BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Aspects of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rotational ring puzzle in a three dimensional structure.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components of the rotational ring puzzle.
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a sliding tile.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a triangular panel.
FIG. 4 is a front view of a triangular panel.
FIG. 5 is a perspective back bottom view of a triangular panel.
FIG. 6 is a perspective front plan view of a female plate.
FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of a semi-spherical shell formed after the attachment of four triangular panels into the female plate.
FIG. 8 is a perspective bottom view of a female plate.
FIG. 8A is a bottom perspective view of a female plate with four triangular panels attached forming a semi-spherical shell.
FIG. 9 is a perspective front view of a male plate.
FIG. 9A is a perspective bottom view of a male plate.
FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of a female semi-spherical shell with the sliding tiles introduced into the two intersecting tracks.
FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of a male semi-spherical shell with the sliding tiles introduced into the two intersecting tracks.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The spherical rotational ring puzzle 100 shown in FIG. 1 is constructed by eight identical triangular panels 1, four of which forms a first semi-spherical shell 2 while the other four forms the second semi-spherical shell 3. The first semi-spherical shell is also referred to herein as the female semi-spherical shell while the second semi-spherical shell is also referred to herein as the male semi-spherical shell. The four triangular panels 1 forming the first semi-spherical shell 2 are held by a first or female plate 4 while the other four triangular panels 1 forming the second semi-spherical shell 3 are held by a second or male plate 5. The spherical rotational ring puzzle is formed by the engagement of the female plate with the male plate.
An exploded view of the components of the rotational ring puzzle is shown in FIG. 2. By making eight identical triangular panels with two matching plates, this simplifies the construction or assembly of the ring puzzle as well as cut the cost of making the molds. Further, with identical triangular panels, it is easy to replace a triangular panel if it accidentally gets detached, break or lost from any one of the plates without throwing away the entire ring puzzle.
A triangular panel 1 covers approximately ⅛ of a sphere. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a perspective and front view of a triangular panel 1, respectively. Each triangular panel has three sides, 6, 7, and 8. The panels have an outer curved surface 9 and consequently, sides 7 and 8 are also curved to enable the formation of a sphere after the eight triangular panels are interconnected. It is recommended to mold the triangular panel as a single piece. The outer curved surface 9 has raised ridges 10a,b,c, along the three sides 6, 7, and 8 with the ridges 10a and 10b recessed from the edges of lateral sides 7 and 8 while the bottom ridge 10c is flushed on the same plane as the outer edge of side 6 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Side 6 is at the peripheral bottom of the formed semi-spherical shell when the triangular panels are attached to a plate. The raised ridge 10c may be thicker than the raised ridges 10a and 10b. The interior of each triangular panel 1 is supported by walls 11 which in this illustration shown in FIG. 5, is trapezoidal in shape. The supporting walls 11 need not be trapezoidal but other geometric shapes are possible. These walls also serve as a connector to other components of the puzzle for the triangular panel. The supporting walls 11 create a hollow compartment 12 between the inner surface 13 of the triangular panel 1 and the walls 11. For further reinforcement, a rib 14 runs longitudinally along an outer edge of the supporting wall 11 proximal to the central core of the sphere. A pair of symmetrically located openings 15 may be etched out from the side walls 16 and 17 of the supporting wall 11 of the triangular panel. Since all eight triangular panels are identical, the parts of the panels will be identified with the same number.
Four of these triangular panels are engaged to a round first or female plate 4. FIG. 6 shows the side of the female plate where the triangular panels attach which will be referred to here as the front side. The front side of the female plate 4 has four upstanding platform 18 of a shape adapted for engagement with the hollow compartment 12 of the triangular panels which as stated above can be other than trapezoidal. The shape of the upstanding platform 18 conforms with the contour of the hollow compartment. One upstanding platform 18 inserts snugly into one triangular panel. For a more permanent engagement, retaining hooks 19 protruding upwards from the platform may be provided for engagement with the openings 15 to lock the triangular panels to the upstanding platforms of the female plate. Of course, other means for engaging the triangular panels to the female plate can be designed.
FIG. 7 shows the first or female semi-spherical shell 2 formed after engagement of four triangular panels into the female plate 4. After engagement, the raised ridges 10a and 10b and the lateral peripheral surfaces 20 formed by recessing the ridges 10a and 10b from the edges 21 of the lateral sides 7 and 8 results in an intersecting track 22 and 23 running perpendicularly along the X and Y axis or at 90 degrees from each other. FIGS. 8 and 8A show the bottom side of the female plate 4. Note the protruding rounded tipped nib 24 hanging from one end of a cut out 25 located at four positions on the bottom surface of the female plate 4 spaced at ninety degrees from each other. These nibs 24 on the cut out 25 are usually aligned with the central cut 34 of either track 22 or 23. The cut out with a nib made of a resilient material connected on one of its sides allows the nib some motion to protrude and recess when pushed inward.
The second or male semi-spherical shell 3 forming the other half of the spherical ring puzzle 100 is assembled in the same manner as the first or female semi-spherical shell 2 except that the four triangular panels 1 are engaged with a second or male plate 5 shown in FIG. 9. The side shown in FIG. 9 is herein referred to as front side of the male plate 5. As in the female plate 4, there are also upstanding platforms 18′ that snugly inserts into the hollow compartment 12 of the triangular panel 1. Retaining hooks 19′ may also be provided for a more permanent engagement. Intersecting tracks 22′ and 23′ are also formed after the engagement of the four triangular panels on the male plate as shown in FIG. 11. Track 22′ on the male semi-spherical shell forms a continuous track with track 22 on the female semi-spherical shell and track 23′ on the male semi-spherical shell forms a continuous track with track 23 on the female semi-spherical shell after the engagement of the two semi-spherical shells. Herein, use of the word semi-spherical shell without reference to whether it is the male, female, first or second means that it refers to both.
After each semi-spherical shell is formed, sliding tiles 26 are introduced into the intersecting tracks 22 and 23 and 22′ and 23′. Each 180 degree track of a semi-spherical shell contain odd numbers of sliding tiles with a minimum of three. A track in full rotation, that is, 360 degrees or in a continuous ring formation would contain twice the number of sliding tiles 26. FIG. 2A shows an example of a sliding tile 26. The design of the sliding tile is not confined to the example shown. Other sliding tiles can be introduced to the tracks so long as it can move along both tracks.
The sliding tile 26 shown here has a top section 27 shaped like a truncated pyramid connected to a spherical thin plate 28 by a center piece 29 which is a short cylindrical shaft. As stated above, this is just an example, the top section need not be a truncated pyramid, the thin plate need not be spherical and the shaft need not be cylindrical. The top section 27 has a top outside face 30 and a base 31. The top face and the base are shown here as square but other geometric shapes are also possible so long as it can slide along tracks 22 and 23 and 22′ and 23′. It is recommended for the peripheral edges and corners of the top face and the base to be curved and smoothened and for the peripheral bottom corners 32 of the base 31 slightly lowered such that a slight arching results. This allows for the two lateral sides 33 of the base 31 to lie along tracks 22, 23, 22′ and 23′ with the central area of the base 31 not touching the tracks, thereby facilitating the movement of each tile relative to the other.
The sliding tiles 26 are introduced into tracks 22, 23, 22′ and 23′ with the lateral sides 33 of the base 31 of the sliding tile resting on the peripheral surface 20 of the tracks as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The peripheral surface 20 is shown better in FIG. 7. The top section 27 rests on the top outside surface of the semi-spherical shells with the center piece 29 situating at the center cut 34 along the middle of tracks 22, 23, 22′ and 23′. The front side 35 of the thin plate 28 faces the inside surface 36 (see FIG. 5) of the tracks and traverse the tracks on the side opposite of where the top section 27 traverse the semi-spherical shell. A spherical thin plate, shown here as an example of a thin plate, should have a diameter larger than the width of the center cut 34 to prevent the sliding tiles from falling off easily from the tracks as the spherical puzzle 100 is rotated or moved around during use, as well as provide balance for the top section of the sliding tiles. The height of the centerpiece 29 is slightly taller than the thickness of the tracks to allow unobstructed motion of the sliding tiles 26 as it traverse along the center cut 34 of tracks 22, 23, 22′ and 23′. The side 37 of the top section 27 of the sliding tile facing side 6 should align with the outer edge of side 6. This is important to enable one semi-spherical shell to rotate about an equatorial axis relative to the other semi-spherical shell.
FIG. 11 shows the second or male semi-spherical shell formed on a second or male plate 5 with the sliding tiles 26. The spherical puzzle as stated above, is formed by the engagement of the two semi-spherical shells. The bottom side 38 of the female plate 4 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 8A engages with the bottom side 39 of the male plate 5 shown in FIGS. 9A and 11 usually by a snapping mechanism but other similar forms of attachment will also work. In the example here, a circular protrusion 40 at the center of the male plate 5 having a circular lip 41 with slanted edges 42 is inserted into a central hole 43 of the female plate. As shown, the circular protrusion is segmented or cut in sections, herein four but at least one segment with one slit 44 would be sufficient. Slits 44 on the circular protrusion provides flexibility and some resiliency for the circular lip having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the central hole 43 of the female plate to penetrate into the hole and rests the circular lip on the front side of the female plate. After insertion, the female plate rests on the circular protrusion 40 and situates on top of the male plate. The thickness of the female plate rests on the circular protrusion 40. The slits 44 herein are usually aligned with the shallow trough like cavities 45 which are at 90 degrees from each other. The troughs are shallow but deep enough to temporarily lodge a nib. When the female semi-spherical shell 2 initially engages with the male semi-spherical shell 3, each rounded tipped nib 24 on the bottom side 38 of the female plate is lodged at a matching trough like cavity 45 on the bottom side 39 of the male plate 5 in such a way that the intersecting tracks 22 and 23 on the female semi-spherical shell continues through the intersecting tracks 22′ and 23′ respectively, on the male semi-spherical shell to form continuous intersecting tracks or rings, that is, track 22 forms a continuous track or ring with track 22′ and track 23 forms a continuous track or ring with track 23′. Also in this position, there are no sliding tiles that could obstruct the rotation of one semi-spherical shell in relation to the other semi-spherical shell.
Because the outside bottom surfaces of the two semi-spherical shell are flat, that is, unobstructed except for the slightly protruding nib, after engagement of the circular protrusion 40 on the male plate 5 with the central hole 43 at the female plate 4 to form the spherical puzzle, the female semi-spherical shell 2 can be rotated relative to the male semi-spherical shell 3 about an equatorial axis perpendicular to the plane 46 formed by surfaces 38 and 39. Plane 46 divides the spherical puzzle into the two semi-spherical shells. The rotation of one semi-spherical shell can be at a direction opposite or against the position of the other semi-spherical shell. Rotation about the equatorial axis is possible when a sliding tile 26 rests at the junction 47 (see FIG. 7) where track 22 intersects with track 23 and another sliding tile 26′ (not shown) rests at the opposite junction 47′ where track 22′ intersects with track 23′ because at this position, the side 37 of the top section 27 of the sliding tile do not protrude but is rather flushed with the outer edge of side 6 and with the bottom side 38 or 39 of the plates. To illustrate, sliding tile 26a shown in FIG. 1 is at the junction 47. The rotation about the equatorial axis on plane 46 is usually in increments of 90 degrees at each turn, coinciding with the location of the nib and trough on the bottom sides of the female and male plates. When the semi-spherical shells are rotated, the rounded tipped nib 24 which is made of a resilient material, can transfer from one trough to another. In a 90 degree turn, one nib transfers from one trough to the adjacent trough. The cut out 25 provides the room for the nib as it temporarily recesses and revert back to its original position when it transfers from one trough 45 to another. The rounded tipped nibs 24 only protrude slightly from the bottom side of the female plate. This 90 degrees rotation about the equatorial axis on plane 46 allows track 22 to align with track 23′ and consequently, the sliding tiles on these tracks.
The top outside face 30 of each tile is of a particular color or design which together with all the sliding tiles in one or two continuous ring form a predetermined pattern or design. The design may be visually detectable or it can have a set of patterned protrusions on the top section, usually on the front face 30 of the sliding tiles that can be arranged by a blind or color blind person through the touch of the hand. The spherical ring puzzle may come with the design in place on the track or scrambled to be arranged into the desired design shown in an accompanying brochure. Each track may have its own pattern or design or both tracks may form a single coordinated pattern or design. For example, one ring or sliding tiles may have one distinct color while the other ring of sliding tiles may have another distinct color or one ring of sliding tiles may have a distinct sequence of alternating colors while the other ring of sliding tiles may have another distinct sequence of alternating colors. Further, the pattern may be other than colors but other graphic designs. Also, the puzzle can come with patterns or designs of varying and increasing complexity to cater to the age and/or intelligence of the user. This can be accomplished by providing different sets of sliding tiles that can replace the sliding tiles on the puzzle or by providing a number of different rotational puzzles for each pattern or design.
The set pattern of coloration or design on the sliding tiles are arranged or disarranged by a random sequence of movements of the sliding tiles along the continuous perpendicular tracks 22, 22′ or 23, 23′, that is, from one track on the female semi-spherical shell to the same continuing track on the male semi-spherical shell, or from one track 22, 22′ to another track 23, 23′ and vice versa coupled with the rotational movement of one semi-spherical shell against the position of the other semi-spherical shell about the equatorial axis. The object of the puzzle 100 is to restore the predetermined pattern of coloration or design. To move a sliding tile 26 from one track to another, this tile must be placed at either the junction 47 or 47′ (not shown). When the sliding tile is at the junction, this tile can be moved in all four directions of the tracks along 22, 22′, or along 23 and 23′ as shown by the arrows on FIG. 1. After the sliding tile at the junction, herein labeled as 26a, is moved to the desired location, another sliding tile, not necessarily adjacent to tile 26a, will replace tile 26a at the junction. The replacing sliding tile can again be moved to any desired direction or location. A series of sliding tiles in track 22 can be moved to align with the sliding tiles on track 23′ by a 90 degree rotation of one semi-spherical shell in relation to the other semi-spherical shell about the equatorial axis on plane 46. The same is true for moving a series of sliding tile from track 23 to track 22′. Every 90 degree rotation will move a series of tiles from one track to another. One can also invert the spherical puzzle, that is, change the position of the female semi-spherical shell from the top to the bottom and vice-versa. Movement about the equatorial axis can shorten the time for obtaining the predetermined coloration, pattern or design. The above described movements has no predetermined sequence or order and can be repeated as many times as the user desires until the predetermined coloration, pattern or design is obtained on the tracks.
While the embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that various changes, adaptations, and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.
Patent Application
20080061503
