Abstract:
A cubic puzzle especially suitable for teaching the alphabet to children as well as serving as an adult puzzle. Puzzle members formed in the shape of alphabetic and numeric representations are releasably mounted on each surface of a cube. The alphabetic and numeric representations are inter-fitted to have a specific position on the cube surface and effect a puzzle on each surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a cubic puzzle and especially to an alphabet cube puzzle for providing educational development coupled with play value. While alphabet puzzles have taken various forms, it is recognized that the inclusion of substantial play value in the puzzle enhances the educational value to be gained therefrom. Alphabet puzzles have generally failed to provide such substantial play value and have therefore yielded less than completely satisfactory results. Further, it is desired to provide a puzzle capable of serving as an adult puzzle as well as providing aesthetic appeal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention an alphabet cube puzzle is provided for effecting the teaching of the alphabet to children as well as serving as an adult puzzle. The puzzle is constructed with specific engaging means formed on each side of a cube, which specific engaging means are adapted to secure a specific plurality of puzzle pieces shaped in the form of an alphabetic or numeric character. The puzzle pieces are formed so that the inter-fitting of the puzzle pieces substantially covers the whole surface of the cube. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved alphabet cube puzzle capable of educating children and serving as an adult puzzle. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved alphabet cube puzzle capable of providing entertainment value to a child to enhance the educational value thereof as well as being capable of providing entertainment to adults. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an alphabet cube puzzle constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the instant invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of an alphabetic puzzle piece and mounting thereof constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the instant invention; 
     FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are plan views of the rear, top, front, bottom, right and left sides respectively, of an alphabet puzzle constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the instant invention; 
     FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are plan views of the front, right, rear, left, top and bottom sides respectively, of an alphabet puzzle constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the instant invention; 
     FIGS. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 are plan views of front, right, rear, left, top and bottom sides of an alphabet puzzle constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the instant invention; 
     FIGS. 23, 24, 25 and 26 are front, bottom, rear and left plan views of an alphabet puzzle in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 27 is a front plan view of an alphabet puzzle in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 10, a cubic puzzle, indicated generally at 30, is formed of six sides each defined by a plurality of selected letters or numbers of predetermined shape, namely front side 31, top side 32, left side 33, rear side 34, right side 35 and bottom side 36, all as viewed in FIG. 1, supported on a stand 37. The stand 37 is shown by way of illustration only and the puzzle may be provided without the stand. The stand, if provided, extends through a space between puzzle pieces and is received in an aperture 37&#39; in wall 36&#39;. 
     The puzzle is formed of a reference member by securing walls 31&#39; through 36&#39; together into the shape of a cube. The walls 31&#39; through 36&#39; are constructed out of any lightweight sturdy material such as wood or plastic. Each wall 31&#39; through 36&#39; includes pegs 38 mounted therein. The pegs 38 are placed in a distinct relationship so that they correspond to corresponding holes 38&#39; (shown in phantom in FIG. 4) formed in each puzzle piece. The respective puzzle pieces, are formed in alphabetic or numeric shapes. One wall 34&#39; of reference member 34 may be removable to define a receptacle for receiving puzzle pieces or additional letters or numbers 39 (FIG. 3). In the alternative, the reference member may be a solid or hollow block without a removable wall. 
     Specific reference is now made to FIGS. 4 and 8 wherein a puzzle piece 40, shaped in the form of an &#34;A&#34; is illustrated. The puzzle piece 40 includes a recessed hole 38&#39; (shown in phantom) which hole allows the puzzle piece 40 to be releasably secured to a corresponding peg 38. The piece 40, as well as all the puzzle pieces, are formed with flat base portions 41 on the bottom edge thereof when viewed properly as a letter or number, to allow the puzzle piece to be stood on a flat surface to allow viewing of the puzzle pieces and enhance the educational value of the puzzle. A silhouette of the puzzle piece 42 may be included on the surface of the reference member to provide an aid in guiding a child as to where to place the puzzle piece. As is appreciated by the skilled artisan, if the puzzle piece is not placed on the proper peg it will become impossible to make all the puzzle pieces interfit in the desired manner. Thus, for the puzzle to be completed, recognition of letters and numerals, coupled with the ability to interfit all the pieces together to cover each surface of the reference member is necessary. 
     In the first embodiment of FIGS. 1-10, rear side 34 (FIG. 5) defines numerals 1 through 0; top sides 32 (FIG. 6) defines letters E, H, I, J and L; front side 31 (FIG. 7) defines letters F, N, P, Q, U and Z; bottom side 36 defines letters A, K, M, W and V, right side 35 defines letters B, C, D, G, T and X; and lefts side 33 defines letters O, R, S and Y. Each side is substantially covered by the stylistically shaped puzzle pieces. The sides are shaped so as to overlap so as to define a complete cube. The designations front, rear, etc. are arbitrary, it being apparent that sides 35 and 33 can be interchanged, as can sides 31, 32, 34 and 36. Further, as will become apparent below, other configurations of numbers can be utilized. 
     Referring to FIGS. 11 through 16, a second embodiment of the alphabet puzzle in accordance with the invention is depicted. The alphabet puzzle is formed of six sides, front side 44, right side 45, rear side 46, left side 47, top side 48 and bottom side 49, and is constructed in the same manner as the alphabet puzzle of FIGS. 1-10 except that each puzzle side is dimensioned to substantially correspond to or be less than the dimension of the corresponding side of the reference member so that when assembled, the edges of the cube are not filled in. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 11 - 16, front side 44 (FIG. 11) defines letters A, M, W and X; right side 45 (FIG. 12) defines letters E, F, I, J and L; rear side 46 (FIG. 13) depicts letters C, G, O, T and Q; left side 47 (FIG. 14) depicts letters B, D, K and V; top side 48 (FIG. 15) depicts letters H, N, V and Z; and bottom side 49 (FIG. 16) defines letters P, R, S and Y. In this embodiment the number of puzzle pieces are not provided. Of course, all of the sides may be interchanged with each other. The puzzle orientations of the other embodiments could be substituted for this embodiment if dimensioned so that each side defines a square. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 17 through 22, a third embodiment of the alphabet puzzle in accordance with the invention is depicted. The puzzle is formed of six sides, front side 51, right side 52, rear side 53, left side 54, top side 55 and bottom side 56 and is constructed in the same manner as the puzzles hereinabove described. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 17 through 22, front side 51 defines letters B, D, C, G, T and X; right side 52 (FIG. 18) defines letters E, H, I, J and L; rear side 53 (FIG. 19) depicts numerals 1 through 0; left side 54 (FIG. 20) depicts letters A, K, M, W and V; top side 55 (FIG. 21) depicts letters O, P, Q, R and S; and bottom view 56 (FIG. 22) depicts letters F, N, U, Y and X. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 23 - 26, four sides of a fourth embodiment in accordance with the invention is depicted. Specifically, the four sides are front side 61, bottom side 62, rear side 63 and left side 64. The right side would be identical to right side 52 of FIG. 18 while the top side would be identical to top side 55 of FIG. 21 of the third embodiment. In the embodiment of FIGS. 23 - 26, front side 61 (FIG. 23) depicts letters F, N, U, Y and X; bottom side 62 depicts letters B, C, D, G, T and X; rear side 63 depicts letters A, K, M, W and V; and left side 64 depicts numerals 1 through 9. It would be appreciated that the top and bottom sides are interchangeable, as are the front, rear, left and right sides. 
     Turning now to FIG. 27, the front side 65 of a fifth embodiment is depicted, the balance of the alphabet puzzle in accordance with the invention being defined by the top side depicted in FIG. 22, the bottom side depicted in FIG. 21, the rear side depicted in FIG. 18, the left side depicted in FIG. 25 and the right side depicted in FIG. 26. Front side 65 (FIG. 27) depicts letters B, C, D, G, T and X. 
     It is understood that instead of pegs on the reference member, and holes formed in the puzzle pieces, the pegs may be formed on the puzzle pieces and the holes in the reference member. Moreover, other securing means such as adhesives, hook and loop fasteners (Velcro) or magnets can be utilized, as long as the securing means allows the puzzle pieces to be releasably secured to the surface of the reference member. The securing means may be positioned in discrete locations to provide guidance as to how the puzzle pieces are to be located or may generally cover substantially all of the surface of the reference member. 
     It is further understood that any combination of letters and/or numerals can be used for the puzzle pieces and that a reference member formed of more than six sides is also possible. The arrangement of puzzle pieces on each side substantially covers the surface of that side but regions are provided where the surface of the reference member is exposed to permit access to the puzzle pieces for removal thereof. 
     The outer surfaces of the puzzle pieces may be color coded so that each side of the puzzle is a different color. The corresponding faces of the reference member may be colored in a like manner. In a preferred embodiment of a children&#39;s puzzle, the three primary colors are positioned on sides opposite to the three secondary colors so that the puzzle also serves to teach color. In an adult puzzle, the color coding or indicia on the reference member would be dispensed with and materials such as chrome or transparent plastics could be used. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.