Puzzle cube

A puzzle cube consists of a plurality of components which in spatially interengaging manner fill out the volume of the cube and are one detachable from the other. The volume of the cube is subdivided into sixty-four equally large small cubes, wherein thirteen geometrically different components (1 to 13) are provided, each of which consists of several small cubes placed with their side surfaces flush one against the other and connected firmly one with the other. At least two small cubes are placed one against the other in each of three mutually perpendicular spatial directions in each of the components.

The invention concerns a puzzle cube consisting of a plurality of 
components which in spatially interengaging manner fill out the volume of 
the cube and are one detachable from the other. 
For the purpose of the play and the entertainment, a plurality of cubes of 
that kind have already become known on the market. For example, a cube is 
known, which consists of a small number of wooden bricks which passing one 
through the other spatially are assemblable into a cube. Because of the 
small number of the components, this cube rapidly loses in play value and 
fascination, since it is assemblable without effort after the basic 
principle has once become known. 
A further kind of these cubes has become known as Rubik's Cube.RTM.. 
Although the components in this cube are basically detachable one from the 
other, they are however in use merely displaced one relative to the other 
in several planes in such a manner that the externally appearing surfaces 
of the components change their places at the different side surfaces of 
the total cube. It is possible in this manner to order the differently 
coloured external surfaces of the components according to colours or 
geometric patterns on the side surfaces of the entire cube. The 
displacement of the differently coloured external surfaces can in that 
case take place according to a mathematically formulatable principle 
which, once it has become known, lets the ordering of these surfaces 
become a routine activity. This cube thus in use addresses in the user 
merely the geometric sense of order on a surface spatial capability of 
imagination in respect of the structure and orientation of 
three-dimensional bodies not being required. The play value therefore 
exhausts itself for many users after a short time. 
The task forming the basis of the invention consists in creating a puzzle 
cube of the initially named species, which on the use in the manner of a 
three-dimensional puzzle addresses the spatial capability of imagination 
of the user also in respect of the spatial orientation and structure of 
the individual components. 
According to the invention, the problem is solved thereby, that the volume 
of the cube is subdivided into sixty-four equally large small cubes, that 
thirteen geometrically different components are provided, each of which 
consists of several small cubes, which are placed with their side surfaces 
flush one against the other and firmly connected one with the other, and 
that at least two small cubes are placed one against the other in each of 
three mutually perpendicular spatial directions in each of the components. 
Through this structuring according to the invention it is attained that the 
solution of the puzzle, namely the assembly of the cube from the 
components one detached from the other, does not remain in the memory of 
the user even after the user has already succeeded once in assembling the 
cube. Rather, the user is confronted during each new attempt with the 
demanding task of comparing a gap, which is present during the build-up of 
the cube, with the remaining components present in random orientation, to 
check the individual components in respect of their structure and to 
associate it with the gap to be filled, in a given case, through 
thoughtful spatial re-orientation. The difficulty of this task arises in 
that case above all thereby, that on the one hand a quite high number of 
components is provided and that on the other hand the components each 
consist of small cubes placed one against the other in all three spatial 
directions. The recognisability of the shape of a randomly oriented 
component is thereby entailed by appreciable difficulties which even after 
long practice time do not let the assembly become a routine operation. 
A particular advantage is furthermore to be seen in that the individual 
components of the cube also let themselves be assembled into other 
spatially geometric bodies differing from a cube so that the play value 
remains maintained for a long time and the spatial imagination of the user 
is always again provoked anew into thinking-up new assembled bodies. 
In a preferred embodiment of the cube according to the invention, it is 
provided that twelve components consist of five small cubes, wherein two 
small cubes are respectively present in each of two of three mutually 
perpendicular spatial directions and three small cubes are present in the 
third spatial direction, and that one of the components consists of four 
small cubes, wherein two small cubes are placed one against the other in 
each of the three spatial directions. For an embodiment of that kind, it 
is particularly difficult to recognize the components, present at random 
and one loose from the other, according to their structure and to bring 
them into comparison into the spatially fitting orientation in accordance 
with the gap to be filled up. 
It is provided in this embodiment that the surface of each of the 
components consisting of five small cubes consists of twenty-two small 
cube side surfaces and that the surface of the component consisting of 
four small cubes comprises eighteen small cube side surfaces. 
It is particularly advantageous when those edges of the small cubes, which 
are held together in one component, are structured to be visible. This 
means that those edges of the small cubes of a component, which lie one 
against the other, have the same appearance as those edges of two 
adjoining components, which lie loosely one against the other. It is thus 
not possible in the assembled cube to distinguish the mutually shutting 
faces of the individual components from the abutting faces of the small 
cubes within a component. 
Advantageously, the components consists of a material, the surfaces of 
which display a high co-efficient of friction one relative to the other. 
Advantageously, the components consist of a slip-resistant synthetic 
material. Through these measures, the assembly of the cube is facilitated 
purely mechanically, since already assembled components can not so easily 
slip one relative to the other. 
A further preferred refinement provides that a marking of colouring matter 
shining in the dark is applied at each small cube side surface lying 
freely at the surface of each component. The attraction of the cube during 
playing is increased thereby. Preferably, these markings are applied in 
round depressions in the side surfaces of the small cubes so that a 
certain mechanical protection of the markings is given on the one hand and 
also a mechanical feelable marking is afforded through the depressions on 
the other hand.

The puzzle cube is shown in perspective in the assembled state in FIG. 1. 
As is recognisable, it is composed of altogether sixty-four equally large 
small cubes. These small cubes are combined into altogether thirteen 
components, of which the components 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 
are visible in the illustration of the FIG. 1. The adjoining edges in the 
FIG. 1 in order to make the structure of the individual components 
recognisable. In a practical embodiment of the cube, these mutually 
abutting edges are however not distinguisable from the mutually abutting 
edges of the small cubes connected to adhere firmly together within a 
component. 
The individual components 1 to 13 are illustrated in perspective in the 
FIG. 2. To facilitate the description, a co-ordinate system with the 
spatial directions X, Y and Z is drawn in FIG. 2, wherein the individual 
components 1 to 13 are each oriented in such a manner that the edges of 
the small cubes forming the components extend in or parallelly to these 
spatial directions. As is recognisable, the components 1 to 13 are 
differently shaped, no two like components thus existing. 
In the following explanation of the spatial structure of the individual 
components, it is each time presupposed that the origin of the co-ordinate 
system is each time arranged in the centre of one of the small cubes, 
wherein the orientation of the edges of the small cubes parallel to the 
co-ordinate axes is maintained in correspondence with the orientation 
illustrated in the FIG. 2: 
Component 1: Adjoining the small cube 01 lying in the co-ordinate origin 
upwardly in +Z direction is further small cube, whilst two further small 
cubes adjoin in +Y direction. Joined to the first small cube adjoining in 
+Y direction is beyond that a further small cube in +X direction. 
Component 2: Adjoining the small cube 02 lying in the co-ordinate origin is 
a respective small cube in +X, +Y and -X direction. A further small cube 
is joined in +Z direction above the small cube placed on in +Y direction. 
Component 3: Adjoining the small cube 03 lying in the co-ordinate origin is 
a further small cube each time in +Y, -X, -Y and +Z direction. 
Component 4: Adjoining the small cube 04 lying in the co-ordinate origin is 
a small cube in +X, -X and -Y direction. Additionally, a further small 
cube is placed on in +Z direction above the small cube joined on in +X 
direction. 
Component 5: Placed on the small cube 05 in the coordinate origin on the 
one hand in +Z direction is a small cube, at which a further small cube 
adjoins in +Y direction, whilst beyond that on the other hand placed on 
the small cube 05 in -X direction is a small cube, to which a further 
small cube is joined on in -Y direction. 
Component 6: Adjoining the small cube 06 lying in the co-ordinate origin is 
a respective further small cube in +Y, -X and -Z direction. 
Component 7: Adjoining on the one hand downwardly in -Z direction at the 
small cube 07 in the co-ordinate origin is a small cube, to which in its 
turn a small cube is joined on in +X direction, whilst on the other hand 
placed at the small cube 07 in +Y direction is a small cube, at which a 
further small cube is joined on in -X direction. 
Component 8: Adjoining on the one hand in +Y direction at the small cube 08 
lying in the co-ordinate origin is a further small cube, at which in its 
turn a small cube is placed on in +Y direction, and on the other hand 
placed on at the small cube 08 in -X direction is a small cube, on which 
the last small cube of the component 8 sits in +Z direction. 
Component 9: Starting out from the small cube 09 in the co-ordinate origin 
is a respective small cube in -Y, +Z and -X direction, wherein a further 
small cube is joined on at the last in -Z direction. 
Component 10: Adjoining the small cube 010 in the co-ordinate origin is a 
respective small cube in +X as well as also in -X direction, wherein a 
further small cube is placed on in -Z direction at that one in +X 
direction, whilst a further small cube is joined on in +Y direction at the 
small cube in -X direction. 
Component 11: Adjoining the small cube 011 in the co-ordinate origin are 
two small cubes one behind the other in -Y direction, whilst on the other 
hand adjoining the small cube 011 also in -X direction is a further small 
cube, at which the last small cube adjoins downwardly in -Z direction. 
Component 12: Adjoining the small cube 012 in the co-ordinate origin is a 
respective small cube in -Z, -X and -Y direction, wherein joined onto the 
last named small cube in -Y direction is a further small cube in +X 
direction. 
Component 13: A respective small cube is placed in +X as well as also in +Y 
direction against the small cube 013 in the co-ordinate origin, whilst two 
successive small cubes are joined at the small cube 013 in -Z direction. 
It is thus evident from the preceding description in conjunction with the 
illustration of the FIG. 2 that the twelve components 1 to 5 and 7 to 13 
each consist of five small cubes, wherein two small cubes are arranged in 
two of three mutually perpendicular spatial directions and three small 
cubes are arranged in the remaining third spatial direction. The remaining 
component 6 consists of only four small cubes, wherein two small cubes are 
placed one against the other in each of three spatial directions. The 
small cubes are, is illustrated, each time joined in such a manner to the 
neighbouring small cube that the side surfaces sit in alignment one on the 
other and the adjoining edges of the neighbouring small cubes meet 
together. 
It is furthermore evident that the surface of each of the components 1 to 5 
and 7 to 13 consisting of five small cubes each time consists of 
twenty-two small cube side surfaces, whilst the surface of the component 6 
consisting of four small cubes comprises only eighteen small cube side 
surfaces. The small cubes of each of the components 1 to 13 are connected 
in firmly adhering manner one with the other, for example in that the 
small cubes of each component are shaped integrally one with the other or 
the individual small cubes are after the individual manufacture connected 
adhesively one with the other, for example through gluing or welding 
together. The material of the individual small cubes or of the components 
is a slip-resistant synthetic material or another material, the surface of 
which posseses a high coefficient of friction. It is attained through this 
high co-efficient of friction that the components during the assembly are 
not easily displaceable one relative to the other so that putting together 
is facilitated. 
In the FIG. 4, the component 8 is shown in detail in perspective, enlarged 
illustration. The component 8 consists of the individual small cubes 08, 
81, 82, 83 and 84, which are assembled in the manner stated in the 
preceding. As shown, all free edges 15 of the individual small cubes are 
rounded off somewhat in this embodiment. The edges 16 mutually adjacent 
within the component 8 form a channel or groove which is about V-shaped in 
cross-section and offers the same appearance as abutting free edges 15 of 
neighbouring components in the partially or completely assembled cube 
according to FIG. 1. It is attained in this manner that the outlines of 
the individual components 1 to 13 are not visible in the assembled cube. 
The user is thus not in a position of noting the orientation and 
arrangement of the individual components starting out from a cube present 
in the assembled state. 
Alternatively hereto, the free edges 15 of the individual small cubes can 
of course also be left sharp-edged. In this case, the adjoining edges 16 
of the small cubes held together in a component can be indicated by only a 
very narrow incision in order that a distinguishing of the edges 16 and 
the free edges 15 in the assembled cube is not possible. 
It is furthermore provided in the embodiment shown in the FIG. 4 that a 
small round depression 14, in each of which a respective marking 20 of 
colouring matter shining in the dark is applied, is shaped centrally in 
the area of each of the side surfaces of the individual small cubes of the 
component 8. It is attained through this arrangement of the marking 20 in 
the depression that the colouring matter is not mechanically stressed in 
use. 
In the FIG. 3, the thirteen individual components 1 to 13 of the cube are 
drawn apart in perspective along the three spatial axes X, Y and Z into a 
parallelepiped indicated in chain-dotted lines. The spatial orientation of 
the individual components in that case corresponds to the arrangement in 
the assembled cube according to FIG. 1. Furthermore, as an aid to the 
successive assembly of the individual components, certain edges of the 
small cubes of the individual components are each time designated in FIG. 
3 by small letters inserted in circles, wherein that edge of the 
neighbouring building block, which is provided with the like letter, is to 
be placed one against the other in alignment during the assembly. One thus 
starts for example with the block 1 and sets its edge a against the edge a 
of the block 2. Thereafter, the edge b of the block 3 is joined to the 
edge b of the block 2 and so forth, wherein the edge pairings c--c, d--d 
to n--n are produced each time and finally for example the block 13 is 
placed by its edge m against the edge m of the block 12 and by its edge n 
to the corresponding edge n of the block 2 so that the cube is completed 
according to the illustration of the FIG. 1.