Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1894
Puzzle.
I. CHARLES BOROMEO MACNEAL, No. 1102 Walnut Street in the City of
Philadelphia State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Merchant Tailor,
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 a puzzle which may be constructed of wood, card-board
or other suitable material providing a flat face or upper surface upon which is
printed, stamped, branded, painted or otherwise mounted, marked or placed a series
of intersecting curvilinear lines forming a series of oval configurations presenting
five outer points or ends each one of which is provided with a hole, recess or mark,
and about midway the extent of the lines of the oval configurations at intervals
between the intersecting lines of the figure are also provided similar holes, recesses
or marks.
My invention further consists in the use of a series of discs, pins or other
suitably shaped movable pieces or objects, designed and adapted to be used with
the form or character of the holes, recesses or marks employed and are nine in
number, while in the puzzle as shown in the drawing and herein described are a
series of ten holes, recesses or marks. The object of the puzzle is to place all nine
of the movable objects in or on a similar number of the holes, recesses or marks
referred to, one hole, recess or mark being first marked or designated "0" to be
left vacant at all times and serve as a starting point for the first movable object
which must follow a line leading therefrom and be deposited on or in the first
encountered hole, recess or mark. After the first move each movable object may
in turn be started from any existing vacant hole, recess or mark and a line leading
therefrom followed until a vacant hole, recess or mark is found and the object
placed without encountering a hole, recess or mark previously filled or occupied,
until all the movable objects are properly placed.
"
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this
Specification in which the several parts are indicated by numerals, similar numerals
denoting like parts wherever found. "1 represents a square of wood, but may be
card-board or other suitable material of a desired shape and size provided with 'a
smooth upper surface on which is mounted, printed, stamped, branded or otherwise
placed the diagram of the puzzle.
The puzzle consists of a series of intersecting curvilinear lines "2" forming a
series of oval configurations "3," the outer point or end of each oval configuration
terminating in a hole, recess or mark "4" and about midway the extent of the lines
of the oval configurations at intervals between the intersecting lines of the diagram
are similar holes, recesses or marks "4*." "5" are movable objects of which there
are a series adapted to occupy the holes, recesses or marks "4, 4*,”
one of the
designated parts "4" being constituted and marked as a station "0" to at all
times remain vacant and be a starting point for the first movable object "5."
The conditions are such that the first movable object "5" is started from the
vacant station "O "caused to follow one of the lines "2" at will leading therefrom
and be deposited on or in the first encountered vacant hole, recess or mark "4*”
and each subsequent used movable object may be started from any existing vacant
hole, recess or mark caused to follow a line "2" leading therefrom at will and be
deposited on or in the first encountered vacant hole, recess or mark without
encountering any hole, recess or mark previously filled or occupied and so continue
until all of the movable objects are properly placed.

page_text: I do not desire to restrict my invention to the exact construction of parts shown
and described but may vary the same in any manner the better to carry out the
spirit of my invention without departing from the true scope thereof.
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:
1. A puzzle as herein described consisting of a square or other form of wood,
card-board or other suitable material having a flat surface provided with a series
of intersecting or crossing curvilinear lines forming a series of oval or like shapes
said lines provided at predetermined points with holes, recesses or marks, as and for
the purpose set forth.
2. A puzzle as herein described consisting of a square or other form of wood,
card-board or other suitable material having a flat surface provided with a series
of intersecting or crossing curvilinear lines forming a series of oval or like shapes,
said lines provided at predetermined points with holes, recesses or marks and a
series of movable objects adapted to be received on or into said holes, recesses or
marks, as and for a purpose set forth.
Dated this 19th day of January 1894.
CHARLES BOROMEO MACNEAL.