A PUZZLE

Abstract: A spherical logical puzzle is disclosed comprising four interconnected axes defining branches (including 402, 404, 406) to each of which a fixed puzzle segment (202, 204, 206) of arcuate triangular shape is connected, the segment being rotatable about the branch axis; a plurality of free puzzle segments are provided comprising six arcuate square puzzle segments, (e.g. 104) and four arcuate triangular puzzle segments, (e.g. 210) and the free and fixed puzzle segments are coupled together to form a sphere; the segments are capable of adopting a plurality of relative positions and are movable between said relative positions by rotation of some of the segments relative to others in planes perpendicular to said axes.

Description: A PUZZLE This invention relates to a puzzle. 3-Dimensional logical puzzles which include a plurality of segments interlocked to form a cube or regular polyhedron have been proposed for example as disclosed in Hungarian Patent No. 170,062 to Rubik or US4558866 for Alford. US4558866 also proposes a spherical puzzle design comprised of eighteen segments of at least three different shapes. Such a puzzle design has the disadvantage of being very difficult to manufacture. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved spherical puzzle design. It is a further object of the invention to provide 3- dimensional logical puzzle with increased entertainment value. According to the invention in the first aspect there is provided a puzzle comprising four interconnected axis defining branches to each of which a fixed puzzle segment of arcuate triangular shape is connected, the segment being rotatable about the branch axis; a plurality of free puzzle segments comprising six arcuate square puzzle segments and four arcuate triangular puzzle segments, the free and fixed puzzle segments being coupled together to form a sphere and the segments being capable of adopting a plurality of relative positions and being movable between said relative positions by rotation of some of the segments relative to others in planes perpendicular to said axes. In contrast to all existing rotating puzzles, always a complete half sphere is rotated with respect to the other half sphere. There are eight different half spheres according to the four rotating axes. According to the invention in a second aspect, there is provided a three dimensional puzzle comprising a plurality of segments together forming a regular shape, the segments being relatively movable and wherein a three dimensional representation is provided on a group of said segments in an orientation of the puzzle. Preferably, the three dimensional representation is a representation of a cartoon character and is applied in raised relief to the segments. Further three dimensional representations may be applied to other groups of segments of the puzzle. If the puzzle is a polyhedron, preferably the group of segments form at least part of one side of the polyhedron in said orientation. If the puzzle is spherical and more particularly of the kind envisaged in the first aspect of the invention, preferably the or each representation is applied to one arcuate square segment and four adjacent arcuate triangular segments or, alternatively, to two adjacent arcuate square segments and two interposed arcuate triangular segments. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of four fixed segments and supporting structure of the embodiment of figure 1. Figure 3 is a view similar to figure 2 but showing the addition of a free segment. Figure 4 is a view similar to figure 1 but showing some of the segments removed. Figure 5 illustrates a arcuate triangular and a arcuate square segment of the embodiment of figure 1. Figure 6 is a view similar to figure 1 but showing the puzzle as representation formed on five segments. Figure 7 is a view similar to figure 1 but showing a representation applied to four adjacent segments. With reference to figure 1 an embodiment of the invention is shown, which is a spherical logical puzzle. The puzzle is divided up into a plurality of arcuate segments including six arcuate square segments, e.g. 100 and eight arcuate triangular segments, e.g. 200. The segments are rotatable relative to one another about axes perpendicular to four non-orthogonal planes 300, 302, 304 and 306. The puzzle is capable of adopting a plurality of orientations although it is only rotatable about axes 300-306 when a "regular" orientation is adopted of the form shown in figure 1, where the planes are continuously defined by the sides of the segments. Rotation about any one of the axes allows the relative position of the segments to be changed in a multitude of different ways and as the puzzle is circular, identification of any particular segment is far more difficult than, for example, on a polyhedral puzzle. The mechanism of the puzzle is shown in more detail in figure 2-5. With reference to figure 2, the central support structure of the puzzle is shown and this comprises a central boss 400 to which four branches 402, 404, 406, 408 are connected in such a way that each branch forms the same angle (arccos (-%)) with respect to every other branch. Fixed arcuate triangular segments 202, 204, 206, 208 are connected, respectively, to each branch. The joint between each branch and the boss allows rotation of the branch relative to the boss about the longitudinal axis of the branch. Between the four fixed segments, a piurality of free segments is disposed, these comprising six arcuate square segments, which fit between adjacent fixed triangular segments 202-208 as, for example, shown in figure 3 in which arcuate square segment 102 is fitted between fixed segments 204, 208 and in figure 4 in which segment 104 is fitted between segments 204, 206. Four free arcuate triangular segments are further provided which are fitted between the square segments at the positions unoccupied by the fixed triangular segments 202-208, for example, segments 210, 212 in figure 4. The sides of the segments all have the same length and arcuate shape. Together, the segments form the sphere shown in figure 1. The triangular segments of the puzzle have a special relationship in that the four fixed segments together define the corners of a tetrahedron and the fixed triangular segments remain in such fixed relative positions. Similarly, the four floating triangular segments also form the corners of another fixed tetrahedron. Although the segments may be rotated as a result of movement of the puzzle, the set of four fixed triangular segments and the set of four floating triangular segments always retain their relative positions. The free segments each are provided with a lip member as shown in figure 5 to couple the segments ogether. The free triangular segments being provided with a triangular shaped lip member 502 and the free square segments being provided with a substantially oblong lip 504, both lip members being arcuate. The rectangular shaped lip members of the square segments, when the segments are assembled, extend towards the branches of the fixed elements as shown in figure 3 to provide an overlap between the square segments and the adjacent fixed triangular segments when in a "regular" orientation. Ledges 506 on either side of the lip member 504 allow projecting ends of other lip members 504 and the projecting sides of lip members 502 to engage the arcuate square segments while allowing relative rotation in the "regular" orientations. Provided the puzzle is arranged in a "regular" orientation such as that shown in figure 1, the puzzle will be able to rotate about any of the four rotational axes, with the lip members holding the puzzle together. In order to align the segments at the orientations which allow relative rotation of the segments of the puzzle in the non-orthorgonal planes, a click/stop mechanism is provided for locating the arcuate square segments relative to the free arcuate triangular segments. In this respect, each face of the arcuate triangular segment is provided with a captured ball bearing 602 which is forced partially to protrude through opening 604 by a spring (not shown). Each arcuate square segment 100 is provided with a location slot 606 on two faces opposite to those over which the tongues 505 of lip member 504 extend. In use, the ball bearings 602 engage in a click/stop manner in the slots 606 at the orientations which allow rotation about any one of the four axes. Other redundant positions are engaged by this mechanism but these can easily be ignored as the puzzle will not rotate upon any other axis about the one in which it has been rotated to arrive at that position. In use, the puzzle is preferably marked with predetermined pattern or shading so that a single relative orientation of the various segments is defined. For example, one half of the puzzle to one side of one of the rotation planes may be coloured red and the other blue. However, and most preferably, a representation, for example a cartoon figure may be formed on several of the segments. Two embodiments depicting this are shown in figures 6 and 7. In figure 6, the representation is applied to one arcuate square segment and four adjacent arcuate triangular segments. In figure 7 the representation is applied to two arcuate square segments and the two interposing arcuate triangular segments. Furthermore, in order to make the puzzle more complicated, a further representation may be applied on the reverse side of the puzzle to corresponding segments. In an alternative aspect of the invention, the representation for example shown in figures 6 and 7 is not formed as a two dimensional image but rather as a three dimensional sculpture raised from the surface of the puzzle. In addition to providing the puzzle with a novel and eye catching look, the three dimensional representation gives the puzzle a raised outline which can be felt by the user. This allows the puzzle to have applications to use by the partially sighted who will be able to solve the puzzle by touch instead of by sight. Furthermore, providing such a raised representation enables a sighted player to be able to "view" the puzzle in a completely new way both by sight and by touch. In this respect, in an orientation in which the segments of the representation are not complete, the user will be able to see the partially completed representation in front of him but will also be able to feel the whereabouts of the missing pieces on the "dark side" of the puzzle. Although the puzzle has been described with four and five segments covered by the representation, this is not construed as limitative and any number of segments may include portions of the representation. Furthermore, the use of a three dimensional representation on the surface of a spherical puzzle is not to be construed as limitative and is applicable for use with other forms of rotating puzzle, for example on puzzles of any polyhedral form.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A puzzle comprising four interconnected axis defining branches to each of which a fixed puzzle segment of arcuate triangular shape is connected, the segment being rotatable about the branch axis; a plurality of free puzzle segments comprising six arcuate square puzzle segments and four arcuate triangular puzzle segments, the free and fixed puzzle segments being coupled together to form a sphere and the segments being capable of adopting a plurality of relative positions and being movable between said relative positions by relative rotation of some of the segments relative to other in planes perpendicular to said axes. 2. A puzzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said branches are connected to a centrally disposed boss, the branches being rotatable relative to said boss. 3. A puzzle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein sides of the segments are of the same length. 4. A puzzle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein a plurality of puzzle segments are provided with lip means each for engaging others of the segments to hold the puzzle together. 5. A puzzle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of the segments are provided with click/stop means for aligning the segments in orientations to allow said relative rotation. 6. A puzzle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a representation is provided on at least two segments in one position. 7. A puzzle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the representation is provided on one arcuate square and four adjacent arcuate triangular segments. 8. A puzzle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the representation is provided on two adjacent arcuate sqare segments and two interposed arcuate triangular segments. 9. A puzzle as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein said representation is three dimensional. 10. A puzzle as claimed in claim 9 wherein the representation is formed as raised relief on the segments. 11. A three dimensional puzzle comprising a plurality of segments together forming a regular shape, the segments being relatively movable and wherein a three dimensional representation is provided on a group of said segments in one orientation of the puzzle. 12. A puzzle a claimed in claim 11 wherein the three dimensional representation is a representation of a cartoon character. 13. A puzzle as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the representation is formed as raised relief on the segments. J4. A puzzle as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein the puzzle is a polyhedron, and wherein the group of segments forms at least part of one side of the polyhedron. 15. A puzzle as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14 further comprising a further three dimensional representation applied to another group of segments of the puzzle. 16. A puzzle as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15 wherein the puzzle is spherical. 17. A puzzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1 to 5 and optionally figure 6 or figure 7.

Inventors: MEFFERT UWE, MEFFERT, UWE
Applicants: MEFFERT UWE, MEFFERT, UWE
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A63F9
IPC codes: A63F9