GB2094133A - Device for mounting circular objects against a vertical support - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a means for positioning a dart board or like object against and parallel to a vertical support surface such as a wall, which device consists of a central locating disc from which extend three flat arm elements having end portions extending outwardly perpendicularly to the elements to grip the periphery of the dart board, at least one of the arm elements having an end portion movable with respect to the said arm between first inner position and second outer position whereby the length of the arm may be varied, the said portion being urged into the first position by resilient means acting between the said portion and the remainder of the said arm element. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for mounting objects against a vertical support The present invention relates to a device for mounting objects against a substantially flat support and is especially concerned with mounting objects having a flat surface parallel to a vertical said support.

It is often necessary to mount objects having a flat surface against a support such as a wall so that the object is parallel to the wall, i.e. such that the said flat surface is substantially vertical.

A particular case is the mounting of a dart board which is required to be positioned with its playing surface vertical and its centre at a fixed distance from the ground.

I have now invented a device that is particularly useful for this purpose and which can be adapted to maintain the board in position when subjected to forces at right angles to the playing surface, e.g. the removal of a dart therefrom.

Accordingly, therefore, the present invention provides a device for mounting an object against a substantially flat surface comprising a locating member capable of being fixed to said support, a plurality of arm elements extending from said locating member, the said arm elements lying in the same plane and optionally capable of being fixed to said surface, and each element including an end portion extending outwardly therefrom for gripping the object to be supported at least one of said end portions being movable with respect to the said arm between a first inner position and a second outer position whereby the length of the arm is extended, and being urged into said portion and the said arm.

The arm elements are preferably releasably located on said locating member and preferably also engage co-operating elements formed in or on the said member whereby the relative position of the arms are substantially fixed.

The locating member may be in the form of a flat disc and the arm elements formed from the flat strip material, the co-operating elements on the said disc being formed between said locating member and one or more members each having a portion parallel to the surfaces of the locating member and portions at right angles to and joining the said member to provide slots into which an end of an element may be located.

Preferably there are three arm elements located 120 apart.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a device according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a side view of an element of figure 1, Figure 3 is a side view of a second form of arm element used in figure 1, Figure 4 is a plan view of the locating member of figure 1, Figure 5 is a sectional view across the line A-A of figure 4.

A device for supporting a dart board against a wall comprising a centre locating disc member 1 having a diameter of 35mm and including a hole 2 to receive a screw for fixing the member against the wall.

Extending outwardly from member 1 are three arm elements 3,4 and 5 formed of flat metal strips 23cm and 15mm wide and containing holes 6,7 and 8 for receiving screws to enable the arm elements to be fixed against the wall. The arms are located in disc 1 in slots 12 formed between disc 1 and the flat portions of metal pressings 9, 10 and 11 which are welded onto disc 1.

Arms 4 and 5 of figure 1 have the same construction, illustrated with reference to arm 4 in figure 3, consisting of straight portions 40 terminating in a stepped end portion 41 providing a surface 42 against which the rear surface of the dart board is positioned and a portion 43 extending at right angles thereto and including lip 44 arranged to grip the edge and front face of the board.

Arm 3 comprises a flat strip portion 21cm long at the end of which is formed a hollow open ended box member 30 through which projects a square section member 31 in sliding engagement therewith. One end of member 31 extending through an end of box member 30 includes a portion 32 extending at right angles to arm element 3 and having a length equal to the length of portions 41 and 43 of arm 4 in figure 2.

Portion 32 also includes a lip 33. A heavy duty return spring 34 has one end positioned on a peg 35 located between jaws 36 at the end of member 31 extending through the opposite end of hollow box member 30, the other end of spring 34 being located, under tension, on peg 37 fixed to arm 3.

In use disc 1 is fixed to the wall surface at the required height and arms 3,4 and 5 positioned in slots 12 with arm 3 uppermost. The arms are also fixed to the support wall with suitable screws. The dart board is positioned against shoulders 41 and portion 43 of arms 4 and 5, and by extending the spring 34 by pulling on portion 32, arm 3 is extended in length in order that the board may be placed against box member 30 and portion 32 then allowed to press down on the board rim under the influence of spring 34. Lips 44 of arms 4 and 5 and 33 of arm 3 grip the front of the board to prevent it being pulled away from the mounting when a dart, which has been thrown into the board, is pulled out.

Disc 1 is not necessarily required to be round and the slots may be formed between the wall and the disc by forming the latter with re-entrant portions of the required dimension by a pressing operation.

In an alternative arrangement the arm members may be welded directly onto the disc rather than being releasably located thereon, in which case it will generally no longer be necessary for the arms to be attached to the wall surface.

Although the invention has been described with reference to mounting an object on a vertical support it could equally well be used for mounting an object in a horizontal plane, e.g. against a flat horizontal surface.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS (filed 4.3.82)

1. A device for mounting an object against a support surface comprising a locating member capable of being fixed to said surface, a plurality of arm elements extending from said locating member, the said arm elements being in the same plane and each element including an end portion extending outwardly therefrom to grip the object to be supported, at ieast one of said arm end portions being movable with respect to the said arm between a first inner position and a second outer position whereby the length of the arm may be varied and being urged into said first position by resilient means acting between said portion and the said arm.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the arm elements are capable of being fixed to said support surface.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the arm elements are releasably attached to said locating member.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said arm elements engage co-operating elements formed in or on said locating member whereby the relative positions of the arms are substantially fixed.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the locating member is in the form of a flat disc and the arm elements are in the form of flat strip material, the co-operating elements on the disc being formed between said locating member and one or more members each having a portion parallel to the surface of the locating member to provide slots into which the end of the arm element may be inserted.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there are three arm elements located at 120 apart.

7. A device for mounting an object against a substantially flat surface substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.