GB2292095A - Projectile and game played therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a projectile (1) for use in a game and the game itself, the projectile comprising a nose (2), a shaft (3) and a tail (4), wherein the tail is mounted for slidable movement on the shaft between forward and rear positions under the action of air resistance to the tail during flight. The nose may comprise a stepped cylinder, a sucker or an adherent surface. A plurality of projectiles may be used in combination with a court defining target areas of varying value. <IMAGE>

Description

PROJECTILE AND CANE PLAYED THEREWITH The present invention relates to a projectile and a game to be played therewith.

The game of darts is a well known example of a game where projectiles are thrown at a target, the target being split up into discrete scoring areas of varying value. It involves a high degree of skill and judgement thereby requiring much practice.

However playing darts is potentially hazardous because it is played with very sharp pointed projectiles which are thrown with some force against a board. As a result the game is generally played indoors within confined spaces wherein the thoroughfare of people can be controlled and where outdoor conditions which might adversely affect the control with which the darts are thrown have no effect. By its nature thus the game of darts is unsuitable for outdoor use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a projectile and a game to be played therewith requiring similar skill and judgement to conventional darts but which can be played safely outdoors.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a projectile for use in a game, the projectile comprising a nose, a shaft and a tail, wherein the tail is mounted for slidable movement on the shaft between forward and rear positions under the action of air resistance to the tail during flight.

In this manner, with the tail in the forward position the shaft can be used as a handle. Once thrown the tail moves rearwardly in flight to the rear position where the aerodynamics of the projectile as a whole are improved. The slidably movable tail moreover encourages a correct 'underarm' throwing action of the projectile, since with the handle held correctly in the underarm position the tail slides forwardly out of the way.

In the preferred embodiments the tail is removably mounted on the shaft. As a result the tail can be replaced if required or desired, for example if the tail is damaged. The configuration of the tail end of the dart can in this regard be altered with different tail sections to vary the aerodynamic characteristics of the dart. Thus for example different outdoor conditions can for example be accommodated by altering the tail configuration. Tails having different colours and/or markings may be used to indicate a particular playing team or player. A selection a tails can therefore be kept for use with the same nose and shaft.

Preferably the tail comprises a plurality of fins formed on a sleeve which is slidably received on the shaft. Conveniently three fins are provided, each projecting radially outwardly from the sleeve.

In the preferred embodiments the tail is slidable between the nose and a removably attached stop provided at the rear end of the shaft. The stop can thus be removed to allow the tail to be changed.

The nose may comprise a stepped cylinder. In this way a relatively small diametered front part of the nose can spear the ground on landing of the dart up to a set amount a, namely as far as the increased larger diametered part of the stepped cylinder. The length a is chosen so that the dart will remain impaled in the ground following landing but will not become stuck and difficult to be remove therefrom.

Alternatively for indoor use the nose may include a sucker or an adherent surface which will not on impact damage an interior floor surface.

Preferably the nose is removably attached to the shaft such that it can be replaced if required or desired. For example in windy conditions a heavier nose may be more appropriate.

In a preferred embodiment a plurality of projectiles are provided in combination with a court defining target areas of varying value.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a game comprising at least one projectile as described above and a target grid defining discrete scoring areas of varying value wherein the grid is adapted to be laid substantially horizontally on an surface penetrable to a point provided on the or each said projectile, a player successfully scoring if a thrown projectile becomes impaled in the surface in a scoring area.

A preferred embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which; Figure 1 is a side view in part cross-section of a projectile of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows the projectile of Figure 1 in a throwing position; and Figure 3 shows a plurality of projectiles according to Figures 1 and 2 and a scoring grid.

Figure 1 shows a projectile in the form of a dart 1. The dart comprises a nose portion 2 formed of a stepped cylinder, a shaft portion 3 and a tail 4.

The nose portion is weighted so as to orientate the nose forwardly on flight of the dart through the air. It is stepped so as to allow a relatively small diametered front part 5 to spear the ground on landing of the dart up to a maximum set amount "a". The length of the front part "a" is chosen so that the dart will remain impaled in the ground following landing but will not become stuck and difficult to be remove therefrom. This set amount may be different for different playing surfaces, for example the length "a" may be longer for sandy playing surfaces than for grass. Advantageously however the length "a" is chosen so as to be appropriate to a wide range of playing surfaces. In practice it has been found that for a preferred front nose part of diameter 6 mm, the length "a" is preferably in the order of 47 mm.

The point at the front part C the nose portion is sufficiently pointed to allow the dart to penetrate relatively soft ground, e.g. a lawn or a sandy beach, but not so sharp as tc cause serious injury should it fall onto e.g. a human limb such as a foot. Whilst any suitable alternative materials may be employed the nose portion may for example be advantageously formed of mild steel.

In an alternative arrangement more suited to indoor use the dart has a sucker at its distal front end tich can stick to indoor floor surfaces. The front distal end may alternatively include a tacky surface e.g. Velcro (Trademark) which can engage a suitable target area surface mat.

The shaft portion of the dart is attached to the nose in any suitable manner e.g. threaded, welded or adhered or may be formed integrally with the nose. Preferably the shaft is detachably mounted to the nose portion such that either may be replaced if they become worn or damaged. The interchangeability of the nose portion moreover allows different nose portions to be used for different playing conditions or for different aerodynamic properties of the dart. In this manner the skill factor in playing the game can be altered to suit the players and the playing environment.

For example in particularly windy conditions a nose portion of increased weight may be desirable.

The tail portion of the dart is preferably formed from plastics using injection moulding techniques, although other suitable materials may of course be used. The tail includes three fins 6 arranged to project radially outwardly from the shaft portion. The fins are spaced evenly about the shaft, namely at 120 degrees to one another and project rearwardly for the correct aerodynamic properties. As shown particularly in Figure 2, the fins project from a cylindrical sleeve 7 which is slidably received on the shaft.

In this manner the sleeve can slide between the nose portion and a stop 8 at the end of the shaft. With the sleeve in the forward position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shaft portion to the rear of the sleeve can be used as a handle with which the dart can be held by a player 12. The arrow W shows a preferred correct direction in which the dart is to be thrown. When the dart is thrown the tail naturally moves rearwardly under the action of air resistance to abut the stop as the weighted nose portion orientates the nose portion forwardly. As the tail moves rearwardly the aerodynamic properties of the dart, e.g. its stability, improve thereby increasing the accuracy with which the dart can be thrown and thus increasing the skill involved in playing the game and the enjoyment that can be derived from it.

The stop is preferably removable, e.g. threadedly engaged, so as to allow the tail to be removed and replaced if required or desired. The configuration of the tail end of the dart can in this regard be altered with different tail sections to vary the aerodynamic characteristics of the dart. The colour and markings of the tail may moreover be altered with different tails to indicate a particular playing team, player or sponsor. A selection a tails can therefore be kept for use with the same nose and shaft.

Whilst a target 'court' may be simply marked out by any suitable means there is preferably provided a court mat with which the dart may be played. The mat may for example simply be a grid of concentric circles or other shapes formed of string, plastics, or any other suitable material, the circles defining discrete scoring areas of varying value.

Alternatively for an indoor favoured embodiment, the court mat may be a sheet having a tacky surface and marked with areas having different value. Different colours may be used on the court mat to define different scoring areas.

The outdoor form of the game in which the dart may be used will now be described. The game is played by two to six players as individuals or in teams. Each player is allowed three darts per game and the darts must be thrown using an underarm throw. A target court as described above is positioned a distance from the players. Whilst this distance may be a predetermined value or variable according to the choice of the winner of a previous game, the distance is preferably one agreed by the participating players and should preferably be in the range of 15-25 feet.

As shown in Figure 3, the target court is divided into two concentric rings 9 and 10 defining discrete scoring areas of varying value. Five points are awarded for getting a dart in the outer ring with 10 points for the inner ring. The court also includes a small 'Bullseye' area 11 worth 50 points.

To validly score points the dart must stick in the ground in a scoring area.

The winner is the player who amasses the most points over three sets, each set being made up of five games.

In a shortened game the winner is the player with the most points decided over five games.

In a 'knockout' game each player competes individually and must score to remain for the next game. The winner is the player remaining when all the otter players fail to score.

Claims (10)

Claims:

1. A projectile for use in a game, the projectile comprising a nose, a shaft and a tail, wherein the tail is mounted for slidable movement on the shaft between forward and rear positions under the action of air resistance to the tail during flight.

2. A projectile as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tail is removably mounted on the shaft.

3. A projectile as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the tail comprises a plurality of fins formed on a sleeve which is slidably received on the shaft.

4. A projectile as claimed in claim 3 wherein three fins are provided each projecting radially outwardly from the sleeve.

5. A projectile as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tail is slidable between the nose and a removably attached stop provided at the rear end of the shaft.

6. A projectile as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the nose comprises a stepped cylinder.

7. A projectile as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the nose includes a sucker.

8. A projectile as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the nose includes an adherent surface.

7. A projectile as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the nose is removably attached to the shaft.

8. A plurality of projectiles as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a court defining target areas of varying value.

9. A game for outdoor use comprising at least one projectile according to any of claims 1 to 7 and a target grid defining discrete scoring areas of varying value wherein the grid is adapted to be laid substantially horizontally on an surface penetrable to a point provided on the or each said projectile, a player successfully scoring if a thrown projectile becomes impaled in the surface in a scoring area.

10. A projectile or game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.