment is very advantageous since it makes it possible to obtain a token after only two successive operations of molding synthetic material.

According to one embodiment of this token, the second part made of synthetic material, covering the edge of the token as well as the two faces of the latter on a zone in the form of a crown, has raised faces relative to the plane of the central part obtained. during the first molding, the recess thus formed in the central part serving to accommodate a decorative patch.

According to another embodiment of this token, the crown-shaped part resulting from the second injection of synthetic material, is located on each face of the token substantially in the same plane of the central part resulting from the injection of the first synthetic material, this central part being decorated for example by a screen printing technique before performing the second injection.

These are two distinct embodiments making it possible to obtain a decoration of the central part in the form of a disc, this central part in the form of a disc being in both cases located substantially in the same plane as one of the faces. of the peripheral crown after making the token.

According to another embodiment of this token, the heavy central part is constituted by two metal discs, one of the faces of which is struck to present a decoration, the two metal discs being placed back to back, and kept in contact l 'one against the other by the plastic crown covering their respective edges, obtained during the first injection of material.

• Figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un jeton sans valeur ;
• Figure 2 est une vue en demi-coupe de l'âme du jeton de figure 1 ;
• Figures 3 et 4 sont deux vues en demi-coupe de deux stades de réalisation du jeton de figure 1 ;
• Figures 5 et 6 sont deux vues correspondant, respectivement, à celles de figures 3 et 4 d'une variante d'exécution du jeton de figure 1 ;
• Figure 7 est une vue en perspective d'un jeton de valeur ;
• Figures 8 à 10 sont trois vues en demi-coupe du jeton de valeur de figure 7, au cours de trois stades de sa fabrication ;
• Figures 11 à 13 sont trois vues, correspondant à figures 8 à 10 respectivement, d'une variante d'exécution du jeton de figure 7.

In any case, the invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting examples, several forms of execution of this token:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a worthless token;
• Figure 2 is a half-sectional view of the core of the token of Figure 1;
• Figures 3 and 4 are two half-section views of two stages of production of the token of Figure 1;
• Figures 5 and 6 are two views corresponding, respectively, to those of Figures 3 and 4 of an alternative embodiment of the token of Figure 1;
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of a valuable token;
• Figures 8 to 10 are three half-section views of the value token of Figure 7, during three stages of its manufacture;
• Figures 11 to 13 are three views, corresponding to Figures 8 to 10 respectively, of an alternative embodiment of the token of Figure 7.

The worthless token, represented in FIG. 1 and designated by the reference 2, comprises, on each of its faces, a central part 3 comprising a decoration as well as, possibly, the identification of the casino and, in its section 4, indentations 5 intended to identify the tokens of a table, giving these indentations colors different from those of the token or characteristic shapes.

The worthless token 2 comprises a central core which is constituted by a metal part 6 in the form of a disc.

In the embodiment, represented in FIGS. 3 and 4, there is first of all an over-injection, on the metal part 6, of synthetic material covering the two faces of this part and having an entourage thereof. ci in the form of a crown 7, from the edge of which small particles 8 project.

In a next phase of production, a second part of synthetic material is injected, this synthetic material forming a crown 9 covering the crown 7 and the edge thereof, while leaving visible the faces of the particles. 8 facing outwards which form the indentations 5.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, on each side of the token, the plane of the crown 9 is located above the plane of the central part 10 obtained by covering the metal part 6 during the first injection. The cavity thus delimited serves for embedding a patch 12 comprising the central decoration 3.

Figures 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of this token in which the same elements are designated by the same references as above.

In this case, the part 10a covering the metal part 6 on each of its faces is raised relative to the plane of the crown 7, so that after injection of the crown 9, the latter is in the same plane than part 10a.

In such a case, the decoration 3 is obtained by a screen printing or similar operation carried out between the first and second injections.

FIG. 7 represents a token of value 13. This token has, on each of its faces, a central part 14 comprising the indication of the casino as well as the market value of the token. In its edge 15 and on its surface, indentations 16 of color are provided, each type of indentation being specific to a defined value, this in order to allow a croupier to determine the overall value of a stack of tokens.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 8 to 10, this token comprises a central part consisting of two metal parts 17 struck on one of their faces and arranged back to back, in contact with each other.

These two metal discs are put into place in a mold, with a view to injecting a piece 18 of synthetic material comprising a crown 19, a more or less large area 20 for covering the two pieces, able to retain them, as well as parts 22 projecting from the periphery of the crown 19.

An overmolding operation is then carried out using a second synthetic material 23 which covers the crown 19, on the two faces of the latter as well as on its edge, leaving visible the parts 22 which form the indentations. 16.

Figures 11 to 13 show an alternative embodiment of this token in which the same elements are designated by the same references as above.

In this case, the central part no longer consists of two metal parts struck, but by a metal disc 24 whose faces are flat and are each coated with a pad 25 bearing the necessary indications.

The assembly of the metal disc 24 and the two pellets 25 is made integral by the part 20 during the first molding operation.

As is apparent from the above, the invention brings a great improvement to the existing technique by providing a token whose general structure allows the production of either value tokens or worthless tokens, this realization being simple and of a moderate cost while allowing obtaining a quality product.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the sole embodiments of this token, described above by way of examples; on the contrary, it embraces all of its variant embodiments.

It is thus in particular that it would be possible not to provide a metal part in the center of the token, the desired weight being obtained by integrating fillers such as barium sulfate, in the synthetic material, or even only in the case of '' a valuable token comprising struck metal parts, the edges of these are bevelled, in order to ensure their hold, in the synthetic material, by the edge, without requiring covering of their external faces, without that so far from the scope of the invention.

Claims (6)

Token for game table, characterized in that it comprises a central part (17,24) made of a heavy material, in the form of a circular disc, a first part in synthetic material forming a crown (19) surrounding the central part and covering the latter at least on part of each of its faces, and a second part in synthetic material (23) covering the crown of the first part in synthetic material on each of its faces, and on at least part of its edge . Token according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a metal part (6), on which is overmolded a part made of synthetic material comprising a crown (7) projecting from it, and covering the central part of the metal part, and a second part in synthetic material (9) covering the crown of the first part on each of its faces and on at least part of its peripheral edge or edge. Token according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a central part made of synthetic material loaded with materials capable of increasing its weight, such as particles of clay or barium sulphate, this first part comprising a crown surrounding the part central disc-shaped, and coming from molding with it, and a second part made of synthetic material covering the crown on each of its faces and on at least part of its peripheral edge. Token according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second part (9) of synthetic material, covering the edge of the token as well as the two faces of the latter on a zone in the shape of a crown, comprises faces raised relative to the plane of the central part (10) obtained during the first molding, the recess thus formed in the central part serving to accommodate a decorative patch (12). Token according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the crown-shaped part (9) resulting from the second injection of synthetic material, is located on each face of the token substantially in the same plane of the central part (10a) resulting from the injection of the first synthetic material, this central part being decorated for example by a screen printing technique before carrying out the second injection. Token according to claim 1, characterized in that the part heavy central unit consists of two metal discs (7), one of the faces of which is struck to present a decoration, the two metal discs being placed back to back, and held in contact with one another by the crown ( 19,20) made of synthetic material covering their respective edges, obtained during the first injection of material.

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