GB1598203A

GB1598203A - Dart board assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB1598203A
Application number: GB133678A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-01-13
Filing date: 1978-01-13
Publication date: 1981-09-16

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO DART BOARD ASSEMBLIES (71) I, JOHN EDWIN LOFTUS, a British Subject, of Welcome Inn, Horseheath, Cambridgeshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention concerns a dart board assembly incorporating a display device to to allow the score in a game of darts to be accumulated and displayed as a game proceeds.

Hitherto a blackboard has been used to indicate the running total of the score in a game of darts and apart from the relatively unsightly appearance of such boards particularly after they have been in use for some time, the chalk dust contributes to the general level of dirt and dust which accumulates within the room in which the dart board is situated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dart board assembly incorporating a display device which does not entail the use of chalk or like materials as a writing medium, does not require erasure by means of a duster or board-cleaning device and which at all times looks presentable and pleasing.

According to the broadest aspects of the present invention, a dart board assembly comprises a dart board; a display device for indicating the score in a game of darts played on said board and comprising at least one display panel which includes electrically operated display elements for indicating numerals and means for producing electric control signals to produce selected numerals in the display so as to display a selected total therein representing the changing score in the game as it is played; a coin-freed mechanism adapted to render operative the display device; and impact sensitive means at the back of the dartboard for initiating the generation of a warning signal in the event that a dart or like missile is thrown at the board prior to operation of the coin freed mechanism.

Preferably the display device includes two such display units one for displaying the score for one player and the other for displaying the score of another player.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, the display unit for each player includes a first digital display device for displaying the running total of a player's score at the outset of a game, a second digital display device for displaying the score achieved during the current game and a third digital display device in which the numerical value of the difference between the running total and the last score can be entered, this forming the new running total for the outset of the next game. Insuch a display unit, means is preferably provided for transferring the numerical value contained in the third display to the first display after the subtraction has been checked and the figures agreed by both players so that the new total is available for the beginning of the next round.

The subtraction may be done by the players but according to a particularly preferred feature of the invention, electronic means is provided for achieving the subtraction of the current score entered in the second digital display device from the current total at the outset of the game contained in the first display device using logic circuits. The electronic function of subtraction is preferably under the control of a labelled button or like control on the display unit which can be pressed or otherwise operated after the score has been entered in the second digital display device so as to produce the subtracted value for the third display device electronically.

In the event that an error occurs during the entering in of the score total, a cancel entry control is preferably provided for cancelling the digits entered in the second display device prior to the subtraction control button being operated. In this way a corrected score can be entered and the subtraction made using agreed accurate figures.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, the means for entering the numerical information in the display unit comprises a panel of push buttons or touch response switch or the like controls each bearing a numerical indication in the range Otto9.

According to another preferred feature of the invention the display unit comprises two separate displays for denoting two players' scores together with associated memory circuits and a single keyboard and computing device is used with routing switches to allow the information to be entered and computed and combined with one or other of the already entered totals.

Preferably the electrical display devices for displaying the digital information comprise L.E.D. displays or the like and control signals for producing from the L.E.D. displays the required digital display are stored in electrical registers such as shift registers and the information relating to a particular digit is automatically shifted from one position to the next from right to left so as to be shifted in the display from right to left also by one position when information relating to another digit in the number is entered into the register by pressing one of the numerical entry buttons previously mentioned.

In this way the digits comprising any score can be entered into the apparatus in the usual way i.e. by reading the digits from left to right so that if for example the score 51 is to be entered into the apparatus, the digit 5 is first of all entered followed by the digit 1.

It will be appreciated that any convenient means for entering the digits may be used and instead of a series of push buttons a telephone type dial may be incorporated or any other convenient switching device by which digital information can be converted into a series of electrical signals which can be used to control the presentation of information in the display.

Instead of push buttons or switches which require physical effort to operate, touch responsive switches may be incorporated into the apparatus.

As an additional feature, the apparatus may incorporate a device for detecting when the subtraction of a game score from the total at the outset of a game produces a desired numerical value and further means responsive to such detection for indicating audibly or visibly or both that this selected difference value which may be 0 has been achieved. By providing audible and/or visual indicator means on each of the two display units of a double display and by making the audible sound different for the two displays so that the one can be readily distinguished from the other, so the outcome of any particular series of rounds of a game of darts will be demonstrated not only to the players but also to any other people within sight or sound of the score-board.

The display units and electrical circuits for performing the encoding and subtraction function of the entered information may be battery-operated or may be operated from the electricity supply mains through an appropriate rectifying and smoothing circuit.

According to a further preferred feature of the invention the coin-freed mechanism may be associated either with a timer which produces a warning signal either audibly or visibly or both at the end of a predetermined period of time to warn the players that further coins or a coin must be inserted if the display unit is to continue in use or may be interlocked with a device for determining the end of a game thereby to indicate that a further coin or coins must be inserted before further games can be played, or a counter may be provided to count the number of complete games or entries made on the display unit as a whole so as to allow either one or more complete games to be played or a given number of rounds to be played for a given value of coins inserted into the coin-receiving aperture.

Means for illuminating the dart board may be provided as an ancillary piece of equipment and conveniently this may also be linked to the electrical circuits for controlling the supply of power to the display unit and associated circuits so that in preferred arrangements the board is only illuminated whilst play is authorised following the insertion of appropriate coins or coin into the coin-freed mechanism.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the display device of one embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of the electrical circuit of the display device shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a block circuit diagram of the display device of another embodiment of the invention and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the control panel and display panel of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated a scoring display apparatus suitable for use with a dart board in a dart board assembly for recording the scores and totals of two separate players. The board comprises a rear support panel 10 which is divided into two sections each of which is identical. Consequently only one section will be described in detail since the other section is essentially the same and is simply a duplicate of the first.

At the top is a first L.E.D. display 12 below which is a second L.E.D. display 14 and below that is a third L.E.D. display 16. Each of the displays is capable of displaying up to four digits.

Below the display 16 is situated a panel of push buttons generally designated 18.

There are ten push buttons in all numbered O to 9 and pressing any one of the buttons enters electrical signals corresponding to the number of that button into an encoding device (not shown in Fig. 1) to produce appropriate electrical signals for entering into registers etc. and for producing finally digital indications in one or other of the displays 12 to 16.

Digital information entered on the push buttons 18 can be directed to one or other of a number of different registers etc. (to be described in more detail later) by pressing a control button 20 by which the initial total can be entered into display 1 or control button 22 for entering the score of any particular round into the second display 14.

A third control button 24 causes a logic circuit (not shown) to subtract the digital information contained in a register associated with a display 14 with the digital information contained in a register associated with display 12 and the reesult of the subtraction is caused to appear as a digital display in display 16.

A fourth control button 26 serves to generate signals for clearing the register associated with display 12 and therefore clearing the digital information displayed in display 12 and to cause information contained in the register associated with display 16 to be inserted therein and a final clearance signal to clear the information from the register associated with display 16 and display 14. Thus at the end of a round, after the score has been displayed in display 14 and the subtract button 24 depressed, the information in display 16 is transferred to display 12 and displays 14 and 16 cleared by pressing the clear and transfer button 26.

A fifth control button is provided for supplying a clearance signal to all of the registers to therefore clear all of the displays at the end of a game. This fifth control button is designated by reference numeral 28.

A further control button 30 provides a device for clearing the information entered in display 14 alone in the event that it is discovered that the digital information inserted into display 14 is incorrect.

Fig. 2 is an electrical circuit diagram of the electrical apparatus behind the display panel of Fig. 1. The numeral push buttons control electrical signals to the input of an encoding device 32 which produces coded electrical signals in its output which can be transferred via gate 34 to a first register 36 or via gate 38 to a second register 40. Control signals for the gates 34 and 38 are derived from control circuit 42.

Register 36 has associated therewith a digital display device such as an L.E.D.

display 44 by which the coded information contained in the register can be displayed visually as a series of numbers in known manner.

Register 40 has associated with it its own display device 46 similar to display device 44. Control signals for clearing the registers 36 and 40 and consequently the displays 44 and 46 are supplied on outputs 4 and 7 of the control circuit 42.

The outputs from the registers 36 and 40 are supplied to a subtraction stage comprising logic circuits and generally designated by reference numeral 48. The numerical value of the signal from register 40 is subtracted from the digital value of the information from register 36 to form a difference information signal which is supplied to a third register generally designated 50. Another display 52 is associated with this register and the contents of the register 50 can also be transferred via a gate 54 when supplied with a control signal 5 from the control circuit 42 to register 36 to replace the information contained in register 36.

Relating the displays in the circuit diagram to the displays shown in Fig. 1, display 12 corresponds to display 44, display 14 corresponds to display 46 and display 16 corresponds to display 52.

The switches controlled by the push buttons 20 to 30 in Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals in Fig. 2. No detail is shown of the control circuit 42 since this can be any conventional circuit for producing appropriate signal levels or pulses or trains of pulses on the appropriate output lines so as to perform the functions enumerated as follows:- Output 1 to cause digital information to be entered into register 36.

Output 2 to cause digital information to be entered into register 40.

Output 3 to cause subtraction stage 48 to operate on the contents of the two registers 36 and 40.

Output 4 to clear registers 36 and 40.

Output 5 to cause contents of registers 50 to be transferred to register 36 to replace the contents previously contained in register 36.

Output 6 to clear the information contained in all of the three registers 36, 40 and 50.

Output 7 to clear the digital information contained in register 2 only.

Control circuit 42 is interconnected so that by closing switch 20 an output signal appears on output 1. By closing switch 22 a signal appears on output 2. By closing switch 24 a signal appears on output 3. By closing switch 26 an output signal appears on output 4 and 5 simultaneously. By closing switch 28 a signal appears on output 6 to clear all the registers and by closing switch 30 a signal appears on output 7 to clear register 2 only.

Fig. 3 circuit comprises a keyboard 56 having switches which may be electromechanically or proximity operated. Key closure information is transmitted to a keyboard routing and Double Function generator 58. This unit performs a variety offunctions including a) timing of keyboard closures to make them compatible with subsequent circuitry, b) routing keyboard signals such that only one of the calculator and memory circuits 60 or 62 are operated, c) performing multiple switching action on either 60 or 62 upon certain single keyboard closures.

Items 60 and 62 are well-known calculator circuits, comprising input registers and memories and display output driving circuitry.

Items 64 and 66 are display devices such as previously described with reference to Fig.

2, and enable the contents of specific registers and memories in 60 and 62 to be displayed.

Referring to Fig. 4, items (1), (2), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9) comprise a keyboard arrangement and 68 and 70 comprise digital display systems. All these items comprise a scoring system.

One section or the other of the unit can be alerted by pressing either (1) or (9). To indicate which player has control of the unit, item 68 will be on if player I is in control, and item 70 if player II is in control. If item 68 is on then the information contained in the display, registers and memories of player II will remain unchanged, and vice versa.

Item (2) comprises a means of entering digital information. Items (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) are controls for entering instructions into the system.

Item (4) will clear the system of digital information at present displayed.

Item (5) will add the present displayed information to the digital information in memory, put the present displayed information into memory and display the result of the addition.

Item (6) will put the present displayed information into memory and bring the present memory into the display. (A second press will do this again, thus ending up back where one started.) Item (7) will subtract the present displayed information from the information in memory, put the present displayed information into memory and display the result of the subtraction.

Item (8) is one or more extra key switches which may be used to duplicate other switches, for ease of operation perhaps.

It may also perform other at present unspecified functions.

In operation, each player activates his section in turn, and in sequence presses clear and, ?, after which the start value is entered on (2) and after checking ? is entered in the display. The machine will then display each of the starting values. To score, a player first activates his section. His present score disappears from the display. He then keys in his score; if a mistake has been made at this stage, pressing 'clear' will allow him to put in the corrected score. When the score is correct, the player presses '-' and his score is subtracted from his running score and the new total is then displayed. At this stage '?' will bring the score just subtracted into the display. If the score was correct, pressing '?' will allow play to continue as normal.If the score was wrong, '+' will add it back to the running total, and the correct score may be entered again. This procedure of correction can be repeated.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A dart board assembly which comprises a dartboard; a display device for indicating the score in a game of darts played on said board and comprising at least one display panel which includes electrically operated display elements for indicating numerals and means for producing electric control signals to produce selected numerals in the display so as to display a selected total therein representing the changing score in the game as it is played; a coin-freed mechanism adapted to render operative the display device; and impact sensitive means at the back of the dartboard for initiating the generation of a warning signal in the event that a dart or like missile is thrown at the board prior to operation the coin-freed mechanism.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 which includes two such display units one for displaying the score of one player and the other for displaying the score of another player.

3. A assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the display unit for each player includes a first digital display device for displaying the running total of a player's score at the outset of a game, a second digital display device for displaying the score achieved during the current game and a third digital display device in which the numerical value of the difference between the running total and the last score can be entered, this forming the running total for the outset of the next game.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 in which means is provided for transferring the numerical value contained in the third display to the first display after the subtraction has been checked and the figures agreed by both players so that the new total is available for the beginning of the next round.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 or 4 further comprising electronic means for subtracting the current score entered in the second digital display device from the current total at the outset of the game con

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

Claims

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

having switches which may be electromechanically or proximity operated. Key closure information is transmitted to a keyboard routing and Double Function generator 58. This unit performs a variety offunctions including a) timing of keyboard closures to make them compatible with subsequent circuitry, b) routing keyboard signals such that only one of the calculator and memory circuits 60 or 62 are operated,

c) performing multiple switching action on either 60 or 62 upon certain single keyboard closures.

Items 60 and 62 are well-known calculator circuits, comprising input registers and memories and display output driving circuitry.

Items 64 and 66 are display devices such as previously described with reference to Fig.

2, and enable the contents of specific registers and memories in 60 and 62 to be displayed.

Referring to Fig. 4, items (1), (2), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9) comprise a keyboard arrangement and 68 and 70 comprise digital display systems. All these items comprise a scoring system.

One section or the other of the unit can be alerted by pressing either (1) or (9). To indicate which player has control of the unit, item 68 will be on if player I is in control, and item 70 if player II is in control. If item 68 is on then the information contained in the display, registers and memories of player II will remain unchanged, and vice versa.

Item (2) comprises a means of entering digital information. Items (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) are controls for entering instructions into the system.

Item (4) will clear the system of digital information at present displayed.

Item (5) will add the present displayed information to the digital information in memory, put the present displayed information into memory and display the result of the addition.

Item (6) will put the present displayed information into memory and bring the present memory into the display. (A second press will do this again, thus ending up back where one started.) Item (7) will subtract the present displayed information from the information in memory, put the present displayed information into memory and display the result of the subtraction.

Item (8) is one or more extra key switches which may be used to duplicate other switches, for ease of operation perhaps.

It may also perform other at present unspecified functions.

In operation, each player activates his section in turn, and in sequence presses clear and, ?, after which the start value is entered on (2) and after checking ? is entered in the display. The machine will then display each of the starting values. To score, a player first activates his section. His present score disappears from the display. He then keys in his score; if a mistake has been made at this stage, pressing 'clear' will allow him to put in the corrected score. When the score is correct, the player presses '-' and his score is subtracted from his running score and the new total is then displayed. At this stage '?' will bring the score just subtracted into the display. If the score was correct, pressing '?' will allow play to continue as normal.If the score was wrong, '+' will add it back to the running total, and the correct score may be entered again. This procedure of correction can be repeated.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A dart board assembly which comprises a dartboard; a display device for indicating the score in a game of darts played on said board and comprising at least one display panel which includes electrically operated display elements for indicating numerals and means for producing electric control signals to produce selected numerals in the display so as to display a selected total therein representing the changing score in the game as it is played; a coin-freed mechanism adapted to render operative the display device; and impact sensitive means at the back of the dartboard for initiating the generation of a warning signal in the event that a dart or like missile is thrown at the board prior to operation the coin-freed mechanism.
2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 which includes two such display units one for displaying the score of one player and the other for displaying the score of another player.
3. A assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the display unit for each player includes a first digital display device for displaying the running total of a player's score at the outset of a game, a second digital display device for displaying the score achieved during the current game and a third digital display device in which the numerical value of the difference between the running total and the last score can be entered, this forming the running total for the outset of the next game.
4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 in which means is provided for transferring the numerical value contained in the third display to the first display after the subtraction has been checked and the figures agreed by both players so that the new total is available for the beginning of the next round.
5. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 or 4 further comprising electronic means for subtracting the current score entered in the second digital display device from the current total at the outset of the game con

tained in the first display device using logic circuits.
6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 ehich includes a control in the form of a push button or the like which when operated causes the subtraction to be performed.
7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a control for cancelling the digits entered in the second display device prior to the subtraction control buttton being operated so that a corrected score can be entered in the event that an error is made during the first entry of the digits into the second display device.
8. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the means for entering the numerical information into the display unit comprises a panel of push buttons or a telephone dial or touch responsive or proximity responsive switches.
9. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which a single means is provided for entering numerical information and switch means is provided for causing the information to be supplied to the circuits controlling one or other of the two display units.
10. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the electrical display devices for displaying the digital information comprises l.e.d. displays or liquid crystal displays.
11. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 3 to 10 further comprising a device for detecting when the subtraction of a game score from the total at the outset of a game produces a desired numerical value and further means responsive to such detection for indicating audibly or visibly or both that this selected difference value has been achieved.
12. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is battery operated or is adapted to be operated from the electricity supply mains through an appropriate rectifying and smoothing circuit.
13. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the coinfreed mechanism is associated with a timer which produces a warning signal either audibly or visibly or both at the end of a predetermined period of time to warn the players that further coins or a coin must be inserted if the display unit is to continue in use.
14. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 in which the coin-freed mechanism is interlocked with a device for determining the end of a game thereby to indicate that a further coin or coins must be inserted before further games can be played.
15. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 in which a counter is provided to count the number of complete games or entries made on the display unit as a whole so as to allow either one or more complete games to be played or a given number of rounds to be played for a given value of coin or coins inserted into the coinreceiving aperture of the coin-freed mechanism.
16. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising means for illuminating the dart board controlled by the supply of power to the display unit so that the board is only illuminated whilst play is authorised.
17. A dart board assembly incorporating a display device for indicating the score in a game such as a game of darts constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.