Stabilizer for Stacked Gaming Chips

Abstract

An article is provided for stabilizing a stack of gaming chips which includes: a circular base having a top surface, a bottom surface and a circumferential skirt joining the top and bottom surfaces, the skirt having a width ranging from 0.25 to 1.2 cm, the base having a diameter ranging from 2.5 to 5 cm; and a sculpture attached to the top surface of the base, the sculpture and base together ranging in height from 2 to 8 cm; the article having a weight of from 30 to 150 grams.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article for stabilizing a stack of gaming chips comprising:
 a circular base having a top surface, a bottom surface and a circumferential skirt joining the top and bottom surfaces, the skirt having a width ranging from 0.25 to 1.2 cm, the base having a diameter ranging from 2.5 to 5 cm; and   a sculpture attached to the top surface of the base, the sculpture and base together ranging in height from 2 to 8 cm; the article having a weight of from 30 to 150 grams.   
     
     
         2 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein the skirt has a width ranging from 0.4 to 0.6 cm. 
     
     
         3 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein the base has a diameter ranging from 3 to 4 cm. 
     
     
         4 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein the article has a weight ranging from 60 to 120 grams. 
     
     
         5 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein the sculpture is unitarily formed with the base. 
     
     
         6 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein all of the article is formed from metal. 
     
     
         7 . The article according to  claim 6  wherein the article is formed of a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, copper, lead, zinc, tin, antimony, bismuth, silver, gold, platinum, palladium and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein the article is formed of pewter. 
     
     
         9 . The article according to  claim 7  wherein the article is cast from molten metal and solidified by cooling. 
     
     
         10 . The article according to  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of orientation markers equidistantly distributed along the top surface of the base. 
     
     
         11 . The article according to  claim 10  wherein the plurality of orientation markers ranges from 4 to 12 in number. 
     
     
         12 . The article according to  claim 11  wherein the orientation markers is 6 in number. 
     
     
         13 . The article according to  claim 10  wherein the orientation markers are circumferentially spaced at 60 degree intervals around the circular base. 
     
     
         14 . The article according to  claim 10  wherein the orientation markers either project upwards beyond the top surface or are recessed below the top surface. 
     
     
         15 . The article according to  claim 10  wherein the orientation markers each are unique and formed as sets of dots ranging in number from 1 to 6 dots per set. 
     
     
         16 . The article according to  claim 10  wherein the orientation markers are solid patterned. 
     
     
         17 . The article according to  claim 15  wherein two of the sets are spaced 180 degree apart along a circumference of the top surface and have dots that sum to 7 in number. 
     
     
         18 . The article according to  claim 10  wherein the skirt comprises a plurality of extended orientation markers that align with each of the plurality of orientation markers on the top surface of the base. 
     
     
         19 . The article according to  claim 18  wherein a word or phrase is molded into a section of the skirt between a pair of adjacent extended orientation markers. 
     
     
         20 . The article according to  claim 1  wherein the sculpture comprises a figurine sculpted with a hand holding one or more gaming cards. 
     
     
         21 . A method for enhancing enjoyment of a person's gaming experience comprising:
 (A) providing an article comprising:
 a circular base having a top surface, a bottom surface and a circumferential skirt joining the top and bottom surfaces, the skirt having a width ranging from 0.25 to 1.2 cm, the base having a diameter ranging from 2.5 to 5 cm; and 
 a sculpture attached to the top surface of the base, the sculpture and base together ranging in height from 2 to 8 cm; the article having a weight of from 30 to 150 grams; and 
   (B) positioning the article in relation to gaming chips on a gaming table.