WO2004107904A1

WO2004107904A1 - Gaming chip and method of manufacturing the same

Info

Publication number: WO2004107904A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/005529
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takashi Matsui; Yukio Takahashi
Original assignee: Matsui Gaming Machine Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-06-03
Filing date: 2004-04-19
Publication date: 2004-12-16
Also published as: JP2006238899A

Abstract

A gaming chip and a method of manufacturing the gaming chip capable of increasing the degree of freedom of design without allowing a surface forming the inner peripheral edge of a body part positioned on the outer periphery of a weight member and exposed to the outside to be limited to an annular base part formed in a primary injection step forming the body part. In the gaming chip, groove parts (24) are formed in the side peripheral surface (23) of the weight member (20), and the fitting projected parts (32) of the body part (30) are fitted to the groove parts (24) for integrating the weight member (20) with the body part (30). Namely, the weight member (20) and the body part (30) are joined to each other in the diameter direction for integration, and a stacked portion is absent in the thickness direction. Accordingly, the design of the inner peripheral edge of the body part (30) positioned around the weight member (20) is not limited, as before, to the annular base part (30A) formed in the primary injection step forming the body part (30).

Description

Description Gaming chip and manufacturing method thereof

Technical field

The present invention relates to a gaming chip used for games in various types of amusement arcades and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a gaming chip (token) used in a casino and a method for manufacturing the same. Background art

Gaming chips mainly used in casinos include, for example, European Patent No.

One disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 44444/373 (Patent Document 1) is known. This gaming chip has a weight member at the center and a body portion formed of a synthetic resin material integrated around the weight member. Specifically, in the injection molding of the body portion, a synthetic resin material constituting the body portion is formed on the outer peripheral edge of each outer surface (the front surface and the back surface) of the weight member formed in a circular shape in plan view. That is, the weight member is sandwiched and integrated by the inner peripheral edge of the body portion, and the weight member is held so as not to be detached from the body portion. Further, the body portion is formed by injecting a synthetic resin material of a plurality of colors in consideration of decorativeness. That is, first, an inner peripheral edge is laminated on each outer surface of the weight member by a primary injection step, and an annular base portion for holding the weight member is formed. At this time, in a range outside the inner peripheral edge laminated on the weight member, at least a part of the annular base portion is formed thinner than the thickness including the inner peripheral edge and the weight member. The thickness of the part is the same height as the inner peripheral edge of the annular base part. The material is injected and molded to form a body of multiple colors (two colors in this case).

Also, US Patent No. 4,435,9111 (Patent Document 2) discloses that a ring-shaped wall portion protruding inward is provided at the center of the inner peripheral surface of an annularly formed body portion. Then, two coins, which are weight members, are loaded into the ring-shaped wall from opposite directions, each coin is brought into contact with the ring-shaped wall, and the coins are connected by electric welding. A structure integrated with a ring-shaped wall is disclosed.

In the gaming chips currently on the market, in consideration of the decorativeness, there is hardly one in which the body portion is formed in one color, and as disclosed in Patent Document 1, many are two or more colors. Is colored. Therefore, when molding the body, a plurality of injection steps are performed using synthetic resin materials of different colors.

However, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 of Patent Document 1, the gaming chip disclosed in Patent Document 1 has one outer surface (a surface on the front side) and the other outer surface (a surface on the other side) of the weight member. On both sides, the inner peripheral edge of the annular base portion that forms the body portion and is formed in the primary injection process is laminated, and the inner peripheral edge of the annular base portion is higher than each outer surface of the weight member. It is formed in a state having a raised step. If the synthetic resin material molded in the secondary injection step is laminated on the inner peripheral edge of the annular base portion, the entire gaming chip becomes too thick. For this reason, the synthetic resin material to be molded in the secondary injection step is located at the same height as the inner peripheral edge of the annular base portion, as described above, so as not to be laminated on the inner peripheral edge of the annular base portion. It is formed with a thickness that becomes Therefore, in the case of the gaming chip disclosed in Patent Document 1, a portion exposed to the outside at a position corresponding to the outer peripheral edge of the weight member always holds the outer peripheral edge of the weight member by sandwiching it from both sides. The inner peripheral edge of the annular base formed in the primary injection step. That is, coloring (design) of the inner peripheral edge of the annular base portion is always applied to a position corresponding to the outer peripheral edge of the weight member, and the decorativeness is improved. This was a constraint on producing rich gaming chips.

FIGS. 1 to 6 of Patent Document 1 also show a configuration in which the entire outer surface of the weight member is covered with a portion made of a synthetic resin material in the primary injection step. According to the disclosed method, in the entire gaming chip, a molded body portion made of a synthetic resin material formed in the primary injection process (in the annular base portion) must be formed in a range including the outer peripheral edge of the weight member or the inside thereof. Is exposed. It is also possible to cover the synthetic resin part that has been primarily injected with a molded part (decorative pattern part) made of synthetic resin material formed in the secondary injection step, but in this case, the thickness of the entire gaming chip is reduced. It will be thick.

Further, in the gaming chip disclosed in Patent Document 1, a step is formed between the inner peripheral edge of the annular base portion forming the body portion and the outer surface of the weight member as described above. Therefore, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, in order to eliminate this step, a seal is usually attached to the outer surface of the weight member, or a synthetic resin material is also injected onto the outer surface of the weight member. Countermeasures have been taken, and it is not possible to manufacture the entire chip in the completed state (thickness of the body part) so as to match the thickness of the weight member itself. For this reason, for example, when a so-called coin built-in (coin inlay) type gaming chip is manufactured in which the outer surface of the weight member is exposed to the outside as it is, for example, when a coin is used as the weight member, A step is always generated between the inner peripheral edge of the body portion and the outer surface of the coin serving as the weight member, and the outer surface of a part of the body and the outer surface of the coin cannot be formed flush.

On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a gaming chip with a built-in coin in which an outer surface of a body portion and an outer surface of a coin are formed flush with each other. The one disclosed in Patent Document 2 is a typical type of a coin-incorporated type that is currently marketed, but two coins are joined by electric welding to sandwich a ring-shaped wall portion. . Gaming chips are collected after use (after the end of the game), body color etc. However, in the case of the device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the coin may be peeled off and the device may be stopped during the sorting.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a surface serving as an inner peripheral edge of a body portion which is located on the outer periphery of a weight member and exposed to the outside is formed in a primary injection step of forming the body portion It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming chip having a high degree of freedom in design and a method of manufacturing the same, without being limited to an annular base portion. Further, according to the present invention, the thickness of the body portion can be formed to be the same thickness as the weight member itself, and each outer surface of the completed chip can be formed flush without providing a sealing member or the like. However, it is possible to provide a gaming chip and a method of manufacturing the same that are apparently the same as the conventional coin-incorporated type even though the manufacturing steps are different, and are not likely to peel off the coin when the sorting machine is inserted. Make it an issue.

Also, if the body is molded with the same thickness as the weight itself, the appearance can be made the same as that of the conventional coin built-in type, and the thickness of the body becomes thicker. This makes it possible to provide the same appearance as that of a conventionally known type in which a sealing member or the like is laminated on the outer surface of a weight member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming chip and a method for manufacturing the same, which can be obtained by the same means without changing the means for integrating the same.

.

Disclosure of the invention

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention according to claim 1 is a gaming chip including a weight member, and a body portion formed of a synthetic resin material integrated around the weight member,

The outer peripheral surface of the weight member extends from one outer surface to the other outer surface. With a notched groove,

A gaming chip, wherein a part of a part of a body formed of the synthetic resin material is fitted and integrated into the groove.

In the present invention according to claim 2, the groove is formed parallel or oblique to a center line connecting the center of one outer surface of the weight member and the center of the other outer surface. A gaming chip according to claim 1 is provided. In the present invention according to claim 3, the groove portion has a shape having a portion wider than an opening width of the opening end in a depth direction from an opening end opened on a side peripheral surface. A gaming chip according to claim 1 or 2.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the gaming chip according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein a plurality of the groove portions are formed on a peripheral surface of the weight member.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, adjacent ones of the plurality of formed grooves are respectively parallel to a center line connecting the center of one outer surface and the center of the other outer surface of the weight member. 5. The gaming chip according to claim 4, wherein the gaming chip is formed obliquely in a certain direction or obliquely in a different direction.

In the present invention according to claim 6, the gaming chip according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the weight member is formed in a substantially circular shape or a substantially square shape in plan view. provide.

In the present invention according to claim 7, the weight member is formed in advance in a shape having a convexity on a side peripheral surface, and a concave portion of the weight member constitutes the groove. A gaming chip according to any one of items 1 to 5.

In the present invention according to claim 8, the gaming member according to claim 1, wherein a seal member for decoration is laminated on at least one outer surface of the weight member. Provide chips. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the gaming chip according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the weight member is a coin.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the gaming chip according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein a plurality of the weight members are stacked. · The present invention according to claim 11 further provides the gaming chip according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a non-contact type identification device.

The present invention according to claim 12 is a method for manufacturing a gaming chip comprising a weight member, and a body formed of a synthetic resin material integrated around the weight member,

A weight member having a groove cut out from one outer surface to the other outer surface on a side peripheral surface is arranged in a mold, a synthetic resin material is injected into the groove, and the groove is filled. A method of forming a part of the body integrally around the weight member by fitting the fitting protrusion formed of a resin material and the groove. provide.

The present invention according to claim 13, further comprising a step of forming the groove of the weight member by punching from one outer surface to the other outer surface of the weight member. Item 12. A method for manufacturing a gaming chip according to Item 12. According to the present invention as set forth in claim 14, there is provided a method for manufacturing a gaming chip as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a step of forming the groove of the weight member by cutting. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a gaming chip according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the gaming chip according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 4A to 4D are diagrams illustrating examples of the shape of the groove formed in the weight member. FIG. 5 (a) is a diagram showing an example of a cross-sectional shape of a groove formed in the weight member, and FIG. 5 (b) is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. 5 (a).

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a gaming chip according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the gaming chip according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a gaming chip according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the gaming chip according to the third embodiment.

FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b) are plan views showing examples of weight members formed in advance with a shape having a concave portion serving as a groove.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a gaming chip in which an identification device is embedded. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where a magnet is used as the identification device. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. 1 to 3 are views showing a gaming chip 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in these drawings, the gaming chip 10 of the present embodiment is configured to include a weight member 20 and a body portion 30. The weight member 20 can be made of a metal made of iron, brass, or the like, or a synthetic resin material mixed with non-ferrous metal powder, but in view of the price and the manufacturing process, the metal should be used. Is preferred. The gaming chip 10 is used instead of money in a casino, and the weight member 20 is used to give a sense of weight and luxury as money. The weight of the weight member 20 is arbitrary, but if it is too heavy, it may cause inconvenience in handling. g, preferably in the range of 10 to 15 g.

The shape of the weight member 20 is not limited, and a substantially circular shape or a substantially rectangular shape in plan view can be used, but generally a substantially circular shape is used. In this case, the outer surface (the surface exposed to the outside on the front side and the surface exposed to the outside on the back side) 2 1, 2 2 is made of flat metal without any decoration, and the outer surface 2 1, 2 2 It is also possible to attach a seal member or the like to the surface, or to use a coin-type one in which a predetermined decoration is applied by, for example, engraving a money amount or the like on the outer surfaces 21 and 22 in advance.

In any case, the weight member 20 of the present embodiment is covered with the body portion 30 by arranging a body portion 30 described later around the side member, and is not exposed to the outside in a completed state. A groove 24 is formed in 23. A part of a body 30 described later is fitted into the groove 24 to be integrated. As shown in FIG. 3, the groove 24 is formed linearly so as to be parallel to a center line X passing from the center of one outer surface 21 to the center of the other outer surface 22. Or

As shown in (a) and (b), it can be formed obliquely with respect to the center line X. Further, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the groove portion 24 is a portion having a positional relationship parallel to the center line X from one outer surface 21 to the other outer surface 22. 24a and a portion 24b having an oblique positional relationship may be formed in a shape having both. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4 (d), it can be formed not in a straight line but in a curved line, or can be formed in a shape having both a straight line portion and a curved line portion . However, it is preferable to form it linearly in consideration of ease of processing.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, it is preferable that a plurality of grooves 24 are formed on the side peripheral surface 23 of the weight member 20. The groove 24 can be prevented from rattling in the circumferential direction with respect to the body 30 at only one location, but the inner peripheral surface of the body 30 and the side peripheral surface including the groove 24 of the weight member 20 are also included. In order to increase the area of contact with 2 3 and prevent axial separation along the center line X, multiple preferable. In this case, the plurality of grooves 24 may be formed so that adjacent ones are parallel to the center line X of the weight member 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, respectively. 4 (a), it can be formed diagonally in a certain direction, and as shown in Figure 4 (b), it can be formed diagonally in different directions (that is, in a substantially C-shape, or (In a substantially inverted C shape). Of course, Fig. 4 (c),

It is also possible to form a plurality of grooves 24 having the shape shown in FIG.

The groove portion 24 can be formed in various shapes as described above as long as the groove portion 24 is cut out from one outer surface 21 of the weight member 20 to the other outer surface 22 thereof. When processing, it is selected whether to use punching or cutting according to the shape. However, considering the easiness of processing, a flat metal plate can be processed simply by punching from one outer surface 21 to the other outer surface 22 by punching, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. As described above, it is preferable that the groove 24 be formed in a straight line so as to be parallel to a center line X passing from the center of the outer surface 21 to the center of the other outer surface 22. .

Further, the groove 24 may be formed to have the same width from the opening end 24 c opening to the side peripheral surface 23 to the groove bottom 24 d, but FIGS. 5 (a) and (b) ), The opening width L1 of the opening end 24c is small, and the cross section has a portion L2 wider than the opening width L1 in the depth direction toward the groove bottom surface 24d. It is preferably formed. By forming the cross-sectional shape of the groove portion 24 in this manner, when the synthetic resin material forming the body part 30 is filled in the groove portion 24, the opening is formed after the synthetic resin material is cured. It is possible to more securely prevent the diametral escape from the end 24c as compared with the case where the groove is formed with the same width from the open end 24c to the groove bottom surface 24d.

The body 30 is formed from a synthetic resin material. Specifically, the weight member 20 described above is placed in a mold, and a synthetic resin material is injected to form the weight member 20. For example, an annular shape is formed around the periphery. As a result, in the disassembled state, as shown in FIG. 3, a fitting protrusion 32 protruding inward is formed on the inner peripheral surface 31 of the body portion 30. The projections 32 are fixed by fitting into the grooves 24 formed on the side peripheral surface 23 of the weight member 20.

The body portion 30 can be formed by only one injection step, but is preferably formed through a plurality of (normally, two or three) injection steps in order to enhance decorativeness. For example, in the present embodiment, it is formed through two injection steps (a primary injection step and a secondary injection step). That is, in the primary injection step, first, the weight member 20 having the groove 24 described above is set in a mold so that the synthetic resin material does not flow on the outer surfaces 21 and 22 to be laminated. Inject synthetic resin material. The injected synthetic resin material enters the groove 24 of the weight member 20 to form the annular base 3OA. When the synthetic resin material that has entered the groove portion 24 is cured, it becomes the above-described fitting protrusion portion 32. As a result, the weight member 20 has the inner peripheral surface 31 of the body portion 30 (annular base portion 3OA), the side peripheral surface 23 of the weight member 20 and the force S, and the fitting projection 32 has the groove portion. Surface contact with each other while penetrating into 24. For this reason, as compared with the case where a weight member that does not form a groove is used, the side peripheral surface 23 (including the groove 24) of the weight member 20 and the inner peripheral surface of the body 30 are compared with the case of using the weight member that does not form the groove. The contact area with 3 1 (including the fitting protrusion 32) is large, and as in the past, the inner peripheral force of the body 30 S The outer peripheral edge of each outer surface 21, 22 of the weight member 20 The weight member 20 and the body portion 30 (the annular base portion 3OA) are firmly integrated with each other, despite not being coated.

Depending on the shape of the mold, the annular base portion 3OA formed in the primary injection step may have an appropriate shape on each outer surface and outer peripheral edge of the annular base portion 30A as shown in FIGS. Recess 30B is formed in the circumferential direction. Then, in the secondary injection step, the decorative pattern portion 30C is formed by filling the concave portion 30B with a synthetic resin material of a color different from that of the primary injection step. According to the present embodiment, the weight member 20, the body portion 30, and the force groove portion 24 are fitted together with the fitting protrusion 32, thereby being integrated, and the side peripheral surface 23 of the weight member 20 is formed. (Groove

24) and the inner peripheral surface 31 of the body 30 (including the fitting protrusion 32). That is, the weight member 20 and the body portion 30 are diametrically overlapped and integrated with each other, and the outer surfaces 21 and 22 of the weight member 20 are attached to the body portion 30 as in the related art. The inner peripheral edges overlap in the thickness direction, and the weight member 20 is attached to the body

This is not a configuration in which the inner peripheral edge of the 30 is sandwiched and held in the thickness direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a configuration in which a step does not occur between the weight member 20 and the body portion 30 can be achieved. That is, without using other members such as a seal member, the thickness of the body portion 30 is made to match the thickness of the weight member 2 ◦ itself, and each outer surface of the gaming chip 10 (the front surface and the back surface) is used. ) Can be formed flush with each other.

Therefore, when the outer surfaces 21 and 22 of the weight members 20 are exposed as they are as the outer surfaces of the gaming chips 10 as in the case where coins are used as the weight members 20, the above-mentioned European Patent No. There is no step between itself and the body 30 as shown in the specification of US Pat. No. 4,444,373 (Patent Document 1). Therefore, the body part 30 of the gaming chip 10 according to the present embodiment and the European patent no.

In the case where the body of a gaming chip manufactured by the method disclosed in the specification of Patent Document 4 (patent document 1) and the body are formed to have the same thickness, and all the constituent materials are the same, Since the embodiment does not require a step, a thicker weight member 20 can be used. Conversely, when a gaming chip having the same weight is manufactured, the present embodiment can reduce the thickness of the body portion 30 and provide a thinner gaming chip 1 while having a predetermined weight. 0 can be provided, which facilitates the handling of chips at casinos when holding, distributing, and collecting chips. In addition, a structure that does not generate a step between the weight member 20 and the body portion 30 must be adopted. Therefore, apparently, a chip similar to the chip shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,911 (Patent Document 2), which is a typical example of a gaming chip with a built-in coin, is used. Can be provided. Of course, two coins can be stacked and used as one weight member 20. In this case as well, a groove 24 is formed on the peripheral surface of each coin as the weight member 20 so that the Since the fitting projection 32 of the portion 30 is fitted with the fitting projection 32, both are firmly integrated. Therefore, like a gaming chip in which two coins are electro-welded as shown in US Pat. No. 4,435,911 (Patent Document 2), the coins are inserted into a device for automatically sorting coins. The coin does not peel off when falling. In addition, since the process of performing electric welding can be omitted, the manufacturing process of a gaming chip with a built-in coin using two coins can be simplified as compared with the conventional case. FIGS. 6 to 8 are views showing a gaming chip 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The weight member 120 used in this embodiment has exactly the same structure as the weight member 20 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. A groove portion 124 is provided that communicates from the outer surface 1 2 1 to the other outer surface 1 2 2 in parallel with the center line X and linearly.

In the first embodiment, the annular base portion 30 A formed in the primary injection step of the synthetic resin material is joined to the side peripheral surface 23 of the weight member 20, and the outer periphery of the weight member 20 The design or color of the annular base 3OA is exposed to the outside. In the present embodiment, the weight of the weight member 1 20 The design or color of the annular base portion 13 OA is not exposed on the outer circumference of the weight member 1, and the design or color of the decorative pattern portion 130 C formed annularly in the secondary injection step of the synthetic resin material is It is configured to be exposed outside at the outer periphery of 20.

-In other words, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the weight of the weight member 120 is smaller than that of the weight member 120 by the synthetic resin material injected in the primary injection step. Also form a thin annular base 13OA. By injecting the synthetic resin material, the fitting protrusion 1332 is formed to protrude inward from the inner peripheral surface 1331 of the annular base portion 130, unlike the first embodiment. The same is true. After the annular base portion 13OA is molded, a synthetic resin material is secondarily injected and laminated on the upper and lower surfaces of the annular base portion 13OA to form an annular decorative pattern portion 130C. As a result, also in the decorative pattern portion 130C formed by the secondary injection, the fitting projection portion 132 fitted to the groove portion 124 of the weight member 120 is formed.

Thus, the weight member 120, the body part 130, and the force S overlap with each other in the thickness direction as disclosed in the above-mentioned European Patent No. 4444,373 (Patent Document 1). Instead, the side peripheral surface 123 (including the groove 124) of the weight member 120 and the inner peripheral surface 131 (including the fitting protrusion 132) of the body 130 are included. Is a structure joined in the diameter direction. For this reason, the surface exposed to the outside at the portion located on the outer periphery of the weight member 120 is decorated with the design or color of the decorative pattern portion 130 C formed in the secondary injection step or the subsequent injection step. This is possible without increasing the overall thickness of the gaming chip 100. That is, according to the present invention, when the weight member having a predetermined weight and thickness is used, and under the condition that the thickness of the entire gaming chip in a completed state is maintained at a predetermined thickness, the first By adopting the manufacturing method as in the embodiment, the surface exposed to the outside at the portion located on the outer periphery of the weight member 20 is formed into the annular base portion 30 formed in the primary injection step constituting the body part 30. It is possible to decorate with the design or color of A, and by adopting the manufacturing method as in the second embodiment, the decorative pattern portion 130 formed in a later injection step such as a secondary injection step is formed. It can also be decorated with the design or color of C, and it can be said that the degree of freedom in decoration of the outer surface of the gaming chips 100 and 100 is high.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a gaming chip 200 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is an exploded view thereof. In the present embodiment, the weight member 220 Has a groove portion 224 on the side peripheral surface thereof, and a body portion 230 has a fitting projection portion 232 fitted into the groove portion 224, and both are integrated without overlapping in the thickness direction. This is exactly the same as the first embodiment. However, in the annular base portion 23 OA of the body portion 230, a portion 23 OA 1 thicker than the weight member 220 is formed outside the fitting projection portion 232. As a result, in the present embodiment, a step is formed between the thick portion 23OA1 and the outer surfaces 221, 22 of the weight member 220. Needless to say, as described above, the annular base portion 23OA and the weight member 220 do not overlap in any direction in the thickness direction, and in the present embodiment, the step is formed in this manner. According to the above, the outer surface 2 2 1, 2 2 2 of the weight member 2 0 2 is attached and decorated with a sealing member 240 or the like, and the above-mentioned 'European Patent No. 4444, 3733 It is also possible to use the same type as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 of (Patent Document 1).

Instead of the sealing member 240, it is also possible to inject and laminate a synthetic resin material on each outer surface 222, 222 of the weight member 220. However, even if a synthetic resin material is laminated on each of the outer surfaces 2 2 1 and 2 2 2, this synthetic resin material is only for decoration instead of the seal member, and is for holding the weight member 220. Of course not.

In the structure of the above-mentioned European Patent No. 4444, 3773 (Patent Document 1), a conventionally known coin built-in type (coin inlay type) chip is provided after exposing the outer surface of a coin as a weight member. And the appearance cannot be the same. In other words, it is not possible to make a structure without a step between the coin and the body. The structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 is basically a structure suitable for a gaming chip of a type in which a sealing member or the like is attached to the surface of a weight member as shown in FIGS. On the other hand, the structure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,911 (Patent Document 2) has a configuration suitable for a gaming chip with a built-in coin that exposes the outer surface of the coin. It is not suitable for gaming chips of the type where the gaming chip is flushed by attaching a single member. On the other hand, according to the configuration of the present invention, as in the first and second embodiments, it is possible to make the configuration apparently the same as that of the conventional coin-incorporated type. As in the embodiment, it is possible to adopt a configuration similar to a conventional type in which a sealing member or the like is laminated and the outer surface is flush with the type, and can be applied irrespective of the type of the grooming chip. A gaming chip with a high degree of design freedom can be provided.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. In the above embodiment, the grooves 24, 124, 224 formed in the weight members 20, 120, 220 have the weight members 20, 120, 2, as apparent from the drawings. It is smaller than the diameter of 20 and is not very noticeable, but for example, as shown in Figs. 11 (a) and (b), it is shaped like a star or a petal, and it has irregularities on the side surface in advance. It is also possible to use the weight members 320, 420 formed with the grooves provided, and to use the concave portions 324, 424 as the above-mentioned grooves. That is, by injecting the synthetic resin material forming the body portions 330, 430 into the weight members 320, 420, the concave portions 324, 424 and the body portion 33 are injected. The mating projections 0,430 fit together and are firmly integrated as in the above embodiments, while the outer peripheral pattern of the weight members 320,420 is outside the gaming chip. Can be used as part of a surface design.

In addition, the gaming chip used mainly in casinos is a substitute for money, and it is preferable to provide an identification device capable of distinguishing authenticity in order to prevent imitation and improper operation. The identification device is not limited. For example, the identification device includes an antenna capable of receiving an electric signal transmitted from a device for determination in a non-contact manner, and a circuit element driven by the electric signal received by the antenna. Anything can be used. The circuit element generates light, sound, or vibration by an electric signal, or transmits a radio wave of a predetermined frequency and identification information stored in the memory unit to a device for determination. Can be used. The authenticity can be determined by determining the presence or absence of light, sound, or vibration with a determination device, or by responding to radio waves of a predetermined frequency, or determining the consistency of the contents of identification information. it can. As such a circuit element, for example, a light emitting element such as an LED, a resonance circuit using a capacitor, or an RFID can be used. It is also possible to attach an amorphous metal capable of reacting to a radio wave of a specific frequency to provide a structure for identification. In this case, the amorphous metal may be formed in a seal shape or a tag shape and laminated on the outer surface of the weight member, or may be formed in a wire shape and buried in the body portion.

The means for loading the identification device into the gaming chip is arbitrary, and can be embedded in the weight member or embedded in a part of the body. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, the weight member 520 has a function as an antenna by forming the weight member 520 with a cutout portion 526 provided in a part thereof. Can be done. Therefore, by connecting a circuit element 525 such as an LED to the weight member 520, it is not necessary to attach a separate antenna, and the structure is simplified. Needless to say, even in the case of the grooming chip provided with the identification device shown in FIG. 12, a groove portion 524 is formed on the peripheral surface of the weight member 520 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiments. The fitting projections 532 of the portion 530 are fitted into the grooves 524 to be integrated, as in the above embodiments.

In addition, a magnet can be used as the identification device. That is, when such a gaming chip is passed through the gate portion of a device for detecting a magnetic field, the gate portion detects and reacts to the magnetic field of the embedded magnet so that it can be determined whether or not the device has a magnet. It was done. The method of embedding the magnet in the gaming chip is arbitrary.For example, the weight member itself can be made of a magnet, and as shown in FIG. 13, a hole 627 is formed in the weight member 62. And magnet 6 2 6 in this hole 6 2 7 May be fitted. Industrial applicability

According to the present invention, the weight member is provided with a groove on the side peripheral surface, and a part of the body is fitted into the groove and integrated. Therefore, the surface constituting the inner peripheral edge of the part of the body, which is located on the outer periphery of the weight member and exposed to the outside, is limited to the one formed of the annular base part formed in the primary injection step of forming the part of the body. Instead, it can be formed in the subsequent injection process after being injected onto the annular base part, and the design flexibility is high.

Further, since the thickness of the body portion can be formed to be the same as the thickness of the weight member itself, each outer surface of the completed chip can be formed flush without providing a sealing member or the like. Therefore, although it is a completely different manufacturing process, it can be made to look the same as the conventional type with a built-in coin, which is manufactured by electric welding of two coins. There is no danger of peeling. In addition, since the electric welding process is not required, the production becomes easy.

Also, by forming the thickness of a part of the body to be the same as the thickness of the weight member itself, as described above, the appearance can be made the same as that of the conventional coin built-in type. However, if the thickness of the body portion is made thicker than the weight member, the appearance can be the same as that of a conventionally known type in which a seal member is attached to the outer surface of the weight member. That is, different types of gaming chips known in the past (typically, two types: built-in coin type and sticker type) are joined together by joining the weight member and part of the body in the diameter direction. And equipment costs and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A gaming chip comprising a weight member and a body formed of a synthetic resin material integrated around the weight member,

A groove portion cut out from one outer surface to the other outer surface of the weight member on a side peripheral surface of the weight member;

A gaming chip, wherein a part of a body formed from the synthetic resin material is fitted into the groove to be integrated. '

2. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the groove is formed parallel or oblique to a center line connecting the center of one outer surface of the weight member and the center of the other outer surface. Chips.

3. The groove according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the groove has a shape wider in the depth direction than the opening end that opens on the side peripheral surface than the opening width of the opening end. Gaming chip.

4. The gaming chip according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of the groove portions are formed on a peripheral surface of a weight member.

5. Adjacent ones of the plurality of groove portions are respectively inclined parallel to the center line connecting the center of the outer surface of the weight member to the center of the other outer surface, and oblique in a certain direction. 5. The gaming chip according to claim 4, wherein the gaming chip is formed obliquely in different directions.

6. The gaming chip according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the weight member is formed in a substantially circular shape or a substantially square shape in plan view.

7. The weight member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the weight member is formed in advance in a shape having irregularities on a side peripheral surface, and a concave portion of the weight member constitutes the groove. The gaming chip according to 1.

8. The gaming chip according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a decorative seal member is laminated on at least one outer surface of the weight member.

9. The gaming chip according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the weight member is a coin.

10. The gaming chip according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a plurality of the weight members are stacked.

11. The gaming chip according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a non-contact type identification device.

12. A method for manufacturing a gaming chip comprising a weight member and a part of a body formed of a synthetic resin material integrated around the weight member,

A weight member having a groove cut out from one outer surface to the other outer surface on a side peripheral surface is arranged in a mold, a synthetic resin material is injected into the groove, and the groove is filled. A method for manufacturing a gaming chip, comprising a step of integrally forming a body portion around a weight member by fitting a fitting projection formed of a resin material and the groove.

13. The gaming chip according to claim 12, further comprising a step of punching the groove of the weight member from one outer surface of the weight member to the other outer surface. Manufacturing method.

14. The method for manufacturing a gaming chip according to claim 12, further comprising a step of forming the groove of the weight member by cutting.