NQV. 2, 1948.N N 2 2,453,030
RACK FOR POKER CHIPS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. '7, 1946 INVENTOR. fil m lflwmazq Patented Nov. 2, 1948 Irving I. Newman, Leominster, Mass, assignor to Reliance Molded Plastics, Inc., Providence, R. I. Application October 7, 1946, Serial No. 701,790
3 Claims. (01. 211-49) This invention is directed to an improvement in racks forpoker chips and like game indicating markers, wherein an integral body is formed to receive and carry the chips in segregated rows, conveniently assembled therein and readily and easily withdrawn for use as required.
The rack of the present invention is formed to receive a plurality of rows of poker chips arin their row formation until entirely free of the rack.
The rack is so constructed as to facilitate its formation by molding or like formation in a single operation, to permit the use of a convenient plastic, and thus provide for ornamental coloring and design in a simple and economical manner.
The rack is designed to receive an appropriately-formed cover, readily removed and applied, which, when in place will prevent the separation of any chip and yet provide for convenient visibility of all chips.
The rack is designed for completely portable use and to be of relatively small size and shape for storing and handling when the chips are not required for use, to insure the storing of the rack and chips in a suitcase or the like with the chips always ready for play, intact in assemblage and protected against edge chipping or damage.
The invention in its preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is plan view of the improved rack.
Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same, a number of chips being shown in one compartment.
Fig. 3 is an edge view of the cover for the rack, one end being in section.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of the rack proper and applied cover, the chip compartments being shown sufi'iciently open at the front to expose the contained chips.
The improved rack. is preferably, but not necessarily constructed of an appropriate plastic, in order to provide for simple and economic manufacture with distinctive coloring and ornamenta tion, but it is to be understood that it may, if desired, be constructed of any desired or appropriate material capable of appropriate formation and function.
The rack I is of rectangular form including abottom wall 2 andend walls 3, defining in effect a rectangular box-like body openat the top. The
body is divided into chip--receiving compartments by'a longitudinally-rangingpartition 4 in the: longitudinal median line of the body, dividing-the" body into front and rear areas 5 and 6, and such areas are divided bytransverse partitions 1, dividing such areas intocompartments 8, sizedto more :or less snugly receive a plurality of chips, indicated at 9 in Fig. 2. Thebottom wall 2 is cut away to provide central openings l0, which extend through the edges of the bottom and are of less transverse dimensions than the diameters of the chips 9. l
Thepartitions 4 and l are at right anglesrela tively, so that thecompartments 8 are square, and as the chips are circularin plan they will when in place in the compartments contact the partitions at diametric points only. As the compartments are open at their ends remote from the partition 4', means must be provided to prevent the free exit of the chips in this direction. To provide for this purpose, the ends of thepartitions 1 have right-angled projections l|, cooperating with twoadjacent compartments 8, and as the portions of the chips in line with the free ends of the projections are less than the diametric length of the chips engaging thepartition 4, the partitions H are provided at their ends with right-angled flanges l2, extending toward the partition 4' for a length which will define a space between the ends of the flanges l2 and the partition t to engage the edge of the chipwhen in place in the compartment.
The chips are thus held in place by diametrlc contact with thepartition 4", the side partitions l, and the ends of thefianges B2, to prevent other than upward movement of any chip and insuch contact as to prevent looseness or rattling of the chips. l
The chips 9, as better shown in Fig. 2 are arranged loosely in the respective compartments, and held against any movement than upwardly, and in order to maintain the chip-rack and chips as compact unit when not desired for use, a cover i3, Fig. 3, is provided to fit snugly over the upper end of the body. Theend walls 3 of the body are preferably recessed at M to insure a frictional retention of the cover. When the cover is in applied position, as in Fig. 4, the chips are fully exposed at the respective sides of the body for visible indication of their number and color distinction to determine their suitability for the intended use, and yet the unit may be handled 3 with casual impunity without liability of disturbing or spilling the chips.
From the description and illustration, it will be apparent that with the cover l3 removed, the upper or several upper chips may be removed through the upper openin of the compartment. and that if the entire body of chips in any compartment are desired to be removed at once, a finger may be introduced, through the opening I!) in the bottom of the compartment and the chips in that compartment forced upwardly and out of the compartment.
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:
1. A rack for poker chips or the like including a body closed at the bottom and ends and open at the top, a series of angularly-related partitions in the body defining a plurality of chip-receiving compartments, the compartments being sized to more or less snugly receive the chips to prevent their movement in each of at least two directions, certain of the partitions having lateral end projections withinwardly-extending end flanges to prevent movement of the chips in another direction.
4 2. A construction as defined inclaim 1, wherein the side portions of the body in each compartment between the end flanges are fully open to permit access to the chips, and wherein the flanges are positioned to prevent movement of the chips through said open sided portions of the compartments.
3. A construction as defined inclaim 1, wherein the defined rack is formed as an integral unit from plastic material.
IRVING I. NEWMAN.
REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 617,478 Cohen Jan. 10, 1899 739,209 Ocumpaugh Sept. 15, 1903 1,011,521 Stone Dec; 12; 1911 1,097,799 Godt'fredson May'26,'191'4 1,569,848 Black Jan. 19, 1926 1,934,014 Spahn Nov. 7', 1933