Patent Application
20060226600
The present invention relates to an intelligence toy, and more particularly to a variable three-dimensional labyrinth having tunnels, wherein the directions of tunnels are changed by rotation of the blocks so as to provide a way out for the ball and increase the challenge and the interest.
Initially, the conventional magic block provides a 3×3×3 structure (i.e. a cube structure with 3×3 blocks on its each surface so it has a total of 26 blocks on its six surfaces). These blocks are rotated around their center to change their positions. Subsequently, a 4×4×4 magic block and a 5×5×5 magic block are developed. However, the playing methods of these conventional magic blocks do not beyond the scope of disordering the original integrated color or pattern before finding a way to recover this original integrated color or pattern. The absence of the conception of three-dimension usually make the player lose his confidence and patience and not want to continuously play the magic block after he rotates these blocks several times. Therefore, the player always discards this kind of magic block since it does not provide the interest any more. In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention improves the structure of the conventional magic block and provides a variable three-dimensional labyrinth with brand-new playing methods.
It is a main object of the present invention to provide a variable three-dimensional labyrinth comprising central blocks, side blocks, and corner blocks. The blocks are contacted with one another and allowed to change their positions, and no leak is formed on the peripheries of the blocks. By means of these features, the openings of the hollow tunnels can be formed on upper, lower, left, or right portions of the sidewalls of the blocks. These hollow tunnels may or may not equip with passageways, wherein the passageways smooth the moving of the ball. Besides, an entrance hole is formed on one of the blocks, and an exit hole is formed on another block. When the ball enters the entrance hole, the player must rotate the blocks to find the connected passageways to move the ball into another block. Because the openings of the hollow tunnels of the blocks are confined to their predetermined locations, only one path leads the ball to the exit hole. Accordingly, it is full of challenge and interest. Moreover, when the player plays the variable three-dimensional labyrinth, he just needs to concentrate his attention on the moving direction of the ball without being puzzled by other blocks so as to avoid confusion and discouragement. Accordingly, this toy is full of challenge and interest, and does not make the player easily lose his confidence and patience. Due to the feature of the structure, when the player plays the variable three-dimensional labyrinth one time, the obtained new path is different from the original one. Accordingly, a totally different path is provided for the player each time the player plays this variable three-dimensional labyrinth. According to the mathematical calculation, hundreds of billions of changes are provided so the player will never feel boring.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cube-shaped, a sphere-shaped, or a cylinder-shaped variable three-dimensional labyrinth. Regarding the playing methods, the blocks can be rotated one by one to find the way out. Alternatively, an integrated path can be formed first, and then the ball is moved straight from the entrance hole to the exit hole. As a result, one continuous line or other pattern may be formed in accordance with the predetermined positions of the openings. The variation of this variable three-dimensional labyrinth is quite great so it is full of challenge.
The present invention comprises the following structural features in which:
1. The three-dimensional labyrinth is in the form of a sphere, a cube, a steamed bun, or a pillar (e.g. a cylinder, an octagonal pillar, etc.).
2. The three-dimensional labyrinth is transparent or semi-transparent so as to distinctly observe the hollow tunnels and the position of the ball.
3. The blocks have the hollow tunnels, wherein the openings are formed on the adjacent sidewalls of the blocks or the sliding passageways are formed in the hollow tunnels to smooth the moving of the ball.
4. The ball is designed to have different shapes.
5. The blocks of the variable three-dimensional labyrinth can be rotated one by one to find the way out. Alternatively, an integrated path can be formed first, and then the ball is moved straight from the entrance hole to the exit hole. As a result, one continuous line or other pattern is formed. The path of the variable three-dimensional labyrinth is totally changed in accordance with the rotation of the blocks. According to the mathematical calculation, the variable three-dimensional labyrinth can provide hundreds of billions of playing methods.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
The above-mentioned features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring to
In order to distinctly observe the hollow tunnels and the ball 5 during the moving of the ball 5, these blocks are designed to be transparent or semi-transparent.
A plurality of buckling pillars 11 are mounted on the outside of the base 1 for blocking the central blocks 2. A holding part 21 and a hollow tunnel 22 are formed on each central block 2 for holding the end of each buckling pillar 11 and positioning the buckling pillar 11 such that the base 1 and the central blocks 2 jointly constitute the fixed basic structure of the three-dimensional labyrinth and can not be rotated. An exit hole 23 is formed on the exterior surface of one of the central blocks 2. An entrance hole 24 is formed on the exterior surface of another central block 2. The hollow tunnels 22 can be formed inside the central blocks 2, and the hollow tunnels 22 further includes at least two openings on the lateral surfaces of the central blocks 2. Besides, when the central block 2 only has a single opening (referring to
In addition to the central blocks 2, it is certainly that the side blocks 3 and the corner blocks 2 can also be varied to equip with a single hole that acts a trap.
Referring to
Accordingly, both the side blocks 3 and the corner blocks 4 are coupled with the central blocks 2, wherein these blocks are rotatable by use of the gaps formed therebetween. The blocks are contacted with one another and allowed to change their positions, and no leak is formed on the peripheries of the blocks. By means of these features, the openings of the hollow tunnels 22, 32, 42 can be formed on upper, lower, left, or right portions of the sidewalls of the blocks in accordance with the predetermined paths to smooth the moving of the ball 5. A trap is formed on the side blocks 3, corner blocks 4, and the central blocks 2 when they only equip with a single opening 22″. This trap is exemplified in the
Referring further to
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments, which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.
