US20220065592A1

US20220065592A1 - Electronic dartboard device

Info

Publication number: US20220065592A1
Application number: US17/007,552
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsien-Ta Wu; Ho-Hsiang LEE
Original assignee: Winscend Tech Ltd
Current assignee: Winscend Tech Ltd
Priority date: 2020-08-31
Filing date: 2020-08-31
Publication date: 2022-03-03

Abstract

An electronic dartboard device includes: a frame including at least one accommodating space; at least one target block movably disposed in the accommodating space; a limiting member including a limiting portion and at least one fixing portion disposed around the limiting portion, the limiting member detachably assembled to the frame through the fixing portion, so that the limiting portion covers the opening of the accommodating space; and a mounting seat including a sensing circuit and detachably assembled to the frame and located at a second surface of the limiting portion. When an external force is applied to the target block and forces the target block to contact the first surface of the limiting portion opposite to the second surface, the sensing circuit detects a contact position of the target block on the limiting portion.

Description

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an entertainment device, and more particularly to an electronic dartboard device.

Related Prior Art

Most dart throwing activities or competitions are performed using simple solid dartboard (such as sisal dartboard) or electronic dartboard. During the dart throwing activities using solid dartboards, users usually need to calculate the scores themselves, which causes inconvenience to the users. Therefore, electronic dartboards have gradually replaced solid dartboards.
Most electronic dart machines are usually provided with multiple target blocks and one or more electronic components in the dartboard. When the player throws the dart at the dartboard, the dart will hit one of the target blocks, and the electronic component corresponding to the position where the target block is hit will sense the position of the dart by the induction principle, such as electromagnetic induction or pressure sensing, etc, so as to calculate the player's score.
However, when the target blocks need to be replaced, for most of the existing electronic dart machines, it requires to open the cabinet cover from the rear of the electronic dart machine, take out the dartboard after removing the base and electronic components of the dartboard, and then dissemble the dartboard to take out the target blocks that need to be replaced. Therefore, in the process of replacing the target blocks, not only it takes a lot of time, but also the target blocks will drop during the process of disassembling the dartboard, and even the electronic component is easily damaged by being touched by foreign objects.

SUMMARY

One objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic dartboard device that is easy to maintain, and the internal components thereof are less likely to be damaged by foreign objects.
To achieve the above objective, an electronic dartboard device in accordance with the present invention comprises: a frame including at least one accommodating space with an opening; at least one target block movably disposed in the at least one accommodating space; a limiting member including a limiting portion and at least one fixing portion disposed around the limiting portion, wherein the limiting portion includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the limiting member is detachably assembled to the frame through the fixing portion, so that the limiting portion covers the opening, thereby restricting the at least one target block within the at least one accommodating space; and a mounting seat detachably assembled to the frame and located at the second surface of the limiting portion, and the mounting seat including a sensing circuit configured to detect a contact position of the at least one target block on the limiting portion when an external force is applied to the at least one target block and forces the at least one target block to contact the first surface of the limiting portion.
In another embodiment, the at least one fixing portion is sleeve-shaped and surrounds the limiting portion.
In another embodiment, the number of the fixing portions is plural, and these fixing portions are separated from each other by a distance and surround the limiting portion.
In another embodiment, each of the fixing portions is provided with a hole, the frame includes a surface facing the limiting member and a plurality of pins on the surface, and the pins respectively correspond to the holes and are respectively configured to insert into the holes of the fixing portions, so that the limiting member is detachably assembled to the frame.
In another embodiment, the at least one fixing portion includes a surface for contacting the frame, and the surface is a plane.
In another embodiment, the at least one fixing portion includes a surface for contacting the frame, the surface is provided with at least one projection, and when the limiting member is detachably assembled to the frame, the projection abuts against the frame.
In another embodiment, the frame includes a surface for contacting at least one fixing portion, and the surface is provided with at least one projection, and when the limiting member is detachably assembled to the frame, the projection abuts against the at least one fixing portion.
In another embodiment, the frame includes a first surface for contacting the at least one fixing portion, the at least one fixing portion includes a second surface for contacting the frame, the first surface of the frame includes a first engaging structure, the second surface of the fixing portion includes a second engaging structure which corresponds to and matches the first engaging structure, and when the first engaging structure is detachably connected to the second engaging structure, the limiting member is detachably assembled to the frame.
In another embodiment, at least one of the limiting member and the at least one fixing member is made of elastic material.
In another embodiment, the frame includes a main frame portion and a support portion connected to the main frame portion, the at least one accommodating space is located in the main frame portion, the limiting member is detachably assembled to the main frame portion by the at least one fixing portion, and the support portion is detachably assembled to the mounting seat.
The limiting member of the electronic dartboard device of the invention is detachably assembled to the frame, so that the limiting member can cover the openings of the accommodating spaces of the frame for accommodating the target blocks to prevent the target blocks from falling off of the frame when the target blocks are being taken out.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an exploded view of an electronic dartboard device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1B is an exploded view of a part of a first assembly assembled by the frame, the target blocks and the limiting member in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of the first assembly in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 3 is a magnified view of a part of the first assembly in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of an electronic dartboard device according to another embodiment of the present invention, which is used to show a cross-section of a first assembly formed by the frame, the target block and the limiting member;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of an electronic dartboard device according to another embodiment of the present invention, which is used to show a cross-section of a first assembly formed by the frame, the target block and the limiting member;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a part of a first assembly assembled by the frame, the target blocks, and the limiting member in an electronic dartboard device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a part of an electronic dartboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing that a dart is thrown at a specific position on the electronic dartboard device; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a part of an electronic dartboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing that the second assembly that has been assembled is mounted to the cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be clearer from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1A to 3 and 7, an embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic dartboard device for players to play a dart game. The electronic dartboard device includes an electronic dartboard 10, and the electronic dartboard 10 includes a frame 11, a plurality of target blocks 12, a limiting member 13 and a mounting seat 14.
The frame 11 includes a main frame portion 11A and a support portion 11B provided around the main frame portion 11A. The main frame portion 11A includes a grille that includes a plurality of partitions 111. Each partition 111 includes a block portion 111A and a dividing piece 111B. One side of the block 111A is close to the player, and an opposite side of the block portion 111A is connected to the dividing piece 111B. The block portion 111A includes at least one extension 111 c. The partitions 111 are arranged to define a plurality of accommodating spaces 112 for accommodating the plurality of target blocks 12 respectively. The support portion 11B of the frame 11 may include, for example, a marking area 114A for setting labels 115. An edge 114B of the support portion 11B may include, for example, at least one lug 114C, and each lug 114C is provided with a hole H1 for insertion of a fastener. In this embodiment or other embodiments, the support portion 11B may be further provided with at least one hole H2 for insertion of at least one fastener F 1.
Each of the accommodating spaces 112 includes an opening 112A located at a side thereof and being close to the block portions 111A, and an opening 112B located at an opposite side thereof and facing the opening 112A. Therefore, at the time of assembly, each of the target blocks 12 can be placed into a corresponding one of the accommodating spaces 112 from the opening 112B thereof, and the player can see the target block 12 through the opening 112A of the accommodating space 112. The target block 12 can move freely in the corresponding accommodation space 112, and the extension 111 c of the block portion 111A located adjacent to the opening 112A of the accommodation space 112 can prevent the target block 12 from falling out of the opening 112A.
After the target blocks 12 are placed into their corresponding accommodating spaces 112, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the limiting member 13 is detachably assembled to the frame 11 to form a first assembly. In other words, the first assembly includes the frame 11, the above-mentioned plurality of target blocks 12, and the limiting member 13. In detail, the limiting member 13 includes a limiting portion 131 and at least one fixing portion 132 disposed around the limiting portion 131. The limiting portion 131 includes a first surface 131A adjacent to the target blocks 12 and a second surface 131B opposite to the first surface 131A. In this embodiment, the limiting member 13 is detachably assembled to the main frame portion 11A of the frame 11 through the fixing portion 132, so that the limiting portion 131 can cover the openings 112B, thereby restricting the target blocks 12 within the corresponding accommodating spaces 112 without falling out of the opening 112B, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this embodiment or other embodiments, the projection area of the limiting member 13 is greater than the projection area of the main frame portion 11A in an example, and the projection area of the frame 11 is greater than the projection area of the limiting member 13 in an example; and however, the present invention is not limited thereto.
After the first assembly is finished assembling, the first assembly can be detachably assembled to the mounting seat 14 to form a second assembly. That is, the second assembly includes the frame 11, the above-mentioned plurality of target blocks 12, the limiting member 13 and the mounting seat 14. More particularly, the mounting seat 14 includes, for example, a base 141 and a sensing circuit 142 for detecting whether the target block 12 is hit by a dart and determining the position of the target block 12 that has been hit, as shown in FIG. 1A. The base 141 includes a recess, for example, and the sensing circuit 142 in an example is detachably disposed on a bottom surface 141A of the recess. The bottom surface 141A of the recess may be provided with at least one hole H3. The position of each perforation H3 corresponds to the position of a corresponding one of the holes H2, so that the fastener F 1 can insert through the hole H3 after passing through the hole H2. A lateral edge 141B of the recess may be provided with at least one notch 141C in an example, and at least one hole H4 may be provided on the bottom surface 141A adjacent to the notch 141C in an example. The location of the hole H4 corresponds to the location of the hole H1 on one lug 114C of the frame 11 in an example, so that a fastener can insert through the hole H4 after passing through the hole H1. During assembling, the first assembly can be at least partially received in the recess in the base 141, so that the second surface 131B of the limiting portion 131 of the limiting member 13 can be close to or even touch the sensing circuit 142, and then by inserting the fastener through the hole H1 in the lug 114C of the frame 11 and the hole H4 of the base 141 of the mounting seat 14 in sequence, the first assembly can be detachably locked to the mounting seat 14. In this way, the second assembly can be relatively flat and beautiful in appearance after being assembled.
In this embodiment or other embodiments, the above-mentioned second assembly may further include a decorative frame 15. In detail, the size of the decorative frame 15 may be slightly larger than the size of the mounting seat 14, for example, and after the first assembly is detachably assembled to the base 141, the decorative frame 15 may be detachably assembled to the mounting seat 14 along the direction from the frame 11 to the mounting seat 14, so that the frame 11, the target blocks 12 and the limiting member 13 are located between the decorative frame 15 and the mounting seat 14, and the decorative frame 15 can at least cover the fastener inserted in the hole H1 of the frame 11 and the hole H4 of the mounting seat 14, and the notch 141C of the mounting seat 14.
When the second assembly is finished assembling, the player can play dart throwing games. An example of the operation of the electronic dartboard device during a dart game is described as follows. As shown in FIG. 7, each target block 12 includes a target block body 121 and at least one contact portion 122. The target block body 121 includes a first surface 1211 facing the player and the opening 112A, and a second surface 1212 opposite to the first surface 1211. The contact portion 122 extends from the second surface 1212 of the target block body 121, and one end of the contact portion 122 away from the target block body 121 is adjacent to the limiting member 13. When the player throws a dart 1 to the electronic dartboard device and hits a target block 12, the dart 1 will penetrate the first surface 1211 of the target block body 121 of the target block 12 and apply a force (namely, an external force) onto the target block 12. Since the target block 12 is movably disposed in the corresponding accommodating space 112 of the frame 11, the target block 12 that obtains this force will move toward the limiting member 13 or even press the limiting portion 131 of the limiting member 13. In this embodiment, the limiting portion 131 of the limiting member 13 is made of an elastic material, so that the pressed contact area T of the limiting portion 131 will further contact the sensing circuit 142. At this time, the sensing circuit 142 detects the contact of the limiting portion 131 and, according to the position of the pressed area T, determines whether the target block 12 corresponding to the pressed contact area T is hit, and determines the position of the target block 12 that was hit. These determination results will be used for the subsequent scoring program. The scoring program can be designed according to actual needs.
When any of the target blocks 12 needs to be replaced or the sensing circuit 142 needs to be repaired, just separate the first assembly from the mounting seat 14 by detaching the decorative frame 15 from the mounting seat 14 from the side of the electronic dartboard 10 facing the player, and then remove the fastener inserted in the hole H1 and the hole H4. Then, after the limiting member 13 is removed from the frame 11, the target block 12 to be replaced can be taken out. Since the frame 11 is provided with holes for assembling the frame 11 to the mounting seat 14, the first assembly can be detached from the mounting seat 14 from the side of the electronic dartboard 10 facing the player without damaging the electronic components in the sensing circuit 142. Furthermore, since the target blocks 12 are located between the frame 11 and the limiting member 13, and the limiting member 13 is detachably assembled to the frame 11, the target block 12 will not fall out of its corresponding accommodating space 112 by itself during the process of detaching the first assembly from the mounting seat 14.
Although the above embodiment of FIG. 3 is explained based on an exemplary case where the fixing portion 132 is sleeve-shaped and the inner side of the fixing portion 132 is a plane, the fixing portion of the present invention is not limited to the above example. The configuration and design of the fixing portion of the present invention can be any possible way, as long as the limiting member can be detachably assembled to the frame 11, the limiting portion can cover an opening of at least one of the accommodating spaces 112, and the at least one target block 12 disposed in the accommodating space 112 can be prevented from falling out of the accommodating space 112 by itself. For example, the overall limiting member can be made of an elastic material (such as silicone) and has a flat shape. Therefore, in detachably assembling the limiting member to the frame 11, the limiting member can be stretched first, and then directly sleeved onto the frame 11. At this time, a part of the limiting member covering the range of the target block can be regarded as the limiting portion, and a part of the limiting member sleeved on the frame 11 can be regarded as the fixing portion. For another example, as shown in FIG. 4, the limiting member 13′ includes the limiting portion 131 and at least one fixing portion 132′ connected to an edge of the limiting portion 131, and an engaging structure 1321 (also referred to as a second engaging structure) is provided on an inner surface (also referred to as a second surface) of the fixing portion 132′. The engaging structure 1321 may be, for example, but not limited to, at least one projection such as a bump or a rib, the projection abuts against the partition 111 of the main frame portion 11A to increase the frictional force of the fixing portion 132′ contacting the frame 11, so that the limiting member 13′ is not easy to fall off the frame 11 by itself. For another example, as shown in FIG. 5, an outer surface (also referred to as a first surface) of the partition 111′ of the main frame portion 11A can be provided with an engaging structure (also referred to as a first engaging structure) 113 corresponding to and matching the engaging structure 1321 on the inner surface of the fixing portion 132′. The engaging structure 113 may be, for example, at least one projection, such as a bump or a rib, or may be, for example, at least one concave, such as a dot, a recess or a groove. Alternatively, the number of the fixing portions is plural, and these fixing portions are separated from each other by a distance, and surround the limiting portion, as long as the structures at the junction between the fixing portion and the frame can correspond to each other and cooperate with each other. As shown in FIG. 6, the number of the fixing portions 132″ is plural, and these fixing portions 132″ are spaced apart from each other and surround the limiting portion 131. The fixing portions 132″ may be, for example, lugs, and each lug is provided with a hole H5. A surface of the frame 11″ facing the limiting member 13″ is also provided with a plurality of pins 116 respectively corresponding to the holes H5. In assembling the first assembly, these pins 116 can be inserted through their corresponding holes H5 respectively, so that the frame 11″ can be detachably assembled to the limiting member 13″, and the target blocks 12 can be located between the frame 11″ and the limiting member 13″.
In addition, the above embodiment is provided based on an exemplary case where the frame 11 is provided with the lug 114C including the hole H1 and the mounting seat 14 is provided with the notch 141C that can accommodate the lug 114C and include the hole H4 corresponding to the hole H1; and however, the invention is not limited to this. In other embodiments of the present invention, the frame may not need to be provided with any lug for forming a hole, and the hole can be directly formed in the support portion of the frame; and another hole is further defined in the mounting seat corresponding to the hole of the frame. Therefore, the frame can be detachably assembled to the mounting seat, that is, the first assembly can be detachably assembled to the mounting seat, after a fastener is inserted into the two holes.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the mounting seat of the electronic dartboard device is disposed to a cabinet, so that the electronic dartboard device can stand firmly at any desired position. Taking an electronic dartboard without a decorative frame and no lugs on the frame as an example, as shown in FIG. 8, the first assembly 20 that has been finished assembling can be assembled to a cabinet 30. The first assembly 20 is substantially similar to the first assembly of the above-mentioned embodiment, and the support portion 21B of the frame 21 is provided with at least one hole H2′. For the rest of the structure and components, reference may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments, which will not be repeated here.
The cabinet 30 includes a cabinet seat 31 and a cover 32 pivotally connected to the cabinet seat 31. The cabinet seat 31 includes a mounting seat 14′, and a sensing circuit (not shown) is provided on the mounting seat 14′. For the function of the sensing circuit, reference may be made to the related descriptions in the above embodiments, and no further description is provided here. At least one hole H6 is provided on the mounting seat 14′ and corresponds to the respective hole H2′. In assembling the second assembly, that is, the first assembly 20 is detachably assembled to the cabinet 30, the fasteners can be inserted through the holes H2′ of the frame 21 from the side of the frame 21 facing the player and then through the holes H6 of the mounting seat 14′, so that the first assembly 20 can be locked to the cabinet seat 31 of the cabinet 30. Finally, the cover 32 of the cabinet 30 is closed to complete the assembling of the second assembly, that is, the assembling of the electronic dartboard device.
Similarly, when any of the target blocks needs to be replaced or the sensing circuit needs to be repaired, the first assembly 20 can be removed from the cabinet 30 by removing the fasteners out of the holes H2′ and H6 from the side of the frame 21 facing the player. Then, after the limiting member is removed from the first assembly 20, the target block to be replaced can be taken out. Since the frame 21 is provided with the holes H2′ for insertion of the fasteners, the first assembly 20 can be detached from the cabinet seat 31 from the side of the electronic dartboard device facing the player without damaging the electronic components in the sensing circuit disposed in the cabinet seat 31.
In summary, the electronic dartboard device in accordance with the present invention is provided with a locking structure on the frame and the locking structure can be used to assemble the frame to the mounting seat, so in the process of replacing the target block or repairing the sensing circuit, the frame and the target block can be detached from the mounting seat from the side of the electronic dartboard device facing the player without damaging the electronic components of the sensing circuit, thereby extending the lifetime of the sensing circuit. On the other hand, the target blocks are arranged between the frame and the limiting member to form the first assembly, so the target blocks will not fall off from the accommodating spaces during the process of removing the first assembly body, which can considerably improve the efficiency in replacement of target blocks and maintenance of the sensing circuit.
While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic dartboard device comprising:

a frame including at least one accommodating space with an opening;

at least one target block movably disposed in the at least one accommodating space;

a limiting member including a limiting portion and at least one fixing portion disposed around the limiting portion, wherein the limiting portion includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the fixing portion is configured to enable the limiting member to be detachably assembled to the frame through the fixing portion, so that the limiting portion covers the opening, thereby restricting the at least one target block within the at least one accommodating space; and

a mounting seat including a sensing circuit and detachably assembled to the frame and located at the second surface of the limiting portion, and the sensing circuit configured to detect a contact position of the at least one target block on the limiting portion when an external force is applied to the at least one target block and forces the at least one target block to contact the first surface of the limiting portion.

2. The electronic dartboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fixing portion is sleeve-shaped and surrounds the limiting portion.

3. The electronic dartboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of the fixing portions is plural, and the fixing portions are separated from each other by a distance and surround the limiting portion.

4. The electronic dartboard device as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the fixing portions is provided with a hole, the frame includes a surface facing the limiting member and a plurality of pins on the surface, and the pins respectively correspond to the holes and are respectively configured to insert into the holes of the fixing portions, so that the limiting member is detachably assembled to the frame.

5. The electronic dartboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fixing portion includes a surface for contacting the frame, and the surface is a plane.

6. The electronic dartboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one fixing portion includes a surface for contacting the frame, and the surface is provided with at least one projection, and when the limiting member is detachably assembled to the frame, the projection abuts against the frame.

7. The electronic dartboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame includes a surface for contacting at least one fixing portion, and the surface is provided with at least one projection, and when the limiting member is detachably assembled to the frame, the projection abuts against the at least one fixing portion.

8. The electronic dartboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame includes a first surface for contacting the at least one fixing portion, the at least one fixing portion includes a second surface for contacting the frame, the first surface of the frame includes a first engaging structure, the second surface of the fixing portion includes a second engaging structure which corresponds to and matches the first engaging structure, and when the first engaging structure is detachably connected to the second engaging structure, the limiting member is detachably assembled to the frame.

9. The electronic dartboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the limiting member and the at least one fixing member is made of elastic material.

10. The electronic dartboard device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame includes a main frame portion and a support portion connected to the main frame portion, the at least one accommodating space is located in the main frame portion, the limiting member is detachably assembled to the main frame portion by the at least one fixing portion, and the support portion is detachably assembled to the mounting seat.