Patent Application
20210223016
The present invention relates to dart holders to be used by a person throwing darts in a game of darts.
Darts is a form of throwing game in which small missiles (darts) are thrown at a dartboard. Many advances have been made in and for the various games of darts. Specific attention has been raised for the improvement of specific parts of the darts. The barrel, shaft and flight all have an impact on the consistency of throwing. The choice of the barrel, shaft and flight depends for a great deal on individual preferences and throwing style. The location of the grip on the barrel of the dart can have an effect on the flight path and stability of the dart. Therefore darts players spend many hours practicing finding the right grip position on the dart. To help find the best grip position many adjustments to the barrel have been made. Some barrels comprise carved out patterns to improve the grip while others comprise shapes such as dish-outs to enhance finding the best finger placement on the dart. Although these patterns and shapes on the barrel of the dart provide a guidance for finding the right grip position there is still room for improvement.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved guidance for finding the right grip position on the barrel of the dart.
To this end, the invention relates to a dart holder comprising:
The invention concerns a dart holder according to claim 1. The dart holder according to the invention provides a reference to at least partly prevent a dart player from randomly grabbing the dart at any position on the barrel thus achieving higher accuracy in throwing the dart. The shaft allowing the dart to travel into the positioning means, is provided with a limitation reference means to restrict the tip of the dart from travelling beyond the limitation reference means providing the dart may be inserted in a deepest position. When at least the tip and/or part of the barrel of a dart is inserted into the shaft, the deepest position of the dart is determined by the tip having arrived at the limitation reference means, the deepest position of the dart forming a reference point of the dart with respect to the first landing area of the first positioning means so as to allow the user to grab the dart according to a predetermined position known by the user.
In an embodiment, the limitation reference means is formed at the shaft end by an opening extending in the first positioning means, the shaft thereby forming a through hole. In this way, the deepest position of the dart may be detected by means of holding a finger of the user at the shaft end side of the first positioning means. When the user is sensing the tip of the dart at the opening extending in the first positioning means at the shaft end side of it, the dart has reached its deepest position and such that the barrel of said dart is accessible for being grabbed by the user's hand according to a predetermined position with respect to the first positioning means.
In an embodiment, the limitation reference means is formed by a stopper means. In this way, the deepest position of the dart is determined by the stopper means preventing the dart or the tip of the dart from being inserted in the shaft beyond the stopper means, such that the barrel of said dart is accessible for being grabbed by the user's hand according to a predetermined position with respect to the first positioning means.
In an embodiment, the stopper means is adjustable along the longitudinal direction of the shaft. In this way, the relative position of the dart with respect of the first positioning means may be adapted according to a dedicated position which is adapted and/or optimized for any specific user such that the barrel of said dart is accessible for being grabbed by said any user's hand.
In an embodiment, stopper adjustment means are arranged in the shaft of the first positioning means and the stopper means are arranged to cooperate with the stopper adjustment means so as to allow to position the stopper means relative to the shaft. In this way, the stopper adjustment means present in the shaft may be used to position the stopper means relative to the shaft so as to determine a position of the limitation reference means preventing or restricting the tip of the dart from travelling beyond the limitation reference means to cause a dedicated deepest position of the dart inserted in the shaft.
In an embodiment, the stopper adjustment means are formed by an array of staggered holes, each hole extending through the shaft along a centerline transverse to the longitudinal direction of the shaft, wherein the stopper means are formed by a pin capable of being arranged in at least one of the holes. In this way, the array of staggered holes provides any specific user to select a relative position of the dart with respect of the first positioning means which is a best fit for the specific user to grab the barrel at a preferred position of said any specific user.
In an embodiment, the stopper adjustment means are formed by a thread such as a screw thread, wherein the stopper means are means are formed by a bolt such as a screw bolt, the bolt being arranged to cooperate with the thread of the stopper adjustment means. In this way, the threaded hole provides any specific user to adjust and optimize a relative position of the dart with respect of the first positioning means according to a continuous variable adjustment, the adjusted and optimized relative position being a best fit for the specific user to grab the barrel at a preferred position of said any specific user.
In an embodiment, the dart holder comprises:
In an embodiment the first landing area and the second landing area are staggered. In this way a reference for the fingers and/or part of the hand, that grabs the dart, is provided.
In an embodiment the first landing area and the second landing area are configured to prevent a hand and/or one or more fingers from moving further along the barrel towards or in the direction of the tip of the dart when located in the dart holder. To find the right position the user slides with his or her fingers along the barrel of the dart until the fingers and/or part of the hand touch the landing area. When the landing area is reached the fingers and/or part of the hand cannot move further and the right position to grab the barrel of the dart is reached.
In an embodiment a plane of the landing area is arranged relative to the holding means in such a way that it intersects the dart when located in the dart holder along the longitudinal axis of the barrel of the dart. In an embodiment, the landing area is made of a rigid and wear-resistant material. In this way, the landing area provides a reliable and reusable reference causing the barrel to be grabbed at a target position.
In an embodiment a plane of the landing area is arranged relative to the holding means in such a way that it intersects the dart when located in the dart holder along the longitudinal axis of the tip of the dart. Depending on the preference of the user to grab the barrel of the dart from the dart holder, the plane of the landing area may be at the level of the longitudinal axis of the barrel as described in the previous embodiment or at the level of the longitudinal axis of tip of the dart. The plane of the landing area provides a reliable reference causing the barrel to be grabbed at a target position.
In an embodiment the plane of the first landing area is located between the plane of the second landing area and the tip of the dart when located in the dart holder. This position will be preferred by players who keep their fingers in the same transversal direction as the axis of the barrel when in a throwing position. In this way, the first landing area can be used as a reference for a first finger of the user to position the first finger with reference to the barrel, and the second landing area can be used as a reference for a second finger of the user to position the second finger with reference to the barrel, providing an even more stable position of the hand with respect to the barrel of the dart to be grabbed in a same position.
In an embodiment the plane of the second landing area is located between the plane of the first landing area and the tip of the dart when located in the dart holder. This position will be preferred by players who hold the dart in a pencil hold grip. In this way the first landing area is used as a reference for placing the hand and/or one or more fingers while the dart is placed in the holding means of the second positioning means.
In an embodiment the distance between the first and second landing area is adjustable. In this way, the position of the first landing area and the position of the second landing area relative to the at least part of the hand and/or finger of a user is adjustable so that each user can install and set the second landing area relative to the first landing area according to his favourite position.
In an embodiment the dart holder comprises adjusting means for adjusting the plane of the landing area of the first and second positioning means. In this way, the first positioning means can be fixed to the second positioning means. The adjusting means may comprise but are not limited to for instance screws, bolts, slides, and springs. The landing area can be adjusted along the barrel of the dart when located in the dart holder relative to the holding means to adjust the position of the landing areas on the first and second positioning means relative to each other. In this way each individual user may adjust the distance between the first and second landing area according to his or her own preference to come to the best grip position.
In an embodiment the plane of the first landing area is flush with the plane of the second landing area to provide an extended landing area. In this way the dart holder can be adjusted for a person preferring an extended landing area.
In an embodiment the landing area has a concave shape which is substantially identical in shape with a finger of the user so as to allow a predefined grip on the dart based on the shape of the finger of the user. The concave shape provides a preformed fixed reference point for placing the finger before grabbing the barrel of the dart from the dart holder.
In an embodiment the landing area has a concave cavity wherein the opening of the holding means is placed in a position underneath the plane of the landing area. In this way a fixed reference position for grabbing the barrel of the dart when located in the holding means is provided. In other words, the landing area is provided with a concave cavity arranged in or protruding into the dart holder, in which cavity an opening is arranged for receiving the tip of the dart. In this way, the barrel end near the tip of the dart may touch the concave cavity working as a stopper element to prevent the dart from being inserted further through the opening to provide a fixed reference position for grabbing the barrel of the dart when located in the holding means.
In an embodiment the landing area has a convex shape wherein the opening of the holding means is placed in a position above the plane of the landing area. In this way a fixed reference position for grabbing the barrel of the dart when located in the holding means is provided. In other words, the landing area is provided with a convex shape arranged on or protruding from the dart holder, in which convex shape an opening is arranged for receiving the tip of the dart. In this way, the barrel end near the tip of the dart may touch the convex working as a stopper element to prevent the dart from being inserted further through the opening to provide a fixed reference position for grabbing the barrel of the dart when located in the holding means.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:
It should be noted that items which have the same positioning numbers in different figures, have the same structural features and the same functions, or are the same signals. Where the function and/or structure of such item has been explained, there is no necessity for repeated explanation thereof in the detailed description.
It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments.
In the claims, any positioning signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb “comprise” and its conjugates does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In the dart holder claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
Holding means 3 may extend into or along positioning means 1 so as to receive the tip and optionally at least part of the barrel of the dart. The holding means comprises an opening such as a hole, a slot, a notch, shaft, a ring or any other space extending into or along the dart holder to at least partially receive the tip and/or part of the barrel of the dart. First positioning means 1 is adjustably connected to second positioning means 2. First positioning means 1 comprises a first landing area 4 and second positioning means 2 comprises a second landing area 5. Any further positioning means likewise comprises a further landing area. The position of landing area 5 on positioning means 2 with respect to holding means 3 can be adjusted through adjusting means 6.
An angle formed by the longitudinal direction of holding means 3 is relative to a plane defined by first landing area 4 and/or second landing area 5 of positioning means 1 and/or positioning means 2 is in the range of 30° and 90° forming an acute angle. The acute angle facilitates that when the dart is taken from the dart holder the tip of the dart points upwards when held in throwing position.
Referring again to
The limitation reference means 8 may be formed at the shaft end 31 by an opening 80 extending in the first positioning means 1. In this example, the shaft 30 forms a through hole. In use, the deepest position of the dart may be detected by means of holding a finger of the user at the shaft end side 31 of the first positioning means 1. When the user is sensing the tip of the dart at the opening 80 extending in the first positioning means 1 at the shaft end side 31 of it, the dart has reached its deepest position and such that the barrel of said dart is accessible for being grabbed by the user's hand according to a predetermined position with respect to the first positioning means 1.
The limitation reference means 8 may be formed by a stopper means 81 shown in
Referring to
Referring to
It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16186704.9 | Aug 2016 | EP | regional |
| 2019195 | Jul 2017 | NL | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NL2017/050574 | 8/30/2017 | WO | 00 |
