GB2448785A

GB2448785A - Dart with retrofitted sleeve

Info

Publication number: GB2448785A
Application number: GB0721054A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee John Huxtable
Original assignee: NODOR INTERNAT Ltd
Current assignee: NODOR INTERNAT Ltd
Priority date: 2007-10-28
Filing date: 2007-10-28
Publication date: 2008-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 2027-10-28
Also published as: GB2448785B; GB0721054D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a dart in which the likelihood of the dart bouncing back from a dartboard is reduced. The dart 2 comprises a needle 6 mounted to a dart body 4, wherein the junction between the needle 6 and the dart body 4 provides a shoulder 10. The dart further comprises a sleeve 12 shaped to provide a smooth transition between said needle 6 and the dart body 4 which sleeve is retrofitted to the dart.

Description

* -1-2448785 Improved Dart This invention relates to darts, in

particular to an improved dart in which the likelihood of the dart bouncing back from a dartboard is reduced.

In the game of darts, a dartboard is divided into a number of sectors, typically using a wire frame on the surface of the board. A player throws a dart at the dartboard and scores points in dependence on the zone in which the dart is retained.

On occasions, a dart that is thrown at a dartboard bounces back from the board. Such an event is referred to as "bounce out" and results in the player scoring no nt-*c.

Bounce out can occur for a variety of reasons. For example, a dart that strikes the wire frame that is used to divide the dartboard into sectors can bounce back from the board. This problem has been addressed to some degree by omitting staples from wire frames and by providing wires with bevelled or triangular edge profiles. Such problems are discussed extensively in the

prior art; see, for example, GB 2 035 104 and

GB 2 157 184.

A variety of other solutions to this problem have been proposed with varying degrees of success. One scheme, which is discussed extensively in the patent literature, is the provision of moving dart points. For example, a dart point may be associated with a spring arrangement so that the dart point is retracted on hitting an obstacle, such as the wire frame of a dartboard. The kinetic energy in the moving dart, coupled with the action of the spring, can be used to induce a hammer action that tends to drive the dart into the dartboard in situations where otherwise is would bounce back from the board. A number of variants of this sort of arrangement have been proposed.

A second cause of bounce out is the striking by an incoming dart of darts that are already in the dartboard.

Again, this problem and its potential solutions are discussed in detail in the patent literature. One solution to this problem that has had some success is the provision of spinning dart flights. The striking of a dart flight by an incoming dart can often cause bounce out. The likelihood of bounce out is reduced if the fliciht can be spun by the action of the incoming dart.

By way of example, US 4,824,285 describes an anti-bounce dart that provides both a moving needle and a spinning flight.

The various arrangements described above for reducing the occurrence of bounce out from dartboards have had success in reducing the occurrence of bounce out. Nevertheless, bounce out still occurs and arrangements for reducing bounce out still further are sought.

Furthermore, many of the prior art arrangements are expensive to implement and many are only partially successful. Most darts in use today and mass produced and are relatively inexpensive. The provision of expensive anti-bounce out arrangements is generally inappropriate for such darts.

There remains a need for further arrangements for reducing bounce out that could either be provided instead or, or in addition to, prior art arrangements. There also remains a need for cheaper arrangements for reducing

bounce out than those described in the prior art.

The present invention seeks to solve or mitigate at least some of the problems set out above.

The present invention provides a dart comprising a needle mounted to a dart body, wherein the junction between the needle and the dart body provides a shoulder, the dart further comprising a sleeve shaped to provide a smooth transition between said needle and the dart body. By providing a smooth transition between the needle and the dart body, the prcb1 rf ih shniildpr striking darts already in the dartboard is largely eliminated.

In one form of the invention, the sleeve is a removable sleeve. The provision of a removable sleeve enables the sleeve to be retrofitted to existing darts. Further, sleeves can be mass produced to provide a cost effective product. The sleeve may be a plastic sleeve. The sleeve may be a rubber sleeve. Of course, other materials could be used; for example, the sleeve may be a metal sleeve or a nylon sleeve or made from a composite material.

In an alternative form of the invention, the said sleeve is part of said needle. The needle can be formed into the appropriate shape in order to provide the sleeve effect described above.

Preferably, the said sleeve extends from a first end having a minimum inner radius approximately equal to the * .* p radius of the needle and a second end having an outer radius approximately equal to the radius of the end of the dart body.

The said sleeve may have a radius that changes in a linear manner between said first and second ends.

Alternatively, the radius may change in a curved manner, for example to provide a concave sleeve.

The present invention also provides a sleeve adapted to be retrofitted to a dart, the dart having a needle mounted to a dart body, wherein the junction between the needle and the dart body provides a shoulder, wherein the sleeve is adapted to provide a smooth transition between said needle and the dart body.

The present invention further provides a needle for use with a dart body, wherein, in use, the dart body and the needle provide a shoulder, the needle comprising a sleeve shaped to provide a smooth transition between said needle and said dart body.

The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing a dart, the method comprising the steps of inserting a needle into a dart body such that a shoulder is provided between the needle and the dart body and providing a sleeve shaped to provide a smooth transition between said needle and said dart body. The said sleeve may form part of the needle. Alternatively, the sleeve may be a separate item, such as a rubber or plastic sleeve. For example, the sleeve may be generated by injection moulding. As noted above, the sleeve may be made from other materials.

The present invention yet further provides a method of fitting a sleeve to a dart, the dart comprising a dart body and a needle and having a shoulder between the dart body and the needle, the method comprising the step of positioning the sleeve over said needle and in contact with the dart body such that a smooth transition is provided between said needle and said dart body. Thus, invention provides a method of retrofitting a sleeve onto an existing dart.

Apparatuses and methods in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which: Fiy. 1,ii5 idc vic: cf L-rirmrn rI.rf: Fig. 2 shows a dart in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a removable sleeve in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; Fig. 4 shows a removable sleeve in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; Fig. 5 shows a removable sleeve in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; Fig. 6 shows a needle in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a dart, indicated generally by the reference numeral 2, having a form that is in widespread use. The dart 2 comprises a dart body 4, a needle 6 attached to one end of the dart body 4, and a flight assembly 8 attached to the other end of the dart body.

As shown in Figure 1, the junction between the dart body 4 and the needle 6 provides a shoulder, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. Darts are typically produced in large numbers, typically using an automated process such as Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machining. CNC machining for the generation of a dart body, including a central hole for the needle 6, generally requires the provision of a step that generates the shoulder 10.

The inventor has realised that, in use, the shoulder 10 can strike another dart on a dartboard leading to the possibility of bounce out. This problem can be addressed by removing the shoulder 10 of a finished dart by hand, for example by grinding. However, such hand-finishing is noi. uz,L-fftivc fcr rrdiirA darts.

Figure 2 shows the dart 2 of Figure 1 that includes a sleeve 12 positioned at the junction 10 between the dart body 4 and the needle 6. The sleeve 12 provides a smooth transition between the dart body 4 and the needle 6 such that the likelihood of bounce out is significantly reduced.

The sleeve 12 may take one of many forms. As shown in Figure 2, the sleeve 12 extends from a first end that has an internal radius approximately equal to the radius of the needle to a second end having an external radius approximately equal to the radius of the end of the dart body. Although the transition between the first and second ends of the sleeve 12 should be smooth, a variety of shapes could be provided.

By way of example, Figure 3 shows a straight-line transition between the first and second ends of the sleeve, whereas Figure 4 shows a concave transition.

Figure 5 shows a variant of the transition of Figure 4, including a chamfered region at the first end; the provision of a chamfered region is likely to be easier to mass-produce that the curve of Figure 4.

In one form of the invention, the sleeve 12 is produced in large quantities from a rubber or plastics material.

The sleeve 12 can added to the assembled dart by hand, or provided as a separate product.

As described above, the effect of the shoulder 12 on bounce out can be overcome by providing a suitable insert. Fiqure 6 shows a needle 6' that can be used to solve the same problem in a different manner. The needle 6' provides a tip at one end and is shaped at the other end to provide the sleeve of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A dart comprising a needle mounted to a dart body, wherein

the junction between the needle and the dart body provides a shoulder, the dart further comprising a sleeve shaped to provide a smooth transition between said needle and the dart body.
2. A dart as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve is a removable sleeve.
3. A dart as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve is part of said needle.
4. A sleeve adapted to be retrofitted to a dart, the dart having a needle mounted to a dart body, wherein the junction between the needle and the dart body provides a shoulder, wherein the sleeve is adapted to provide a smooth transition between said needle and the dart body.
5. A method of fitting a sleeve to a dart, the dart comprising a dart body and a needle and having a shoulder between the dart body and the needle, the method comprising the step of positioning the sleeve over said needle, and sliding it down said needle into contact with the dart body such that a smooth transition is provided between said needle and said dart body.

5. A needle for use with a dart body, wherein, in use, the dart body and the needle provide a shoulder, the needle comprising a sleeve shaped to provide a smooth transition between said needle and said dart body.

6. A method of manufacturing a dart, the method comprising the steps of inserting a needle into a dart body such that a shoulder is provided between the needle and the dart body and providing a sleeve shaped to provide a smooth transition between said needle and said dart body.

7. A method of fitting a sleeve to a dart, the dart comprising a dart body and a needle and having a shoulder between the dart body and the needle, the method comprising the step of positioning the sleeve over said needle and in contact with the dart body such that a smooth transition is provided between said needle and said dart body. i<D

Amendments to the claims have been tiled as follows CLAIMS: 1. A dart comprising a needle mounted to a dart body, wherein the junction between the needle and the dart body provides a shoulder, the dart further comprising a retrofitted sleeve shaped to provide a smooth transition between said needle and the dart body.

2. A sleeve adapted to be retrofitted to a dart, the dart having a needle mounted to a dart body, wherein the junction between the needle and the dart body provides a shoulder, wherein the sleeve is adapted to provide a smooth transition between said needle and the dart body.

3. A needle for use with a dart body, wherein, in use, the dart body and the needle provide a shoulder, the needle comprising a retrofitted sleeve shaped to provide a smooth transition between said needle and said dart body. * S. * * * * S. S...

4. A method of manufacturing a dart, the method r. comprising the steps of inserting a needle into a dart * body such that a shoulder is provided between the needle * * and the dart body and retrofitting a sleeve shaped to : .. 25 provide a smooth transition between said needle and said *.. S : dart body. * S