AU2015100329A4 - A Puzzle - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract (Figure 1) A puzzle (1) including puzzle pieces (2) and a plurality of movement means (2) for each moving a subset (6) of puzzle pieces (2) relative to the other puzzle pieces (2). Each movement means (6) being configured to translate and rotate the subset (6). Fg 1 Figure 2

Description

1 A PUZZLE TECHNICAL FIELD 5 The present invention concerns a puzzle. BACKGROUND The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an [0 acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. Puzzles are a form of entertainment. A puzzle can be among other things a game, toy or problem that tests the ingenuity or knowledge of the solver. Mechanical puzzles are [5 a type of puzzle involving mechanically interlinked puzzle pieces. Solving mechanical puzzles typically involves repeated manipulation of the puzzle pieces in order to come up with the desired solution. The solutions to some mechanical puzzles may require recognizing patterns and creating a particular order. Well known examples of mechanical puzzles are the 'Rubik's Cube' and the 'Tower of Hanoi'. 0 US Patent No. 4,483,535 discloses a puzzle formed from triangular puzzle pieces arranged side-by-side to form three hexagonal subsets of puzzle pieces. Each subset shares two puzzle pieces with its adjacent subset. Each subset of puzzle pieces is rotatable around its own axis thereby allowing the puzzle pieces of the subset to be re 25 arranged relative to the other puzzle pieces. However, rotation of each subset of the puzzle pieces of US Patent No. 4,483,535 can be difficult involving using one hand to rotate one subset of puzzle pieces while using the other hand to prevent rotation of the other subsets. Furthermore, the subsets of 30 puzzle pieces are located in the same plane and rotation of a subset of puzzle pieces requires sliding these puzzle pieces past the stationary subsets, which can require considerable manual exertion.

2 Embodiments of the present invention provide a puzzle in which a subset of puzzle pieces can be moved relative to other puzzle pieces using less exertion. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 5 According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a puzzle including: puzzle pieces; and a plurality of movement means for each moving a subset of puzzle pieces relative to the other puzzle pieces, each movement means being configured to [0 translate and rotate the subset. In an embodiment of the present invention, each movement means can be used to move a subset of puzzle pieces relative to the other puzzle pieces using less exertion by simply translating and then rotating the movement means. [5 The puzzle may be of any suitable size, shape and construction and formed of any suitable material or materials. The puzzle may contain any number of puzzle pieces and movement means. The puzzle pieces may be arranged into any number of smaller subsets of puzzle pieces. Each subset may be arranged around a movement 2O means. The puzzle may have a regular polygonal shape. Preferably, the shape is hexagonal. Preferably, the puzzle includes at least 24 puzzle pieces and at least seven movement means arranged into at least seven smaller subsets of puzzle pieces. Each smaller 25 subset of puzzle pieces may be comprised of at least six puzzle pieces arranged around a movement means to form a hexagon. Preferably, the at least seven subsets are arranged relative to one another such that each subset shares two or more puzzle pieces with each adjacent subset. 30 Typically, the puzzle including the puzzle pieces and movement means may be made of plastic materials and may, preferably, be injection moulded. The puzzle pieces may be arranged in any suitable planar arrangement to form an image. Preferably, the puzzle pieces are arranged to form a tessellation, the 3 tessellation forming an image. Each puzzle piece may have a marking, a pattern, a colour or any combination thereof on at least the face of the puzzle piece forming the image. 5 Where the puzzle pieces have a marking, the marking is preferably an indicator located at a respective edge of each puzzle piece. The indicators may be used to orientate each puzzle piece relative to the other puzzle pieces when a subset of the puzzle pieces is moved relative to the other puzzle pieces. Typically, the indicator at an edge of a puzzle piece may be used to align the puzzle piece with an indicator on [0 an adjacent puzzle piece. The image formed by the tessellation of puzzle pieces may be only formed when the puzzle pieces are all arranged in a particular arrangement. Preferably, when the image is formed by the tessellation of puzzle pieces arranged in a particular [5 arrangement the puzzle is solved. The image may be a picture, a pattern or a written message. Alternatively, each puzzle piece may be consecutively numbered or lettered with the image being formed when the puzzle pieces are arranged in a particular order. The image formed by the tessellation of puzzle pieces may be re-arranged by 2O translation and rotation of one or more of the movement means, which in turn translates and rotates one or more subsets of puzzle pieces relative to the other puzzle pieces. The rotation axis for each movement means is typically perpendicular to the tessellation. 25 Each movement means may be translated and rotated to thereby move a subset of the puzzle pieces. The translation and rotation movements may at least partially overlap, that is, a subset of puzzle pieces may be moved relative to the other puzzle pieces by translating and 30 rotating at the same time in a spiral movement. Typically, each movement means may be translated and then rotated to thereby move a subset of the puzzle pieces clear of the other puzzle pieces prior to rotation.

4 The puzzle pieces may of any suitable size, shape and construction and may be formed from any suitable material or materials. Preferably, the puzzle pieces have the profile shape of an equilateral triangle. It is envisaged, however, that the puzzle pieces may have any suitable profile shape that facilitates the formation of a tessellation such 5 as, for instance, a square or a hexagon. As previously indicated, the plurality of movement means may typically comprise at least seven movement means. Each movement means may be of any suitable size, shape and construction and may be formed of any suitable material or materials. [0 Each movement means may move a subset of puzzle pieces comprising six puzzle pieces. It is envisaged, however, depending on the size and shape of the puzzle and the shape of each puzzle piece, that each movement means may be able to support any suitable number of puzzle pieces. [5 Each movement means may comprise a support for supporting and moving a subset of puzzle pieces when translating and rotating, and a handle extending from the support for translation and rotation of the movement means. The support may of any suitable size, shape and construction. Preferably, the support is circular extending around the 2O axis of rotation and adapted to support a subset of six puzzle pieces. The support and the puzzle pieces may additionally comprise a complementary mating arrangement comprising retaining pin on the support adapted to engage with a corresponding notch or groove on a corresponding face of the puzzle piece being 25 supported, or visa versa. In addition to the complementary mating arrangement, each movement means may also include at least six delineating edges radially extending out to the perimeter of the support to clearly guide and align the corresponding face of each puzzle piece being 30 supported by the movement means to engage with the retaining pin or notch or groove. The puzzle may further comprise a container and lid. The container and lid may be of any suitable size, shape and construction and formed from any suitable material or 5 materials. Preferably, the container and lid are formed from plastic materials and are injection moulded. The container and lid, preferably, are adapted to contain the puzzle pieces and the plurality of movement means together such that the plurality of movement means are disposed in the container between a base of the container and 5 the puzzle pieces. The container and the lid may be spaced apart any set distance in order to retain the puzzle pieces and the movement means. Preferably, the container and the lid are spaced apart to retain the puzzle pieces on the movement means during rotation. [0 Preferably, the lid is transparent allowing visualisation of the puzzle pieces. The handles extending from the support of each movement means may extend from the support through the lid. The handles may extend through corresponding holes in the lid. [5 The container may, as with the puzzle, have a regular polygonal profile. Typically, the container may have the profile shape of a hexagon. The base of the container may include a plurality of projections which each correspond and engage with a movement means and define the rotational axis of that movement means. The projections may 2O be of any suitable size, shape and construction. Typically, the projections may be integrally formed with the base and extend from the base having a cross-sectional profile that comprises a hexagonal part and a circular part with, preferably, the hexagonal part being located adjacent the base. 25 The plurality of movement means may engage with the projections extending from the base of the container with each movement means receiving at least part of a projection in a hollow cavity defined at the adjacent face of the movement means. Preferably, the hollow cavity is co-axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the movement means and has an innermost part adapted to receive the circular part of the projection and an 30 outermost part adapted to receive the hexagonal part of the projection. Each movement means may have a rest position in which the movement means is irrotational and a rotational position in which the movement means is rotatable. Each movement means may be moved between the rest position and the rotational position 6 by translation of the movement means. The rest position and the rotational position may be defined by the hexagonal part and the circular part of the projections with the transition of the movement means between the rest and rotational positions being achieved by the translation of each movement means along the projection such that in 5 the rest position the hexagonal part of the projection is at least partially received in the outermost part of the hollow cavity thereby preventing rotation of the movement means, and in the rotational position, the movement means is translated along the projection such that the hexagonal part of the projection is no longer received within the hollow cavity thereby allowing rotation of the movement means. [0 The rest and rotational positions may, alternatively or in combination with the projections extending from the base, also be defined by the puzzle pieces, where, in the rest position, the movement means is prevented from rotation due to steric clashes between the subset of puzzle pieces being moved and associated with the movement [5 means and the other stationary puzzle pieces, and where, in the rotational position, the subset of puzzle pieces is translated out of the tessellation or planar arrangement of puzzle pieces thereby removing any steric clashes and allowing rotation of the movement means. 20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be 25 regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary Of The Invention in an way. The detailed description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: Figure 1 is a top view of a puzzle in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 30 Figure 2 is a detailed side view of the puzzle of figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of the puzzle of figure 1 with puzzle pieces removed revealing seven movement means; 7 Figure 4 is a top view of the puzzle of figure 3 with movement means for moving the puzzle pieces removed; 5 Figure 5 is a top view of a subset of puzzle pieces supported by one of the movement means of the puzzle of figure 3; Figure 6 is a side perspective view of a movement means of the puzzle of figure 3; [0 Figure 7 is a top view of a puzzle piece of the puzzle of figure 1; Figure 8 is a bottom view of the puzzle piece of the puzzle of figure 7; Figure 9 is a top view of a puzzle in accordance with a second embodiment of the [5 present invention with the puzzle pieces arranged to form a first image; Figure 10 is a top view of the puzzle of figure 9 with the puzzle pieces re-arranged to form a second image; 20 Figure 11 is a top view of the puzzle of figure 9 with the puzzle pieces re-arranged to form a third image; and Figure 12 is a top view of the puzzle of figure 9 with the puzzle pieces re-arranged to form a fourth image. 25 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a puzzle 1 as shown in figure 1. The puzzle 1 includes puzzle pieces 2. Carriages (i.e. 30 movement means) 4 are provided for moving a hexagonal subset 6 of six puzzle pieces 2 (see figure 5) relative to the other puzzle pieces 2. Each carriage 4 is able to translate and rotate the hexagonal subset 6. Each carriage 4 can be used to move a subset 6 of puzzle pieces 2 relative to the other puzzle pieces 2 using little exertion by simply translating and then rotating the carriage 4.

8 As shown in figure 1, the puzzle 1 has a hexagonal profile shape. The puzzle 1 includes 24 puzzle pieces 2 arranged side-by-side to form a tessellation. The puzzle pieces 2 when arranged in the tessellation form an image 10. The puzzle pieces 2 are 5 additionally arranged into seven smaller hexagonal subsets 6 of puzzle pieces 2. Each hexagonal subset 6 is arranged around a respective (i.e. not the same) carriage 4. Each hexagonal subset 6 shares two puzzle pieces 2 with each adjacent hexagonal subset 6. [0 In the embodiment of the invention shown in figure 1, each puzzle piece has the profile shape of an equilateral triangle (best shown in figure 7). Furthermore, each puzzle piece 2 has an arrow marking 12 located at a respective edge of the triangular puzzle piece 2. Each marking 12 can be aligned with a marking 12 on an adjacent puzzle piece 2 to solve the puzzle 1 as shown in figure 1. [5 Referring to figures 1 to 4, the puzzle also includes a container 24 and lid 23 (see figure 2). The container 24 and lid 23 retain the puzzle pieces 2 and the carriages 4 together and prevent them from being separated when moved. The carriages 4 are located in the container 24 between a base 25 of the container 24 and the puzzle 2O pieces 2. As best seen in figure 2, handles 16 of the carriages 4 extend through holes 21 in the lid 23. The handles 16 are handled to translate and rotate the carriages 4 within the container 24. 25 The container 24, like the puzzle 1, has the overall shape of a hexagon (best shown in figures 3 and 4). As can be seen in figure 4, the container 24 includes pins 26 extending from the base 25 of the container 24. Each pin 26, as can be seen in figure 3, corresponds and engages with a hole defined in the underside each carriage 4. The 30 pins 26 are integrally formed with the container 24. Each pin 26 has a hexagonal part 27 adjacent the base and a circular part 28 above the hexagonal part 27. The hexagonal part 27 of the pin 26 inhibits rotation of a lowered carriage 4 by engaging in a hexagonal recess in the base of the carriage 4.

9 Referring to figure 5, each hexagonal subset 6 of puzzle pieces 2 includes six puzzle pieces 2 arranged around a carriage 4. Referring to figure 6, each carriage 2 includes a circular support 14 for supporting and 5 moving a hexagonal subset 6 of puzzle pieces 2. A handle 16 is provided for translating and rotating the carriage 4. Each carriage 4 includes six retaining pins 18. Each retaining pin 18 is adapted to engage with a corresponding groove 20 on the underside of a puzzle piece 2 being supported (see figure 8). [0 Each carriage also includes six delineating edges 22. The edges 22 extend radially out to the perimeter of the circular support 14. The edges 22 are adapted to guide and align each puzzle piece 2 being supported by a carriage 4 such that each puzzle piece 2 engages with a retaining pin 18. [5 A second embodiment of the invention shown in figures 9 to 12 has the same mechanical construction as the first embodiment, although each puzzle piece 2 has either a white face 3 or a patterned/shaded face 5. The puzzle pieces 2 with the white faces 3 and the patterned/shaded faces 5 can be re-arranged to form various images 10 or patterns to solve the puzzle 1. Figure 9 shows an alternating pattern. Figure 10 10 shows a star image 10. Figure 11 shows a central triangle with smaller triangles extending from the central triangle. Figure 12 shows a sun image 10. In use, the puzzles 1 of the first embodiment shown in figure 1 and the second embodiment shown in figures 9 to 12 are solved by moving one or more hexagonal 25 subsets 6 of puzzle pieces 2 relative to the other puzzle pieces 2 until the desired solution is obtained. A method for operating the puzzle 1 is now briefly described. Each hexagonal subset 6 of puzzle pieces 2 is moved by first lifting the handle 16 of a carriage 4. Lifting the 30 handle 16 of the carriage 4 disengages the carriage 4 from the hexagonal part 27 of the corresponding pin 26 extending from the base 25 of the container 24. Once disengaged, the carriage 4 and the hexagonal subset 6 of puzzle pieces 2 being supported by the carriage 4 can then be rotated by rotating the handle 16. The 10 carriage 4 and the hexagonal subset 6 of puzzle pieces 2 are readily rotated relative to the other stationary puzzle pieces 2 without significant exertion to a desired orientation. The rotation axis for each carriage 4 is perpendicular to the to the plane in which the puzzle pieces 2 lie. The lid 23 is spaced apart from the base 25 of the container 24 5 such that the puzzle pieces 2 cannot fall off the carriage 4 whilst being lifted or rotated. Once the desired carriage 4 orientation is achieved, the carriage 4 is lowered by the handle 16, which in turn lowers the hexagonal subset 6 of puzzle pieces 2. By lowering the carriage 4, the carriage 4 once more engages with the hexagonal part 27 [0 of the corresponding pin 26 and is prevented from further rotation. The lowered hexagonal subset 6 of puzzle pieces 2 is once more arranged side-by-side with the other puzzle pieces 2 in a tessellation forming another image 10. The above process is repeated as many time as is necessary until the desired solution [5 to the puzzle 2 is achieved. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. 20 In another embodiment of the present invention, the markings 12 of the embodiment shown in figure 1 and the alternately patterned/coloured puzzle pieces 3, 5 may be combined to provide a more challenging puzzle 1. The puzzle pieces with white faces 3 and patterned/shaded faces 5 may be re-arranged to form various images 10. However, in order to solve the puzzle 1, the puzzle pieces 2 may additionally need to 25 be aligned by their markings 12 with the markings 12 on adjacent puzzle pieces 2. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the lid 23 of the puzzle 1 may have the outline of an image printed on it and the puzzle pieces 2 may be coloured various colours. Solving the puzzle 1 may require re-arranging the coloured puzzle 30 pieces 2 to correspond to or be superimposed with the image printed on the lid 23. In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural of methodical features. It is to be understood that the 11 invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

Claims (5)

1. A puzzle including: puzzle pieces, a plurality of movement means for each moving a subset of the puzzle 5 pieces relative to the other puzzle pieces, each movement means being configured to translate and rotate the subset.

2. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein the puzzle pieces are arranged to form a tessellation, the tessellation forming an image.

3. The puzzle of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, in use, each movement 10 means is translated moving a subset of puzzle pieces clear of the other puzzle pieces and then rotated.

4. The puzzle of any one of the preceding claims further comprising a container and a lid adapted to contain the plurality of movement means and the puzzle pieces together. 15

5. The puzzle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each movement means can be moved between a rest position and a rotational position by translation. Date: 16 March 2015