An Improved Toy Puzzle.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
An Improved Toy Puzzle.
THOMAS ALEXANDER GARRETT 128 Clerkenwell Road London E.C. WILLIAM
LUCAS 128 Clerkenwell Road London E.C. do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a toy puzzle to exercise the ingenuity
and patience of the person using it.
A toy puzzle made according to this invention consists of a number of rods
Hexibly connected together at their ends in such a way that various geometrical
figures may be constructed with them. The construction of certain of these figures
is to be the aim of the person using this toy puzzle.
One form of this toy puzzle consists of twelve hollow bamboo rods of equal
length threaded on a string on which near its ends knots are made to prevent the
rods from slipping off. Some of the geometrical figures which a person may be
required to construct with this form of toy puzzle are four triangles and no more
five triangles and no more six triangles and no more seven triangles and no more,
and eight triangles and no more all the triangles being of the same size every rod
forming a side of one or more triangles and no side of any triangle being formed by
two rods. In constructing the figures the rods may be conveniently held in their
proper positions by linking together the parts of the string at those angular points
which it is desired to connect together. To permit of this being done the length
of the string between the knots must be somewhat greater than the sum of the
lengths of the twelve rods.
Sometimes in this toy puzzle the rods are not all of the same length. Sometimes
the rods instead of being connected together at their ends by string are connected
together by hooks rings or other suitable flexible connections. Sometimes the
ends of more than two rods are flexibly connected together. Any suitable number
of rods may be used and they may be made of any convenient material.
Dated this 4th day of December 1893.
THOMAS ALEXANDER GARRETT.
WILLIAM LUCAS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Toy Puzzle.
THOMAS ALEXANDER GARRETT Electrical Engineer 128 Clerkenwell Road
London E.C. WILLIAM LUCAS Electrical Engineer 128 Clerkenwell Road
London E.C. do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide a toy puzzle to exercise the ingenuity
and patience of the person using it.
A toy puzzle made according to this invention consists of a number of rods
flexibly connected together at their ends in such a way that various geometrical
figures may be constructed with them. The construction of certain of these figures
is to be the aim of the person using this toy puzzle.

page_text: •
One form of this toy puzzle consists of twelve hollow bamboo rods of equal
length threaded on a string on which near its ends knots are made to prevent the
rods from slipping off. Some of the geometrical figures which a person may be
required to construct with this form of toy puzzle are four triangles and no more
five triangles and no more six triangles and no more seven triangles and no more
and eight triangles and no more all the triangles being of the same size every rod
forming a side of one or more triangles and no side of any triangle being formed
by two rods. Some of the above mentioned geometrical figures are shewn in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. In constructing the figures the rods may be conveniently
held in their proper positions by linking together the parts of the string at the
angular points which it is desired to connect together in the manner shewn in
Figure 1 in which the rods and string are fully represented. To permit of this
being done the length of the string between the knots must be somewhat greater
than the sum of the lengths of the twelve rods. In the other figures the rods are
represented by lines and the strings are not shewn.
Figure 1 shews how four triangles and no more may be constructed.
Figure 2 shews how five triangles and no more may be constructed. In this
case one end of the string of bamboo rods must be at the point A and the other at
the point B.
Figure 3 shews how six triangles and no more may be constructed. This figure
represents a pyramid on a square base together with two triangles in the same
plane as the base.
Figure 4 shews how seven triangles and no more may be constructed. This
figure represents a pyramid on a triangular base together with three triangles in
the same plane as the base. In this case one end of the string of bamboo rods
must be at the point A and the other at the point B.
Figure 5 shews how eight triangles and no more may be constructed. This
figure represents two pyramids on opposite faces of a square base.
Sometimes in this toy puzzle the rods are not all of the same length. Sometimes
the rods instead of being connected together at their ends by string are connected
together by hooks rings or other suitable flexible connections. Sometimes the ends
of more than two rods are flexibly connected together. Any suitable number of
rods may be used and they may be made of any convenient material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
A toy puzzle consisting of a number of rods flexibly connected together at their
ends substantially as and for the purpose escribed.
Dated this 5th day of July 1894.
THOMAS ALEXANDER GARRETT.
WILLIAM LUCAS.