Abstract:
The invention comprises a puzzle including elements arranged in rows and columns, each element being rotatable about first and second perpendicular axes. The first axis of each element is parallel and co-planar to the first axes of every other element. Similarly, the second axis of each element is parallel and co-planar to the second axes of every other element. The puzzle also preferab ly includes a case that restrains non-rotational movement of each element and a linkage that forces rotation of all other elements in any one row to rotate about their respective first axes when any one of the elements in that row is rotated about its first axis. The linkage also forces rotation of all elements a column to rotate about their respective second axes when any one of the elements in that column is rotated about its second axis.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to puzzles.  
           [0002]    A wide variety of puzzles and puzzle devices are available, including both mechanical and electronic puzzles. In such puzzles, the user manipulates the puzzle to achieve a desired result or to solve a problem. The well-known Rubik&#39;s Cube is an example of such a puzzle, wherein the user is required to rotate portions of a cube that are each made up of smaller cubes having differently colored sides. The objective of Rubik&#39;s Cube is to manipulate the cube in a matter that results in a desired design of colors, the simplest being a single color on each side of the cube. The present invention is a unique and innovative puzzle from this field of the art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The invention comprises a puzzle including elements arranged in at least one row and at least one column. Each of the elements is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis. The first axis of each element is parallel and co-planar to the first axes of every other element. Similarly, the second axis of each element is parallel and co-planar to the second axes of every other element. The first and second axes of each element are preferably perpendicular to each other. The puzzle also includes a case that restrains non-rotational movement of each element and a linkage that forces rotation of all other elements in any one row to rotate about their respective first axes when any one of the elements in that row is rotated about its first axis. The linkage also forces rotation of all elements a column to rotate about their respective second axes when any one of the elements in that column is rotated about its second axis.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It is understood, however, the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings:  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a puzzle according to the present invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a top view of the puzzle shown in FIG. 1 wherein the balls have been removed.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of the area shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the area shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1.  
         [0009]    FIGS.  5 - 8  are schematic views of the puzzle in which the faces of the puzzle elements are numbered.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  of FIG. 9.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one of the spheres of the second embodiment of the present invention shown in an assembled state.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the sphere shown in FIG. 11.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    The present invention is a puzzle that can be implemented in a wide variety of structures and formats. The essence of the invention is a puzzle having a plurality of puzzle elements, each puzzle element having a different design or color on each of six faces. Each puzzle element can be rotated in either two or three orthogonal axis, but is preferably restrained against non-rotational movement. In the case of a two-dimensional puzzle, each puzzle element is preferably rotatable about X and Y axes. In the case of a three-dimensional puzzle, each puzzle element will be rotatable about X, Y and Z axes. In addition, the puzzle elements are linked so that when a particular puzzle element is rotated, all other puzzle elements that are located in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation and passes through are forced to rotate in the same direction. The objective of the puzzle is to manipulate the puzzle elements so that a desired design is shown on the front of the puzzle, such as a single color.  
         [0015]    The principles and operation of the puzzle according to the present invention are better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. In order to aid in understanding of the invention, reference numerals that are referred to in the specification with respect to one or more figures may appear in additional figures without a specific reference to such additional figure in the specification.  
         [0016]    Referring now to FIG. 1, reference  10  generally refers to a puzzle in accordance with the present invention. The puzzle  10  shown in FIG. 1 is a two-dimensional embodiment of the present invention having four puzzle elements  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  that are each secured to a portion of a frame  13  by any convenient means. The puzzle elements in this embodiment are shown as spheres or balls. In order to aid in describing the invention, the elements (or spheres) are identified herein as follows: lower left sphere  36 , upper left sphere  38 , upper right sphere  40  and lower right sphere  42 . Although spheres provide for the simplest operation of the puzzle  10 , other shapes could be substituted for the puzzle elements  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 , such as a cube or a hexahedron, for example.  
         [0017]    Referring now to FIGS.  2 - 3 , the frame  13  comprises two pairs of parallel bars left and right vertical bars  12 ,  16  and top and bottom horizontal bars  14 ,  18 . Each of the bars  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  can be slid in either direction along a single axis. The vertical bars  12 ,  16  can be slid up or down along the Y axis and the horizontal bars  14 ,  18  can be slid to the left or right along the X axis. As shown in FIG. 3, each bar includes a plurality of evenly spaced slots formed thereon. The vertical bar  12  shown in FIG. 3 includes elongated horizontal slots  52  and the horizontal bar  18  includes a plurality of elongated vertical slots  54 .  
         [0018]    Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the slots  52 ,  54  operate in cooperation with two orthogonal arrays of pins  56 ,  60  protruding from the exterior  64  of the sphere  36 . The length of the pins  58 ,  62  shown in FIG. 4 are exaggerated for clarity. In actuality, the pins  58 , 62  are just long enough to engage the slots  52 ,  54 .  
         [0019]    The operation of the puzzle  10  will now be described. Referring again to FIG. 1, the sphere  36  is rotated clockwise about the Y axis by pulling a tab  32 , located on the left end of a lower horizontal bar  18 , to the left. This motion would also rotate the lower right sphere  42  in a clockwise direction about the Y axis. Conversely counterclockwise rotation of the lower left sphere  36  is accomplished by pulling rightward on a tab  34  located on the right end of the lower horizontal bar  18 . Rotation of the lower left sphere  36  about the Y axis is accomplished by pulling either the lower or upper tab  20 ,  22  of the left vertical bar  12 . Such rotation in the Y axis would also cause the upper left sphere  38  to rotate in the same direction.  
         [0020]    The movement and various configurations of the spheres  36 ,  38 ,  42 , as well as other embodiments of the invention, can be described in relation to a type of mathematics called “group theory.” In the context of a puzzle, such as puzzle  10 , an “element” of the “group” is defined as a particular configuration of the spheres  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 . The objective of the present invention is to perform a series of operations, in this embodiment, rotational movements of the spheres  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 , that will cause the puzzle  10  to move from one element to another.  
         [0021]    The group theory concept can be illustrated through an example in which the puzzle  10  is described in the context of two rows and two columns of spheres, since in the context of a two by two, two-dimensional puzzle, the rows and columns rotate together, depending upon whether a sphere is being rotated about the X or Y axis. Row 1 comprises the upper left sphere  38  and the upper right sphere  40 . Row 2 corresponds to the lower left sphere  36  and the lower right sphere  42 . Column 1 corresponds to the upper left sphere  38  and lower left sphere  36 . Column 2 corresponds to upper right sphere  40  and lower right sphere  42 . Operations are described in a short hand in which: 1r=roll Row 1 right-wise; 1rr=roll Row 1 right-wise twice; 1rrr=roll Row 1 right-wise three times; 1u=roll Column 1 up-wise; 1uu=roll Column 1 up-wise twice; 1uuu=roll Column 1 up-wise three times. Rolling any row or any column four times would result in no change because the same side would then be face forwarding again. The terms left-wise, right-wise, up-wise and down-wise correspond to the direction of motion of the portion of the sphere opposite the bars  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 .  
         [0022]    To further illustrate operation of the puzzle  10 , each of the spheres is shown schematically in FIGS.  5 - 8  as a boxes with numbered faces. In FIG. 5, all four spheres  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  have face number  1  facing outward. An operation is performed in which Column 1 is rotated downwardly once. This results in face number  4  facing forward in the upper left and lower left spheres  38 ,  40 . In FIG. 6, the spheres  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  begin in the same position as the first example and the operation is to move row 1 right-wise once. This results in face  5  facing forward in the upper left and upper right spheres  38 ,  40 . In FIG. 7, a series of operations is performed. In this example, the spheres  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  begin again with face  1  facing forward and the following operation is performed 1d; 1rr; 1u; 1ll. After these operations, the upper left sphere  38  is being turned upside down, which results in face  3  facing forward while all other spheres  36 ,  40 ,  42  remain unchanged. In FIG. 8, the spheres begin as described in the other examples, then the following operation is performed; 1d; 1r; 1u; 1l. This results in the upper left sphere  38  being rolled down and sideways (face  4  facing forward) while all other spheres  36 ,  40 ,  42  remain unchanged.  
         [0023]    The foregoing represent merely a few examples of the operations that can be performed on the puzzle  10  to move from element to element.  
         [0024]    Referring now to FIG. 9, another preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. This embodiment comprises a puzzle  110  that includes a three-by-three array (three rows and three columns) of spheres. The puzzle  110  is two dimensional, like puzzle  10 , but shows a different structure for causing simultaneous rotation of all spheres in a row or column when any one of the spheres in that row or column is rotated, as well as a functional and attractive case  112  having top and bottom halves  114 ,  116 .  
         [0025]    The puzzle  110  includes four corner spheres  136 ,  138 ,  140  and  142 , four side spheres  144 ,  146 ,  148  and  150 , and a center sphere  152 . The spheres are arranged in three rows and three columns and are retained in place by the case  112 . The spheres protrude through the top and bottom halves  114 , 116  of the case  112  through top and bottom openings  178 ,  180 , respectively (see FIG. 10). The vertical thickness of the case  112  and the size of the openings  114 , 116  are designed to maximize the portion of each sphere that protrudes from the case  112 , while preventing the sphere from becoming dislodged from the case  112 . In this embodiment, rotational motion of a sphere in response to the rotation of another sphere is caused by row gears  154 ,  156 ,  158 ,  160 ,  162 ,  164  and column gears  166 ,  168 ,  170 ,  172 ,  174 ,  176 , which are located between the spheres and are fully contained within the case  112 . For example gears  154  and  156  force spheres  136 ,  142  and  150  to rotate about the Y axis when any one of these three spheres is rotated about the Y axis by a user. Similarly, gears  158  and  160  force spheres  136 ,  144  and  138  to rotate about the X axis when any one of these three spheres is rotated about the X axis by a user.  
         [0026]    Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, the structure of one sphere  136  will be described in greater detail. All other spheres are identical in structure. Sphere  136  includes six interlocking parts: upper, lower, left and right quads  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  and font and rear ends  126 ,  128 . The six interlocking parts comprise some identical features, which are described in the following paragraph. In order to avoid clutter in the figure, these identical features are labeled only one part in which that feature is visible. It may be assumed that the feature is present in all other relevant parts.  
         [0027]    Each interlocking part includes a convex face  119 , which is shaped to form part of a spherical surface when the sphere is fully assembled (see FIG. 11). A deck  121  opposes the face  119 . A tapered shoulder  123  provides the transition from the face  119  to the deck  121 . In accordance with the present invention, each of the faces preferably has a different color or design shown thereon. The different colors or designs can extend through the entire part or be applied only to each face.  
         [0028]    Each of the four quads  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  include a pair of blades  137 ,  139  which are spaced apart, located at the edge of the deck  121  and extend inwardly. The blades of each respective quad are oriented so that that the blades nest when all four quads  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  are assembled (see FIG. 1). Each of the blades  135 ,  137  includes a transverse hole  141 ,  143 , respectively, near the end of the blade that is distal to the deck  121 . Each quad also includes a pair of triangular bridges  145 ,  147 , which are outboard of the blades. Each bridge  145 ,  147  extends to a vertex  153 ,  155 . The vertexes of all of the quads  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  meet along a single axis when the quads  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  are assembled. The bridges  145 ,  147  each include a respective transverse hole  149 ,  151 . The blade holes for each quad align with holes of the respective pair of bridges of the quad that is adjacent in the clockwise direction, forming a cylindrical locking channel. For example, a locking channel  165  (see FIG. 10) is formed by the holes in the blades of the left quad  122  and the holes in the bridges of the lower quad  120  when these two quads are assembled.  
         [0029]    The front and rear ends  126 ,  128  each include four evenly-spaced pins  157 ,  159 ,  161 ,  163 , which extend inwardly perpendicular to the deck  121 . Each of the pins  157 ,  159 ,  161 ,  163  is preferably chamfered at the end distal to the deck  121 , in order to aid in assembly. The pins  157 ,  159 ,  161 ,  163  are preferably sized to extend about half-way through a respective locking channel the so that the pins of the front end  126  meet the pins of the rear end  128 .  
         [0030]    Assembly of the sphere  136  is accomplished by first assembling the quads  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 , then inserting pins of the front and rear ends  126 ,  128  to lock the structure together. The pins provide a friction fit, but a small amount of adhesive (such as an epoxy resin or acrylic resin) is preferably used to increase durability and prevent separation of parts during use.  
         [0031]    As shown in FIG. 1, each sphere includes three arrays  164 ,  166 ,  168  of co-planar holes that interact with the teeth on an adjacent gear to force rotation about the X or Y axis when an adjacent sphere is rotated. Each array of holes is perpendicular to the other two arrays. The arrays  164 ,  166 ,  168  comprise center holes  170 , which are located at the intersection of two arrays. The remainder of the holes are field holes  172 . As with spheres themselves, one center hole  170  and one field hole  172  are described below in detail. All other center holes are identical to the center hole  170  and all other field holes are identical to field hole  172 .  
         [0032]    Each center hole  170  includes a flared lip  174  that has a slightly concave shape and tapers sharply to a wall  176 . The wall  176  tapers more gently to a bottom  178 . The tapered lip  174  and wall  176  aid in guiding gear teeth  190  (see FIG. 10) into the center hole  170  if the sphere  136  floats out of alignment during rotation, which helps the puzzle  110  operate more smoothly. In order to facilitate engagement with the gear teeth  190  in either rotational direction, the lip  174  and wall  176  of the center hole  170  are symmetrical.  
         [0033]    Similarly, field hole  172  includes a flared lip  180  that tapers sharply to a more gently-tapered wall  182  and terminates at a bottom  184 . However, unlike the center hole  170 , the field hole  172  is not symmetrical. Instead, the wall  182  is slightly elongated in the direction of rotation of the sphere when the field hole  172  is engaged by the gear (to create a larger “target” for the gear teeth) and the lip  180  is elongated in the opposite direction (to guide the sphere back into alignment when it drifts out of alignment).  
         [0034]    It should be noted that many alternate internal structures could be used to form the spheres of the puzzle  110  without departing from the present invention. For example, each sphere could comprise a single-piece body having a colored insert for each of the six faces.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10 shows the internal structure of the case  112  and the relationship between two spheres  136 ,  150  and a gear  154 . The gear  154  includes a plurality of co-planer teeth  190  that engage the holes in the two spheres  136 ,  150 . Each gear tooth  190  tapers as it extends outwardly from the gear  154  and is circular in cross-section in order to facilitate positive mechanical engagement with the sphere holes. The gear  154  is preferably held in position by an axle  192  and protected by upper and lower protruding portions  194 ,  196  of the case  112 .  
         [0036]    Alternate structures for the two puzzles  10  and  110  described above have yet to be developed but are within the skill of one with ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0037]    It is recognized by those skilled in the art, that changes may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed but is intended to cover all modifications which are in the spirit and scope of the invention.