GB2277042A - Alternative darts games. - Google Patents

Abstract

Darts games based on Snooker and Pool have protruding cylindrical targets 23 which are rotatable between two stop points thereby repositioning a marker on the target face to distinguish target status as between "in play" 25 and "out of play" 26. At their rear ends the target elements incorporate a cutaway flange device 39 which in conjunction with a wire securing pin 42 controls rotation movement and prevents any forward or rearward extraction. Spacer feet 29 provide rotation clearance from wall or backing board. <IMAGE>

Description

aLDbRiiLTIVE DARTS GASSES This invention relates to darts or like games by which is meant games played by aiming projectiles at a board marked with target areas. Generally speaking, darts as played in pubs, clubs and like places uses pointed, flighted hand-thown projectiles aimed at a bristle-fibre or paper coil board marked in; segments numbered from 1 to 20 and having double, treble and bull rings;but dart games as used herein can also include games played with soft-tip darts against suitable receptive surface and Velcro (trade mark) tipped projectiles against a felt board.

Convential darts games enjoy considerable popularity among the higher skilled, competitive dart playing fraternity but have, perhaps, rather less appeal among more casual, lesser skilled players. the present invention provides means for alternative darts games based on the popular pastimes of snooker and pool and offers scope for simulation of other games in which target elements are progressively eliminated.

The invention comprises a bristle or other suitable material dartboard having protruding, cylindrical target elements which, although secured withinJtheir bores extending right through the board, may be rotated so as to reposition a white marker (aot or line) on the target face as a means of distinguishing between targets in play and those legitimitely hit (potted") and taken out of play.

Smbodiments of darts games according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figures 1 and 2 are respectively front and part-sectional side elevations of a darts snooker bristle board having white dot target markers with I80 degrees target rotation and housed in a wall cabinet incorporating a built-in turn bobbin scoreboard.

Figure 3 shows a suggested target colour layout for the afore -mentioned darts snooker board, the linear layout facilitating distinction between targets in play and those out of play.

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively front and part-sectional side elevations of a darts pool bristle board having white line target markers with 90 degrees target rotation. (No scoreboard is required for the darts pool game).

Figure 6 shows a suggested target colour layout for the darts pool game, the linear layout facilitating distinction between in play and out of play targets.

Figure 7 shows the component parts of the target elements.

Figure 8 shows an alternative method of target construction utilizing a one-piece metal or plastic with flange incorpor -ated.

Figure 9 shows a further alternative method of target cons -truction utilising bent-over wire staples to provide flange and rotation stop-point functions.

Figure 10 is a side-sectional view of target installation into the board.

Figures 11 and I2 show the correlation between the target face white markers (as viewed from the board front) and their resp -ective flange positionings (as viewed from the board rear).

in play positions are shown on the left and out of play on the right of each pairing.

The darts games illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 relate to a bristle dartboard 21 with integral chipboard backing 22 bored right through to accommodate target elements 23 in a smooth, sliding fit. These are encased in metal or suitable plastic cylinders 27 bevelled on their front facing rims 28 to minimise dart "bounce-out" and of a length greater than the board depth so as to give an adequate grip for target rotation.

Into each cylinder is affixed a plug 45 of dartboard material as derived from the bored-out recesses of the dart -board. The plug is fixed flush up to the front,bevelled rim 28 of the cylinder 27 which, as the cylinder is longer than the inserted plug leaves . free space 46 at its rear end into which is affixed a flanged collar 38 of plastic or other suitable material. The flange 39 is partially cutaway 41 over I80 degrees or in an alternative version 90 degrees of its circumference to provide a rotation channel for a half turn (Figure 11) or alternatively a quarter turn (Figure 12) of the target element.Alternatively, the flange mas be fabric -ated as an integral part of the cylinder 40 (Figure 8) or aould be effected by wire staples 47 partially driven into the inserted plug's chipboard backing 22 and bent over the cylin -ders rear rim 48 at the appropriate stop points (Figure 9).

The complete target element assembly is secured within its board recess by means of a two-legged wire securing pin 42 (Figure 10) driven across the flange centre and iuto the dartboardts chipboard backing, one leg 43 within the cutaway channel 41 to provide a rotation stop point and the other leg 44 beyond the flange's outermost edge. The flange assembly thus provides limited rotation of the target element and also prevents its forward extraction from the board. The securing pin 42 similarly prevents casual rearward extraction.

The target elements 23 are coloured on their front according to the colours of snooker balls (Figure 3) or pool balls (Figure 6). White markers 24 (dots or lines) are added - these being correlated with flange stop points so that an' anti-clockwise turn at the board face places the white dot at a centre top position (in play) 25, and a clockwise turn at a bottom centre position (out of play) 26 (Figure 11) or, in the case of white line markers (Figure 12) an anti-clockwise turn stopping with the line vertical (in play position) 25 and a clockwise turn stopping with the line horizontal (out of play) 26.

As an additional feature a dual skill facility may be provided by attaching to each target face a smaller diameter metal or plastic ring in the manner of the inner bull ring on a conventional dartboard. Alternatively, if the target cline -ders are themselves of small diameter a larger diameter ring may be affixed to encircle each target element. Thus a higher skill game would be confined to the smaller target areas wheres at lower skill levels hits anywhere within the larger, outers areas (including the inner target) would apply.

The darts snooker game shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is mounted via brackets 30 and spacer feet 29 into a wall cabinet 31 incorporating a shelf 33 and a scoreboard facility 34 . The scoreboard comprises rotating bobbins 36 each marked with digits 0 to 9 to register points scored and number of games won by each player. Xhe bobbins are rotated by knobs 37 and show the digits through windows 35. If desired the bobbins could be connected by a carry mechanism. which advances (or reduces) the "tens" bobbin as the "units" bobbin passes from 9 to 0 (or vice versa).

In darts snooker the pattern of play and points scoring would broadly follow that of table snooker, the first

objective being to "pot" i.e. hit a red which then goes out A of the game (target rotated), then any nominated colour (which remains in the game at this stage). This process continues until all reds have gone; the remaining colours are then "potted" and taken out of play (targets rotated) in scoring order Yellow 2, Green 3, Brown 4, Blue 5, Pink 6, Black 7.

In turn each player throws a set of three darts and may gain a further, follow-on set of three if, say, the third dart scores, this process continuing, building a break, until a third dart fails to score. The rules may also cater for other snooker features such as snookers, foul hits etc.

The pool darts game shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 is shown attached directly to a wall or backboard 32 it being a feature of this game that no points scoring facility is required, the state of play relative to each player being reflected on the dartboard itself. The game is won by the first player or team to "pot" i.e. hit a set of seven targets, red or yellow, and then the black. Hitting an opponents target scores for the opponent and a premsture hit on the black loses the game.

Claims (8)

1. I Darts games played on a board having protruding cylindrical targets which are rotatable between two stop points to denote target status - in play or out of play.
2. 2 Darts games according to claim 1 in which said targets are coloured to be representative of balls in a Snooker, Pool or like game.
3. 3 Darts games according to Claims 1 and 2 in which targets have a marker dot (or line) to indicate target status.
4. 4 Darts games according to Claims 1 to 3 in which target elements comprise a plug of dartboard material at the front end and a cutaway flange at the rear.
5. 5 Darts games according to Claims 1 to 4 in which the target flange serves the dual purpose of limiting target rotation between two stop points and preventing forwards extraction of the target element.
6. 6 Darts games according to Claims 1 to 5 in which each target element is secured within the dartboard by means of a securing pin which also provides a rotation stop.
7. 7 Darts games according to Claims 1 to 6 in which the dartboard is spaced from its backing board or wall by e.g.

   rubber or plastic feet to provide clearance for the rear flange assemblies.
8. 8. Darts games according to Claims I to 6 in which each target element incorporates larger and smaller diameter target areas to provide a choice of play at lower or higher levels of skill.