The present invention relates to puzzles.
A wide variety of puzzles and puzzle devices are available, including both mechanical and electronic puzzles. In such puzzles, the user manipulates the puzzle to achieve a desired result or to solve a problem. The well-known Rubik's Cube is an example of such a puzzle, wherein the user is required to rotate portions of a cube that are each made up of smaller cubes having differently colored sides. The objective of Rubik's Cube is to manipulate the cube in a matter that results in a desired design of colors, the simplest being a single color on each side of the cube. The present invention is a unique and innovative puzzle from this field of the art.
The invention comprises a puzzle including elements arranged in at least one row and at least one column. Each of the elements is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis. The first axis of each element is parallel and co-planar to the first axes of every other element. Similarly, the second axis of each element is parallel and co-planar to the second axes of every other element. The first and second axes of each element are preferably perpendicular to each other. The puzzle also includes a case that restrains non-rotational movement of each element and a linkage that forces rotation of all other elements in any one row to rotate about their respective first axes when any one of the elements in that row is rotated about its first axis. The linkage also forces rotation of all elements a column to rotate about their respective second axes when any one of the elements in that column is rotated about its second axis.
The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It is understood, however, the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings:
The present invention is a puzzle that can be implemented in a wide variety of structures and formats. The essence of the invention is a puzzle having a plurality of puzzle elements, each puzzle element having a different design or color on each of six faces. Each puzzle element can be rotated in either two or three orthogonal axis, but is preferably restrained against non-rotational movement. In the case of a two-dimensional puzzle, each puzzle element is preferably rotatable about X and Y axes. In the case of a three-dimensional puzzle, each puzzle element will be rotatable about X, Y and Z axes. In addition, the puzzle elements are linked so that when a particular puzzle element is rotated, all other puzzle elements that are located in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation and passes through are forced to rotate in the same direction. The objective of the puzzle is to manipulate the puzzle elements so that a desired design is shown on the front of the puzzle, such as a single color.
The principles and operation of the puzzle according to the present invention are better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. In order to aid in understanding of the invention, reference numerals that are referred to in the specification with respect to one or more figures may appear in additional figures without a specific reference to such additional figure in the specification.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The operation of the puzzle 10 will now be described. Referring again to
The movement and various configurations of the spheres 36, 38, 42, as well as other embodiments of the invention, can be described in relation to a type of mathematics called “group theory.” In the context of a puzzle, such as puzzle 10, an “element” of the “group” is defined as a particular configuration of the spheres 36, 38, 40, 42. The objective of the present invention is to perform a series of operations, in this embodiment, rotational movements of the spheres 36, 38, 40, 42, that will cause the puzzle 10 to move from one element to another.
The group theory concept can be illustrated through an example in which the puzzle 10 is described in the context of two rows and two columns of spheres, since in the context of a two by two, two-dimensional puzzle, the rows and columns rotate together, depending upon whether a sphere is being rotated about the X or Y axis. Row 1 comprises the upper left sphere 38 and the upper right sphere 40. Row 2 corresponds to the lower left sphere 36 and the lower right sphere 42. Column 1 corresponds to the upper left sphere 38 and lower left sphere 36. Column 2 corresponds to upper right sphere 40 and lower right sphere 42. Operations are described in a short hand in which: 1r=roll Row 1 right-wise; 1rr=roll Row 1 right-wise twice; 1rrr=roll Row 1 right-wise three times; 1u=roll Column 1 up-wise; 1uu=roll Column 1 up-wise twice; 1uuu=roll Column 1 up-wise three times. Rolling any row or any column four times would result in no change because the same side would then be face forwarding again. The terms left-wise, right-wise, up-wise and down-wise correspond to the direction of motion of the portion of the sphere opposite the bars 12, 14, 16, 18.
To further illustrate operation of the puzzle 10, each of the spheres is shown schematically in
The foregoing represent merely a few examples of the operations that can be performed on the puzzle 10 to move from element to element.
Referring now to
The puzzle 110 includes four corner spheres 136, 138, 140 and 142, four side spheres 144, 146, 148 and 150, and a center sphere 152. The spheres are arranged in three rows and three columns and are retained in place by the case 112. The spheres protrude through the top and bottom halves 114,116 of the case 112 through top and bottom openings 178, 180, respectively (see FIG. 10). The vertical thickness of the case 112 and the size of the openings 114,116 are designed to maximize the portion of each sphere that protrudes from the case 112, while preventing the sphere from becoming dislodged from the case 112. In this embodiment, rotational motion of a sphere in response to the rotation of another sphere is caused by row gears 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164 and column gears 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, which are located between the spheres and are fully contained within the case 112. For example gears 154 and 156 force spheres 136, 142 and 150 to rotate about the Y axis when any one of these three spheres is rotated about the Y axis by a user. Similarly, gears 158 and 160 force spheres 136, 144 and 138 to rotate about the X axis when any one of these three spheres is rotated about the X axis by a user.
Referring now to
Each interlocking part includes a convex face 119, which is shaped to form part of a spherical surface when the sphere is fully assembled (see FIG. 11). A deck 121 opposes the face 119. A tapered shoulder 123 provides the transition from the face 119 to the deck 121. In accordance with the present invention, each of the faces preferably has a different color or design shown thereon. The different colors or designs can extend through the entire part or be applied only to each face.
Each of the four quads 118, 120, 122, 124 include a pair of blades 137, 139 which are spaced apart, located at the edge of the deck 121 and extend inwardly. The blades of each respective quad are oriented so that that the blades nest when all four quads 118, 120, 122, 124 are assembled (see FIG. 1). Each of the blades 135, 137 includes a transverse hole 141, 143, respectively, near the end of the blade that is distal to the deck 121. Each quad also includes a pair of triangular bridges 145, 147, which are outboard of the blades. Each bridge 145, 147 extends to a vertex 153, 155. The vertexes of all of the quads 118, 120, 122, 124 meet along a single axis when the quads 118, 120, 122, 124 are assembled. The bridges 145, 147 each include a respective transverse hole 149, 151. The blade holes for each quad align with holes of the respective pair of bridges of the quad that is adjacent in the clockwise direction, forming a cylindrical locking channel. For example, a locking channel 165 (see
The front and rear ends 126, 128 each include four evenly-spaced pins 157, 159, 161, 163, which extend inwardly perpendicular to the deck 121. Each of the pins 157, 159, 161, 163 is preferably chamfered at the end distal to the deck 121, in order to aid in assembly. The pins 157, 159, 161, 163 are preferably sized to extend about half-way through a respective locking channel the so that the pins of the front end 126 meet the pins of the rear end 128.
Assembly of the sphere 136 is accomplished by first assembling the quads 118, 120, 122, 124, then inserting pins of the front and rear ends 126, 128 to lock the structure together. The pins provide a friction fit, but a small amount of adhesive (such as an epoxy resin or acrylic resin) is preferably used to increase durability and prevent separation of parts during use.
As shown in
Each center hole 170 includes a flared lip 174 that has a slightly concave shape and tapers sharply to a wall 176. The wall 176 tapers more gently to a bottom 178. The tapered lip 174 and wall 176 aid in guiding gear teeth 190 (see
Similarly, field hole 172 includes a flared lip 180 that tapers sharply to a more gently-tapered wall 182 and terminates at a bottom 184. However, unlike the center hole 170, the field hole 172 is not symmetrical. Instead, the wall 182 is slightly elongated in the direction of rotation of the sphere when the field hole 172 is engaged by the gear (to create a larger “target” for the gear teeth) and the lip 180 is elongated in the opposite direction (to guide the sphere back into alignment when it drifts out of alignment).
It should be noted that many alternate internal structures could be used to form the spheres of the puzzle 110 without departing from the present invention. For example, each sphere could comprise a single-piece body having a colored insert for each of the six faces.
Alternate structures for the two puzzles 10 and 110 described above have yet to be developed but are within the skill of one with ordinary skill in the art.
It is recognized by those skilled in the art, that changes may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed but is intended to cover all modifications which are in the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional 60/391,808 filed Jun. 26, 2002.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4548411 | Seidman | Oct 1985 | A |
4881738 | Ayers | Nov 1989 | A |
5100142 | Cannata | Mar 1992 | A |
5301943 | Asztalos | Apr 1994 | A |
5370394 | Huncaga | Dec 1994 | A |
5628512 | Chan | May 1997 | A |
6386540 | Stevkovski | May 2002 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040000756 A1 | Jan 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60391808 | Jun 2002 | US |