Patent Grant
12066280
Not applicable
Not applicable
The present invention relates to darts, modifications to traditional darts, and modifications to the traditional game of darts. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dart, flight unit, dart attachment, or flight attachment capable of receiving the tip/point of another dart thrown into the dart while the dart is in the dartboard, without damaging either dart. This novel dart allows for modification of traditional dart game play which requires the tip of all darts to strike and stick to the dartboard itself to score. Also included are methods of game play utilizing the novel dart, flight unit, dart attachment, or flight attachment capable of receiving the tip of another dart.
In standard dart rules, only darts that stick into the dartboard can count towards scoring. More specifically, a dart must remain in the target (dartboard) for the duration of a player's turn in order to count towards scoring. When a dart strikes a previously thrown dart, the subsequently thrown dart can bounce out or get stuck in the previously thrown dart (thus not adhering to the dartboard) or at best, simply be redirected (thus not striking the intended area). Darts which strike a divider in the dartboard have a lower chance of remaining in the dartboard as required for scoring. As such, there have been several dart modifications to reduce the chance of a dart not striking and adhering to the dartboard or to limit the chance a dart is directed away from its intended target area. Dart modifications have focused on: (1) limiting the chance a subsequently thrown dart strikes the rear of a previously thrown dart; (2) minimizing any deflection by a subsequently thrown dart occurring when striking the rear of a previously thrown dart; and (3) preventing bouncing off the dartboard after striking a divider in the dartboard. In seeking to limit the chances that a subsequently thrown dart adheres to a previously thrown dart, there have been designs to limit the chances that a “Robinhood” occurs. In traditional darts, a “Robinhood” occurs when a dart is thrown into a dartboard and a subsequently thrown dart lands in the rear portion of the previously thrown dart and sticks to the previously thrown dart. Typically, the tip of the subsequently thrown dart is stuck in the shaft or flight of the previously thrown dart. Because a Robinhood does not result in scoring for the subsequently thrown dart in traditional darts and because a dart striking a previously thrown dart can cause damage to the rear portion of the previously thrown dart (whether or not a Robinhood occurs), prior dart modifications have sought to reduce the chances of subsequently thrown darts striking previously thrown darts as well as the occurrence of Robinhoods. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,280 entitled “Dart with Flight Lock”, Bottelsen discloses a dart comprising a flight holder with a pointed rearward end which “obviates the need for a deflector at the back of the flight by eliminating or at least severely reducing the occurrence of ‘Robinhoods.’” Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,745 entitled “Dart Flight”, a gradually tapered dart flight is disclosed to minimize damage to a first thrown dart and to minimize the redirection of subsequently thrown darts which strike a first dart.
Rather than adopt the approach of the prior art in seeking to avoid the striking of one dart with another or the occurrence of Robinhoods, the present invention provides novel dart embodiments which not only prevent damage to the darts when a subsequently thrown dart strikes the rear of a previously thrown dart, but also allow for (and can encourage) adherence of the second dart to the first by providing a modified rear portion designed to capture the tip of a subsequently thrown dart, without damaging the first thrown dart. Also included in the present invention are methods of modified gameplay which incorporate the novel dart embodiments.
The following patent documents are incorporated herein by reference:
Generally, a dart consists of a sharp point or tip that makes contact with the target, a barrel or grip, a shaft, and a flight, or if it has a connected shaft and flight then a flight unit. The apparatus of the present invention preferably comprises a modified shaft, flight, flight attachment, or flight unit which provides an area that allows a subsequently thrown dart to stick to and adhere to a previously thrown dart. In various embodiments, the apparatus of the present invention may include the entire dart or simply a modified portion which can adhere to/attach to or engage with a standard game dart or a portion of same. The present invention further comprises modified gameplay wherein “Robinhoods” are scored.
In one or more embodiments, a dart is provided which comprises two opposing ends, the two opposing ends comprising a front end and a rear end, with a device at the rear end that is capable of capturing and securing the tip of another dart.
In one or more embodiments, a dart comprises an area at a rear end of the dart used as a target for a subsequent dart to be thrown into.
In one or more embodiments, a dart flight comprises a central feature that is generally conical or cylindrical in shape, wherein said central feature is filled with foam or a similar material that can capture and secure a dart tip.
In one or more embodiments, a dart flight or dart shaft and flight unit that is shaped to capture the tip of another dart.
In one or more embodiments, the present invention comprises a dart flight, dart shaft, or dart that can capture the tip of another dart without sustaining damage.
In one or more embodiments, a dart comprises a tip, shaft and flight, and a rear end which comprises an area for receiving another dart, wherein the area receives a tip of the other dart.
In one or more embodiments, a dart flight unit and shaft comprise a flight, a threaded end, a shaft, a shaft rear end and a target area, wherein the target area is located in the shaft rear end and is sized and shaped to receive the tip of another dart and wherein the threaded end can thread onto a barrel or grip portion of a dart.
In one or more embodiments, a dart flight comprises multiple fins, a front portion which can attach to a dart shaft and a rear portion which is sized and shaped for receiving the tip of another dart.
In one or more embodiments, at least two of the fins are foldable.
In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the target area is cylindrical.
In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the target area is square. In certain methods of gameplay, darts can be utilized which include different shaped target areas. For example, one dart may have a cylinder-shaped target area and another may have a square shaped target area.
In one or more embodiments, the target area can be filled with one or more channels or holes for receiving one or more darts. For example, the channels or holes can be shaped so as to receive the tip or point of a subsequently thrown dart.
In one or more embodiments, a dart flight unit comprises multiple fins, a front portion which can attach to a dart shaft and a rear portion which houses or includes a target area for receiving the tip of another dart. In certain embodiments, the rear portion is integrated into the dart flight.
In one or more embodiments, a dart flight unit comprises multiple fins, a front portion which can attach to a dart shaft and a rear portion which is sized and shaped so as to receive a barrel and/or point of another dart.
In one or more embodiments, an attachment to a dart flight comprises a body which houses a target area, and a front portion which attaches to the dart flight of a dart.
In one or more embodiments, a dart game utilizes the dart or the dart attachments as disclosed herein.
In one or more embodiments, a method of gameplay uses a dart, dart attachment, or dart flight as described herein to allow for modifying the rules as set forth herein.
In one or more embodiments, a dart comprises a point, a barrel, a shaft, and a flight, wherein the flight comprises a target area. The target area can be sized and shaped for receiving another dart. Specifically, the target area can be sized and shaped for receiving the tip or point of another dart. Preferably, the target area is able to capture the tip or point of another dart so that the subsequently thrown dart adheres to/is stuck in the rear of the dart (so that a “robinhood” has taken place).
In the various embodiments described herein, the dart flight can comprise different numbers of fins. For example, in one or more embodiments, the flight comprises four fins. In one or more embodiments, the flight comprises three fins. The target area can be located centrally between the fins of the flight. For example, the fins can extend radially away from a central target.
In one or more embodiments, the flight includes a central cavity, said cavity having an exterior and interior, the fins connected to and extending radially away from the exterior of said central cavity and the interior of the cavity housing the target area. The fins can be equally spaced from each other, such that if there are four fins, each fin is spaced 90 degrees from each other, while if there are three fins, each fin would be spaced 120 degrees from each other, and so on.
The target area or capture area of various embodiments of the present invention is preferably made of a material suitable for receiving and capturing the tip or point of another dart. For example, the target area or capture area may be made of cork, sisal, or foam.
In certain embodiments, the target area is removable and replaceable.
In one or more embodiments, a dart flight unit apparatus comprises a flight unit having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is connectable to a dart shaft and a target area is located at the distal end of the flight unit, said target area sized and shaped to receive a point of another dart.
In one or more embodiments, the dart flight unit comprises a central, longitudinally extending bore and multiple flight fins, said fins extending radially away from the central, longitudinally extending bore.
In one or more embodiments, the target area is part of a larger target insert, said target insert being sized and shaped to fit within the central, longitudinally extending bore of the flight unit.
In one or more embodiments, the target insert has a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a lip portion which is sized and shaped to extend radially past an inner diameter of the central, longitudinally extending bore.
In one or more embodiments, the flight unit and shaft comprise a unitary structure. Thus, although the novel flight can be attached to an existing dart, in other embodiments the novel flight can be part of a unitary structure (and thus the flight would not be removable in such a case).
Various methods of game play are presented and described herein using the novel dart/dart flight/flight attachments.
In one or more methods of game play, the game is played with multiple throwing darts and dart board, wherein
In one or more methods of gameplay, a player who throws a dart into the target area of a previously thrown dart scores the numerical value of the previously thrown dart.
In one or more methods of gameplay, a player who throws a dart into the target area of a previously thrown dart scores twice the numerical value of the previously thrown dart.
In one or more methods of gameplay, a player who throws a dart into the target area of a previously thrown dart by another player scores the numerical value of the previously thrown dart and the player who threw the initial dart loses the same numerical value.
In one or more methods of gameplay, a player who throws a dart into the target area of a previously thrown dart by another player causes the other player to lose said previously thrown dart for the rest of the game. In certain methods of gameplay, the dart could be scored as well.
In one or more methods of gameplay, each player has three flight target darts during game play.
In one or more methods of gameplay, players alternate throws of their flight target darts during game play.
In one or more embodiments, a dart comprises a point, a shaft, a barrel, and a flight, wherein the flight comprises a rear target area, said target area being sized and shaped for capturing the point of another dart. In one or more embodiments, the shaft has a proximal portion and distal portion, the proximal portion of the shaft terminating at the barrel and the distal portion of the shaft being integrated with the flight, wherein the distal portion of the shaft comprises a cavity which houses the target area. In one or more embodiments, the target area protrudes distally of the distal end of the shaft. In one or more embodiments, the target area is flush with the distal end of the shaft. In one or more embodiments, the target area is recessed within the distal end of the shaft. In one or more embodiments, the flight comprises four fins. In one or more embodiments, the flight comprises three fins. The target area can be comprised of one or more of the following materials: foam, rubber, sisal, or cork. The flight can comprise a plurality of fins and the rear target area can be located centrally of the plurality of fins. The rear target area, as seen from a rear view of the dart, can be circular. In other embodiments, the rear target area, as seen from a rear view of the dart, can square.
In one or more embodiments, the fins of the flight are foldable.
In one or more embodiments, the rear target area comprises a plurality of smaller targets.
In one or more embodiments, the rear target area is housed in a removable target insert.
In one or more embodiments, a dart comprises a point, a shaft, and a flight, wherein the flight includes a means for receiving the tip of another dart. The means for receiving can comprise a plug made of cork, sisal, foam, or rubber, or a combination thereof.
In one or more embodiments, a dart comprises a point section, a barrel section, a shaft section, and a flight section, wherein the flight section includes a means for receiving the tip section of another dart. The means for receiving can comprise a plug made of cork, sisal, foam, or rubber, or a combination thereof.
For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:
The present invention also discloses a modified darts game. In the present invention, a first dart can be thrown into the dart board and a second dart can be thrown and can stick into/engage with the rear target area of the first dart. Because of the target area component of the first dart, the second dart can pierce and stick to the target area of the first dart. In standard dart designs, that would cause damage to the rear of the first dart. During gameplay, it would also result in no score in traditional dart rules.
The present invention allows for an added dimension of gameplay along with a non-fixed target location. The dart target area/capture area can be part of the flight, part of the flight unit, part of the dart shaft or an additional attachment that attaches to a dart flight or shaft. The new dart enhancement can be produced as flights for existing darts, flights with shafts attached, shafts, flight attachments, rear dart attachments, or full one-piece darts, for example. The rear of the new dart can have a circular, square, or other shape target for a dart to land in. The dart target/capture area can be made of metal, plastic, wood, vinyl, graphite or another light or suitable material, and then filled with a cork, sisal, foam, or other suitable material that can capture the tip of another dart and not have the subsequently thrown dart bounce out. Another embodiment could have the target/capture area be a mechanical device that would capture the tip of the other dart or be shaped like a spring or Chinese finger trap to capture the tip of the second dart. In various embodiments, the present invention may comprise a flat folding flight (i.e. nylon) that has a target area (which may be cone shaped, for example) in the middle to capture the tip of the other dart simply by shape. In various embodiments, there could be a version that is only single use or has an attachment target area that is single use such as a cover over the target/capture area or a piece of foam that can only be used once and then needs to be replaced. The front tip and grip area of the dart can be modified to promote the docking of the tip of the dart into the receptive area at the back of the dart. This can be done by shaping the tip and grip to fit into the rear of the dart. The dart target/capture area can be made of metal, plastic, wood, vinyl, graphite or another light material, for example, and then filled with a cork, sisal, foam, or other material, for example that can capture the tip of another dart and not have it bounce out. Another embodiment could have the target/capture area be mechanical device that would capture the tip of the other dart or shaped like a spring or Chinese finger trap to capture the tip of the second dart. Alternatively, or in addition, the various embodiments could use a material such as rubber on the grip to reduce bounce and increase friction with the docking area at the rear of the dart. The front of the grip portion or barrel can be in a pointed/cone shape to allow easier entry into the target/capture area.
The present invention can also apply to and include soft tip darts. For soft tip darts, the rear of a dart may have an area for another dart to hit which can then drive the first dart into the board for electronic scoring as opposed to having the second dart stick into the first dart as is done with traditional darts and in the embodiments depicted in the figures. Alternatively, however, the soft tip dart can be captured in a way similar to the capture of a steel tip dart.
In various embodiments, the sharp tip/spike of the dart can be stored in the target area of the rear portion of the dart. Such a feature could be advantageous for carrying and storing the darts.
The new dart and dart parts of the present invention allow several additional gameplay options, including modified scoring of traditional dart games, modified game play of traditional dart games, and entirely new game play. Some of the new options are listed below:
When a dart is thrown into the target section of a dart already in the dart board, then the scoring could be:
If a dart is thrown into the target section of a dart already stuck into a dart that is stuck in the board then the scoring could be:
If a player's dart is thrown into the target section of another player's dart already stuck into the dartboard:
Other variants of the game can include players alternating turns or dart throws as described below:
In a particular method of gameplay of the present invention, each player throws three (3) darts and then removes them from the board. The first way to play is a take on the normal gameplay of darts where each player throws their darts and then removes them from the board at the end of their turn. The first dart thrown into the board scores the number of points on that section of the board as normal. If the second or any subsequently thrown dart sticks into the first or any previously thrown dart then the second or subsequently thrown dart can be worth the same number of points or another factor, such as double the number of points, of the first or previously thrown dart. It can also be its own point value such as 50 anytime a dart goes into the back of another dart. Similarly, if the third dart is thrown into the back of the second dart which is in the back of the first dart that could be worth the same or a different amount, such as triple the score of the first dart, or 150 points, or the same points as the first dart.
In another method of gameplay of the present invention, each player throws three (3) darts and leaves them for the next player. In this mode of play, the first player will throw their three (3) darts into the board, getting the score based on the normal dart scoring pattern. The second player will get points by throwing their dart into the board, or by throwing their dart in the back of the other player's dart. If that happens, the first player can lose their dart for the rest of the match, lose their points for that dart, or the second player could get the score of that previous dart.
In an alternative, simpler game embodiment of the present invention, the second player is the only one who can score and only by sticking a dart in the back of their opponent's dar, which could be worth a point, for example.
In another method of gameplay of the present invention, “Knockout,” an attrition/killer/knockout game, wherein when the second player gets their dart in the opponent's dart, the opponent loses that dart for the rest of the game until one player has no darts left.
In another method of gameplay of the present invention, each player throws one dart, with each person alternating shots until all darts are thrown. In this mode of gameplay, players alternate their shots, and the same rules as above can apply when a dart is “robinhooded”; however the gameplay is slower.
In another method of game play, a first player throws the target dart, and then normal darts are thrown afterwards. In this gameplay, there are target darts thrown before regular darts. The target dart or darts are thrown into the board, and then the players try to throw a normal dart into the target section of the target darts. The players can do this for the score of the target dart in the dartboard scoring area or for single points for each target dart hit.
The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention:
All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.
The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
This application claims priority to my U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/263,034, filed 26 Oct. 2021, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20230128172 A1 | Apr 2023 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63263034 | Oct 2021 | US |
