Foam dart having a safety cap
A dart is disclosed that may comprise an elongate dart body, a base, and a cap. The elongate dart body may have a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity, which can be a bore. The base may include a mount and a stem inserted into the interior bore of the dart body at the first end of the dart. The cap may be attached to the base and may have a flexible, substantially bulbous-shaped head portion and an interior post so that the head portion may be configured to deform upon an impact.
1. A dart, comprising:
an elongate dart body having a first end, a second end, and an interior bore;
a base including a mount and a stem inserted into the interior bore of the dart body at the first end of the dart; and
a cap attached to the base and having a flexible substantially bulbous-shaped head portion and an interior post so that the head portion is configured to deform upon an impact.
2. The dart of claim 1 , wherein the dart body is comprised of foam.
3. The dart of claim 1 , wherein the dart body has a circular cross-section.
4. The dart of claim 1 , wherein the dart body has a cylindrical configuration.
5. The dart of claim 1 , wherein a chamber is disposed between the head portion and the base.
6. The dart of claim 5 , wherein the head portion is configured to at least partially collapse into the chamber upon an impact.
7. The dart of claim 1 , wherein, the cap is configured such that the post forcibly contacts a portion of the base upon an impact.
8. The dart of claim 7 , wherein the base is configured to absorb energy from the post upon an impact.
9. The dart of claim 1 , wherein the post forcibly contacts a portion of the dart body upon an impact.
10. The dart of claim 9 , wherein the dart body is configured to absorb energy from the post upon an impact.
11. The dart of claim 1 , wherein the interior bore of the body in combination with the chamber form an interior fluid path.
12. The dart of claim 11 , wherein the cap is configured such that the cap is deformed and fluid is forced through the fluid path to exit the interior bore of the body upon an impact.
13. The dart of claim 11 , wherein the interior fluid path further comprises an aperture formed on an outer surface of the dart ahead of the second end of the dart body so that the aperture can generate an audible sound as fluids are moved therealong when the dart is in flight.
14. The dart of claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a resilient material so that, upon impact, the cap may be deformed but be capable of returning to its pre-impact shape.
15. The dart of claim 1 , wherein the head portion of the cap is affixed to the base along a groove disposed along an upper surface of the base.
16. The dart of claim 1 , wherein the cap has a length of between about 8 mm and 27 mm, the cap has a diameter of less than about 11 mm at its widest point, the base has a length of about 8 mm to about 12 mm, and the base has a diameter at its widest point of between about 9 mm and about 13 mm.
17. The dart of claim 1 , wherein the cap has a suction member attached to it.
18. The dart of claim 1 , wherein the head portion of the cap has a Shore A durometer of about 55.
19. The dart of claim 1 , wherein the head portion of the cap is about 0.5 mm thick.
20. The dart of claim 1 , wherein a center of gravity of the dart is disposed near the first end of the dart body.