GB2211099A

GB2211099A - Variable maze game

Info

Publication number: GB2211099A
Application number: GB8724271A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen John Few
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-10-16
Filing date: 1987-10-16
Publication date: 1989-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2007-10-16
Also published as: GB8724271D0; GB2211099B

Abstract

The game has a number of stacked circular plates 1-7 with holes, mounted on a centre spindle 8, with a catchment tray 9 below balls progress through the stack by turning appropriate rotatable plates - plates 1, 3, 5, 7 are fixed in relation to the centre spindle 8 and plates 2, 4, 6 are able to rotate about it. The holes which are of equal diameter are situated on a constant radius from spindle 8. Each plate's thickness is integer multiple of ball diameter. Rotatable plates have mechanism whereby either they can only only assume certain angular positions or they have mechanical detents such that rest positions are readily identifiable. <IMAGE>

Description

GAME: VARIABLE MAZE.

This invention relates to a game playable by two or more players.

The game consists of a number of stacked circular plates mounted on a centre spindle. Some of the plates are fixed in relation to the spindle, the remainder are able to rotate and have a number of discrete angular rest positions.

Each plate (whether fixed or able to rotate) has a number of holes which will allow small balls to pass through into the plate below. A ball will only pass through a plate if there is a hole in a corresponding position in the plate below to accept it.

The object of the game is to get balls through the stack of plates by turning the rotatable plates allowing the ball to drop into holes in the plate below. By turning the various rotatable plates it is possible for the ball to follow a route down the stack and finally drop through one of the holes in the lowest plate and be released.

Each plate (whether fixed or able to rotate) has a number of holes through it. These holes are of equal diameter, larger than the diameter of the balls and are situated on a constant radius from the centre spindle.

There are angular positions around the each plate where holes, whether present or absent, are permissible. The number of angular positions is equal to the number of rest positions of the rotatable plates.

The number of holes in any given plate determines the probability of balls passing through that plate.

The permissible positions for holes in any plate must line up, in a vertical plane, with the permissible positions for holes in the plates above and below, with rotatable plates in their rest positions.

Each plate's thickness must be an integer multiple of the ball diameter.

The rotatable plates have some mechanism whereby either they can only assume certain angular positions or they have mechanical detents such that rest positions are readily identifiable.

The relative positions of the rotatable plates must not be identifiable when the stack is assembled.

A specific embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a complete game indicating fixed and rotatable plates, also a catchment tray to collect balls released from the stack.

Figure 2 shows the hole layout for plate 6 in plan view (stack disassembled) Figure 3 shows the hole layout for plate 7 in plan view (stack disassembled) Figure 4 A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H shows the open routes through plates 6 and 7 when these are assembled and plate 6 is in each of it's rest positions.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1, shows a complete game comprising a catchment tray 9 fixed to centre spindle 8, three rotatable plates 2,4,6 and four fixed plates 1,3,5,7.

The only items not illustrated are the balls which are to be progressed through the stack.

The rotatable plates 2,4,6 can rotate about the spindle in either direction. Each plate has eight rest positions such that the plate will only stop in one of these positions if released. Each plate has indents on the outer circumference to enable easier finger grip of the plate for turning.

Plates 1,3,5,7 are fixed in relation to the spindle and hence relative to the catchment tray 8. The uppermost plate 1 has all eight permissible hole positions open so that balls may easily be entered into the stack. This plate has a circular recess on the top face, this is on the same radius as the holes. By this means balls that do not immediatly enter the stack due to holes being full , may do so as soon as space is available.

The hole layouts for plate 6 and plate 7 shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 respectivly show the arrangement and numbers of holes for these plates only. Plates 2,3,4 and 5 will have similar numbers of holes in differing arrangements.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the hole pattern created when plate 6 is superimposed onto plate 7. Figure 4A shows both plates in the same orintation as in Figures 2 & 3.

Shaded circles represent holes only one plate deep, balls in these holes will be resting on the surface of plate 7.

Unshaded circles represent holes lining up in both plates, balls will fall through these holes into the catchment tray 8.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A Variable Maze comprising a number of fixed and rotatable plates with holes, mounted on a centre spindle with a catchment tray below to collect the balls released from the stack.

2. A Variable Maze as claimed in Claim 1 where the fixed and rotatable plates have holes at certain angular positions on a constant radius from the spindle to allow passage of the balls through the plate.

3. A Variable Maze as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 wherein the rotatable plates are provided with a mechanism such that they have a number of angular rest positions where holes will line up with potential hole positions in adjacent plates.

4. A Variable Maze as claimed in Claim 3 where any rotatable plate has no visible features that will identify its position relative to any other plate when the maze is fully assembled.

5. A Variable Maze as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 where the thickness of any plate is an integer multiple of the diameter of a ball used to follow the maze.