Abstract:
A puzzle game is disclosed in which one player challenges another by assembling a mechanical puzzle from a set of components. The components make a puzzle in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,399, dated December 1986. The new apparatus incorporates novel features which enhance the game and give the puzzle a unique mode of operation wherein a handle and a housing are alternately rotated about and translated along an axis in relation to each other. The housing defines a storage space for an extraneous object and retrieving the object from the storage space may function as an aim for one of the players.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Application number 512613 was filed in New Zealand for substantially the same invention on Jun. 27, 2001. This application was deemed abandoned when the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand took action on Jun. 25, 2002, after a letter dated Jun. 21, 2002 willing abandonment was received from the inventor. Subsequently on Jun. 28, 2002, application number 519834 was filed in New Zealand. Priority is claimed under the Paris Convention for this later filing.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention is means for and a method of playing a game which develops the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,399.  
           [0003]    An apparatus for making rotational mechanical puzzles is depicted in FIGS.  8 ,  9 , 10 , 11  and  12  of U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,399. According to the known art, a set of puzzle components can be assembled in a large variety of different ways. The assemblage once complete and randomised prevents the user from disassembling the apparatus until the puzzle it makes has been solved. Both the process of randomisation and the process of solution require torque to be selectively applied to certain coaxial annular elements in the apparatus.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The current invention develops the known art apparatus by including a housing wherein a small extraneous object may be stored. Release of the object from the housing is prevented until the apparatus is disassembled. As mentioned above, this may require a puzzle to be solved.  
           [0005]    The invention further develops the known art apparatus by the provision of a fastening device adapted to prevent toddlers from having access to the small projectional units in the core.  
           [0006]    In accordance with the known art, said core comprises two long rigid members and a sequence of small projectional units. The known art core is held together by the action of a semi-tubular limiter upon which annular elements are rotatably mounted to interact with the projectional units. However when the known art core is removed from the limiter, the long rigid members readily separate and the small projectional units fall out.  
           [0007]    In a game context, in accordance with the invention, a first player may be challenged to solve a puzzle by a second player. In this context, removal of the core is a dramatic expression available to the first player, when and only when they have solved the puzzle, to indicate their triumph and optionally to draw attention to the ensuing release of the extraneous object from the housing. The aforementioned fastening device ensures that this dramatic expression is not accompanied by spillage of small projectional units from the core.  
           [0008]    Thus the invention provides a novel means of interaction for parent and child according to which the parent, being the second player above-mentioned, can challenge the child with puzzles of various degrees of difficulty and, in each case, leave the child unwatched to solve the puzzle and extract the core if they are able.  
           [0009]    Indeed it is an object of the invention to provide a colourful plastic contrivance that is attractive to potential users of all age groups from 18 months old, which may therefore come into a household as a uniquely valuable educational game.  
           [0010]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a puzzle means which can be assembled to form puzzles of various degrees of difficulty. In the preferred embodiment, the invention further develops the known art apparatus in this regard by forming said housing from two separable pieces, one piece functioning as a container and the other as a lid for the container. Said lid is preferably formed during its manufacture so that when attached to said container it occupies a whole number multiple of the longitudinal extent of any one of said elements on the limiter. When the apparatus is assembled without the lid, additional annular elements may be supplied to replace the lid on the limiter. The latitudes provided to permit rotation of said elements on the limiter will then be preserved as said additional elements will take up exactly the same space longitudinally on the limiter as the lid would have done. At the same time, the difficulty level of puzzles made with the apparatus will increase.  
           [0011]    These and other aspects of the invention are illustrated in the drawings as hereinafter outlined wherein FIGS.  1 - 7  show various parts of a first apparatus and FIGS.  8 - 9  show a second apparatus in accordance with the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a semi-tubular limiter showing also the attached container  60 , lid  63  and annular elements  65   s . Container  60  and lid  63  are adapted to define a storage space for a small piece of paper. Thus lid  63  closes the storage space at its end proximate the elements  65 , preventing the paper from being extracted until elements  65   s  are demounted from the limiter.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a cross-section through container  60  in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation showing a boss  66  which fixes the container on the limiter.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views showing a catch part  137  at one end of the core of said first apparatus. FIG. 3 shows the catch part just prior to its engagement during the process of assembling the core. FIG. 4 shows the catch part afterward as it secures the core by trapping a bent portion  114  of the molded plastic spindle  112 . FIGS. 3 and 4 show one end only of the core using the same plane of cross-section.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a plan view of a core in accordance with the invention including a detachable handle  99 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the handle  99  showing protuberance  89  which is adapted to engage bent spindle portion  114  when the handle is deployed to release the fastening device. In FIG. 6, handle  99  is shown detached from the core.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the semi-tubular limiter of FIG. 1. Shown secured on the limiter are the container  60  and the lid  63 . Lid  63  has been fully connected to container  60  in this drawing so that just sufficient space remains on the limiter for a whole number of elements  65   s  to be rotatably confined at the external end of lid  63 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 9, showing a lid  207  which differs in its construction from the lid of said first apparatus. The plane of the cross-section separates lid  207  from the adjacent annular element  201 . Thus it may be seen that lid  207  does not itself close the storage space for object  218  which is held therein. Rather effective closure of the storage space in this apparatus is achieved through the annular elements  201   s , said object  218  comprising a rigid mass such as a coin rather than a thin flexible object such as a piece of paper.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a pictorial view of a complete apparatus in accordance with the invention. The apparatus is shown here in its solution state wherein the core may be directly slid out of the limiter without further rotation of annular elements on the limiter. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    With reference to FIG. 1, congruent annular elements  65   s  are employed in said first apparatus, each with six equally spaced interior keyways including one keyway larger than the rest. A semi-tubular limiter  61  is bifurcated at one end whereby the lips  69 ,  70  at that end may be pressed together to facilitate the mounting of said annular elements on  61 . At the other end of  61 , container  60  is secured.  
         [0021]    Container  60  includes a curved interior wall  72 , a curved exterior wall  71  and flat side walls  73 ,  74  whereby it defines a cavity  67  sealed at one end. Interior wall  72  subtends 270 degrees only in a plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation. Elements  65   s  may be rotated on limiter  61  about this axis. At the sealed end, wall  71  slopes toward said axis to meet wall  72 .  
         [0022]    Whereas limiter  61  presents an equable convex surface as an arbor for elements  65   s , this surface is extended in abutment with said interior wall  72  for the length of container  60 . Protruding boss  66  molded into said surface is tightly accommodated in a recess defined by wall  72 . By this means container  60  and limiter  61  form an integrated whole which the end user of the apparatus is not invited to disassemble. Additional attachment means such as glue may be employed to completely secure  60  to  61 .  
         [0023]    At the open end of cavity  67  sufficient space is provided on said cylindrical surface for seven elements  65   s.  When all seven are accommodated on limiter  61  (without lid  63 ) walls  72  and  71  form annular stops which cooperate with the lips  69 ,  70  at the other end of the limiter to confine the elements  65   s  in preparedness for their use in a puzzle to be made with the apparatus. General principles concerning the operation of the puzzle are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,399 with reference especially to FIGS.  8 - 12 .  
         [0024]    By way of an alternative mode of construction, the user may choose to deploy lid  63  on limiter  61  instead of a certain number of the elements  65   s . By reducing the number of elements  65   s  in the puzzle, the user may construct a simpler puzzle. Preferably lid  63  replaces three only elements  65   s,  although it may replace four as I have suggested in FIG. 1 or some other number as would be clear to those skilled in the art.  
         [0025]    With reference to FIG. 7, lid  63  has an interior wall and an exterior wall which in combination with the interior wall and exterior wall of container  60  will form a housing. Said housing defines a storage space  180  which includes cavity  67 . At the closed end of lid  63 , a flat wall  86  closes off the storage space and externally cooperates with lips  69 ,  70  to delimit the space for elements  65   s  on the limiter. At the other end of lid  63 , a curved lip  64  protrudes into cavity  67  to bind container  60  and lid  63  together.  
         [0026]    With reference to FIG. 1, along most of its length lid  63  defines a gap  68  generally subtending 90 degrees in a plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation. Lip  64  adds to the length of  63  and subtends less than 270 degrees so that gap  68  is wider at lip  64  than it is elsewhere. Inside cavity  67 , lip  64  serves to rotationally limit lid  63  relative to container  60 , through its confinement by said flat walls  73 ,  74 .  
         [0027]    Lid  63  is formed from a resilient plastic and may be squeezed to slightly reduce the size of gap  68 . When held squeezed thus, lip  64  slides easily into the cavity  67  defined by container  60 . Upon releasing the pressure on  63 , the user will find that lip  64  forcefully abuts with the inside of exterior wall  71 . The force of friction then stops lid  63  from moving longitudinally along  61  to inadvertently obstruct the rotation of elements  65 . This is due to boss  66  which, as shown more particularly in FIG. 7, securely locates container  60  longitudinally of the axis relative to  61 .  
         [0028]    In order to facilitate the mounting (and later demounting) of lid  63 , the lip  64  may be reduced at the extremity of its first insertion into the cavity  67 . From there it may embody a gradual widening so as to rotationally limit lid  63  more and more as the lid is brought to its resting place against container  60 . At its final place of rest, ready for the mounting of elements  65   s  at its end, any rotational latitude for  63  relative to  60  should be minimal. Thus lid  63  and container  60  are designed to present an integrated structure which the user may hold in one hand when rotationally manipulating elements  65   s  on the limiter.  
         [0029]    Said first apparatus includes a handle  99  which may be turned relative to said integrated structure in order to provide sixty degree rotation of a selected subset of the elements  65   s . With reference to FIG. 5, torque may be transmitted from handle  99  to selected elements  65   s  through semi-cylindrical long member  119  (shown with its concavity facing out of the page) and projectional units, such as unit  21  for example, which have been rotationally locked to  119  in the assembly of a core for the puzzle. The invention may include means of attachment of handle  99  to long member  119  whereby  99  may be released from  119  and temporarily deployed at the opposite end of the core. Such means may include a semi-cylindrical holder  109  with the interior radius of  109  matching the exterior radius of the curvature of  119  about the axis. Member  119  may be forced against  109  by another part of the handle as would be clear to those skilled in the art.  
         [0030]    With reference to FIG. 4, spindle  112  is molded to bead  143  as if to extend through a hole in the bead and, when emerging from the bead, spindle  112  forms a resilient bent portion  114  including the bend  195  proximate to the bead. Between bead  143  and bend  195 , the spindle includes a small shoulder  175  whereupon the second long member  140  is stopped with its end flange  142  abutting said shoulder.  
         [0031]    The spindle  112  is molded as a separate component, including bead  143 , shoulder  175  and bent portion  114 , and the user may separate  112  from the other components of the core, whereas in the prior art device the central spindle was a fixed part of the semi-cylindrical long member (elsewhere referred to as the first member).  
         [0032]    With reference to FIG. 5, grooved long member  140  (elsewhere referred to as the second member) defines groove  141  adapted to slidably locate the ridge  62  of the semi-tubular limiter. At the end opposite catch part  137 , member  140  has a flange  139  which defines a hole for spindle  112 .  
         [0033]    During assembly of the core, the spindle  112  is inserted first through bearing means  144 ,  145  attached to semi-cyindrical long member  119  at the end opposite handle  99 . The bearing means  144 ,  145  may be included with the same molding as member  119  and  145  defines a hole for spindle  112  which closely fits the spindle without preventing rotation of the spindle relative to  119 . (Refer FIGS. 3 and 4 to identify said bearing means.)  
         [0034]    The arrangement for rotatably holding the spindle  112  at the end shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 may also include said bearing means  144 ,  145  in a separate molding from long member  119  and such is the arrangement more particularly shown in the drawings. In this case, bearing means  144 ,  145  should be glued or welded to  119  at manufacture. Part  145  comprises a lump attached to the concavity of  119  at the end thereof and part  144 , molded with  145 , extends the bearing means beyond the end of said concavity. Part  145  defines the hole for spindle  112  and when the spindle is fully inserted bead  143  rests rotatably against  145  while part  144  accommodates the bead. The bead is accommodated so that it and part  144  extend the same distance longitudinally of the axis away from part  145  and thus together they provide a surface of abutment for flange  142  of member  140 . By means of this abutment and, at the other end, the abutment of flanges  111  and  139  (refer FIG. 5), the long member  140  and the long member  119  are held in mutual engagement longitudinally of the axis.  
         [0035]    With reference to FIG. 5, after inserting the spindle  112  through said bearing means, the user may mount projectional units on the spindle one by one, bringing some of them into rotational engagement with long member  119  and others into rotational engagement with long member  140 . Spindle  112  is then inserted through a hole defined by flange  111  which flange may also be included in the same plastic molding as member  119 . Thus holes in  145  and  111  define positions for spindle  112  at the ends of the pattern of projectional units assembled in the core. These positions are defined in relation to member  119  to facilitate rotation of member  119  about the longitudinal axis of the spindle  112 . Thus when an assembled puzzle core is put into the limiter and its cargo, the axis of rotation for elements  65   s  on the limiter will approximately coincide with the longitudinal axis of spindle  112  as the exterior surface of  119  rotatably abuts with the interior surface of limiter  61 .  
         [0036]    The projectional units of the core, being identical with those of the prior art device, each define an axial orifice. During the user&#39;s assembly of a puzzle core, after spindle  112  has been inserted through the axial orifice of each projectional unit, spindle  112  is finally inserted through a hole in said flange  139  possessed by long member  140 . Here member  140  rotatably abuts with flange  111  of member  119 . Then member  140  is brought down upon the shoulder  175  of spindle  112  at the other end of the core as the member engages some of the projectional units, for example unit  22 . With reference to FIG. 3, the catch part  137  of member  140  then engages  114 , forcing the spindle to bend further at bend  195 . Catch part  137  is pushed over spindle portion  114 , finally releasing it. When  114  resiles, it moves into an enclosure defined by  137  (bottom), side walls  136 ,  135  and end wall  176  of the long member  140 . It is trapped in there, as shown particularly in FIG. 4, until such time as it may again be forced aside from  137 . Walls  135  and  136  are parallel projections off flange  142 . They run parallel to the axis and are joined by end wall  176 . Thus catch part  137  is a partial bottom for the well defined by  135 ,  136 ,  142  and  176 . End wall  176  defines hole  88  proximate the end of  114  so that force may be applied to  114  by the insertion of a rigid rod or protuberance through  88 .  
         [0037]    The cross-section of FIG. 4 is taken in a plane which includes said axis. Thus it may be seen that catch part  137  and flange  142  define an opening  194  which extends radially away from shoulder  175 . This opening should be large enough to contain  114 . Whereas  114  may be forced into the opening by pressing its end towards  144 , the opening will not ordinarily contain  114 . In its resting position as shown in FIG. 4, 114 will make a lesser angle to said axis than it must when forced to occupy said opening. Indeed the occupation of said opening by  114  will allow catch part  137  to move past  114 .  
         [0038]    With reference to FIG. 5, member  119  extends beyond said abutting flanges  139 ,  111 , longitudinally of the axis, to lodge frictionally in a recess defined by handle  99 . When  99  and  119  are lodged together for normal puzzle operation they form an integrated whole assisted by the bonding force of friction to transmit torque from the user&#39;s hand. Torque is applied by the user between handle  99  and the housing formed at least by container  60  and, if it is present, by lid  63 . Such torque may cause rotation of one element  65  relative to another if the two elements  65   s  are suitably positioned longitudinally of the axis relative to the pattern of projectional units in the core.  
         [0039]    In manipulating the prior art device, a user would position the core longitudinally of the axis relative to the annular indicator elements by holding the indicator with fingers of both hands and selectively applying pressure to the ends of the core with the palms of the hands. Then the rotation, through sixty degrees, of one subset of the elements in relation to its complementary subset would be achieved through the direct application of torque to the elements. This mode of operation gave the prior art device a similarity to other puzzle devices that were popular in the market.  
         [0040]    By contrast, according to the present invention, torque is not applied directly to the annular elements. Moreover, in use of the first illustrative embodiment, since the user holds handle  99  in one hand, and said housing in the other hand, for rotating one subset of elements  65   s  relative to its complementary subset, it is natural that longitudinal repositioning of the elements should be achieved through the pushing or pulling of handle  99  in relation to said housing. This mode of operation also informs the construction of the second illustrative embodiment of the invention and is the generally preferred mode because of its association with the possibilities of dramatic expression occuring when the elements  65   s  have been so positioned that their large keyways  96   s  are aligned with the delayer means  134 . In accordance with the known art, such alignment permits the withdrawal of the core from the limiter.  
         [0041]    With reference to FIG. 6, handle  99  may define a recess  90  adapted to accommodate the structure of walls  135 ,  136 ,  137  and  176  at one end of long member  140 . Handle  99  comprises an outer wall which forms the user&#39;s grip surface and a flat interior web wall  91  normal to the geometrical axis of the cylinder (this axis is also the axis of spindle  112  when the handle  99  is attached to  119 ). The interior web wall creates a forward compartment in which two concentric annular walls (one being said outer wall) define an annular gap therebetween for the frictional lodgement of semi-cylindrical long member  119 . This forward compartment is not shown in detail but the web wall also creates a rear compartment in which, as shown in FIG. 6, a wall  93  perpendicular to the web wall defines the recess  90 . Inside recess  90 , also protruding from the web wall at ninety degrees, a slender protuberance  89  is firmly mounted. It is envisaged that  89  would be part of the same plastic molding as the other parts of handle  99 .  
         [0042]    With reference to FIG. 6, recess  90  is so shaped by wall  93  that it will accommodate the end of the long member  140  only when that member is oriented in a way that brings protuberance  89  and hole  88  (refer FIGS. 3 and 4) into close proximity. This facilitates the user to insert protuberance  89  into  88  and apply force to spindle portion  114 . When  114  has been moved clear of  137 , protuberance  89  may be withdrawn and the long member  140  may be drawn away. Spindle  112  may then be withdrawn, releasing the projectional units and allowing a different puzzle configuration to be embodied.  
         [0043]    With reference to FIG. 9, said second apparatus is constructed broadly the same way as said first apparatus. Whereas each annular element  201  defines one large keyway and five smaller ones, in the puzzle solution state as shown in the drawing, each element  201  has been positioned on the limiter so that its large keyway is lined up with the obtruding delayer means  202  at the catch end of the core. In this state, by pulling handle  203  in relation to the container  208  and lid  207 , the core may be slid out of the limiter.  
         [0044]    With reference to FIG. 8, in accordance with the known art, the limiter  213  rotatably abuts with the convex outer surface of semi-cylindrical long member  209 . This allows torque applied to the limiter to effect a rotation of projectional unit  212  in relation to projectional unit  210  through a maximum of 60 degrees just.  
         [0045]    Each projectional unit provides a barrier, for example barrier  211 , adapted to extend into a keyway defined by an element  201 . In one state of the core, as depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, the barriers are approximately aligned with delayer means  202  and the elements  201   s  may then be readily displaced longitudinally of the axis in relation to the barriers. Similar longitudinal displacement of the elements  201   s  is facilitated after limiter  213  has been rotated to the maximum extent possible on member  209 .  
         [0046]    With further reference to FIG. 9, but broadly in description of the invention, it may be appreciated that the core is wand-like, a quality rendered by the use of a handle (e.g. handle  203 ) which extends the first long member, longitudinally of the axis of rotation, substantially beyond the point where the second member is pivoted at the end opposite the delayer means. The wand-like quality is also dependent upon a fastening device to keep the projectional units in the core when the core has been withdrawn from the limiter. Whereas a wand-like core invites its own waving around after its withdrawal from the limiter, in the current invention the core acquires further significance as a means of gesturing. It may be held by handle  203  and pointed in the air, after its withdrawal from the limiter, as an expression of triumph.  
         [0047]    With reference to FIG. 8, a game in accordance with the invention may be enhanced by the specification of a curriculum of puzzles. Said curriculum may suitably contain a dozen or more puzzles specified in reference to the sequence of projectional units of the puzzle core, each specification determining, for each projectional unit, whether it is rotationally engaged to limiter  213  or alternatively to long member  209 . The game may then involve an adopting or a modifying of this curriculum by the players followed by a series of rounds or sub-games in each of which a puzzle is assembled by one of the players and solved by the other. A rigid incentive, such as a coin  218 , may be inserted by the player assembling the puzzle and later retrieved by the player solving it. Depending on whether lid  207  is deployed or not, coin  218  may be held either in lid  207  or in container  208 , in either case being retrievable through the opening exposed when elements  201   s  are demounted from the limiter  213 , but otherwise being locked inside the puzzle. Tabs may be provided to hold coin  218  in a fixed position and the lid or the container thereby holding the coin may define a viewing aperture whereby the presence of the coin may be ascertained before the puzzle is solved.  
         [0048]    If the puzzle apparatus has four annular elements and sixteen projectional units like, for example, the apparatus of FIGS. 8 and 9, a time limit of the order of 60 seconds or thereabouts may allow sufficient wins in sufficiently many cases, as between adults and older children. Timing would begin upon the handover of the assembled and randomised apparatus. In this context, the withdrawal of the core from the limiter would signal completion of the timed action and a gesturing with the core could be an accompaniment to this completion, assuming completion to have been achieved within the accepted time limit.  
         [0049]    In the apparatus of FIGS. 8 and 9, the end wall  206  has a rounded external aspect to give the assembled apparatus, as a whole, a rocket-like appearance. Correspondingly the handle defines a circular recess  205  adapted to accept  206  when the handle is removed for deployment as a release means in accordance with the proceedure outlined for the apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4. In the case of the apparatus of FIG. 9, the proceedure also involves aligning protuberance  204  in the handle so that it may penetrate the hole in end wall  206 .  
         [0050]    End wall  206  corresponds with end wall  176  in the first illustrative embodiment but overhangs the well for the bent spindle portion rather than merely delimiting it. In the apparatus of FIGS. 8 and 9, the end wall is given an aesthetic function and the rounded external aspect has no particular mechanical significance.  
         [0051]    Congruent annular elements are preferred and have been employed in both of the apparatuses depicted. Where congruent annular elements are employed, they are preferably supplied in a single colour whereas colour differences between them would frustrate the educational value of using colour to identify the elements once mounted. For the purposes of discussing puzzle solutions, it is essential to identify the annular elements by their ordinal position proceeding along their common axis of rotation. To this end, reference FIG. 9, the coloured markers  214 ,  215 ,  216  and  217  have been included in said second apparatus as separately molded pieces which are attached to the lid  207  at the time of manufacture, after molding. Preferably each marker is a different colour and each colour stands out from the background colour of the lid.  
         [0052]    The foregoing description outlines the preferred manners of constructing the invention, with the possible exception that transparent outer walls for container  208  and lid  207 , or container  60  and lid  63 , would in some circumstances be preferred to opaque walls. This would facilitate easier viewing of any incentive held inside. In addition it is preferred to accommodate sixteen only projectional units in the puzzle core, each unit having the same extent longitudinal of the axis as each rotatable annular element on the limiter. Some modifications to these preferred arrangements are briefly described in what follows.  
         [0053]    With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, the second member  140  of said first apparatus defines a notch  155  communicating with groove  141 . This notch has no function in the apparatus as depicted. However in an envisaged modification of the invention, ridge  62  of the semi-tubular limiter may include a moveable arm having an end adapted to lodge in said notch and, after being so lodged, adapted to move out of said notch when the core, including member  140 , is moved with a certain force longitudinally of the axis relative to the limiter and said arm. By means of such notches, a series of stations may be defined for the limiter, in each of which stations each element  201  will be rotationally limited by a single one only of the rigid barriers such as barrier  211 .  
         [0054]    In another modification of the invention, more particularly adapting the invention for older users, the housing is not included as the facility to hold an object of incentive is not required. However in this case, the function of the lid in optionally replacing a number of the annular elements may still be required. Addressing this function, the lid may be called a spacer and a spacer more generally may not define or close off any storage space for an incentive. In any case, means should be provided to hold the spacer fixed both rotationally and longitudinally of the axis in relation to the limiter for as long as the puzzle core is slidably lodged in the limiter.  
         [0055]    In a further modification of the invention, a game is played between two players being a type of hide-and-seek wherein one player hides a precious object and draws a map for the other player showing the whereabouts of the hidden object. However the map is not shown directly to the other player but cut into portions. Each portion in turn is secured in the storage space defined by the housing on the limiter and then the apparatus is randomised before it is passed to said other player. Thus said other player must retrieve each portion of the map by solving a puzzle constructed by the first player. When the entire map has been retrieved and the hidden object has been found by said other player, the roles may be reversed. Players may keep records of their successes and may follow a curriculum in determining how to assemble the core of the apparatus.  
         [0056]    These and further modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.