GB439172A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for playing games or for instructional purposes - Google Patents

Abstract

439,172. Targets. ELLIOTT, M. E., The Thistles, Kemp's Lane, Beccles, and WARNE, B. D., Broome, Bungay, both in Suffolk. May 26, 1934, No. 15752. [Classes 132 (ii) and 132 (iii)] [See also Group X] The invention relates to a score board or target, divided into a plurality of scoring areas and comprising electrodes adapted to be bridged by a dart or other projectile piercing a scoring area to complete a circuit through a corresponding electrically operated score indicator, and consists in providing front and back electrodes separated by a sheet of insulating material formed as a unit applicable to or removable from the board as a single entity. The invention is shown applied to a dart board, but may be used for instructional purposes, for example, in shooting or bombing practice preferably employing small scale model aircraft &c. The dart board comprises a casing 1 housing a cork, wood, &c. block 4 on which is mounted a continuous metal foil back electrode 5, an insulated sheet 6 and front sector-shaped metal foil electrodes 7. The unit is secured by metal lugs 8 screwed at 9 serving to connect the respective sections 7 electrically to corresponding lamps 13, Fig. 2, fixed to blocks 10. The back electrode 5 has one or two tongues such as 23 screwed at 24 to another block and connected by line 22 to batteries 15 in parallel. A lead 18 connects the batteries by way of a switch 19 to a ring 21 to which the lamps 13 are also connected. Thus, when a section 7 is pierced by a dart the corresponding lamp 13 illuminates a scoring disc 27 visible through an aperture 26. Similar connections may be provided for the bull's eye 28, but alternatively, the section 28 may be arranged to illuminate a lamp instead of one of the sections 7. The front and back contacts 5, 7 are preferably secured to the insulating sheet 6 by adhesive, but the unit may alternatively be formed of a rubber sheet metallized on both sides. The front contacts 7 form the playing surface of the board, but a covering sheet may be provided either plain or marked to outline the contacts 7. The lamps 13 may be replaced by movable armatures or other indicators. A wire grid separating the scoring areas may be used and serve to lead current to the bull's eye section, or to all of the sections 7. In another construction, the board and the score indicator comprise separate units, the score indicator unit 31, Fig. 7, comprising a cellular box with a lamp 13 in each compartment. A rotary switch 34 is provided to energize the front and back contacts 5, 7, to bum away any metal particles bridging these contacts caused by entry of a dart. This may be done successively for each section 7 or simultaneously, by providing a plurality of arms such as 34, one for each terminal 33. In a modification, the apparatus is adapted to be energized from household mains, several boards being connected in parallel. A score counter may be connected to the apparatus at 42, Fig. 7.