US2246431A - Chip dispenser - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1941. w. D. COCHRAN CHIP DISPENSER Filed March 21, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 SW D. Coafiraza.

June 17, 1941. w. D. COCHRAN I 2,246,431

CHIP DISPENSER Filed March 21, 1.9559 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tia-:5-

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M 1 6004mm.

Patented June 17, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE r 2,246,431 i onrr msPEivs n 1 William D. Cochran, Iron Mountain, Mich. Application March 21, 1939, Serial l lo. 263,251 1 cr a (01. 133-4) This invention relates to dispensing devices and more particularly to a device for holdingand dispensing chips or disks used for game counters.

Theobject of the invention is to provide a combined chipholder and dispensing device of simple and inexpensive construction particularly adapted for use when playing cards or other games and by means of which a pluralityof stacks of chips or counters of any desired denomination may be housed and supported in position to permit the convenient removal of a selected number of chips therefrom when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chip dispenser comprising a body portion provided with spaced pockets or compartments opening through the opposite sides thereof and adapted to receive a plurality of counters or chips, there being a spring pressed ejector slidably mounted for longitudinal movement between the compartments for automatically ejecting any desired number of chips from the compartments when said ejector is actuated.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined chip holder and dispenser embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1 and showing the position of the parts prior to actuating the ejector,

Figure 3 is a similar View showing the position of the parts after the ejector has been pressed inwardly,

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view,

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a detail longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

The improved chip holder and dispenser forming the subject-matter of the present invention comprises an elongated body portion 5 formed of wood or other suitable material and having a series of spaced vertically disposed pockets or compartments 6 formed therein and adapted to receive a plurality of chips or countersof any desired denomination and indicated at 1. Formed in the opposite side faces. of the body portion near the bottom thereof are longitudinal- 53 ly disposed recesses B defining ledges 9 which serve to receive and support the chips when they are ejected from the compartments 6. The recesses 8 communicate with the lower ends of the compartments: 6, and said compartments areseparated from each other by vertical blocks'or spacing members Ills The outer edge of each supporting ledge 9 is formed with concave fingerr eceiving notches or recesses I], one of the recesses being at the base of each compartment 6 seas to permit the chips to be easily grasped when said chips are forced outwardly onto said supporting ledge. Extending longitudially of the body portion 5 is a seating groove [2 in which is slidably mounted for longitudinal movement an ejector bar 13. One end of the bar l3 projects beyond the adjacent end of the body portion 5 to form an operating handle I4 while the other end thereof engages the adjacent end of a coiled spring l5 which is seated in a recess It in the body portion and bears against a removable plate I! detachably secured to the adjacent end of said body portion, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The opposite longitudinal edges of the ejector bar 13 are formed with spaced concave cut away portions or depressions l8 conforming to the shape of the walls of the adjacent compartments 6 and normally registering there with so as to permit the chips in the compartments 6 to rest on the flat surface 23 of the body portion adjacent the supporting ledge 9. When an inward pressure is exerted on the handle M of the ejector, however, the concave walls of the depressions l8 will bear against the chips in the adjacent compartments and the flat portions l8" between the depressions will force said chips laterally onto the supporting ledge 9 and in which position they may be conveniently grasped by a player and removed from the holder. When pressure on the ejector rod is released, the spring l5 will automatically return the handle to extended position and in which position additional chips may be ejected from the compartments 6 when needed by again actuating the ejector bar. Extending through a slot IS in the base portion 20 of the body 5 is a screw 2| which engages the ejector l3 and not only serves to guide said ejector but also prevent-s accidental displacement thereof. One end of the body portion is preferably formed with a transverse pocket or com.- partment 22 adapted to receive and support a deck of cards.

In operation, the compartments 6 are filled or partially filled with chips or counters of any desired value or denomination. The lowermost chip in each compartment normally rests on the fiat surface 23 of the body portion, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. By now exerting longitudinal pressure on the operating handle M of the ejector bar l3, said bar will be moved inwardly against the tension of the spring l5 and in so doing the concave walls of the recesses I8 in the ejector bar will bear against the adjacent chips in the compartments and in conjunction with the flat portions I8 of said bar force a selected number of said chips laterally and outwardly between the spacing members Ill onto the supporting ledge 9 and in which position they may be conveniently removed. During the removal of the ejected chips, the remaining chips in the compartments will be supported against displacement by engagement with the upper surface of the ejector bar. As soon as inward pressure on the ejector bar is removed, the spring l5 will automatically return said ejector bar to normal position and in which position the depressions l8 will register with the compartments and the remaining chips in said compartments will fall by gravity onto the fiat surface 23 in position to be ejected when the bar is again pressed inwardly. It will here be noted that, inasmuch as the ejector bar extends practically the entire length of the body portion when said ejector bar is forced inwardly, the chips in the compartments will be simultaneously pressed laterally to ejected position on opposite sides of the body portion so that a player can select chips of any desired denomination from the several compartments. The thickness of the ejector bar is preferably such as to eject five chips from each compartment at each operation of said bar, but it will, of course, be understood that any desired number of chips may be ejected without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will also be understood that the holders may be made in different sizes and shapes and constructed with any desired number of chip-receiving compartments.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A device of the class described comprising a body portion having its opposite side walls at the lower end thereof cut away to form a reduced base and above the base having side recesses, the portions of the body between the base and the recesses defining chip supporting ledges overhanging said base and formed with finger-receiving notches, the body portion being formed with chip-receiving compartments leading from its upper surface and having side portions of their lower ends connecting with the recesses to provide outlets for discharge of chips onto said ledges, and means traversing the compartments for ejecting a selected number of chips from said compartments onto the supporting ledges.

WILLIAM D. COCHRAN.

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