Abstract:
A puzzle apparatus for providing a user with a challenging puzzle to solve. The apparatus includes a housing having at least one opening therein, a matrix of shaped color-producing media disposed within the housing, and a plurality of generally interengaged, slidable tiles carrying color-producing media thereon, the tiles being proximate the opening of the housing. A light source radiates light through respective ones of the shaped color-producing media of the matrix, then through respective ones of the color-producing media of the slidable tiles, and then to the eye of the user such that at least some of the light seen by the user has passed through both a color-producing medium in the matrix and a color-producing medium in one of the tiles. The respective color-producing media interact to produce a light color other than that which would have been produced if the light had passed through only one of the color-producing media. The slidable tiles are relatively arrangeable to produce a solution to the puzzle. The solution includes a predetermined pattern of colors as viewable by the user when looking generally toward the opening of the housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     People have long been fascinated, entertained, and enlightened by logic-based puzzles. The enormous variety of such puzzles provides wondrous delight to both children and adults, and studies have confirmed that analytical thought of the type elicited by such logic-based puzzles can improve one&#39;s capacity for learning and recalling information. Though a number of factors relate to the enjoyability of a particular logic-based puzzle for a particular person, the level of complexity, the configurability of the pieces, and the presence of colors and/or sounds may all contribute. 
     Of the many types of logic-based puzzles, one that is known and presents a logical puzzle somewhat akin to that presented by an embodiment of the invention is a 4×4 square grid having fifteen slidable tiles numbered 1-15 occupying fifteen of the sixteen spaces within the grid. Tiles can be slid sequentially into the empty space in the grid, thereby altering the relative positions of the numbered tiles. The typical solution to such a puzzle is obtained when the tiles are numerically ordered 1-15 reading left-to-right across the columns and then down the rows. 
     Another well-known logic-based puzzle is the Rubik&#39;s Cube®. Although this cube-shaped puzzle having six faces each including a 3×3 grid of nine colored stickers has an appearance similar to an embodiment of the invention, it actually is very dissimilar in construction and solution logic. The stickers adhere to 26 plastic pieces emanating radially from a central core. The various perpendicular planes of eight or nine pieces are rotatable about the central core to reconfigure the cube and the arrangement of stickers thereon. The typical solution to this puzzle is obtained when all nine stickers one each face are of identical color and each of the six faces of the cube has stickers of a different color from each of the other five faces. 
     As many other logic-based puzzles exist using recognizable patterns of colors, letters, numbers, and the like to distinguish solution states from non-solution states, consumers desire puzzles that provide a “twist” from more conventional ones. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention there is provided a puzzle apparatus for providing a user with a challenging puzzle to solve. The apparatus includes a housing having at least one opening therein, a matrix of shaped color-producing media disposed within the housing, and a plurality of generally interengaging, slidable tiles carrying color-producing media thereon, the tiles being proximate the opening of the housing. A light source radiates light through respective ones of the shaped color-producing media of the matrix, then through respective ones of the color-producing media of the slidable tiles, and then to the eye of the user such that at least some of the light seen by the user has passed through both a color-producing medium in the matrix and a color-producing medium in one of the tiles. 
     The respective color-producing media interact to produce a light color other than that which would have been produced if the light had passed through only one of the color-producing media. The slidable tiles are relatively arrangeable to produce a solution to the puzzle. The solution includes a predetermined pattern of colors as viewable by the user when looking generally toward the opening of the housing. A method for solving a puzzle in accordance with the invention is also provided. 
     The inventive puzzle apparatus presents a challenging logic-based puzzle wherein the user attempts to arrange tiles within one or more housing openings until a particular predetermined pattern is achieved (the solution). The “twist” is that, as the tiles are arranged, they pass over and align with different portions of the underlying matrix, thereby causing the color of light emitted through the tiles to change as their respective positions within the housing openings change. This makes it very challenging to arrange the tiles to display a predetermined pattern of light colors. 
     An art set having many common features with the puzzle and in accordance with the invention is also provided, though, unlike with respect to the puzzle, there is no predetermined arrangement of tiles (i.e. solution) that is sought to be formed; rather the object of the art set is to facilitate the creation of visually pleasing, colorful, and artistic tile arrangements. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a puzzle apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the puzzle apparatus of FIG. 1 to facilitate viewing individual components thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the puzzle face portion of a square, two-dimensional puzzle apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cube-shaped, three-dimensional puzzle apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the puzzle face portion of a triangular, two-dimensional puzzle apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pyramid-shaped, three-dimensional puzzle apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the puzzle face portion of a disc-shaped, two-dimensional puzzle apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a spherical, three-dimensional puzzle apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an art set in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a rotary disc puzzle in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention is described herein and shown in puzzle apparatus  10  in FIG. 1 and, in exploded form, in FIG.  2 . The puzzle apparatus  10  includes a rigid housing  12  having a top portion  14  and a bottom portion  16  for cooperatively containing the innards of the apparatus. 
     The housing bottom  16  has a detachable battery cover portion  32  that serves to enclose and cover one or more batteries  30  inside the housing  12 . The battery cover portion  32  is detachable by a battery cover screw  34 . The battery  30  powers light bulb  36  which may be toggled between “on” and “off” states by a slidable power switch  18  on the housing top  14 . 
     The light bulb  36  is disposed generally centrally relative to an underlying concave reflector  38  so that light rays emitted primarily laterally and downwardly from the bulb  36  are generally redirected upwardly with the remainder of the emitted light through a matrix  40  disposed above the bulb  36  and reflector  38 . In the shown embodiment, the matrix  40  is a generally planar matrix of contiguous, generally rectangular or square individual film laminates  41  having a polarizing quality and defined axis of polarization. The matrix  40  may have an attached spacer  39  for limiting unintended overlap of non-parallel colored/polarized light rays emanating from distinct individual film laminates  41 . 
     After passing upwardly through the matrix  40 , the light continues upwardly to an array of slidable tiles  22  disposed in an opening  20  of the housing  12 . In this manner the matrix  40  underlies the slidable tiles  22 . Each of the tiles  22  includes a plastic tile body  24  having a central window  25  with a tile polarizer  26  disposed in the window  25 . The tile polarizer  26 , like the individual portions  41  of the underlying matrix  40  in the described embodiment, is a film laminate having a polarizing quality and defined axis of polarization. 
     One or more refractive layers ( 42  and  44 ) may be interposed between the laminate films of the matrix  40  and the tiles  22  to enhance or define the color of the light emanating from the tiles  22 . In the described and illustrated embodiment, a first refractive layer  42  is adherable to the top surface of the matrix  40  while a second refractive layer  44  is adherable to the bottom of each of the slidable tiles  22 . 
     In the described embodiment, fifteen of the sixteen square spaces defined by a 4×4 array in the housing opening  20  are occupied by a slidable tile  22 , while the remaining square space  28  is unoccupied. Each of the generally square tiles  22  of the described embodiment has a tile projection  46  projecting laterally along two adjacent sides of the tile  22  and a complementary tile groove  48  laterally inset along the other two sides of the tile  22 . The projections  46  and grooves  48  from adjacent tiles within the array interengage to enable one tile to be slid laterally alongside another. This permits a square tile disposed alongside any of the four sides of the square space  28  to be slid therein, thereby creating a new unoccupied space vacated by the moved tile. Of course, if the unoccupied space  28  is near an edge or corner of the housing opening  20 , there may be fewer than four tiles capable of being slid into it. Sequentially sliding tiles to fill the respective unoccupied spaces created by the displacement of the previous tile permits rearrangement of the tiles  22  within the array. 
     Each tile has a tile polarizer  26  within its window  25 , and the polarizer  26  travels with the tile when the tile is laterally displaced into an unoccupied space  28 . The underlying matrix  40  in the described embodiment has a distinct polarizing laminate associated with each of the  16  positions of the 4×4 array defined within the housing opening  20 . Thus, as a tile slides from one position in the array to another, the individual polarizing laminate of the underlying matrix  40  over which the tile is disposed changes. Because the resultant color viewed through a tile by the user is dependent upon the relative angles between the tile polarizer  26  of the tile  22 , the corresponding laminate film  41  of the underlying matrix  40 , and any axial orientation of the interposed refractive layers ( 42  and  44 ), the color seen through a tile  22  will change when it is laterally displaced if the axes of polarization of the individual film laminates  41  corresponding to the two array positions from which and to which the tile moved are not parallel. 
     In particular, if a refractive layer is interposed between two polarizers wherein the axis/grain of the refractive layer is rotationally/angularly offset from one polarizer by  450 , when the other polarizer is rotated in a full 360° circle, light transmitted through the polarizers and interposed refractive layer will be subject to four alternating 90° cycles of color change—between longer wavelengths (red) when the polarizer axes are aligned and shorter wavelengths (blue) when the axes are mutually perpendicular. 
     Thus, by orienting each of the individual film laminates  41  of the underlying matrix  40  differently (i.e. with a different angle for the axis of polarization), it is possible that a single tile will emit a different color when it is in each of the positions of the array. This feature provides the “twist” of the logic-based puzzle because it is very difficult to mentally conceive an appropriate sequence of tile sliding in order to arrange the tiles into the predetermined color pattern (solution) when the color emitted by each tile changes each time it is moved. 
     The puzzle apparatus can have a single, unique solution or it can have multiple solutions. A solution might involve arranging the tiles so that all of them display an identical color. Other solutions might involve having rows or columns of distinct colors or forming recognizable patterns such as a “smile face”. Furthermore, different solutions could be associated with different levels of complexity based on how the underlying matrix is configured with respect to the individual polarizing laminates thereof. 
     The described embodiment employs the individual polarizing laminates  41  of the underlying matrix  40  and the tile polarizers  26  of the slidable tiles  22  (in addition to refractive layers  42  and  44 ) for its color-producing media. It is well-known that passing light of mixed wavelength through multiple polarizers (and through refractive media) can filter subsets of wavelengths out of the mix and change the resultant color of the light. In particular, the polarizing laminates  41  and the tile polarizers  26  can be Polaroid&#39;s cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) laminated linear polarizer, such as HNT32 (0.010 inches thick, PID #605220). The refractive layers  42  and  44  can be Scotch 3M brand clear tape (#142 Clear, UPC 0-51131-64204-1, Stock #70-0706-7839-9). 
     It is important to note that the embodiment described above and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 represents a single embodiment of the invention, and a significant range of alternative embodiments is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. Without being exhaustive, the following list identifies examples of non-limiting aspects of the previously described embodiment and some specific alternatives considered to be within the scope of the invention (FIGS. 3-8 depict a few embodiments of the invention): the slidable tiles can be of a shape other than square and need not be slidable only within a rectangular array; the housing opening can be of a shape other than square; the puzzle apparatus can be two or three dimensional and can have a single or multiple housing openings in which arrays of slidable tiles are arrangeable; the light source can be something other than a battery-powered light bulb, such as natural light; the color-producing media need not be polarized laminate films, but can be any color-producing media including, for example, translucent, colored film or gel-filled cells; the refractive layers may be different in number or kind than shown and described above; and the refractive layer can be homogeneous across the entire matrix or may be comprised of distinct, appropriately shaped and positioned refractive media. Additionally, an electronic game or computer software which visually reproduces the described color puzzle is considered to be within the scope of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 depicts a two-dimensional puzzle face  50  having a 4×4 array of slidable tile spaces akin to that shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 5 depicts a two-dimensional, generally triangular puzzle face  52  having a generally triangularly shaped array of tile spaces. Either of these embodiments may have different dimensions and still be within the contemplated scope of invention. FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional, cube-shaped puzzle apparatus  56  having a 4×4 array of tile spaces, akin to the array of FIG. 3, on multiple faces of the cube. Similarly, FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional, pyramid-shaped puzzle apparatus  58  having a generally triangular array of tile spaces on each of the triangularly shaped sides of the pyramid. 
     FIG. 7 shows a two-dimensional generally circular or disc-shaped puzzle face  54  having a generally circular or disc-shaped array of tile spaces. As with other embodiments, the dimensions may be altered without changing the nature of the embodiment. For example, the 1-3-5-7-5-3-1 arrangement of FIG. 7 could also be 3-5-7-7-7-5-3 within the scope of the invention. FIG. 8 shows a generally spherical puzzle apparatus  60  having circumferentially disposed tile spaces. Preferably, as seen in FIG. 8, three mutually perpendicular great circumferential paths  62  of the sphere define the array of tile spaces with the six points of intersection  64  (three shown in FIG. 8) permitting an individual slidable tile to be moved from one circumferential path  62  to another. Each of the three-dimensional designs would require an internal light source (examples shown in FIGS. 4 and 6) and an underlying matrix interposed between the light source and the respective slidable tiles wherein the individual color-producing media of the matrix corresponded positionally to each of the tile spaces of the various tile arrays. 
     FIG. 9 depicts an art set  66  in accordance with invention. Unlike with respect to the puzzle, the art set lacks one or more predetermined arrangements of tiles that is sought to be produced. Instead, the object of the art set is to facilitate the creation of visually pleasing, colorful, and artistic tile arrangements, and, as described below, may even be used to produce a sequence of color arrangements having an animation-like effect. 
     The art set  66  includes a housing  68  for containing the innards thereof. The housing may include (not shown in FIG. 9) a battery cover portion for enclosing and covering one or more batteries inside the housing. 
     A light source, such as a light bulb and underlying reflector, is disposed within the housing so that light rays may be directed generally upwardly toward an opening  70  in the housing. As with regard to the puzzle apparatus  10 , the art set  66  includes a matrix of contiguous, individual color-producing media (such as film laminates having a polarizing quality and a refracting medium). 
     The light travels from the internal lighting source through the matrix to an array of slidable tiles  72  disposed in an the opening  70  of the housing  68 . As with the puzzle apparatus, each of the tiles includes a plastic tile body having a central window with a tile polarizer disposed in the window. The tile polarizer, like the individual color-producing media of the matrix, is preferably a film laminate having a polarizing quality and defined axis of polarization. One or more refractive layers may be interposed between the laminate films of the matrix and the tiles  72  to enhance or define the color of the light emanating from the tiles  72 . 
     While FIG. 9 shows a 13×10 rectangular array of tile spaces, a differently sized or differently shaped array could also be used. As with the puzzle apparatus, a single tile space of the array is unoccupied by a tile so that the tiles may be slidably arranged within the array as described above. 
     As with the puzzle apparatus, each tile  72  has a tile polarizer within its window, and the polarizer travels with the tile when the tile is laterally displaced. As the underlying matrix may have a distinct polarizing laminate associated with each of the array positions within the housing opening  70 , as a tile  72  slides from one position in the array to another, the individual polarizing laminate of the underlying matrix over which the tile  72  is disposed changes. Because the resultant color viewed through a tile by the user is dependent upon the relative angles between the tile polarizer, the corresponding laminate film of the underlying matrix, and any axial properties of interposed refractive layers, the color seen through a tile  72  will change when it is laterally displaced if the axes of polarization of the individual film laminates  41  corresponding to the two array positions from which and to which the tile moved are not parallel. 
     As shown in FIG. 9, the art set  66  may include a lever  74  and/or a joystick  76  for shifting the underlying matrix by one or more positions upward, downward, to the left, and to the right. This enables a particular artistic design to be radically altered merely by adjusting the lever  74  or the joystick  76 . By repositioning the underlying matrix, the tiles fall into different correspondence with specific underlying individual color-producing media (i.e., film laminates) to alter the resultant colors emanating from the tiles. With careful design, a shift of the underlying matrix can even provide animation of a specific image. 
     FIG. 10 depicts a rotary disc puzzle  100  in accordance with the invention. Instead of having relatively slidable tiles, as is described with respect to the aforementioned embodiments of the invention, the rotary disc puzzle  100  includes a plurality of disc-shaped plates  102 . Each plate  102  has one or more windows  104  having color-producing media  106  therein, such as the polarizer/refractive laminate combination described above. The plates  102  are rotatable about a common axis  108 . A light source, such as a light bulb  110  (and optional underlying reflector which is not shown), is disposed within a housing  112 . The housing  112  may include a battery cover portion for enclosing and covering one or more batteries within the housing  112 . 
     Like the aforementioned puzzles, the rotary disc puzzle  100  has one or more predetermined arrangements constituting solutions to the puzzle. The plates  102  are rotatable about the common axis  108  such that when the windows  104  from distinct plates overlap, different shades of light are produced. Projecting tabs  114  or other means may be present to facilitate rotation of individual plates  102 . 
     An object of the puzzle is to arrange (i.e. rotate) the plates  102  such that one of the predetermined solutions is achieved, such as producing a uniform color of light in each window  104  in the plate viewable by the user (i.e. the top plate). Another possible object of the puzzle solution is to arrange the plates  102  such that a different color of light is seen through each window  104  in the top plate. It will be appreciated that the level of difficulty associated with the puzzle increases with the number of plates  102 , the number of colors generated by the color-producing media  106 , and the number of windows  104  on the respective plates  102 . 
     As with respect to the puzzle apparatus described and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the art set  66  and the rotary disc puzzle  100  represent only particular embodiments of the invention, and a significant range of alternative embodiments is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. In particular, and without being exhaustive, the above-enumerated list of non-limiting aspects and specific alternatives considered to be within the scope of the invention apply to the art set as well as to the puzzle apparatus. The invention is defined by the following claims.