Magnetic projectile and target game that uses a fulcrum board launcher

A dart projectile game and its associated method of play. A launcher is provided that has a base and a lever suspended above the base by a fulcrum connection. The lever has a first end and an opposite second end that can teeter up and down. Magnetic material is coupled to the base below the first end of the lever. A projectile is provided that contains a magnet tip. Furthermore, a target is provided that has at least one magnetic section. The projectile is placed on the first end of the lever, wherein the magnet in the projectile attracts the magnetic material under the first end of the lever and biases the first end of the lever downwardly. A person presses down on the second end of the lever with enough force to overcome the magnetic attraction and accelerate the projectile into flight toward the target.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to target games that use magnetic tipped projectiles that magnetically attach to a target. The present invention also relates to projectile launchers that use fulcrum levers to propel a projectile into flight.

2. Prior Art Description

The prior art is replete with games that use dart projectiles of various configurations. Dart games for adults tend to use darts with pointed tips. However, for safety's sake, games marketed to children use safe-tip darts. Safe-tip darts come in many styles. One of the more popular safe-tip dart designs has a blunt magnetic tip. Darts with magnetic tips are tossed at magnetic targets. The magnet at the tip of the dart adheres to the target with magnetic attraction. The use of magnetic tipped darts is becoming increasingly popular due to the recent commercial availability of low cost, high strength rare earth magnets.

Many prior art dart games use magnetic tipped darts, and often the darts are manually thrown at the target in the traditional manner. The magnetic tip of the dart, therefore, has no effect upon the manner in which the dart is propelled. The present invention game is unique in that it utilizes a novel launching mechanism that can only be used with darts that have high strength magnetic tips. The launching mechanism adds a degree of skill and novelty to dart games that has not previously existed. The details of the present invention dart game with its launching mechanism are described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a dart projectile game and its associated method of play. To play the game, a launcher is provided that has a base and a lever suspended above the base by a fulcrum connection. The lever has a first end and an opposite second end that can teeter up and down. Magnetic material is coupled to the base below the first end of the lever.

A projectile is provided that contains a magnet tip. Furthermore, a target is provided that has at least one magnetic section. The projectile is placed on the first end of the lever, wherein the magnet in the projectile attracts the magnetic material under the first end of the lever and biases the first end of the lever downwardly.

A person presses down on the second end of the lever with enough force to overcome the magnetic attraction and accelerate the projectile into flight toward the target. The projectile magnetically attaches to the target if the projectile lands upon the target.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the present invention game can use projectiles of various shapes, it is particularly well suited for using projectiles of a dart shape. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shows the use of dart-shaped projectiles in order to set forth the best mode contemplated for the invention. However, it will be understood that the selection of a dart-shaped projectile is merely exemplary and that it should not be considered a limitation.

Referring toFIG. 1, the present invention game assembly10is shown. The game assembly10includes a plurality of projectiles12, a target board14, and a launcher16. The projectiles12illustrated are magnetic tipped darts18. In the forward tip24of each dart18is a high strength rare earth magnet20. Fletching22is present on the rear of each dart18. The forward tip24of the dart18is heavier than the rear of the dart18. This, in addition to the fletching22, causes the dart18to fly with its forward tip24leading as it passes through the air.

The magnet20in the forward tip24of each dart18presents that dart with a flat front surface26. The flat front surface26is preferably large enough so that the dart18can stand freely upon the flat front surface26when placed upon the flat front surface26or landing upon its flat front surface26.

The target board14has a top surface28that is made of a ferro-magnetic material, such as sheet steel. Target indicia30can be printed upon the target board14. The indicia30is a matter of design choice. In the shown embodiment, a traditional bullseye target pattern is illustrated.

Referring toFIG. 2in conjunction withFIG. 1, it can be seen that the launcher16has a flat base32. Two yoke projections34extend upwardly from the flat base32. Each of the yoke projections34defines a hole36.

A piece of magnetic materiel38is attached to the flat base32proximate its forward end39. In the shown embodiment, the magnetic material38is a strip of sheet metal. The piece of magnetic material38is mechanically and/or adhesively connected to the launcher base32so that it cannot be pulled away from the launcher base32.

A lever arm40is provided. The lever arm40has a forward end42and a rearward end44. Two opposing pivot pins46extend out of opposite sides of the lever arm40. The pivot pins46are sized to fit inside the holes36of the yoke projections34that extend up from the launcher base32. When the pivot pins46engage the holes36in the yoke projections34, a fulcrum joint50is created. The lever arm40is free to teeter about the fulcrum joint50with the rearward end44of the lever arm40either raising or falling in opposition to the falling or rising of the forward end42of the lever arm40.

The fulcrum joint50is located approximately one third of length of the lever arm40from its rearward end44. It will therefore be understood that the distance between the fulcrum joint50and the forward end42of the lever arm40is approximately twice as long as the distance between the fulcrum joint50and its rearward end44.

The lever arm40has a tapered section52proximate its forward end42. As such, it will be understood that the material of the lever arm40thins in the tapered section52. When the lever arm40is tilted, the tapered section52contacts the launcher base32directly above the segment of magnetic material38.

Referring toFIG. 3in conjunction withFIG. 2, it can be seen that to use the launcher16, the lever arm40is tilted down so that the tapered section52touches the launcher base32above the magnetic material38. The projectile dart18is placed upon the tapered section52of the lever arm40with the magnet20facing down. The magnetic field created by the magnet20attracts the magnetic material38through the tapered section52of the lever arm40. This biases the projectile dart18downward toward the magnetic material38.

Due to the angle of the tapered section52of the lever arm40, the projectile dart18does not stand in the vertical. Rather, the projectile dart18leans forward between ten and thirty degrees out of vertical.

The target board14is placed in front of the launcher16. A user then presses down on the elevated rearward end44of the lever arm40. As force is applied to the rearward end44of the lever arm40, the force is resisted by the weight of the projectile dart18, the weight of the large side of the lever arm40and the force that the magnet20in the projectile12exerts upon the underlying magnetic material38. As the force applied to the rearward end44of the lever arm40increases, energy is stored in the lever arm40like a spring. Once the energy builds to a point where it can overcome the weight differentials and the magnetic connection, the lever arm40begins to teeter, therein raising the projectile dart18. As the projectile dart18is raised, the magnet20moves away from the magnetic material38. The magnetic interaction between the magnet20and the magnetic material38quickly diminishes and starts a chain reaction. The energy stored in the lever arm40is released in an instant and the forward end42of the lever arm40flies upward. This accelerates the projectile dart18and launches the projectile dart18into the air.

Once the projectile dart18is airborne, it corrects itself to fly magnet first. The projectile dart18flies toward the target board14and hopefully lands upon the target board14. The target board14is made in part of magnetic material38. As such, the projectile dart18magnetically connects to the target board14once it lands upon the target board14. The placement of the projectile dart18on the target board14corresponds to the skill of a user in pressing the lever arm40and launching the projectile dart18into the air.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the present invention that is illustrated and described is merely exemplary. The projectiles can have many shapes other than that of darts. Likewise, the target can have many shapes other than a flat bullseye. For instance, the projectiles can be monkeys and the target can be a toy skyscraper. All such variations, modifications and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.