A Novel Puzzle, and Improvements in the Construction of Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Novel Puzzle, and Improvements in the Construction of Apparatus
therefor.
We, GEORGE MITCHELL, of 33, Weltje Road, Ravenscourt Park, London, W.
Advertising Expert, and GEORGE SPRINGFIELD of 1 and 2 Bouverie Street
Fleet Street London E.C. Journalist 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 :-
Our invention has reference to a novel puzzle and to an improved construction
of apparatus therefor. The object of the puzzle is to combine an advertising
medium with an instructive and amusing toy, and the object of the improved
construction of apparatus is to enable the movable dice, cubes or blocks to be easily
turned over with the finger and to cause them to keep in their places until purposely
moved.
According to our invention a number of cubes or blocks are arranged in single,
double or multiple file within a box or tray which is made just large enough to hold
two blocks more than the number used, the vacant space thus left being utilized
during the solving of the puzzle to store certain blocks in while others are being
moved. Each of the sides or faces of the cubes or blocks has some figure,
character, word or device or other distinguishing sign or marking thereon and the
puzzle or problem consists in producing a certain predetermined combination of the
said figures, characters, etc. in a given number of moves, such moves to be effected
only by turning the cubes or blocks over so as to present a fresh side or face
uppermost..
In order that our invention may be clearly defined and understood I will
now proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which
Fig. 1 is a general view of the usual form of our puzzle complete ;
Fig. 2 is a section on the line X-X of Figure 1;
Fig. 3 shews a single cube or block; and
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are diagrams shewing modifications in the arrangement and
number of the blocks that I may employ without departing from the principle of
my invention.
a is the box or tray; b are the blocks or cubes; care the concavities in the sides
or faces thereof; c¹ are the corresponding convex projections in the box a; d are
fixed stop-blocks and e is the vacant space used for storing certain blocks in to
permit of the movement of others.
The desired advertisement may be printed, impressed, branded or otherwise
marked upon either the blocks or box or both, or it may be placed loosely in the
box as for instance a printed slip or circular.
The following catalogue of moves shews the solution to the problem as arranged

page_text: in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It is required that the blocks shall be rearranged in
the order from G. E. M. S. to R. U. B. Y. in thirty-four moves :-
Our improved construction of the apparatus consists in forming the blocks with
hollow or concave sides or faces c and corresponding convex projections c' in the
box or tray or vice-versa, the object being, as herein before explained, to enable a
block to be easily turned over with the finger and to cause it to keep in its place
until purposely moved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A toy puzzle and apparatus therefor constructed and operated substantially
as herein described and set forth.
2. Constructing the cubes or blocks of a toy puzzle with concave sides or faces
and the board, box or container with corresponding convex projections or vice-versâ
in the manner and for the purposes herein described and set forth.
Dated the 16th day of March 1897.
D. McNAE,
56, Gowan Avenue, Fulham, London, S. W.,
Agent for the Applicants.