Sport and game device, and rotational apparatus

Abstract

A sport and game device for a throwing or shooting game includes a target disc with a circular target surface that is divided in the circumferential direction into a number n of circle sectors of the same size. At least part of the target disc is mounted in a rotational manner. An actuator is in operative connection with the target disc to generate a rotation of at least part of the target disc about an angle step α<360°. A control unit is in operative connection with the actuator for controlling the actuator. At least one sensor is in operative connection with the control unit and is designed to detect a hit on the target surface and to transmit a signal to the control unit.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a national stage application, filed under 35 U.S.C. § 371, of International Patent Application PCT / EP2023 / 078929, filed on Oct. 18, 2023, which claims the benefit of European Patent Application EP22202236.0, filed on Oct. 18, 2022.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The disclosure relates to a sport and game device for a throwing or shooting game, which comprises a rotatable target disk having a circular target surface and a sensor for detecting hits on the target surface. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a rotational apparatus for accommodating and rotating a target disk of a throwing or shooting game having a circular target surface.BACKGROUND

[0003] Darts is a game of skill and a precision sport in which arrows (the darts) are thrown at a round disk (the dartboard). The front side of the dartboard is used as the target surface. The rear side of the dartboard is used for fastening the dartboard, for example on a wall. The target surface is divided into 20 target sectors in the form of circular sectors having the values 1 to 20 of 18° each (20×18°=360°). The single bull and the bullseye form the center point of the dartboard. In addition, there are two circumferential rings of different diameters, namely the double ring (twice the value of the field) on the outer diameter of the target surface and the triple ring (triple the value of the field) between the center of the dartboard and the outer diameter.

[0004] In classic dartboards made of sisal fibers, the segments are separated along the segment boundaries by a network made of wire. This wire structure is called the spider. In a similar manner, the numbers are attached to a wire ring which is fastened on the edge of the dartboard by means of clamp connectors. Each player typically only has one set of three darts available.

[0005] During a game, the player throws their three darts, goes to the dartboard, takes their darts, and makes room for the next player. When training, the arrows have to be removed from the dartboard as soon as the number of arrows stuck in the dartboard becomes too large and the arrows obstruct further possible hits. The continuity with which a user can train is thus interrupted quite frequently.

[0006] A further problem is the uneven utilization of a dartboard, caused by higher value fields or fields adjoining them being hit more frequently and thus becoming worn more heavily than others. This affects both steel dartboards, at which arrows having steel tips are thrown, and soft dartboards, at which arrows having plastic tips are thrown and which have electronics installed for keeping score.

[0007] Devices are known from the prior art which disclose a rotatable dartboard or a dartboard having a rotatable target surface.

[0008] On the one hand, it is proposed that the dartboard be rotated between games by a specific angle in order to achieve the most uniform possible wear.

[0009] Thus, for example CN 106940154 B discloses a removable dartboard rotational apparatus which comprises a dartboard and a positioning structure. The dartboard is equipped with a first positioning module. The positioning structure can comprise a pivot pin and a second positioning module, which are provided on the surface of the positioning structure. The axis of the dartboard is removably mounted rotatably on the pivot pin, and the first positioning module and the second positioning module are combined to position the dartboard. The removable rotational apparatus for dartboards enables the dartboard to be rotated such that the smaller hit area of the dart hole is located below the red center, and so the dartboard can continue to be used and therefore the service life of the dartboard is lengthened.

[0010] CN 106949789 A describes an automatic electronic rotating disk. The automatic rotating electronic target disk comprises a target body seat, a circular target body frame, and a circular stepped ring pressure plate, wherein a circle of gear wheel teeth is arranged on the lateral surface of the seat, a motor is permanently installed on the target body seat, a gear wheel is permanently installed on an output shaft of the motor, an opening is formed in the side wall of a first groove between the motor and the seat, the gear wheel is engaged with the gear wheel teeth on the lateral surface of the seat through the opening, and a controller is connected to the motor. According to the automatic electronic rotating disk, an electronic control of the disk frame of the electronic rotating disk is implemented and a stepping motor is used, such that the rotational angle is precise and the product quality is ensured.

[0011] In addition to automatically rotatable dartboards, manually rotatable apparatuses are also known, for example from GB 2471337 B, GB 2234186 A, or U.S. Pat. No. 7,866,668 B2.

[0012] Apparatuses which comprise a dartboard rotatable during an on-going game in order to increase the fun of the game are also known.

[0013] Thus, for example, DE 196 51 703 C2 describes a dartboard having a lower part having multiple operating buttons and an upper part having displays to display data which show the status of a game, and having a rear wall on which a dartboard is attached. The dartboard is rotatably fastened to the wall. A fixed plate, which is attached to the rear wall, carries a rotatable plate on a shaft and a ball bearing. The fixed plate carries an array of electrical sliding rails. The rotatable plate carries a corresponding number of sliding pins, which press against the sliding tracks in electrical contact when the rotatable plate rotates. The dartboard can be rotated driven by a motor or manually.

[0014] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,148 A discloses an automatically scoring dartboard, which uses dart arrows having magnets fastened thereon to be thrown at a dartboard. The dartboard is rotatably fastened on a frame and is driven by an electric motor, which rotates the dartboard at a slow speed. A plurality of magnetically actuatable switches are located behind the rotating dartboard in alignment with the grooves of the dartboard, so that the magnets and the dart arrows are rotated by a switch, as a result of which the switch is actuated, which triggers the score in the optical display.SUMMARY

[0015] The disclosure is based on the object of providing a sport and game device and a rotational apparatus which enable more effective training.

[0016] To achieve this object, a sport and game device for a throwing or shooting game is proposed, comprising

[0017] a target disk having a circular target surface, which is divided in the circumferential direction into a number n of circle sectors of equal size, wherein at least a part of the target disk is rotatably mounted,

[0018] an actuator, which is operationally connected to the target disk, for generating a rotation of at least a part of the target disk by an angle step α<360°,

[0019] a control device, which is operationally connected to the actuator, for actuating the actuator, and

[0020] at least one sensor, which is operationally connected to the control device and is designed to detect a hit on the target surface and to transmit a signal to the control device.

[0021] The target surface is preferably divided in the circumferential direction into n=20 circle sectors of equal size of 18° each.

[0022] The rotation of a part of the target disk advantageously takes place around the center point of the target surface. In particular, the part of the target disk which is formed by the target surface is rotated, wherein parts of the target disk not belonging to the target surface are designed as fixed. Alternatively, further areas of the target disk can also be rotated, for example a housing and / or an edge area and / or a numbered ring for indicating the value of the individual areas of the target surface.

[0023] The sport and game device is preferably designed like a soft dartboard or like a steel dartboard.

[0024] It can be provided that the actuator is an electric motor, for example a servo motor.

[0025] It can furthermore be provided that the actuator drives at least one drive pinion operationally connected to the target disk. The angle step by which the drive pinion has to be rotated in order to cause a rotation of the target disk or of a part of the target disk by the desired angle step α can thus advantageously be precisely defined.

[0026] Alternatively, it can be provided that the actuator drives a belt drive.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the target disk is held at an edge delimiting the target disk by two or more rotatable mounting rollers. This advantageously represents a particularly stable form of mounting, in particular against the background that commercially available dartboards often have a high weight.

[0028] It can furthermore be provided here that at least one mounting roller is formed at the same time as a drive pinion.

[0029] The drive pinion is preferably a toothed pinion, which is operationally connected to gear teeth arranged on the target disk.

[0030] In particular, the gear teeth are arranged on the / an edge delimiting the target disk.

[0031] Alternatively, it can be provided that the drive pinion is designed as a friction wheel.

[0032] In a further advantageous embodiment, the actuator drives a shaft, which is operationally connected to the center point of the target surface and at the same time is used for the rotatable mounting of the target disk. This construction is particularly space-saving in its implementation.

[0033] It can be provided that the sensor is designed to detect a vibration triggered by a hit on the target surface.

[0034] The point of the target surface at which it is hit can be irrelevant here. A user of the sport and game device can advantageously concentrate their training on a specific area of the target surface, wherein it can be presumed that their hits come at least close to the desired area. The area of interest, which is possibly filled with arrows, is released again for new arrows by a rotation of the disk or of a part of the target disk after transmission of a signal or of a specific number of signals to the control device.

[0035] It is conceivable that the sensor, which is designed to detect vibrations, has a detection field in a specific area of the target surface. For example, the sensor can be arranged at a point behind the target surface at which the target surface is hit particularly frequently. If for example the sport and game device is used for intensive dart training, this can be the field arranged in the triple ring of the circle sector having the value 20, in which the highest amount of points can be achieved in a regular darts game. The sensor is advantageously not arranged in the area of the center point of the target surface, since this position remains unchanged by a rotation of the target disk.

[0036] It can furthermore be provided that the sensor, which is designed to detect vibrations, is removable and a user of the sport and game device can attach the sensor at any arbitrary point of the rear side of the target surface which is of interest to them.

[0037] Furthermore, it can be provided that the sensitivity of the sensor, which is designed to detect vibrations, is adjustable in order to reduce or increase in size the area of the target surface which is detected by the sensor.

[0038] Furthermore, it can be provided that multiple sensors are present, wherein each individual one of the sensors present is designed to detect vibrations which are triggered by a hit in a specific area of the target surface. For example, in a conventional dartboard, each individual hit field of the target surface can be connected to a sensor, so that a user of the sport and game device can focus their training onto any arbitrary field of the target surface. A focusing of the training onto any arbitrary field of the target surface is also advantageously possible if only one sensor, which detects vibrations of the entire target surface, is arranged.

[0039] It can also be provided that a sensor directed on a specific field or multiple sensors directed onto different fields are coupled with a control unit which includes artificial intelligence. In this way, it is conceivable that further rotation of the target surface is only triggered once, by way of the artificial intelligence, a specific number of hits in a specific field or a specific number of points (definable by the user) has been reached, independently of which other hits took place or by which hits the points total was reached.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment, it can be provided that the sensor is a camera, the detection field of which comprises the target surface. An exact area, for example individual fields of the target surface, can thus advantageously be selected which are to be detected, wherein the area can be changed easily by the user of the sport and game device.

[0041] The control device preferably activates the actuator after a number i of signals transmitted by the sensor, preferably after each three transmitted signals. The target disk is thus caused to rotate further by an angle step α<360°, after a specific number i, which represents the number of hits in the detection field of the sensor or the number of hits of the target surface. The sensor remains at its original position, due to which a new detection field is assigned to the sensor after the rotation of the target disk. If precisely one sensor is arranged, which is designed to detect a vibration triggered by a hit on the target surface, it can also be rotated upon rotation of the target disk, or it can be arranged fixed in place.

[0042] It can be provided that the number i is selectable and settable by a user of the sport and game device.

[0043] It can furthermore be provided that the control device can additionally activate the actuator based on a speech control and / or a noise control, triggered for example by clapping and / or whistling and / or snapping or comparable noises, and / or by an input on an external device, for example in an app on a smart phone and / or a smart watch and / or a tablet PC.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the angle α is an integer multiple of 360° / n, preferably one time or two times 360° / n. The target disk is thus preferably rotated far enough upon a rotation that after the rotation, the segments of the target surface are again located at the same positions at which other segments were located before the rotation.

[0045] In a conventional dartboard, the angle α is an integer multiple of 18°, preferably 18° or 36°, wherein with an odd divisor n, the color of the segments after the rotation does not correspond to the color of the segments which were located at a position before the rotation, while with an even divisor n, the positioning of the colors on the target surface remains the same in the selected circle segment.

[0046] The rotation can take place clockwise or counterclockwise here.

[0047] It can be provided that the angle α is selectable and settable by a user of the sport and game device.

[0048] It can furthermore be provided that an indicator device for indicating point values assigned to the sectors is arranged outside the target surface. This can be a numbered ring here, for example.

[0049] The indicator device is arranged such that it is either not rotatable or is alternately rotatable and fixable.

[0050] An additional detachably fastened non-rotatable screen can be arranged, for example, which covers an indicator device arranged on the sport and game device, wherein the screen can likewise be designed to indicate point values assigned to the sectors.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the sport and game device furthermore has a mount for attaching the sport and game device to a wall or to a tripod.

[0052] The sensor, the actuator, and the control device are preferably arranged on the mount and the target disk is exchangeably attachable to the mount.

[0053] Conventional target disks can thus advantageously be equipped with the sport and game device.

[0054] Furthermore, the mount preferably has damping means for damping vibrations of the target surface.

[0055] The object is furthermore achieved by a rotational apparatus for accommodating and rotating a target disk of a throwing or shooting game having a circular target surface, the rotational apparatus comprising

[0056] a mount for accommodating and fixing the target disk,

[0057] an actuator for generating a rotation of the accommodated target disk by an angle step α<360°,

[0058] a control device, which is operationally connected to the actuator, for actuating the actuator, and

[0059] at least one sensor, which is operationally connected to the control device and is designed to detect a hit on the target surface and to transmit a signal to the control device.

[0060] The rotational apparatus is constructed analogously to the sport and game device here, wherein the target disk is not part of the rotational apparatus and is attachable separately to the rotational apparatus. In this way, the disclosure offers a retrofitting solution for existing target disks, which enables the target disks to be rotated after the detection of a specific number of hits.

[0061] The actuator of the rotational apparatus can be an electric motor, for example a servomotor, wherein it can be provided that the actuator drives at least one drive pinion which can be operationally connected to the target disk. It can thus advantageously be precisely defined by which angle step the drive pinion has to be rotated in order to cause a rotation of the target disk or of a part of the target disk by the desired angle step α.

[0062] Alternatively, it can be provided that the actuator drives a belt drive.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the rotational apparatus comprises two or more rotatable mounting rollers, between which a target disk can be accommodated such that the target disk is held by the mounting rollers at an edge delimiting the target disk. This advantageously represents a particularly stable form of mounting, in particular against the background that commercially available dartboards often have a high weight.

[0064] It can furthermore be provided here that at least one mounting roller is formed at the same time as a drive pinion.

[0065] The drive pinion is preferably a toothed pinion, which is operationally connected to gear teeth arranged on the target disk.

[0066] Alternatively, it can be provided that the drive pinion is designed as a friction wheel.

[0067] In a further advantageous embodiment, the actuator drives a shaft, which can be operationally connected to the center point of the target surface and at the same time is used for the rotatable mounting of the target disk. This construction is particularly space-saving in its implementation.

[0068] It can be provided that the sensor is designed to detect a vibration triggered by a hit on the target surface of a target disk accommodated in the rotational apparatus.

[0069] Furthermore, it can be provided that multiple sensors are present, wherein each individual one of the sensors present is designed to detect vibrations which are triggered by a hit in a specific area of the target surface.

[0070] In an alternative embodiment, it can be provided that the sensor is a camera, the detection field of which comprises the target surface of an accommodated target disk.

[0071] The control device preferably activates the actuator after a number i of signals transmitted by the sensor, preferably after each three transmitted signals. The target disk is thus caused to rotate further by an angle step α<360°, after a specific number i, which represents the number of hits in the detection field of the sensor or the number of hits on the target surface. The sensor remains at its original position, as a result of which a new detection field is assigned to the sensor after the rotation of the target disk. If precisely one sensor, which is designed to detect a vibration triggered by a hit on the target surface, is arranged, it can also be rotated upon rotation of the target disk or it can be arranged fixed in place.

[0072] It can be provided that the number i is selectable and settable by a user of the sport and game device.

[0073] It can furthermore be provided that the control device can additionally activate the actuator based on a speech control and / or a noise control, triggered for example by clapping and / or whistling and / or snapping or comparable noises, and / or by an input on an external device, for example in an app on a smart phone and / or a smart watch and / or a tablet PC.

[0074] In a preferred embodiment, the angle α is an integer multiple of 360° / n, preferably one time or two times 360° / n. The target disk is thus preferably rotated far enough upon a rotation that after the rotation, the segments of the target surface are again located at the same positions at which other segments were located before the rotation.

[0075] In a conventional dartboard, the angle α is an integer multiple of 18°, preferably 18° or 36°, wherein with an odd divisor n, the color of the segments after the rotation does not correspond to the color of the segments which were located at a position before the rotation, while with an even divisor n, the positioning of the colors on the target surface remains the same in the selected circle segment.

[0076] The rotation can take place clockwise or counterclockwise here.

[0077] It can be provided that the angle α is selectable and settable by a user of the rotational apparatus.

[0078] It can furthermore be provided that an indicator device for indicating point values assigned to the sectors is arranged on the rotational apparatus. This can be a numbered ring here, for example.

[0079] The indicator device is arranged such that it is either not rotatable or is alternately rotatable and fixable.

[0080] An additional detachably fastened non-rotatable screen can be arranged, for example, which covers an indicator device arranged on the rotational apparatus, wherein the screen can likewise be designed to indicate point values assigned to the sectors.

[0081] In a preferred embodiment, the mount of the rotational apparatus also comprises damping means for damping vibrations of the target surface of an accommodated target disk.

[0082] The sensor, the actuator, and the control device are preferably arranged on the mount and a target disk is exchangeably attachable to the mount.

[0083] The sport and game device and the rotational apparatus advantageously offer the possibility of making the training for a throwing or shooting game more effective. In particular by the target disk of the sport and game device being rotated further by a specific angle step after a specific number of hits, it is made possible for a user to throw a large number of arrows in a continuous sequence at a position at which a field is located, which in the normal case only offers space for three arrows. The arrows located on the sport and game device have to be removed less frequently and the user experiences higher efficiency.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0084] The invention is explained in more detail hereinafter on the basis of exemplary embodiments and associated drawings.

[0085] FIG. 1: shows a front view of a sport and game device;

[0086] FIG. 2: shows the rear side of a sport and game device.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0087] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a sport and game device.

[0088] The sport and game device comprises a target disk 1 having a circular target surface 2. The target surface 2 is divided in the circumferential direction into a number n of circle sectors of equal size, which are interrupted by an inner ring 2.1 and an outer ring 2.2. The target disk 1 is rotatably mounted around the center point of the target surface 2.

[0089] A rotation takes place here, driven by an actuator (not visible in FIG. 1), by one angle step α<360° in each case. In the illustrated embodiment, an angle step α is precisely as large as the angle which a circle sector of the target surface 2 spans. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, α is 18°. A rotation by the angle step α thus has the result that the circle sectors are rotated further by one position.

[0090] The target disk 1 is held at an edge 1.1, which delimits the target disk 1, by mounting rollers 7, in the present exemplary embodiment by three mounting rollers 7, wherein one is arranged at the upper edge and two are arranged at the lower edge of the target disk 1. One of the lower mounting rollers 7 is simultaneously formed as a drive pinion 6, which can set the target disk 1 in rotation.

[0091] The mount 9, using which the sport and game device can be fastened on a wall or on a tripod, can likewise be seen in FIG. 1.

[0092] FIG. 2 shows the rear side of a sport and game device. An actuator 3, which is operationally connected to a control device 4, is arranged on the rear side of the target disk 1. The actuator 3 drives a drive pinion 6, which is arranged at the edge 1.1 of the target disk 1 and is formed at the same time as a mounting roller 7. In the illustrated embodiment, two further mounting rollers 7 are also formed at the edge 1.1 of the target disk 1, wherein the mounting roller 7 arranged at the upper edge is adjustable in terms of its position, (indicated by dashed illustration) and in this way can release the target disk 1 for removal from the sport and game device.

[0093] A sensor 5, which is designed to detect vibrations triggered by a hit on the target surface, is likewise arranged on the rear side of the target disk 1. As soon the sensor 5 detects a vibration and therefore a hit, it transmits a signal to the control device 4, which activates the actuator 3 after a specific number i of transmitted signals and therefore triggers the rotation of the target disk. The rotation preferably takes place after three hits, since the individual fields, in particular in the area of the inner ring and outer ring of the target surface (numbers 2.1 and 2.2 in FIG. 1) are not large enough to accommodate more than three arrows. In particular if a practiced user uses the sport and game device to train to hit a specific field, it can be presumed that a hit detected by the sensor 5 also landed in or in the vicinity of the field aimed at and that a rotation by the angle step α releases the area of interest again for new arrows.LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS1 target disk

[0095] 1.1 edge of the target disk

[0096] 2 target surface

[0097] 2.1 inner ring

[0098] 2.2 outer ring

[0099] 3 actuator

[0100] 4 control device

[0101] 5 sensor

[0102] 6 drive pinion

[0103] 7 mounting rollers

[0104] 8 indicator device

[0105] 9 mount

[0106] α angle step

Claims

1. -20. (canceled)21. A sport and game device for a throwing or shooting game, comprising:a target disk (1) having a circular target surface (2),wherein the circular target surface (2) is divided in a circumferential direction into a number (n) of circle sectors of equal size, andwherein at least a part of the target disk (1) is rotatably mounted;an actuator (3), the actuator (3) being operationally connected to the target disk, for generating a rotation by an angle step α<360°of at least the part of the target disk (1) that is rotatably mounted;a control device (4), the control device (4) being operationally connected to the actuator (3), for actuating the actuator (3); anda sensor (5),wherein the sensor (5) is operationally connected to the control device (4), andwherein the sensor (5) is designed to detect a hit on the circular target surface (2), and to transmit a signal to the control device (4).

22. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 21,wherein the actuator (3) drives a drive pinion (6) operationally connected to the target disk (1).

23. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 21,wherein the target disk (1) is held at an edge (1.1) delimiting the target disk (1) by two or more rotatable mounting rollers (7).

24. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 23,wherein at least one of the two or more rotatable mounting rollers (7) is a drive pinion (6).

25. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 24,wherein the drive pinion (6) is a toothed pinion, the toothed pinion being operationally connected to gear teeth arranged on the target disk (1).

26. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 25,wherein the gear teeth are arranged on the edge (1.1) delimiting the target disk (1).

27. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 21,wherein the actuator (3) drives a shaft, andwherein the shaft is operationally connected to a center point of the circular target surface and is used for rotatably mounting the target disk (1).

28. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 21,wherein the sensor (5) is designed to detect a vibration triggered by the hit on the circular target surface.

29. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 21,wherein the sensor (5) is a camera, andwherein a detection field of the camera comprises the circular target surface.

30. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 21,wherein the control device (4) activates the actuator (3) after the signal has been transmitted by the sensor (5) a predetermined number (i) of times.

31. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 30,wherein the predetermined number (i) of times is selectable and settable by a user of the sport and game device.

32. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 21,wherein the angle step (α) is an integer multiple of 360° / n.

33. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 21,wherein the angle step (α) is selectable and settable by a user of the sport and game device.

34. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 21,wherein an indicator device (8) for indicating point values assigned to the circle sectors is arranged outside the circular target surface.

35. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 34,wherein the indicator device (8) is arranged such that it is either not rotatable or is alternately rotatable and fixable.

36. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 21, further comprisinga mount (9) for attaching the sport and game device to a wall or to a tripod.

37. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 36,wherein the sensor (5), the actuator (3), and the control device (4) are arranged on the mount (9) and the target disk (1) is exchangeably attachable to the mount (9).

38. The sport and game device as claimed in claim 36,wherein the mount (9) comprises damping means for damping vibrations of the circular target surface.

39. A rotational apparatus for accommodating and rotating a target disk of a throwing or shooting game having a circular target surface (2), the rotational apparatus comprising:a mount (9) for accommodating and fixing the target disk;an actuator (3) for generating a rotation of the target disk by an angle step α<360°;a control device (4), the control device (4) being operationally connected to the actuator (3) for actuating the actuator (3); anda sensor (5),wherein the sensor (5) is operationally connected to the control device (4), andwherein the sensor (5) is designed to detect a hit on the circular target surface (2) and to transmit a signal to the control device (4).

40. The rotational apparatus as claimed in claim 39,wherein the mount (9) comprises damping means for damping vibrations of the circular target surface.

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