SPHERE PUZZLE

Abstract

A sphere puzzle having a plurality of sliding blocks, a series of protrusions, and first rails. The sliding blocks move in a double row along rings on tracks through the necks and under the bottom surfaces of second rails and stay fixed in their correct position with the help of a sliding ball on dents of the rings. A missing block enables movements with a large number of combinations, in order to complete required designs on the sphere surface.

Description

This invention relates to a game, where on a spherical surface sliding blocks can be moved in a double row along three mutually perpendicular circles, with a missing block, offering movements with a large number of combinations, in order to complete the required drawing on the sphere.

Existing games of this kind, with three mutually perpendicular circles, usually have a single series of sliding blocks on their ring tracks, without a missing sliding block, offering a limited number of movement combinations.

The Sphere puzzle, according to the now exposed invention comprises three rings (1), (2) and (3), with protrusions (14), (24) and (34) which create six sliding tracks (12), (22) and (32), seven triangular surface members (4) plus a surface member with an opening (5) and convex sliding blocks (7).

The rings (1), (2) and (3) are located on three mutually perpendicular great circles of the sphere, and divide the sphere's surface into eight equal regions.

Longitudinally on the first ring (1) there is a series of protrusions (14) which divide the ring into two tracks (12), in the middle of which there is a number of dents (19). Also, along the ring there are eight engaging slots (17), four on each side, through which the rings (2) and (3) are connected to the ring (1).

The second ring (2) consists of two identical semi rings (21) engaged with the ring (1) through the engaging slots (27), forming the second ring (2).

Longitudinally on the semi rings (21) there is a series of protrusions (24) which divide the ring (2) in two tracks (22), in the middle of which there is a number of dents (29). Also, at the end of the semi rings (21) there are engaging slots (27) for connecting with the ring (1), and in the middle of the semi rings (21) there is an engaging projection (28) for connecting with the ring (3).

The third ring (3) consists of two identical semi rings (31) engaged with ring (1) through the engaging slots (37) and with ring (2) through the engaging recesses (38) so forming the third ring (3).

Longitudinally on the semi rings (31) there is a series of protrusions (34) which divide ring (3) in two tracks (32) in the middle of which there is a number of dents (39). Also, at the ends of the semi rings (31) there are engaging slots (37) for connecting with ring (1), and in the middle of the semi ring (31) there is an engaging recess (38) for connecting with ring (2).

The protrusions (14), (24) and (34) are located in the middle of the rings (1), (2) and (3) and separate them into two tracks (12), (22) and (32).

Protrusions (14), (24) and (34) have a T-shaped sectional form with a neck (16), (26) and (36) wherein sliding blocks (7) are driven on the tracks (12), (22) and (32).

Spherical sections between the rings (1), (2) and (3) are covered with seven triangular surface members (4) and one triangular surface member (5) with an opening.

The triangular surface members (4) have a rail (41) across the perimeter where sliding blocks (7), driven by the bottom surface of the rail (42), slide on the top surface of the rail (43). The triangular surface members (4) also have three coupling portion retaining hooks (45) with which they are fixed on the sides (10) of the rings (1), (2) and (3).

The triangular surface member with an opening (5), has a rail (51) across its perimeter where sliding blocks (7), driven by the bottom surface of the rail (52), slide on the top surface of the rail (53). Triangular surface member (5) also has three coupling portion retaining hooks (55) with which it is fixed on the sides (10) of the rings (1), (2) and (3). On one side of the triangular surface member (5) there is an opening (54) through which, when assembling the Sphere puzzle, sliding blocks (7) are led on the tracks (12), (22) and (32).

Once the sliding blocks (7) are led on the tracks (12), (22) and (32) through the opening (54), the cover (6) closes the opening (54), securing the blocks (7) on the Sphere puzzle.

Rings (1), (2) and (3) have their sides bounded by the rails (41) and (Si) and the triangular surface members (4) and (5).

Tracks (12), (22) and (32) of the rings (1), (2) and (3) are defined in width by the rails (41) and (51) and the protrusions (14), (24) and (34), which drive sliding blocks (7) on tracks (12), (22) and (32) with the bottom surfaces of the rails (42) and (52) and necks (16), (26) and (36) where they can move and stay fixed in their correct position with the help of the sliding balls (74) that are on dents (19), (29) and (39).

The sliding blocks (7) consist of two convex surfaces, the bottom surface (72) and the top surface (73) connected by the neck (71). The bottom surface (72) has a sliding ball (74) for smooth sliding of the block (7) on tracks (12), (22) and (32).

The bottom surface (72) of the sliding blocks (7) is trapped in the necks (16), (26) and (36) and the space under the bottom surfaces of the rails (42) and (52) and moves on the tracks (12), (22) and (32), fixed in the right position by the sliding balls (74) that are on dents (19), (29) and (39).

The top surfaces of the rails (73) and the triangular surface members (4) and (5) that form the outer surfaces of the Sphere puzzle, can be painted with different colors or bear different designs.

Claims

1. A sphere puzzle having an outer surface comprising seven triangular surface members with first rails, the first rails having a bottom surface;a further triangular surface member with second rails and an opening, the second rails having a bottom surface;a cover;a first ring, a second ring and a third ring, each ring having protruding guides, each protruding guide having protruding guide necks, and ring comprising tracks with dents; anda plurality of sliding blocks, adapted to enter through the opening, the sliding blocks having a stability ball,

2. The sphere puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each triangular surface member has a perimeter and each first rail is arranged across the perimeter, each second rail further comprising top portions and three coupling portion retaining hooks.

3. The sphere puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the further triangular surface member has a perimeter and the second rail is arranged across the perimeter, each second rail further comprising top portions and three coupling portion retaining hooks.

4. The sphere puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each one of the protruding guides of the first ring is arranged along the length of the first ring, and has a body with a T-shaped section, the protruding guide neck dividing the first ring in two tracks, the dents being located along a center line of the track, and the first ring having eight engaging slots, four on each side of the first ring, to connect the first ring with the second and third rings.

5. The sphere puzzle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second ring comprises two second semi-ring pieces, each one of the protruding guides of the second ring being arranged along the length of each of the second semi-ring pieces, each of the protruding guides having a body with a T-shaped section, the protruding guide neck dividing the second ring in two tracks, the dents being located along a center line of the track, and the second ring having two connection protrusions, one on each end of the second ring, to connect the second ring with the first ring, and connection slots located in the middle of the second ring, to connect the second ring with the third ring.

6. The sphere puzzle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the third ring comprises two third semi-ring pieces, each one of the protruding guides of the third ring being arranged along the length of each of the third semi-ring pieces, each of the protruding guides having a body with a T-shaped section, the protruding guide neck dividing the third ring in two tracks, the dents being located along a center line of the track, and the third ring having two connection protrusions, one on each end of the third ring, to connect the third ring with the first ring, and a connection slot located in the middle of the third ring, to connect the third ring with the second ring.

7. The sphere puzzle as claimed in claim 6, wherein each sliding block comprises two convex surfaces, the top surface and the bottom surface, connected by a block neck, the block neck being adapted to receive the protruding guides and the rails and wherein the bottom surface of the sliding block cooperates with the protruding guide necks and the bottom surfaces of the first and second rails to slide on tracks, wherein the stability balls and the dents cooperate to keep the sliding block in a fixed position along each ring.

8. The sphere puzzle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cover seals the opening of the further triangular surface member when the sliding blocks are inserted on the tracks.

9. The sphere puzzle as claimed in claim 8, where the sliding blocks are able to move along the two tracks of each of the rings, following a double row way, in x−1 number, x being the number of sliding blocks comprised in each of the six tracks of the three rings.

10. The sphere puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first ring is a complete ring.

11. The sphere puzzle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the bottom surface comprises a cantilever with one end fixed on the sliding block and another end attached to the stability ball, wherein the cantilever is free to move between a position where the stability ball enters a dent and a position where the stability ball slides on tracks.

12. The sphere puzzle according to claim 1, wherein the number of protruding guides in each ring is equal to the number of sliding blocks in each track, wherein the sliding blocks are adapted to be moved from each track to the parallel adjacent track at any position of the rings.

13. The sphere puzzle according to claim 1, wherein each protruding guide neck is square.