Fastening device for attaching a marker element to a surface of a dartboard

Abstract

Fastening device (1) for attaching a marking element to a surface of a dartboard, in particular a ring-shaped marking element for designating sectors of the dartboard (30), characterized in that the fastening device has a contact section (11) for contacting the same on a circumferential surface of the dartboard (30) or of a housing enclosing the dartboard (30) and a fastening section (13) extending from the plane of the contact section (11) for fixing the marking element to the surface of the dartboard (30), wherein at least a first magnet (12) is arranged on the contact section (11).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a fastening device for fastening a marking element to a surface of a dartboard, in particular an annular marking element for designating sectors of the dartboard. FIELD OF INVENTION STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A dart-throwing game is known from the prior art, commonly known as "darts." In this game, darts are accelerated toward a game board by being thrown. Depending on where the dart hits the board, the throw is scored differently. The game board is commonly known as a "dartboard." The English terms for the dart-throwing game and the game board used will be used here because this corresponds to common usage in the relevant part of the prior art.

[0003] A dartboard is a flat object with a circular surface facing the viewer. The material used is designed to allow darts hitting the surface to penetrate and stick into the dartboard. Sisal, a fiber from the leaves of agave plants, is often used for the dartboard surface. Other materials are also used, such as foam or rigid plastic elements with holes drilled into them to accommodate dartheads.

[0004] The game of darts relies on hitting the darts at specific positions on the dartboard surface. Accordingly, different impact positions are scored differently, i.e., awarded a different score. For this purpose, the dartboard surface has markings that divide this surface into different areas, including circular sectors, and may represent a score. For example, a number ring can be arranged on the dartboard surface, extending along the circumference of the dartboard. Such a number ring is disclosed, for example, in utility model publication CN 216523431 U.Preferably, these markings, and in particular a number ring, are not permanently incorporated into the surface of the dartboard, for example, by printing, because players will naturally try to land their darts on those sectors or areas of the dartboard surface that are assigned the highest score. Accordingly, these areas are most likely to experience wear and tear due to the frequent impact and penetration of the dart tips. It is therefore advantageous if the markings are detachably attached to the dartboard or its surface, allowing the assignment of scores to the areas of the dartboard surface to change.This allows the highest scores to be allocated to different areas of the dartboard surface over time, so that the wear and tear associated with dart impact is better distributed across the dartboard surface, ultimately extending the dartboard's service life. Due to the circular symmetry of a dartboard and the usual division of its surface into different, scored areas, this does not apply to the inner, concentric areas, known as the "outer bullseye" and "inner bullseye" (the English terms are also commonly used in this regard).

[0005] In order to counteract the problem of increased wear on certain areas of a dartboard, holders for dartboard discs are known from the prior art, which enable the rotation of the dartboard disc, wherein the locking of the dartboard disc in a new position is carried out by means of magnets in the solutions known from patent application publications GB 2471337 A, GB 2546174 A and utility model publication CN 218179764 U.

[0006] After a rotation of the dartboard, the markings in the form of scores, and in particular a number ring, must be reapplied to the dartboard surface so that, from the perspective of the darts players, the configuration of the dartboard surface—i.e., the positions of the areas assigned to a specific score—does not change as a result of the rotation. To this end, the markings are attached to the dartboard surface using nails, using state-of-the-art technology. This damages the dartboard surface material and causes wear. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Against this background, it is the object of the present invention to provide a possibility for attaching marking elements and in particular a number ring to the surface of a dartboard, which allows the position of the marking elements to be changed without damaging the dartboard surface. TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0008] To achieve this object, a fastening device having the features of claim 1 is provided. Further embodiments of the fastening device are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] Accordingly, the invention provides that the fastening device has a contact section for contacting the same against a peripheral surface of the dartboard or a housing enclosing the dartboard, and a fastening section extending from the plane of the contact section for securing the marking element to the surface of the dartboard, wherein at least one first magnet is arranged on the contact section. With this configuration, the fastening device can be easily placed on the peripheral edge of the dartboard or a housing enclosing the dartboard, and remains in the selected position due to the magnetic force of attraction. The marking element is clamped between the dartboard surface and the fastening section and thus remains in the selected position.Additional locking devices such as screws or nails are not required, meaning the dartboard is not damaged, leaving its functionality and appearance unaffected. To change the position of the marker elements, simply overcome the magnetic attraction of the magnet located on the support section. This does not require removing any locking devices from the dartboard or requiring any tools such as pliers or screwdrivers. This process is therefore quick and easy.

[0010] The marking element can be curved according to the circumference of the dartboard and designed to extend along the circumference of the dartboard in sections or along the entire circumference. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the marking element is a closed ring, preferably with number elements attached, molded onto, or printed on it. By attaching such a number ring, the surface of the dartboard can be quickly divided into areas to which different scores are assigned, without having to attach a large number of marking elements to the dartboard. The number ring is a self-contained ring to which numbers are attached that indicate the respective score. These numbers can be printed on the number ring or designed as elements made of the same material as the number ring, which protrude from the number ring and are molded onto it.The fastening device according to the invention also makes it quick and easy to attach the number ring, so that preparations for the actual game can be carried out quickly and easily.

[0011] Due to its simple geometry and correspondingly low manufacturing costs, the fastening portion is preferably designed as an angle element, with the fastening section extending from the contact section at an angle. This angle is preferably 90° ± 20°.With this design, a marking element, in particular a number ring, can be installed on the dartboard particularly easily by placing the number ring on the surface of the dartboard and then placing a fastening device according to the invention with the contact section on the edge of the dartboard - or a housing enclosing it. The magnetic attraction force of the magnet arranged on the contact section fixes the fastening device to the dartboard and thus the marking element, in particular a number ring, is pressed against the surface of the dartboard by the fastening section of the fastening device and thus held in position. For this purpose, a rectangular design of the fastening device is naturally suitable, i.e. the fastening section extends from the contact section at an angle of substantially 90°.However, depending on the design of the dartboard - or the housing that surrounds it - other angles may also be useful, also to give the mounting device a special appearance through its shape.

[0012] Furthermore, it can be provided that the contact section and / or the fastening section consist of a magnetizable material, in particular a magnetizable steel. This is because the magnetizability of the material from which the fastening device is made means that the at least one magnet does not necessarily have to be arranged on the surface of the contact section facing the dartboard or a housing enclosing it. Rather, the at least one magnet can also be arranged on the surface of the contact section facing away from the dartboard or a housing enclosing it, because the magnetization of the material due to the presence of the at least one magnet also causes the contact section itself to exert a magnetic force of attraction and can thus be fixed to the dartboard or a housing enclosing it.

[0013] Furthermore, at least one magnet can also be arranged on the fastening section. This design makes it possible for a marking element, in particular a number ring, to be attached to the dartboard without the marking element being clamped between the surface of the dartboard and the fastening section. Instead, the fastening device is fixed to the dartboard—or a housing enclosing it—due to the magnetic attraction between the contact section or the magnet arranged there. The marking element, in turn, is placed on the fastening section from the outside and is held in position by the magnetic attraction between the fastening section or the magnet arranged there and the marking element.This design results in the dartboard with the marking element attached to it having a more positive appearance because the marking element is not partially obscured by the mounting section.

[0014] It can further be provided that the fastening device has a further section for engaging behind the dartboard or a housing enclosing the dartboard, or for engaging in the dartboard or in a housing enclosing the dartboard. In this embodiment, the further section of the fastening device ensures that the fastening device cannot slide from its intended position by engaging behind the dartboard disc - or a housing enclosing it - and thereby exerting an additional clamping effect, or by engaging in a correspondingly designed groove in a peripheral surface of the dartboard disc - or a housing enclosing it. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a fastening device according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a front view of the embodiment of a fastening device according to the invention, Fig. 3 shows a side view of the embodiment of a fastening device according to the invention, Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a fastening device according to the invention in an application and Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of a fastening device according to the invention in a further application. EXAMPLES OF IMPLEMENTATION

[0015] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to drawings. However, the invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a fastening device 1 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the fastening device 1 comprises a contact section 11 and a fastening section 13. The fastening device 1 is designed as an angle profile, such that the fastening section 13 extends at an angle of substantially 90° from the plane of the contact section 11. A magnet 12 is arranged on the contact section 11, specifically on the side of the contact section 11 facing the dartboard to which the fastening device 1 is to be attached. The attachment is achieved by the magnetic attraction force emanating from the magnet 12. The fastening device 1 is placed with the contact section 11 on the edge of the dartboard, such that the fastening section 13 extends somewhat beyond the surface of the dartboard facing the player, i.e.that the fastening section 13 forms a projection.

[0017] The marking element to be attached to the surface of the dartboard, which is preferably a self-contained number ring (see Fig. 4 and Fig. 5), can then be attached to the dartboard in two ways: first, by clamping it between the surface of the dartboard and the fastening section 13. Accordingly, the marking element is fixed to the surface of the dartboard exclusively due to the magnetic attraction force in combination with the static friction between the marking element and the surface of the fastening section 13 or the surface of the dartboard.

[0018] In the present embodiment of the fastening device 1 according to the invention, a magnet 14 is also arranged on the side of the fastening section 13 facing away from the dartboard, which results in a further possibility of fixing the marking element to the dartboard, namely by first fixing the fastening device 1 to the dartboard using the magnetic attraction force of the magnet 12 and then placing the marking element onto the magnet 14 of the fastening section 13, wherein the fixing of the marking element to the dartboard is effected by the magnetic attraction force exerted by the magnet 14 on the marking element.

[0019] The Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show a front view and a side view of the Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment of the fastening device 1 according to the invention. Both the Fig. 2 as well as the Fig. 3 show that the fastening section 13 extends at an angle of substantially 90° from the contact section 11, so that the fastening device 1 is designed as an angle profile with a right angle. Fig. 3 shows that the magnet 12 is arranged on the side of the contact section 11 which faces the dartboard, whereas the magnet 14 is arranged on the side of the fastening section 13 which faces away from the dartboard.

[0020] It is pointed out that this arrangement of the magnets 12, 14 can also be chosen differently if the fastening device 1 consists of a magnetizable material, because then the material of the fastening device 1 itself exerts a magnetic force of attraction under the influence of the magnetic field of the magnet 12 or 14.

[0021] Fig. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a fastening device according to the invention in use. In this embodiment, no magnet is arranged on the fastening section 13, but rather only on the contact section 11. As a result, the marking element 20, which here is designed as a self-contained number ring, is secured solely by the clamping action of the fastening section 13, i.e., by the static friction between the marking element 20 and the fastening section 13 or the surface of the dartboard 30. The number ring 20 has a circular, self-contained ring body 21, onto which number bodies 22 (here "18", "4", "13") are molded toward the center. The number ring can be made of a metallic material or of a plastic or other non-magnetizable material into which magnets or magnetizable metal bodies are embedded.

[0022] In contrast, in the Fig. 5 shows an embodiment in which the marking element 20 is secured in the form of a self-contained number ring by placing the number ring onto the fastening section 13 of the fastening device 1, wherein the fastening of the number ring 20 to the dartboard 30 via the fastening device 1 is effected solely by the magnetic force of attraction. However, a corresponding magnet is not arranged on the side of the fastening section 13 facing away from the dartboard 30, but rather on the side of the fastening section 13 facing the dartboard, so that it is not visible when viewed from above, and the fastening device 1 accordingly has an attractive appearance.

[0023] Although the present invention has been described in detail using the exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. Rather, modifications are possible such that individual features can be omitted or different combinations of features can be implemented without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In particular, the present disclosure includes all combinations of the individual features of the exemplary embodiment. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] CN 216523431 U

[0004] GB 2471337 A

[0005] GB 2546174 A

[0005] CN 218179764 U

[0005]

Claims

[1] Fastening device (1) for fastening a marking element to a surface of a dartboard, in particular an annular marking element for designating sectors of the dartboard (30), characterized by that the fastening device has a contact section (11) for contacting the same on a peripheral surface of the dartboard (30) or a housing enclosing the dartboard (30) and a fastening section (13) extending from the plane of the contact section (11) for fixing the marking element to the surface of the dartboard (30), wherein at least one first magnet (12) is arranged on the contact section (11). [2] Fastening device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the marking element is bent according to the circumference of the dartboard (30) and is designed to extend along the circumference of the dartboard (30) in sections or along the entire circumference. [3] Fastening device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the marking element is designed as a closed ring, preferably with number elements attached, molded on or printed on it. [4] Fastening device (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by that the fastening insertion (1) is designed as an angle element, wherein the fastening section (13) extends from the contact section (11) enclosing an angle. [5] Fastening device (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the contact section (11) and the fastening section (13) enclose an angle of 90° ± 20°. [6] Fastening device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the contact section (11) and / or the fastening section (13) consist of a magnetizable material, in particular a magnetizable steel. [7] Fastening device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one magnet is arranged on the fastening section (13). [8] Fastening device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the fastening device (1) has a further section for engaging behind the dartboard or a housing enclosing the dartboard or for engaging in the dartboard or in a housing enclosing the dartboard.

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