Framed dartboard

The present invention relates to a framed dartboard in which a magnetic rubber pad is combined with a case member of a picture frame that can provide interior decorations for the dartboard. The framed dartboard comprises a case member forming an outer case of the framed dartboard, a printed plate at least partially enclosed within the case member and containing designs related to a dart game, a magnetic rubber pad disposed at a rear side of the printed plate for attaching a magnetic dart, an elastic member disposed at a rear side of the magnetic rubber pad to absorb an impact force by the magnetic dart, a back plate which is disposed at a rear side of the elastic member, and a hanger portion for attaching the framed dartboard to a suitable external structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a framed dartboard, and more particularly to a framed dartboard in which a magnetic rubber pad is enclosed in a case member of a picture frame that can provide interior decorations or game designs.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a conventional dart game, the dart game is typically designed to utilize a magnet formed at the distal end of a dart which can be adhered to the dartboard made of a steel plate. But such a dart game has a problem concerning the noise generated at the moment when the dart thrown comes into contact with the dartboard.

To solve such a noise problem, a soft sheet dartboard has been introduced. However, because the dartboard can be flexibly swung back and forth as it is made of a soft material, it produces other problems. At the moment when the magnet dart thrown by the user hits the dartboard, it can be slid off because the board cannot support the impact. For example, when the dart hits the outer periphery of the dartboard, it can be slid off with the soft sheet swung by the impact force of the magnetic dart; or especially when it hits a bottom side of the dartboard, it falls off after being slid by the weight of the magnet dart flying in a parabolic trajectory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve such problems discussed above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a framed dartboard, in which a swing due to the impact of the magnetic dart is prevented when it hits the dartboard, and even if the magnetic dart flying in a parabolic trajectory hits a bottom side of the dartboard, it does not slide off as it is caught by a catch protruding outward.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a framed dartboard, wherein the aesthetic influence can be preserved in the outer appearance by maintaining the shape of the dartboard formed in a picture frame, and since it is easy to produce by assembling the components of the dartboard within a picture frame, workability and manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a framed dartboard, comprising: a case member forming an outer case of the framed dartboard; a printed plate at least partially closed within the case member and containing designs related to a dart game; a magnetic rubber pad disposed at a rear side of the printed plate for attaching a magnetic dart; an elastic member disposed at a rear side of the magnetic rubber pad to absorb an impact force by the magnetic dart; a back plate which disposed at a rear side of the elastic member; and a hanger portion for attaching the framed dartboard to a suitable external structure.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the case member includes an outermost plane portion, a slope portion inwardly extending from the plane portion, a vertical portion vertically extending from the slope portion, a first stepped portion for receiving the printed plate, the magnetic rubber pad and the elastic member therein, and a second stepped portion defining a space for receiving the back plate therein.

In other preferred embodiments, the sloped angle of the slope portion is between 30 and 75 degrees.

In still further preferred embodiments, the case member is formed into a square, circular, elliptical or rhombic shape. In addition, a rope can be used for the case member, and the rope can be attached using a bonding means onto the front surface of the printed plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of the framed dartboard of the present invention, andFIG. 2is an exploded perspective of the framed dartboard of the present invention. Framed dartboard100of the present invention comprises case members110, a printed plate120a magnetic rubber pad130, an elastic member140, and a back plate150. Case members110form an outer case of the framed dartboard100and are connected together by a plurality of connecting means180. Printed plate120, is fitted within the enclosure of the case members110and contains designs related to the game. Magnetic rubber pad130, is placed at the rear surface of the printed plate120so that a magnet member210(FIGS. 5aand5b) formed at a distal end of magnet dart200can be adhered thereto. Elastic member140is placed at the rear surface of the magnetic rubber pad130made of iron particles and a resilient material to absorb the impact force by the magnetic dart200. Back plate150is placed at the rear surface of the elastic member140to be connected into one unit by the case member110and a plurality of connection means182. Hanger170is preferably provided, wherein it is connected by the connection means182to the framed dartboard100.

The printed plate120, magnetic rubber pad130, elastic member140and back plate150are preferably bonded with adhesives of known types to connect into one unit. However, it is more preferred that the print member120, magnetic rubber pad130and elastic member140are adhered by adhesives but the elastic member140and back plate150are not adhered by adhesives.

The case members110are so formed as to make the four members connect with one another, and these four members are bonded with the joints adhered at an angle of 45 degrees each other. In this disclosure, the connecting means180is intended to include bond or adhesives, a staple or tack, or other commonly used means similar to these, and such a connection can be performed using more than one of these means.

The case members110can be formed with synthetic resin, metal, wood or the like.

A rope or elongate frame member can be used for the case members110, and they can be connected using a bonding means such as silicone and adhesives that are commonly used on the peripheral surface of the printed plate120.

Further, the case members110are formed with a plurality of surfaces consisting of a plane portion111that forms an outermost face, a slope portion112that extends inwards from the plane portion111, a vertical portion114that extends vertically from the slope portion112, a first stepped portion116that provides a space for the printed plate120, the magnetic rubber pad130and the elastic member140to mount on, and a second stepped portion118that provides a space for the back plate150to mount on.

Namely, it is desirable to form the sloped angle of the slope portion112typically at 30 to 75 degrees which can alternatively be formed concave or convex depending on the design of the dart board. So even if the magnet member210of the magnetic dart200hits the slope portion112, it is moved along the sloped portion to be adhered to the inside of the framed dartboard100.

In case the magnet member210of the magnet dart200flies in a parabolic trajectory and hits the vertical portion114, which is an inner part of the case member110, the vertical portion114guides the magnet member210so it will not slide off. The height of the vertical portion114is formed greater than a half of the diameter of the magnet member210. However, it is more preferable to make it the same or greater than the diameter of the magnet member210to prevent the magnet dart200from sliding off.

In addition, the printed plate120, on which drawings and numbers for various dart games are printed according to the design of the dart board, is formed with paper or synthetic resin, or fabric.

The magnetic rubber pad130is preferably made with commonly used magnetic rubber materials having a preferable mixing ratio of 90% or more of iron powder (Fe powder) and 10% or less of synthetic rubber or natural rubber. It can absorb the impact of the magnet member210of the magnetic dart200. When using a flexible magnetic pad130, the thinner the thickness of the sheet, the greater is the ability to absorb the impact.

Further, the elastic member140is made of a synthetic resin material such as shape-restorable polyurethane, polyether foam or slow recovery foam, a corrugated cardboard material (that can be formed of paper or a synthetic resin material), or Styrofoam, so that the impact of the magnetic dart200can be further dispersed or absorbed to reduce the noise and falling-off.

The back plate150can be made of plastic or wood, and a plurality of connection holes152and154are formed so that it can be connected to the case member110in one unit by the plurality of connection means182.

On an upper portion of the hanger170, there is formed a through hole172to hang on a wall or an appropriate structure.

The framed dartboard of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, the framed dartboard can be made into square, circular, elliptical, rhombic or other shapes.

Referring now toFIGS. 6 and 7, the difference in this embodiment from the embodiment described above is not only the shape of the frame—but in which the dartboard is formed in a circular shape. Here, it is also different in that the hanger170is formed in the case member110in one unit and the back plate, i.e.150inFIG. 2, is also formed in one unit with the case member110. However, the slope portion112and the vertical portion114, have same or similar structures and functions.

Although the preferred embodiments of the framed dartboard in accordance with the present invention have been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited to the described preferred embodiments, but various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above description but the following claims.

The framed dartboard of the present invention as described above is an invention whereby swinging or shaking due to the impact of the magnetic dart is prevented. Thus, even if the magnetic dart hits the bottom side of the dartboard in a parabolic trajectory, the magnet dart does not slide off as it is caught by a catch protruding outward. An aesthetic appeal can be preserved when seen from the outside by maintaining the appearance of the dartboard in a picture frame form, and workability and manufacturing efficiency can be improved because it is easy to produce by assembling into a picture frame form with the printed plate, magnetic rubber pad, elastic member and back plate coupled to form the dartboard.