An Improved Puzzle or Game.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1889
CUBIT DIE SITUATION.
An Improved Puzzle or Game.
FREDERICK WILLIAM FORBES of 37 Ancram Street, Spital Tongues, Newcastle, in
the County of Northumberland, Gilder 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved Puzzle or Game, and has for its object a means
of recreation and amusement, consequent upon the necessary thought and ingenuity
required to obtain the solution of the puzzle.
In order that my invention and the manner of operating the said puzzle may be
fully understood I have furnished the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Referring to the drawings, I provide according to my invention a shallow box, or
tray A, divided into three compartments, B, C, D, by partitions a, b. An opening is
made at c in the partition a beyond the centre thereof as shewn, and eight blocks, or
counters, marked 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8 in the drawing are placed in order in compart-
ment B as shewn by Figure 1. The solution of the puzzle, or process of the game
consists in passing the blocks or counters, one at a time from the compartment B,
through the opening c into the compartment C, so that the arrangement thereof is in
exactly the same order as previously placed in the compartment B, and shewn in the
solved or completed order by Figure 2. The blocks, or counters must not be lifted,
but simply pushed in performing the movements, and when once any block, or counter
is moved into either compartment, it must not be moved back again until all the
blocks, or counters are so moved. It is admissible to move the whole series in this
manner from one compartment to the other, varying the order theroof from time to
time until the final arrangement shown by Figure 2 is attained, and the puzzle is
solved. The compartment D is for the purpose of holding a card of directions
only.
I may employ letters in lieu of the figures shewn, so that the arrangement forms a
word, or words, such for instance as the words H OM ERU LE, and in this
case compartment B may be marked, or pictorially represented as the British House of
Commons, and compartment C may similarly represent the House of Lords, and the
definition of the puzzle, or game may be made to refer to the passing of the Home Rule
Bill into the House of Lords.
I do not confine myself to the employment of a box, or tray in carrying out my
invention, but may mark, or set out, a flat surface without raised partitions, in the
manner shewn by the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
In a game, or puzzle the employment of a tray or flat surface A, with divided or
marked compartiments B, C, D, and eight blocks, or counters marked or numbored in
a given order, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.