GB2380930A

GB2380930A - A case for a dartboard with a roller-type door

Info

Publication number: GB2380930A
Application number: GB0219468A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alistair Bertram Campbell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-22
Filing date: 2002-08-21
Publication date: 2003-04-23
Also published as: ZA200205107B; GB0219468D0

Abstract

A case for a dartboard (10 in Fig. 1) comprises a box structure 16 that can be mounted on a support wall and support a dartboard 28. The box structure 16 has a roller-type door 18, 20 which controls access to a dartboard 28 supported by the box structure 16, the door 18, 20 being displaced by the operation of an electric motor 24 located in the box structure 16, the electric motor 24 being operatively linked to the door 18, 20. A coin operated mechanism (32 in Fig. 1) controls the operation of the electric motor 24 and permits playing on the dartboard 28 for predetermined time periods, at the end of which the door 18, 20 closes.

Description

A HOUSING FOR A DARTBOARD THIS INVENTION relates to a housing for a dartboard.

A housing for a dartboard is hereinafter more specifically referred to as a case for a dartboard.

According to the invention there is provided a case for a dartboard, which comprises a box structure that can be mounted on a support wall and, when so mounted, within which a dart board can be supported in a playing configuration, the box structure having a door arrangement displaceable between an open position, in which a dartboard, when supported in the box structure, is exposed for playing on, and a closed position, in which the dartboard is covered; displacement means located in the box structure for displacing the door between its open position and its closed position; and activating means located in the box structure for activating the displacement means in a controlled manner that permits controlled use of the dartboard.

The box structure may comprise two parallel, spaced major walls, forming the front wall and the rear wall of the structure, with the front wall incorporating the door arrangement, and side walls extending between the major walls around the perimeter thereof.

The door arrangement may comprise a roller-type door. Such a roller-type door may comprise a door panel, in the form of a slatted panel-like structure, and a support roller that is rotatably mounted within the box structure and that, through its rotation, can displace the door panel between its open position and its closed position, the door panel being wound onto the support roller when disposed in its open position.

The door arrangement further may include guide formations in the form of guide channels located on the front wall of the box structure in a configuration in which the channels can guide the displacement of opposite sides of the door panel, during its displacement between its open position and its closed position.

The displacement means may comprise at least one electric motor that can be electrically energized to act on the support roller for rotation of the support roller and hence displacement of the door panel between its open position and its closed position.

The activating means may include a switch arrangement operable to control an electric current supply to each electric motor, the switch arrangement being adapted to control the direction of displacement of the electric motor to provide for displacement of the door panel either from its open position to its closed position, or from its closed position to its open position.

The activating means may include a coin operated mechanism and a timer which, upon the feed of a predetermined value of coin to the coin operated mechanism and in association with a suitable control circuit and the switch arrangement, provide for

the door panel to be displaced into its open position and following a predetermined time period again to be displaced into its closed position.

The control circuit may be provided in the form of a printed circuit board suitably located within the box structure. The control circuit further may include an alarm located in the box structure that can be activated in response to the door panel being physically prevented from displacement from its open position into its closed position at the end of a predetermined time period, and in response to any other tampering with the case.

The control circuit also may include a power back-up in the form of a battery that is located in the box structure and that can serve to displace the door panel into its closed position in response to a mains power failure.

The box structure further may include mounting means for mounting the box structure on a support wall. Also, the box structure may have support means located therein for removably supporting a dartboard within the box structure in the required configuration thereof. It is envisaged in this regard also that the case of the invention may include a dartboard as a removable part thereof.

The overall configuration of the box structure forming part of the case for a dartboard, in accordance with the invention, is greatly variable. It is envisaged also that the box structure may be formed of various different materials including timber, a plastics material, a sheet metal material, and the like. The box structure may be associated with different door arrangements and, as such, different displacement means may be provided that are adapted particularly for the required displacement of the or each door panel of the door arrangements for displacement between their open position and their closed position. Different activating means also may be associated with the control of the operation of the displacement means associated with the door arrangement, although it is envisaged in general that the activating means will be associated with

a coin operated mechanism and a timer that will determine opening and closing of the door arrangement.

Further features of the case for a dartboard, in accordance with the invention, as well as the mode of use thereof and the benefits associated with the use thereof, are described hereafter, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings illustrating, by way of example, an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a case for a dartboard, in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic front view of the case of Figure 1, with the front wall of the housing removed; and Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of the case of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a case for a dartboard, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The case comprises a box structure 11, typically formed of timber, or another suitable sheet material. The box structure 11 comprises two parallel, spaced major walls, forming the front wall 12 and the rear wall 14 of the structure 11, and side walls 1 6 extending between the major walls around the perimeter thereof.

The front wall 12 incorporates a door arrangement including a door panel 18, comprising a slatted structure, and a support roller 20 onto which the panel 18 can be wound by the rotation of the roller 20, particularly for displacing the panel 18 from its closed position as shown in Figure 1 into an open position, in which it is wound onto the support roller 20. The door arrangement therefore comprises a conventional rollertype door with the support roller 20 being rotatably mounted between internal walls 22, located in the box structure 11, which also provide for guide channels (not clearly

shown) between which opposite side edges of the door panel 18 are guided during the displacement of the panel 18 between its open position and its closed position.

The support roller 20 is operatively connected between two electric motors 24 that are operable for rotating the support roller in opposite directions, as required, for displacing the door panel 18 of the door arrangement between its open position and its closed position. The mode of operation of the electric motors 24 are described in more detail hereafter and it will be understood in this regard also that a single motor can serve the purpose.

The box structure 11 further includes a support wall 26 that is located between the walls 22 and that defines a support face against which a dartboard 28 can be removably supported, the dartboard 28, in the configuration of the invention as herein described, comprising a conventional-type dartboard that, therefore, is not described in further detail herein. The mode of support of the dartboard against the face of the wall 26 also does not require further description, insofar as this can be effected in various different configurations, typically by a suitable suspension arrangement.

The box structure 11 further includes mounting formations (not shown) that will facilitate mounting of the structure against a support wall, the mounting formations typically comprising apertures within the rear wall 14 through which securing screws can pass for securing the structure against a support wall, typically with the dartboard 28 disposed in a playing configuration as required in accordance with the rules of darts. It will again be understood that the mode of mounting the box structure 11 against a support wall is greatly variable.

Operation of the door arrangement and, particularly, displacement of the door panel 18 between its open and its closed position is controlled by way of a control circuit incorporated within a printed circuit board located in a housing 30 that is secured within the box structure 11, as illustrated clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings. The circuit board is operatively linked to a coin receiving mechanism 32 in a configuration

in which receipt of a predetermined value coin can activate operation of a switch arrangement forming part of the control circuit. The switch arrangement serves to switch on the power supply to the electric motors 24, initially for displacing the door panel 18 from its closed position into an open position. The control circuit includes also a timer circuit that can provide for the switch arrangement to switch on the power supply to the electric motors 24 after a predetermined time period following opening of the door panel 18, hence providing for the displacement of the door panel 18 into its closed position. The switch arrangement thus provides for rotation of the support roller 20 in an opposite direction to that required for displacing the door panel into an open position. As such, playing of darts for particular time periods linked with the value of coins inserted into the coin mechanism is provided for.

The control circuit also may be associated with an alarm that can be energized in response to the door panel 18 being physically held open, or the case 10 being otherwise tampered with. Insofar as the power supply for operation of the electric motors may be provided for from a mains power supply, the box structure 11 also may house a back-up battery that can provide for displacement of the door panel 18 into its closed position in response to a mains power failure. In this regard also, the control circuit can provide for displacement of the door panel 18 into its closed position in response to tampering with the case 10.

It is envisaged that the case of the invention in association with a dartboard will be particularly suitable for use in clubs, pubs, and the like, permitting controlled use of the dartboard and providing particularly for income to be generated through the use of the dartboard. A similar case also can be provided for domestic applications, where operation of the door arrangement can be alternatively effected while still providing for controlled use of the dartboard.

When used for commercial gain, the exposed face of the front wall 12 of the box structure 11 can carry advertising or have markings applied thereto and be provided

with a surface on which scoring, in association with the playing of darts games, can be carried out.

It is envisaged also that a dartboard specifically adapted for use with the case can be provided and the invention extends also to such a combination of a case and a dartboard adapted for use therewith.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A case for a dartboard, which comprises a box structure that can be mounted on a support wall and, when so mounted, within which a dartboard can be supported in a playing configuration, the box structure having a door arrangement displaceable between an open position, in which a dartboard, when supported in the box structure, is exposed for playing on, and a closed position, in which the dartboard is covered; displacement means located in the box structure for displacing the door between its open position and its closed position; and activating means located in the box structure for activating the displacement means in a controlled manner that permits controlled use of the dartboard.
2. A case as claimed in Claim 1, in which the box structure comprises two parallel, spaced major walls, forming the front wall and the rear wall of the structure, with the front wall incorporating the door arrangement, and side walls extending between the major walls around the perimeter thereof.
3. A case as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the door arrangement comprises a roller-type door.
4. A case as claimed in Claim 3, in which the roller-type door comprises a door panel, in the form of a slatted panel-like structure, and a support roller that is rotatably mounted within the box structure and that, through its rotation, can displace the door panel between its open position and its closed position, the door panel being wound onto the support roller when disposed in its open position.

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5. A case as claimed in Claim 4, in which the door arrangement includes guide formations in the form of guide channels located on the front wall of the box structure in a configuration in which the channels can guide displacement of opposite sides of the door panel, during its displacement between its open position and its closed position.
6. A case as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which the displacement means comprises at least one electric motor that can be electrically energised to act on the support roller for rotation of the support roller and hence displacement of the door panel between its open position and its closed position.
7. A case as claimed in Claim 6, in which the activating means includes a switch arrangement operable to control an electric current supply to each electric motor, the switch arrangement being adapted to control the direction of displacement of the electric motor to provide for displacement of the door panel either from its open position to its closed position, or from its closed position to its open position.
8. A case as claimed in Claim 7, in which the activating means includes a coin operated mechanism and a timer which, upon the feed of a predetermined value of coin to the coin operated mechanism and in association with a suitable control circuit and the switch arrangement, provide for the door panel to be displaced into its open position and following a predetermined time period again to be displaced into its closed position.
9. A case as claimed in Claim 8, in which the control circuit is provided in the form of a printed circuit board suitably located within the box structure.
10. A case as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, in which the control circuit includes an alarm located in the box structure that can be activated in response to the door panel being physically prevented from displacement from its open position into

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its closed position at the end of a predetermined time period and in response to any other tampering with the case.
11. A case as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10, in which the control circuit has a power back-up in the form of a battery that is located in the box structure and that can serve to displace the door panel into its closed position in response to a mains power failure.
12. A case as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the box structure includes mounting means for mounting the box structure on a support wall.
13. A case as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the box structure has support means located therein for removably supporting a dartboard within the box structure in the required configuration thereof.
14. A case as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a dartboard as a removable part thereof.
15. A case for a dartboard substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.