Patent Publication Number: US-7905488-B2

Title: Target game

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to games and, more particularly, to a target game played on a lawn in which players toss darts having electrically conductive portions at a target having electrical grids for sensing a position of impact. 
     The traditional game of lawn darts was enjoyed by families for many years. In this game, darts were tossed at a target that laid flat on the grass and the darts had a pointed tip that would penetrate the ground and thus indicate the position of the dart relative to the target. While this game was entertaining, it was seen by many as being unacceptably dangerous in that the pointed metal tip of each dart—which was capable of penetrating the ground—was a danger to children who may be inadvertently struck by it. 
     Various electronic target games and, more particularly, dart-related games have been proposed in the art. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, these target games do not provide a game for play upon a lawn in which darts may be tossed upon a target and a position of impact detected electronically. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to have a target game in which darts having electrically conductive portions may be tossed at a target having electrical grids for sensing a position of impact. Further, it would be desirable to have a target game in which determines and records the position of a dart tossed upon a target by sensing changes in electrical capacitance within concentric electrical grids. In addition, it would be desirable to have a target game that is safe for children and adult players. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A target game according to the present invention includes a target area having a first electrical grid and a second electrical grid, the first grid being separate from and out of contact with said second grid. The first and second grids are configured to maintain a predetermined spacing therebetween. The target game also includes a processor in communication with a power supply and the first and second grids so as to actuate the power supply to impart a level of capacitance between the first and second grids, to measure an amount of time required for the level of capacitance between the first and second grids to be discharged, and to detect a change in the amount of time required for the level of capacitance between the first and second grids to be discharged. 
     The game further includes at least one dart having a conductive front portion sized to span the predetermined spacing between the first and second grids. An output device is in data communication with the processor for conveying the detection of a change in an amount of time required for the level of capacitance between the first and second grids to be discharged. It is understood that the target area may include more than one target area, such as an outer area, an inner area, and perhaps even another inner area. Each target area may function as described previously although each may be associated with different point values, sounds, etc. 
     Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a target game, for tossing darts at a target area spread out upon a lawn. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a target game, as aforesaid, in which the target area is capable of sensing a location of an impact by a dart. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a target game, as aforesaid, that includes darts that do not penetrate the ground and are safe even if they contact a person. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide a target game, as aforesaid, that determines a dart&#39;s general position of impact on the target by measuring an amount of time required for a level of capacitance between the first and second grids to be discharged. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide a target game, as aforesaid, that provides a plurality of light or sound effects corresponding to respective positions of impact by darts upon the target area. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a target game according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of a target area of the target game as in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3   a  is a schematic diagram of the sensing circuitry of the target game as in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3   b  is an illustration of the processor measuring the time for a level of capacitance to be discharged for detecting a change in capacitance; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a dart of the target game as in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the electronic components of the target game as in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A target game  100  according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 5  of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, a target game  100  (also referred to herein as a dart game and a lawn dart game) according to the current invention includes a target  110  and at least one dart  150 . 
     The target  110  has at least one target area  112 . The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , for example, have three target areas  112 . Any target area  112  that is outside another target area  112  may be referred to herein as an outer target area, and any target area  112  that is inside another target area  112  may be referred to herein as an inner target area. Each target area  112  has a set of first and second electrical grids  113   a ,  113   b . The respective electrical grids  113   a ,  113   b  are separate from and out of contact with one another. In addition, the first and second grids  113   a ,  113   b  may be configured to maintain a predetermined spacing between the first and second grids  113   a ,  113   b . In other words, the grids  113   a ,  113   b  may be shaped, sized, or arranged so that gaps between the grids  113   a ,  113   b  that are larger than a predetermined size do not exist. One or more of the target areas  112  may be defined by substantially concentric circles  114 , and the first and second grids  113   a ,  113   b  may collectively define a radially alternating pattern, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The target may further include or be otherwise associated with a processor  120 , a power supply  125  (e.g., a battery, AC power, etc.), and/or an output device  128 . The processor  120  may be in data communication with the power supply  125 , the grids  113   a ,  113   b , and/or the output device  128  ( FIG. 5 ). The processor  120  may include programming (e.g., software or hardware) to actuate the power supply  125  to impart a level of capacitance between respective first and second grids  113   a ,  113   b , programming to measure an amount of time required for the level of capacitance to be discharged, and programming to detect any change in the amount of time required for the level of capacitance to be discharged (as shown in  FIG. 3   b , for example). The amount of time required for the level of capacitance to be discharged should remain relatively constant until the capacitance of the circuit changes. The processor  120  may additionally include programming to actuate the output device  128  to announce a detected change in the amount of time required for the level of capacitance to be discharged. The output device  128  may include, for example, a visual display  128   a  ( FIGS. 1 and 5 ) and/or an audible alarm ( FIG. 5 ). The audible alarm may, for example, include battlefield sounds such as bombs exploding or announcing a “hit.” Different sounds associated with different regions of the target area would enable users to immediately know where their dart hit. 
     Each dart  150  has a conductive front portion  152  sized to span the predetermined spacing between the respective first and second grids  113   a ,  113   b . In other words, the front portion  152  is large enough to contact a first grid  113   a  and also a second grid  113   b  every time it enters a respective target area  112 . The front portion  152  may have a blunt (e.g., rounded or flattened) configuration for safety concerns. To provide conductivity, the front portion  152  may be constructed of metal and/or other appropriate materials, such as carbon impregnated silicon based rubber. Each dart  150  may further include stabilizing members  154  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a target transmitter  162  and/or a target receiver  164  may be in data communication with the processor  120 . A remote control device  170  may have a remote control processor  171 , a remote control transmitter  172 , a remote control receiver  174 , a remote control display  176 , and/or a remote control user input device  178 . The remote control processor  171  may be in data communication with the remote control transmitter  172 , the remote control receiver  174 , the remote control display  176 , and the remote control user input device  178 . The remote control display  176  may include, for example, a visual display and/or an audible alarm. 
     In use, as shown in  FIG. 3   a , the processor  120  may cause the power supply  125  to impart a voltage across the grid(s)  113   a ,  113   b  to provide a level of capacitance. The processor  120  may then measure the amount of time required for the level of capacitance to be discharged ( FIG. 3   b ) as discussed above, and the processor  120  may detect any change in the amount of time required for the level of capacitance to be discharged (as discussed above). A change in the level of capacitance may signify that a dart  150  has touched a respective first and second grid  113   a ,  113   b . The processor  120  may then cause the output device  128  to convey a predetermined value (i.e., a “score”) that is associated with the appropriate target area  112 . If desired, the processor  120  may additionally keep a record of earlier instances of capacitance change (i.e., earlier “scores”) to provide a total score via the output device  128 . 
     The remote control processor  171  may cause the remote control transmitter  172  to transmit data input through the remote control user input device  178  to the target receiver  164 , which may then be used by the processor  120  to perform various functions (e.g., functions related to scoring or the output device  128 ). The processor  120  may cause the target transmitter  162  to transmit data (e.g., score data) to the remote control receiver  174 , which may then be used by the remote control processor  171  to perform various functions (e.g., functions related to scoring or the remote control display  176 . 
     It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.