FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to dart board systems with electronic scoring. More particularly, it relates to cups mounted within the targets of such systems. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An automated dartboard system has a number of advantages, such as knowledge of when a match has commenced and when it has ended. This allows the system to use automated revenue collection means, such as are used in video or arcade games.

As shown by the art in this field, many attempts have been made to create such a system. One popular system has been the type shown in British patent specification 1 532 744 of Jones ef al. filed May 30, 1977, and published Nov. 22, 1978. Jones discloses a system employing plastic tipped darts and an array of target plates moulded with a large number of closely spaced holes corresponding substantially in size to that of the tip. When the dart is thrown at the board, the tip enters into one of the holes and remains in the hole until removed by one of the players. For automated scoring, a given target plate is slidably supported and, when a given target plate is struck by a dart, the plate slides inwardly to effect closure of an electrical switch contact which directs a signal to a scoring register.

Obviously, the Jones system is not designed to employ regulation grade metal tipped darts of the type preferred by serious dart players. The games are not sufficiently realistic for a wide segment of the market. In addition to the modifications required for reception and retention of grade metal tipped darts, the switches used and the plastic target plate struck by a dart are typically not strong enough to withstand continuous heavy impact from grade metal tipped darts.

Holt et al. in United States Patent No. 4,651 ,998 issued Mar. 24, 1987 discloses a plastic tip dart system such as that in Jones et al. Holt et al. add a bullseye detection mechanism wherein the dart board deforms, or alternatively a plate slides within the board, to actuate a contact switch that causes a timer circuit to activate an audible alarm. This provides an additional attraction for playing the game. The Holt ef al. bullseye provides only a means to actuate a bullseye segment and only in conjunction with an all plastic tip dart board. As plastic tip darts are being used, wear of the segments is not a factor, and no means is discussed for lengthening time between replacement or for facilitating replacement. Automated regulation dart systems are shown in the following United States Patent Nos. 4,852,888 issued Aug. 1 , 1989 to Ross et a/. ; 4,244,583 issued Jan. 13, 1981 to Wood et a/. ; 4,014,546 issued Mar. 29, 1977 to Steinkamp; 3,677,546 issued Jul. 18, 1972 to Oetiker; 3,275,321 issued Sep. 27, 1966 to Forest; 3,101 ,198 issued Aug. 20, 1963 to Williams. Dart conductive systems have a first conductive layer part of the way into the segment and a second conductive layer further into the segment. The conductive layers are at two different potentials. When the dart enters the segment it pierces the first layer and the second layer which causes current to flow between the layers and indicates the location of the dart. Ross et a/., Forest and Williams disclose modified systems of this type.

Dart conductive systems wear out in the conductive layers as they are continually pierced. As well, darts may not pierce both layers and a score will not be recorded. This can happen when the dart has insufficient energy to reach both layers or the dart enters at an angle. It is also desirable to have the dart create an impulse contact, rather than a constant contact between the conductive layers. This simplifies the operation of circuitry in the system. For a system that operates on a continuous contact see Wood et al. Most dart conductive systems use a mechanical means of moving the dart from contact with one of the layers or moving one of the layers from contact with the dart. This adds complexity to the mechanical operation of the system.

United States Patent Nos. 5,486,007 and 5,613,685 issued (on January 23, 1996 and March 25, 1997, respectively) to the inventor et al. disclose an automated dart board which overcome the shortcomings listed above. This dart board describes a target for darts that has a conductive rigid web made up of concentric rings intersecting spokes emanating from the second to the innermost ring. The spokes define sectors, while the rings define segments within each sector. Conductive blocks, made up of a metallic cup having contacts protruding from its bottom and containing a rubberized cork insert, fill in the segments of the web. Beneath each cup is a silicon foam cushion cut away between the contacts and a pad on a printed circuit board ("PCB"). The pads are each connected to circuitry that senses when a dart hits an insert causing the corresponding cup to slide within the web and contact a pad. The circuitry, by way of piezoelectric sensors, also determines if a dart has impacted on or near the target and checks to see if the target has polled a segment that indicates a hit on the target, failing which the target indicates that the dart missed the target. The circuitry also senses the rotational orientation of the target and sets the basic scores of the segments accordingly, allowing the target to be periodically rotated to reposition segments in sectors of heavy use to sectors of lighter use. This system requires that the conductive web, of a relatively large area, be held at a known voltage (ground or voltage high). An electrostatic charge (ESD for electrostatic discharge) builds up on the top of surface of the conductive cups. This charge may affect the sensitive low voltage electronic circuitry mounted on the printed circuit board underneath.

The targets comprise cups which contain inserts for receiving projectiles or darts. The inventors found that sisal was the optimal material from which to make the inserts. However, in order for sisal to properly receive the darts, there has to be the correct density of fibers or sufficient compaction within the cup. This creates a greater technological challenge than other cup filling materials. Sisal is a natural fiber and therefore expands and contracts depending on the surrounding humidity. The degree of compaction and uniformity that was required, given the natural characteristics of sisal, meant that the cups would often bow or bulge and not slide within the web. The target will not work if the cup is jammed against the web and cannot complete the circuit and return to its original position.

In previously filed United States Patent Nos. 5,486,007 and 5,613,685, and Canadian Patent Application No. 2,417,222, the inventors described cups wherein the walls were tapered to provide strength when a sisal insert was compressed into the cups.

In the present invention, the inventors have discovered a new way of reinforcing the walls of the cups in order to prevent the walls from bowing when they contain compressed sisal inserts.

It is an object of the invention to address these perceived deficiencies in the field or other needs as will become evident from the following description.

SUMMARY OF TH E INVENTION

In a first aspect the invention provides a target for use with a projectile. Examples of such projectiles are regulation grade metal tipped darts, plastic tipped darts, target gun shooting (pellet, b.b. bullets), archery, dartguns, blowguns, and games that use projectiles that are not intended to remain in the target, such as balls striking the target. The target has a rigid web. The web defines a target face and has a depth. The web also defines one or more segments within the web that open toward the target face. One or more cups are mounted for sliding within the web and substantially fill the target face of one or more segments of the web. Each cup has a mouth that opens toward the target face. An insert is mounted within and fills each cup to the target face. Each of the cups has one or more resilient cushions, between each cup and the back board. Each cushion has one or electroconductive areas. The back board has an array of switch contacts on a pad forming an electrical switch. The projectile impacts an insert at the target face with sufficient force to cause the cup for that insert to slide within the web and have the electroconductive area of the one or more cushion contact the switch contacts on the pad beneath that cup, resulting in closing of the electrical switch defined by the switch contact. The one or more resilient cushions beneath that cup return the cup substantially to its original position.

This target may also be used with projectiles that are darts. The insert in that case is formed from a material for receiving and retaining the darts. The insert could be formed from a material for re-filling in behind the darts when they are removed.

The web could also take the shape of a traditional dart board with a series of concentric spaced apart rings and a series of equally spaced spokes emanating from the second to the innermost ring. The spokes define circular sectors, the two innermost rings define two segments, and intersecting spokes and rings define the remainder of the segments. The innermost ring could be connected by a quick release mechanism to the back board for quick removal of the innermost ring and easy access to the cup in the innermost ring in order to remove that cup from the target. The quick release mechanism could have at least one extension of the innermost ring through the back board, that extension would have a groove parallel to the back board for receiving a snap ring or other fastening device that maintains the back board snugly against the unextended portion of the innermost ring.

The back board could have a main board and a centre board, with the main board having an area beneath the inside diameter of the second to the innermost ring removed. The centre board in that case would extend beneath that area and overlap the main board. The previously mentioned extensions extend through the centre board. In addition, the second to the innermost ring has extensions through the centre board. The main board has projections beneath the unextended portion of the second to the innermost ring. These latter extensions also have a groove parallel to the centre board for receiving a snap ring or other fastening device that maintains the centre board and main board snugly against the unextended portion of the second to the innermost ring.

The web may have a cladding or "spider" covering the rings and spokes. The cladding extends into the segments and retains each of the cups. The cladding may cover the face of the web and the rim of each cup. The cladding could be made from a material that can withstand the impact of darts over a long period of use. The cups may be made from metal or non-metal materials, such as zinc aluminum, composite resins, fiberglass or ceramic.

The inserts can be made from sisal as this natural fiber is able to expand and contract, depending on the humidity of the surrounding environment. Other fillers, however, such as neoprene, plastic and cork could also be used.

In order to provide strength to the cups, and to increase the compaction of the inserts which fill the cups, the cups are reinforced with a plurality of protrusions or "fixed vanes" that are integral with and extend perpendicularly from the sides of the cups. The fixed vanes taper from the bottoms of the cups to the mouths/lips of the cups. The size, shape and lay-out of the fixed vanes will depend on the material from which the cups are made.

Two of the cups may be circular centre cups which form a "bull assembly" of the target.

It is possible to glue the inserts to their respective cups. The cushions can be formed from elastomer.

The back board may be a printed circuit board and the pads are traces on the back board.

The target may have circuitry to poll each of the pads at least once during the time that contact would likely be occurring between a cushion and a pad as the result of an impact from a projectile.

The target may have a vertical sector sensor for determining the sector that is in the vertical position. In this case, the target could have switches for selecting the sector that is to be in the vertical position. The target may also detect the rotational position of the target.

The target could also have a no hit detection means for vibrationally sensing a dart hitting on or near the target and determining if contact has been made between a cushion and a pad approximately when the dart impacted on or near the target, and if no such contact was made, providing a no hit indication. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TABLES AND DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show preferred embodiments of the present invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a target according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the target of FIG. 1 , including an inner single point section and a triple point section.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view from above and to one side of parts of the target of FIG. 1 , including an insert, a cup, a cushion, and part of a contact board.

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-section along the line A--A' of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section along the line B-B' of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a partial rear view of a main printed circuit board and a twenty-five and fifty point printed circuit board for use in the target of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7A is a top view of an inter-digitated switch contact.

FIG. 7B is a top view of a two-half switch.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a cup including the fixed vanes.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section along the line A— A' of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following description contains reference to specific dimensions, other quantities, and materials. These are included for ease of creating a target similar to that of the preferred embodiment. Please note that these are typical only and the invention is not limited to them. For example, the target board will be described for use with regulation grade metal tipped darts; however alternate embodiments could be configured with consequent modification to the dimensions, other quantities and materials to match the specifications of the dart or projectile, being used. Games and sports using suitable projectiles include, for example, target gun shooting (pellet, b.b. bullets), archery, dartguns, blowguns, and games that use projectiles that are not intended to remain in the target, such as balls striking the target.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a target board 1 is divided into 20 circular sectors surrounding a circular segment 3 and a concentric annular segment 5. Each sector is divided into a number of segments, 4 segments being shown in FIG. 1 for example as a, b, c, d, that are defined by circular arcs of different radii. The total number of segments is 82, 4 for each sector plus segments 3 and 5.

Adjacent segments of different sectors have the same relative value. Segments a and c of each sector are given a basic score, whereas the outermost segment d is double score and segment b is triple score. Thus, of the 80 segments contained in all the sectors, only 60 unique segments exist.

All sectors are the same except for their respective positions along the circumference of the target 1. The basic score that is conferred on each sector is dependent on the position of the sectors when the target 1 is installed. For example, a specific sector that is in the upper vertical position on installation usually has a basic score of 20. Adjacent to the 20 sector in the counterclockwise direction is a sector with a basic score of 5, and in the clockwise direction is a sector with the basic score of 1. Rotating the sectors clockwise by one sector will move the sector with basic score 5 into the 20 position and the one with basic score of 20 into the 1 position.

A web 7 has spokes 9 dividing each of the sectors and the web 7 has rings 11 radially dividing each segment from the other. Referring in particular to FIGS. 1 and 4, each of spokes 9 and rings 11 has an arrow-shaped cross-section, with tips 13 and stems 15. The spokes 9 and rings 11 may be joined wherever they cross.

Each of the stems 15, except for one on the spoke 9a and the ring 11a around segment 5 and ring 11b around segment 3, has a similar depth of 23.55 mm, approximately the same thickness as a regulation dart board, and similar width of 1.2 mm at the bottom widening out by 0.5 degree toward the tips 13. The tips 13 have a height of approximately 4.5 mm and a width of approximately 3.8 mm at their bottom. The tips 13 have a radius of approximately 6 mm with the point of each tip 13 rounded off at a radius of 0.25 mm.

The stem 15 of spoke 9a has an alignment spine 17 with an additional depth of approximately 6.5 min. The stem 15 on ring 11a is approximately 30.30 mm, while that on ring 11b is approximately 30.30 mm. The outside diameter of ring 11a at the base of the stem is approximately 20 mm, while that of ring 11 b is 43.46 mm. Ring 11a does not have any connecting spokes 9 as will be discussed later. The stems 15 on rings 11a and 11 b each have opposing pairs of cut-outs 18a, 18b from their bottom. The cut-outs 18a have a depth of approximately 7.52 mm, while the cut-outs 18b have a depth of approximately 1 1.255 mm. At a depth of approximately 3.175 mm from the bottom of each stem on rings 11a and 11 b is an annular groove 18a, 18b respectively that has a height of approximately 1.17 mm.

A cup 19 is fitted for each segment of the web 7 to loosely fit within the stems 15 of the appropriate spokes 9 and rings 11 fully underneath the tips 13. The arrow shape of the cross- section is aimed to retain the cups 19 in the segments. Each of the cups 19, except those in segments 3, 5 have sides 21 that taper towards bottoms 23. The sides 21 of cups 19a and 19b in segments 3 and 5 respectively have differing depths for reasons that will later become apparent.

The cups 19 may be made from any material strong enough to withstand the repeated impact of very strongly thrown darts. Aluminum or zinc are possible and can be hardened by anodizing or another such technique to achieve the required strength. The cups 19 can also be made from non-metal composites.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the inner sides 21 of the cups 19 are reinforced with a plurality of fixed vanes 50 that are integral with and protrude perpendicularly from the sides 21 of the cups 19. The fixed vanes 50 extend from and taper from the bottoms 23 to the lip of the cups 19.

The cups in segments 3, 5 form a "bull assembly". The bull assembly comprises an outer cup which is fitted for segment 3, an inner cup which is fitted for segment 5, and a sleeve in which the outer and inner cup fit. The outer cup comprises a protrusion or tongue and the inner cup comprises a key or groove which serve to prevent the outer cup from rotating around the inner cup.

An insert 27 fits and is glued into each cup 19, fitting flush with the lip of the cup 19. Sisal is the preferred material for the insert as it is relatively easy to cut, durable, provides good stopping resistance for darts, and retains darts well. Other materials, such as rubberized cork, known to be usable for dart boards could be used as inserts 27, with consequent modification to the various dimensions, if required.

The size, number, shape and lay out of the fixed vanes 50 will depend on the material used for the insert 27.

As the tips 13 overlap the cups 19 and the inserts 27, the tips 13 protect the edges of the inserts 27 from damage by the darts or other projectiles. For this reason, among others, it is important to select an appropriate material for the tips 13. For grade metal darts, anodized aluminum, zinc or another alloy may be used, whereas plastic might be sufficient for plastic darts. Neither the web 7 nor the cups 19 need to be conductive, although the cups should be dissipative. The web 7, which can be made from plastic or other non-conductive material, should be covered by a metal cladding in order to withstand the impact of grade metal tipped darts.

Other materials could be used for the insert 27 provided they are capable of receiving and retaining the dart being used. For grade metal tipped darts, the insert 27 must also slow the dart down sufficiently so that the dart does not penetrate the cup 19, and should have a memory to fill behind the dart once it is removed. Sisal is a suitable material commonly used for dart boards. Alternatively, the insert 27 could be formed for use with plastic tip darts such as those shown in Jones ef a/, discussed previously. In that case the insert 27 would likely be made from sisal or plastic or filled with a material that is penetrable by the plastic tip darts.

A circular main printed circuit board 29 rests beneath the web 7. The centre is cut away from the board 29 so that it fits around the stems of the ring 11 b and protrudes into the cut-outs 18b, but not beneath the 25 point on segment 3. The top edge of the cut-outs 18b acts as a stop 31 for the board 29 to prevent it from travelling any further toward the front of the board 29. On the top of the board 29 beneath the cushion of each cup 19 is a discrete printed circuit board trace pad 33. This pad 33 may be etched traces. On the pad 33 are closely located switch contacts 25. The purpose of this will be discussed shortly.

The board 29 has an alignment slot 34 that the alignment spine 27 fits to ensure that the board 29 is properly aligned. The board 29 is fastened near its outside edge to the web 7. A flange 34A projects outwardly from the bottom of the stem 15 of the outermost ring 13 for holding bolts or the like to fasten the web 7 to the board 29.

Although it is not shown in the preferred embodiment, the flange 34A could be altered to include a fixed well, not shown, to hold cork pieces or other dart receptive material, not shown, for a zero point region containing the numbers of the basic scores for each sector.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, between the board 29 and each cup 19, are one or more spaced discrete resilient dielectric cushions 35. Each cushion has at least one electroconductive area (not shown). When a dart hits the target 1 , it causes a cup 19 to slide towards the corresponding pad 33. This compresses a cushion 35 and causes the at least one electroconductive area of the cushion 35 to touch the pad 33 at the switch contacts 25 (not shown) and close the switch defined by said switch contacts 25. The closing of the switch indicates to the underlying circuitry that a dart hit has occurred. The electroconductive area may be a small or large portion of the cushion 35 surface adjacent to the pad 33. In a preferred embodiment, the electroconductive area would be separated from the corresponding switch contacts 25 on the pad 33 by a recessed design. One possibility is where the cushion 35 surface adjacent to the pad 33 concaves away from the pad 33 in the normal state: when the cup 19 compresses the cushion 35 toward the pad 33 as the result of a dart hitting the target 1 , the electroconductive area, being biased towards the pad 33, touches and bridges the switch contacts 25 and thereby closing the switch. As a result, a hit may be detected by the underlying circuitry. Although not strictly necessary, it is recommended to have a plurality of cushions 35 for each segment 7, and at least three and even four cushions 35 for each larger segment 7, due to the tendency of the cups 19 to rotate when hit by a dart at the edge of an insert 27. When four cushions 35 are placed toward the outside edges of each of the cups 19 the likelihood that contact is made at the correct time is increased. There is a possibility, although unlikely that contact could be made and released at one cushion 35 of a cup 19 followed by contact on another cushion 35 of the same cup due to an oscillation when a dart hits. False detection of the second contact as an independent hit can be prevented in many instances by introducing some kind of time delay mechanism into the target 1. The cushion 35 is preferably glued or otherwise fastened to the cup 19 to ensure that it does not move beneath the cup 19. The cushions 35 underneath each cup 19 may also be integrated with the cup 19 and insert 27 as a single unit. A further variation is where each cushion 35 fits inside an elastomer membrane.

The dielectric material of a cushion 35 may be an elastomer, such as silicone, which must be sufficient to dampen the shock and vibration caused by repeated impacts of a steel dart on the target 1 and to return the cup 19 substantially to its original position prior to the dart hit after thousands of such impacts. The material must also be resistant to corrosion.

The switch contacts 25 must be able to withstand the force created by a dart hit over thousands of such hits and have sufficiently low resistance to closing the switch on the pad 33. There are a number of possible configurations of switch contacts 25. FIG. 7A illustrates inter-digitated switch contacts 25 with a non-conductive gap separating the two contacts. These contacts 25 may be result of etched tracing (the pad 33) of the PCB as shown in FIG. 7A. When a dart hits a cup 19, the electroconductive area of an underlying cushion 35 would bridge the non-conductive gap between two contacts 25 and close the switch defined thereby. FIG.7B shows two-half switch contacts. The switch contact 25 material must be resistant to corrosion.

Overlapping the interior edge of the board 29 for a small distance is a concentric twenty-five and fifty point printed circuit board 37. As shown in FIG. 6, the board 37 has two opposing arced slots 39a and two opposing arced slots 39b that fit over the stems 15a and 15b respectively until the board 37 meets the board 29. At this point a first snap ring 40 is forced into the groove 8b. The boards 29 and 37 have an approximate thickness of 1.17 mm each and are snugly retained between the stop 31 and the snap ring 40.

The stem 15a of the ring 11a, which floats freely, is brought toward the board 37 until it meets the top edge of the cut-outs 18 that form a second stop 41. A second snap ring 43 is forced into the groove 8a and the board 37 is snugly trapped between the stop 41 and the ring 11a. This retains the ring 11a. The arced slots 39a, 39b should fit over the stems 15 fairly snugly as well to limit rotational movement of the board 37.

Other fastening means could be used in place of the snap rings 40, 43, such as threading annular locking rings, not shown, onto the stems 15a and 15b, preferably they would provide a quick release of the respective boards 29, 37 in the sense that they would not require tools or any special skill to remove.

Some form of hook or other fastening means, not shown, is used to hold the target against a wall or other substantially vertical surface.

In order to disassemble the target, it is taken down from the wall. If the 50 point needs replacement (in heavy use), the second snap ring 43 is simply removed and the ring 11a slips out the front of the target. The cup 19a, including its insert 27, is replaced and the ring is reinserted into the target 1 with the ring 43 snapped into placed.

If the ring 11 b needs replacement then ring 11a is removed as discussed above. The target 1 is placed face down and ring 40 is then removed. This allows the board 37 to be removed for access to the cup 19b. That cup 19b can be removed and replaced. The target 1 is reassembled in reverse order.

For access to the other cups 19, when the board 37 is removed, the board 29 is also removed by loosening the fastening devices at its outer edge. The remaining cups 19 are now accessible and can be replaced, or even interchanged if that is desired, and the target re-assembled in reverse order.

To increase the length of time that a given cup 19 may be used before replacement is required, the target 1 may be rotated so that high use sectors, the 20, 18 and 1 basic score sectors typically have the highest use, are moved to lower use sectors. It is then necessary to make the target 1 aware of the change so that automated scoring is unaffected.

Of course, the segments in the sectors will eventually wear out and the ability to easily replace the segments using a means such as that set out above is highly advantageous.

Rotation of the segments 3, 5 does not affect the length of time they may be used, so it is also advantageous that they can be easily changed by using a means such that described previously. The target 1 is set within a casing, not shown, for protection. The casing could have the hook mentioned earlier to attach the target 1 to a wall. The casing could also have on its face the value of the basic score of each sector.

It will be appreciated that the above description relates to the preferred embodiments by way of example only. Many variations on the apparatus for delivering the invention will be clear to those knowledgeable in the field, and such variations are within the scope of the invention as described and claimed, whether or not expressly described.