Dartboard mount

Abstract

 A dartboard for playing the conventional game of darts is mounted to a protection surface surrounding the board to assist in protection of the surroundings from poorly aimed darts. The protection surface is supported from a generally vertical surface by means including a hinge and by a stay, so that the dartboard and protection surface may be stowed away when the dartboard is not in use with the face of the dartboard towards the generally vertical surface, pivoted from this stowed position to a selected position for play, and maintained at the selected position by the stay.

Description

[0001] This disclosure relates to the game of darts. More particularly it is concerned with arrangements for mounting a dartboard for play and stowage.

[0002] Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show how the game of darts is normally set up for play. Fig 1 shows the player's view of a conventional dartboard A which is mounted with surrounding wall protection B on wall C. The wall protection B provides a measure of protection for the surroundings against poorly aimed darts, and is normally made of wood, cork, pin board material etc, and is of constant thickness. This allows the dartboard to be mounted close to the wall, as can be seen from the side and plan views of Figs. 2 and 3. A player E, while facing the wall C, can then throw darts F in a direction generally perpendicular to the wall C to strike the board A. As shown in Fig. 2, while doing this, the player E must stand behind throwing line D. Fig 3 shows in dotted outline the floor area G required to play the game. Playing area G extends back from wall C perpendicular to it. The rules of the game require the distance from the dart board to the throwing line to be 2.37 metres. This necessitates a playing area of approximately 1 metre wide and approximately 3.5 metres long extending back from the wall C.

[0003] When not in use for play, the dartboard might be considered unsightly or an intrusion, and will be taken down and stored away. Alternatively the dartboard might be both mounted and stored in a cabinet with closing doors designed for that purpose. The inside surface of the rear of the cabinet is then used as the mounting surface for the dart board and that inside surface then serves as the protection surface. Even though this arrangement may stow the dartboard out of sight, the only position in which the game may be played is immediately in front of the cabinet, requiring a space of about 3.5 metres long and 1 metre wide extending backwards from and directly in front of the wall C.

[0004] Because such space may not always be available, a number of arrangements have been suggested for playing darts or a darts like game in other situations. Thus GB 2215372 of Bulman incorporates the conventional wall mounted dartboard cabinet into the upper half of an interior door. With the door closed and with the latch preferably disabled or the door locked, the cabinet doors may be opened and the game played as if the cabinet were on the adjacent wall into which the doorway is set, rather than being part of the door. As before, the game can only be played in one position, namely within a space of 3.5 metres by 1 meter immediately in front of the doorway. US 6116605 of Davey proposes a magnetic game of toss. Although not shown, the game could obviously be a magnetic darts like game. The target is the steel door of a refrigerator. Clearly, this game can only be played immediately in front of the refrigerator. US 2007/0029732 of Herrmann also suggests a necessarily magnetic game, in which the target is a decal on the inside of a metal locker door.

[0005] The present disclosure adopts a quite different approach, which, as explained below, allows the conventional game of darts with pointed darts to be played anywhere where there is a space of 3.5 meters by 1 metre in any direction.

[0006] In accordance with a first aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a dartboard mount for mounting a conventional dartboard with a protection surface surrounding the board to assist in protection of the surroundings from poorly aimed darts; the mount being adapted for support from a generally vertical surface by means including a hinge, and by a stay, so that the dartboard and protection surface may be stowed away when not required for play with the face of the dartboard towards said generally vertical surface, pivoted from this stowed position to a selected position for play, and maintained at the selected position by said stay.

[0007] In a second and alternative aspect of this disclosure, a conventional dartboard is mounted to a protection surface surrounding the board to assist in protection of the surroundings from poorly aimed darts, the protection surface being supported from a generally vertical surface by means including a hinge and by a stay, so that the dartboard and protection surface may be stowed away when the dartboard is not in use with the face of the dartboard towards said generally vertical surface, pivoted from this stowed position to a selected position for play, and maintained at the selected position by said stay.

[0008] Preferred embodiments have one or more of the following features: The protection surface is surrounded by a frame, and the stay is arranged to be positioned between a portion of the frame and a wall mounting on the generally vertical surface. The stay is adjustable to select the angle of the dartboard to the vertical surface in the selected position for play. The stay is telescopic. Alternatively, the stay is of fixed length and provided with pins at its ends cooperating with apertures in the frame and in the wall mounting. The reverse side of the mount from the dartboard, presented when the dartboard is in its stowed position with its face towards the generally vertical surface, serves as a picture frame, notice board or shallow display cabinet.

[0009] There is provided, according to a third alternative aspect of this disclosure, a picture frame, notice board or shallow display cabinet mountable with a reverse surface thereof toward a wall, and being provided with a hinged mount along one edge thereof adapted in use to be oriented vertically so that the picture frame, notice board or display cabinet may be pivoted about said vertical edge from a first position with its reverse surface toward the wall to an open position to reveal a conventional dartboard mounted on the reverse surface with a protection surface surrounding the dartboard for assisting in protection of the surroundings against poorly aimed darts, and with a stay for maintaining the picture frame, notice board or shallow display cabinet in a selected angular position with said reverse surface exposed for playing darts.

[0010] Preferred embodiments are described hereinbelow by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 shows a player's view of a dartboard and protection surface mounted to a wall in conventional fashion for playing darts, as described above;

Fig. 2 is a side view showing a conventional game of darts being played;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the game playing area for the arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a player's view of a dartboard and protection surface employing an embodiment of dartboard mount of the kind disclosed herein, the game being played in a corridor;

Fig. 5 is a side view showing the conventional game of darts being played with the arrangement of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the arrangement of Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but with the dartboard stowed away;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a dartboard mount at a selected angle to the wall;

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of the arrangement of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 with the dartboard stowed away;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 with the dartboard stowed away;

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 show how a demountable frame with a protective window may be mounted to the external surface of the mount in the dartboard stowed arrangement, Figs. 12 and 13 showing a views similar to Figs. 10 and 11 with the frame removed, and Fig. 14 showing the demounted frame;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing an alternative way of mounting the structure to a wall adjacent a corner of a room so that the darts game may be played into the comer; and

Fig. 16 is a similar view with the dartboard stowed away.

[0011] As will become apparent from the description below, the illustrated examples of dartboard mount embodying the teachings of the present disclosure enable the conventional game of darts to be played with conventional pointed darts in a much wider variety of places than is possible with the conventional dartboard mount illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. This is achieved by designing the mount to stow the dartboard out of sight when not required for play and by presenting the dartboard in a direction of choice to suit the space available when it is required. The stowed arrangement may be made aesthetically pleasing by making the mount serve a second purpose when the dartboard is stowed.

[0012] Thus Figs. 4 to 7 show how a conventional darts game with pointed darts may be played in a narrow corridor such as a work corridor or a domestic hallway, the game being played down the corridor. Dartboard A is mounted to variable angle dartboard mount H mounted on wall C and including a hinge K so that the dartboard A may be presented at an angle to wall C. In this corridor the angle will be selected so that the dartboard is perpendicular to the wall C of the corridor. A stay Q maintains the dartboard at the selected angle. When the dartboard is not required it is stowed out of sight with its face toward the wall C as shown in Fig. 7. The corridor can be used for its normal purpose as a corridor when the dartboard is stowed, and the exposed surface J of the mount in the stowed condition may serve a secondary function such as a notice board or picture display cabinet. A picture display cabinet makes the mount aesthetically pleasing for home use.

[0013] Referring now to Figs. 8 to 14, a variable angle dartboard mount is configured for home use as a picture display cabinet, a picture frame allowing for family pictures to be displayed and updated. Dartboard A is mounted on to a protection board L, serving in play to provide a measure of protection to the surroundings from poorly aimed darts. Board L may be formed of wood with a thin cork surface on both sides or from an alternative pinboard material, and is stiffened by battens M1, M2, M3, and M4 around its perimeter. These battens allow for a slim, robust, and neat construction. The stiffened board L is fixed to batten N via hinges K. Batten N is screwed to wall C. It will be appreciated that the whole of this assembly O is symmetrical, about a horizontal centre line P-P. This allows the assembly O to be inverted to allow for mounting to a wall at left or right of the player. The stiffened board assembly L, carrying the dartboard A, is set to the angle of choice via a stay, here in the form of strut Q. Strut Q is located in batten M3 via split pin R1 and in batten T with split pin R2. Batten T is screwed to wall C. In this example battens M3 and T have a series of holes to locate the split pins. This simple arrangement allows for the dartboard to be presented at a plurality of different angles of choice. In an alternative arrangement, the stay comprises a telescopic strut, allowing a continuous choice of settings. Batten U is screwed to wall C. To locate the dartboard in its stowed position, strut Q is removed. The stiffened board L, carrying the dart board A, is folded back against the wall and locked there via pin R2, which is removed from strut Q and is passed through M4 into opening S in batten U. As shown in Fig. 11, the dart board is then stored out of sight, leaving a frame V visible. Frame V may mount a protective window formed of glass or, more preferably clear acrylic plastics, which is not so heavy and safer than glass. The structure now takes on its secondary role as a pin board (if the glass or acrylic is absent), notice board, or picture display cabinet.

[0014] Picture frame V (Fig. 14) is suitably mounted by clips W to the mount so that it may be demounted to expose the back of stiffened board L (Figs. 12 and 13) on to which pictures, notices may be placed. In alternative arrangements, the frame V may be hingedly coupled, or may be arranged to slide into and out of position in horizontal grooves.

[0015] Referring now to Figs. 15 and 16, an alternative form of mount is fixed to one of two walls C 1 and C2 forming a corner Y of a room, enabling the darts game to be played into the corner Y. It will readily be appreciated that the ability to play a conventional game of darts across a room from corner to corner enables the game to be played in smaller rooms. Replacing the battens N, T, and U secured to wall C in the arrangement of Fig. 9, the embodiment of Figs 15 and 16 has battens M5, M6, M7, and M8 secured to a backboard X. The dart board may still be stowed with its face close to the wall C1, however, having a framed backboard assembly will make fixture easier in some circumstances. Although surface J is shown plain in Fig. 16, it could be used for any of the secondary functions described above.

Claims

1. A dartboard mount for mounting a conventional dartboard (A) with a protection surface (L) surrounding the board to assist in protection of the surroundings from poorly aimed darts; characterized in that the mount is adapted for support from a generally vertical surface (C; C1) by means including a hinge (K), and by a stay (Q), so that the dartboard and protection surface may be stowed away when not required for play with the face of the dartboard towards said generally vertical surface, pivoted from this stowed position to a selected position for play, and maintained at the selected position by said stay.

2. A dartboard mount according to Claim 1, further characterized in that the protection surface (L) is surrounded by a frame (M1, M2, M3, M4), and the stay (Q) is arranged to be positioned between a portion (M3) of the frame and a wall mounting (T; M8) on said generally vertical surface (C; C1).

3. A dartboard mount according to Claim 2, further characterized in that the stay is adjustable to select the angle of the dartboard to the vertical surface in the selected position for play.

4. A dartboard mount according to Claim 3, further characterized in that the stay is telescopic.

5. A dartboard mount according to Claim 3, further characterized in that the stay (Q) is of fixed length and provided with pins (R1, R2) at its ends cooperating with apertures in the frame (M3) and in the wall mounting (T; M8).

6. A dartboard mount according to any preceding Claim, further characterized in that the reverse side (J) of the mount from the dartboard (A), presented when the dartboard is in its stowed position with its face towards said generally vertical surface, serves as a picture frame, notice board or shallow display cabinet (V).

7. A conventional dartboard (A) mounted to a protection surface (L) surrounding the board to assist in protection of the surroundings from poorly aimed darts, characterized in that the protection surface (L) is supported from a generally vertical surface (C; C1) by means including a hinge (K) and by a stay (Q), so that the dartboard and protection surface may be stowed away when the dartboard is not in use with the face of the dartboard towards said generally vertical surface, pivoted from this stowed position to a selected position for play, and maintained at the selected position by said stay.

8. An object (V) selected from picture frames, notice boards and shallow display cabinets, the object being mountable with a reverse surface (L) thereof toward a wall (C; C1), characterized in being provided with a hinged mount (K) along one edge thereof adapted in use to be oriented vertically so that the object may be pivoted about said vertical edge from a first position with said reverse surface toward the wall to an open position to reveal a conventional dartboard (A) mounted on the reverse surface (L) with a protection surface surrounding the dartboard for assisting in protection of the surroundings against poorly aimed darts, and with a stay (Q) for maintaining the object in a selected angular position with said reverse surface exposed for playing darts.

Drawing