Safety cover for chip rack

Abstract

A chip rack assembly for safely storing casino chips that includes a tray and a cover that can be moved relative to the tray between an open position and a closed position. The open position of the cover permits access to the casino chips stored in the tray and the closed position of the cover restricts access to the casino chips stored in the tray. The chip rack assembly further includes a locking assembly having an unlocked condition and a locked condition. The unlocked condition allowing the cover to freely move between the open position and the closed position and the locked condition securing the cover in the closed position and prevents the cover from moving to the open position. The cover comprises either one large panel or a plurality of smaller panels that are hinged together and guided along a track between the open position and the closed position.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A chip rack assembly for safely storing casino chips comprising:
 a tray including a floor and at least one side wall extending from the floor to define a cavity for the storage of casino chips;   a cover attached to the tray and movable between an open position and a closed position, the open position permitting access to the casino chips stored in the tray and the closed position restricting access to the casino chips stored in the tray; and   a locking assembly including an unlocked condition and a locked condition, the unlocked condition allowing the cover to freely move between the open position and the closed position and the locked condition securing the cover in the closed position preventing the cover from moving to the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking assembly includes a first locking component attached to the tray and a second locking component attached to the cover, wherein in the locked condition the first locking component is secured to the second locking component. 
     
     
         3 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the locking assembly includes an electromagnetic lock and the first locking component includes one of a electromagnet and an armature plate and the second locking component is the other of the electromagnet and the armature plate. 
     
     
         4 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the locking assembly includes a key card reader and can be released from the locked condition via a key card. 
     
     
         5 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the locking assembly includes a mechanical locking device and the first locking component includes one of a lock shell and a latch and the second locking component includes the other of the lock shell and the latch. 
     
     
         6 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover is formed of transparent material. 
     
     
         7 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 1  further including an electric motor for driving the cover between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 7  further including a control module and an input, wherein the input connects the electric motor to the control module and the control module permits remotely switching the cover between the open position and the closed position and further permits remotely switching the locking assembly between the locked condition and the unlocked condition. 
     
     
         9 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 8  further including and alarm in communication with the control module for signaling a predetermined event and automatically moving the cover to the closed position and the locking assembly to the locked condition. 
     
     
         10 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the input is a wired connection. 
     
     
         11 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the input is a wireless receiver. 
     
     
         12 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the tray includes at least one sensor that senses the presence of an obstruction between the open position and the closed position of the cover to prevent the cover from moving to the closed position in the presence of the obstruction. 
     
     
         13 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the tray includes a track that guides the cover between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the cover includes a plurality of panels interconnected to one another via hinges. 
     
     
         15 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the panels includes rollers that are seated within and guided by the track. 
     
     
         16 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the track includes a tray section and a stow section, the cover being located in the tray section when it is in the closed position and the cover being located in the stow section when it is in the open position. 
     
     
         17 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the tray section and the stow section are separated by a bend and the stow section is located directly below the tray section and the floor of the tray. 
     
     
         18 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the chip rack assembly is connected to a dealer table and wherein the tray section and the stow section are separated by a bend and the stow section extends into the dealer table. 
     
     
         19 . The chip rack assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the chip rack assembly is connected to a dealer table via a securement mechanism that selectively locks the chip rack assembly to the dealer table. 
     
     
         20 . A chip rack assembly according to  claim 1  further including an electric motor for driving the cover between the open position and the closed position and further including a control module and an input, wherein the input connects the electric motor to the control module and the control module permits remotely switching the cover between the open position and the closed position and further permits remotely switching the locking assembly between the locked condition and the unlocked condition. 
     
     
         21 . A chip rack assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the cover includes a large panel that moves along the tracks linearly between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         22 . A chip rack assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the large panel is formed of transparent material. 
     
     
         23 . A chip rack assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the first locking component and a second locking component form the locked condition automatically upon placing the cover in the closed position.