Device for collecting, containing and dispensing markers for games

Claim 1

A device for collecting, containing and dispensing disc shaped bingo chip type markers for use in the playing of the game of Bingo, the device comprising the combination of: a longitudinally elongated hollow body member formed of a material having the qualities of elasticity and resiliency, the body having a closed dispensing end and a diametrically opposite open receiving end with a hollow compartment being defined interiorly of the body for receiving therein a plurality of markers in a random manner, said body member having side walls extending between said dispensing end and said receiving end defining an elongated tubular shape for said body member having an oval cross-section viewed through a plane taken normal to the longitudinal axis at the dispensing end of the body member with said cross-sectional area slowly changing in a graduated transition manner progressively along the body member in the direction of the receiving end until a circular cross-sectional area is defined at the open receiving end of said body member, said body member adapted to be held in one hand of an individual in a comfortable and operative manner; a dispensing opening for said markers formed integrally in said closed dispensing end of said body member, said opening being in the form of a rectangular slot extending radially to the axis of the body member, said slot being longer than the diameter of the individual markers and being of a lesser width than the thickness of the individual markers thus preventing any marker from passing through said slot when the slot is in the normal inoperative position, the side edges defining said slot being distortable upon an individual applying compressive pressure to the body member adjacent the dispensing end thereof by a squeezing type movement of the hand holding the body member thus distorting the dispensing end of the body member against the inherent elasticity and resiliency of the body member, this squeezing type movement exerting opposed forces generally axially of said slot to effect the distortion of said slot in a manner decreasing the overall length thereof while distortingly increasing portions of the width thereof to a width greater than that of a plurality of the markers for dispensing a selective number of markers therethrough, said slot automatically returning to its normal inoperative undistorted position upon release of the squeezing pressure of the user due to the inherent elasticity and resiliency of the body member; a hollow chip loading funnel member having one end detachably connected to the receiving end of said body member in communication with the interior of said body member, the funnel member being connected with the body member such that a cover member is interchangeable with the funnel member, said one end of the funnel member including a hollow cylindrical collar portion having an interior diameter to be snugly received in a telescopic manner over said receiving end of said body member, the opposite end of said funnel member being of an enlarged cross-sectional area relative to said collar portion, said opposite end including a hollow triangular portion connected at its apex to the collar portion and extending outwardly therefrom at an angle thereto relative to the longitudinal axis of the collar portion, said triangular portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, and opposed side surfaces defining a hollow marker receiving chamber therebetween, said bottom surface extending outwardly from a bottom edge of said cylindrical collar portion a distance greater than said top surface with said top surface overlying only a portion of said bottom surface, that portion of said bottom surface not overlapped by said top surface being exposed to define a lip portion having a forwardmost free edge adapted to be placed adjacent the edge of a playing surface with the markers resting on the playing surface readily pushed by the individual user off the playing surface and onto the lip portion from whence they slide through the funnel into the attached body member, said body member and attached collar portion being disposed at a concave angle relative to said triangular portion; said cover member interchangeable with said funnel member for detachable connection to said receiving end of said body member to close said receiving end for containing the markers in the body during periods of transportation and storage between times of usage, said cover member being of a cylindrical shape having a flat top surface and depending cylindrical side walls defining an interior circular recess of a diameter adapted to be snugly received over the exterior surface of said body member receiving end to close said end; screw threads disposed about the exterior of said body member side walls adjacent said receiving end thereof; screw threads formed interiorly of said funnel member collar portion to engage threadingly with said body member screw threads for detachably connecting the funnel member on said body member; and screw threads formed interiorly of said cover member cylindrical side walls to threadedly engage with said body member screw threads for detachably connecting the cover member on said body member interchangeably with said funnel member.

Claim 2

A device for collecting, containing and dispensing disc shaped bingo chip type markers for use in the playing of the game of Bingo, the device comprising the combination of: a longitudinally elongated hollow body member formed of a material having the qualities of elasticity and resiliency, the body having a closed dispensing end and a diametrically opposite open receiving end with a hollow compartment being defined interiorly of the body for receiving therein a plurality of markers in a random manner, said body member having side walls extending between said dispensing end and said receiving end defining an elongated tubular shape for said body member having an oval cross-section viewed through a plane taken normal to the longitudinal axis at the dispensing end of the body member with said cross-sectional area slowly changing in a graduated transition manner progressively along the body member in the direction of the receiving end until a circular cross-sectional area is defined at the open receiving end of said body member, said body member adapted to be held in one hand of an individual in a comfortable and operative manner; a dispensing opening for said markers formed integrally in said closed dispensing end of said body member, said opening being in the form of a rectangular slot extending radially to the axis of the body member, said slot being longer than the diameter of the individual markers and being of a lesser width than the thickness of the individual markers thus preventing any marker from passing through said slot when the slot is in the normal inoperative position, the side edges defining said slot being distortable upon an individual applying compressive pressure to the body member adjacent the dispensing end thereof by a squeezing type movement of the hand holding the body member thus distorting the dispensing end of the body member against the inherent elasticity and resiliency of the body member, this squeezing type movement exerting opposed forces generally axially of said slot to effect the distortion of said slot in a manner decreasing the overall length thereof while distortingly increasing portions of the width thereof to a width greater than that of a plurality of the markers for dispensing a selective number of markers therethrough, said slot automatically returning to its normal inoperative undistorted position upon release of the squeezing pressure of the user due to the inherent elasticity and resiliency of the body member; a hollow chip loading funnel member having one end detachably connected to the receiving end of said body member in communication with the interior of said body member, the funnel member being connected with the body member such that a cover member is interchangeable with the funnel member, said one end of the funnel member including a hollow cylindrical collar portion having an interior diameter to be snugly received in a telescopic manner over said receiving end of said body member, the opposite end of said funnel member being of an enlarged cross-sectional area relative to said collar portion, said opposite end including a hollow triangular portion connected at its apex to the collar portion and extending outwardly therefrom at an angle thereto relative to the longitudinal axis of the collar portion, said triangular portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, and opposed side surfaces defining a hollow marker receiving chamber therebetween, said bottom surface extending outwardly from a bottom edge of said cylindrical collar portion a distance greater than said top surface with said top surface overlying only a portion of said bottom surface, that portion of said bottom surface not overlapped by said top surface being exposed to define a lip portion having a forwardmost free edge adapted to be placed adjacent the edge of a playing surface with the markers resting on the playing surface readily pushed by the individual user off the playing surface and onto the lip portion from whence they slide through the funnel into the attached body member, said body member and attached collar portion being disposed at a concave angle relative to said triangular portion; said cover member interchangeable with said funnel member for detachable connection to said receiving end of said body member to close said receiving end for containing the markers in the body during periods of transportation and storage between times of usage, said cover member being of a cylindrical shape having a flat top surface and depending cylindrical side walls defining an interior circular recess of a diameter adapted to be snugly received over the exterior surface of said body member receiving end to close said end; screw threads disposed about the exterior of said body member side walls adjacent said receiving end thereof; screw threads formed interiorly of said funnel member collar portion to engage threadingly with said body member screw threads for detachably connecting the funnel member on said body member; and screw threads formed interiorly of said cover member cylindrical side walls to threadedly engage with said body member screw threads for detachably connecting the cover member on said body member interchangeably with said funnel member.