Anti-Bacterial Gaming Currency and Gaming Accessories
A gaming accessory or gaming currency is provided. An antimicrobial agent is disposed in the material of the currency body or gaming accessory during fabrication and, due to the resiliency of the agent in withstanding the many stresses associated with the manufacturing process, the agent thereafter is substantially located on at least the outer surface of the currency body so as to kill or inhibit the growth of potentially harmful microorganisms that are introduced to the outer surface due to the excessive touching by multiple casino patrons and casino employees.
1 . A method of manufacturing a gaming currency comprising:
creating a mixture of one or more active agents configured to kill or inhibit growth of microorganisms on an outer surface of a currency body and one or more polymers configured to form the currency body; and
forming the currency body from the mixture by applying an elevated heat and a high pressure to the mixture so as to form a front face and a rear face and a side edge between the front face and the rear face, wherein the high pressure includes covering all of the front face and all of the rear face in such a manner so as to obtain a desired surface condition and a desired visual appearance.
2 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 1 , wherein said gaming currency is chosen from the group consisting of a jeton, a plaque and a chip.
3 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 2 , wherein the one or more polymers is one or more of a rigid plastic material, clay, PVC, acrylic, nylon and acetate.
4 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 1 , wherein said active agent is an antibacterial agent.
5 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 1 , wherein said active agent is an antifungal agent.
6 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 1 , wherein said active agent is an antimicrobial nanotechnology.
7 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 1 , wherein said active agent is an inorganic agent.
8 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 1 , wherein said active agent is an organic agent.
9 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 1 , wherein said active agent includes a plurality of silver ions for facilitating a slow-release mechanism applied to the outer surface at completion of the manufacturing process.
10 - 17 . (canceled)
18 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 1 , wherein the high pressure is formed by one or more of a plate press or a die
19 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 1 , wherein the one or more polymers includes a thermoplastic material.
20 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 1 , wherein the one or more polymers includes a thermosetting material.
21 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 1 , wherein the high heat includes one or more of electrical resistance heating, high frequency heating, microwave heating and infrared heating.
22 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 1 , wherein the step of forming includes one or more compression steps with all of the currency body only being heated during a final compression step.
23 . The method of manufacturing the gaming currency of claim 1 , wherein the step of forming includes one or more compression steps with all of the currency body being heated prior to a final compression step.