The sport of darts, which comprises throwing darts at a circular dartboard, has been around for over 150 years. The board has remained largely the same for much, if not all, of this time although many different games have been created using the standard board. Most dartboards are circular and include a surface for receiving a dart tip therein. Most games involve trying to hit targets defined on the dart board that remain stationary. Further, most current dart board games involve throwing from a set distance that remains the same throughout the game.
Embodiments of the present invention include a sports-inspired dart board, mat, darts, and one or more game pieces. The game pieces can be implemented by both the “offense” and the “defense” to define an offensive or defensive position on the dart board. Offensive game pieces can define a target area for the offensive player and the defensive game pieces can define an area to avoid by the offensive player. Varying actions can take place depending on where the offensive player throws their darts on the dart board.
Typically, each sport-inspired dart board game can include a dart board specifically configured to resemble a field of play. Fields of play can include a football field, a basketball court, a soccer field, a hockey rink or a plurality of other sports that inspired a specific game. For instance, for a football-inspired dart game, the dart board can resemble a football field.
Additionally, each sport-inspired dart board game can include a mat (or runner) that resembles part of the field, court, or rink. For instance, the football-inspired dart game can include a runner that includes distance (e.g., yardage) markers. The various markers and/or regions defined on the mat indicate positions from which a player may throw a dart at the board depending on the requirements of game play. The games may include additional pieces to be placed on the dart board to serve as targets (offensive) or anti-targets (defensive). The anti-targets can define regions on the dart board that if hit by a player throwing a dart may act to benefit an opposing player.
In some embodiments, the games can have time-related aspects, such as requiring a player to throw a dart within a limited amount of time, and for these games a timing device can be provided. In the alternative, the players may provide their own time keeping device.
As mentioned, two or more darts can be provided for each player or the player may use his/her own set of darts. Of significance, the games may require the use of more or less than the traditional three darts used by each player in traditional dart games. For instance, four darts representing four downs can be used in the football-inspired dart game.
Broadly, the invention and embodiments thereof can include a sports-inspired dart game that includes (i) a dart board resembling a sports field, court, or rink with appropriate indicia printed or otherwise represented on the dart board, (ii) a mat, and (iii) game pieces. The mat may resemble at least a portion of a sports field, court, or rink. The mat can be laid on a floor and stood on by a player when throwing a dart. Variations of the game include additional game pieces to be placed on the dart board to create either targets of varying size or anti-targets defining regions that are to be avoided.
Embodiments of the invention may also include the methodology associated with the play of a particular sports-inspired dart game.
The following description pertains primarily to the play of the football-inspired dart game. It is to be understood this disclosure is not limited to a football-inspired game and also includes other sports-inspired games as well as sports-inspired games not specifically described herein that make use of a specialty board and related mat or runner.
In one embodiment, a football-inspired dart game comprises: a rectangular dart board configured to resemble a football field; a mat (or runner) configured to resemble a football field including distance markers for each down and kicking plays; offensive player pieces and defensive player pieces; darts (typically four for each of the home and away players); a rulebook; and an optional game clock/timer.
The football field dart board can include upper and lower (or right and left) hash marks defining an area therebetween; goal lines on each end of the field having predefined line thicknesses; marks at the end of each end zone representing the field goals; boundary lines defining the field; and indicia serving as yard markers. Other than its shape and printed surface indicia, the construction of the dart board may be similar to a traditional dart board. Variations of the board are also contemplated wherein the board is configured as an electronic dart board.
The mat may include a spacer portion that has an end configured to be placed against a wall on which the dart board is hung. The mat can further include 5 different distance markers for use on each of the 4 downs and kicking plays in a typical football game. Football field indicia printed on the mat may not begin for at least several horizontal feet from the location of the board. In one instance, the spacer portion may be printed with advertising or branding indicia. Although wider and longer than the field printed on the dart board, the field printed on the mat can be similar to that of the dart board. In use, the player typically stands at the appropriate distance marker coinciding with a down the player currently has. In one instance, a player can stand further away from the dart board with each sequential down. For instance, a distance for a first down can be shorter than the distance a player must throw from for a second down and so on.
Offensive player pieces comprising rings (or other shapes) that include needled bottom sides of varying perimeters can be provided to serve as targets for the offensive player. These targets can represent wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs. Target pieces representing the receivers can be smaller than those representing the tight ends and the running backs. In some example rules of play, a user may place the receivers further down the field from a line of scrimmage than the tight ends and running backs.
Defensive player pieces may also be provided that also comprise rings (or other shapes) with needled bottoms for placement on the board except the rings can also include and X-shaped top side that may cover some of the open portion of the ring. These pieces representing defensive players can be placed to hinder players from throwing a dart in the region they are placed. If the dart lands in the defensive ring on the board, a turnover can typically be recorded.
In addition to rules for the game, a game clock (or timer) can be provided for use with variations of game play that involve a play clock. Alternatively, in variations of the game requiring time management, a household clock or a watch can be used.
In one embodiment, a football inspire dart game can involve a football field designed dart board and a mat including a throwing marker for 5 different occurrences in a typical football game. The throwing markers may represent kicking situations, first down, second down, third down, and fourth down. Typically, a distance from the dart board can be elongated with each marker from kicking to fourth down. The players can place game pieces on the dart board representative of different offensive and defensive players. Players can score points by successively throwing darts into the openings of game pieces on the dart board.
In one embodiment, a basketball inspired dart game can typically involve a shot clock wherein the players alternate throwing darts towards their respective targets on the board. The game can also include game piece targets that represent players. The targets are in the form of rings or other shapes having an opening. By shooting from the appropriate distance on the runner and landing the dart on the board within a ringed game piece results in points being scored.
In one embodiment, a hockey inspired dart game can include the placement of game pieces on the dart board representative of hockey players. The players can score by landing darts on the rink-inspired board within the game pieces of their players.
The terms and phrases as indicated in quotation marks (“ ”) in this section are intended to have the meaning ascribed to them in this Terminology section applied to them throughout this document, including in the claims, unless clearly indicated otherwise in context. Further, as applicable, the stated definitions are to apply, regardless of the word or phrase's case, to the singular and plural variations of the defined word or phrase.
The term “or” as used in this specification and the appended claims is not meant to be exclusive; rather the term is inclusive, meaning either or both.
References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “another embodiment, “a preferred embodiment”, “an alternative embodiment”, “one variation”, “a variation” and similar phrases mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or variation, is included in at least an embodiment or variation of the invention. The phrase “in one embodiment”, “in one variation” or similar phrases, as used in various places in the specification, are not necessarily meant to refer to the same embodiment or the same variation.
The term “couple” or “coupled” as used in this specification and appended claims refers to an indirect or direct physical connection between the identified elements, components, or objects. Often the manner of the coupling will be related specifically to the manner in which the two coupled elements interact.
The term “directly coupled” or “coupled directly,” as used in this specification and appended claims, refers to a physical connection between identified elements, components, or objects, in which no other element, component, or object resides between those identified as being directly coupled.
The term “approximately,” as used in this specification and appended claims, refers to plus or minus 10% of the value given.
The term “about,” as used in this specification and appended claims, refers to plus or minus 20% of the value given.
The terms “generally” and “substantially,” as used in this specification and appended claims, mean mostly, or for the most part.
Directional and/or relationary terms such as, but not limited to, left, right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, vertical, horizontal, back, front and lateral are relative to each other and are dependent on the specific orientation of a applicable element or article, and are used accordingly to aid in the description of the various embodiments and are not necessarily intended to be construed as limiting.
An Embodiment of a Sports-Inspired Dart Game System
Referring to
As shown, the sports-inspired dart game system 100 can include, but is not limited to, a dart board 102, a mat (or runner) 104, a plurality of game pieces 106, and a plurality of darts 108. A player is shown standing on the mat 104 ready to throw one of the darts 108 at the dart board 102.
The dart board 102 can typically be constructed similar to known dart boards. However, depending on the type of sport the sports-inspired dart game system 100 is based on, the dart board 102 may have different configurations. For instance, for a football-inspired game, the dart board 102 can have a substantially rectangular shape and include indicia mimicking a football field. In another instance, for a hockey-inspired game, the dart-board 102 can have a substantially stadium shape and include indicia mimicking a professional hockey ice rink.
Referring to
The mat 104 can include two or more markers 110 (or throwing positions) approximate the second end of the mat 104. The markers 110 can be implemented to denote where players throw darts from when playing a sports-inspired game. The number of markers 110 and a location of the markers 110 can be based on a game being played. Referring back to
Referring to
Referring to
The plurality of game pieces 106 can be implemented to provide targets and areas to avoid for players on offense. The game pieces 106 used as targets can be placed by the players on offense and the game pieces 106 used as areas to avoid can be placed by players on defense. As can be appreciated, depending on the type of sport the sports-inspired dart game system 100 is based on, the number and size of the plurality of game pieces 106 can change from sport to sport. Typically, each of the game pieces 106 can include a means for coupling to the dart board 102. In one instance, the game pieces 106 can include protrusions (e.g., needle) extending from a bottom of the game piece to insert into the dart board 102. In another instance, the game pieces 16 can include a magnet on a backside of the game piece for attachment to the dart board 102. It is to be appreciated that other means of coupling the game pieces 106 are contemplated and not outside a scope of the present invention.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
The plurality of darts 108 can be similar to darts currently available. Depending on the sport the sports-inspired dart game system 100 is based on, the number of darts 108 may vary from game to game. In some embodiments, players may provide their own darts.
Referring to Table 1 below, example game instructions for 3 different sports-inspired dart games are described. It is to be appreciated that the described game instructions are but examples and not meant to be limiting. The game instructions described below can be used in combination with the sports-inspired dart game system 100. Of note, the term “target” as referenced in Table 1, refers to the game pieces 106.
The various embodiments and variations thereof, illustrated in the accompanying Figures and/or described above, are merely exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is to be appreciated that numerous other variations of the invention have been contemplated, as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure. All variations of the invention that read upon appended claims are intended and contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/657,059, filed Apr. 13, 2018.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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62657059 | Apr 2018 | US |