GB2102296A

GB2102296A - Darts

Info

Publication number: GB2102296A
Application number: GB08122929A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Benjamin Royal Drake
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-07-24
Filing date: 1981-07-24
Publication date: 1983-02-02

Abstract

A dart has a stem which carries therein or partly therein a weight- adjusting slug. This slug may be threaded so that it can be screwed into a dart barrel and so serve to connect the barrel and the stem. As shown the slug 42 has threads 46, 48 to connect the dart body to the stem. Alternatively, the slug may feature one threaded spigot and, at the other end, a threaded socket. A set of slugs of varying weights is provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Darts This invention relates to a kit of parts for making up a dart for playing the well-known game called darts, whereby the weight of a dart can be altered at the will of a player without altering the length or the external configuration of the dart.

The invention also relates to a dart stem and to a dart incorporating the same general inventive idea.

A dart with a body into which the point can be reversed is shown in British Patent No. 278 046 (1927). A dart with a brass body and an aluminium flight-holder or stem is shown in British Patent No. 526 321 (1940). A dart in which the stem can be moved into and out of a spigot and a body, to vary the effective length is shown in British Patent No. 684037 (1952). A dart having a rubber or other resilient stem and flight-holder is shown in British Patent No.

750 897 (1956). A dart assembied from a number of similar threaded elements (some of which may be heavier than others) is shown in British Patent No. 1 341178 (1973). Other designs of dart are shown in British Patents Nos.

1 459 657, 1 556 806 and 1 556 807.

The game of darts is played in public houses, clubs, and other rooms in which the atmospheric conditions (humidity, presence and density of tobacco smoke, temperature) vary with time.

Expert dart players (and also less expert players) believe that these changes in atmospheric conditions require that a heavier or lighter dart be used. At present this is only possible by changing to a dart of different length or different external shape. At the same time, for mainly psychological reasons, it is very important to most players especially expert players that the "feel" of the darts is constant. In other words, a keen player also requires that the length and external configuration of his darts should be constant.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a dart stem which carries therein or partly therein a weight-adjusting slug. This slug may be (but need not be) threaded so that it can be screwed into a dart barrel and so serve to connect the barrel and the stem. In this Specification, the name "stem" is used for that part of a dart which is slotted at its rear end to receive and carry the dart flight.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a dart body consisting of a metal barrel carrying a point and a stem distinct from the barrel portion, in which the stem has partly therein a double threaded adaptor of a material having a higher density than the metal of the barrel and which serves to connect the barrel and the stem.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the adaptor may have at one end a recess which is internally threaded and at its other end a spigot which is externally threaded. A kit of parts may be sold, containing two or three such adaptors, made from materials of different densities, and having masses for example one gram, two grams and three grams.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a dart stem slotted at its rear-end to carry a dart flight, in which the stem has a forwardly projecting threaded portion which can be engaged in a correspondingly threaded bore provided in the rear of a dart body and in which the forward end of the stem has a central axial bore for receiving a weight-adjusting slug. Such a stem may be sold in conjunction with one or more such slugs so that the mass of a dart made up using such a stem can be increased in predetermined steps by including for example a heavy slug (e.g. 2 grams) a light slug (e.g. 1 gram) or no slug at all.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a dart stem slotted at its rear end to carry a flight and an adaptor connecting the stem with a dart body, in which the adaptor has a rod portion joined to a portion which is externally threaded with one of the two standard threads (namely 2 B.A. and 4 B.S.F.) which are used in darts, and in which the stem has a bore in which the rod portion is a snug fit. With such an arrangement the mass of a dart can be adjusted without affecting its external configura'tion by having adaptors of different material or having rod portions of different lengths.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, an adaptor joining a dart body and a dart stem may be partly or wholly axially bored, in order to adjust its weight. Such an adaptor may be wholly externally threaded and concealed within confronting internally threaded bores extending rearwardly into the stem and forwardly into the body.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts for use in marking up a dart of which the weight can be adjusted without altering the dart's external configuration, the kit comprising (a) a barrel carrying a point, (b) a stem for carrying a flight, (c) a first adaptor for connecting the stem and the barrel and made of a material having a density the same as or less than that of the material of the barrel, and (d) at least one other adaptor having dimensions substantially identical to those of the first adaptor and a density greater than that of the barrel.

The adaptor may be constructed to thread into both the stem and the barrel and to be concealed by them. As an alternative, it may be formed to be a smoothly-merging rearward extension of the barrel.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts for use in making up a dart stem of which the weight can be adjusted without altering the dart's external configuration, the kit comprising (a) a stem for carrying a flight, (b) a first adaptor for connecting the stem and a dart barrel and made of a first material and (c) at least one other adaptor having dimensions substantially identical to those of the first adaptor and a density greater than that of the first adaptor.

The invention will be better understood from the following particular and non-limiting description of two examples of the invention, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through one example of dart according to the invention; Figure 2 is a similar section through a dart according to a second example of the invention; Figure 3 shows a replacement adaptor for the dart of Figure 2; Figure 4 illustrates a dart stem and two insertable slugs of different mass, having rod portions of different length; Figure 5 illustrates a dart stem and two adaptors of different mass to co-operate therewith, having rod portions of different length; Figure 6 illustrates a dart body having a partlythreaded recess in its rear end, the recess being capable of receiving an adaptor such as shown in Figure 5;; Figure 7 illustrates a dart stem and two internal adaptors, wholly threaded, and of different masses; Figure 8 illustrates a dart according to the aforementioned second aspect of the invention and including a barrel, an adaptor and a dart stem; Figure 9 illustrates an alternative stem for use in the dart of Figure 8; and Figure 10 illustrates an adaptor included in the dart of Figure 8.

The illustrated dart includes a barrel 10 having a point 12, and having a threaded bore extending axially into its rear end. The threads thereof are indicated at 14. The dart also includes a stem or cane 1 6 which may be of plastics material, or fibreglass, or of a light metal such as aluminium or magnesium, or of any other suitable material. The stem 1 6 is slotted at its rear end and carries a flight 1 8. The manner of attachment of the flight to the stem is not crucial and any suitable conventional method may be used.

The forward end of the stem 1 6 has a threaded bore 20 extending axially into it in a rearward direction. The threading of the bore 20 is identical to the threading of the bore 14. The dart also includes a substantially cylindrical adaptor 22 threaded over its outer surface with a thread to correspond to the threads 14 and 20. This serves as a member connecting the dart body 10 and the dart stem 1 6. According to the invention, the adaptor 22 is made of a material whose density is greater than the density of the barrel 10, and a player may also be provided with a similar adaptor 22 made of the same material as the barrel 10.In this way, by using either an adaptor 22 of heavier material or the standard adaptor, the player can alter the weight of his dart, at a point quite near to its centre of gravity, without in any way altering its external configuration.

In use, a player might start play with an ordinary adaptor 22 in position, and then, when the atmosphere in the playing room becomes more heavily laden with moisture or tobacco smoke, he can unscrew the stem from the dart barrel, remove the adaptor 22, and replace it by a similar adaptor of a heavier material. After this change, the dart presents exactly the same surface and "feel" to his hand as previously, and to the best of the Applicant's knowledge and belief this facility has hitherto never been available.

An alternative version of the invention is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. As the principle is identical to that described above, Figure 2 will only be described briefly. It illustrates a dart having a barrel 30, a point 32, and a threaded bore 34 in its rearward end. The dart also has a stem 36 and a flight 38. The stem 36 has in its forward end a rearwardly extending threaded bore 40. An adaptor 42 having an outer surface 43 merging smoothly with the outer surface of the dart barrel 30 has two threaded studs extending therefrom, the threads of which correspond respectively with the threads 40 and 34. The studs are indicated at 46 and 48. The adaptor 42 is made of a material having a density greater than that of the material of the dart barrel 30.The player may also be provided with an adaptor 42A which in size and shape is identical to the adaptor 42 but which is made of a heavier material. For example, the dart barrel 30 may be made of brass, the adaptor 42 of tungsten or copper-turgsten and the adaptor 42A of brass.

In an alternative embodiment, the barrel 30 could be of brass, the adaptor 42 of brass, and the adaptor 42A of a lighter material such as aluminium or an aluminium alloy. This invention can be applied to darts having stems 1 6 or 36 of nylon, fibreglass, aluminium or magnesium or alloys thereof, or other suitable material. Moreover it can be applied to darts of virtually any external shape.

Figure 4 illustrates a dart stem 101, having a threaded forwardly projecting boss 102 which can be screwed into a counter bore in the rear of a dart body, not shown. The forward end of the stem and the boss 102 are counter-bored as seen at 104 with a plane axial counter bore. This is intended to receive a slug 106 which may for example be of brass, or tungsten, or lead, or aluminium, or which alternatively may be entirely omitted. This slug is included if the player wishes to make his dart heavier. An alternative slug 108 is shown which has a longer rod portion and the slug 106. In each of these slugs, the head portion 110 is enlarged to facilitate removal of the slug when desired from the bore 104. It will be seen that by using slugs of different material or of different overall length different weights can be added to a dart without affecting its external configuration or its length.

Figure 6 illustrates one form of dart body 11 2, having a point 114, and also having an internal axially extending recess at its rear end. Part of this recess is threaded as seen at 1 16 and the remaining space 11 8 of the recess is provided to accommodate the head 1 O of the slug 106 or 108.

Figure 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention. A dart stem 120 has an axial bore therein, extending into it from its forward end, the bore being indicated at 122. This bore is sized to snugly receive the rod portion 124 of an adaptor 126 which constitutes said rod portion and a threaded head 128. The threaded head 128 of the adaptor is made of a standard thread in order to engage with a threaded recess in the rear of a dart body. As is conventional in dart manufacture, the thread employed may be 2 B.A. or + inch B.S.F.

In Figure 5, there is seen an alternative adaptor 130, having a rod portion 132, a threaded head 134, and a forwardly extending weighting portion 136. The head 134 and the weighting portion 136 are accommodated within the recess 11 8 seen in Figure 6, when a completed dart is assembled, and the adaptor 126 or 130 as the case may be serves to connect the stem 120 with the dart body 112. By using the adaptor 126 a relatively light dart is produced, whereas by using the adaptor 130, a heavier dart having exactly the same external configuration is produced.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 7. A dart stem 140 is shown having at its forward end a threaded bore 142. A substantially cylindrical adaptor 144 of a relatively heavy metal is threaded over all of its external surface. The thread is complementary to the thread 142 cut in the wail of the recess. The adaptor 144 is in the form of a tubular sleeve, having a cylindrical hole cut axially therethrough.

An alternative cylindrical adaptor 1 46 is similar in external configuration but only has a bore 148 part way therethrough. In this way the weight of the adaptors can be varied and so a player requiring a heavier dart would use the adaptor 146 whereas a player requiring a lighter dart would use the adaptor 144.

Figure 8 illustrates a dart having a brass barrel 210, a point 212, a brass adaptor 214, and a stem 21 6. The latter is of nylon but may be of any suitable material. Figure 9 illustrates an alternative stem 218 to the stem 216 of Figure 8. The stem 218 is a two-part stem having a front portion 220 with an external thread 222 and a rear portion 224 which is rotatable relative to the front portion 220 and which is cross-slotted at 226 to receive a conventional dart flight (not shown). The front portion 220 has a cylindrical recess in its rear end which receives as a push fit a spigot 226 forming part of the rear portion 224. A raised rib 228 on the spigot assists in ensuring that the front and rear stem portions do not fall apart in use. The front end of the front portion 220 has a brass insert 230 upon which the thread 222 is cut.

Figure 10 illustrates a brass adaptorfor use with either the stem shown in Figure 8 or the stem of Figure 9. The adaptor 214 has an external thread 242 and an internal thread 244, and serves to connect the stem and the barrel of the dart. By choosing an adaptor of the same configuration but different mass, a player can readily assemble a dart having exactly the same external configuration but having a differnet throwing weight.

Claims

1. A dart stem which carries therein or partly therein a weight-adjusting slug.

2. A dart stem according to claim 1 in which the slug is threaded so that it can be screwed into a dart barrel and so serve to connect the barrel and the stem.

3. A dart body consisting of a metal barrel carrying a point and a stem distinct from the barrel portion, in which the stem has partly therein a double threaded adaptor of a material having a higher density than the metal of the barrel and which serves to connect the barrel and the stem.

4. A dart body according to claim 3 in which the adaptor has at one end a recess which is internally threaded and at its other end a spigot which is externally threaded.

5. A dart stem which is slotted at its rear end to carry a dart flight, the stem having a forwardly projecting threaded portion which can be engaged in a correspondingly threaded bore provided in the rear of a dart body, and the forward end of the stem having a central axial bore for receiving a weight-adjusting slug.

6, A dart stem slotted at its rear end to carry a flight and an adaptor connecting the stem with a dart body, in which the adaptor has a rod portion joined to a portion which is externally threaded with one of the two standard threads (namely 2 B.A. and - B.S.F.) which are used in darts, and in which the stem has a bore in which the rod portion is a snug fit.

7. An adaptor designed for joining a dart body and a dart stem and which is partly or wholly axially bored, in order to adjust its weight.

8. An adaptor according to claim 7 which is wholly externally threaded and which is designed to be concealed within confronting internally threaded bores extending rearwardly into a dart stem and forwardly into the dart body.

9. A kit of parts of use in making up a dart of which the weight can be adjusted without altering the dart's external configuration, the kit comprising (a) a barrel carrying a point, (b) a stem for carrying a flight, (c) a first adaptor for connecting the stem and the barrel and made of a material having a density the same as or less than that of the material of the barrel, and (d) at least one other adaptor having dimensions substantially identical to those of the first adaptor and a density greater than that of the barrel.

10. A kit according to claim 9 in which the first adaptor is constructed to thread into both the stem and the barrel and to be concealed by them.

11. A kit of paris for use in making up a dart stem of which the weight can be adjusted without altering the external configuration of the dart stem, the kit comprising (a) a stem for carrying aflight, (b) a first adaptor for connecting the stem and a dart barrel and made of a first material and (c) at least one other adaptor having dimensions substantially identical to those of the first adaptor and a density greater than that of the first adaptor.

12. A dart stem substantially as herein described and as illustrated in any one of Figures 1-10.