(B) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
(C) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
(D) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
Not Applicable
(E) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM
Not Applicable
(F) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR
Not Applicable
(G) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates to a dart game and more particularly pertains to a new dart game for two players or teams placed on a ground or floor surface and incorporating beverage cans as targets. Dart games are generally played with a single target board oriented vertically or perpendicular to a ground or floor surface. Players of opposing sides take turns throwing darts at the single target. The target usually is a panel made of wood or cork or similar material that may be pierced or impinged by a metal dart having a metal dart tip. The target panel usually has scoring areas to indicate different types of scoring. In some dart games, other structures may be incorporated into the target panel or target area that react to piercing by a metal dart, such as balloons or beverage cans, such as beverage cans filled with a carbonated or pressurized beverage that explodes out of the beverage can when the beverage can is pierced by a metal dart.
(2) DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 1.98
The prior art relates to dart games that include single, vertical target panels and other scoring structures, such as balloons and beverage cans. The prior art does not disclose a dart game with two target arrangements that are placed in an inclined position on the ground and include apertures in the target panel for beverage cans of different dimensions.
(H) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a dart game including two target arrangements designed to be placed on a ground surface a substantial distance apart from each other. Each of the target arrangements comprises a frame, a target panel connected to the frame, and a leg arrangement. The target panel has essentially the same outer dimensions and shape as the frame. The leg arrangement is attached to one end of the frame or the target panel to prop up the frame and incline the target panel at an angle relative to the ground surface, such as an angle in the range of 5-45 degrees, or 5-30 degrees, or 5-20 degrees, or 10-30 degrees or 10-20 degrees. The target panel includes at least two apertures therein that are substantially round to receive a beverage can therein. At least two can holders are attached to the bottom surface of the target panel and at the apertures. Each of the can holders support and hold a beverage can inserted in its corresponding aperture. There are also two sets of darts. In play, opposing players or teams throw darts at the target panels in an attempt to score points by piercing the top surface of the target panels or beverage cans disposed in the apertures. Since beverage will likely spray out of the beverage cans upon being punctured, it is preferable to use the dart game outdoors so the sprayed beverage can simply soak into the ground, but it is possible to play indoors.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
(I) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a dart game according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a target arrangement of the dart game.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the target arrangement.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the target arrangement.
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the target arrangement.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the dart game in use.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the dart game in a stored or transport position.
FIG. 8 is a side view of a beverage can holder according to at least one possible embodiment.
(J) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 8 thereof, a new dart game embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the dart game 10 generally comprises two target arrangements 12 and a set of darts 56. The target arrangement 12 includes a frame 14, a target panel 16 connected to the frame 14, and legs 18. The target panel 16 has essentially the same outer dimensions and shape as the frame 14, such as a rectangular or square shape. The legs 18 are attached to one end of the frame 14 or the target panel 16 to prop up the frame 14 and incline the target panel 16 at an angle relative to the ground surface. The target panel 16 includes two apertures 20 therein, though more could be included in at least one other possible embodiment. Each of the apertures 20 is substantially round and designed to receive a beverage can 22 therein. There are two can holders 24 attached to the bottom surface 26 of the target panel 16 and at the apertures 20. Each of the can holders 24 is designed to support and hold a beverage can 22 inserted in its corresponding aperture 20. There are also two sets of darts 56.
Each of the can holders 24 is designed to receive and hold a first type 36 of beverage can 22 and a second type 38 of beverage can 22 that is taller and thinner than the first type 36 of beverage can 22, as seen in FIG. 1. In the beverage industry, beverage cans may have different dimensions, such that, for example, a beverage can 22 of a first type 36 is shorter in height but wider in diameter than another beverage can 22 of a second type 38, which is taller in height and thinner in diameter, which is particularly true if the beverage cans are of the same volume. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, in accordance with at least one possible embodiment, each of the can holders 24 includes a first leg 30, a second leg 32 parallel to the first leg 30, and a crosspiece 34 to connect the legs at the ends thereof. The crosspiece 34 has a width essentially similar to the diameter of the first type 36 of beverage can 22 to thereby space the first leg 30 and the second leg 32 apart a distance sufficient to permit insertion of the first type 36 or the second type 38 of beverage can 22 therebetween. Each of the first leg 30 and the second leg 32 has a length essentially similar to the height of the second type 38 of beverage can 22 such that the crosspiece 34 supports the bottom of the second type 38 of beverage can 22 with the top portion of the second type 38 of beverage can 22 at or essentially flush with the top surface 27 of the target panel 16. However, since the first type 36 of beverage can 22 is shorter, the crosspiece 34 cannot support such a beverage can 22 by the bottom and still maintain the top portion at or essentially flush with the top surface 27 of the target panel 16. Accordingly, the first leg 30 includes a first projection 40 and the second leg 32 includes a second projection 42. Each of the first projection 40 and the second projection 42 is disposed a distance from the crosspiece 34 and to project inwardly toward one another. Each of the first projection 40 and the second projection 42 is disposed such that the first projection 40 and the second projection 42 together support the bottom of the first type 36 of beverage can 22 with the top portion of the first type 36 of beverage can 22 at or essentially flush with the top surface 27 of the target panel 16. The first projection 40 and the second projection 42 are disposed apart from one another a distance sufficiently small to permit insertion of the second type 38 of beverage can 22 therebetween and to provide a bottom support to the first type 36 of beverage can 22. In other words, the distance between the first projection 40 and the second projection 42 is such that the thinner second type 38 of beverage can 22 can pass between them, but the thicker first type 36 cannot.
In accordance with at least one possible embodiment, each of the can holders 24 is pivotably attached to the target panel 16. This permits the can holders 24 to freely pivot to a vertical orientation regardless of inclination of the target panel 16, as well as permits the can holders 24 to be pivoted flat against the bottom surface 26 of the target panel 16 in a storage position. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the two target arrangements 1212 includes retaining pieces 44, such as clasps or brackets, disposed on the bottom surface 26 of the target panel 16 and designed to hold the can holders 24 in the storage position. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, each of the legs 18 is pivotably attached by a hinge 46 to the bottom surface 26 of their target panel 16 to permit the legs 18 to be pivoted toward the target panel 16 and into a storage position within their frame 14.
Each of the two target arrangements 12 includes a locking structure 48 disposed on an outer surface of the frame 14. The locking structures 48 are designed to releasably lock the two target arrangements 12 together to form a single portable unit to be carried by a single user. In accordance with at least one possible embodiment, the single portable unit includes a handle arrangement for carrying. In accordance with at least one possible embodiment, each of the two target arrangements 12 includes a handle structure 50, such as a rope or strap, disposed on an outer surface of the frame 14. The handle structures 50 are designed and disposed to be manually gripped by a user to facilitate carrying by a single user.
To use the dart game 10, as shown in FIG. 6, at least two users 52 place the two target arrangements 12 on a ground or floor surface 54 a substantial distance apart from each other. The users 52 extend the legs 18 and prop up one end of the frame 14 to thereby incline the target panel 16 at an angle relative to the ground surface 54, such as in a range of 5-45 degrees or 5-30 degrees, depending on the design of the legs 18, which can be varied in ways that are contemplated by the disclosure. The users then place a beverage can 22 through each of the apertures 20 into each of the can holders 24, as shown in FIG. 5. Each opposing player or team standing adjacent one of the two target arrangements 12 then takes turns throwing darts 56 at the target panel 16 of the opposing one of the two target arrangements 12 in an attempt to score points by piercing the top surface 27 of the target panels 16 or beverage cans 22. The players can play according to a predetermined scoring system or can make up their own rules, such as different points for hitting the cans 22 or different parts of the target panels 16. For example, the target panel 16 could include a marking, such as a diamond shape as shown in FIG. 1, which could be used to mark different scoring areas. Such rules could also include a baseball-style dart game using the diamond shape for hits and the beverage cans 22 for home runs, or possibly a drinking game in which the opposing team must drink the punctured beverage can 22.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
Patent Application
20250229168
