Rotatably Scoring Dart Board

Abstract

A dart game comprising a stand-up or hanging board having a target supported thereon for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. A plurality of darts are provided and, when thrown, the darts attach to the target. Each attaching dart tends to turn the target about its rotational axis by an amount which is a function of the radial and angular position of the dart on the target, and its relation to other darts attached thereto. Scoring means responsive to angular and/or directional target movement is provided.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a novel dart game which adds the dimension of target movement by dart placement to the scoring. The game includes a target supported upon a base and turnable by the force or weight of one or more darts attached thereto. Scoring is achieved by the degree and/or direction of movement of the target by the attaching darts. Thus, each player must consider the force his dart will produce and the relation of that force to the force of other darts, if any, on the board in selecting a target area in which to place his dart. In one version, each player attains a total score by target movement achieved through placement of his darts alone; in another version, players may attempt to counteract one another's scoring by resultant target movement when all darts are attached thereto; in still another version, sequential placement of all player's darts on the target until all are so placed causes progressive target movement, with different directional movement accounting for scoring of different players.

It will be understood that other methods of scoring are contemplated, and that as used herein, the term "dart" is understood to mean any of a variety of missile or projectile type objects thrown or propelled toward a target and having means for attachment thereto.

Main objects of the present invention, therefore, are to provide a novel dart game which includes a target movable in response to resultant forces thereon caused by the position of darts attached thereto and/or relative to other attached darts, and wherein scoring is achieved by the degree and/or direction of target movement.

Further important objects of the present invention are to provide a novel dart game of the above character which can employ a variety of different types of scoring, and which can be played in different ways, such as, individually with individual scoring, player against player with counteracting scoring determined by resultant target movement through the forces of all players' darts attached to the target, and player against player with individual scoring determined by target directional movement caused by resultant forces of all players' darts on the target.

Additional important objects of the present invention are to provide a novel dart game of the above character which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, and reliable in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the detailed description to follow taken in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a dart game board and target embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the board and target of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of a portion of FIG. 1 and showing the target moved and scoring achieved as a result of darts attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along the line 4--4 thereof and showing one form of dart attached to the target;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a dart game board and target and embodying a modified for of scoring arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a view of a portion of FIG. 5 showing the target moved and scoring achieved as a result of darts attached thereto;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view, with parts removed, illustrating the interconnected target and scoring assembly of FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of FIG. 7 taken along the line 8--8 thereof; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 7 taken along the line 9--9 thereof.

BROAD STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

Broadly described, the present invention relates to a dart game device comprising a base, a target rotatably supported upon said base, scoring means operable in response to turning movement of said target upon said base, and dart means attachable to said target and operable to turn said target as a result of the position of said dart means on said target and relative to the position of other dart means on said target.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a dart game device comprising a base, a movable target supported upon said base, cooperable scoring means on said target and said base and registerable upon movement of said target relative to said base, dart means adapted to attach to said target and operable to move said target relative to said base, whereby to register a score on said scoring means.

In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a novel game device comprising a board, target means supported upon said board for movement, weighted members attachable to said target means at selected positions thereon and operable to move said target means in response to their position thereon.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a novel game device comprising a base, a generally flat target rotatably supported upon said base for turning movement about a generally horizontal axis disposed centrally of said target, dart means attachable to said target and operable to turn said target in a direction and through an angle which is a function of the angular position of said dart means relative to a vertical plane including said target axis, a function of the radial position of said dart means relative to said axis, and a function of the relative position of said dart means relative to other dart means on said target.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a dart game comprising a board, a circular disc rotatably supported upon said board, scoring means on said board and disc and alignable in different angular positions of said disc to register different scores, said board being positionable so as to dispose said disc in a generally vertical plane and rotatable about a generally horizontal axis, said disc being adapted to turn in response to the weight of dart means attached thereto.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a dart game device comprising a board, a target rotatably supported upon said board for movement about an axis, said board being positionable to dispose said target generally vertical and said axis generally horizontal, said target being turnable about said axis in a direction and through an angle which are functions of the angular and radial positions of dart means attached to said target and relative to each other, scoring means including a pair of scoring devices, one of said scoring devices being operable in response to turning movement of said target in one direction only, the other of said scoring devices being operable in response to turning movement of said target in the other direction only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, a dart game device embodying the present invention is illustrated generally at 11 in FIGS. 1-3 and is seen to include a base 13 shown as a generally rectangular board. A target 15 illustrated as a generally circular, flat disc, is rotatably supported upon the base by spindle means 17 for free rotation about a central axis of the target 15.

Dart means including one or more darts 19 is provided and is adapted to be propelled toward and attach to the target 15. As shown in FIG. 4, each dart 19 may include an elongated body having a relatively blunt weighted forward end 21 and a stabilizing rearward end 23. The forward end 21 is provided with a tip covering of bur-like, hooked projections 25 set into a base fabric 27. Molded plastic material of this general type is available under the Trademark "Velcro" owned by Velcro Corporation, New York.

The illustrated target 15 includes a core 29 covered with a fabric-like material 31. For example, the material 31 may be a woven looped fabric, a flockulated carpet material, or any other suitable material which presents a suitably retentative face for the bur-like hooks 25 covering the end of the dart 19. The darts 19 are easily removed from the target 15 when desired by pulling, the hooks 25 and the fabric material 31 having enough "give" to allow easy intentional release of the dart 19 from the target 15.

In use, the board 13 is positioned substantially vertically as by hanging on a wall 32, so that the spindle means 17 is disposed substantially horizontal. The darts 19 are propelled, as by throwing, toward the target 15. The weighted dart end 21 causes the bur-like hooks 25 to strike the target surface 31 and, if properly thrown, the dart 19 attaches to the target 15. The dart 19 has weight and causes the target 15 to turn about the axis of the spindle 17 by an amount and in a direction which is a function of the angular and radial position of the dart 19 on the target 15. If other darts 19 are already attached to the target 15, the target will move, with placement of each additional dart 19 thereon, by an amount determined by the resultant forces of all darts 19 acting thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, this resultant is the vector sum of the weighted darts 19 acting about the axis 17 of the target 15.

Various types of scoring means may be provided. One of the simplest, and most intriguing, is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 and includes an angular indicia segment 33 printed on the board 13. The target 15 is provided with indicator means, for example, arrows 35 adapted to register with progressively numbered indicia on the angular segment 33. In the illustrated version, the arrows 35 are spaced apart a distance and the segment 33 extends through an angle so that one arrow 35 will register with some area of the segment 33 for any angular position of the target 15.

It will be appreciated that the player is required to accurately position his darts 19 on the target, especially when two or more darts 19 are used, in order for the registered "score" to be a maximum. Thus, it is necessary for the player to take into account resultant vector gravity forces acting upon all the positioned darts 19 attached to the target, and the effect of any additional darts 19 he may throw, in determining where best to position these darts 19. This is somewhat more of a challange and requires more skill than many conventional dart games.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the dart game device of this invention mey be used in another manner, that is, with an opposing player or players trying to counteract the score of his or their opponents by proper dart placement on the target. Thus, one player may try to register a maximum score by his placement of darts, while an opposing player attempts, by his dart placement, to reduce or minimize that score.

A modified form of dart game and scoring device embodying the present invention is illustrated generally at 51 in FIGS. 5 and 6 and is seen to include a hollow base or board 53 having a circular target disc 55 rotatably supported thereon by a spindle 57. The target disc 55 is covered with a fabric-like material 59 and is adapted to have one or more hooked tip darts 61 attached thereto. Thus, the target 55 turns about the axis of the spindle 57 through an angle and in a direction which is a function of the placement position of darts 61 thereon and the relation of these darts 61 relative to one another if more than one dart is attached.

The scoring device employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 5-8 utilizes a pair of scoring wheels 63, 65, respectively connected to a shaft 67 by oppositely acting ratchet clutches. One such clutch is illustrated at 69 in FIG. 9 as connecting shaft 67 and wheel 63 and includes a pawl 68 pivoted by a pin 70 within the wheel 63 and normally biased by a leaf spring 74 into engagement with ratchet teeth 72 on a hub 76 rigid with the shaft 67. Thus, when the shaft 67 and hub 76 turn in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 9, the wheel 63 turns therewith. Clockwise movement of the shaft 67 is accompanied by no movement of the wheel 63 since the teeth 72 can ratchet past the pawl 68.

Scoring wheel is connected to shaft 67 by an oppositely disposed ratchet clutch (not shown) so that wheel 65 turns with shaft 67 when the latter turns in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 9, and does not turn when shaft 67 turns counterclockwise. Progressive indicia 70, 72 are printed in opposite fashion on wheels 63, 65 as shown, to register progressive scoring on these wheels as they turn with rotation of the shaft 67.

The spindle 57 has a pulley 71 fixed thereon and interconnected by an endless belt 73 to a pulley 75 fixed to the shaft 67. Thus, when the target 55 turns in a clockwise direction, the scoring wheel 63 turns therewith through its ratchet 69 to register a score by means of indicia 70, while the scoring wheel 65 remains stationary. Conversely, when the target 55 turns counterclockwise, scoring wheel 65 turns to register a score by means of indicia 72, while scoring wheel 63 remains stationary.

It will be appreciated that the scoring mechanism described here can be utilized in several ways. In one way, opposing players can attempt to turn the target 55 in opposite directions to register independent scores on wheels 63, 65, with all darts 61 of both players ultimately being attached to the target 55. In another way, one player may first throw all his darts 61 to register his score on one wheel 63, remove his darts 61, and the other player then throw his darts to register his score on the other wheel 65. In still another way, each player may throw all his darts 61 to register a total score on both wheels 63, 65, remove his darts 61 and set the scoring wheels 63, 65 back to zero, and the other player likewise throws all his darts to register total score on both wheels. Still other playing and/or scoring methods are, of course, possible.

By the foregoing, there has been disclosed a novel dart game embodying the present invention. However, it will be understood that various additions, substitutions, modifications, and omissions may be made to illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

We claim:

1. A dart game device comprising a board, a target rotatably supported upon said board for movement about an axis, said board being positionable to dispose said target generally vertical and said axis generally horizontal, said target being turnable about said axis in a direction and through an angle which are functions of the angular and radial positions of dart means attached to said target and relative to each other, scoring means including a pair of scoring devices, one of said scoring devices being operable in response to turning movement of said target in one direction only, the other of said scoring devices being operable in response to turning movement of said target in the other direction only.

2. A dart game device comprising a base, a movable target supported upon said base, cooperable scoring means on said target and said base and registerable upon movement of said target relative to said base, said scoring means including a progressive scale extending from a minimum to a maximum, and indicator means registering a score on said scale in response to movement of said target relative to said base, dart means including a plurality of darts adapted to successively attach to said target and operable to move said target relative to said base in response to the relative position of the darts on said target and the position of the darts relative to one another, whereby to register a score on said scoring means which is a resultant of the darts secured to said target and acting thereon.

3. A dart game device comprising a base, a target rotatably supported upon said base for movement about a generally horizontal axis, cooperable scoring means on said target and said base and registerable upon rotation of said target relative to said base, said scoring means including a progressive scale extending from a minimum to a maximum, and indicator means registering a score on said scale in response to rotation of said target relative to said base, dart means including a plurality of darts adapted to successively attach to said target and operable to rotate said target relative to said base in response to the radial and angular position of the darts on said target and the radial and angular position of the darts relative to one another, whereby to register a score on said scoring means which is a resultant of the darts secured to said target and acting thereon.

4. A dart game device comprising a board, a target rotatably supported upon said board for movement about an axis, said board being positionable to dispose said target generally vertical and said axis generally horizontal, said target being turnable about said axis in a direction and through an angle which are functions of the angular and radial positions of dart means attached to said target and relative to each other, scoring means including a pair of independent scoring devices each interconnected with said target by one-way clutch means, one of said scoring devices being operable in response to turning movement of said target in one direction, the other of said scoring devices being operable in response to turning movement of said target in the other direction.

5. A dart game device comprising a base, a target rotatably supported upon said base for movement about a generally horizontal axis, cooperable scoring means on said target and said base and registerable upon rotation of said target relative to said base, said scoring means including a progressive scale extending from a minimum to a maximum, and indicator means registering a score on said scale in response to rotation of said target relative to said base, dart means including a plurality of darts adapted to successively attach to said target and operable to rotate said target relative to said base in response to the radial and angular position of the darts on said target and the radial and angular position of the darts relative to one another, whereby to register a score on said scoring means which is a resultant of the darts secured to said target and acting thereon, said scoring means including two independent means operable in response to clockwise and counterclockwise rotation, respectively, of said target.

6. A dart game device comprising a base, a target disc supported for rotation upon said base for movement about a generally horizontal axis, cooperable scoring means on said target disc and said base and registerable upon rotation of said target disc relative to said base, said scoring means including a progeressive scale extending from a minimum to a maximum, and indicator means registering a score on said scale in response to rotation of said target disc relative to said base, dart means including a plurality of darts adapted to successively attach to said target disc and operable to rotate said target disc relative to said base in response to the radial and angular position of the darts on the target and relative to one another, whereby to register a score on said scoring means which is a resultant of the darts secured to said target disc and acting thereon, said scoring means including an arcuate indicia segment extending at least partially around the periphery of said target disc, and pointer means on said disc registerable with said arcuate segment.