Abstract:
A rotating spheres puzzle is comprised of plurality of overlapping spherical figures ( 10 ), each of which is rotatable about three mutually orthogonal axes with its center as a pivot point, and each of which comprises a base ( 11 ) and a plurality of pieces ( 12 ) distributed symmetrically on the periphery of the base. The pieces are shareable with neighboring figures and can be moved into corresponding positions in other spherical figures including the overlapping areas by sequentially rotating the figures in predetermined angular increments. The spherical figures are arranged to form a three dimensional matrix of spherical figures, and are surrounded and encased by a housing ( 14, 15  and  16 ). The housing has a plurality of openings so as to enable a manual rotation of the spherical figures.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND—Field of Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a puzzle for entertainment and educational purposes, and in particular to a puzzle which allows the player to rearrange the combination of a plurality of movable pieces. 
     BACKGROUND—Description of Prior Art 
     The invention of Engel (U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,158) discloses a puzzle where segmented sections form a geometric figure and each geometric figure has a common segmented section with another geometric figure. Segmented sections rotate about non-orthogonal axes. Prior art also includes puzzles formed by intersecting defined circular members each of which is rotatable about its center and each of which comprises a plurality of discrete pieces formed by intersecting arcs of the members (Fisher at U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,040, and Morosow at U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,126). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a puzzle of intellectual, educational and amusing character. 
     Another object is to provide a puzzle device that allows an unlimited expansion of the device so as to increase the complication and difficulty in playing the game. 
     To achieve the above objects, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a puzzle comprising a plurality of substantially spherical figures, each of the figures having a base and a plurality of pieces on the periphery, the pieces being shareable with neighboring figures. Each spherical figure is rotatable about three orthogonal axes with the center of the figure as a pivot point. The spherical figures are arranged in a three-dimensional matrix, and the matrix is enclosed in a transparent shell. Rotation of the spherical figures about orthogonal axes provides means of rapidly changing the order of the shareable pieces, and increases the variety of combinations. 
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES 
     The features and objects of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the puzzle where housing is shown in a partial sectional view; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the matrix of spherical figures; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view marked  3 — 3  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the puzzle; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view marked  5 — 5  in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric partial sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the puzzle; 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric partial sectional view of an alternative spherical figure embodiment; 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric partial sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the puzzle; 
     FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the detail marked  9  in FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
       10   a,    10   b,    10   c  spherical figure 
       11 ,  11   a,    11   b  base 
       12   a,    12   b  piece 
       13  pin 
       14  bottom housing shell 
       15  middle housing shell 
       16  top housing shell 
       17  bolt 
       18  dimple 
       19  opening 
       20  pole 
       21  recess 
       21 ′ dimple 
       22  spring 
       23  central support member 
       24  post 
       25  hole 
       26  projection 
       27  expanded coupling portion 
       28  base 
       29  piece 
       30  piece 
       31  hole 
       32  hole 
       33  raised portion 
       34  recessed portion 
       35 ,  35   a  hole in housing 
       36  key 
       37  base 
       38  piece 
       39  permanent magnet 
       40  metal rod 
       41  base 
       42  piece 
       43  cupola 
       44  channel 
       45  track 
       46  leg 
       47  housing shell 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Specific language be used to describe the same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, a puzzle in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of a plurality of substantially spherical FIGS. 10 of same size arranged to form a matrix of spherical figures, and a transparent housing shell ( 14 ,  15  and  16 ) encompassing the matrix of spherical figures. The matrix of the preferred embodiment is of size 2×2×2, having two spherical figures along each of three orthogonal axes (X, Y and Z), or eight spherical figures altogether. A detailed exploded view of the matrix is shown in FIG.  2 . Each spherical figure has a local coordinate system associated with it. The origin of the coordinate system is coincident to the center of the respective spherical figure. The axes A, B, and C of the local coordinate system are parallel to the global axes X, Y and Z respectively. The spherical figures are equally spaced between each other, the distance between two neighboring figures being smaller than the diameter of a spherical figure. Consequently, two neighboring spheres intersect each other, the intersecting volume substantially defining an axisymmetric body, or piece  12 . Each spherical FIG. 10 comprises a base  11  and six identical pieces  12  as defined above. The pieces are disposed symmetrically on the periphery of the base  11  into respective recesses  21  along the axes A, B, and C. Two neighboring spherical figures disposed in such manner share a common piece. For example, piece  12   a  in FIG. 2 is common to spherical figures  10   a  and  10   c.    
     A housing shell made of transparent material surrounds the matrix of spherical figures. The housing shell is comprised of a bottom housing shell  14 , a middle housing shell  15 , and a top housing shell  16  (shown in an exploded view in FIG.  4 ). When assembled together, housing shells  14 ,  15  and  16  form a cavity that corresponds to the exterior boundary of the matrix of spherical figures, thereby maintaining the disposal of spherical figures as specified above. Eight poles  20  protruding from the middle housing shell  15  engage into holes  25  in the bottom and top housing shells. A firm connection is secured by attaching housing shells  14 ,  15  and  16  to a central support member  23 . The central support member comprises six posts  24  protruding from the center towards the six sides of the housing. The posts  24  are attached to six projections  26  protruding from the sides of the housing towards the center, via bolts  17 . 
     Within the housing, every spherical figure is free to rotate independently about its center. If a spherical figure is rotated for 90 degrees about one of the three orthogonal axes A, B and C, the appearance of the puzzle changes. A previously hidden piece becomes visible to the player, and a previously visible piece becomes hidden (or common to two figures). For example, if spherical FIG. 10 a  in FIG. 2 is rotated about the C-axis, the new position of piece  12   a  could be the position previously occupied by piece  12   b . With this rotation, previously shared disc  12   a  becomes an exterior boundary of the matrix, and is visible to the player. 
     To guide the spherical figures to rotate about the axes A, B, and C in 90-degree angular increments, split pins  13  are used. As shown in FIG. 5, two split pins  13  are inserted into piece  12 . Once the pins are inserted, a spring  22  exerts force and keeps the expanded coupling portions  27  in contact against the interior wall of piece  12 . Rounded end-portions of the pins engage into corresponding dimples  18  in the housing shell, as well as into corresponding dimples  21 ′ at the center of recesses  21  of base  11 , as seen in FIG.  3 . The player rotates the spherical figures through openings  19  in the transparent shell, by applying rotational force along the periphery of the rotating spherical figure. The boundary pins of the rotating spherical figure that lie along the direction of rotation disengage the respective housing dimples  18  and base dimples  21 ′ as they get pressed towards the center of the figure. After a 90-degree rotation, the pins engage again into corresponding dimples. The boundary pins along the axis of rotation remain engaged and help preserving the direction of rotation. 
     Indicia of different kinds can be printed on the exterior surfaces of the pieces, as well as on the visible portions of the base. In one particular game, the exterior surfaces of the pieces are colored differently and pieces are scrambled, and the player has to return them to an original position. The present embodiment includes thirty-six pieces altogether, of which, twenty-four are exterior at any time, and twelve are hidden (common to two figures). Considering that every piece has two exterior surfaces of which just one may be visible, there are seventy-two surfaces potentially visible, just twenty-four of which are visible at a time. This shows the potential for a variety of games with different levels of complexity that can be played. 
     Alternative Embodiments 
     FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention where key  36  is utilized for rotation of spherical figures. The key is inserted through holes  35  in the transparent housing shell along the axes A, B and C. The extruded portion of the key  36  has a predetermined cross-sectional shape matching the cross-sectional shape of holes  31  into piece  29 , and the cross section of holes  32  into base  28 . Holes  31  and  32  are made along the axes A, B and C. Raised portions  33  symmetrically spaced on the periphery of the base  28  alternatively engage respective recessed portions  34  on the transparent shell. Therefore the spherical figure can be rotated independently relative to the transparent shell and alternatively positioned at 90-degree increments by inserting and turning key  36 . To increase the complexity of the game, some of the pieces may be deprived from holes (such as disc  30  in FIG.  6 ), and the player cannot insert key  36  through such pieces. For example, the player can make a rotation through the hole  35 , but cannot rotate the same figure through the hole  35   a  since there is no opening in the corresponding piece. In one particular game, the discs without holes are the ones to be made invisible (common to two figures). 
     Alternative means of guiding spherical figures to rotate about the axes A, B, and C in 90-degree angular increments are shown in FIG.  7 . Permanent magnets are utilized to keep the figures in proper position after every 90-degree rotation. Six permanent magnets  39  are embedded at the bottom of the recesses of each base  37 . Metal rod  40  is placed into each piece  38  along the orthogonal axes A, B and C. Of six discs on the periphery of a spherical figure, three are common to other figures at any time. Metal rods  40  that belong to the three common pieces, are sandwiched between two permanent magnets belonging to two neighboring bases, and will tend to preserve such position after every 90-degree rotation. 
     Yet another alternative means of guiding spherical figures to rotate about the axes A, B, and C in 90-degree angular increments are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Base  41  has recesses with circumferential channels  44  intersecting each other at right angles at the centers of the respective recesses. Pieces  42  have cupolas  43  at the centers of both sides. Housing  47  has circumferential tracks  45  in planes that are normal to the axes A, B and C and pass through centers of the spherical figures. In areas where tracks  45  intersect each other there are four bended legs  46  protruding towards the center of the intersection. The cupolas on the periphery of a rotating spherical figure travel along channels  44  and tracks  45 . After every 90-degree rotation about one of the axes A, B, and C, the peripheral cupolas are locked into position by the legs  46 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of this invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.