IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO TARGET APPARATUS

Abstract: A target for projectiles, such as darts, has a base (1) and a multi-section board (3) mounted on the base (1) and rotatable to any of a number of set positions. One or more sensors (15), concealed behind the board (3), determine the orientation of the board (3) and produce a signal which is fed into the computerized scoring system, keeping that consistent whatever the orientation of the board (3).

Description: "Improvements relating to Target Apparatus" This invention relates to target apparatus. It is primarily concerned with dartboards, and in particular dartboards with provision for automatic scoring such as described in our European Patent 0121550. Such a board has a conventional appearance and can be used in a conventional manner, not requiring special darts. The sisal fibres which are compacted together to form the beds are made conductive and the beds are insulated from one another and also from the wire grid which overlays the dividing lines between the beds. The beds are energised with identifying signals and a dart sticking into any particular bed causes a modified signal to be transmitted by the grid, which acts as an aerial. Thus the particular bed receiving a dart can be identified. The circuitry for processing this information and for controlling an electronic score board can be mounted to the rear of the target. With reasonably skilled players certain areas of the board tend to become more worn than others. Rather than throwing away the board, the procedure is to rotate it sc that, for example, what was the "20" sector becomes the "18" sector, and so on round the board. When further wear occurs it can be rotated again and again until it is finally beyond recall. Of course, the numbers identifying the sectors have to be adjusted rather than be carried round with the board, but that is no great problem. The wire grid can stay fixed. With an automatic scoring board such as the one outlined above, there is an additional problem since, unless further adjustments are made, a player hitting the new "18" sector will be scored "20", for example. While it would be possible to make re-connection to all the individual beds at the back of the board, that is not really practical. Studs on the rear of the board which slide into contact with fixed studs permanently wired to the scoring circuitry have been considered, but getting perfect contact from eighty two pairs of studs simultaneously is not practical. Instead, it is preferred to keep the connections intact and arrange for the computer control to ascribe different values to the sectors when the board has been rotated. It is the aim of this invention to simplify this board adjustment. According to the present invention there is provided a target for projectiles comprising a board with a face at which the projectiles are aimed, the face having different sectors with different scoring values, a base on which the board is rotatably mounted, and means concealed from the projectiles responsive to the attitude of the board to provide a signal indicative of the sector orientations. With the automatic scoring dartboard referred to above, that signal will be used to govern the computer into ascribing the correct value of a hit on any of the beds. Conveniently, the board will be registerable in any of a plurality of set positions relative to the base, and these may be determined by at least one spring-loaded plunger engaging in a detent. This will be firm enough for ordinary usage, but the board can simply be twisted from each set position until the plungers engage in other detents defining the next set position and so on. All that then has to be done is for a number ring, if that is rotated with the board, to be removed and reset at its original position in relation to the base. However, it would probably be simpler to have the numbers fixed to the base, but overlying or adjacent the periphery of the board. In the preferred form, the board will carry a sensor and a gravity influenced member which co-operates with the sensor for the latter to provide said signal. This member may be a weighted disc pivoted on its axis, which will be horizontal, whereby the disc remains with the same orient¬ ation whatever the rotation of the board. It can have coded markings or formations around its periphery to which the sensor is responsive to provide a unique signal for each set position. Aternatively, there could be a plurality of sensors, and the disc could have uniform markings or formations around its periphery, to which the sensor is responsive, the sensors and/or markings having an uneven distribution so that a unique combined response from the sensors is obtained for each set position. For a better understanding of the invention one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical axial section of an automatic scoring dartboard, Figure 2 is a face view of a locating ring for the board , Figure 3 is an exploded side view of components of the board, and Figure 4 is a face view of an orientation signalling device. The board has a fixed, ring-like frame 1 which provides an annular rebate 2 in which seats the periphery of a circular board 3. Inserts 4 of nylon, for example, in the corner of the rebate provide a smooth bearing so that the board can be easily rotated. The face of the board, to the right hand side in the figure, is marked as a conventional dartboard, but the board will be of the automatic scoring type as described in our European Patent. It has a flange 5 at its edge overlapping a ring 6, fixed to the frame 1. This ring may also be of compressed fibres like the main body of the board, to receive slightly stray darts, and numbers may be fixed over the ring to indicate the scoring values of the sectors of the board. Secured behind the frame 1 there is another ring 7, which is flat and formed with ten slots 8 at regular intervals around it. These provide locating detents for rollers 9 mounted at opposite ends of a shallow channel member 10 which diametrically spans the rear of the board to project at each end over the frame. The member 10 is attached to the board 3 by screws 11 engaging in stand-off studs 12 projecting from the rear of the board. Springs i are interposed between the screw heads and the member 10 sc that the latter is mounted with a certain resilience, allowing the rollers 9 to snap in and out of the slots 8. Provision may be made for preventing the screws 11 being tightened down too hard. It will be seen that the board can be indexed round to be set at ten different rotational positions, and there may be a stop (not shown) to ensure that it is not turned through more than 360°. iring from circuitry (not shown) mounted on the member 10 must not sustain too much twisting. Mounted on the member 10 is an orientation det.ect.or best seen in Figure 4. It has a base 14 fixed to the member 10 and this carries a number of sensors 15 in a circular array. A disc 16 mounted on a shaft 17 coaxial with this array and parallel to the axis of the board can rotate freely, but it is weighted so that it will always maintain the same orientation whatever the rotational position of the board 3. This may be achieved as shown in the drawing by having a cutout portion 18 leaving a solid sector 19. Alternatively, a complete disc could have a weight of any suitable material asymmetrically fixed to it. Around the periphery of the disc there is a flange 20 with cutouts 21. In this example, there are four equally spaced sensors 15 and five of these cutouts 21 with a non-uniform distri¬ bution, but other arrangements are possible. Indeed, there could be two or more discs, each with one or more sensors. For every different pair of slots 8 engaged by the rollers 9 there is a different combination of sensors registering or not registering with these cuzouts 21, and thus they provide a unique coded signal indicating the orientation of the member 10, and hence the rotational position of the board 3. It will be understood that there are many other ways of detecting the orientation of the board, for example by having co-operating means on the board and the fixed frame to provide coded signals indicative of rotational position. But the arrangement described has the advantage of being wholly carried by the rotatable board and thus it reduces the wiring problems.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A target for projectiles comprising a board with a face at which the projectiles are aimed, the face having different sectors with different scoring values, a base on which the board is rotatably mounted, and means concealed from the projectiles responsive to the attitude of the board to provide a signal indicative of the sector orientations. 2. A target as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the board is registerable in any of a plurality of set positions relative to the base. 3. A target as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the set positions are determined by at least one spring loaded plunger engaging in a detent. 4. A target as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the board carries a sensor and a gravity influenced member which co-operates with said sensor for the latter to provide said signal. 5. A target as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the member is a weighted disc pivoted on its axis, which is horizontal, whereby the disc remains with the same orientation whatever the rotation of the board. 6. A target as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the disc has coded markings or formations around its periphery to which the sensor is responsive to provide a unique signal for each set position. 7. A target as claimed in Claim 4, wherein there is a plurality of sensors and the disc has uniform markings or formations around its periphery to which the sensors are responsive, the sensors and/or the markings or formations having an uneven distribution so that a unique combined response from the sensors is obtained for each set position.

Inventors: MACPHEE RONALD ALEXANDER, POWELL ROBERT COLIN, MACPHEE, RONALD, ALEXANDER, POWELL, ROBERT, COLIN
Applicants: WELLOW LEISURE PRODUCTS LIMITE, WELLOW LEISURE PRODUCTS LIMITED
Application year: 1991
Main classification: F41J3
IPC codes: F41J3, F41J7