Dividing system for gaming chip racks

Abstract

A chip rack comprises: (a) a tray including first and second parallel side walls; bottom member including a plurality of cylindrical troughs that hold chips and are parallel to first and second side walls; and first and second parallel longitudinal walls; and (b) a plurality of dividers that perpendicularly intersect the plurality of cylindrical troughs wherein the dividers are spaced to separate a predetermined quantity of chips such as 20, which is the casino industry standard used in the accounting of chip inventories. The dividers separate chips into stacks of 20, allowing quicker accounting of chips by dealers and supervisors. The plurality of dividers may comprise multiple series of protuberances and may further include a divider or spacer that runs along the first longitudinal wall to provide distance between the first longitudinal wall and a chip stack to allow a dealer to easily lift up the chip stack.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A divided chip rack comprising:
 a tray comprised of
 a first side wall, 
 a second side wall that is parallel to the first side wall, 
 a bottom member including a plurality of cylindrical troughs that hold gaming chips wherein the plurality of cylindrical troughs are parallel to the first side wall and the second side wall, 
 a first longitudinal wall, and 
 a second longitudinal wall that is parallel to the first longitudinal wall wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the first longitudinal wall, and the second longitudinal wall are attached to the bottom member; and 
   a plurality of dividers that perpendicularly intersect the plurality of cylindrical troughs wherein the plurality of dividers are spaced to separate a predetermined quantity of chips.   
     
     
         2 . The divided chip rack of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined quantity of chips is 20. 
     
     
         3 . The divided chip rack of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of dividers is comprised of
 a first divider comprising a first series of protuberances, 
 a second divider comprising a second series of protuberances, and 
 a third divider comprising a third series of protuberances. 
 
     
     
         4 . The divided chip rack of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of dividers further comprises a fourth divider comprising a fourth series of protuberances wherein the fourth divider runs along the first longitudinal wall to provide a distance between the first longitudinal wall and a stack of chips to allow a dealer to easily lift up the stack of chips. 
     
     
         5 . The divided chip rack of  claim 1  further comprising a spacer that runs along the first longitudinal wall wherein the spacer provides a distance in-between the first longitudinal wall and a stack of chips to allow a dealer to easily lift up the stack of chips. 
     
     
         6 . The divided chip rack of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of cylindrical troughs run from the first longitudinal wall to the second longitudinal wall. 
     
     
         7 . The divided chip rack of  claim 1  wherein the first longitudinal wall is taller than the second longitudinal wall and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are comprised of a triangular shape. 
     
     
         8 . The divided chip rack of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of dividers are permanently attached to the plurality of cylindrical troughs. 
     
     
         9 . A dividing apparatus for a chip rack, the dividing apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of dividers that perpendicularly intersect a plurality of cylindrical troughs located on the chip rack wherein the plurality of dividers are spaced to separate a predetermined quantity of gaming chips; and   a spacer that runs along a longitudinal wall of the chip rack and runs perpendicularly to the plurality of cylindrical troughs wherein the spacer provides a distance in-between the longitudinal wall and a stack of gaming chips to allow a dealer to easily lift up the stack of gaming chips.   
     
     
         10 . The dividing apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the predetermined quantity of gaming chips is 20. 
     
     
         11 . The dividing apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of dividers is removably attached to the chip rack. 
     
     
         12 . The dividing apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of dividers includes an infrared coating. 
     
     
         13 . A dividing system for gaming chips comprising:
 a chip rack comprised of
 a first side wall, 
 a second side wall that is parallel to the first side wall, 
 a bottom member including a plurality of cylindrical troughs that hold the gaming chips wherein the plurality of cylindrical troughs are parallel to the first side wall and the second side wall, 
 a first longitudinal wall, and 
 a second longitudinal wall that is parallel to the first longitudinal wall wherein the first side wall, the second side wall, the first longitudinal wall, and the second longitudinal wall are attached to the bottom member; 
   a plurality of dividers that perpendicularly traverse the plurality of cylindrical troughs wherein the plurality of dividers separate a predetermined quantity of chips; and   a spacer that runs along the first longitudinal wall wherein the spacer provides a distance in-between the first longitudinal wall and a stack of gaming chips to allow a dealer to easily lift up the stack of gaming chips.   
     
     
         14 . The dividing system of  claim 13  wherein the predetermined quantity of chips is 20. 
     
     
         15 . The divided chip rack of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of dividers is comprised of
 a first divider comprising a first series of protuberances, 
 a second divider comprising a second series of protuberances, and 
 a third divider comprising a third series of protuberances. 
 
     
     
         16 . The dividing system of  claim 13  wherein the first longitudinal wall is taller than the second longitudinal wall and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are comprised of a triangular shape. 
     
     
         17 . The dividing system of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of dividers is comprised of:
 a first divider including
 a first horizontal run adapted to hold the predetermined quantity of chips and 
 a first vertical rise; and 
 
 a second divider including
 a second horizontal run adapted to hold the predetermined quantity of chips and 
 a second vertical rise that is shorter than the first vertical rise to separate the first horizontal run from the second horizontal run. 
 
 
     
     
         18 . The dividing system of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of dividers further comprises:
 a third divider including
 a third horizontal run adapted to hold the predetermined quantity of chips and 
 a third vertical rise that is shorter than the second vertical rise to separate the second horizontal run from the third horizontal run. 
 
 
     
     
         19 . The dividing system of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of dividers are permanently attached to the plurality of cylindrical troughs. 
     
     
         20 . The dividing system of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of dividers are detachable from the plurality of cylindrical troughs.