AU620683B2 - Throwing dart - Google Patents

Description

A 0 orm COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALI U 6 PATENTS ACT 1952-69 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: 48784/90 Lodged: 29.01.90 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: 0000 000 Published: oPriority: 0 00 00 Q 0 0 000 o o, o oRelated Art: 0 -'0 0000 0 Name of Applicant 0000 S00 oflo o0 0 Address of Appll'ti:tede 00 00 0 0 0 CLAUDE E. KELT ER, JR.

4829 Linden Road, States of America Apt. 1531, Rockford, Illinois 61109, 00 00 a Actual Inventar Address for Service CLAUDE E. KELLER, JR.

WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS.

LOCKED BAG NO. 5, HAWTHORN, VICTORIA 3122, A 'JSTRALIA Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: THROWING DART The following statement is a full description of this invention, Including the best method of performing It known to ME

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-1- THROWING DART Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a throwing dart and more specifically to a dart having collapsible flights that are moved to a stored position after the dart has impacted and adhered to the game board.

A number of dartboard games utilize a throwing dart of the type having a pointed end that pierces tho, game board and a rear end having a plurality of flights that stabilize and enhance the flight characteristics of the dart after it is thrown.

n000 ooo? The flights are usually constructed of plastic °o o or feathers and as such ate semi-rigid. For reasons of 00o aerodynamics, the flights usually extend radially out- 0 000 o oo 15 wardly and in doing so present a cross-sectional area o00o somewhat greater than the cross-sectional area of the 0000 oo 00 body of the dart, Thus, the flights of a dart already in place on the game board will interfere with the target area adjacent that dart and it is not unusual oooo 20 for subsequently thrown darts to strike the flights of 0 0 0oo0 the dart in place and fall to the ground rather than 0ooo00 0 0 0 oo embedding themselves in the game board.

oo o0 Prior art has shown darts of the type in which 0 C o a the flights would disengage from the dart body upon striking the board and fall to tho ground. The obvious ,a ,disadvantage of a dart of this type is that it requires O C a re-assembling of the flight to the dart body in order to place the dart in condition for subsequent throwing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a throwing dart having flexible flights that will move from an operable fanned position during throwing to a stored collapsed postion when the dart impacts the game board.

.iiii. L i 109 ~li ii Y~-UIY)II- ^-II~I~UIII~IY~LI^- UIIII -2- 000oooo0 oooo 0000 0 00 0 0 0 o 000 a 00 o 0 00 0 0 oo o 0o 00 0 1 D 0 0 Summary of the Invention A throwing dart of the type utilized in conjunction with a dart receiving game board includes an elongated body having a pointed tip at one end and a plurality of flights at the other end.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the flights are movable between ar, operative fanned position and a collapsed stored position.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the dart is provided with storage means operably connected to the flights to move the flights between the operative and stored positions.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the storage means is responsive to the impact of the dart upon the board so that the flights are moved to the stored position upon the dart impacting the board.

In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the dart body defines a -avity in which the actuating mechanism for the storage m i\ns is disposed.

The present invention thus provides a throwing dart having flights that provide the dart with the necessary flight characteristics and which move to a stored position upon impacting the game board so as to present a reduced profile in order to offer less interference to susequently thrown darts.

Brief Description of the Drawings The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a side view of a tbrowing dart constructed according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the dart of FIG. 1; 00 C 0 C cc a C aC -3- FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the dart of FIG. 2 with its flights in a stored position; FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the dart flight assembly prior to installation on the dart.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment FIG. 1 illustrates a throwing dart 10 of the type utilized with a dart receiving game board (not shown). Dart 10 includes an elongated body 12 having a generally circular cross-section and having a pointed C00 tip 14 at its forward end and a series of elongated C flights 16 disposed at its rear end. Elongated body 12 e c is formed by a pair of body halves 18 and 20 that when a c 15 joined define a hexagonal cavity 22.

Flights 16 are formed from a flexible material ccc and may be moved from an operative fanned position (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) to a collapsed stored position (FIG. 3) in which flights 16 present .a cross-sectional C 20 dimension substantially equal to that of body 12. FIG.

Cc 5 illustrates one of but many ways that flights 16 may C C Cc ,c C be constructed. A sheet 24 of flexible material such as plastic or heavy duty felt is cut at a number of points along its width with the cuts extending from one end of sheet 24 to a point 26 spaced from the other end of sheet 24. These cuts form a plurality of flexible SC fingers 28 and the uncut portion forms a base Ccc Sheet 24 is then wound into a cylinder and base 30 is attached to the rear end of elongated body 12.

In order to move fingers 28 from their operative fanned position to their collapsed stored position, dart 10 is provided with storage means 32 which includes a sleeve 34 that substantially surrounds fingers 28 and is mounted for sliding movement between a first position (FIG. 2) in which sleeve 34 is sub-

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0000 000 0 00 o 0 o 00 ,0 00 0 000 a 00 Q.00 0 0 00 00000 0 0000 do0 stantially adjacent flight base 30 and a second position '-FIG. 3) in which sleeve 34 has moved axially outwardly from tIte first position to collapsed fingers 28 into their stored position.

Sleeve 34 is actuated by plunger means 36 slidably disposed within hexagonal cavity 22. Plunger means 36 includes a cartridge portion 38 having a forward end 40 to which pointed tip 14 is connected and a rear end 42 of reduced cross-sectional area.

A pair of connectors 44 in the form of wires are connected to an extension 46 of rear end 42 and extend rearwardly and outwardly through a pair of slots 48 in body 12. The rear end of each of wires 44 is provided with a hook '50 that engages a hole in the forward portion of sleeve 34. Wires 48 are also provided with a gooseneck 52 that serves as a stop that engages the forward edge of slot 48 to limit the amount of forward travel of storage means 32 and tip 14.

In operation, dart 12 is tahrown by a game pl~iyer in the condition shown inr FTG. 1 and FIG. 2. In this position flexible fingers 28 are in their operable fanned position in which they stabilize and enhance the flight of dart 10. When dart 20 engages the game board ,(not shown. tip 14 will become embedded in the game board and elongated body 12 will c.5)ntinue to move forward. This forward movement of hq12 translates into relative rearward movement of tip 14, cartridge portion 38 and associated wires 44. This causes sleeve 34 to move from the position shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 to its second position (FIG. 3) in which it moves axially ,earwardly to engage fingers 28 and move them to their collapsed stored position.

When dart 10 is removed from the game board, body 12 will move rearwardly resulting in a relative for%,7rd movement of tip 14, cartridge 38, wires 44 and 00 C C 'i L-na.Ua~ ~I(L YI~- II~ sleeve 34. This will continue until goosenecks 52 engage the forward portion of slots 48 at which time relative movement between body 12 and the storage components is prevented and tip 14 is pulled out from the board. Dart 10 is then in condition to be thrown again.

C CC t C t C C cc C c c C C t C Y C -6- Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

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Claims (4)

1. 3. The throwing dart defined in claim 2 wherein said body defines a cavity with said tip mounted for sliding axiil movement within said body and said storage means comprises: plunger means slidably disposed within said cavity and having a first end connected to said tip and a second end operably connected to said sleeve "i so that movement of said tip into said body upon impact with the game board causes said plunger means to move rearwardly causing said sleeve to move from said first position to said second position.
2. 4. The throwing dart defined in claim 3 'Cc I wherein said plunger means comprises: a cartridge portion having a forward end connected to said tip and a rear end containing at least one elongated flexible connector extending rearwardly in said cavity and extending outwardly from said cavity through an opening provided in said body to a point of connection with said sleeve. The throwing dart defined in claim 4 wherein said rear end of said cartridge has a cross- sectional dimension less than that of said forward end. goa o 6. The throwing dart defined in claim 4 0 wherein said elongated flexible connector comprises: a pair of wires having a first end connected to said rear end of said cartridge and a second end connected to said sleeve. 7 The throwing dart defined in claim 1 wherein said elongated body comprises: Ab -8- a pair of mating body halves which when joined define a hexagonal cavity.
3. 8. The throwing dart defined in claim 1 wherein said flights comprise: a cylinder of flexible material, said material being cut at a plurality of points about the circumference of said cylinder with said cuts extending axially from one end of said cylinder to a point spaced from the other- end of said cylinder so that a plurality of flexible fingers are formed that extend axially frow said other end with said other end forming a base for attachment to said o body. oo 00
4. 9. The throwing dart defined in claim 8 -Wherein said fingers are of substantially equal length. 0 00 10. The throwing dart defined in claim 8 0 0.~ Scoo wherein said fingers are of substantially equal width. 0000) 0000 DATED this 26th day of January 1990. oooo 0 0 oaO ao CLAUDE E. KELLER, JR. 00 0 00 0 0 0 WATERMARK PATENT TRADENMARK ATTORNEYS "THE ATRIUM 290 BURWOOD ROAD 0 00 HAWTHORN. VIC. 3122. 0 0 0 0 00 0 o r ot