Dartboard positioning device and method

• US 7,140,117 B1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony J. Weiss
• Original Assignee: Anthony J. Weiss
• Inventors: Weiss, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): REIS, TRAVIS M
• Application Number:
  US11/154,609
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 332/86, 332/89, 332/76, 332/77, 335/06, 33D/IG.21, 116/222, 273/371, 273/372, 273/373, 273/374, 273/375, 273/376
• US Class Current: 33/286
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 3/00 Targets for arrows or darts, e.g. for sporting or amusement purposes targets for shooting or hurling games A63F9/0204
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/21 with laser

Abstract

A dartboard positioning device and method includes a housing that has a back wall, a front wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall. The back wall is arcuate and abuttable against an edge of a dartboard. A center mark indicator is positioned on the first side wall. A distance measuring assembly is positioned in the housing and is adapted for determining a distance from the center mark indicator to a selectable point. A laser pointer mounted on the first side wall defines the center mark indicator and is adapted for directing a point of light away from the housing. The laser pointer is angled with respect to the housing so that the point of light strikes a floor surface spaced 7′ 9.25″ from the first side wall when the center mark indicator is positioned 5′ 8″ above the floor surface.

Claims

1. A method of measuring a relative height and distance from a dartboard mounted on a wall, the dartboard having a perimeter edge, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing having a back wall, a front wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, said back wall being arcuate and having a contoured surface adapted for being abuttable against the perimeter edge of the dartboard;

providing a distance measuring assembly being positioned in said bottom wall of said housing and being adapted for determining a distance from a center mark indicator to a selectable point spaced from said housing;

providing a laser pointer being mounted on said first side wall and defining said center mark indicator, said laser pointer being adapted for directing a point of light away from said housing, said laser pointer being angled with respect to said housing such that said point of light strikes a floor surface spaced 7′

9.25″

from said first side wall when said laser pointer is positioned 5′

8″

above the floor surface;

positioning said back wall against said perimeter edge of the dartboard such that said bottom wall faces downward and said laser pointer is horizontally aligned with a bull'"'"'s-eye of the dartboard;

positioning said dartboard such that said distance measuring assembly indicates said laser pointer is 5′

8″

from the floor surface; and

making a toe line marking at a point wherein said floor surface intersects said point of light.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said distance measuring assembly includes:

a light emitter being directed outwardly of said bottom wall, said light emitter being a laser light emitter;

a detector being adapted for receiving light emitted by said light emitter that is reflected off of said selectable point;

a processor being electrically coupled to said detector and said light emitter and being adapted for determining the distance between said center mark indicator and said selectable point; and

a display being mounted on said housing and being electrically coupled to said processor, said display being adapted for displaying the distance determined by said processor.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said distance measuring assembly includes:

a sound emitter being directed outwardly of said bottom wall;

a detector being adapted for receiving sound emitted by said sound emitter that is reflected off of said selectable point;

a processor being electrically coupled to said detector and said sound emitter and being adapted for determining the distance between said center mark indicator and said selectable point; and

a display being mounted on said housing and being electrically coupled to said processor, said display being adapted for displaying the distance determined by said processor.

4. A method of measuring a relative height and distance from a dartboard mounted on a wall, the dartboard having a perimeter edge, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing having a back wall, a front wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, said back wall being arcuate and having a contoured surface adapted for being abuttable against the perimeter edge of the dartboard, a center mark indicator being positioned on said first wall;

providing a distance measuring assembly being positioned in said housing and being adapted for determining a distance from said center mark indicator to a selectable point spaced from said housing, said distance measuring assembly including;

a light emitter being directed outwardly of said bottom wall, said light emitter being a laser light emitter;

a detector being adapted for receiving light emitted by said light emitter that is reflected off of said selectable point;

a processor being electrically coupled to said detector and said light emitter and being adapted for determining the distance between said center mark indicator and said selectable point;

a display being mounted on said housing and being electrically coupled to said processor, said display being adapted for displaying the distance determined by said processor;

providing a laser pointer being mounted on said first side wall and defining said center mark indicator, said laser pointer being adapted for directing a point of light away from said housing, said laser pointer being angled with respect to said housing such that said point of light strikes a floor surface spaced 7′

9.25″

from a plane of said first side wall when said laser pointer is positioned 5′

8″

above the floor surface;

positioning said back wall against said perimeter edge of the dartboard such that said bottom wall faces downward and said laser point is horizontally aligned with a bull'"'"'s-eye of the dartboard;

positioning said dartboard such that said distance measuring assembly indicates said laser pointer is 5′

8″

from the floor surface; and

making a toe line marking at a point where said floor surface intersects said point of light.

5. A measuring apparatus for measuring a relative height and distance from a dartboard mounted on a wall, the dartboard having a perimeter edge, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having a back wall, a front wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, at least one of said walls of said housing being arcuate and being adapted for being abuttable against the perimeter edge of the dartboard, a center mark indicator being mounted on said housing;

a distance measuring assembly being positioned in said bottom wall of said housing and being adapted for determining a distance from said center mark indicator to a selectable point spaced from said housing;

a laser pointer being mounted on said housing and defining said first side wall of said center mark indicator, said laser pointer being adapted for directing a point of light away from said housing, said laser pointer being angled with respect to said housing such that said point of light strikes a floor surface spaced 7′

9.25″

from said housing when said center mark indicator is positioned 5′

8″

above the floor surface;

wherein said arcuate one of said walls is positioned against said perimeter edge of the dartboard and said center mark indicator is horizontally aligned with a bull'"'"'s-eye of the dartboard, and wherein said dartboard is positioned such that said distance measuring assembly indicates said center mark indicator is 5′

8″

from the floor surface.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said distance measuring assembly includes:

a light emitter being directed outwardly of said bottom wall, said light emitter being a laser light emitter;

a detector being adapted for receiving light emitted by said light emitter that is reflected off of said selectable point;

a processor being electrically coupled to said detector and said light emitter and being adapted for determining the distance between said center mark indicator and said selectable point; and

a display being mounted on said housing and being electrically coupled to said processor, said display being adapted for displaying the distance determined by said processor.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said distance measuring assembly includes:

a sound emitter being directed outwardly of said bottom wall;

a detector being adapted for receiving sound emitted by said sound emitter that is reflected off of said selectable point;

a processor being electrically coupled to said detector and said sound emitter and being adapted for determining the distance between said center mark indicator and said selectable point; and

a display being mounted on said housing and being electrically coupled to said processor, said display being adapted for displaying the distance determined by said processor.