Composite gaming chip and method of manufacturing

Abstract

A gaming chip is formed of a composite material comprising a polymer and from about 5 to 50% by weight of organic filler. The gaming chip may be formed by injection molding. In a specific embodiment, the gaming chip comprises at least one first portion in which the composite material comprises a first colored pigment and at least one second portion in which the composite material comprises a second colored pigment different from the first colored pigment to thereby provide a multicolor gaming chip.

1 . A gaming chip, formed of a composite material comprising a polymer and from about 5 to about 50 percent by weight of inorganic filler.  
   
   
       2 . The gaming chip of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises polyolefin.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming chip of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises polypropylene.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming chip of  claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal carbonate, or a mixture of two or more thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming chip of  claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises clay, calcium carbonate, or a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming chip of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material comprises from about 50 to about 95 percent by weight polypropylene and from about 5 to about 25 percent by weight calcium carbonate filler.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming chip of  claim 1 , comprising at least one first portion in which the composite material comprises a first colored pigment, and at least one second portion in which the composite material comprises a second colored pigment different from the first colored pigment.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming chip of  claim 7 , wherein the first portion extends substantially around a perimeter of the chip and substantially across a body of the chip within the perimeter of the chip.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming chip of  claim 8 , wherein the first portion is provided with at least one surface indentation in which the second portion is located.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming chip of  claim 8 , wherein each body surface of the first portion is provided with at least one indentation and a second portion is located in each indentation.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming chip of  claim 10 , wherein the perimeter of the first portion includes indentations and a second portion is located in each indentation.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming chip of  claim 10 , wherein the first portion is provided with apertures extending between the body surfaces.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming chip of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming chip is injection molded.  
   
   
       14 . A method of manufacturing a gaming chip, comprising injection molding a composite material in the form of a gaming chip, the composite material comprising a polymer and from about 5 to about 50 percent by weight of inorganic filler.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising injection molding a first portion including a chip perimeter and a chip body extending within the chip perimeter, the first portion having at least one surface indentation, and injection molding a second portion to at least partially fill the indentation.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion comprises a first colored pigment, and the second portion comprises a second colored pigment different from the first colored pigment.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each body surface of the first portion is provided with at least one indentation and a second portion is injection molded into each indentation.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming chip of  claim 17 , wherein the first portion is provided with apertures extending between the body surfaces and at least one of the second portions is formed by injecting composite material from one body surface to the other body surface through the apertures.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the perimeter of the first portion includes indentations in which second portions are injection molded.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion and the second portions are injection molded to be substantially coplanar on faces of the gaming chip.