Abstract:
A dartboard adapted for playing the game of american football includes a quadrilateral simulated football field section; a quadrilateral downs section; a quadrilateral punts section; and a quadrilateral kicks section; whereby opposing players or teams accumulate scores by projecting darts in sequence in order to achieve a total winning score within a previously agreed time period.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a dartboard for playing a simulated game of american football. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The ancestor of all footballs games is soccer, but rugby, an offshoot of soccer, served as the basis for american football. 
     Rugby was invented in 1823 at Rugby School in England. Rugby became popular and was soon adopted by other schools in England, which led in the 1850&#39;s to the the formation of the Football Association which adopted Rules for Rugby. 
     Princeton and Rutgers pioneered intercollegiate football in the United States in 1869 when the game played was soccer, albeit with twenty-five players on a side, instead of the present day eleven. Soon Yale, Cornell, Columbia and Michigan organized intercollegiate football teams. In 1873, Yale convened a meeting to form the Intercollegiate Football Association. On May 15, 1874, McGill University in Canada introduced the game of rugby to the United States. Americans soon became fascinated with the egg- shaped ball. Within two years, a slightly modified form of rugby had been adopted officially by Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Rutgers under a new Intercollegiate Football Association. Various changes were developed, until in 1905, New York University called a special meeting of the football playing colleges of the nation, at which it was decided and to appoint a Football Rules Committee which adopted the beginning rules for what is now known as american football. Those rules have been considerably developed and refined over the ensuring years. The present invention utilizes the Rules of Football, hereinafter referred to as Rules of American FootbalL adapted a simulated football game played by opposing players or teams projecting darts onto the dartboard of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The dartboard of the present invention simulates a rniniaturized playing field which is used for playing the game of american football. The dartboard further includes quadrilateral sections with different size targets for downs, punts and kicks. Each target is sized so as to require proficiency in the throwing of darts in order to achieve higher total score by one player or team of dart players against an opposing player or team within a previously agreed time period. 
     An objective of the present invention is to develop individual skills and proficiency in the throwing of darts which simulate the sills required in playing american football. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to require tactics and strategies by each player or team which simulate those needed in playing american football. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a simulated football game which can be played indoors, in comfortable and convivial surroundings, at any time of the year. 
     These and and other objectives and features of the present invention will be clarified in the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the dartboard of the present invention, which contains four separate sections: a Simulated playing field, a Downs section, a Punts section and a Kicks section; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevation view of the Simulated playing field section of FIG.  1 ;. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation view of the Downs section of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation view of the Punts section of FUG.  1 ; and 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevation view of the Kicks section of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     INDEX OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS 
       1 . Dartboard 
       10  Simulated playing field section 
       11  End zone 
       12  End zone 
       13  Goal Post 
       14  Goal Post 
       15  Goal post 
       16  Goalpost 
       17  Playing field enclosure 
       18  Ten yard lines 
       19  Five Yard strips 
       20  10 yard markers 
       21  5 yard markers 
       22  1 yard indicators 
       23  Sideline 
       24  Sideline 
       25  Narrow end 
       26  Narrow end 
       27  Long side 
       28  Long side 
       29  Playing field divider strip 
       30  Downs section 
       31  First Down triangle 
       32  Second Down triangle 
       33  Third Down triangle 
       34  Fourth Down triangle 
       35  7 yard gain target 
       36  12 yard gain target 
       37  15 yard gain target 
       38  Turnover indicator 
       39  Turnover indicator 
       40  Turnover indicator 
       41  Turnover indicator 
       42  Turnover indicator 
       43  Penalty marker 
       44  Penalty marker 
       45  Penalty marker 
       46  Penalty marker 
       47  Touchdown indicator 
       48  Special gain area 
       49  Downs section divider strip 
       60  Punts section 
       61  PUNT RETURN FOR TD target 
       62  BLOCKED PUNT target 
       63  20 yard punt target 
       64  30 yard punt target 
       65  40 yard punt target 
       66  50 yard punt target 
       67  60 yard punt target 
       68  PENALTY MARKER 
       69  Punts section divider strip 
       70  Kicks section 
       71  Point After Touchdown and 35 yard field goal target 
       72  36-45 yard field goal target 
       73  46-55 yard field goal target 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown the Dartboard of the present invention, generally referred to as  1 . The Dartboard  1  includes a quadrilateral Smulated playing field section, generally referred to as  10 ; a quadrilateral Downs section, generally referred to as  30 ; a quadrilateral Punts section, generally referred to as  60 ; and a quadrilateral Kicks section, generally referred to as  70 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown the quadrilateral Simulated playing field section  10 , in the upper portion of the Dartboard  1 . The Simulated playing field section  10 , is used to represent the standard, rectangular 100 yard playing field of american football. The Playing field enclosure  17  has opposite Narrow ends  25 ,  26 , and and opposite Long sides  27 ,  28 . End zones  11 ,  12  are located at the opposite Narrow ends  25 ,  26 , respectively, of the Playing field enclosurel 7 . A pair of Goal posts  13 ,  14  and  15 ,  16  are each positioned at the center of the outside periphery of the End zones  11 ,  12 , respectively. The Long sides  27 ,  28  of the Playing field enclosure  17  are perpendicularly divided by parallel lines indicating Ten yard lines  18  indicated by 10 yard markers  20 , Five yard strips  10  indicated by 5 yard markers  21 , and 1 yard indicators  22 . The Long sides  27 ,  28  have Sidelines or boundaries  23 ,  24 , respectively. The Simulated playing field section  10  is separated from the Downs section  30  and the Punts section  60  by a Playing field divider strip  29 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, there is shown the Downs section  30  in the lower left portion of the Dartboard  1 . The Downs section  30  is a representation of the four downs provided in the Rules of American Football. The quadrilateral Downs section  30  is bounded on each of its four sides by narrow peripheral bands or areas  38 ,  39 ,  40  and  41  which are marked TURNOVER as an indicator of a turnover by a player in accordance with the Rules of American Football. There is a further Turnover indicator  42  represented by a narrow band dividing the top and the bottom of the Downs section  30  parallel and horizontally located between the Turnover indicator  38  and the Turnover indicator  40 . At the right side of of the Turnover indicator  42  is a quadrilateral TD target  47  which represents a touchdown for a score of six points.for the shooter hitting that target. 
     The Downs section  30  has two horizontal bands or areas  43 ,  45  which are marked PENALTY as indicators of a penalty whenever struck by a dart from a shooter. Penalty marker  43  is located peripheral to and below Turnover indicator  38 . Penalty marker  45  is located peripheral to and above Special gain area  48 . Two additional Penalty markers  44 ,  46  are narrow bands which are located in a transverse direction from left to right of Downs section  30 . Penalty marker  44  begins near the top of Turnover indicator  41 , below Penalty marker  43  and proceeds in a downward direction and to the right toward the center of Turnover indicator  39 , and ends just above the TD target  47 . Penalty marker  46  begins near the bottom of Turnover indicator  41  and proceeds in an upward direction and to the right, ending near the center of Turnover indicator  39  and ends just below TD target  47 . 
     A quadrilateral Special target gain area  48  is positioned at the lower portion of Downs section  30 , below the horizontal Penalty indicator  45  and above the Turnover indicator  40 , positioned between the Turnover indicators  39 ,  41 . Within the Special target gain area  48  are horizontally located three footbal-shapeed targets indicating a 7 yard gain  35 , a 12 yard gain  36 , and a 15 yard gain  37 . 
     In Downs section  30  there are four Downs triangular areas  31 ,  32 ,  33  and  34 . A First down triangle  31  is formed by the area within the three legs of Penalty markers  43 ,  44  and the upper portion of Turnover indicator  39 . A Second down triangle  32  is formed by the area within the three legs of Penalty marker  44  and Turnover indicators  41 ,  42 . A Third down triangle  33  is formed by the area within the three legs of Turnover indicators  41 ,  42  and Penalty marker  46 . A Fourth down triangle  34  is formed by the area within the three bands of Penalty markers  45 ,  46  and Turnover indicator  39 . Each of the four Downs triangles  31 .  32 ,  33  and  34  are subdivided into target areas which indicate  3 ,  5 ,  10  and  20  for yards gained; SACK; and INC. which means an incomplete forward pass. The Downs section  10  is separated from the Punts section  16  and the Kicks section  70  by Downs divider strip  49 . 
     It is a feature of the present invention that all of the target are have different sizes which require skill or proficiency of the player or shooter of the darts onto specific targets on the Dartboard  1 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, there is shown the Punts section  60  of the Dartboard  1  of the present invention. The Punts section  60  is bounded by a rectangular band marked as PENALTY marker  68 . Enclosed within the PENALTY marker  68  are sevene concentric targets indicating: PUNT RETURN FOR TD target  62 ; BLOCKED PUNT target  61 ; 20 punt yard target  63 ; 30 yard punt target  64 ; 40 yard punt target  65 ; 50 yard punt target  66 ; and 60 yard punt target  67 . Each of the latter targets are sized in area to provide greater skill or proficiency of the dart thrower to achieve longer punts or a touchdown. The Punts section  60  is separated from the Kicks section  70  by a Divider strip  69  on the Dartboard  1 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5, there is shown the Kicks section  70  of the Dartboard  1 . The Kicks section  70  has positioned thereon three goal post-shaped targets  71 ,  72  and  73 . Target  71  is the largest target and is labeled PAT - 35 YDS indicating a Point After Touchdown for 1 point after scoring a Touchdown, or indicating a 35 yard field for 3 points scored by the player. Target  72  is labelled  36 - 45  indicating a field goal for 3 point scored by the thrower when he is within that distance from his Goal posts, either  13 ,  14  or  15 ,  16  on the Simulated playing field  10 . Target  72  is labeled  46 - 55  indicating a field goal for 3 points scored by a player when within that distance from the goal posts, either  13 ,  14  or  15 ,  16  on the Simulated playing field  10 . 
     METHOD OF OPERATION 
     The simulated football game of the present invention is played in accordance with the Rules of American Football and in the following manner: 
     A simulated football game begins with a coin toss to determine the first player or shooter of darts. A n initial time period of play is set at 15 minutes The first player begins play at his own 20 yard line on the Simulated playing field  10  He receives an initial set of four darts which he uses as an initial set of four downs in which he must gain a rrmiimum of 10 yards by shooting darts onto the Dartboard  1 , in order to receive another set of four darts to gain another 10 yards for each succeeding set of four downs The first player shoots his set of four darts, one dart at a time, and successively, at each of the Downs triangles  31 ,  32 ,  33 , lnd  34  in Downs Section  30 ., Alternatively, the first player may shoot at the Special gain target area  48 , or at the the TD for touchdown target  47 . Only one attempt, and only with the fourth dart, may the player shoot at the TD target  47 , or at the Special gain target area  48  during each set of four downs. 
     A thrown dart corresponds to a down regardless of where it lands. A thrown dart that does not remain in the Dartboard  1  shall count as zero yards gained. In the final two minutes of a game each one of the set of four darts may be thrown at the TD or touchdown target  47 . Positive yardage may only be gained by indicating yardage gained on the Simulated playing field  10  for each down or dart thrown. Additional yardage is likewise indicated on the Simulated playing field  10  after each dart is thrown. 
     The players play or throw four darts, corresponding to a set of four downs, in succession following the a player who has not achieved, either: a gain of a total of 10 yards within a set of four downs, or the player has scored a TD, or the player has punted, or the player has kicked a field goal, or the playerr has made a turnover. When a player has struck the TD target  47 , he scores 6 points, and he must then attempt another point by throwing a dart at the PAT or Point After Touchdown target  71  in the Kicks section  70 . If a player does not achieve a total of 10 yards gained with his first three darts thrown during each set of four downs, he may attempt to: throw at the Special gains target area  48 ; or throw a dart at the TD target  47 ; or he may elect to punt by throwing at the targets in Punts Section  60 ; or he may attempt a field goal if he is within a distance indicated in the Kicks section  70 . 
     If the player strikes a Penalty marker  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 ,  48  the shooter will lose 5 yards in field position on the Simulated playing field  10 , and he will repeat that down. The non-shooting player determines whether a penalty is enforced or declined. If declined, no yardage is lost by the shooting player, but he loses a down. Any dart which strikes within a SACK target in any of the Downs triangles  31 ,  32 ,  33 , or  34  results in a loss of 5 yards in position plus a loss of down by the shooting player. A dart that strikes an INC target in any of the Dons triangles  31 ,  32 ,  33 , or  34  is considered an incomplete pass and zero yards gained. 
     After one player achieves a touchdown by striking the TD target  47 , or he gains sufficient yards during each set of downs to reach his End zone  11  or  12 , he is awarded 6 points, and he must attempt to strike the PAT or Point after Touchdown target  61  for one additional point A player may attempt a target in the Punts section  60  with the last dart in each set of four darts or downs. A player who attempts a punt by a dart thrown to Punts section  60 , but who misses the Punts section  60 , or who hits the BLOCKED PUNT target  61  has zero yards added to his position on the Simulated playing field  10 . Thereupon, the next player begins his set of four downs with a set of four darts. 
     A player who attempts a field goal by throwing a dart at the Kicks section  70  must add 10 yards to his position on the Simulated playing field  10  to allow the additional distance of 10 yards in his End zone, either  11  or  12 . A PAT or Point After Touchdown and a 36-45 yard field goal are achieved by shooting a dart at the largest sized target  72  in the Kicks section  70 . Field goal attempts of 36-45 yards are taken by throwing a dart at the middle sized target  72 . Field goal attempts of 46-55 yards are are taken by shooting a dart at the smallest sized target  73 . 
     All penalties are counted as a negative 5 yards to the shooter&#39;s position on the Simulated playing field  10 . If a player hits the PENALTY target  68  in the Punts section  60  a penalty of 5 yards is assessed against the player&#39;s position, regardless of whether or not he is punting. When a player shoots at the Punts section  60 , the yardage achieved is added to his position on the Simulated playing field  10 , which is the position where the next shooter begins his set of four downs. If a shooter hits the Blocked punt target  62 , he is assessed a negative 5 yards to his position on the Simulated playing field  10 , from which point the next player begins his set of four downs. If a shooter hits the PUNT RETURN FOR A TD target  61 , the non-shooter is awarded 6 points and he must attempt to hit the PAT target  71  to be awarded another one point to his score. One point is awarded for each point after touchdown and three points are awarded for each field goal. A non-shooter will be awarded two points for a safety if the shooter hits a SACK target in any of the Downs triangles  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  when his position is within 5 yards of his own End zone  11  or  12 . Penalties assessed against a shooter when his position is within five yards of his own End zone  11  or  12  on the Simulated playing fired  10  are assessed at one-half of the distance to his own End zone  11  or  12 . 
     If the first shooter achieves a touchdown or a field goal, or has a safety assessed against him, the next player begins play at his own 20 yard line on the Simulated playing field  10 . As each shooter accumulates yardage gained, the non-shooter marks the appropriate position of the shooter on the simulated playing field  10 . The shooter may not shoot another dart until his appropriate position has been marked by the non-shooter. 
     If a game is tied after 15 minutes of play, a sudden death overtime of 5 minutes is required. The players flip a coin to determine the first shooter. The first player to score is the winner of the simulated football game. 
     In the event that a situation arises which is not covered by the above METHOD OF OPERATION, the situation is resolved by reference to the Rules Of American Football. 
     The present invention shall not be limited by the above descriptionof the preferred embodiment for which those skilled in the art of football games may find alternate equivalent features comprehended by the spirit of the present invention. The invention is defined by the following claims which are appended hereto.