GB2157184A

GB2157184A - Dartboard bullseye ring

Info

Publication number: GB2157184A
Application number: GB08409563A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward George Bluck
Original assignee: NODOR CO Ltd
Current assignee: NODOR CO Ltd
Priority date: 1984-04-12
Filing date: 1984-04-12
Publication date: 1985-10-23
Also published as: GB2157184B

Abstract

A member for defining the bullseye scoring area of a dartboard comprises a steel ring 1 with integral fixing legs 2. The legs are pressed into the board to hold the ring in position, the ring standing slightly proud of the board. The outward facing circular surface of the ring is bevelled so that this surface tapers outwardly of the board to a circular apex 5 and thus presents only a small perpendicular obstructional area to an oncoming dart. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dartboard bullseye ring This invention relates to dartboards and, in particular, means for defining the centre bullseye scoring area of the dartboard on the surface of the board.

The bullseye ring on a standard dartboard is approximately half an inch in diameter, and unlike the twenty-fives ring does not overlap with any of the lines defining the other scoring areas of the board. The means for marking it on the surface of the board musttherefore be self-sufficient. Hitherto, the vast majority of dartboards have bullseyes defined by a wire formed in a circular disposition from a length of steel wire of circular cross-section with the two free ends welded together. This wire ring is then secured in position in the centre of the dartboard by means of two or more long staples which pierce the fibres of the board. Disadvantages of this method of defining the bullseye have long been known and are widely appreciated by players.Firstly, the wire ring may not be formed into an accurate circle and even if it is so formed, it can easily be distorted during use by the impact of darts. The impact of a dart can also break the weld between the ends of the ring so that dartboards in use often have bullseye rings with gaps. It will be appreciated that this can cause difficulties in determing whether a dart has in fact landed in the bullseye or not Another major problem with this conventional type of bullseye wiring is that the staples used to hold the ring in a position present a significant obstacle to incoming darts compared with the total area of the bullseye. It frequently occurs that a dart hits the staple and bounces out, and therefore does not score.Finally, the traditional method cannot readily be automated, and the accepted technique is still to apply the staples manually, which can lead to a further inaccuracy due to the inaccurate placement of the ring.

The present invention seeks to overcome at least some of these disadvantages by providing improved means for defining the bullseye ring of a dartboard.

According to the present invention there is provided a bullseye-defining memberfora dartboard comprising a rigid ring of hard material with two or more integral fixing legs extending from the ring, the fixing legs having piercisng ends enabling the ring to be pressed into the surface of the board without requiring any further fastening member.

Preferably, the fixing ring is fabricated from steel and is made as an integral element by an appropriate machine.

The ring portion of the fixing element may be cylindrical with its circular outward facing surface being bevelled along its length to provide an annular apex. In this manner an angled surface is presented to an oncoming dart to assist in deflecting the dart into an adjacent region of the board rather than causing it to bounce off.

The fixing legs may be rectangular in section and have chiselled or pointed ends. Preferably, these legs include lateral fluting to assist maintaining the legs in the board once inserted.

The circular ring portion may stand proud of the surface of the dartboard.

The present invention also provides a dartboard having a bullseye ring defined by the insertion into its surface of an element as aforesaid.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing showing a perspective view of a bullseye-defining element in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the Figure, the bullseye defining element comprises a low cylindrical ring 1 and having extending parallel to the axis thereof, two integral fixing legs 2, each of rectangular crosssection. The fixing legs may conveniently be approximately one inch long and at their free ends are tapered to provide a chisel tip 3 for each insertion into the fibre material of the board. The outer surfaces of the legs include three transverse grooves 4, which once the element is inserted into the board assists in preventing its removal.

The outward facing circular surface ofthe ring 1 is bevelled on both sides so that this surface tapers outwardly to a circular apex 5. When in position in the board the apex faces the direction from which a dart is thrown and avoids a perpendicular surface being presented to the oncoming dart. A dart hitting the ring is likely to be deflected by the bevelled edges and enter the board adjacent the ring.

The fixing element can be manufactured by standard casting and machining techniques which can readily be automated. The fixing element is also extremely suitable for automatic assembly to the dartboard requiring only insertion motion into the board to secure it in place. Conveniently the manufacturing process of a dartboard using such a fixing element may be automated such that the element is fastened to the board along with the ring defining the twenty-five scoring area, so that these two areas can be made accurately concentric. This new element together with the associated method of manufacturing a dartboard overcomes many of the disadvantages of the traditional method and additional machining costs are compensated by reduced and labour costs and avoidance of staples. The ring can be made to present a knife edge to an oncoming dart and this feature is in general not achievable with the traditional method. Typically, the element will stand slightly proud of the board but may be pushed in so far as to make a small depression in the surface.

1. A Bullseye-defining member for a dartboard comprising a rigid circular ring of material with two or more fixing legs extending from the ring, the fixing legs having piercing ends enabling the ring to be pressed into the surface of the board without requiring any further fastening member.

2. A bullseye-defining member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ring and fixing legs are formed as an integral element.

3. A bullseye-defining member as claimed in claim 2 made from steel.

4. A bullseye-defining member as claimed in

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Dartboard bullseye ring This invention relates to dartboards and, in particular, means for defining the centre bullseye scoring area of the dartboard on the surface of the board. The bullseye ring on a standard dartboard is approximately half an inch in diameter, and unlike the twenty-fives ring does not overlap with any of the lines defining the other scoring areas of the board. The means for marking it on the surface of the board musttherefore be self-sufficient. Hitherto, the vast majority of dartboards have bullseyes defined by a wire formed in a circular disposition from a length of steel wire of circular cross-section with the two free ends welded together. This wire ring is then secured in position in the centre of the dartboard by means of two or more long staples which pierce the fibres of the board. Disadvantages of this method of defining the bullseye have long been known and are widely appreciated by players.Firstly, the wire ring may not be formed into an accurate circle and even if it is so formed, it can easily be distorted during use by the impact of darts. The impact of a dart can also break the weld between the ends of the ring so that dartboards in use often have bullseye rings with gaps. It will be appreciated that this can cause difficulties in determing whether a dart has in fact landed in the bullseye or not Another major problem with this conventional type of bullseye wiring is that the staples used to hold the ring in a position present a significant obstacle to incoming darts compared with the total area of the bullseye. It frequently occurs that a dart hits the staple and bounces out, and therefore does not score.Finally, the traditional method cannot readily be automated, and the accepted technique is still to apply the staples manually, which can lead to a further inaccuracy due to the inaccurate placement of the ring. The present invention seeks to overcome at least some of these disadvantages by providing improved means for defining the bullseye ring of a dartboard. According to the present invention there is provided a bullseye-defining memberfora dartboard comprising a rigid ring of hard material with two or more integral fixing legs extending from the ring, the fixing legs having piercisng ends enabling the ring to be pressed into the surface of the board without requiring any further fastening member. Preferably, the fixing ring is fabricated from steel and is made as an integral element by an appropriate machine. The ring portion of the fixing element may be cylindrical with its circular outward facing surface being bevelled along its length to provide an annular apex. In this manner an angled surface is presented to an oncoming dart to assist in deflecting the dart into an adjacent region of the board rather than causing it to bounce off. The fixing legs may be rectangular in section and have chiselled or pointed ends. Preferably, these legs include lateral fluting to assist maintaining the legs in the board once inserted. The circular ring portion may stand proud of the surface of the dartboard. The present invention also provides a dartboard having a bullseye ring defined by the insertion into its surface of an element as aforesaid. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing showing a perspective view of a bullseye-defining element in accordance with the present invention. Referring to the Figure, the bullseye defining element comprises a low cylindrical ring 1 and having extending parallel to the axis thereof, two integral fixing legs 2, each of rectangular crosssection. The fixing legs may conveniently be approximately one inch long and at their free ends are tapered to provide a chisel tip 3 for each insertion into the fibre material of the board. The outer surfaces of the legs include three transverse grooves 4, which once the element is inserted into the board assists in preventing its removal. The outward facing circular surface ofthe ring 1 is bevelled on both sides so that this surface tapers outwardly to a circular apex 5. When in position in the board the apex faces the direction from which a dart is thrown and avoids a perpendicular surface being presented to the oncoming dart. A dart hitting the ring is likely to be deflected by the bevelled edges and enter the board adjacent the ring. The fixing element can be manufactured by standard casting and machining techniques which can readily be automated. The fixing element is also extremely suitable for automatic assembly to the dartboard requiring only insertion motion into the board to secure it in place. Conveniently the manufacturing process of a dartboard using such a fixing element may be automated such that the element is fastened to the board along with the ring defining the twenty-five scoring area, so that these two areas can be made accurately concentric. This new element together with the associated method of manufacturing a dartboard overcomes many of the disadvantages of the traditional method and additional machining costs are compensated by reduced and labour costs and avoidance of staples.The ring can be made to present a knife edge to an oncoming dart and this feature is in general not achievable with the traditional method. Typically, the element will stand slightly proud of the board but may be pushed in so far as to make a small depression in the surface. CLAIMS

3. A bullseye-defining member as claimed in claim 2 made from steel.

4. A bullseye-defining member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the ring portion is cylindrical, the circular outward facing surface of which is bevelled along its length to provide an annular apex.

5. A bullseye-defining member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the fixing legs are rectangular in section and have chiselshaped free ends.

6. A bullseye-defining member as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fixing legs include transverse superficial grooves to assist retention in a board.

7. A dartboard having a bullseye ring defined by the insertion into its surface of a bullseye-defining member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

8. A dartboard as claimed in claim 7 wherein the circular ring portion of the member stands proud of the surface of the dartboard.

9. A bullseye-defining member for a dartboard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to an as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.