Patent Publication Number: US-9833696-B2

Title: Lockable wagering chip container and method for using the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/191,112 filed Jul. 10, 2015, entitled “Lockable Wagering Chip Container And Method For Using The Same.” The foregoing patent application is hereby incorporated by reference into this application in their entireties 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This disclosure is directed to the field of aids for wagering. More specifically, the disclosure is directed to devices to discourage imprudent wagering. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Millions of consumers visit casinos every year to play table games. These games are designed to give the casino a statistical advantage. As a result, players are expected to lose a certain percentage of every dollar they wager over the long run. However, players often lose amounts that greatly exceed the mathematical disadvantage of these games. There are two primary reasons for the oversized losses, (1) players play the games poorly (i.e., do not follow the proper strategy); and (2) they do not play these games responsibly (e.g., over bet, fail to set and keep a budget, don&#39;t quit when they are winning). 
     Playing casino table games is a lot of fun. However, a combination of sophisticated psychological tricks used by casinos (e.g., no clocks, free drinks, and chips played instead of cash) and common mistakes made by players (e.g., playing too long, over betting and not quitting when ahead) result in many players losing more than they should when they gamble. With every advantage in the house&#39;s favor, gamblers need to play smart and responsibly if they want to exit the casino with cash in their pocket. 
     SUMMARY 
     This disclosure describes a lockable chip container, which is a tool to help level the playing field and provides a structured and repeatable process to play more responsibly and get better results. The chip container&#39;s compact, lightweight design makes it convenient to take it to the gaming tables. At the tables, the chip container organizes game play around the simple rule of banking winnings by depositing chips into the chip container as a player wins. Once deposited the chips are removed from play and can only be accessed by inserting a key and sliding out the chip tray. The strategy of protecting and removing winnings from play is simple to execute and has multiple benefits: (1) every chip removed from play decreases the amount of money a player can lose; (2) when winning, the amount of chips in play remains relatively constant, allowing players to follow a consistent game strategy and betting strategy; (3) length of playing time is reduced; and (4) the final action of players, removing chips from the chip container for cash at the casino cashier, is positive. This encourages responsible play and helps to limit poor decisions which are often triggered when the last player action is negative. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the chip container illustrating its ornamental design and major components, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the chip container illustrating its ornamental design and major components, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the side of the chip container illustrating its ornamental design and major components, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the side of the chip container illustrating its ornamental design and major components, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the drawer and one stack of chips, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of the chip container illustrating the components of the locking mechanism in the locked position, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of the chip container illustrating the key  104  and the components of the locking mechanism in the un-locked position, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the chip container illustrating an alternative embodiment having 4 chip stacks in a two-by-two configuration, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the chip container illustrating an alternative embodiment having 4 chip stacks in an in-line configuration, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view illustrating alternative embodiments of the ornamental design of the key. 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric view of the chip container, illustrating one ornamental embodiment, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of the bottom of the chip container, illustrating one ornamental embodiment, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To facilitate an understanding of the principals and features of the disclosed technology, illustrative embodiments are explained below. The components described hereinafter as making up various elements of the disclosed technology are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components that would perform the same or similar functions as components described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of the disclosed electronic devices and methods. Such other components not described herein may include, but are not limited to, for example, components developed after development of the disclosed technology. 
     It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     By “comprising” or “containing” or “including” is meant that at least the named compound, element, particle, or method step is present in the composition or article or method, but does not exclude the presence of other compounds, materials, particles, method steps, even if the other such compounds, material, particles, method steps have the same function as what is named. 
     It is also to be understood that the mention of one or more method steps does not preclude the presence of additional method steps or intervening method steps between those steps expressly identified. Similarly, it is also to be understood that the mention of one or more components in a device or system does not preclude the presence of additional components or intervening components between those components expressly identified. 
     Referring now to the Figures, in which like reference numerals represent like parts, various embodiments of the computing devices and methods will be disclosed in detail.  FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the chip container, illustrating its ornamental design and major components. The chip container includes a case  100 , a drawer  102 , and a key  104 . The case  100  has a top  106 , a bottom  108 , two sides  110 , and two ends  112 . The ends  112  are disposed along a longitudinal axis. The case  100  is open at both ends  112 . The case  100  is closed on the sides  110  and on the bottom  108 . The top  106  is closed except for one or more keyholes  114 . The one or more keyholes  114  are proportioned to accept a key  104 . In the preferred embodiment, the top  106  has a single keyhole  114 . The top  106  may also include a decorative logo. The drawer  102  can slide longitudinally within the case  100  such that it can protrude from either end  112  of the case  100 . When the drawer  102  is centered within the case  100 , it does not protrude from either end  112 .  FIGS. 2-4  further illustrate the chip container&#39;s ornamental design and major components. 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the drawer  102  and one stack of chips  158 . The drawer  102  has a drawer bottom  118 , two drawer sides  120 , and two ends  122 , which partially enclose a drawer interior  124 . The drawer sides  120  have a top edge  128 . In the preferred embodiment, the drawer sides  120  are equally tall and their top edges  128  are parallel. The drawer interior  124  is sized to closely fit each chip  158 , such as a poker chip. In some embodiments, the chips  158  may be a rectangle or a regular polygon, such as an octagon or a hexagon. In the preferred embodiment, the chips  158  are circular. Each end  122  of the drawer  102  includes an end wall  130 , one or two fingers  132 , and one or two slot  134   s . In some embodiments, the end wall  130  may have a uniform thickness. In some of these embodiments, the uniform thickness of the end wall  130  may follow the contour of the chip  128 . In other embodiments, the end wall  130  thickness may be non-uniform, to achieve a different external profile than the chip  128 . For example, the drawer  102  may have rounded ends  122  even though it is designed to hold rectangular chips  158 , or vice versa. 
     In the preferred embodiment, each drawer end  122  has two fingers  132  and two slots  134 . The end wall  130  extends upward from the bottom  118  of the drawer  102  and is shorter than the top edge  128  of the tallest side  120  of the drawer  102  (if the sides have different heights). The height difference between the end walls  130  and side walls  126  of the drawer  102  allows a chip  158  to be inserted into the container between the top of the end wall  130  and the top  106  of the case  100  when the drawer  102  is closed. Each of the fingers  132  protrudes from one of the drawer sides  120 , above the end wall  130  and separated from the end wall  130  by the slot  134 . 
     For ends  122  that have two fingers  132 , the narrowest distance between the fingers  132  is less than the smallest width of a chip  158 . For example, the narrowest distance between the fingers  132  would be smaller than the short side of a rectangle, smaller than the width between the facets of an octagon, or smaller than the diameter of a circular chip  158 . Because the drawer  102  is sized to closely fit a chip  158 , this means that narrowest distance between the fingers  132  is also less than the interior width between the sides  120  of the drawer  102 . For ends  122  that have a single finger  132 , the narrowest distance between the finger  132  and the opposite side/end wall  126 / 130  is also less than the smallest cross-sectional width of a chip  158 . 
     When a chip  158  is inserted into the chip container past the finger  132 , the finger  132  flexes because the gap between the fingers  132  (or between the finger  132  and a side  120  of the drawer  102 ) is smaller than the chip  128 . Then the chip  158  is inserted past the finger  132 ( s ) it drops into the interior  124  of the drawer  102 , unless there is only room for one more chip  158 , in which case  100  it sits atop the stack of chips  158 . In the preferred embodiment, inserting a chip  158  past the finger  132 ( s ) also causes and audible “click,” which reinforces the psychological feedback of banking one&#39;s winnings. 
     The finger  132  can flex independently of the drawer side walls  120  and end walls  130  of the drawer  102  because of the slot  134 . The fingers  132  are proportioned so that this flexing will not cause permanent deformation of the fingers  132 . In the preferred embodiment, the fingers  132  are also proportioned so that this flexing does not cause mechanical fatigue failure in the finger  132  material. In some embodiments, the fingers  132  may have a constant cross section. In certain other embodiments, the cross section of the fingers  132  may be variable. In some embodiments, the cross section of the fingers  132  may become narrower as the finger  132  extends from the side wall  120  of the drawer  102 . In other embodiments, the cross section of the fingers  132  may become narrower as the finger  132  extends from the side wall  120  of the drawer  102 . In still other embodiments, the cross section of the fingers  132  may alternate from narrower to thicker as the finger  132  extends from the side wall  120  of the drawer  102 . For example, the finger  132  may have a thin section in one spot to promote flexion and a thicker section at its end, to create the correct size gap. 
     The drawer  102  also includes a guide-pin hole  142  and two or more extraction holes  154  in its bottom  118 . The guide-pin hole  142  is positioned near the center of the bottom  118  of the drawer  102 . The guide-pin hole  142  is proportioned to allow a guide pin  148  to pass through it. In the preferred embodiment, the guide pin  148  is cylindrical. The extraction holes  154  are positioned near the ends  122  of the drawer  102 . The extraction holes  154  are sized to be smaller than a chip  158 , so that a chip  158  cannot pass through them, but large enough for an object or finger to pass through. Therefore, when an end  122  of the drawer  102  is protruding from the end  112  of the case  100 , the object or finger can be forced through the extraction hole  154 , causing any chips  158  stored in the drawer  102  above the extraction hole  154  to be ejected from the open top of the drawer  102 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7 , illustrate cross sections of the locking mechanism in the locked and un-locked positions, respectively. The locking mechanism includes a plunger  136 , a spring  146 , a guide pin  148 , and a pocket  144  in the top  106  of the case  100 . The guide pin  148  is mounted in a guide-pin hole  142  in the bottom  118  of the drawer  102 . The guide pin  148  extends through the guide-pin hole  142  into a guide slot  150  in the bottom  108  of the case  100 . In the preferred embodiment, the length of the guide-pin slot  150  is shorter than the length of the case  100 . Thus, the interaction of the guide pin  148  and the guide-pin slot  150  prevents the drawer  102  from being fully removed from the case  100  in either direction. 
     The plunger  136  slides up and down the guide pin  148  on a plunger guide hole  138 . The spring  146  is installed in a pocket  140  in the bottom of the plunger  136 . The spring  146  is captured by the bottom  118  of the drawer  102  and exerts an upward force on the plunger  136 . In the locked position, the spring  146  forces the plunger  136  into the pocket  144  in the top  106  of the case  100 . Thus, when the plunger  136  is inserted in the pocket  144 , the drawer  102  cannot be slid open in either direction because the plunger  136  immobilizes the guide pin  148  which in turn immobilizes the drawer  102 . 
     The drawer  102  is unlocked by inserting the tip  152  of the key  104  into the keyhole  114  in the top  106  of the case  100  and applying downward force against the plunger  136 . When enough force is applied, the plunger  136  disengages from the pocket  144  and the drawer  102  can be slid open. In the preferred embodiment, the keyhole  114  is cylindrical and the tip  152  of the key  104  is rectangular and small enough to be inserted into the keyhole  114 . However, persons having ordinary skill in the art will understand that other key  104  and keyhole  114  embodiments are possible. For example, the tip  152  of the key  104  and the keyhole  114  may both be cylindrical, may both be rectangular, or may be any other combination of common geometrical shapes where the tip  152  of the key  104  can be inserted into the keyhole  114 . If greater security is desired, the tip  152  of the key  104  and the keyhole  114  can have more complex shapes. For example, and not in limitation, the key  104  and keyhole  114  could both be “L” shaped, “keyhole” shaped, or “sawtooth” shaped. Furthermore, addition keyholes  114  and key  104  tips  152  could increase security. For example, and not in limitation, an embodiment might have two holes (e.g. “spanner drive” holes), requiring two pin-shaped tips on the key. In further embodiments, the pin-shaped tips may be different lengths or diameters, with matching features in the keyholes  114  and/or the plunger  136 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an alternative embodiment having 4 chip stacks in a two-by-two configuration.  FIG. 9  illustrates an alternative embodiment having 4 chip stacks in an in-line configuration.  FIG. 10  illustrates alternative embodiments of the ornamental design of the key.  FIG. 11  illustrates one ornamental embodiment of the chip container having a logo on the top surface.  FIG. 12  illustrates another ornamental embodiment of the chip container having a logo on the bottom surface. 
     In use, the chip container organizes game play around the simple rule of banking winnings. As a user wins during a gaming session, he or she deposits chips from his or her winnings into the chip container. Chips are retained in the chip container so that winnings are not gambled away. When the gambling session ends, chips are accessed by inserting a key and sliding out the chip tray. 
     The design and functionality described in this application is intended to be exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the instant disclosure in any way. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the teachings of the disclosure may be implemented in a variety of suitable forms, including those forms disclosed herein and additional forms known to those having ordinary skill in the art. 
     While certain embodiments of this disclosure have been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose certain embodiments of the technology and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice certain embodiments of this technology, including making and using any apparatuses or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of certain embodiments of the technology is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.