Abstract:
A puzzle device has a round body including at least two intersecting endless runways formed around its external surface and a plurality of intersecting points formed in the intersecting runways; and a plurality of game pieces slidably retained in the runways. The game pieces are moved from one runway to the other runway via the intersecting points so as to position the game pieces in a desired arrangement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an amusement device, more particularly to a puzzle device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Among conventional amusement devices, perhaps the most well-know is the &#34;Rubik&#39;s Cube&#34;. The Rubik&#39;s Cube consists of 27 smaller rotating cubes, each face of which is a different color. A player rotates the smaller cubes so that each side of the overall cube is a single solid color. There is only one possible solution in the Rubik&#39;s Cube. Therefore, the player easily loses interest after he is familiar with the possible solution and able to assemble the Rubik&#39;s Cube quickly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide an improved puzzle which can be assembled in a plurality of desired arrangements to test the players&#39;s knowledge, skill, patience, or temper. 
     Accordingly, a puzzle device of this invention has a round body including at least two intersecting endless runways formed around its external surface and a plurality of intersecting points formed in the intersecting runways; and a plurality of game pieces slidably retained in the runways. The game pieces can be moved from one runway to the other runway via the intersecting points so as to position the game pieces in a desired arrangement. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the puzzle device of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing that the circular disc is engaged with the semicircular discs. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing that the quadrant discs are engaged with the circular disc and the semicircular discs. 
     FIG. 5 is an assembled view of the spherical body. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing that a game piece is movable in the intersecting runways through the intersecting points. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a puzzle device of this invention includes a spherical body (10) having three intersecting circular runways (11) formed around an external surface thereof and a plurality of intersecting points (12) formed in the intersecting runways (11), and a plurality of game pieces (20) slidably retained in the runways (11). 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the spherical body (10) includes a circular disc (30), a pair of identical semicircular discs (40), and four identical quadrant discs (50). The circular disc (30) includes a circumferential face, and two opposite circular faces. The circumferential face has a first retaining groove (11&#39;) formed therealong. Each of the circular faces has a first and a second diametric groove (31, 32) which are perpendicular to each other. The two crossed diametric grooves (31, 32) on one circular face are respectively parallel with the two crossed diametric grooves (31, 32) on the other circular face. Each of the first diametric grooves (31) has a first flat bottom. Each of the second diametric grooves (32) has a second flat bottom. The circular disc (10) has two spaced first through holes (33) accessible at the first diametric grooves (31), two spaced second through holes (35) accessible at the second diametric grooves (32), and two first engaging members (36) respectively extending into the second through holes (35). 
     Each of the pair of semicircular discs (40) includes a pair of opposite semicircular faces, a semicircular circumferential face having a second retaining groove (11&#39;) formed therealong, and a first flat face (44). Each of the opposite semicircular faces of the semicircular disc (40) includes a radial groove (41) formed thereon which extends perpendicularly to the first flat face (44) and parallel with the radial groove (41) on the other semicircular face. Each of the radial grooves (41) has a third flat bottom. Each of the semicircular discs (40) has a third through hole (42) accessible at the radial grooves (41) and a second engaging member (43) extending into the third through hole (42). Each of the first flat faces (44) has a pair of first hooks (45) extending outwards and longitudinally spaced from each other. Each of the first hooks (45) has a curved end (45&#39;). The curved end (45&#39;) of one first hook (45) is disposed opposite to the curved end (45&#39;) of the other first hook (45&#39;) relative to a center line (44&#39;) of the first flat face (44). Also referring to FIG. 3, when the semicircular discs (40) are fitted in the first diametric grooves (31) of the circular disc (30), the first flat faces (44) are respectively engaged with the first flat bottoms of the first diametric grooves (31), and the first hooks (45) of one semicircular disc (40) are adapted to respectively pass through the first through holes (33) of the circular disc (30) and respectively lock with the first hooks (45) of the other semicircular disc (40). 
     Each of four quadrant discs (50) includes two opposite sector-shaped faces, a quadrant circumferential face having a third retaining groove (11&#39;) formed therealong, and a second and a third flat face (51, 53) connected to each other at a right angle. When the semicircular discs (40) are fitted in the first diametric grooves (31) and the quadrant discs (50) are respectively fitted in the second diametric grooves (32) of the circular disc (30) and the radial grooves (41) of the semicircular discs (40), the second and third flat faces (51, 53) of each of the quadrant discs (50) are respectively engaged with one of the second flat bottoms of the second diametric grooves (32) and one of the third flat bottoms of the radial grooves (41). The second and third flat faces (51, 53) respectively have a second and a third hook (52, 54) extending outwards therefrom which are respectively located at two sides of a central horizontal plane indicated as (50&#39;). 
     Also referring to FIG. 4, when the quadrant discs (50) are fitted in the second diametric grooves (32) of the circular disc (30) and the radial grooves (41) of the semicircular discs (40), the second hook (52) of one quadrant disc (50) is adapted to pass through one of the second through holes (35) to lock with the first engaging member (36). The third hook (54) of one adjacent quadrant disc (50) is also adapted to pass through said one second through hole (35) and lock with said first engaging member (36). The third hook (54) of said one quadrant disc (50) is adapted to pass through one of the third through holes (42) to lock with the second engaging member (43) while the second hook (52) of the other adjacent quadrant disc (50) is adapted to pass through said third through hole (42) and lock with said second engaging member (43). 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, when the semicircular discs (40) are fitted in the first diametric grooves (31) and the quadrant discs (50) are fitted in the second diametric grooves (32) and the radial grooves (41), the circular disc (30), the semicircular discs (40) and the quadrant discs (50) are assembled into the spherical body (10), and the first, second and third retaining grooves (11&#39;) cooperatively form the intersecting runways (11). The game pieces (20) should be placed in the retaining grooves (11&#39;) before the last of the quadrant discs (50) is fitted onto the circular and semicircular discs (40, 50). 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, each of the game pieces (20) has a retaining portion (21) to be received in the retaining grooves (11&#39;). The game pieces (20) may have a variety of colors and patterns formed thereon. The game pieces (20) are moved from one retaining groove (11&#39;) to the other retaining grooves (11&#39;) via the intersecting points (12) so as to position the game pieces (20) in a desired arrangement. 
     This above-described design allows for more than one possible arrangement, so the number of possible solutions of this invention are much higher than the possible solutions of the prior art. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.