Post Darts Outdoor Dart Game
An outdoor dart game is played with a supply of darts that are thrown at each of two opposed posts. The posts are low to the ground for safety and positioned a distance from one another. Players alternate throwing darts at a post. Scoring is counted according to the position of the darts on the post, only one team earning a score for each round of play.
The present invention relates to the field of outdoor games, and more particularly to outdoor games that are intended for use in a residential yard, or a park-like/recreational setting.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONParks and residential yards are conducive to playing various types of games, especially games that one may readily transport in a passenger automobile and play in a limited space. Some popular games in that category are horseshoes, ladderball and croquet.
The conventional game of darts, as opposed to lawn darts, is played using darts having sharp points that are thrown at a target hung on a wall at about eye level. The wall behind the target prevents the darts that miss the target from flying farther and hurting someone. It would be potentially dangerous to throw sharp darts at an eye level target out of doors in case the dart misses the target, the dart could hurt people in the area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a dart game that is played with sharp darts (or Plastic tipped darts) in an open area. The game described herein uses a post that rests on the ground as a target, which requires the players to throw the darts in a downward trajectory. The post is attached to a safety zone that has a marked foul line. The target post and safety zone are connected together using a base and inner post which (after being connected together) slide through a hole on the safety zone, and into a bored hole in the bottom of the target post. Two posts (along with their safety zones) are placed on level ground a predetermined distance from one another. The selected distance is controlled by a string (or other type of linear spacer) of predetermined length that is fastened to the base of the two posts which eliminates the need to measure the distance between posts when setting up. Players stand at one foul line and throw darts at the opposing post. The closer a dart is to the top of the post, the higher score earning potential.
The present invention is best understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which like elements are identified by similar reference numerals and wherein:
Referring to
Referring further to
Referring now to
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The game play proceeds as follows, referring again to
Scoring of the round described in the paragraph above is as follows:
- 1) A dart that lands in lower portion 22 or 42 (see
FIG. 2 or 3) qualifies for 1 point. - 2) A dart that lands in upper portion 24 or 44 qualifies for 2 points.
- 3) A dart that lands on top surface 26 or 46 outside of optional goal 28 or 48 qualifies for 3 points
- 4) A dart that lands in optional goal 28 or 48 qualifies for 4 points.
Only one of the teams can score points in each round of throwing. The player whose dart is in the highest portion of post 20 or 40 wins the round and scores points according to the portion of post 20 or 40 which his or her dart impinges. If both players' darts land in the same portion of post 20 or 40, the player whose dart impinges higher on the post wins the point. If goal 28 or 48 is provided, the player whose dart lands closest to the center of goal 28 or closest to the rear edge of goal 48 wins the 4 points. If no goal 28 or 48 is provided and both players' darts land on top surface 26 or 46, the player whose dart lands closest to the rear edge of top surface 26 or 46 wins the point. If one player has multiple darts higher than any of the opponent's darts, the player with the higher darts is credited with the point value of all of his or her higher positioned darts. The player whose darts impinge the post at a lower portion earns no score for the completed round of play.
Play proceeds by the players on the safety zone 30a side standing behind foul line 32a following the same procedure as described above. The first team to accumulate 21 points wins the game.
While the description above discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is contemplated that numerous variations and modifications of the invention are possible and are considered to be within the scope of the claims that follow.
Claims
1) An outdoor dart game comprising at least one vertically oriented post, and supported on a ground surface positioned a selected distance from a foul line, the post having a plurality of scoring portions and being adapted for being impinged by darts thrown by players, the dart game play method comprising the steps of: a. a first player standing at or behind the foul line; b. the first player throwing a first dart at the opposing post; c. the first dart impinging a scoring portion of the opposing post; d. a second player standing at or behind the foul line; e. the second player throwing a second dart at the opposing post; f. the second dart impinging a scoring portion of the opposing post; g. the first player and the second player alternately throwing additional darts at the opposing post; and h. upon depleting the supply of darts, determining a score.
2) The outdoor dart game described in claim 1, wherein a dart landing at a higher position on the post than an opponent's dart attains a score, only one of the two players earning a score for each round of play.
3) The outdoor dart game described in claim 1, further comprising a second foul line adjacent to the first post and a second post adjacent to the first foul line.
4) The outdoor dart game described in claim 3, wherein a third player is on a team with the first player and a fourth player is on a team with the second player, the third and fourth players throwing darts from the second foul line toward the second target, the score of the first and third players being combined as a team score and the score of the second and fourth players being combined as a team score.
5) The outdoor dart game described in claim 1, wherein the target post is divided into a lower scoring portion, an upper scoring portion and a top surface scoring portion with an optional fourth top surface scoring portion.
6) The outdoor dart game described in claim 5, wherein a score for a dart impinging the lower scoring portion is less than a score for a dart impinging the upper scoring portion, and a score for a dart impinging the top surface scoring portion is greater than a score for a dart impinging the upper scoring portion.
7) The outdoor dart game described in claim 6, wherein when a dart impinges a higher position on the lower scoring portion, the upper scoring portion, or top surface scoring portion, relative to a dart impinging a respective lower position on either the lower scoring portion or the upper scoring portion, the higher dart attains the point value.
8) The outdoor dart game described in claim 7, wherein only one team is credited with a score for each round of play.
9) The outdoor dart game described in claim 7, wherein the first team to accumulate a score equal to or greater than a selected number is deemed to win the game.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 20, 2014
Publication Date: Dec 24, 2015
Inventors: Timothy A. Lyons (Toms River, NJ), Martin R. Rasmussen (Whiting, NJ)
Application Number: 14/309,936