GB2026879A

GB2026879A - Dartboard spider

Info

Publication number: GB2026879A
Application number: GB7926277A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-08-02
Filing date: 1979-07-27
Publication date: 1980-02-13

Abstract

A dartboard spider 6 is made of a metal which is triangular in cross- section, the apex of the triangle being adapted to face outwardly in use of the spider on a dartboard 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A dartboard spider This invention relates to a dartboard spider.

Dartboard spiders are currently made of wire which is substantially circuiar in cross section. This wire takes up an appreciable area of the dartboard surface and it often happens that a dart strikes this wire and bounces back away from the dartboard.

This constitutes a very real problem to dart players who can easily lose a match by virtue of the fact that just one of their darts has failed to remain in the dartboard by virtue of the fact that it has hit the spider and has bounced back away from the dartboard.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a dartboard spider which obviates or reduces the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, this invention provides a dartboard spider which is made of a metal which is triangular in cross section, the apex of the triangle being adapted to face outwardly in use of the spider on a dartboard.

Since the apex of the triangle will face outwardly in use of the spider on a dartboard, it will be apparent that only a very small surface area of the spider will initially be presented towards darts thrown at the dartboard. If the darts strike the sides of the triangle, it is envisaged that they will slide along the sides and into the dartboard.

The triangle may have an angle of 60 at its apex, the triangle then being an Isosceles triangle. If desired, the triangle may also have an angle of more than 60 or less than 60 at its apex. Generally, the sides of the triangle will be chosen to slope such that darts striking the sides of the triangle will be easily deflected into the dartboard.

The dartboard spider may be fixed to a dartboard employing conventional staples but these staples also take up an appreciable area of the dartboard and it often occurs that darts strike the staples and bounce back away from the dartboard. It is therefore a preferred feature of the present invention that the base of the triangle be provided with fixing means for fixing the spider onto a dartboard.

The fixing means preferably does not extend beyond the width of the base of the triangle so that the fixing means is not visible when the spider is on a dartboard and the dartboard is viewed from the front. With this arrangement, the fixing means will not be struck by darts thrown at the dartboard.

Advantageously, the fixing means may be spaced apart spikes, a continuous flange or a continuous blade.

The spider may be adapted to rest on the surface of the dartboard. Alternatively, if desired, the surface of the dartboard can be slightly recessed to enable the spider to be located partly in the dartboard.

With careful precision manufacture of the spider and preferably also the dartboard, it is envisaged that a highly accurate dartboard will be produced.

The spider of the present invention may be made from various metais such for example as the wire that is currently employed for dartboard spiders. The dartboard may also be made from the usually employed material for dartboards.

The present invention also extends to a dartboard when provided with the dartboard spider.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a dartboard in accordance with the invention; Figures 2, 3 and 4 show different cross sections through parts of dartboard spiders in accordance with the invention; and Figures 5, 6 and 7 show three different types of fixing means for fixing the dartboard spider to a dartboard.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a dartboard 2 having a number ring 4, only part of which is shown.

A dartboard spider 6, only part of which is shown, is attached to the dartboard 2 and the numbering and alternate colours on the dartboard may be as employed in normal dartboards.

The spider 6 is however, made of a material which is triangular in cross section and the apex of the triangle faces outwardly away from the dartboard 2.

In other words, the base of the triangle rests on the surface of the dartboard 2.

Referring now to Figures 2,3 and 4, there are shown three different types of triangular shape for the cross section of the material for the spider 6. In Figure 2, the triangle is an Isosceles triangle and the apex of the triangle therefore defines an angle of 60".

In Figure 3 the apex of the triangle defines an angle of less than 60 and in Figure 4 the apex of the triangle defines an angle of more than 60".

In Figure 5, the triangle illustrated in Figure 2 is provided with fixing means in the form of a plurality of spaced apart spikes 8 which are adapted to be driven into the dartboard 2.

In Figure 6, the spikes 8 have been replaced by a continuous flange 10 and in Figure 7 the spikes 8 have been replaced by a continuous blade 12.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, the sides of the triangular shapes shown in Figures 2,3 and 4 could be concave in varying degrees and these concave sides, whilst still leaving the material for the spider 2 of substantially triangular cross-section, may act to guide a dart that strikes them into the dartboard 2.

1. A dartboard spider which is made of a metal which is triangular in cross section, the apex of the triangle being adapted to face outwardly in use of the spider on a dartboard.

2. A dartboard spider according to claim 1 in which the triangle has an angle of 60 at its apex.

3. A dartboard spider according to claim 1 in which the triangle has an angle of less than 60 or more than 60 at its apex.

4. A dartboard spider according to any one of the preceding claims in which the base of the triangle is provided with fixing means for fixing the spider into

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A dartboard spider This invention relates to a dartboard spider. Dartboard spiders are currently made of wire which is substantially circuiar in cross section. This wire takes up an appreciable area of the dartboard surface and it often happens that a dart strikes this wire and bounces back away from the dartboard. This constitutes a very real problem to dart players who can easily lose a match by virtue of the fact that just one of their darts has failed to remain in the dartboard by virtue of the fact that it has hit the spider and has bounced back away from the dartboard. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a dartboard spider which obviates or reduces the above mentioned problem. Accordingly, this invention provides a dartboard spider which is made of a metal which is triangular in cross section, the apex of the triangle being adapted to face outwardly in use of the spider on a dartboard. Since the apex of the triangle will face outwardly in use of the spider on a dartboard, it will be apparent that only a very small surface area of the spider will initially be presented towards darts thrown at the dartboard. If the darts strike the sides of the triangle, it is envisaged that they will slide along the sides and into the dartboard. The triangle may have an angle of 60 at its apex, the triangle then being an Isosceles triangle. If desired, the triangle may also have an angle of more than 60 or less than 60 at its apex. Generally, the sides of the triangle will be chosen to slope such that darts striking the sides of the triangle will be easily deflected into the dartboard. The dartboard spider may be fixed to a dartboard employing conventional staples but these staples also take up an appreciable area of the dartboard and it often occurs that darts strike the staples and bounce back away from the dartboard. It is therefore a preferred feature of the present invention that the base of the triangle be provided with fixing means for fixing the spider onto a dartboard. The fixing means preferably does not extend beyond the width of the base of the triangle so that the fixing means is not visible when the spider is on a dartboard and the dartboard is viewed from the front. With this arrangement, the fixing means will not be struck by darts thrown at the dartboard. Advantageously, the fixing means may be spaced apart spikes, a continuous flange or a continuous blade. The spider may be adapted to rest on the surface of the dartboard. Alternatively, if desired, the surface of the dartboard can be slightly recessed to enable the spider to be located partly in the dartboard. With careful precision manufacture of the spider and preferably also the dartboard, it is envisaged that a highly accurate dartboard will be produced. The spider of the present invention may be made from various metais such for example as the wire that is currently employed for dartboard spiders. The dartboard may also be made from the usually employed material for dartboards. The present invention also extends to a dartboard when provided with the dartboard spider. Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a dartboard in accordance with the invention; Figures 2, 3 and 4 show different cross sections through parts of dartboard spiders in accordance with the invention; and Figures 5, 6 and 7 show three different types of fixing means for fixing the dartboard spider to a dartboard. Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a dartboard 2 having a number ring 4, only part of which is shown. A dartboard spider 6, only part of which is shown, is attached to the dartboard 2 and the numbering and alternate colours on the dartboard may be as employed in normal dartboards. The spider 6 is however, made of a material which is triangular in cross section and the apex of the triangle faces outwardly away from the dartboard 2. In other words, the base of the triangle rests on the surface of the dartboard 2. Referring now to Figures 2,3 and 4, there are shown three different types of triangular shape for the cross section of the material for the spider 6. In Figure 2, the triangle is an Isosceles triangle and the apex of the triangle therefore defines an angle of 60". In Figure 3 the apex of the triangle defines an angle of less than 60 and in Figure 4 the apex of the triangle defines an angle of more than 60". In Figure 5, the triangle illustrated in Figure 2 is provided with fixing means in the form of a plurality of spaced apart spikes 8 which are adapted to be driven into the dartboard 2. In Figure 6, the spikes 8 have been replaced by a continuous flange 10 and in Figure 7 the spikes 8 have been replaced by a continuous blade 12. It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, the sides of the triangular shapes shown in Figures 2,3 and 4 could be concave in varying degrees and these concave sides, whilst still leaving the material for the spider 2 of substantially triangular cross-section, may act to guide a dart that strikes them into the dartboard 2. CLAIMS

4. A dartboard spider according to any one of the preceding claims in which the base of the triangle is provided with fixing means for fixing the spider into a dartboard.

5. A dartboard spider according to claim 4 in which the fixing means does not extend beyond the width of the base so that the fixing means is not visible when the spider is on a dartboard and the dartboard is viewed from the front.

6. A dartboard spider according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the fixing means are spaced apart spikes, a continuous flange or a continuous blade.

7. A dartboard spider substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A dartboard having a dartboard spider as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.