Abstract:
A puzzle game comprising of a series of paths on a defined number of coaxial circles, such that the number of coaxial circles are two or greater, wherein rotations of the circles cause different pathways on adjacent circles to align, thereby extending the pathways across the circles. Pathways are defined in such a way that a given player will be able to rotate the circles in such a way wherein a path from the outer edge of the outermost circle will be able to be followed through paths in adjacent circles continuing through the centermost circle whereupon the path when continued will be taken back through adjacent circles until thereby reaching the outer edge of the outermost circle, constituting a winning scenario. Puzzles may have an arbitrary number of winning scenarios, but certain more difficult puzzles will include a single pathway that satisfies the winning condition.

Description:
SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0004]    Not applicable. 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC. 
       [0005]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    (1) Field of the Invention 
         [0007]    The present invention relates to game apparatuses and methods having individually rotatable coaxial polygons, such as circles, which, when manipulated and stopped in a specific and correct way generates an unbroken solution path that is navigable from the outside edge of the exterior polygon, through the center polygon, and returning again to the outside edge of the exterior polygon. 
         [0008]    (2) Description of the Related Art 
         [0009]    The following prior art discloses game apparatus having circular discs which may or may not be rotatable, whose indicia do indeed contain navigable pathways, however the game apparatus involves navigation of a movable member such as a pin or a token or a ball or a labyrinth traversing element through those pathways:
       U.S. Pat. No. 598,889, to Young, entitled “Puzzle”;   U.S. Pat. No. 766,118, to Saunders, entitled “Puzzle”;   U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,935, to Stefanini, entitled “Multiple Maze Game”;   U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,960, to Stefanini, entitled “Multiple Maze Game”;   U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,679, to Ben-Gal, et al., entitled “Labyrinth Puzzle”;   U.S. Pat. No. 887,464, to Creasey, entitled “Game Apparatus”;       
 
         [0016]    The following prior art discloses apparatus having rotatable circular discs, and whose indicia do contain navigable pathways, however the rotatable circular discs modify the viewable set of indicia for the sole purpose of creation of individual unique labyrinths, whereas applicant&#39;s puzzle uses the rotatable polygons to simply relocate the fixed set of indicia in order to derive a solution pathway for a given game scenario:
       U.S. Pat. No. 928,833, to Zschokke, entitled “Puzzle”;       
 
         [0018]    The following prior art discloses apparatus having circular rotatable circular discs, and whose indicia can contain navigable pathways through claims  4 ,  9 , and  10 , however unlike applicant&#39;s puzzle, this apparatus does not claim a puzzle that is constructed such that it contains an unbroken pathway from the outermost edge to the center and back out again.
       U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,455, to Bergstrom, et al., entitled “Puzzle Game”;       
 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The present invention is that of a puzzle game. The game itself is comprised of a set of coaxial polygons, such as circles, which are individually axially rotatable. Each polygon has maze-like pathway indicia on it. Some pathways continue forward from an adjacent outer polygon to an adjacent inner polygon. Some pathways will loop back from an adjacent outer polygon back to that same outer polygon. Some pathways will loop back from an adjacent inner polygon back to that same inner polygon. And, some pathways will simply terminate in dead-ends. 
         [0021]    It is the object of the puzzle to amuse a player with a challenge, which is to rotate the polygons axially, until they reach a special solution configuration. This special configuration will be achieved when an unbroken pathway exists that enters from the outside edge of the outermost polygon, through adjacent polygons (if the number of polygons is greater than two) in such a way that it reaches the center polygon and then continues back through adjacent polygons (if the number of polygons is greater than two) where it will then terminate at the outside edge of the outermost polygon. 
         [0022]    The difficulty of finding such a solution configuration can be of many varying levels based on amount of polygons, amount of available paths per polygon, number of solution paths available given a set of pathways and polygons and design of pathway indicia. In the most difficult scenario, there will be a single solution pathway that is nontrivial, while in other configurations there will be many trivial pathways designed that appear that they would complete the circuit, yet fail within the just one or two polygons from the solution path, adding to a player&#39;s challenge. 
         [0023]    Further scope of applicability, novel features, objectives, and advantages will be shown via the detailed description to follow, and additionally with their accompanying drawings such that those skilled in the art of examination shall be able to understand those additional elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in examination of the relevant art to make and use the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred apparatus of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the preferred apparatus of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the preferred apparatus of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is an exploded assembly view of the bottom-most base, support rods, and inner screw whereupon which is mounted an immobile core that houses a spring-plunger apparatus, circumferenced by the first notched ring with pathways. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the assembled  FIG. 4 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is an exploded assembly view of the second base, upon which is mounted an immobile core that houses a spring-plunger apparatus, circumferenced by the second notched ring with pathways. 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the assembled  FIG. 6 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is an exploded assembly view of the third base, upon which is mounted an immobile core that houses a spring-plunger apparatus, circumferenced by the third notched ring with pathways. 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the assembled  FIG. 8 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is an exploded assembly view of the fourth base, upon which is mounted an immobile core that houses a spring-plunger apparatus, circumferenced by the fourth notched ring with pathways. 
           [0035]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the assembled  FIG. 10 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is an exploded assembly view of the fifth base, upon which is mounted an immobile core that houses a spring-plunger apparatus, circumferenced by the fifth notched ring with pathways. 
           [0037]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the assembled  FIG. 12 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 14  is an exploded assembly view of the sixth base, upon which is mounted an immobile core that houses a spring-plunger apparatus, circumferenced by the sixth notched ring with pathways. 
           [0039]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the assembled  FIG. 14 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 16  is an exploded assembly view of the seventh base, upon which is mounted an immobile core that houses a spring-plunger apparatus, circumferenced by the seventh notched ring with pathways. 
           [0041]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the assembled  FIG. 16 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 18  is an exploded assembly view of an immobile core that houses a spring-plunger apparatus, circumferenced by the eighth notched ring that is attached to a final topmost ring with pathways, whereupon a disc is mounted which includes a compartment for the nut and upon which a sticker is mounted for logo identification. 
           [0043]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the assembled  FIG. 18 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 20  is a top view of a programmable electronic device featuring a software-based version of the preferred embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0045]    The following reference numerals are used throughout the Figures: 
         [0046]      2 . Short support rod 
         [0047]      4 . Medium support rod 
         [0048]      6 . Long support rod 
         [0049]      8 . Screw 
         [0050]      10 . First ring with pathways 
         [0051]      12 . First base 
         [0052]      13 . Pathway puzzle 
         [0053]      14 . First core 
         [0054]      16 . Spring plunger 
         [0055]      18 . Spring plunger holding space 
         [0056]      19 . Braking notch 
         [0057]      20 . Second ring with pathways 
         [0058]      22 . Second base 
         [0059]      30 . Third ring with pathways 
         [0060]      32 . Third base 
         [0061]      40 . Fourth ring with pathways 
         [0062]      42 . Fourth base 
         [0063]      50 . Fifth ring with pathways 
         [0064]      52 . Fifth base 
         [0065]      54 . Second core 
         [0066]      60 . Sixth ring with pathways 
         [0067]      62 . Sixth base 
         [0068]      70 . Seventh ring with pathways 
         [0069]      72 . Seventh base 
         [0070]      74 . Third core 
         [0071]      80 . Topmost disc with pathways 
         [0072]      82 . Eighth ring 
         [0073]      90 . Sticker cap for logo 
         [0074]      92 . Disc with compartment for nut 
         [0075]      94 . Nut 
         [0076]      101 . Maze-like pathway indicia 
         [0077]      102 . Maze-like pathway indicia that is entrance/exit of solution path for larger puzzle 
         [0078]      103 . Maze-like pathway indicia that is entrance/exit of solution path for larger puzzle 
         [0079]      104 . Dead-end maze-like pathway indicia 
         [0080]      110 . Programmable electronic device 
         [0081]      111 . Movable ring rendered through software 
         [0082]      112 . Maze-like pathway indicia that is entrance/exit of solution path for smaller puzzle 
         [0083]      113 . Maze-like pathway indicia that is entrance/exit of solution path for smaller puzzle 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0084]    Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  there is shown a pathway puzzle  13  having a base  12  in which there are set a plurality of rotatable coaxial rings  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60  and  70 , and a special center rotating member  80 . 
         [0085]    Generally, each ring with the exception of the topmost is mounted on its own subsequent base. 
         [0086]    Ring  10  is axially rotatable around a core  14  atop immobile base  12 . 
         [0087]    Ring  20  is axially rotatable around a core  14  atop immobile base  22 . 
         [0088]    Ring  30  is axially rotatable around a core  14  atop immobile base  32 . 
         [0089]    Ring  40  is axially rotatable around a core  14  atop immobile base  42 . 
         [0090]    Ring  50  is axially rotatable around a core  54  atop immobile base  52 . 
         [0091]    Ring  60  is axially rotatable around a core  54  atop immobile base  62 . 
         [0092]    Ring  70  is axially rotatable around a core  74  atop immobile base  72 . 
         [0093]    Disc  80  is mounted on movable ring  82 , and covered with special disc  92  which is covered by a sticker or other type of covering,  90 .  80 ,  82 ,  90 , and  92  are axially rotatable as a singular piece around a core  74 . Generally, covering piece  90  has two functions, which are first and foremost, to camouflage the screw  8  and nut  94  that holds the topmost ring parts  80 ,  82 , and  92  to the base while still allowing for rotation, and secondarily, cosmetically to allow for placement of a company logo or artwork, such as a mountain climber. 
         [0094]    The rotatable members feature maze-like indicia, such as  101 , which is an example of a singular pathway. In  FIG. 3 , maze-like indicia  102  and  103  indicate the ends of a maze-like pathway that when the rings are uniquely positioned create a singular pathway that will continue from the outside edge of ring  10  to ring  80  and back out to the outside edge of ring  10  without any breaks. Pathway  104  indicates a dead-end path that only reaches halfway through a ring. 
         [0095]    In operation, a player can choose to rotate any of the rotatable rings, which according to the preferred embodiment, will snap into place at certain intervals. In the preferred embodiment, these intervals are fixed at 8 locations every 45 degrees for the top two rings, 16 locations every 22.5 degrees for the next two rings, and 32 locations every 11.25 degrees for the bottom four rings. However, some embodiments may have differing intervals or lack a braking mechanism entirely. 
         [0096]    When all of the rings are in a certain configuration which shall hereafter be referred to as a winning configuration, there will be an unbroken pathway that continues from the outside edge of ring  10  through ring  80  and back out to the outside edge of ring  10 . In  FIG. 3 , such entrances and exits are represented by maze-like indicia  102  and  103 . Since all rings rotate coaxially, there is potential for multiple solutions along the same path, simply by rotating all rings of a solved puzzle together to a new angle, such as 45 degrees. These additional solutions are generally considered to just be rotated derivations of the same solution. 
         [0097]    With regards to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , they show the physical construction of the bottom rotatable ring and base assembly. Four representations of short support rod  2  joined with two medium support rods  4 , two long support rods  6  and a single screw  8  are threaded through first base  12 . Support rods  2 ,  4 , and  6  have a primary function of adding additional stability to first core  14 . Inside this first core  14  is an extra space  18  for placement of a spring plunger  16 . The spring plunger  16  may be mounted to core  14  using adhesive or it may remain unattached if so desired, although for stability purposes mounting is recommended. Ring  10  circumferences upon core  14 , which results in spring plunger  16  pushing against notch  19 . For the first ring  10 , there are 32 notches, allowing for axial rotation of the first ring  10  to create 32 valid positions for the game. 
         [0098]    It is undesired behavior to have the first core  14  have any angular movement upon the base  12  when ring  10  is rotated. Such conditions could create unintentionally unwinnable scenarios wherein the rings can be stopped at incorrect angles, thereby causing indicia to fail to align with adjacent rings. 
         [0099]    Additionally, the screw  8  is meant as a means of disconnecting the entire assembly, but is not considered an axis for rotation. Screw  8  has a general function of keeping the topmost disc  80  in place using nut  94 . Screw  8  and nut  94  can be replaced with many different options of utility bolt or other fastening mechanism to ensure the assembled parts stay together. 
         [0100]    With regards to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , they show the physical construction of the second rotatable ring. The four short support rods  2 , two medium support rods  4 , two long support rods  6  and a single screw  8  from  FIGS. 4 and 5  are threaded through second base  22 . An additional core  14  is then placed on the rods  2 ,  4 , and  6 , and screw  8 . Inside this core  14  is an extra space  18  for placement of another spring plunger  16 . The spring plunger  16  may be mounted to core  14  using adhesive or it may remain unattached if so desired, although for stability purposes mounting is recommended. Ring  20  circumferences upon core  14 , which results in spring plunger  16  pushing against notch  19 . For the second ring  20 , there are  32  notches, allowing for axial rotation of the second ring  20  to create  32  valid positions for the game. 
         [0101]    It is undesired behavior to have the first core  14  have any angular movement upon the base  22  when ring  20  is rotated. Such conditions could create unintentionally unwinnable scenarios wherein the rings can be stopped at incorrect angles, thereby causing indicia to fail to align with adjacent rings. 
         [0102]    With regards to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , they show the physical construction of the third rotatable ring. The four short support rods  2 , two medium support rods  4 , two long support rods  6  and a single screw  8  from  FIGS. 4 and 5  are threaded through third base  32 . An additional core  14  is then placed on the rods  2 ,  4 , and  6 , and screw  8 . Inside this core  14  is an extra space  18  for placement of another spring plunger  16 . The spring plunger  16  may be mounted to core  14  using adhesive or it may remain unattached if so desired, although for stability purposes mounting is recommended. Ring  30  circumferences upon core  14 , which results in spring plunger  16  pushing against notch  19 . For the third ring  30 , there are 32 notches, allowing for axial rotation of the third ring  30  to create 32 valid positions for the game. 
         [0103]    It is undesired behavior to have the first core  14  have any angular movement upon the base  32  when ring  30  is rotated. Such conditions could create unintentionally unwinnable scenarios wherein the rings can be stopped at incorrect angles, thereby causing indicia to fail to align with adjacent rings. 
         [0104]    With regards to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , they show the physical construction of the fourth rotatable ring. The four short support rods  2 , two medium support rods  4 , two long support rods  6  and a single screw  8  from  FIGS. 4 and 5  are threaded through fourth base  42 . An additional core  14  is then placed on the rods  2 ,  4 , and  6 , and screw  8 . Inside this core  14  is an extra space  18  for placement of another spring plunger  16 . The spring plunger  16  may be mounted to core  14  using adhesive or it may remain unattached if so desired, although for stability purposes mounting is recommended. Ring  40  circumferences upon core  14 , which results in spring plunger  16  pushing against notch  19 . For the fourth ring  40 , there are 32 notches, allowing for axial rotation of the fourth ring  40  to create 32 valid positions for the game. 
         [0105]    It is undesired behavior to have the first core  14  have any angular movement upon the base  42  when ring  40  is rotated. Such conditions could create unintentionally unwinnable scenarios wherein the rings can be stopped at incorrect angles, thereby causing indicia to fail to align with adjacent rings. 
         [0106]    With regards to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , they show the physical construction of the fifth rotatable ring. The four short support rods  2 , two medium support rods  4 , two long support rods  6  and a single screw  8  from  FIGS. 4 and 5  are threaded through fifth base  52 . At this point, the four short support rods  2  will terminate inside base  52 , since the core placed on base  52  is smaller in diameter and therefore does not have space to house such rods. However, both medium rods  4 , both long support rods  6 , and single screw  8  from  FIGS. 4 and 5  will continue through core  54 . Core  54  is placed on the rods  4  and  6 , and screw  8 . Inside this core  54  is an extra space  18  for placement of another spring plunger  16 . The spring plunger  16  may be mounted to core  54  using adhesive or it may remain unattached if so desired, although for stability purposes mounting is recommended. Ring  50  circumferences upon core  54 , which results in spring plunger  16  pushing against notch  19 . For the fifth ring  50 , there are  16  notches, allowing for axial rotation of the fifth ring  50  to create  16  valid positions for the game. 
         [0107]    It is undesired behavior to have the second core  54  have any angular movement upon the base  52  when ring  50  is rotated. Such conditions could create unintentionally unwinnable scenarios wherein the rings can be stopped at incorrect angles, thereby causing indicia to fail to align with adjacent rings. 
         [0108]    With regards to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , they show the physical construction of the sixth rotatable ring. The two medium support rods  4 , two long support rods  6  and a single screw  8  from  FIGS. 4 and 5  are threaded through sixth base  62 . An additional core  54  is then placed on the rods  4  and  6 , and screw  8 . Inside this core  54  is an extra space  18  for placement of another spring plunger  16 . The spring plunger  16  may be mounted to core  14  using adhesive or it may remain unattached if so desired, although for stability purposes mounting is recommended. Ring  60  circumferences upon core  54 , which results in spring plunger  16  pushing against notch  19 . For the sixth ring  60 , there are 16 notches, allowing for axial rotation of the sixth ring  60  to create 16 valid positions for the game. 
         [0109]    It is undesired behavior to have the second core  54  have any angular movement upon the base  62  when ring  60  is rotated. Such conditions could create unintentionally unwinnable scenarios wherein the rings can be stopped at incorrect angles, thereby causing indicia to fail to align with adjacent rings. 
         [0110]    With regards to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , they show the physical construction of the seventh rotatable ring. The two medium support rods  4 , two long support rods  6  and a single screw  8  from  FIGS. 4 and 5  are threaded through seventh base  72 . At this point, the two medium support rods  4  will terminate inside base  72 , since the core placed on base  72  is smaller in diameter, and therefore does not have space to house such rods. However, both long support rods  6  and single screw  8  from  FIGS. 4 and 5  will continue through core  74 . Core  74  is placed on the rods  6  and screw  8 . Inside this core  74  is an extra space  18  for placement of another spring plunger  16 . The spring plunger  16  may be mounted to core  74  using adhesive or it may remain unattached if so desired, although for stability purposes mounting is recommended. Ring  70  circumferences upon core  74 , which results in spring plunger  16  pushing against notch  19 . For the seventh ring  70 , there are 8 notches, allowing for axial rotation of the seventh ring  70  to create 8 valid positions for the game. 
         [0111]    It is undesired behavior to have the third core  74  have any angular movement upon the base  72  when ring  70  is rotated. Such conditions could create unintentionally unwinnable scenarios wherein the rings can be stopped at incorrect angles, thereby causing indicia to fail to align with adjacent rings. 
         [0112]    With regards to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , they show the physical construction of the eighth and final rotatable ring. Initially, disc  80  is fastened to ring  82 , either through adhesive or some other method. Disc  92  will be fastened to disc  80 , thereby creating a fixed assembly of parts  92 ,  80 , and  82 . The two long support rods  6  and a single screw  8  from  FIGS. 4 and 5  are threaded through another core  74 . At this point, the two long support rods  6  will terminate inside core  74 , since the assembly of ring  82 , disc  80 , and disc  92  that is placed on core  74  must be freely rotatable. Because of this, single screw  8  from  FIGS. 4 and 5  will continue through core  74 . Inside this core  74  is an extra space  18  for placement of another spring plunger  16 . The spring plunger  16  may be mounted to core  74  using adhesive or it may remain unattached if so desired, although for stability purposes mounting is recommended. With regard to the pre-assembled ring  82 , disc  80 , and disc  92 , the ring  82  circumferences upon core  74 , resulting in spring plunger  16  pushing against notch  19 . For the eighth ring  82 , there are 8 notches, allowing for axial rotation of the eighth ring  82  to create 8 valid positions for the game. The assembly of ring  82 , disc  80 , and disc  92  to the apparatus is performed by insertion of nut  92  into disc  92 , whereupon it shall be fastened to the single screw  8  from  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Finally, sticker  90  is placed atop disc  92 , which will camouflage the appearance of nut  94 , and allow for logo placement if desired. 
         [0113]    When connecting base  74  from  FIGS. 16 and 17  to the base  74  in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , it is recommended to rotate one of the core pieces  74  by 180 degrees such that the two long support rods  6  from  FIGS. 4 and 5  will still be able to thread through both core pieces  74 , but thereby limit interference from the 2 spring plungers  16 . Additionally, it is undesired behavior to have the third core  74  from  FIGS. 16 and 17  have any angular movement upon the core  74  from  FIGS. 18 and 19  when the assembly consisting of ring  82 , disc  80 , and disc  90  is rotated. Such conditions could create unintentionally unwinnable scenarios wherein the rings can be stopped at incorrect angles, thereby causing indicia to fail to align with adjacent rings. 
         [0114]    With regards to  FIG. 20 , it shows an interactive software-based version of the preferred embodiment of the puzzle. The device  110  has a puzzle  111  on its display. The puzzle therein is a two-ring puzzle compared to the eight-ring puzzle that is presented in the preferred embodiment. The current puzzle is in its winning configuration, such that a path exists from the outside edge, through the center ring, and back out again without breaks. Manipulation of the image can be done through multiple interfaces, including but not limited to mice, keyboards, touch-screens, and stylus interaction. In this manifestation, many different levels are created, with multiple indicia, rings, difficulties, and notch configurations. 
         [0115]    The design of the pathways in the preferred embodiment in  FIGS. 1 to 19  is a representation of a puzzle that has a non-obvious and uniquely singular solution. The same is true of the pathways of the smaller puzzle in  FIG. 20 . The design of the maze on the preferred embodiment is not limited to the single maze as drawn, but can be inclusive of alternate derivations, that may or may not include unique solutions. 
         [0116]    While the invention has been shown and described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated and understood to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.