GB2241442A - Dartboard scoring area dividers - Google Patents

Abstract

An inner ring for a dartboard is in the form of a hollow cylinder which is a push fit into the surface of the dartboard and has holes 2, preferably of triangular cross-section, to receive the radial dividing wires 3. <IMAGE>

Description

COMPONENTS FOR DARTBOARDS The present invention relates to components for dartboards. Such dartboards normally have radial dividing wires, bull and inner scoring regions and double and triple outer scoring regions all divided by wires on the surface of the board.

The invention is more particularly concerned with the inner ring for such a dartboard. Normally the inner ring is attached to the dartboard by staples, and the radial wires are bent over the inner ring and then into the board so as to hold the ring in place. The problem with that arrangement is that it is difficult to manufacture at speed on machinery, and gives rise to the problem in playing that the bent over ends of the radial wires obscure part of the scoring area with a reduced possibility of scoring within that area.

Their location can vary slightly and there is risk of darts hitting wires and bouncing out.

Another method is to overlay the radial wires over the inner ring and to weld them in place, but this still requires that the radial wires protrude into the inner zone and so decrease the available space and give rise to the bouncing out problem.

The invention is concerned with providing an inner ring where these problems can be overcome or substantially reduced. Accordingly the present invention provides an inner ring for a dartboard of a kind having radial dividing wires, a bull and inner scoring regions, which inner ring is in the form of a rigid hollow cylinder shaped to permit its introduction into the surface of the dartboard as a push fit and has a plurality of equally spaced holes around its periphery each arranged to lie substantially parallel to the playing surfaces of the board and to receive the radial dividing wires.

Preferably the holes are triangular in shape to accommodate radial wires of triangular crosssection. Preferably in the made up form, which comprises the inner ring and the set of radial wires, these radial wires are brazed in place within the holes.

Preferably the outer edge of the ring has an internal machined chamfer to reduce the risk of a dart rebounding. This moremover provides a cleaner scoring area and allows more consistent scoring to be achieved by the good player.

Dependent on the kind of dartboard to be used, it is preferable for the ring to comprise a plurality, for example four, of arcuate legs descending in parallel from the ring for insertion into the dartboard surface. This arrangement is particularly convenient for the fibreboard type of construction of board, but in the case of a synthetic dartboard, the legs would not normally be required and the inner edge of the ring would have an appropriate sharpened leading edge. When the legs are used, it is desirable that they should have serrations to aid their retention within the dartboard surface.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying single Figure.

The single Figure is a perspective view of the ring for use in the dartboard.

Referring to this Figure, the inner ring of the dartboard is essentially a sleeve 1 having twenty triangular holes 2 equally spaced round its periphery and lying parallel to the playing surface.

The triangular holes are arranged to locate the radial dividers 3 of the dartboard, of which two are shown in position. Generally the sleeve 1 will be made of a hard wearing material, such as a hard steel, and the radial wires will also be of a similar hard material and will be brazed in position within each of the respective holes 20.

In the case of a dartboard made of a fibre material, there will be four downwardly extending legs 4 each of which has serrations near its end, is arcuate in shape so as to be parallel to the sleeve and has a sharpened end to enable it to be firmly pushed home into the dartboard.

In use, the inner ring will present a smooth surfaced circular edge to the dart. To ensure that the inner surface of the sleeve is smooth, particularly after the brazing operation, the inner surface will normally be machined to have a bevelled edge as shown by the dotted line 6.

The invention has a number of advantages.

The danger of a dart bouncing out by hitting a wire is reduced with the construction of the present invention.

There is a greater and more consistent scoring area in the inner scoring zone (the outer bull) resulting in more consistent results particularly for the good player.

The dartboard can be manufactured by improved mechanised equipment.

The whole structure of the score dividing wires is much more rigid and in particular the radial wires are less likely to move during play.

By virtue of the firmer and cleaner construction, the board itself looks visually more appealing.

Claims (5)

1. An inner ring for a dartboard of the kind having radial dividing wires, bull and inner scoring regions, comprising a rigid hollow cylinder shaped to permit its introduction into the surface of the dartboard as a push fit and comprising a plurality of equispaced holes around its periphery to receive the radial dividing wires.

2. An inner ring according to claim 1, in which the holes are triangular in shape, to accommodate radial wires of triangular cross-section.

3. An inner ring according to claim 1 or claim 2 in combination with a set of the radial wires brazed into the holes.

4. An inner ring according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the outer edge of the ring has an internal machined chamfer to reduce the risk of a dart rebounding.

5. An inner ring according to any of the preceding claims in which the ring comprises a plurality, for example four, of arcuate legs.