CA2053248A1

CA2053248A1 - Game of darts

Info

Publication number: CA2053248A1
Application number: CA002053248A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Edmund Schobitz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Novo Invest Casino Development AG
Priority date: 1989-04-26
Filing date: 1990-04-26
Publication date: 1990-10-27
Also published as: EP0470132B1; DE3913787A1; ATE107766T1; WO1990012995A1; DE59006243D1; EP0470132A1

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Game of darts with a target mounted on a front board and a scoring display device, characterized in that the front board (1) has at least one optical scoring display device (3, 3', 3'', 3''') in the end region of preferably every sector (4) of the target.

Description

3~ ~ y The invention relates to a darts game machine having a dartboard target mounted on the front plate of the machine, and equipped also with a hit indicator.
The object of the invention is to improve the optical appearance of 5 the darts game machine, to make it easier or more difficult for the player to aim at the target in certain game situations, and at the same time to provide a clearly recognizable and assignable display of the hits scored by the darts, as well as to increase the number of ways in which the game can be played.
In the darts game machine of the type mentioned in the first 10 paragraph, these goals are achieved by arranging at least one optical hit indicator in or adjacent to the end zone preferably of each sector of the dartboard target, and the indicator may be formed on or in the front plate of the machine.
Advantageously, the hit indicator is provided in the form of at least 15 one illuminatable field which changes its brightness or its state, i.e. by changing from the lit to the unlit state or vice versa, whenever a hit is scored in the sector to which it is assigned. The change in brightness could - also take place in several stages, e.g. the first hit in the sector would cause i the indicator to grow less bright or to flash and it would switch off 20 completely only when a second hit is scored.
Because a hit indicator is located in the elongated zone of each sector of the dartboard target, the dart thrower can draw an (imaginary) line from the hit indicator to the centre of the target thus improving the accuracy of his throw, because it is a known fact that aiming and throwing darts along a 25 line or along a longitudinal sector is more likely to result in accurate hitsthan when the darts are aimed at points on the target. Furthermore, in this way each hit indicator can be clearly assigned to a particular sector and can display the value of that sector, e.g. by means of a number which lights up on the hit indicator. Finally, by causing the hit indicators to flash at regular30 or irregular intervals the darts game machine can attract the attention of potential players and encourage them to play.
A simple structure is achieved if the inner surface of the front plate is provided with a printed backing, with gaps being left in the printed backing :~ , `

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at those points where the hit indicators are located. In the embodiment of . the game according to the invention, bulbs, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or similar may be arranged behind the unprinted points on the front plate, and they are controlled or supplied with current by a control unit; or, a number 5 of interchangeable coloured fields, e.g. variously coloured discs or a multi-coloured film loop or similar, which are adjusted by a motor controlled by a control unit may be arranged behind the unprinted openings; or the optical hit indicator may be provided in the form of components, e.g. pivoting arms, flags, or similar, which can be moved mechanically, e.g. by a motor, or 10 electrically, e.g. electromagnetically, in accordance with the signals from acontrol unit. Other types of optical hit display are also possible. Without doubt, the optically most impressive displays are provided by illuminated hit indicators which flash individually, light up or go out in sequence, flash together simultaneously, or similar, depending on the type of hit scored. It is 15 also possible to provide hit indicators which light up in different colours, e.g.
by providing an arrangement of different bulbs, LEDs, and similar.
However, other optical hit indicators can also be provided in similar fashion, e.g. by using interchangeable coloured discs. It can be particularly impressive when hit indicators in the form of flags or triangles or similar, 20 stand up from the otherwise normally flat surface of the front plate thereby revealing, for example, a number and thus structuring the front plate of the darts game.
Advantageously, electrical contacts are assigned to the individual sectors of the target and they are arranged within the sectors, in particular 25 between the movable plates of which the sectors are made up and a carrier plate or circuit board of the hit indicator; these contacts are closed by the impact of a dart hitting the target and they are scanned by the control unit.
In this way, it is a simple matter to detect and evaluate the sector involved, and the optical hit indicator or illuminating unit, e.g. incandescent bulb, LED
30 or similar, can then be activated likewise in a simple manner. The control unit can also cause the hit indicators to flash or to light up in a certain sequence .
In order still further to improve the aiming accuracy and the number of variations of play, the bull's eye area of the dartboard target is ~, ~ ~ J

illuminated by an illuminating device which is influenced, i.e. switched, by darts striking particularly the centre of the target.
The optical indicators, especially the illuminated fields, provided in the front plate can be variously shaped, e.g. triangular, square, round, 5 trapezoidal, segmental, or they may have the shape of a lightning flash, or any other geometrical shape. It is also possible to arrange the illuminating devices, e.g. bulbs, light-emitting diodes, or similar in the shape of crosses, circles, triangles, etc.
The invention is described in more detail below on the basis of the 10 drawing. Fig. 1 shows a front view of a dartboard target with hit indicator.
Fig. 2 shows in diagrammatic form a cross-sectional view through a dartboard target with a control device, and Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show various hit indicators.
. Fig. 1 shows a dartboard target 2 designed for various dart games.
15 The target is divided in the known manner into various sectors 4, at the outer ends of which optical hit indicators 3 are radially arranged. As can be seen from the left half of Fig. 1, the hit indicators 3 may be arranged directly adjacent to the sectors 4 and they may carry numbers, or the numbers may be positioned between the sectors 4 and the optical hit 20 indicators 3. It is also possible to arrange the numbers radially to the outside of the optical hit indicators 3.
As can be seen from the right half of Fig. 1, the optical hit indicators may be designed in a variety of shapes and they may be formed by a single illuminated area or by several illuminated areas or points, possibly of 25 different size and shape. The illuminated displays could also be provided in the form of digits or numbers which light up.
Fig. 2 shows a cross section through a dartboard target 2 which is mounted in the front plate 1 of a housing 20, which may be designed as a ; console unit. The target 2 comprises a circuit board 2' which carries the 30 plates of which the individual sectors 4 are made up. These plates are fittedbetween ribs 4' which separate the individual sectors from each other (Fig.
1). Electric contacts 5 are arranged between the circuit board 2' and the plates 4. These contacts are closed and rendered electrically conducting by plate 4 following the impact of a dart on the plate. Alternatively, instead of -~

2~ 2i~-5-the electric contacts 5, sensors may also be provided which emit an electrical signal when a striking dart applies force to the plate 4. Other solutions are also conceivable. The contacts 5 or the sensors are linked to a control unit 7 which recognizes from which plate 4 the corresponding 5 signals are emitted and then accordingly activates the respective optical hit indicators, which in the case shown are illuminating devices, e.g.
incandescent bulbs 6. The incandescent bulbs 6 are located on the inside of the front plate 1 and in this area a gap is left in the printed backing 1' whichcan be applied in order to impart the desired colour or graphic design to the 10 front plate.
- The control unit 7 is supplied with power from a power source 9which is shown in diagrammatic form. An input unit 8 is provided by means of which the player can programme the control unit to perform certain functions, e.g. to switch the illuminating device on or off in the event of a 15 hit.
An illuminating device 6' which illuminates the bull's eye 13 of the ;~ target 2 makes it easier for the player to aim at the area between the optical hit indicators arranged around the edge of the target and this central illuminating device.
Fig. 3 shows a mechanical indicator consisting of a number of discs 14 arranged on arms. The discs may be variously coloured. The coloured discs 14 are driven by a motor 11 which is actuated or stopped by the control device 7. Depending on the type of hit, various coloured indicator discs can be positioned in front of the gap left in the printed backing 1' on 25 the rear surface of the front plate 1. In the same way, a ring-shaped device bearing various coloured fields may be provided to rotate past the gap in the printed backing.
Fig. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the optical hit indicators. A
flag 15 is mounted around axes 16 in an opening in the front plate 1; the 30 end of the (angled) lever 17 carrying the flag 15 can be retracted or adjusted by means of an electromagnet 12 which is actuated by the control unit 7. A noticeable change in the surface structure of the front plate 1 occurs when the flag 15, which may for example carry or reveal a number, is caused to pop up.

Fig. 5 depicts an arrangement in which an illuminatable loop of film 18 carrying various coloured zones or images can be moved past the opening 1" in the front plate 1 by means of rollers 19 driven by motor 11.
Under the control of the control unit 7, this arrangement can give a number 5 of different optical displays.
Beneath the hit indicator or housing 20 in Fig. 2 are located the hit count displays, coin insertion slots, game mode selectors, game mode displays, video screens, etc. which are commonly found in such machines.
In addition to these displays the hit indicators 3, 3', 3", 3"' are provided or 10 arranged around the periphery of the dartboard target.
It would also be possible, for example, to group together two or more hit indicators for adjacent sectors 4 and to cause the indicator area for the respective target sector to light up, as indicated at 33 for four sectors of thedartboard. It is also possible to arrange a ring around the target carrying 15 illuminatable areas assigned to corresponding sectors 4.
The control unit 7, which as a rule is controlled by a microprocessor, controls the illuminated fields or optical hit indicators as a function of the hits and the game programme, and it also controls the other (hit) indicators, (hit) number displays and sequences which are depicted schematically as a 20 unit 22. The illuminating device for the bull's eye area (13) is also controlled by the control device (7).

Claims

1. Dart game machine with a dartboard target and hit indicator mounted on a front plate, wherein at least one hit indicator (3, 3', 3'', 3''') comprising illuminating devices is arranged, i.e.formed in or on the front plate (1) in or adjacent to the end zone of preferably each sector (4) of the target, and the hit indicator varies its brightness value or brightness state when a hit is scored in the respective sector (4) of the target, characterized in that in the event of a hit in the associated sector (4), the hit indicator, which is formed preferably by at least one illuminated field (3), can be changed by a microprocessor-controlled control unit (7), as a function of selectable game programmes stored in the control unit (7), from the illuminated state possibly via an intermediate state, namely a less bright state, to the "off" state.

2. A game machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that a printed backing is provided on the inner surface (1') of the front plate (1) and at the points where the hit indicators (3, 3', 3'', 3''') are located, openings have been left in the printed backing (1'), and the illuminating devices, e.g. bulbs, light-emitting diodes, or similar, which are controlled or supplied with power by a control unit (7), are arranged behind these openings in the printed backing of the front plate (1).

3. A game machine according to Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that electrical contacts (5) are assigned to the individual sectors (4) of the hit indicator (1) or are arranged within these sectors (4), and they are positioned in particular between the movable plates of which the sectors (4) are made up and a carrier plate or circuit board of the hit indicator (2); thesecontacts (5) are closed by the impact of a striking dart and they are scanned by the control unit (7) to darken or switch off the hit indicator (3) in this sector (4).

4. A game machine according to one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one hit indicator (3, 3' 3'', 3''') is located inthe radial extension of each sector (4).

5. A game machine according to one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bull's eye area (13) of the target (2) is lit up by anilluminating device (6').

6. A game machine according to one of the Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the hit indicators, in particular the illuminated fields (3), are provided with numbers.

7. A game machine according to one of the Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the optical hit indicators, or the hit indicators formed by illuminated fields, are provided in addition to other indicator devices which count or indicate the number of hits.