BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to three-dimensional puzzles, and more particularly to a puzzle cube assembly with improved characteristics.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, Sudoku puzzles are popular games especially in Japan. Further, there is a variant thereof called Sudoku cube available.
There have been numerous suggestions in prior patents for puzzle cube. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,130 to Sugden discloses a manipulable puzzle cube which is an improvement of the classic Rubik's Cube. The puzzle cube consists of cubic elements connected to a centrally positioned interior connecting element, the cubic elements of each surface of the cube forming a plate of cubic elements, the plate being rotatable about a spatial axis of the cube, each of the cubic elements having one or more exposed faces. All of the exposed faces of a given cubic element are the same color, the color being selected from a group of colors comprising at least two colors. The color of each cubic element is selected so that the cubic elements form a decorative pattern on each surface of the cube. The pattern may be the same on each surface of the cube, and may take the form of a “Y” or no “tic-tac-toe” pattern. The puzzle cube is more appealing to the eyes than the classic Rubik's Cube, and its manufacture is simplified.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,431 to Possidento discloses a rotational cubic puzzle having 6 faces in the manner of Rubik's Cube and having an N×N array of cells on each face. Each cell of the puzzle has a numerical value associated with it such that when the puzzle is successfully solved, the numerical values of any row, column or “space diagonal” will add up to the same number.
Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of puzzle cube are constantly being sought.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a puzzle cube assembly which is more interesting in playing.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of puzzle cube assembly having 9 puzzle cubes according to the invention, the puzzle cubes being separate to form a 3×3 array;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the puzzle cubes of FIG. 1 in which three puzzle cubes of the same row are assembled together;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the puzzle cubes of FIG. 1 in which three puzzle cubes of the same column are assembled together;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the puzzle cubes of FIG. 1 being assembled together as a unit of 3×3 array and laid on a flat surface;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 where the unit stands upright;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 where the puzzle cubes of the unit being arranged in another combination;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 where one of 9 surfaces of each puzzle cube is removed and numerals of three hidden surfaces of each puzzle cube are detached for viewing;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of any puzzle cube where one surface thereof is formed as a plate which is detached from the puzzle cube but the plate is adapted to adhere to the puzzle cube permanently;
FIG. 9 depicts 9 sections of each surface of any puzzle cube being represented by “1” to “9” numerals, a first set of different shapes, and a second set of different colors;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of puzzle cube assembly according to the invention, the puzzle cube assembly being assembled as the same one shown in FIG. 4 and being adapted to place in a square frame;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of puzzle cube assembly having 4 puzzle cubes according to the invention in which each puzzle cube has 4 sections on one of 6 surfaces thereof; and
FIG. 12 is another perspective view of any puzzle cube where one surface thereof is formed as a plate which is detached from the puzzle cube and is adapted to adhere to the puzzle cube temporarily.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9 and 12, a puzzle cube assembly in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises 9 puzzle cubes 1 each having 6 surfaces 2. Each surface 2 is shaped as a square plate. The plate 2 can be adhered to the surface of the puzzle cube 1 permanently by applying adhesive thereto (see FIG. 8).
Alternatively, the plate 2 is a magnet and the puzzle cube 1 is made of metal. Hence, the plate 2 can be adhered to the surface of the puzzle cube 1 temporarily because of magnetic attraction (see FIG. 12).
The surface 2 has 9 sections 20 arranged as a 3×3 array. Each section 20 is printed with a numeral (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9) 20 (see FIG. 1 or the left side of FIG. 9). Alternatively, the section 20 may be printed with a first set of different shapes (see the middle portion of FIG. 9). Still alternatively, the section 20 may be printed with a second set of different colors (see the right side of FIG. 9).
The 9 puzzle cubes 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be arranged as the one shown in FIG. 2 in which three puzzle cubes 1 of the same row of FIG. 1 are assembled together as a sub-unit. It is seen that each row of the sub-unit has 9 sections 20 each having a numeral of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and any two sections 20 do not have the same numeral.
Alternatively, the 9 puzzle cubes 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be arranged as the one shown in FIG. 3 in which three puzzle cubes 1 of the same column of FIG. 1 are assembled together as a sub-unit. It is seen that each column of the sub-unit has 9 sections 20 each having a numeral of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and any two sections 20 do not have the same numeral.
Alternatively, the 9 puzzle cubes 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be arranged as the one shown in FIG. 4 in which the puzzle cubes 1 are assembled together as a unit of 3×3 array and are laid on a flat surface. It is seen that each row of the unit has 9 sections 20 each having a numeral of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and any two sections 20 do not have the same numeral.
Still alternatively, the 9 puzzle cubes 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be arranged as the one shown in FIG. 5 in which the puzzle cubes 1 are assembled together as an upright unit of 3×3 array. It is seen that each row of the unit has 9 sections 20 each having a numeral of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and any two sections 20 do not have the same numeral.
Still alternatively, the 9 puzzle cubes 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be arranged as the one shown in FIG. 6 in which the puzzle cubes 1 are assembled together as an upright unit of 3×3 array. It is seen that each row of the unit has 9 sections 20 each having a numeral of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 and any two sections 20 do not have the same numeral.
Referring to FIG. 7 specifically, it is shown that one of 9 surfaces of each puzzle cube is removed and numerals 20 of three hidden surfaces of each puzzle cube are detached for viewing.
Referring to FIG. 10, a second preferred embodiment of puzzle cube assembly according to the invention is shown. The puzzle cube assembly is assembled as the same one shown in FIG. 4 and is adapted to place in a square frame 3.
Referring to FIG. 11, a third preferred embodiment of puzzle cube assembly according to the invention is shown. Each puzzle cube 1 has 4 sections arranged as 2×2 array on one of 6 surfaces thereof. Each section 20 has a numeral of 1, 2, 3, or 4 and any two sections 20 do not have the same numeral.
It is envisaged by the invention that the various playing methods of the puzzle cube assembly of the invention are more appealing to the eyes than both the Sudoku puzzle and the Rubik's Cube.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.
Patent Application
20100084814
