Patent Publication Number: US-6708976-B2

Title: Dart board

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a dart board that includes at least a target block and each target block has at least one flexible slot which includes at least two apertures which may receive a dart tip with different sizes. A through hole is defined between the at least two apertures so that the darts having different sizes can be clamped by the flexible slot. A dart board that includes at least one target block and each target block has at least one flexible aperture and each flexible aperture has at least one through hole. A fixed guide plate is engaged with the frame to guide the dart tips into the apertures. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional dart board generally includes a backing with frame on the back and target blocks are engaged with the partitions defined by the longitudinal and altitude, frames of the frame. The target blocks have comb-shaped apertures which have a fixed size so as to receive the dart tips that are accompanied with the dart board when purchased. However, the sizes of the apertures are fixed so that the customers cannot find suitable darts in the market except the original manufacturers. The darts often drop from the dart board if the darts do not fit the apertures and this make the scoring difficult. The dart tips could be damaged or broken when hitting the ground. The target blocks of a conventional electronic dart board are slidable so that the dart cannot stick on the target block if the dart hits on the target a block at angle. These shortcomings exist for the electronic dart boards. The target blocks and/or the surface plate (if available) are fixed to the backing so that the customers cannot replace them at home. 
     The present invention intends to provide a dart board wherein the target blocks have flexible apertures and the guide plate can be easily replaced. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a target block which has at least one flexible slot which includes at least two apertures which may receive the dart tip. A through hole is defined between the at least two apertures so that the darts having different sizes can be clamped by the flexible slot. A target block has at least one flexible aperture which includes at least one through hole. 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a dart board that has flexible slots or flexible apertures defined in each of the target blocks and each flexible slot includes two apertures so as to receive the dart tips with different sizes. Each flexible aperture has at least one through hole so that the darts having different sizes can be clamped by the flexible aperture. The flexible slot or the flexible apertures have a flexible edge which expands when the darts hit the flexible slot or the flexible apertures, and then properly clamps the darts. After the dart is removed, the flexible slot or the flexible aperture come back to their original size. The invention increases the convenience of use for the darts with different sizes. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a dart board that has a guide plate which has guide apertures for guiding the dart tips and the guide plate is easily to replaced. In order to conveniently and quickly position the guide plate, the retaining frame has at least one protruding engaging member or hole for being engaged with the hooks, rods or plates on the guide plate. This makes the guide plate fixed and saves the cost of machining. The hooks, rods or plates allow the guide plate to be replaced easily. The retaining frame has at least one reinforcement plate or the reinforcement plate is made with the retaining frame as one-piece member. 
    
    
     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows the dart block of the dart board of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows the through hole located between the two apertures of the flexible slot is expandable; 
     FIG. 3 shows the two apertures of the flexible slot are expandable; 
     FIG. 4 shows target block of the dart board of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view to show the target block of the dart board of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 shows dart tips are inserted in the target block of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 shows an insertion aperture is defined in the target block of the dart board of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view to show another embodiment of the target block of the dart board of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 shows dart tips are inserted in the target block as shown in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded view to show yet another embodiment of the target block of the dart board of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 shows dart tips are inserted in the target block as shown in FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 shows a further way of engagement between the guide plate and the retaining frame; 
     FIG. 13 shows the guide plate has extensions contacting against the backing; 
     FIG. 14 shows the retaining frame has a reinforcement plate to reinforce the guide plate; 
     FIG. 15 shows a soft material received in the target block. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1 which shows the front view of the flexible slot  31  of the target block  30 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2 which shows that the flexible slots  31  of the target block  30  has at least two flexible apertures  311  so as to clamp the darts  20 . The through hole  313  is located an edge of the flexible aperture  311  so as to form an opening which makes the flexible aperture  311  to be expandable and shrinkable. 
     Further referring to FIG. 3, the target block  30  of the present invention has flexible slots  31  and the dart  20  penetrates the flexible aperture  311  of the flexible slot  31 . When the of the dart tip is a larger one, the flexible aperture  31  may expand instantly to form a deformed aperture  312  as in dotted lines and clamp the dart tip  20 . After the dart is removed from the target block  30 , the deformed aperture  312  shrinks back to the aperture  311  with original size. 
     Referring to FIG. 4 which shows the exploded view of the flexible slot  31  of the target block  30 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5 which shows the exploded view of the retaining frame  10  and the target block  30 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6 which shows the target block  30  of the present invention and the target block  30  is received in the retaining frame  10 . A bottom plate  33  is connected to an underside of the flexible slot  31  so as to control the depth of the darts  20  in the flexible slot  31  and to prevent the dart tip  20  from being stocked in the flexible aperture  311 . The target block  30  has protrusions  32  to contact the electronic film switches  41  so as to allow the CPU to show the result of the game by various types of automatic scoring devices by light, sound, music, LED, LCD, and back-light board. 
     Referring to FIG. 7 the flexible aperture  311  communicates with an insertion hole  35  which is located deep in the target block  30  and has a fixed size so that when the dart tip  20  penetrates the flexible slot  31 , the flexible slot  31  expands to accommodate the dart tip  20  and the insertion hole  35  having the fixed size secures the dart tip. The bottom plate  33  is located at the underside of the insertion hole  35  so as to control the depth of the darts  20  in the target block  30 . The bottom plate  33  may be omitted and the insertion hole  35  is made to be a through hole. The target block  30  has protrusions  32  on the back thereof so as to contact the electronic film switches  41  and to allow the CPU proceed different ways of automatic scoring to display the scores. 
     Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the target block  30  is received in the retaining frame  10  and includes flexible slots  31  defined therein. Two protrusions  32  extend from a bottom plate of the target block  30 . A guide plate  60  is engaged with the retaining frame  10  and includes a plurality of guide apertures  63 . The guide apertures  63  are used for guiding the dart  20  to penetrate the flexible aperture  311  of the target block  30 . At least one engaging member  61  extends from the guide plate  60  so as to be engaged with an inside of the retaining frame  10 . 
     FIGS. 10 and 11, the retaining frame  10  can be composed of a main portion  10 B and a top portion  10 A which is mounted to the top of the main portion  10 B and includes recesses  11  defined in sides thereof. The guide plate  60  has engaging members  65  extending therefrom which are engaged with the recesses  11  of the top portion  10 A . The guide apertures  63  of the guide plate  60  can be made as the flexible apertures  311 . The retaining frame  10  can be at least one layer or multiple layers. When fixing the multiple layers of the retaining frames  10 , known methods for fixing such as screwing, clamping, inserting, snapping, gluing, or heat fusion can also be used besides the fixing way of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows that the guide plate  60  may have hooks  61  and  67  which are engaged with the engaging protrusions  15 ,  17  extending from the retaining frame  10 . FIG. 13 shows that the guide plate  60  has extensions which extend and push against the backing  50  so that the guide plate  60  is not slidable when the darts  20  hit the dart board. 
     FIG. 14 shows the retaining frame  10  includes flanges extending inward from four insides thereof and each flange has holes  12  and  13 . A reinforcement plate  615  is connected between two opposite flanges and the guide plate  60  having guide apertures  63  is engaged with the retaining frame  10 . The reinforcement plate  615  reinforces the ability of striking for the guide plate  60  fixed on the retaining frame  10 , also reinforces the structure of the retaining frame  10 . A plurality of insertions  61 ,  611 ,  613  extend from the guide plate  60  so as to be engaged with the holes  12 ,  13  in the flanges. The reinforcement plate  615  can replace the guide plate  60  or the guide plate  60  can be made with the retaining frame  10  as a one-piece member. 
     The connection of the guide plate  60  and the retaining frame  10  can also be other known methods such as screwing, clamping, inserting, snapping, gluing, or heat fusion, besides the fixing way of the present invention. 
     FIG. 15 shows that a soft stuff member  300  is received in the target block and supported by the bottom plate. The soft stuff member  300  is made of artificial or chemical fibers, plant fibers, hays, paper, rubber, polyester, plastic or any known material which allows the dart tip to penetrate therein. The guide aperture  63  of the guide plate  60  can be made as the flexible aperture  311 . A spring or resilient member can also be installed between the guide plate  60  and the inside of the retaining frame  10  so as to reduce the impact affect to the guide plate  60  by the darts  20 . 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.