Glow in the dark dartboard, darts, tips, shafts, flights and the manufacturing of same

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention

This invention is in the area of games and more particularly dartboard games with glow in the dark dartboards, darts, dart tips, dart shafts and dart flights

2. Discussion of the State of the Art

Darts were historically used in warfare in ancient history; skirmishers used darts of varying sizes, similar to miniature javelins. Through the practicing of this skill a game developed into what it is today. Before the First World War, pubs in the United Kingdom had dartboards made from solid blocks of wood, usually elm. They had to be soaked overnight to heal the holes made by the darts, and it was a messy business for the publican, although darts was a popular game. This changed when a company called Nodor, whose primary business was making modeling clay (which has no odor, hence the name Nodor), started producing clay dartboards in 1923. The clay dartboards never caught on, and Nodor switched to making the traditional elm dartboards that were popular at the time. Their model of dartboard was not a great success until someone came up with the idea of using the century plant to make a dartboard. Small bundles of sisal fibers of the same length were bundled together. The bundles were then compressed into a disk and bound with a metal ring. It was an instant success, as the darts did little or no damage to the board—they just parted the fibers when they entered the board; this type of board was more durable and required little maintenance.

Quality dartboards are still made of sisal fibers; less expensive boards are sometimes made of cork or coiled paper. However, several types of sisal fiber are used in dartboards today, originating from East Africa, Brazil, or China. Despite widespread belief that some dartboards are constructed using pig bristles, camel hair, or horse hair, there is no evidence that boards have ever been produced commercially from these materials.

A regulation board is 17¾ inches (451 mm) in diameter and is divided into 20 radial sections. Each section is separated with metal wire or a thin band of sheet metal. The best dartboards have the thinnest wire, so that the darts have less chance of hitting a wire and bouncing out. The numbers indicating the various scoring sections of the board are also normally made of wire, especially on tournament-quality boards. The wire ring on which the numbers are welded can be turned to facilitate even wear of the board. Boards of lesser quality often have the numbers printed directly on the board.

Recently, some companies have produced electronic dartboards. These dartboards have electronic scoring computers that are preprogrammed with a wide variety of game types. The board is made of plastic facings with small holes. The holes slant out, allowing the plastic-tipped darts to stick inside. When a dart strikes the board, the section makes contact with a metal plate, telling the computer where the player has thrown. These however are not popular with serious dart players and wear out prematurely.

Most dartboards in the art do not glow in the dark. Most places where darts are played are in dark places like bars and pubs. In this atmosphere some players with eye sight problems are at a significant disadvantage as they cannot clearly see the dartboard, its scoring boundaries or the dart flight path to the board. This causes the disadvantaged person with eyesight problems to not be able to adjust their stance throw as accurately as the person who is better at seeing in the dark or dimly lit places where darts are normally played. The dartboards that do have lights are usually LED lights or have to be wired to an electrical outlet or need batteries. Other illuminated dartboards are of the computer variety as discussed above. They do not have the sticking ability of the traditional dartboards.

What is clearly needed are dartboards, darts, dart tips, dart shafts and dart flights that can glow in the dark. Light exposure will charge the coatings and light the dartboard, darts, dart tips, dart shafts and dart flights for as many as 12 hours. These boards may be used in dark bars, pubs, while camping etc. . . . adding to the excitement of the game by adding flare to the game.

Scoring

The standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered sections 102, scoring from 1 to 20 points, by wires running from the small central circle 114 to the outer circular wire 110. Circular wires within the outer wire subdivide each section into single, double and triple scoring areas. Various games can be played (and still are played informally) using the standard dartboard. However, in the official game, any dart landing inside the outer wire scores as follows:

Hitting one of the large portions 105 or 107 of each of the numbered sections, traditionally alternately colored black and white, scores the points indicated by the numerical value of that section at the periphery of the dartboard.

Hitting the thin inner portions of these sections between wires 112 and 113, roughly halfway between the outer wire and the central circle colored red or green, scores triple the point's value of that section.

Hitting the thin outer portions of these sections between wires 110 and 111, again colored red or green, scores double the point's value of that section. The double-20 is often referred to as double-top, reflecting the 20's position on the dartboard.

The central circle is divided into a green outer ring 114 worth 25 points (known as “outer”, “outer bull”, or “iris”) and a red or black inner circle 109 (usually known as “bull”, “inner bull” or “double bull”), worth 50 points. The term “bullseye” can mean either the whole central part of the board or just the inner red/black section. The term “bull's ring” usually means just the green outer ring. The inner bull counts as a double when doubling in or out. If a dart hits the outside of the outer wire it scores nothing. A dart only scores if its point is embedded in or is touching the playing surface. This rule applies to any dart that lands in such a way as to be partially or totally supported by others that have already hit the board.

When a standard board is used, any dart whose point does not remain in contact with the playing surface until being collected by the player does not score. This includes darts that bounce off the board for any reason, that fall off on their own, or that are dislodged by the impact of later throws. However, when an electronic board is used, fallen or dislodged darts do score as long as their impacts have registered on the board first.

The highest score possible with three darts is 180, commonly known as a “ton 80” (100 points is called a ton), obtained when all three darts land in the triple 20.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises methods for coating dartboards, dartboard parts, darts and dart parts so that they glow in the dark enabling dartboard play in the dark.

In one embodiment the dartboard is comprised of separate glow the dark dartboard parts and wherein the glow in the dark parts are assembled to create a glow in the dark dartboard.

In one embodiment dartboard parts are coated with a glow in the dark material.

In one embodiment the glow in the dark dartboard parts are coated with a least one of a phosphorescent material or a fluorescent material.

In one embodiment the dartboard parts are rendered glow in the dark by applying a phosphorescent material or fluorescent material by dipping dartboard parts in a solution of phosphorescent or fluorescent paint.

In one embodiment the dartboard parts are rendered glow in the dark by applying a phosphorescent material or fluorescent material by dipping spraying dartboard parts with a solution of phosphorescent or fluorescent material either from a spray can or an air brush. Any other method of spray application may also be used.

In one embodiment the phosphorescent material or fluorescent material/solution is derived from a clear ink mixed with phosphorescent and or a fluorescent powder.

In another embodiment the phosphorescent material or fluorescent material is derived from a clear ink mixed with a colored powder that enables the dartboard parts coated with such material glow in the dark with colored phosphorescent or fluorescent properties.

In another embodiment the dartboard is colored with a clear ink and a colored powder that enables the dartboard parts coated with such material glow in the dark with colored phosphorescent or fluorescent properties and wherein the mixture is applied using the silkscreen method.

In one embodiment the dartboard is colored with a clear ink mixed with a colored powder that enables the dartboard parts coated with such material glow in the dark with colored phosphorescent or fluorescent properties and wherein the mixture is applied using a CNC controlled coating system.

In one embodiment of the invention dart parts comprising at least one of a point, a barrel, a shaft and a flight are coated with a glow in the dark material. In one embodiment the glow in the dark material is derived from a clear universal dye ink based solution mixed with a colored powder. In one embodiment the clear ink mixed with a colored powder creates a coating that has phosphorescent and or fluorescent properties.

In one embodiment the method of coating the dart parts may be one of a spray can, an air brush, a CNC controlled application method or a dipping method.

In another embodiment, as with the dartboards, the dart parts are coated with a material created by mixing a clear inkjet type ink with a colored powder creating a coating that has phosphorescent and or fluorescent properties and is further mixed with charged particles which enable an anodizing coating method that renders a glow in the dark anodized coating.

In one coating method for coating dartboards the phosphorescent material or a fluorescent material is derived from a clear inkjet type clear ink mixed with phosphorescent and or a fluorescent colored powder and wherein the dartboard is made of sisal or hemp and the sisal or hemp absorbs the mixture of clear ink and phosphorescent and or a fluorescent powder thereby permanently coating a dartboard with a colored coating having phosphorescent and or a fluorescent properties. The coating may be applied by various means including a commercial silkscreen method.

In one embodiment the dartboard parts of FIG. 1 are coated with clear ink and phosphorescent and or a fluorescent powder separately with different colors for different areas of the dartboard. After coating and assembly the glow in the dark dartboard will have the look (in the dark) emulating the look that a standard dartboard has in daylight or light.

In another embodiment a special energized case for specially coated dartboards and darts is provided so that dartboards and darts may be energized prior to dart game play.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a prior art line drawing of a typical dart and dartboard describing scoring areas according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a dartboard scoring areas along with typical colors

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the typical scoring on a dart board

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a method of coloring a dartboard with glow in the dark material according to one embodiment of the invention

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a method of coloring a dartboard with glow in the dark material according to one embodiment of the invention

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a method of coloring a dartboard with glow in the dark material according to one embodiment of the invention

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a method of coloring a dartboard with glow in the dark material according to one embodiment of the invention

FIG. 8 is an illustration of parts of a dart and methods of coloring same with glow in the dark material

FIG. 9 illustrates one method of coating dartboard parts and dart parts wherein the parts are coated with the electrolysis method or electroplating process.

FIG. 10 illustrates an injection molding process of making glow in the dark dartboard and dart parts and further illustrating a thermoplastic resin pellet being designed to be glow in the dark and have phosphorescent and or fluorescent properties glowing with colors after molding.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a lighted dartboard case and lighted dart case so that specially coated parts of the invention may be energized to glow in the dark according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Phosphorescence is a type of photoluminescence related to fluorescence. Unlike fluorescence, phosphorescent material does not immediately re-emit the radiation it absorbs. The slower time scales of the re-emission are associated with “forbidden” energy state transitions in quantum mechanics. As these transitions occur very slowly in certain materials, absorbed radiation is re-emitted at a lower intensity for up to several hours after the original excitation. Phosphorescence and fluorescence may be combined in a unique way to create colored glow in the dark dartboards and darts as part of this invention.

Everyday examples of phosphorescent materials are the glow-in-the-dark toys, stickers, paint, and clock dials that glow after being charged with a bright light such as in any normal reading or room light. Typically, the glow slowly fades out, sometimes within a few minutes or up to a few hours in a dark room. The study of phosphorescent materials led to the discovery of radioactivity in 1896.

Common pigments used in phosphorescent materials include zinc sulfide and strontium aluminate. Use of zinc sulfide for safety related products dates back to the 1930s. However, the development of strontium aluminate, with a luminance approximately 10 times greater than zinc sulfide, has relegated most zinc sulfide based products to the novelty category. Strontium aluminate based pigments are now used in exit signs, pathway marking, and other safety related signage.

Some examples of glow-in-the-dark materials do not glow by phosphorescence. For example, glow sticks glow due to a chemiluminescent process which is commonly mistaken for phosphorescence. In chemiluminescence, an excited state is created via a chemical reaction. The light emission tracks the kinetic progress of the underlying chemical reaction. The excited state will then transfer to a dye molecule, also known as a sensitizer or fluorophor, and subsequently fluoresce back to the ground state. In one embodiment some Dart parts may use chemiluminescence to glow in the dark.

Phosphorescent paint is commonly called “glow-in-the-dark” paint. It is made from phosphors such as silver-activated zinc sulfide or doped strontium aluminate, and typically glows a pale green to greenish-blue color. The mechanism for producing light is similar to that of fluorescent paint, but the emission of visible light persists long after it has been exposed to light. Phosphorescent paints have a sustained glow which lasts for up to 12 hours after exposure to light, fading over time.

This type of paint has been used to mark escape paths in aircraft and for decorative use such as “stars” applied to walls and ceilings. It is an alternative to radioluminescent paint. Kenner's Lightning Bug Glo-Juice was a popular non-toxic paint product in 1968, marketed at children, alongside other glow-in-the-dark toys and novelties. Phosphorescent paint is typically used as body paint, on children's walls and outdoors. In one embodiment Phosphorescent paints are used to make dartboards and dart parts glow in the dark.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the standard dartboard. The standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered sections by wires running from the small central circle 114 to the outer circular wire 110. Circular wires within the outer wire subdivide each section into single, double and triple scoring areas. Wires indicated on FIG. 1 are double bull's eye wire 115, single bull's eye 114, triple scoring between wires 112 and 113, double scoring wires between wires 111 and 112. The single scoring areas are indicated by element numbers 105 and 107. Out of bounds area is indicated by element number 103. Any dart thrown outside ring 110 is out of bounds.

A typical dartboard according to FIG. 1 has the following elements;

100 is the dartboard itself
101 is a dart according to one embodiment of the invention.
102 is an example of the numbers surrounding the periphery of the dartboard
103 is the out of bounds area
104 is the double scoring area
105 is the single scoring area of number 1 on the dartboard
106 is the triple scoring area of number 18
107 is the single scoring area of number 4
108 is the single bull scoring area and worth 25 points
109 is the double bulls eye area and worth 50 points
110 is the outer wire of the double scoring area
111 is the inner wire of the double scoring area
112 is the outer wire of the triple scoring area
113 is the inner wire of the triple scoring area
114 is the outer wire of the single bull's eye area
115 is the outer wire of the double bull's eye area
116 is the barrel of a dart 101
117 is the point of the dart 101
118 is the shaft of the dart 101
119 is the flight of the dart

FIG. 2 shows the typical colors of a typical dartboard. Elements 205 and 206 are the alternating black and white areas of a typical dart board. Elements 203 and 204 are alternating red and green areas of the triple scoring area of a typical dartboard. Elements 201 and 202 show the bull's eye, 201 being green and 202 being red. Elements 208 and 207 are the alternating red and green areas of the double scoring areas.

FIG. 3 illustrates the typical scoring scenario of a typical dartboard. Looking at the very top number 20 disregarding the outer numbers one can see that when a dart lands on that spot the score is indicated.

FIG. 4 shows a method of coloring a dartboard with glow in the dark colors. With most dartboard games being played in tournaments in bars or pubs the lighting is not ideal for aiming and throwing darts.

In one embodiment phosphorescent materials are used to coat certain areas of the dart board. In one embodiment the white areas (105 and 107 of FIG. 1) of the board are coated with a special phosphorescent white coating so that in daylight the color is white and in the dark under a black light the white areas appear blue. Other colors can be red, pink, green, aqua blue, white, blue, baby blue and orange. Any other phosphorescent colors may be used as well. In some embodiments the phosphorescent colors are soaked into the board material itself especially if the board is made of sisal or paper.

In FIG. 4 the inventor shows a dipping method of coloring certain parts of the dartboard during manufacture. Element 401 is a container wide and deep enough for parts to be dipped. The solution, in one embodiment may contain a clear varnish mixed with phosphorescent powders. The solution may also be phosphorescent ink, dyes or paint.

In one embodiment certain areas of the board is masked off so that different sections may be colored with different phosphorescent colors. Element 402 is a board with only the triple point section and double bulls eye exposed for coloring. The rest of the board may be masked off by any means known in the art. In one embodiment special templates are designed to be adhered to the board leaving sections to be colored exposed. The templates are made of a material that the phosphorescent colors do not adhere to. In another embodiment the meal elements of the dartboard are powder coated with glow in the dark phosphorescent colors separately from the rest of the board.

Element 403 is a board with only the double point and single bull sections exposed. The rest of the board is masked so that phosphorescent color may only adhere to the double point and single bull sections. Element 404 is a dartboard with only the single point sections exposed so color will only adhere to single point sections. In one embodiment the masked parts of the board are dipped into phosphorescent color solution in stages so that the outcome with be a dartboard with different sections colored with different phosphorescent colors. In one embodiment the dartboard of FIG. 4 looks exactly like the dartboard of FIG. 2 after coating with different phosphorescent colors. In the dark the board glows and is much easier to see in dark areas.

FIG. 5 shows a method of coloring dartboard 501 with phosphorescent colors using a paint brush and same type of phosphorescent color mixtures as referred to regarding FIG. 4. In this embodiment the user simply dips the brush 502 into solution in container 503 and paints on the phosphorescent colors in the desired location on dartboard 501. Most boards are made of materials that soak up the paint so letting a color soak into the dartboard may be necessary. After painting dartboard 501 will glow in the dark for as many as 12 hours after only 10 minutes in direct sunlight or bright incandescent or fluorescent lights.

FIG. 6 illustrates another method of coating a dartboard with phosphorescent colors according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment we have the same solutions of color we have previously spoken of. Container 600 contains a clear varnish mixed with phosphorescent colors. The clear varnish may be replaced with any other suitable carrier of the phosphorescent color. These colors may be in the form of phosphorescent dye, phosphorescent paints, phosphorescent powders or phosphorescent inks. In one embodiment the phosphorescent colored solution may be applied by the silk screening method shown as element 606. More than one pass may be necessary to add all of the colors of the typical dartboard. The silk screening may be done by machine similar to coloring a tee shirt. The dartboard is fed into one end of the silk screening machine and is coated accordingly with special glow in the dark phosphorescent colors.

In another embodiment the dartboard is masked with special material which is non-stick so that the phosphorescent colors do not stick to the masking template. The phosphorescent color solution is loaded into a spray paint gun 603 and the phosphorescent colors sprayed onto the masked dartboard. Dartboard sections 601, 602, 605 and 604 are sprayed in different colors so that the appropriate appearance is achieved.

In another embodiment several paint guns with different colors may be used to speed up the process. In another embodiment special air brushes are used to apply the phosphorescent colors. The dartboards are masked so that the single point areas, double point areas and bull's eye areas are separately colored with phosphorescent colors. Mass production of these phosphorescent colored dartboards is also possible using the silk screening process or the air brush or paint gun methods. An assembly line like production line may be assembled so that thousands of phosphorescent colored dartboards may be made per day. It should be noted that the carrier of the color may be different than varnish. Varnish is used as an example only. Other materials may be suitable for carrying the phosphorescent colored coatings onto the dartboards. In one embodiment a CNC machine is programmed to airbrush or silkscreen the dartboards in an automatic fashion.

In another embodiment the phosphorescent colors are contained in a spray can 701. The user may spray from spray can 701 onto one of the sections 705, 702, 704 and 703 additional spray cans (not shown) will be necessary to spray different phosphorescent colors on the remaining sections.

In some embodiments different phosphorescent color mixtures are used. In one embodiment phosphorescent powders are mixed with a clear carrier medium. In one embodiment a clear inkjet like ink solution is mixed with phosphorescent or fluorescent powder giving the coating the properties of both fluorescents and phosphorescent properties. In another embodiment the clear inkjet type ink base is mixed with one or the other of fluorescent and phosphorescent powders rendering the coating fluorescent or phosphorescent.

In another embodiment phosphorescent glow ink is used in an oil base or a water based solution. In another embodiment phosphorescent glow dye in oil base or water based solution. In another embodiment glow in the dark phosphorescent spray paint is utilized either in an oil base or a water based solution. In another embodiment phosphorescent glow paint is utilized either in an oil base or a water based solution. In another embodiment glow in the dark phosphorescent colors paint is utilized either in an oil base or a water based solution. In another embodiment phosphorescent glow in the dark ink, dye or paint either in an oil base or a water based solution may be utilized. In another embodiment an oil pastel glow color is utilized either in an oil base or a water based solution. In one embodiment oil based phosphorescent products are utilized to color dartboards so that they glow in the dark.

FIG. 8 shows parts of a dart 805. A dart has a point 801, a barrel 802, a shaft 803 and a flight 804. These parts of the dart may also be coated with glow in the dark phosphorescent color coatings as discussed previously in this specification.

Darts are made of different materials such as aluminum, steel, tungsten or any another metal. Parts may be made of plastic and or acrylic. The point 801 is usually metal as is the barrel 802. Shafts 803 and flights 804 may be made of different materials. All of which may be coated with glow in the dark or phosphorescent coatings using any of the methods previously discussed within this specification.

Another method of coating is electroplating. FIG. 9 illustrates a typical electroplating scenario. Elements of a dart that are metal may be prepared before electroplating. In one embodiment the metal is sanded to a fresh surface. The metal is then sanded using from 180 grit sand paper to 800 grit sand paper, 800 being the finer of the two. The metal is then sanded using 180 then 200 then 300 and so on to 800 until the metal is ready for plating. In one embodiment metal is washed with dish soap and water preferably dawn dish washing soap. Once the surface of the metal part is to your satisfaction an etching solution or primer may be used to give tooth to the metal for the electroplating coating to adhere. The metal parts may also be primed with Duplicolor primer. In one embodiment the primer color is close to the phosphorescent coating to be applied. The metal parts may be wet sanded at this point with 600-800 grip sand paper. Once the final cleaning is done the part may be dipped, sprayed or painted with the desired phosphorescent glow coatings. The part may also be electroplated in an electroplating process as seen in FIG. 9

In some embodiments aluminum metal dart parts and metal parts of a dartboard may need a conversion coating which is a protective surface layer on a metal that is created by chemical reaction between the metal and a chemical solution. This prepares a metal to be successfully coated that otherwise is not desirable for coating. For aluminum parts the prep process is similar to other metal parts. Sand to desired polish, prime and coat according to any of the methods previously mentioned.

Preparing plastic parts is important to get the coating to come out properly. The process is similar to metal. The plastic parts are already shiny. Some are too shiny to take a coating and make it stick. The plastic parts must be sanded to take the shine off, and then cleaned as discussed above. Parts may be sanded to the user's preference and then primed. Once primed the parts may be coated as mentioned above. Plastic coated parts may also be polished as will be discussed further later is this specification.

In one embodiment phosphorescent colors may be mixed with plastic while in liquid form and then formed into dart parts giving the dart parts the desired glow in the dark phosphorescent properties. A resin dart part form is used to pour molten plastic mixed with desired phosphorescent colors. This mixture is then poured into the resin mold. When cooled the phosphorescent colored dart part may then be removed and polished as desired.

In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 10, the plastic parts are made by the injection molding method. Injection molding is a manufacturing process for producing parts by injecting molten material into a mould. Injection molding can be performed with a host of materials mainly including metals, (for which the process is called die-casting), glasses, elastomers, and confections. Commonly thermoplastic and thermoplastic polymers are used. After a product is designed, usually by an industrial designer or an engineer, moulds are made by a mould-maker (or toolmaker) from metal, usually either steel or aluminum, and precision-machined to form the features of the desired part. Injection molding is widely used for manufacturing a variety of parts, from the smallest components to entire body panels of cars. Advances in 3D printing technology using photopolymers which do not melt during the injection molding of some lower temperature thermoplastics can be used for some simple injection moulds.

In one embodiment a thermoplastic resin pellet is designed to be glow in the dark and have phosphorescent colors when molded. Each phosphorescent colored pellet is specially designed to glow in the dark. The pellets 1004 are fed into hopper 1002 of the injection molding machine. The various molds 103 are designed to make dartboard parts such as tips, shafts and flights. The wires on a typical dartboard may be replaced with injection molded glow in the dark phosphorescent colored plastic wires. In one embodiment the entire dart board is injection molded plastic and may be molded with the phosphorescent colored pellets 1004. In one embodiment the dartboard is injection molded and colored by any of the methods of coloring discussed in this specification.

Phosphorescent colored pellets designed to glow are fed into a heated barrel, mixed (Using a helical shaped screw), and injected (Forced) into a mould cavity, where it cools and hardens to the configuration of the cavity.

In another embodiment dart parts are made with the 3D printing method.

In one embodiment some of the dart parts are acrylic. The preparation is also similar to the other methods. In one embodiment white primer is used as a first coat. Using 400 grit sand paper an acrylic part may be sanded until it looks hazy or milky and then cleaned with isopropyl alcohol. After cleaning with alcohol parts may be cleaned with dish soap. The acrylic parts may then be primed and coated with desired phosphorescent colors. The coating method may be any method discussed thus far, painting, spray paint, dyed, airbrushed dipped etc. . . . .

Polishing Glazing Sealing

In one embodiment Dartboards and dart parts are coated after applying the phosphorescent colors. Any clear gloss polish, sealer or clear coating will suffice. Duplicolor clear is known to the inventor to do a good job coating. Clear coat may be applied in several coats sanding between coats using sand paper from 1200 grit to 2000 grit for a high polish. A rubbing compound may be used to bring the polish out if it looks dull.

In another embodiment electroplating can be done on metal, aluminum, and brass, tungsten, plastic and steel. A metalized spray may be applied to plastic parts so that the anode deposits the coating to the cathode which is a metalized coated plastic. In this way plastic parts may be made to resemble shiny metal parts. In one embodiment a glow in the dark electroplating metalized material is utilized as a phosphorescent coating to make glow in the dark dart tips, dart shafts and dart flights. Electroplating is a process that uses electric current to reduce dissolved metal cations so that they form a thin coherent metal coating on an electrode. The term is also used for electrical oxidation of anions on to a solid substrate, as in the formation of silver chloride on silver wire to make silver/silver-chloride electrodes. Electroplating is primarily used to change the surface properties of an object (such as abrasion and wear resistance, corrosion protection, lubricity, aesthetic qualities), but may also be used to build up thickness on undersized parts or to form objects by electroforming.

The process used in electroplating is called electrodeposition. It is analogous to a galvanic cell acting in reverse. The part to be plated is the cathode of the circuit. In one technique, the anode is made of the metal to b e plated on the part. Both components are immersed in a solution called an electrolyte containing one or more dissolved metal salts as well as other ions that permit the flow of electricity. A power supply supplies a direct current to the anode, oxidizing the metal atoms that it comprises and allowing them to dissolve in the solution. At the cathode, the dissolved metal ions in the electrolyte solution are reduced at the interface between the solution and the cathode, such that they “plate out” onto the cathode. The rate at which the anode is dissolved is equal to the rate at which the cathode is plated, vis-à-vis the current through the circuit. In this manner, the ions in the electrolyte bath are continuously replenished by the anode.

Other electroplating processes may use a non-consumable anode such as lead or carbon. In these techniques, ions of the metal to be plated must be periodically replenished in the bath as they are drawn out of the solution. The most common form of electroplating is used for creating coins, such as US pennies, which are made of zinc covered in a layer of copper.

In another embodiment a CNC (computer numerically controlled) machine may deposit the appropriate phosphorescent coatings onto dartboards or dart parts. A CNC machine may deposit coatings much faster and more accurately than other methods. In another embodiment a hollow needle is used in concert with a CNC machine so that the phosphorescent coatings may be injected into the surface of the dartboard thereby making the coating last longer than usual.

FIG. 11 illustrates a special dartboard case 1101 in the closed position and 1102 in the open position. Dart box 1109 with included lights 1107 is also illustrated. Lights 1108 and 1105 are incorporated. The special lights 1107 and 1105 are specially designed to radiate energy to be absorbed by the special coatings of the invention including phosphorescent and or fluorescent material coatings for dartboards 1103, darts 1104 and 1108 as well as dart parts. In practice the darts and dartboards are stored in closed compartments such as case 1101 and case 1109. Prior to play a user may turn on lights 1107 and 1105 a short time prior to dart game play. With the lights turned on in the closed state 1101 light may be concentrated so that the coatings of the invention may absorb the light energy radiation to be re-emitted in dart play. The lights 1105 and 1107 may be turned on just prior to dart play to energize the glow in the dark dartboard and darts and whatever else is coated with the special coatings of the invention. Lights 1105 and 1107 may emit ultraviolet radiation light or other electromagnetic radiation up or down the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation or any other type of energy necessary to energize the coatings of the invention so that they glow in the dark for extended periods. Darts 1108 may be stored in case 1109 before and even during play. A user may store his glow in the dark darts in his special case while waiting for another player to enjoy their turn at throwing darts thereby keeping his darts fully energized and glowing and ready to play. Each player may have a different color dart so that folks at the far end of the bar may know who scored without actually seeing the player throw the dart. Dart case 1102 may also have its light turned on prior to play in the closed position as seen in FIG. 10 element 1101. Just as the dart case 1109 charges the darts in the closed position case 1102 in the closed position may energize, via energy source 1105, the dartboard 1103 with its special glow in the dark coatings as well as darts 1104. Once opened at the time of play the glow in the dark dartboard and darts are fully energized to play an extended game of darts in low light or dark environments.

	Number	Date	Country
	62604253	Jun 2017	US
	62645490	Mar 2018	US

Glow in the dark dartboard, darts, tips, shafts, flights and the manufacturing of same

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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Applications (2)