DART SHAFT

Abstract

There is provided a dart shaft comprising: a first shaft portion formed of metal, the first shaft portion having a first end for connection to a dart barrel and a second end comprising a first threaded portion; and a second shaft portion, the second shaft portion having a first end for connection to a flight and a second end comprising a second threaded portion; wherein the first threaded portion is externally threaded and the second threaded portion is internally threaded, and wherein the first and second threaded portions are configured to engage with each other to releasably connect the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion together.

Claims

1. A dart shaft, comprising: a first shaft portion formed of metal, the first shaft portion having a first end for connection to a dart barrel and a second end comprising a first threaded portion; and a second shaft portion, the second shaft portion having a first end for connection to a flight and a second end comprising a second threaded portion; wherein the first threaded portion is externally threaded and the second threaded portion is internally threaded, and wherein the first and second threaded portions are configured to engage with each other to releasably connect the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion together.

2. A dart shaft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion each have an elongate shape having an external length to width ratio of at least 1.5 to 1.

3. A dart shaft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first shaft portion comprises a grip portion.

4. A dart shaft as claimed in claim 3, wherein the grip portion comprises a plurality of grooves or protrusions extending circumferentially around an external surface of the first shaft portion.

5. A dart shaft as claimed in claim 4, wherein the grooves or protrusions extend along at least 50% of an external length of the first shaft portion.

6. A dart shaft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end of the first shaft portion comprises a third threaded portion for engaging with a fourth threaded portion of a dart barrel.

7. A dart shaft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end of the second shaft portion comprises one or more slits for receiving the flight.

8. A dart shaft as claimed in claim 7, wherein the one or more slits extend from a tip of the second shaft portion along the second shaft portion in an axial direction.

9. A dart shaft as claimed in claim 1, comprising a washer arranged around the second shaft portion for securing the flight to the first end of the second shaft portion.

10. A dart shaft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal comprises aluminium or an aluminium alloy.

11. A dart shaft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second shaft portion is formed of plastic.

12. A dart shaft as claimed in claim 11, wherein the plastic comprises nylon.

13. A dart shaft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second shaft portion is formed of metal.

Description

[0021] Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a dart shaft in an assembled state;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the dart shaft of FIG. 1 in a disassembled state;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a second shaft portion of the dart shaft of FIGS. 1; and

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an assembled dart including the dart shaft of FIG. 1.

[0026] A dart shaft 1 according to an embodiment of the invention will be described with simultaneous reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The dart shaft 1 includes a first shaft portion 2 and a second shaft portion 4 which are shown in an assembled or connected state in FIG. 1, and in a disassembled or disconnected state in FIG. 2.

[0027] The first shaft portion 2 is formed of metal, and specifically aluminium, and the second shaft portion 4 is formed of plastic, and specifically nylon.

[0028] A first end 6 of the first shaft portion 2 is for connection to a dart barrel 32 (shown in FIG. 4). A first end 8 of the second shaft portion 4 is for connection to a flight 34 (shown in FIG. 4).

[0029] A second end 10 of the first shaft portion 2 comprises a first threaded portion 12 which is externally threaded. The first threaded portion 12 is visible in FIG. 2 but is hidden in FIG. 1 within the second shaft portion 4.

[0030] A second end 14 of the second shaft portion 4 comprises a second threaded portion 16 which is internally threaded. Again, the second threaded portion 16 is visible in FIG. 2 but is hidden in FIG. 1.

[0031] The second threaded portion 16 of the second shaft portion 4 is shown more clearly in FIG. 3, which shows a cross-sectional view of the second shaft portion 4. The second threaded portion 16 comprises a threaded bore which extends from the second end 14 of the second shaft portion 4 into a body of the second shaft portion 4.

[0032] The first and second threaded portions 12, 16 are configured to cooperate to connect the first and second shaft portions 2, 4 together to form an assembled dart shaft 1 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0033] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first end 6 of the first shaft portion 2 comprises a third threaded portion 18 which is externally threaded. The third threaded portion 18 is for connection to an internally threaded portion of the dart barrel 32 (see FIG. 4).

[0034] The first end 8 of the second shaft portion 4 comprises four slits 20 (only one of which is visible in the Figures). The slits are for receiving the flight. The slits extend from a tip of the first end 8 of the second shaft portion 4 in an axial direction along the length of the dart shaft 1.

[0035] The first shaft portion 2 comprises a grip portion 24. The grip portion 24 comprises a plurality of radial grooves extending around an external surface of the first shaft portion 2.

[0036] The first shaft portion 2 comprises a washer 24 arranged thereon for location between the dart barrel (not shown) and the dart shaft 1 when the dart shaft 1 is connected to the dart barrel.

[0037] The second shaft portion 4 comprises a washer 26 arranged thereon for securing the flight to the dart shaft 1 when the dart shaft 1 is connected to the flight.

[0038] A complete assembled dart 28 is shown in FIG. 4. The assembled dart 28 includes a dart point or tip 30, a dart barrel 32, the dart shaft 1 (including the first shaft portion 2 and the second shaft portion 4), and a flight 34.

[0039] The dart point 30 is connected to a first end of the dart barrel 32.

[0040] The first end of the first shaft portion 2 is connected to a second end of the dart barrel 32. Specifically, the third threaded portion 18 of the first shaft portion 2 is engaged with an internally threaded bore of the dart barrel 32.

[0041] The flight 34 is connected to the first end of the second shaft portion 4.