FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an auto-scoring throwing game assembly with a soft surface which includes hooks/loops to catch the throwing objects and is deformed to activate switches device so as to allow the CPU to calculate players scores and show the result of the game by various types of automatic scoring desire via light, sound, music, LED, LCD, backlight LCD, backlight board, liquid crystal screen so as to enhance fun for the player and achieve the fairness of competition. The switch device can be a micro switch, film switch, conductive plate switch, push button switch and any conventional switch. The target surface with hooks can be a thin plate directly and integrally formed with transparent hooks by the way of injection. The thin plate includes score area, patterns, characters or indication data printed on back thereof so that the players can seen the score area, patterns, characters or indication data from the front side of throwing game assembly. Of course, the score area, patterns, characters or indication data can also be printed on the front of the thin plated.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The conventional throwing game assembly employing hook-loop connection does not have an automatic scoring device so that the players have to mark down the positions that the throwing objects hit the board of each player. The players do not have many choices to play the game and the throwing objects can only aim the score areas to throw, which is boring. It is difficult and arguable when the throwing object hits the boundary between the zero area and score area. When multiple plurality players are involved in one game, it takes time to calculate the scores for each player. Most of the conventional throwing game assemblies employing hook-loop connection do not response by audiable feedback or sound regarding the hit by the throwing objects.
The present invention intends to provide an auto-scoring throwing game assembly which includes switch devices behind the score areas and the CPU calculate the scores immediately in a signal receiving member when the throwing objects are caught on the hooks or loops of the target surface. The throwing game assembly with auto-scoring provides audiable and/or sound feedback to the players to enhance the entertainment features and fairness of the game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an auto-scoring throwing game assembly which comprises a target surface with hooks or loops formed thereon and having at least one score area defined on the target surface. At least one switch device is located behind the hooks or loops target surface. A signal receiving member is electrically connected with the throwing game assembly and receives the induction signal from the at least one switch device so as to generate audiable feedback and display scores. A throwing object has hooks/loops formed thereon which are caught by the loops/hooks on the loops or hooks target surface. The at least one switch device is activated when the throwing objects hits the at least one score area so that the scores of players can be calculated by CPU automatically.
The first object of the present invention is to provide an auto-scoring throwing game assembly wherein the throwing objects can be caught by the hooks or loops target surface and the hit activates the switch device behind the score area of the hooks or loops target surface so as to send induction signals to CPU in a signal receive member which displays the scores cooperated with variety of audiable or illumination feedbacks.
The second object of the present invention is to provide an auto-scoring throwing game assembly wherein switch devices used in the throwing game assembly can be conductive plate switches composed of two conductive plates, a micro switch, a push button switch, or spring-plate switch so as to be precisely activated and generate correct signals to the CPU.
The third object of the present invention is to provide an auto-scoring throwing game assembly wherein a press plate is connected with the lever or push button of the switch so as to increase the impact area of switch device for the throwing objects.
The fourth object of the present invention is to provide an auto-scoring throwing game assembly wherein a transparent thin plate which can be printed with the patterns, score area, characters or index information on back thereof.
The fifth object of the present invention is to provide an auto-scoring throwing game assembly wherein at least one cushion tube is located between the throwing game assembly and the wall on which the throwing game assembly is fixed, screws extends through the throwing game assembly and the at least one cushion tube and is fixed to the wall. The at least one cushion tube reduces noise and force of impact when the throwing objects hit the throwing game assembly.
The sixth object of the present invention is to provide an auto-scoring throwing game assembly wherein the lever, auxiliary part, the first plate or the second plate of the switch device can be made to have desired shapes, sizes and material so as to have the optimal situation.
The seventh object of the present invention is to provide an auto-scoring throwing game assembly wherein the score area can be an elastic score area which includes an elastic band attached to an inner periphery of the through hole in the score area. The elastic band includes the flexibility of the score area so as to activate the switch device easily and sensibly.
The eight object of the present invention is to provide an auto-scoring throwing game assembly wherein a thin plate can be printed with the patterns, score area, characters or index information on the surface thereof.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows the loops on the throwing objects and the hooks on the hooks target surface of the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows the throwing objects includes hooks on the surface thereof;
FIG. 4 shows the hooks on the throwing objects and the loops on the loops target surface of the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view show the switch behind the score area and the throwing objects hits the score area;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view to show the hooks or loops target surface and the switch device of the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is an exploded view to show the second embodiment of the hooks or loops target surface and the switch device of the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is an exploded view to show the third embodiment of the hooks or loops target surface and the switch device of the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is an exploded view to show the fourth embodiment of the hooks or loops target surface and the switch device of the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is an exploded view to show the switch device of the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a front view of the second embodiment of the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a front view of the third embodiment of the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 13 shows the use of cushion tubes to connect the throwing game assembly on a wall;
FIG. 14 shows the guide rings on the score areas of the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 15 shows the elastic score area of the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 16 shows that the score area includes a through hole;
FIG. 17 shows the elastic score area of the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 18 shows the touch pad used in the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a partial cross sectional view to show the switch device cooperated with the touch pad;
FIG. 20 shows the cushion pad used in the throwing game assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 21 is a partial cross sectional view to show the switch device cooperated with the cushion pad;
FIG. 22 is a partial cross sectional view to show the conductive plate switch is activated by the hit of the throwing objects;
FIG. 23 is a partial cross sectional view to show the push button switch is activated by the hit of the throwing objects;
FIG. 24 is a partial cross sectional view to show the micro switch with a push button is activated by the hit of the throwing objects;
FIG. 25 is a partial cross sectional view to show the micro switch with a lever is activated by the hit of the throwing objects;
FIG. 26 is a partial cross sectional view to show a press plate is connected with the lever of the micro switch having a touch member;
FIG. 27 is a partial cross sectional view to show a press plate is connected with one of the two conductive plates of the conductive plate switch;
FIGS. 28A to 28D show the different shapes of the press plates.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the throwing game assembly 10 of the present invention comprises a hooks target surface 11 having hooks 111 formed thereon and score areas 101 are defined on the hooks target surface 11. A throwing object 20 includes loops 211 on a surface thereof and the loops 211 are caught by the hooks 111 when the throwing object 20 hits the hooks target surface 11 so that the throwing objects 20 are attached on the hooks target surface 11. The hooks 111 and the loops 211 used in the present invention may use Velcro strips. A signal receiving member 30 is electrically connecting with the throwing game assembly 10 and receives the induction signal which from the at least one switch device 70 located behind the hooks target surface 11. The switch device 70 is activated by the hit of the throwing objects 20 so as to send a signal to the CPU in the signal receiving member 30. The CPU calculates scores of the players and displays the players scores on the signal receiving member 30 and the winner and the loser can be distinguished by CPU automatically. The throwing game assembly 10 provides audiable and/or sound and/or music feedback to the players to enhance the entertainment features, and different game could be chosen by player.
The throwing game assembly 10 includes tie holes 15 defined through the periphery thereof so that the throwing game assembly 10 can be tied to a wall or any fixed object by ropes (not shown). The throwing game assembly 10 may also include rings 16 on the periphery thereof such that the throwing game assembly 10 can be hanged on a wall or any fixed object. The score areas 101/201 can be arranged in a form of a matrix including nine score areas 101/201. The throwing object can be a ball, a dart or any desired shape of throwing object. The hooks target surface 11 can be a thin plate 112 (FIG. 7) from which the hooks 111 are integrally formed by the way of injection. The hooks 111 includes a single hook portion at a top of the shank or two hook portions on two sides of the shank. The thin plate 112 and hooks 11 are made by transparent material.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show that the loops target surface 21 includes loops 211 formed thereon and score areas 201 are defined on the loops target surface 21. The loops target surface 21 has a switch device 70 located therebehind and the throwing objects 200 have hooks 111 formed thereon which are caught by the loops 211 on the loops target surface 21. The switch device 70 is activated when the throwing object 200 hits the score area 201. A signal receiving member 30 is electrically connecting with the throwing game assembly 10 and receives the induction signal which from the switch device 70 located behind the loops target surface 21. The switch device 70 is activated by the hit of the throwing objects 200 so as to send a signal to the CPU in the signal receiving member 30. The CPU calculates scores of the players and displays the players scores on the signal receiving member 30 and shows the winner and the loser automatically. The throwing game assembly 10 provides audiable and/or sound feedback to the players to enhance the entertainment features, and different games could be chosen by players.
When the throwing objects 200 with loops 211 hits the score area 201, the hook portions catch the loops 211 to attach the throwing objects 200 on the loops target surface 21.
The hooks target surface 11 can be a thin plate 112 (FIG. 7) from which the hooks 111 are integrally formed by the way of injection. The hooks 111 includes a single hook portion at a top of the shank or two hook portions on two sides of the shank. The thin plate 112 and hooks 11 are made by transparent material.
As shown in FIG. 5, the switch device 70 behind the hooks or loops target surface 11/21 can be a film switch 70A which includes a first film 71 and a second film 73. A first conductive layer 711 of the first film 71 is concaved to touch a second conductive layer 731 of the second film 73 and to activate the film switch 70A when the throwing object 20 or 200 hits the score area 101 or 201. A non-conductive sheet 72 is located between the first and second conductive layers 711, 731 and includes apertures 721 so that the first conductive layer 711 touches the second conductive layer 731 via the apertures 721. The present invention can use the throwing objects 20 or 200 with loops 211 or hooks 111 formed thereon and when the throwing object 20 or 200 hits the score area 101 or 201, the first conductive layer 711 of the first film 71 is concaved to touch a second conductive portion 731 of the second film 73 via the apertures 721 of the non-conductive sheet 72 to activate the film switch 70A. It is noted that the switch device 70 may be operated without the non-conductive sheet 72.
As shown in FIG. 6, the switch device 70 behind the hooks or loops target surface 11/21 can be a film switch 70A which includes a first film 71, a non-conductive sheet 72 and a second film 73. A rear board 12 is located behind the second film 73 and connected with the hooks or loops target surface 11 or 21 to form the throwing game assembly 10.
As shown in FIG. 7, the hooks or loops target surface 11/21 is a thin plate 112/212 from which the hooks 111 or loops 211 are integrally formed. The thin plate 112/212 can be glued or weaved with the hooks 111 or the loops 211. The thin plate 112/212 and the hooks 111 can be made by way of injection. The thin plate 112/212 has patterns, score areas, characters or index information printed thereon so that the players can see the patterns, score areas, characters or the index information and to show the target area 101 from the front side of the throwing game assembly 10. The hooks target surface 11 can be a thin plate 112 from which the hooks 111 are integrally formed by the way of injection. Therein, the thin plate 112 and hooks 11 are made by transparent material. It noted that the plate 112/212 can be transparent or non-transparent and the patterns, score area, characters or index information can be printed on both sides thereof.
FIG. 8 shows that a cushion pad 13 is located between the second film 73 of the switch device 70 and a rear board 12 so as to absorb noise when the throwing object 20/200 hits the hooks or loops target surface 11/21. The switch device 70 behind the hooks or loops target surface 11/21 is a film switch 70A which includes a first film 71 and a second film 73. The first conductive layer 711 of the first film 71 is concaved to touch the second conductive layer 731 of the second film 73 and to activate the film switch 70A via the apertures 721 of the non-conductive sheet 72 when the throwing object 20/200 hits the score area 101/201. The cushion pad 13 reduces the noise and enhances the conductive sensitivity when the throwing objects 20/200 hit the score area 101/201.
FIGS. 9 and 10 show that the hooks or loops target surface 11/21 has, conductive layer the same as the first conductive layer 711 of on the first film 71, printed on a back thereof, the first conductive layer 711 of the hooks or loops target surface 11/21 is concaved and touches the second conductive layer 731 of the second film 73 via the apertures 721 of the non-conductive sheet 72 when the throwing objects 20/200 hit the score area 101/201. In this embodiment, the first film 71 can be omitted so as to reduce the manufacturing cost.
FIG. 11 shows that the throwing game assembly 10 is enclosed within a frame 40 and multiple strips 17 are flexibly connected between the dart board 10 and the frame 40. The flexible strips 17 can reduce the force of impact by the throwing objects 20/200 hitting the throwing game assembly 10. The strip 17 also can be a stiff strip without flexibility. Two water tanks 41 are hanged at the lower end of the frame 40 so as to keep the throwing game assembly 10 to be firmed upright. The signal receiving member 30 can be electrically connecting with the throwing game assembly 10 by multiple wires or cables or wireless such as by way of radio signals or infra-red rays.
As shown in FIG. 12, the score areas 101/201 can be arranged to be a large matrix including twenty five score areas 101/201. The connection between the signal receiving member 30 and the throwing game assembly 10 can be wireless such as by way of radio signals or infra-red rays.
FIG. 13 show the use of cushion tubes 18 which are located at the back or edge of the throwing game assembly 10 and screws 53 extend into the cushion tubes 18 which contact the wall 80. The cushion tubes 18 are connected with the rings 16 which are fixed on the wall 80 by screws 53. The other way to use the cushion tubes 18 is to extend the screws 53 through the cushion tubes 18 and the screws 53 are directly fixed to the wall 80. The use of the cushion tubes 18 establishes a gap between the back of the throwing game assembly 10 and the wall 80 so as to reduce noise and cushion the force of impact when the throwing objects 20/200 hit the throwing game assembly 10.
FIG. 14 shows that a guide ring 50 encloses each of the score areas 101/201 and the guide ring 50 is flexible so that when the throwing object 20/200 hits the guide ring 50, the guide ring 50 is deformed to guide the throwing object 20/200 toward the score area 101/201 so as to assist the throwing object 20/200 to hit the score area 101/201 and to activate the switch device 70 to score.
FIGS. 15 to 17 show that the score area 101/201 is a through hole 113 and an elastic band 101B/201B is engaged with an inner periphery of the through hole 113 so as to form an elastic score area 101A/201A. The elastic band 101B/201B makes the effective area that activates the switch device 70 be larger enough to increase the induction sensitivity.
FIGS. 18 and 19 show that a touch pad 60 is located between the score area 101/201 of the hooks or loops target surface 11/21 and the film switch 70A, the touch pad 60 includes protrusions 61 extending from a side thereof. The protrusions 61 face the film switch 70A so as to easily activate the film switch 70A.
FIGS. 20 and 21 show that a back plate 131 is located the second film 73 of the film switch 70A and absorbs the force of impact when the throwing object 20/200 hits the score area 101/201 and the film switch 70A.
FIG. 22 shows that the switch device 70 is a conductive plate switch 70D and includes a first plate 701 and a second plate 702, the first and second plates 701, 702 are made by conductive metallic material or have print circuits. The first plate 701 is connected with the hooks or loops target surface 11/21, so that when the throwing object 20/200 hits the score area 101/201, the score area 101/201 is deformed and concaved to move the first plate 701 to touch the second plate 702 and to activate the conductive plate switch 70D. The first and second plates 701, 702 can be any desired shape and size, and can be made by desired conductive material.
FIG. 23 shows that the switch device 70 is a push button switch 70C and includes a push button 77 behind the score area 101/201. When the throwing object 20/200 hits the score area 101/201, the score area 101/201 is deformed and concaved to press the push button 77 to activate the push button switch 70C. The push button 77 can be any desired shape and size.
FIG. 24 shows that the switch 70 is a micro switch 70B and includes an auxiliary part 75 and a push button 77 is located above the auxiliary part 75. A fixing board 90 is located between the push button 77 and the auxiliary part 75. When the throwing object 20/200 hits the score area 101/201, the score area 101/201 is deformed and concaved to press the push button 77 and the auxiliary part 75 so as to press a contact member 76 to activate the micro switch 70B.
FIG. 25 shows that the switch device 70 is another micro switch 70B and includes a lever 78. When the throwing object 20/200 hits the score area 101/201, the score area 101/201 is deformed and concaved to press the lever 78 so as to activate the micro switch 70B. The lever 78 can be any desired shape and size.
FIG. 26 shows that the switch device 70 is yet another micro switch 70B and includes a lever 78 and a press plate 79 is connected to the lever 78 by a bolt or a rivet 792. When the throwing object 20/200 hits the score area 101/201, the score area 101/201 is deformed and concaved to press the press plate 79 and move lever 78 so as to activate the micro switch 70B. The press plate 79 can be any desired shape and size.
FIG. 27 shows that the switch device 70 is a conductive plate switch 70D and includes a first plate 701 and a second plate 702. The first plate 701 is connected with a press plate 79 by a bolt or a rivet 792. The conductive plate switch 70D is located behind the score area 101/201. When the throwing object 20/200 hits the score area 101/201, the score area 101/201 is deformed and concaved to press the press plate 79 and move the first plate 701 to touch the second plate 702 so as to activate the conductive plate switch 70D. The first plate 701 and the press plate 79 can be made as a one-piece member without using the bolt or the rivet 792. The conductive plate switch 70D can be any shape or size or made by any desired conductive material.
FIGS. 28A to 28D show the different shapes of the press plate 79, such as a circular plate, a rectangular plate or a pie-shaped plate or other any desired shapes and size. The press plate 79 may have a positioning hole 790 at a center thereof so as to accommodate the bolt or rivet 792.
The present invention provides a switch device 70 behind the hooks or loops target surface 11/21 so that when the throwing object 20/200 hits the score area 101/201, the switch device 70 is activated to generate induction signal which is received by the CPU so as to calculate the scores of the players and the winner and the loser also can be figured out by the CPU. The switch device 70 can be any known switch which can be a micro witch 70B, a push button switch 70C, or a conductive plate switch 70D. The signal receiving member 30 can be cooperated with audiable signals, illumination features, LED, LCD, backlight LCD, backlight board, or LED screen to precisely show the scores automatically. The first and second plates 701, 702 of the conductive plate switch 70D can be any desired shape or size or printed with print circuits to achieve the desired purposes. The thin plates 112/212 connected with the hooks 111 or loops 211 are printed with patterns, score area, characters or index information so that the players can see the patterns, score area, characters or index information from the front of the throwing game assembly 10. The signal receiving member 30 can be connected to the throwing game assembly 10 by wires or cables, or by radio signals or infra-red rays.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Patent Application
20100001471
