Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6550769
-
Patent Number
6,550,769
-
Date Filed
Monday, November 5, 200122 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 22, 200321 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 273 153 R
- 273 156
- 273 157 R
- 273 155
- D21 478
- D21 480
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A puzzle includes a set of non-border pieces and a set of border pieces. Each border piece includes at least one segment not adjacent to another piece when the puzzle is assembled. Each non-border piece includes a first arc segment having a convex shape and a second arc segment having a convex shape. The second arc segment is superimposed on the first arc segment, has a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the first arc segment to which it is superimposed, and is shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece. Non-border pieces are shaped to each include a second arc segment that is concentric with the first arc segment of an adjacent non-border piece. Non-border pieces are shaped to each include a first arc segment that is concentric with the first arc segment of an adjacent non-border piece.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a puzzle.
BACKGROUND
Puzzles are popular forms of entertainment. In general, a puzzle is a set of irregularly shaped pieces that, when properly assembled, form a picture.
SUMMARY
In one general aspect, a puzzle includes a set of non-border pieces and a set of border pieces. Each border piece includes at least one segment not adjacent to another piece when the puzzle is assembled. Each non-border piece includes a first arc segment having a convex shape and a second arc segment being superimposed on the first arc segment. The second arc segment has a convex shape and is shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece.
Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, non-border pieces may be shaped such that their second arc segments are concentric with the first arc segments of adjacent non-border pieces. Non-border pieces may be shaped such that their first arc segments are concentric with the first arc segments of adjacent non-border pieces. The second arc segments may have radii of curvature that are smaller than radii of curvature of the first arc segments on which they are superimposed.
Non-border pieces may be shaped to each include a first arc segment and/or a second arc segmnet that spans an angle greater than 180°.
At least one piece in the puzzle may have a shape different from the shape of an adjacent piece.
Non-border pieces may be shaped such that their first arc segments interfit with concave arc segments of adjacent pieces. The first arc segments may connect with the second arc segments at a corner, that is, a point at which the slopes of the arc segments are discontinuous.
Non-border pieces may be shaped to each include a third arc segment. The third arc segment has a convex shape, is superimposed on the first arc segment, and is shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece. The third arc segment may be concentric with the first arc segment of an adjacent piece.
The puzzle provides for a different level of difficulty because of the arc segment cuts used to make the pieces.
Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
shows a plan view of a puzzle with pieces in play.
FIGS. 2-13
show plan views of pieces of the puzzle of FIG.
1
.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a puzzle
100
includes a set of non-border pieces
105
and a set of border pieces
110
. Examples of non-border pieces
105
are shown in
FIGS. 2-7
and examples of border pieces
110
are shown in
FIGS. 8-13
. Each of the pieces
105
or
110
is formed to have a backboard (not shown). Although not shown in puzzle
100
, in some puzzles, an image may be formed on, or adhered to, one side of the backboard.
In general, the puzzle
100
may be made with a die (not shown) that is positioned on one or more sides of the backboard such that the die is pressed into the side of the backboard. The die is made of thin strips of material (such as, metal) shaped into intricate patterns and fastened to a base. The edges of the die material on the exposed side of the die are sharpened to cut the backboard (and the image if an image is formed on the backboard) when the die is pressed into the backboard, so as to form the puzzle.
The backboard may be made of any well-known material that permits die cutting. For example, the backboard may be made of cardboard, sponge, or any soft board. If an image is formed onto the backboard, the image may be a visual rendering on a pliable material, such as, for example, paper or plastic, or may be rendered directly on the backboard. When formed on paper, plastic, or some other material, the image may be applied to the backboard using, for example, glue or any suitable adhesive.
The puzzle
100
may have any overall shape. The overall puzzle shape may be, for example, rectangular, circular, elliptical, polygonal, or irregular. In
FIG. 1
, the overall shape of the puzzle
100
is rectangular.
Generally, each non-border piece includes a first arc segment having a convex shape, which means that the boundary of the arc segment curves or bulges outward, like the exterior of a circle. The non-border piece includes a second arc segment also having a convex shape. The second arc segment is superimposed, or formed, on the first arc segment. The first arc segment connects with the second arc segment at a corner, which is a point at which the slope of the arc segment is discontinuous. The second arc segment is shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece, which may be a non-border piece
105
or a border piece
110
. An arc segment has a concave shape if the boundary of the arc segment curves or bulges inward, like the interior of a circle. The second arc segment may have a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the first arc segment on which it is superimposed. The radius of curvature of an arc segment is the distance from the center of the circle forming the arc segment to a point along an edge of the arc segment.
Additionally, a non-border piece may be shaped to include a third arc segment having a convex shape. The third arc segment may be superimposed, or formed, on the first arc segment to interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece. The first arc segment of a non-border piece may interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece. A non-border piece may be shaped such that one or more of the first arc segment, the second arc segment, and the concave arc segment spans an angle greater than 180°.
Referring also to
FIG. 2
, a non-border piece
205
includes a first arc segment
215
and a second arc segment
220
superimposed on the first arc segment
215
. The first arc segment
215
connects with the second arc segment
220
at a corner
225
. The second arc segment
220
spans an angle greater than 180° and is shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece (not shown). Furthermore, a radius of curvature
227
of the second arc segment
220
is smaller than a radius of curvature
229
of the first arc segment
215
.
Referring also to
FIG. 3
, a non-border piece
305
includes a first arc segment
315
and a second arc segment
320
superimposed on the first arc segment
315
. The first arc segment
315
spans an angle greater than 180° and connects with the second arc segment
320
at a corner
325
. The second arc segment
320
spans an angle greater than 180° and is shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment
230
of the adjacent non-border piece
205
(shown in FIGS.
1
and
2
). The concave arc segment
230
also spans an angle greater than 180°. Furthermore, a radius of curvature
327
of the second arc segment
320
is smaller than a radius of curvature
329
of the first arc segment
315
.
Referring also to
FIG. 4
, a non-border piece
405
includes a first arc segment
415
and a second arc segment
420
superimposed on the first arc segment
415
. The first arc segment
415
spans an angle greater than 180° and connects with the second arc segment
420
at a corner
425
. The second arc segment
420
spans an angle greater than 180° and is shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment
330
of the adjacent non-border piece
305
(shown in FIGS.
1
and
3
). The concave arc segment
330
also spans an angle greater than 180°. As also shown, a radius of curvature
427
of the second arc segment
420
is smaller than a radius of curvature
429
of the first arc segment
415
.
Referring also to
FIG. 5
, a non-border piece
505
includes a first arc segment
515
and a second arc segment
520
superimposed on the first arc segment
515
. The first arc segment
515
spans an angle greater than 180° and connects with the second arc segment
520
at a corner
525
. The second arc segment
520
spans an angle greater than 180° and is shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment
1330
of an adjacent border piece
1310
(shown in FIGS.
1
and
13
). The first arc segment
515
of the non-border piece
505
interfits with a concave arc segment
1134
of an adjacent border piece
1110
(shown in FIGS.
1
and
11
). The concave arc segment
1134
also spans an angle greater than 180°. Additionally, a radius of curvature
527
of the second arc segment
520
is smaller than a radius of curvature
529
of the first arc segment
515
.
Referring also to
FIG. 6
, a non-border piece
605
includes a first arc segment
615
and a second arc segment
620
superimposed on the first arc segment
615
. The first arc segment
615
spans an angle greater than 180° and connects with the second arc segment
620
at a corner
625
. The second arc segment
620
spans an angle greater than 180° and is shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment
730
of an adjacent non-border piece
705
(shown in FIGS.
1
and
7
). The concave arc segment
730
also spans an angle greater than 180°. Additionally, the non-border piece
605
includes a third arc segment
622
superimposed on the first arc segment
615
and shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment
1232
of an adjacent border piece
1210
(shown in FIGS.
1
and
12
). The concave arc segment
1232
also spans an angle greater than 180°. As shown, a radius of curvature
627
of the second arc segment
620
is smaller than a radius of curvature
629
of the first arc segment
615
.
Referring also to
FIG. 7
, the non-border piece
705
includes a first arc segment
715
and a second arc segment
720
superimposed on the first arc segment
715
. The first arc segment
715
spans an angle greater than 180° and connects with the second arc segment
720
at a corner
725
. The second arc segment
720
spans an angle greater than 180° and is shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment
1030
of an adjacent border piece
1010
(shown in FIGS.
1
and
10
). The concave arc segment
1030
also spans an angle greater than 180°. Furthermore, a radius of curvature
727
of the second arc segment
720
is smaller than a radius of curvature
729
of the first arc segment
715
.
Generally, each border piece
110
in the border includes a border segment not adjacent to another piece (either a non-border piece or another border piece
110
). The border segment may be of any suitable shape to form the overall shape of the puzzle. For example, the border segment may be a straight edge if the overall shape of the puzzle is polygonal or rectangular. As another example, the border segment may be curved if the overall shape of the puzzle is elliptical or circular. If the overall shape of the puzzle is irregular, then the border segment may have an irregular shape.
Referring to
FIGS. 8-13
, a border piece
810
includes a border segment
840
, a border piece
910
includes a border segment
940
, a border piece
1010
includes a border segment
1040
, a border piece
1110
includes a border segment
1140
, a border piece
1210
includes a border segment
1240
, and a border piece
1310
includes a border segment
1340
.
A border piece may include more than one border segment. As shown in
FIG. 10
, the border piece
1010
includes another border segment
1042
.
Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A puzzle comprising:a set of non-border pieces; and a set of border pieces, each border piece including at least one segment not adjacent to another piece when the puzzle is assembled; wherein: each non-border piece includes: a first arc segment having a convex shape, and a second arc segment having a convex shape, being superimposed on the first arc segment, having a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the first arc segment to which it is superimposed, and being shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece; non-border pieces are shaped to each include a second arc segment that is concentric with the first arc segment of an adjacent non-border piece; non-border pieces are shaped to each include a first arc segment that is concentric with the first arc segment of an adjacent non-border piece.
- 2. A puzzle comprising:a set of non-border pieces; and a set of border pieces, each border piece including at least one segment not adjacent to another piece when the puzzle is assembled; wherein: each non-border piece includes: a first arc segment having a convex shape, and a second arc segment being superimposed on the first arc segment, having a convex shape, and being shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece; and non-border pieces are shaped to each include a second arc segment that is concentric with the first arc segment of an adjacent non-border piece.
- 3. The puzzle of claim 2 in which non-border pieces are shaped to each include a first arc segment that spans an angle greater than 180°.
- 4. The puzzle of claim 2 in which non-border pieces are shaped to each include a second arc segment that spans an angle greater than 180°.
- 5. The puzzle of claim 2 in which at least one piece has a shape different from the shape of an adjacent piece.
- 6. The puzzle of claim 2 in which non-border pieces are shaped to each include a first arc segment that interfits with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece.
- 7. The puzzle of claim 2 in which the first arc segment connects with the second arc segment at a corner.
- 8. The puzzle of claim 2 in which non-border pieces are shaped to each include a third arc segment, with a third arc segment having a convex shape, being superimposed on the first arc segment, and being shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece.
- 9. The puzzle of claim 8 in which the third arc segment is concentric with the first arc segment of an adjacent piece.
- 10. A puzzle comprising:a set of non-border pieces; and a set of border pieces, each border piece including at least one segment not adjacent to another piece when the puzzle is assembled; wherein: each non-border piece includes: a first arc segment having a convex shape, and a second arc segment being superimposed on the first arc segment, having a convex shape, and being shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece; and non-border pieces are shaped to each include a first arc segment that is concentric with the first arc segment of an adjacent non-border piece.
- 11. The puzzle of claim 10 in which non-border pieces are shaped to each include a first arc segment that spans an angle greater than 180°.
- 12. The puzzle of claim 10 in which non-border pieces are shaped to each include a second arc segment that spans an angle greater than 180°.
- 13. The puzzle of claim 10 in which at least one piece has a shape different from the shape of an adjacent piece.
- 14. The puzzle of claim 10 in which non-border pieces are shaped to each include a first arc segment that interfits with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece.
- 15. The puzzle of claim 10 in which the first arc segment connects with the second arc segment at a corner.
- 16. The puzzle of claim 10 in which non-border pieces are shaped to each include a third arc segment, with a third arc segment having a convex shape, being superimposed on the first arc segment, and being shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece.
- 17. The puzzle of claim 16 in which the third arc segment is concentric with the first arc segment of an adjacent piece.
- 18. A puzzle comprising:a set of non-border pieces; and a set of border pieces, each border piece including at least one segment not adjacent to another piece when the puzzle is assembled; wherein: each non-border piece includes: a first arc segment having a convex shape, and a second arc segment being superimposed on the first arc segment, having a convex shape, having a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the first arc segment to which it is superimposed, and being shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece.
- 19. The puzzle of claim 18 in which non-border pieces are shaped to each include a first arc segment that spans an angle greater than 180°.
- 20. The puzzle of claim 18 in which non-border pieces are shaped to each include a second arc segment that spans an angle greater than 180°.
- 21. The puzzle of claim 18 in which at least one piece has a shape different from the shape of an adjacent piece.
- 22. The puzzle of claim 18 in which non-border pieces are shaped to each include a first arc segment that interfits with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece.
- 23. The puzzle of claim 18 in which the first arc segment connects with the second arc segment at a corner.
- 24. The puzzle of claim 18 in which non-border pieces are shaped to each include a third arc segment, with a third arc segment having a convex shape, being superimposed on the first arc segment, and being shaped to interfit with a concave arc segment of an adjacent piece.
- 25. The puzzle of claim 24 in which the third arc segment is concentric with the first arc segment of an adjacent piece.
US Referenced Citations (12)