Dart game target

March 31, 1953

C. F. FLEIGLE

2,633,360

DART GAME TARGET

Filed Nov. 2, 1951

<img file="US2633360A_D0001.tif" />

Patented Mar. 31, 1953

2,633,360

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,633,360

DART GAME TARGET

Charles E. Fleigle, York, Pa.

Application November 2,1951, Serial No. 254,550

Claims. (Cl 1

This invention relates to improvements in a dart-game target.

Various kinds of dart games and targets therefor have been provided heretofore but most of these targets have been quite limited in purpose ⁵and, when the target was used to a considerable extent in one or more areas of the target it was necessary to discard the whole target and substitute a new one for it.

It is the object of the present invention to pro- ¹⁰vide a dart game target of unique arrangement so as to increase the scope of the number of games which may be played with darts When thrown at the target.

It is another object of the invention to provide ¹⁵a dart game target which can be illuminated so that it may be used for outdoor play after dark.

It is still another object to not only illuminate the dart game target area at which darts are thrown but also arrange the target so that the ²⁰source of illumination which renders the target area visible will also illuminate the playing area in the rear of the target visible so as to facilitate retrieving darts which have missed the target.

A still further object of the invention is to arrange the target with replaceable target blocks so that in the event any individual block becomes worn beyond further use, it may readily be replaced inexpensively and quickly without requiring the entire target to be discarded as has 3θ heretofore usually been necessary.

One further object is to provide an elongated vertical support to which a row of target blocks are arranged and, in one embodiment of the invention, said target blocks are made of wood and 35 the grain thereof extends transversally so as to eliminate or minimize chipping of the target blocks particularly adjacent the vertical side edges of the block assembly on the vertical support. 40

It is still another Object of the invention to support the elongated vertical target by post means which may be driven into an earth playing field, for example, and additional means are also provided which may be inserted into the 45 playing field so as to prevent turning of the target about the axis of the post.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention as well as other objects thereof are set forth in the following specification and illustrated so in the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical side elevation of the dart game target embodying the principles of the 55 . 273—102) present invention, the target being shown mounted for use on an earth playing field.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the dart game target shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of a part of the target to illustrate certain details thereof and being shown in a larger scale than in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawing, a vertical elongated support 10 is provided which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, may be formed from wood. Said support preferably has a flat forward surface to which a plurality of target blocks i 2 are attached by any suitable means such as wood screws 14 which are inserted through the support 10 and into the rear surfaces of the target blocks 12 as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the target blocks (2 are formed from wood and the grain thereof extends transversally to the vertical axis of the target. By this arrangement, when the darts strike the blocks near the side edges, chipping of the blocks is minimized. To further minimize splintering or chipping of the blocks, as well as to prevent questions as to which block received a dart, each block 12 has attached to one transverse edge thereof a narrow, thin metal strip 16 which is secured thereto by a plurality of brads or nails 18. Only one strip need be attached to each block and one edge of each strip 16 is preferably flush with the forward or target surface of the block 12.

It will be notedfrom the figures that the blocks 12 are arranged in close juxtaposition in a vertical row. It will thus'be seen that alternate target blocks serve readily to position the intermediate blocks therebetween and will prevent tipping or turning of said block relative to the support ID. Thus, only a single screw (4 need be used to attach each block 12 to the support 10.

Although it has been stated that, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the target blocks 12 are formed from wood, it is to be understood that any other suitable material may be used such as cork, leather, linoleum and the like which may be used in either solid form or sheets or strips thereof may be glued or cemented to wood, for example, in such a manner that the cork, leather or linoleum comprises the target surface of each block. Further, the blocks 12, regardless of the composition thereof, are provided with indicia 20 as clearly shown in Fig. 2 for purposes of providing scoring facilities and enabling the dart game target to be used in play2,633,360 ing a number of games such as, for example, baseball. The indicia 20, for example, may indicate respectively numbers of bases obtained by a contestant and, one of the target blocks 12 may have a circle 22 provided thereon and, if the dart 5 hits within said circle, a home run may be indicated, for example. Any suitable score recording means, not shown, may be used.

Many variations of a relatively wide number of games may be played by two or more con- 10 testants, especially when two targets are used in spaced relation to each other. Teams of contestants may play these games with two spaced targets and part of one team will shoot from one target toward the other target and vice versa, 15 thus minimizing the amount of walking required. The circle 22 may, for example, be formed from thin wire and attached to the block 12 by staples 24.

The support 10 is shown mounted in playing ²⁰position and is supported therein by post means 26 which may be driven into the earth or ground 28 when the same serves as a playing field. If used indoors, it will be understood that the post 26 may be fixedly secured to a floor surface in 25 any suitable manner. The post 26 is attached to the support fO by a plurality of guide blocks 30 and 32. The block 32 is preferably split and at two halves thereof are secured in clamping relationship relative to the post 26 by a pair of bolts 30 34 and wing nuts 36. The hole in the guide block 30 which receives the post 26 is substantially the same diameter as the post. Thus, when it is desired to mount the post 26 within the ground 28, the wing nuts 36 are loosened so that the post 35 26 may readily be driven into the ground without unduly jarring the target. Further means are also provided to aid in mounting the target relative to the post 26, said means comprising one or more spikes 38 which fixedly project from ⁴⁰the lower end of the support tG and are preferably pushed into the ground 28 and the wing nuts 36 are then tightened to finally clamp the target to the post 26. It will be seen that the spikes 38 will especially prevent turning of the 45 target about the axis of the post 28.

In order to increase the utility of the target comprising the present invention, the same is provided with illuminating means mounted at the upper end thereof. An enclosure generally 50 indicated 40 is composed of sides 42, a back 44 and a front 46, as well as a top 48. The enclosure 40 is open at the bottom and the sides, back, front and top thereof are preferably formed from inexpensive material such as wood. Other mate- 55 rial may be used if desired, however. A lamp socket 50 is secured to the top 48 so as to depend therefrom as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and an electric lamp bulb 52 is screwed into the socket 50. 60

The sides 42 are preferably provided with vent holes 54 and a double wire conductor cord 56 is connected to the socket 50 and extends down the back of the support 10, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 particularly. A sufficient length of con- 65 ductor cord is provided so that it may extend to a suitable power outlet socket. The free end of the conductor cord 56 is provided with a conventional pronged plug 58 for connection to said power outlet socket. The conductor cord 56, 70 when not in use, may be wound around a pair of hooks 60 fixed to the back of the support 10, thus storing the conductor in compact and neat fashion. Further, when used in daylight, the conductor cord 56 may be retained in stored con- 75 dition on the hooks 60 and, inasmuch as the entire conductor cord will be rearward of the target surfaces of the blocks 12, the conductor will not be harmed by darts thrown at the target.

It will be seen that the enclosure 46 will completely protect the lamp bulb 50 from harm by darts thrown at the target. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, it has been stated that the enclosure 40 may be formed from wood and this is particularly so regarding the front 46 of the enclosure so that in the event darts hit the front 46, they will go into· it without damaging the point of the dart. Further, to prevent chipping or splitting of the front 46 of the enclosure, the front 46, if formed from wood, is arranged so that the grain extends horizontally and the upper and lower edges have strips of leather 62, or other suitable material, fixed thereto and thereby preserve the edge portions of the front 46. A similar strip of leather or other suitable material 62 is fixed to the lower edge of the lowermost block 12 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Since the lower end of the enclosure 48 is open, the target surfaces of the blocks 12 are amply illuminated at night when the lamp 52 is lit. Not only will the target surfaces be illuminated but the playing field immediately in front of the target will also be illuminated. To further facilitate night playing, the back 44 of the enclosure 40 is also provided with a relatively large aperture 64 so that light may shine therethrough onto the playing field area rearward of the target and thus assist in retrieving darts which miss the target and land on the playing field in the rear of the target.

The enclosure 40 is readily attached to the upper end of the support i0 by any suitable means such as a pair of wood screws 66 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In view of this arrangement, the targets may be manufactured either with or without the enclosure 40 and illuminating means therein. If the targets are manufactured without said enclosure and illuminating means, the space between the uppermost target block 12 and the upper end of the support 10 may be filled in by a narrow block so as to give the target a finished appearance. This arrangement reduces manufacturing costs in providing targets which can be sold either with or without illuminating, means.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple and relatively inexpensive dart game target, which may be used either in daylight or after dark to play a wide variety of games between various numbers of contestants. The dart receiving area of the target primarily comprises a plurality of. target blocks which may individually be replacedinexpensively and easily in the event any of them, become worn beyond further use. If formed from wood, the target blocks · are arranged to minimize splintering and chipping and alternate blocks on the target support serve to position intermediate blocks therebetween, whereby only a single screw need be used to attach any individual block to the supporting strip. The supporting strip or board 10 may also preferably be of the same width and thickness as the material from which the target blocks 12 are formed, thus further minimizing cost in manufacturing.

While the invention has been shown and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and de2,633,380 scribed since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.