Patent Application
20250073567
The invention relates to a puzzle comprising single and/or multiple puzzle pieces, puzzle board and kit comprising a puzzle and a puzzle board.
Games intended as puzzles with a puzzle board are well known and conceivable, where the ability to solve both a two-dimensional and a three-dimensional puzzle is desirable. These are often games intended as a two-dimensional puzzle to cover all positions of the puzzle board with the available set of puzzle pieces and as a three-dimensional puzzle to recreate a space figure such as a pyramid. The combination offers an experienced player more variety and makes the puzzle more complex or longer challenging.
Often, the puzzle is solved on a puzzle board where the puzzle board serves as a support surface for the puzzle pieces from which the puzzle is to be made.
Known puzzles of this nature often involve puzzle pieces constructed from connected spheres, where building or solving a three-dimensional puzzle involves placing the puzzle pieces according to a dense sphere stack.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,524 reveals regular rhombic dodecahedrons having faces with two aspects of two different kinds, each belonging to a same family, one by a bare surface, the other one by a shaded surface, are piled on a base having nests allowing those polyhedrons to be placed on top to build a composed pyramid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,538 describes a game which can be played by two or more players wherein each player receives an individual game set having a storage box containing three groups of building blocks, the blocks of each group being of the same configuration. The building blocks are assembled on the gameboard to form the pyramid structure on the gameboard.
However, the contact area between two spheres in a dense sphere stack is small and causes little resistance, allowing too much shear. Also, this makes it harder to create more complex three-dimensional structures because the stability of the three-dimensional puzzle is low.
Moreover, the spheres allow only limited stacking and rotation of the puzzle pieces because no stable angular variation is present in the structure.
A player will also often experience difficulties when puzzling due to the unstable stacking of the puzzle pieces, which can make solving the puzzle unpleasant for the player. The present invention seeks to solve at least one of the above-mentioned problems or drawbacks. The object of the invention is to provide a puzzle board and a set of matching puzzle pieces which overcome these drawbacks.
In a first aspect, the invention relates to a puzzle according to claim 1.
The invention is advantageous because the structure of the puzzle blocks allows the puzzle blocks to be positioned both in a two-dimensional plane and in a three-dimensional space, where the puzzle blocks can be stably positioned both horizontally in a plane and diagonally upright on a plane. The structure of the puzzle blocks minimizes the shear between the puzzle blocks when they are positioned in a three-dimensional puzzle.
Preferred embodiments of the puzzle are shown in claims 2 to 14.
In a specifically preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a puzzle according to claim 8.
The preferred embodiment is advantageous because the hexagonal structure allows the puzzle blocks to be positioned in six different directions obliquely upright on a plane, with the directions rotated 60° with respect to each other. It was found that the hexagonal structure provides the most stable structure, maximizing the number of possible positioning directions, while the size of the side surfaces in the pyramidal structures remains large enough to ensure sufficient support and avoid shearing.
In a second aspect, the invention relates to a puzzle board according to claim 15.
The invention is advantageous because the indentations in the puzzle board corresponding to the shape of the puzzle blocks ensure optimal support of the puzzle blocks on the puzzle board, whereby the puzzle board allows solving both two-dimensional and three-dimensional puzzles.
In a third aspect, the invention relates to a kit according to claim 16.
The invention is advantageous because the kit allows solving a two-dimensional or three-dimensional puzzle, where the ground plane is the puzzle board, and where the combination of the indentations in the puzzle board and the structure of the puzzle blocks gives the most stable conformation for solving a three-dimensional puzzle.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in the description of the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the technical field of the invention. For better assessment of the description of the invention, the following terms are explicitly explained.
“A” and “the” refer in this document to both singular and plural unless the context clearly assumes otherwise. For example, “a segment” means one or more than one segments.
When “approximately” or “about” is used herein with respect to a measurable quantity, a parameter, a time or moment, and the like, it means variations of +/−20% or less, preferably +/−10% or less, more preferably +/−5% or less, even more preferably +/−1% or less, and even more preferably +/−0.1% or less than and of the quoted value, insofar as such variations are applicable in the described invention. Here, however, it should be understood that the value of the quantity where the term “approximately” or “around” is used is itself specifically disclosed.
“Comprise”, “comprising”, and “comprises” and “comprised of” as used herein are synonymous with “include”, “including”, “includes” or “contain”, “containing”, “contains” and are inclusive or open-ended terms that specifies the presence of what follows e.g. component and do not exclude or preclude the presence of additional, non-recited components, features, element, members, steps, known in the art or disclosed therein. The term “position”, as used in the text, refers to a part of the puzzle board suitable to be covered by a sphere of a puzzle piece.
The term “single puzzle piece”, as used in the text, refers to a puzzle piece consisting of only one puzzle block.
The term “multiple puzzle piece”, as used in the text, refers to a puzzle piece consisting of at least two puzzle blocks.
The term “player”, as used in the text, refers to a person playing a game or trying to solve a puzzle.
The terms “bipyramid” and “bipyramidal”, as used in the text, refer to a spatial figure or structure, derived from the pyramid, in which two identical pyramids with their congruent ground planes are placed on top of each other.
The term “kite”, as used in the text, refers to a quadrilateral in which the adjacent sides are equal two by two.
Citing numeric intervals by the endpoints includes all integers, fractions and/or real numbers between the endpoints, these endpoints included.
The present invention relates to a puzzle comprising single and/or multiple puzzle pieces, puzzle board and a kit comprising a puzzle and a puzzle board.
In a first aspect, the invention relates to a puzzle.
According to a preferred embodiment, the puzzle comprises single and/or multiple puzzle pieces constructed from puzzle blocks, wherein a single puzzle piece is constructed from one puzzle block and a multiple puzzle piece is constructed from at least two puzzle blocks.
Each puzzle block describes a bipyramidal structure, with each side surface of the pyramidal structures suitable for optimally supporting the puzzle block to one or more surfaces in a puzzle board.
The invention is advantageous because the structure of the puzzle blocks allows the puzzle blocks to be positioned both in a two-dimensional plane and in a three-dimensional space, where the puzzle blocks can be stably positioned both horizontally in a plane and diagonally upright on a plane. The structure of the puzzle blocks minimizes the shear between the puzzle blocks when positioned in a three-dimensional puzzle.
According to an embodiment, each puzzle block describes an elongated bipyramidal structure, preferably the pyramidal structures are connected in their elongation by means of a mantle, so that additional support surfaces are obtained with which the puzzle blocks can easily support each other and/or with which the puzzle blocks fit into or against each other.
According to a preferred embodiment, the two pyramidal structures are connected by a mantle, the mantle between the pyramidal structures being regularly composed of congruent polygons, preferably the number of polygons corresponds to the number of triangles or kites in one pyramidal structure. Thus, a regular figure is described, where the puzzle block can be placed in different directions or conformations and always obtain equal support.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the two pyramidal structures are connected by a mantle, the mantle between the pyramidal structures being regularly composed of congruent polygons, preferably 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 congruent polygons, more preferably 6 congruent polygons. It is found that an even number of polygons between 4 and 12 provides a stable structure both in a horizontal position and inclined upwards on a horizontal plane.
It was found that a hexagonal structure provides the most stable structure, maximizing the number of possible positioning directions, while the size of the angles in the polygons ensures a good fit and avoids shearing over too obtuse an angle.
According to an embodiment, the bipyramidal structure comprises two pyramidal structures, preferably each comprising 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 equal triangles or kites, more preferably each comprising 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 equal triangles or kites. More than two degrees of freedom are needed for sufficient freedom in positioning the puzzle block. It is found that more than three degrees of freedom and thus more than three equal triangles or kites are needed for optimal use of the puzzle block as part of a three-dimensional puzzle.
According to an embodiment, the bipyramidal structure comprises two pyramidal structures, preferably each comprising 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 equal triangles or kites, more preferably each comprising 5, 7, 9, or 11 equal triangles or kites. It is found that an odd number of triangles or kites between 3 and 11 allows construction of three-dimensional puzzles having an irregular shape. It is found that more than three degrees of freedom and therefore more than three equal triangles or kites are needed for optimal use of the puzzle block as part of a three-dimensional puzzle.
According to an embodiment, the bipyramidal structure comprises two pyramidal structures, preferably each comprising 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 equal triangles or kites, more preferably each comprising 6 equal triangles or kites. It has been found that an even number of triangles or kites between 4 and 12 provides a stable structure both in a horizontal position and inclined upwards on a horizontal plane.
It was found that a hexagonal structure provides the most stable structure, maximizing the number of possible positioning directions, while the size of the side surfaces in pyramidal structures remains large enough to ensure sufficient support and avoid shear.
According to an embodiment, the polygons in the mantle each comprise 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 angles, more preferably 6 angles. According to a further embodiment, the polygons in the mantle each comprise 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 corners, more preferably 6 corners, wherein the number of corners per polygon is equal to the number of polygons in the mantle. Thus, a regular figure is described, where the puzzle block can be placed in different directions or conformations and always obtain equal support.
According to an embodiment, each puzzle block comprises at least one plane of symmetry, such that the puzzle block can be placed on at least two mirrored conformations in a puzzle.
According to a preferred embodiment, each puzzle block comprises one horizontal plane of symmetry, oriented so that the two pyramidal structures are mirrored with respect to each other, and six planes of symmetry oriented perpendicular to the horizontal plane of symmetry and rotated 30° with respect to each other.
According to a preferred embodiment, each puzzle block describes an elongated dihexagonal bipyramidal structure consisting of two pyramidal structures each encompassing six equal kites, wherein the two pyramidal structures are connected in their elongation by a mantle, wherein the mantle between the pyramidal structures is regularly composed of six congruent hexagons, and wherein each puzzle block is described in a sphere and encompasses seven planes of symmetry.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the angle formed between the mantle and the kites is 150°, so that the kites form an angle of 60° with a horizontal plane perpendicular through the mantle and parallel to a ground plane of a pyramidal structure.
The preferred embodiment is advantageous because the dihexagonal structure allows the puzzle blocks to be positioned in six different directions obliquely upright on a plane, with the directions rotated 60° with respect to each other. It was found that the dihexagonal structure provides the most stable structure, maximizing the number of possible positioning directions, while the size of the side surfaces in the pyramidal structures remains large enough to ensure sufficient support and avoid shear.
According to an even further preferred embodiment, the upright sides of a hexagon in the mantle are rotated 30° with respect to the long sides of the kites in the pyramidal structure. In this way, hexagons can be obtained in the mantle, allowing multiple puzzle blocks to be connected via the hexagons, without losing the properties of the individual puzzle blocks, e.g. the possible positioning directions.
According to a preferred embodiment, the puzzle block describes a structure belonging to the hexagonal space group, preferably the structure belongs to the 6/m, 2/m, 2/m point group belonging to the hexagonal space group.
The preferred embodiment is advantageous because the described dihexagonal-bipyramidal structure allows the puzzle blocks to be positioned in six different directions obliquely upright on a plane, with the directions rotated 60° with respect to each other. It was found that the dihexagonal-bipyramidal structure provides the most stable structure, maximizing the number of possible positioning directions, while the size of the side surfaces in the pyramidal structures remains large enough to ensure sufficient support and avoid shearing.
According to an embodiment, a multiple puzzle piece comprises a first puzzle block connected along at least one mantle polygon to a congruent mantle polygon of at least one additional puzzle block, preferably 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 additional puzzle blocks, more preferably 1, 2, 3 or 4 additional puzzle blocks, wherein the polygons in the connection between adjacent puzzle blocks completely cover each other.
The embodiment is advantageous because the concatenation of multiple puzzle blocks allows the construction of a more complex puzzle, while always preserving the properties of a single puzzle block, such as the possible positioning directions.
According to an embodiment, all puzzle blocks in the same multiple puzzle piece are located in the same plane. This is advantageous for maintaining a plurality of solutions in a three-dimensional puzzle. Moreover, it is important that the puzzle pieces can still form a two-dimensional puzzle.
According to an embodiment, the puzzle includes only multiple puzzle pieces. This makes the puzzle more complex and interesting for an experienced player, as single puzzle pieces make the puzzle significantly easier.
According to an embodiment, each puzzle piece consists of at least two puzzle blocks, preferably at least three puzzle blocks, more preferably at least four puzzle blocks. This makes the puzzle more complex and interesting for an experienced player, as single puzzle pieces make the puzzle significantly easier, as they can be positioned anywhere.
According to an embodiment, each puzzle piece comprises up to eight puzzle blocks, preferably up to seven puzzle blocks, more preferably up to six puzzle blocks, still more preferably up to five puzzle blocks. It is found that this maximum size of puzzle blocks ensures that a puzzle piece is not so large that only few puzzle pieces are needed to form the complete puzzle and thus the puzzle becomes too easy.
According to one embodiment, a puzzle block is made of plastic, preferably hard plastic, such as polylactic acid, polycarbonate, ABS, PETG or Nylon. In this way, a puzzle block is robust and not easily damaged.
In a second aspect, the invention relates to a puzzle board suitable for solving both two-dimensional and three-dimensional puzzles.
According to a preferred embodiment, the puzzle board is provided with a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein both the top surface and the bottom surface comprise a puzzle field comprising regular positions forming a two-dimensional field, each position having an indentation in the puzzle board corresponding to the shape of a puzzle block belonging to a puzzle according to the invention.
The invention is advantageous because the indentations in the puzzle board corresponding to the shape of the puzzle blocks ensure optimal support of the puzzle blocks on the puzzle board, whereby the puzzle board allows solving both two-dimensional and three-dimensional puzzles.
According to an embodiment, the bottom surface and top surface of the puzzle board include a puzzle field of different shape, allowing the player to solve a variety of puzzles.
According to an embodiment, the indentations in the puzzle board are prism-shaped and/or pyramid-shaped. In this way, the indentations are corresponding in shape to the aforementioned puzzle blocks and can provide optimal support and/or fit to the puzzle blocks.
According to an embodiment, the puzzle field on the bottom surface or top surface of the puzzle board is only provided with pyramidal indentations, preferably pyramidal in accordance with the pyramidal structure of said puzzle block, allowing only a two-dimensional puzzle to be formed.
According to an embodiment, the puzzle field on the bottom surface and top surface of the puzzle board is only provided with pyramidal indentations, preferably pyramidal in accordance with the pyramidal structure of the aforementioned puzzle block, allowing only a two-dimensional puzzle to be formed.
According to a preferred embodiment, the puzzle field on the top surface or the bottom surface of the puzzle board is composed of prism-shaped and pyramidal indentations, wherein the positions comprising a pyramidal indentation form a triangular surface in the puzzle field, wherein the triangular surface serves as a basis for solving a three-dimensional puzzle, preferably solving a pyramidal puzzle using the triangular surface as a basis.
According to a preferred embodiment, the puzzle field on the top surface and the bottom surface of the puzzle board is composed of prism-shaped and pyramidal indentations, wherein the positions comprising a pyramidal indentation form a triangular surface in the puzzle field, wherein the triangular surface serves as a basis for solving a three-dimensional puzzle, preferably solving a pyramidal puzzle using the triangular surface as a basis.
According to one embodiment, the puzzle board is fitted with a lid, making the puzzle portable and easy to be carried by the player in, for example, a pocket or a carrier bag without losing the puzzle pieces.
According to one embodiment, the puzzle board is made of plastic, preferably hard plastic, such as polycarbonate, ABS or polypropylene. In this way, the puzzle board is robust and not easily damaged.
In a third aspect, the invention relates to a kit comprising one of said puzzles and one of said puzzle boards for solving both two-dimensional and three-dimensional puzzles.
The invention is advantageous because the kit allows solving a two-dimensional or three-dimensional puzzle, where the ground plane is the puzzle board, and where the combination of the indentations in the puzzle board and the structure of the puzzle blocks gives the most stable conformation for solving a three-dimensional puzzle.
In what follows, the invention is described using non-limiting figures illustrating the invention, which are not intended or to be interpreted to limit the scope of the invention.
A puzzle block 1 describes an elongated dihexagonal bipyramidal structure comprising two pyramidal structures 2 each encompassing six equal side planes 3, wherein the two pyramidal structures 2 are connected in their elongation by a mantle 4, wherein the mantle between the pyramidal structures 2 is regularly composed of six congruent hexagons 5, and wherein each puzzle block is described in a sphere and encompasses seven planes of symmetry: one horizontal plane of symmetry oriented such that the two pyramidal structures are mirrored with respect to each other, and six planes of symmetry oriented perpendicular to the horizontal plane of symmetry and rotated 30° with respect to each other.
The puzzle includes a set of puzzle pieces 6, comprising multiple puzzle pieces 7a-l, consisting of connected puzzle blocks.
A multiple puzzle piece 7a-l comprises a first puzzle block 1 that is connected along at least one hexagon 5 of the mantle 4 to a congruent hexagon 5 of the mantle 4 of at least one additional puzzle block 1, wherein the hexagons 5 in the connection between adjacent puzzle blocks 1 completely cover each other.
The set of puzzle pieces 6 shown in
A puzzle block can have one connection 8, have two connections 9, have three connections 10 or have four connections 11. The puzzle blocks 1 in the same puzzle piece 7 are located in the same plane.
A three-dimensional pyramid-shaped puzzle 12 formed from the set of puzzle pieces 6 is shown in
A two-dimensional puzzle 13 formed from the set of puzzle pieces 6 is shown in
Another two-dimensional puzzle 14 formed from the set of puzzle pieces 6 is shown in
A puzzle board 15 provided with a top surface 16 and a bottom surface 17, wherein both the top surface and the bottom surface comprise a puzzle field 18 comprising regular positions 19 forming a two-dimensional field, wherein each position 19 is provided with an indentation 20 in the puzzle board 15 corresponding to the shape of a puzzle block 1 belonging to a puzzle 12-14 according to the invention.
The top surface 16 and the bottom surface 17 of the puzzle board 15 include a puzzle field 18 of different shape, where the top surface 16 of the puzzle board 15 includes a puzzle field 18a approximating the shape of a parallelogram and where the bottom surface 17 of the puzzle board 15 includes a puzzle field 18b approximating the shape of a butterfly.
The bottom surface 17 of the puzzle board 15 has hexagonal pyramidal indentations 21, corresponding to the pyramidal structure 2 of a puzzle block 1.
The top surface 16 of the puzzle board 15 is composed of prism-shaped 22 and pyramidal 23 indentations, where the positions 19 comprising a pyramidal indentation 23 form a triangular surface 24 in the puzzle field 18, where the triangular surface 24 serves as a basis for solving a three-dimensional pyramidal puzzle 12.
The puzzle board 15 may be provided with a lid 27 which may be attached to the puzzle board 15 by means of two connectors 25, whereby the lid may close by means of a click system in a recess 26 in the puzzle board 15.
A kit 28 comprising a puzzle three-dimensional pyramidal 12 and a two-dimensional puzzle 14 is shown in
It is assumed that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and that some modifications or changes can be added to the figures described without revaluing the added claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022/5003 | Jan 2022 | BE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2023/050104 | 1/6/2023 | WO |
