Abstract
A sports and games apparatus consisting of two rods and an aerodynamic projectile with an opening which receives the two rods. The projectile is launched by manipulating the rods in an opposing fashion. The opening of the projectile is of the appropriate size to allow for the rods to slide through, but not large enough that the projectile exhibits unwanted motions that inhibit accuracy during the launching motion. The rods are used to propel the projectile towards a variety of targets which interact with the projectile in various ways. The projectile may comprise a multitude of aerodynamic shapes and a multitude of methods for interacting with targets.
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A sports and games apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of rods having a first end and second end, and said rods having equal diameter at the first end and having a diameter suitable for grasping with one hand at the second end, b. a projectile having an opening wherein the diameter of said opening is sufficient to allow for the first ends of said rods to pass through said opening simultaneously, and said opening allows for said rods to slidably travel through said opening, and the diameter of said opening is smaller than five times the diameter of the first end of one of said rods, and said opening having a circumferential edge, and said projectile having an aerodynamic body, and c. a target comprising a surface which can be folded and said target having a method of containing said rods by means of an enclosure which contains an opening of sufficient size to allow manually grasping said rods as a handle.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said aerodynamic body further comprises aerodynamic elements wherein said aerodynamic elements stabilize said ring during flight, such that said ring retains a substantially stable position during the flight path, and wherein said position is substantially planar to a target such that said ring is in position to affix to said target.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said aerodynamic body further comprises aerodynamic elements wherein said aerodynamic elements stabilize said ring during flight, such that the position of said ring is aerodynamically altered during the flight path, and wherein said position is substantially perpendicular to a target during flight, such that the outside edge of said ring is in position to interface with said target.
5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said target comprises a means for said projectile to remain attached to said target at the area of impact of said projectile to said target with three points of attachment.
6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the aerodynamic body further comprises aerodynamic appendages having a plurality of three, and said aerodynamic appendages contain a means of attachment and said aerodynamic appendages have a flexible property.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said aerodynamic body and said aerodynamic appendages are comprised of a neoprene core laminated with nylon fabric.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said neoprene core is between 3-5 mm thick.
9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said projectile is between 1.5 and 3 grams.
10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means of attachment is a magnet, and wherein said magnet has a first side and a second side, and wherein the first side is securely attached to said aerodynamic appendages and the second side contacts the target, and such that the second side has a flush surface.
11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said target comprises a surface and a surface element protruding from said surface, and the projectile has a means of attachment to said target independent of said element protruding from said surface.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the diameter of said surface element is smaller than opening of said projectile, and wherein the length of said surface element is greater than the thickness of the projectile.
13. A sports and games apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of rods having a first end and second end, and said rods having equal diameter at the first end and having a diameter suitable for grasping with one hand at the second end, b. a projectile comprising an annular ring wherein the diameter of said ring is sufficient to allow for the first ends of said rods to pass through said opening simultaneously, and said opening allows for said rods to slidably travel through said opening, and the diameter of said opening is smaller than five times the diameter of the first end of one of said rods, and c. aerodynamic elements attached to said ring, wherein said aerodynamic elements stabilize said ring during flight, such that the position of said ring is aerodynamically altered during the flight path, and wherein said position is substantially perpendicular to a target during flight, such that the outside edge of said ring is in position to interface with said target.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said target comprises an opening or plurality of openings wherein said openings allow any element or the entire body of the projectile in claim 2 to enter said openings.
15. A sports and games apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of rods having a first end and second end, and said rods having equal diameter at the first end and having a diameter suitable for grasping with one hand at the second end, b. a projectile comprising an annular ring wherein the diameter of said ring is sufficient to allow for the first ends of said rods to pass through said opening simultaneously, and said opening allows for said rods to slidably travel through said opening, and the diameter of said opening is smaller than five times the diameter of the first end of one of said rods, and c. aerodynamic elements attached to said ring, wherein said aerodynamic elements stabilize said ring during flight, such that said ring retains a substantially stable position during the flight path, and wherein said position is substantially planar to a target such that said ring is in position to affix to said target.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the aerodynamic elements further comprise aerodynamic appendages having a plurality of three, and said aerodynamic appendages contain a means of attachment and said aerodynamic appendages have a flexible property.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said aerodynamic body and said aerodynamic appendages are comprised of a neoprene core laminated with nylon fabric, and wherein said neoprene core is between 3-5 mm thick.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said projectile is between 1.5 and 3 grams.
19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said means of attachment is a magnet, and wherein said magnet has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is securely attached to said aerodynamic appendages and the second side contacts the target, and such that the second side has a flush surface.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a front view of the projectile in its simplest configuration.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the projectile in its simplest configuration.
[0028] FIGS. 2-2c show the projectile and the rods and demonstrates the method for launching the projectile.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows a method for launching the projectile at the beginning of a launch.
[0030] FIG. 2a shows a method for launching the as the projectile is propelled forward to the tip of the rods.
[0031] FIG. 2b shows the projectile travelling through the air in a vertical position.
[0032] FIG. 2c shows the projectile travelling closer to a vertical target in a vertical position.
[0033] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the projectile with aerodynamic elements for a vertical flight position.
[0034] FIG. 3b shows a side view of the projectile with aerodynamic elements for a vertical flight position.
[0035] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the projectile with aerodynamic elements for a horizontal flight position.
[0036] FIGS. 5a-5b show the projectile and the rods and the method for the launching the projectile with aerodynamic elements for a horizontal flight position.
[0037] FIG. 5 shows the method for launching the projectile at the beginning of a launch.
[0038] FIG. 5a shows the method for launching the projectile as the projectile is propelled forward to the tip of the rods.
[0039] FIG. 5b shows the projectile changing position to horizontal during flight.
[0040] FIG. 6-6d show various targets that can be used to judge the accuracy of the projectile's trajectory.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows the projectile interacting with a flat surface target mounted vertically.
[0042] FIG. 6a shows the projectile interacting with a target comprising a protruding element.
[0043] FIG. 6b shows the projectile interacting with a target in a horizontal position.
[0044] FIG. 6c shows the projectile interacting with a target with openings.
[0045] FIG. 6d shows the projectile altering the physical orientation of objects.
[0046] FIG. 7 shows a rigid ferrous target with folding hinge.
[0047] FIG. 7a shows layers of the rigid ferrous target.
[0048] FIG. 7b shows a side view of the rigid ferrous target and a sleeve which houses the rods.
[0049] FIG. 7c shows another view of the rigid ferrous target with the folding hinge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0050] The projectile as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1a comprises an annular ring 1 with magnets 3 embedded in the body of the ring. The ring has a smooth circumferential edge 2 around the opening 4, allowing the ring to slide easily along the rods 7 as shown in FIG. 2. This configuration is for propelling the ring in a vertical position where the both the vertical 5 and horizontal 6 axis of the ring is perpendicular to the flight trajectory 10 throughout the flight 13. Both axes are parallel with the surface of the target upon impact. The embedded magnets would then fix the ring on to a magnetically receptive target at the area of impact 14.
[0051] FIG. 2-FIG. 2c shows the method for propelling the projectile 8 with the rods 7. The motion begins by inserting the rods 7 through the opening of the projectile 4. Then, while holding one rod in each hand 9, rods are crossed at an angle of approximately 90-45 degrees with one stick on top of the other so that the intersection of the sticks is located inside the opening of the projectile 8. The hands are then moved apart in opposite directions. The intersection of the sticks at the beginning of the motion 8 is closer to where the hands are holding the rods. As the hands are moved apart, the intersection of the sticks moves away from the hands and the projectile, being constrained to the intersection of the sticks, is propelled forward until the sticks no longer intersect at which point the projectile is released in flight 13. Optimum accuracy is obtained by the bilaterally symmetrical opposing outward motion of both hands holding the rods so that the location of the intersection of the rods at the beginning of the motion 8 and the location at which the rods separate 12 are located on a line in space that intersects with the intended target area 14. The projectile remains removably attached to the target at the area of impact by a method such as, but not limited to, magnetic attraction.
[0052] The projectile as shown in FIG. 3-FIG. 3b is an example of a projectile with aerodynamic elements that reduce the speed of the projectile and stabilize the projectile in a vertical flight position. The projectile comprises an annular ring 15 with an opening 20 having circumferential edges 19 with aerodynamic appendages 16 projecting radially from the outer edge of the ring. Each appendage is radially symmetrical and is comprised of a semi-rigid material that allows for bending 21 with air flow during flight. Each appendage has a resilient housing 17.1 for a toroidal magnet 18 which attaches to the semi-rigid material 16 with a metal screw 18.1 and resilient cap 17 assembly. Additional bonding occurs between the magnet housing and cap with glue or sonic welding. During flight, the appendages may bend and oscillate 21 no more than 45 degrees. The appendages slow the projectile to safer speeds and stabilize the projectile's flight position by imparting equal aerodynamic drag forces around the radius of the ring.
[0053] The projectile as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 4a is an example of a projectile with aerodynamic elements that change the flight position from vertical to horizontal after being released from the rods as shown in FIG. 5. The projectile is comprised of a resilient body 22 with an opening with smooth circumferential edges 24, an aerodynamic element, similar to the flights of a traditional dart 23, attached to the outer edge of the projectile, and a magnet 25 embedded on the outer edge of the ring opposite the aerodynamic element 23. At the beginning of the motion to propel the projectile with the rods 28, the projectile is in a vertical position, with its vertical axis 27 perpendicular to the intended flight trajectory 31. As the hands 30 holding the rods 29 are moved in opposite directions and the projectile slides away from the hands, the projectile remains approximately in a vertical position 33. After being released from the rods, the aerodynamic element creates drag which rotates the projectile on its horizontal axis 26 until the vertical axis is parallel with the flight trajectory 34. This creates a slimmer aerodynamic profile as it travels in flight, allowing for greater distances than the projectile in FIG. 3. This also aligns the magnet 25 (or other method of attaching to the target) at the leading edge of the projectile to impact the target in the correct position 35.
[0054] FIGS. 6-6d demonstrate various methods the projectile can interact with targets. FIG. 6 demonstrates a flat surface target 37 mounted vertically like a traditional dartboard. The projectile as described in FIG. 3 is propelled towards the target in a vertical flight position 38. Upon impact with the target FIG. 6a, the aerodynamic appendages 44 with attached magnets 39 attract to a ferrous layer 43 which is bonded with the target substrate 41. The described target is also comprised of a protruding element 40 that can engage with the opening of the projectile 42. The player's accuracy can be determined by the different areas drawn on the surface of the target 37, or by engaging the projectile's opening 42 with the target's protrusion 40. FIG. 6b demonstrates a target laid in a horizontal position 45, where the player must follow an arcing trajectory with the projectile 46 to engage the target. FIG. 6c demonstrates a target with openings 48 that the projectile 47 can enter or pass through. FIG. 6d demonstrates a target 50 where the projectile 49 alters the physical orientation of objects, in this case a set of lightweight pins that are knocked over upon impact.
[0055] FIGS. 7-7c demonstrate a rigid ferrous target with folding hinge. The target is comprised of an inner ferrous layer 59, a target surface layer 57, and an outer covering layer 58. The target surface layer 57 is comprised of a flexible, water resistant film such as, but not limited to, vinyl or PVC vinyl, which is lightly textured to improve the bonding of the magnetic game pieces 63. The target surface has a graphic 52 printed on the surface to denote scoring mechanisms for game play. The outer covering 58 is comprised of a flexible water resistant film such as but not limited to vinyl or PVC vinyl. The outer, inner, and target surface layers are laminated together. The inner ferrous layer is comprised of two elements 59-60, arranged with a gap 62 between the two elements horizontally aligned on the center of the target. The outer layers are bonded along the space in this gap 62 to create a hinge 64. The outer layers extend beyond the inner ferrous layer on the bottom side and are folded and bonded horizontally with a seam 53 to create a sleeve 53.1 that houses the sticks. One side of the sleeve opening is bonded with a seam to create at terminus of the sleeve opening 53.2. A tab of flexible material 56 is folded over the opposite opening of the sleeve to secure the sticks 54 once they are positioned inside the sleeve. The tab is secured with a temporary bonding mechanism 56.1 such as Velcro or a snap. An opening cut into the sleeve 55 exposes the sticks and creates a space for manually gripping the sticks that is used as a handle for transporting the target. When folded, the target has an opening 51 to allow a game piece with a protrusion 61 to be contained within the target while bonded to the playing surface. An opening in the inner ferrous layer and both outer layers receive a grommet 51.1 that the protrusion of the game piece passes through. Other game pieces 63 may also be stored on the playing surface while folded.
