US2863665A - Magnetic throw dart electric signal - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 9, 1958 s. R. GEROSOLINA MAGNETIC THROW DART ELECTRIC SIGNAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 29, 1957 INVENTOR. 5ALVA'I'ORB PLGEROS OLINA 2/ 5 Z BY Dec. 9, 1958 s. R. GERO'SOLINA 2,863,655

MAGNETIC" THROW DART ELECTRIC SI'GNAL Filed April 29, 1957' I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QT $51M INVENTO SALVATORE KGERoso A This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dart games.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved magnetic throw dart electric signal game which can be used safely by both young and old, which will last almost indefinitely without being mutilated regardless of how long it is played and which will afford an accurate and fascinating indication of the scores and accuracy of the players.

As a further object, the present invention proposes forming the magnetic throw dart electric'signal game with a board having a plurality of spaced fine electric contact wires which will electrically connect electric signal devices on the board with a source of electric energy when a magnet dart contacts and electrically connects a pair of the wires.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructing the board with a magnetic surface beneath the wires and covered by an electric insulator surface so that a magnet dart will firmly contact a pair of Wires as it is magnetically held to the magnetic surface with the wires between the magnet dart and such surface.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game board constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the target sheet shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a magnet dart for use with the game board shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of the game board shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a front view of another target sheet illustrat ing a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but illustrating another modification.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a game board illustrating still another modification of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing a magnet dart holding the wire in electric contact with the conductor strip.

The magnetic throw dart electric signal game, in accordance with the first form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, has a board of wood or other non-conductive material.

Board 15 has a target sheet or magnetic surface 16 secured to the front face 17 as by screws 18. The magnetic surface or sheet 16 may be of sheet metal and is coated with an insulator surface 19 on the front face.

ted States Patent The insulator surface 19 may be of a high grade insulator paint.

Color strips or areas 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 are provided on the target sheet or magnetic surface 16 over the insulator surface 19. The areas 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 are color stripes, stripe or area 20 being red and extending lengthwise; stripe 21 being green; center stripe 22 being gold; stripe 23 being green; and stripe 24 being white. All the area outside the stripes on the target sheet is black.

The upper ends of the color areas or stripes 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 terminate at the upper edge 26 of the target sheet 16 and the lower ends of the color areas of stripes terminate at the lower edge 27 of the target sheet adjacent a slotted opening 28 in the board 15. A flange 29 encircles the target sheet 16.

On the rear side 30 of the board 15 are spaced blocks 31 and 32 and 32'. Block 31 is mounted on the board adjacent the upper edge 33 of the board and blocks 32 and 32 are fixed to the board adjacent the slotted opening 28.

Mounted on the front side 34 of the board 15 near the bottom are the following electric signal devices: a red lamp 35, a bell 36, a buzzer 37 and a white lamp 35. Lamps 35 and 35' are mounted in sockets 38 and 39 and the bell and buzzer are mounted on a base 40 covered by a cover plate 41.

On the rear side 30 of the board 15, a transformer 42 is secured and a master switch 43 is fastened to the board adjacent the transformer. The lamps 35 and 35 are six to ten volt lamps and the transformer is a ten volt step down transformer. A cord 44 connects the transformer with a plug 45 adapted to fit any standard receptacle to connect the transformer with house elecrric current. Clips 46 join the conductors of cord 44 to the transformer terminals.

A plurality of spaced fine electric contact wires 47 and 48 are mounted on the board over the color areas. The wires extend over the top edge and flange of the target sheet and over the upper edge of the board and are connected at one end to the block 31 on the rear side of board 15.

Wires 47 and 48 also extend through the slotted opening 28 in the board 15 and are secured to the blocks 32 and 32. The flange on the target sheet keeps the wires 47 and 48 spaced from the color areas. The wires 47 and 48 are resiliently and tautly mounted on the board normally to be disposed in spaced relation from the color areas but adapted to be pressed against the color areas. The wires 47 and 48 preferably are of twentyfive or thirty gauge wire or finer gauge.

A magnetic throw dart 50 is provided. The dart (or darts) has an Alnico magnet 51 of the highest possible rating about half-inch in diameter and one-eighth inch thick. A pair of double feathers 52 are secured by their quill ends to the magnet 51.

The wires 47 and 48 are electrically connected by pairs with the signal devices and with the transformer and switch so that connecting a pair of wires 47 and 48 by the dart 50 will operate one of the signal devices.

When the dart 50 is thrown at the target and hits any part of two wires 47 and 48 over a color strip, contact is made electrically to operate one of the signal devices, the magnet on the dart drawing the dart in close to the color strip (the magnetic surface being below) to help make a perfect contact.

Wires 47 and 48 over the red strip are connected with the red lamp; wires 47 and 48 over the green strips are connected with the buzzer; wires 47 and 48 over the gold strip are connected with the bell; and wires 47 and 48 over the white strip are connected with the white lamp.

When the magnetic dart is thrown at the center of the target board and hits the wires over the gold strip (any two wires 47 and 43), this will ring the bell and score 1000 points.

When the dart hits the wires over the green strips, this will buzz the buzzer and score 250 points. A hit on the wires over the white strip will light the white lamp and score 150 points and a like hit on the wires over the red stripwill light the red lamp and score 150 points. Any hits on the black area outside the color strips will score no points and give no signal.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6 is characterized by the provision of a target sheet 60 having circular color areas 61 and circularly arrayed wires 62.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7 is characterized by the provision of a target sheet 63 having circular color areas 64 and contact wires 65.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is characterized by the provision of a board 70 having a target sheet 71 with an insulator coat 72 and a contact strip '73 spaced over which is a contact wire 74. The wire 74 is disposed normally to be spaced away from and out of contact with the contact strip 73. Magnet dart 75, however, is adapted to press the wire 74 against the contact strip 73 and hold it in contact for an electric circuit completion, the dart 75 adhering to the metal sheet 71.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A magnetic throw dart game, comprising an electrically non-conductive flat board, a target sheet formed of magnetically susceptible material secured to the board, said sheet having a layer of insulation material thereon, a plurality of electric wires mounted on the board in a single plane in mutually spaced flat parallel coplanar array, said plane being parallelto the plane of the board, a flange encircling said target sheet and supporting said wires resiliently and tautly parallel to said sheet and spaced therefrom, a signal device carried by the board, a source of alternating electric current having opposite terminals connected in circuit with alternate ones of said wires and said signal device, and a magnetized dart adapted to contact an adjacent coplanar pair of said wires simultaneously to close said circuit and operate said signal device while adhering to said sheet by magnetic attraction thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,148,346 Goldman Feb. 21, 1939 2,168,644 Browning Aug. 8, 1939 2,629,599 Gaut Feb. 24, 1953 2.645.491 Volman July 14, 1953

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