Game chip dispenser with marker

The invention, in the embodiment depicted by way of example only, comprises an elongate rod which serves as a cartridge or carrier for a plurality of game-play chips. The chips are centrally apertured and are slidably engaged with the outer surface of the rod. A detent arrangement, fixed within the dispensing end of the rod selectively allows single chips, in turn, to be dispensed upon the supply of chips being slidably urged against the detent arrangement. In addition, the rod is hollow; the same defines a storage chamber or carrier for a marking pen. The hollow interior of the rod opens onto the end thereof which is opposite the dispensing end, and a marking pen frictionally engaged within the rod has the marker end projecting therefrom. A closure cap is received on the opposite end of the rod to protect the marker end of the pen when the latter is not in use. Too, the cap has an annular flange extending therefrom which serves as a retainer for the game-play chips.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention pertains to dispensers, and in particular to dispenser means 
defined especially for use in selectively dispensing game-play chips and 
the like. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In the course of play of games such as Bingo, poker, etc., there is a need 
to handle "chips" quickly; especially there is a need to be able to feed 
out or count out single chips, or the like, quickly and with a sure 
control of the number thereof being fed out or counted out. Ordinarily, 
taking the game of Bingo, as an example, game-play chips are dispensed by 
hand. That is, the player moniters his or her card(s) and, attending to 
the call-out of letter-number sequences, deposits chips on the play cards 
by feeding out the chips from a handclenched supply thereof through the 
dexterity and manipulation of the thumb and forefinger. However, most 
Bingo devotees are elder persons who, for having a diminished digital 
dexterity, are somewhat disadvantaged in the game play. What has been 
needed is a simple and efficient dispenser for game-play chips which does 
not rely on digital dexterity -- a dispenser, moreover, which can supply 
more chips than can be stored in a closed hand. 
In the play of Bingo, too, it is commonly a practice to use a marking pen, 
rather than chips, to "cover" play-card(s) letter-number indicia. 
Accordingly, there has been a need, as yet unmet, for a device which will 
satisfy both the above-noted need for a simple and efficient dispenser and 
the concomitant requirement for a marking pen. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to meet both needs. Particularly, it is 
an object of this invention to set forth dispenser means, for game-play 
chips and the like, comprising means for receiving a plurality of 
game-play chips in slidable engagement therewith; said receiving means 
comprising an elongate element having a termination at one end thereof 
which defines a dispensing end; and first means coupled to said one end of 
said element, and second means coupled to the opposite end of said 
element, for retaining game-play chips in engagement with said element; 
wherein at least one of said first and second means has means yieldably 
reponsive to pressure applied thereto for releasing game-play chips from 
engagement with said element. 
It is another object of this invention to set forth dispenser means of the 
type above-noted in which said elongate element is hollow, having a 
storage chamber formed therewithin, and including marking means slidably 
and replaceably carried carried within said chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in the Figures, which depict only one embodiment which the 
invention may take, the dispensing means 10 comprises an elongate rod 12 
on the outer surface of which a plurality of game-play chips 14 are 
slidably engaged. A detent arrangement 16 carried in the dispensing end 18 
of the rod 12, retains and selectively releases the chips 14 from end 18. 
Rod 12 is hollow, having a chamber 20 formed therewithin in which a 
marking pen 22 is frictionally engaged. Chamber 20 opens onto the opposite 
end 24 of the rod 12 and, from end 24, a marker end 26 of the pen 22 
projects. Marker end 26 comprises a fiber tip. However, this is arbitrary, 
Pen 22 could just as well be a ball-point pen, or could be supplanted with 
a graphite-lead pencil, or equivalent, each being replaceable. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the detent arrangement 16 in more detail, as well as the 
chips 14. As depicted, the chips 14 have central apertures 28 of a given 
dimension which accommodates a freely slidable relationship of the chips 
on the outer surface of the rod 12. Now, the detent arrangement 16 
comprises a pair of opposed boreholes 30 formed through the dispensing end 
18 of the rod. A pair of spheres 32 are resiliently held in the boreholes 
under the urging of a doublecoiled spring 34. The spheres 32 have a 
diameter slightly greater than that of the boreholes; hence, they cannot 
pass through. Yet, the spheres 32 offer sufficient obstruction to the 
supply of chips 14 to prevent the latter from freely discharging from the 
rod 12. In order to dispense a chip 14, it is only necessary to apply 
pressure, i.e.: down-feed the chips 14, and a foremost chip will overcome 
the bias of the spring 34, cause the spheres 32 to retract within the 
boreholes 30, and allow the aperture 28 to pass thereover. 
The opposite end 24 of the rod 12 receives an end closure cap 36, as shown 
in FIG. 3, shieldably to protect the marker end 26 of the pen 22. The cap 
36 forms an interference fit with end 24, and is left in place whenever 
the pen 22 is not being used in game play. Additionally, however, cap 36 
has an integral flange 38 formed therewith which serves as a retainer for 
the supply of chips 14 carried on the rod 12. 
As noted earlier, it remains only to apply a downward pressure on the 
supply of chips 14 to dispense the latter, singly, from the dispensing end 
18 of the rod 12. This may be done either by holding the rod and 
thereabout supply of chips 14 in the closed hand, and addressing the play 
card onto which the chips are to be dispensed by bringing down the heel of 
the hand -- with rod end 18 projecting therefrom, or by holding the rod 
and supply of chips like a pencil. 
The detent arrangement depicted is only exemplary, Other arrangements, in 
which a single, side-disposed, resiliently biased sphere may be deployed, 
or where a spring -- like spring 34 -- disposes formed "detents" through 
the boreholes 30, are feasible. Accordingly, such alternative arrangements 
and/or embodiments proceed from the teaching of my invention and are 
deemed to be within the ambit thereof. For instance, if warranted, it will 
be possible to provide a game-play chips dispensing rod in which, in lieu 
of the marking pen 22, the chips -- like chips 14 -- are slidably received 
and stored within. In this, then, the detenting arrangement would be 
outwardly carried to intrude the detents thereof within the chamber 20. 
Thus, while I have described my invention in connection with a specific 
embodiment thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this is done only 
by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as 
set forth in the objects thereof and in the appended claims.