Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to fixing devices and particularly, although not exclusively, to a device for the fixing or securing of a games board or games board cabinet to a substantially vertical supporting structure.

Background to the Invention

[0002] Traditional methods of attaching a dart or games board or a dartboard cabinet or games board cabinet to a substantially vertical supporting structure such as a door or wall are by means of a wall clamp. There are several types of wall clamp available which require fixing to the door by screwing a hanging bracket to the door or by directly screwing the wall clamp to the door. [0003] A further method of attachment is by means of a magnetic dartboard holder. This consists of two magnetic components, the first of which is attached to the dartboard the second of which is attached to the door by a screw fitting. The disadvantage of all of these methodologies is that the door or supporting wall is tarnished or damaged.

[0004] A portable door hanging system known as the Unicorn On Tour, is also available that device relies on a belt that goes around the full length of the door, this belt is then put under tension to hold the dartboard in the desired position. Potentially it can be attached and removed without permanently damaging the door, though the risk remains that the belt under tension may indent the supporting structure or door thereby tarnishing or damaging it. The disadvantage with the Unicorn On Tour is that stability of the dartboard is decreased and the dartboard is prone to wobbling. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The specific embodiments as disclosed herein would provide a means of allowing the releasable attachment of a dart or games board or a games board cabinet or a dartboard cabinet to a door or substantially vertical supporting structure without permanently damaging the door and provides a stable means of supporting the games board or dartboard or a games board cabinet or a dartboard cabinet.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a device for the fixing or securing of a games board or dartboard or a games board cabinet or a dartboard cabinet to a substantially vertical supporting structure, said device comprising; an elongate portion that has a first engaging member at one end, and at an opposing end a second engaging member; wherein, the first engaging member is adapted to engage the substantially vertical supporting structure; and the second engaging member is adapted to engage the games board or games board cabinet releasably connecting it to the elongate portion. [0007] Preferably the elongate portion is substantially rectangular.

[0008] The device can be made out of metal. [0009] The device can be made out of plastic.

[0010] The device can be made out of wood.

[0011] Wherein said first engaging member is formed by said elongate portion and a second elongate portion that are held facing each other by a connecting section at right angels to both elongate sections, forming a substantially C or U shaped hook allowing the elongate portion to be releasably held against the supporting structure. [0012] The two elongate portions are attached together by the connecting section said connecting section having a width which is narrower than the width of either one of the two elongate portions.

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[0013] The second elongate portion and the connecting section are each narrower than the first elongate section.

[0014] Preferably the two elongate portions are substantially planar, o rectilinear and parallel to each other.

[0015] The device may comprise a means to adjust the location of the second engaging member relative to the elongate portion; 5 wherein the means to adjust the location can be achieved by a spring loaded ball pin and complementary apertures.

[0016] The device may take the form where the means to adjust the location can comprise a slot cut into the length of the elongate portion, with a back o plate and thread that can be adjusted in position along the length of the slot and held in position by tightening the second engaging member to the back plate and thread.

[0017] The device may take the form, where the second engaging member 5 has a substantially U shaped section cut into the engaging member to allow the games board or dartboard or games board cabinet or dartboard cabinet to releasably be connected to the engaging member.

[0018] The device may take the form, where the second engaging member 0 is a hook allowing the games board or dartboard or games board cabinet or dartboard cabinet to be releasably connected to the engaging member. [0019] The device may take the form where the second engaging member has a substantially conical shaped head with a short neck (for example a nail or screw) allowing the games board or dartboard or games board cabinet or dartboard cabinet to be releasably connected to the engaging member.

[0020] The device may take the form, where the second engaging member is a magnet allowing the games board or dartboard or games board cabinet or dartboard cabinet to be releasably connected to the engaging member. The advantage of this method is that the games board or dartboard can be releasably connected to the device by easily using the attractive force of the magnets to pull the games board or dartboard board or dartboard or games board cabinet or dartboard cabinet to the device.

[0021] The device may take the form, where the second engaging member is a hook-and-loop fastener material such as Velcro allowing the games board to be releasably connected to the engaging member. The advantage of this method is that the hook-and-loop fastener material can easily be pressed together to releasably connect the games board or dartboard board or dartboard or games board cabinet or dartboard cabinet to the device.

[0022] The device may take the form, where the second engaging member is any other means of allowing the games board or dartboard or games board cabinet or dartboard cabinet to be releasably connected to the engaging member. [0023] The device may have a protective layer or cushioning means to prevent damage to the substantially vertical supporting structure or door when in place.

[0024] The device maybe releasably fixed or secured to a vertical supporting structure such as a door. [0025] The device with preferable dimensions of 48mm x 1.5mm x 269mm for the first elongate portion; 48mm x 1.5mm x 48mm for the connecting section and 48mm x 1.5mm x 27mm for the second elongate portion. [0026] The device with preferable dimensions of 49mm x 2.0mm x 52mm for the first elongate portion; 49mm x 2.0mm x 49mm for the connecting section and 49mm x 2.0mm x 26mm for the second elongate

[0027] The device with preferable dimension range of 10mm to 60mm x 1.5mm to 2.0mm x 30mm to 300mm for the first elongate portion; 20mm to 60mm x 1.5mm to 2.0mm x 40mm to 55mm for the connecting section; 20mm to 60mm x 1.5mm to 2.0mm x 15mm to 40mm for the second elongate section.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1A and 1 B are three-dimensional views of an example of the device when viewed from the front 1A and back 1 B.

Figure 2A to 2B is a view of the example of the device in position over a door. 2A shows the profile view of the device in place over a door and 2B shows the device in place front on.

Figures 3A to 3C are two-dimensional views of the example of the device when viewed from the front (3A), back (3B) and the side (3C).

Figure 4 is a view of the example of the device in position, with a dartboard in place. Figure 5A and 5B are three-dimensional views of a second example of the device when viewed from the front (5A) and back (5B).

Figure 6A to 6B is a view of the second example of the device in position over a door. 6A shows a view of both devices in place and 6B shows a profile view of one of the devices in place.

Figures 7A to 7C are two-dimensional views of the second example of the device when viewed from the front (7A), back (7B) and the side (7C).

Figure 8 is a view of the second example of the device in position, with a dartboard cabinet in place.

Detailed Description

[0029] The use of the device as envisaged by the inventor will now be described. Figure 1 A shows an example of how the device might look.

[0030] The device shown (100) in the example (with reference to figure 1 ) comprises one continuous piece of metal, though the device could be made of plastics or other material suitable to provide the functionality of the device.

[0031] The device comprises the elongate portion (101 with reference to figure 1 ) a first engaging member (102) and a second engaging member (103). The first engaging member comprises the elongate (101 ) and a second elongate portion (104) that are substantially planar, rectilinear and parallel to each other held facing each other by a connecting section (105) at right angles to both parallel elongate portions. The device has an outer surface as detailed (101 , 104 and 105) and inner surface (106 to 108). The arrangement formed by the outer surface ( 01 , 104 and 105) looks substantially C or U shaped and is referred to as the first engaging member of the device (102). [0032J The first engaging member (201 in relation to figure 2) is placed over the supporting structure such as a door (202) so that the two parallel surfaces (203 and 204) are on either side of the supporting structure or door as shown in figure 2A. The device (200) when in place is substantially parallel to the supporting structure or door, this provides a stable support for the games board or dartboard or games board cabinet or dartboard cabinet when releasably attached to the second engaging member (205). The inner surface of the device (206) provides a cushioning means to protect the door (202) when the device is in position. [0033] The second engaging member (301 in relation to figure 3) at the opposing end to the first engaging member (302) in this example is a loop of metal (303) with a substantially U shape slot (304) cut into it allowing the games board or dartboard or games board cabinet or dartboard cabinet to be releasably supported by the device. The metal loop can be replaced by a piece of moulded plastic or other material suitable to provide the functionality of the device. The games board or dartboard or games board cabinet or dartboard cabinet by means of a screw or similar object can then be hung from the second engaging member. Figure 4 shows a dartboard (401) in place being supported by the device (402) while in position over a supporting structure (403).

[0034] The device can easily be removed by firstly detaching the dartboard from the second engaging member followed by lifting the device off the support structure. The device as shown in figures 3B and 3(C) has a cushioned, protective material (305) backing the device so that the so the supporting structure or door is not damaged while the device is in place.

[0035] The device in the example with preferable dimensions of 48mm x 1.5mm x 269mm for the first elongate portion; 48mm x 1.5mm x 48mm for the connecting section and 48mm x 1.5mm x 27mm for the second elongate portion and 48mm x 3mm x 267mm for the protective layer or cushioning means for the first elongate portion; 48mm x 3mm x 38mm for the protective layer or cushioning means for the connecting means; 48mm x 3mm x 25mm for the protective layer or cushioning means for the second elongate portion.

[0036] A further version of the device is shown in figures 5 to 8 to 5 demonstrate the use of two of the devices for releasably supporting a dartboard cabinet. A dartboard cabinet has metal reinforced corners with retaining apertures to which the cabinet can be hung.

[0037] The device shown in Figure 5A shows an example of how the device0 might look.

[0038] The device shown (500) in the example (with reference to figure 5) comprises one continuous piece of metal, though the device could be made of plastics or other material suitable to provide the functionality of the device.

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[0039] The device (500) comprises the elongate portion (501 with reference to figure 5) a first engaging member (502) and a second engaging member (503).

[0040] The first engaging member comprises the elongate portion (501 ) o and a second elongate portion (504) that are substantially planar, rectilinear and parallel to each other held facing each other by a connecting section (505) at right angles to both parallel elongate portions. The device has an outer surface as detailed (501 , 504 and 505) and an inner surface (506 to 508). This arrangement looks substantially C or U shaped and is referred to as the first engaging member 5 (502).

[0041] The first engaging member (601 ) is placed over the supporting structure such as a door (602) so that the two parallel surfaces (603 and 604) are on either side of the supporting structure or door as shown in figure 6A. This o process is repeated to position the second device (606) in place with respect to the supporting structure or door (602). The two devices (606 and 607 with respect to figure 6B) when in place are substantially parallel to the supporting structure or door (602), this provides a stable support for the games cabinet or dartboard cabinet. The inner surface of the device (605 with respect to figure 6A) provides a cushioning means to protect the door (602) when the device is in place. [0042] The second engaging member (701 in relation to figure 7A and 7C) at the opposing end to the first engaging member (702 in relation to figure 7B and 7C) in this example is a mechanical means of releasably fastening the games cabinet to the second engaging member. The mechanical means in the example has a substantially conical shaped head with a short neck (for example a nail or screw) attached to the elongate portion. Figure 8 shows a dartboard cabinet (801 ) in place being supported by two of the devices (802 and 803) while in position over a supporting structure (804).

[0043] The device can easily be removed by firstly detaching the dartboard from the second engaging member followed by lifting the device off the support structure. The device as shown in figure 7(C) has a cushioned, protective material (703 in relation to figure 7B and 7C) backing the device so that the so the supporting structure or door is not damaged while the device is in place. [0044] The device in the second example with preferable dimensions of

49mm x 2.0mm x 52mm for the first elongate portion; 49mm x 2.0mm x 49mm for the connecting section and 49mm x 2.0mm x 26mm for the second elongate portion and 48mm x 3mm x 50mm for the protective layer or cushioning means for the first elongate portion; 48mm x 3mm x 38mm for the protective layer or cushioning means for the connecting means; 48mm x 3mm x 25mm for the protective layer or cushioning means for the second elongate portion.