CA1086344A

CA1086344A - Square puzzle

Info

Publication number: CA1086344A
Application number: CA301,162A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Klaus W. Spiecker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-04-14
Filing date: 1978-04-14
Publication date: 1980-09-23

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A square puzzle consisting of twelve polygons.
The shapes and sizes of these polygons are based on the division of a square into thirty-six right isosceles triangles.
The length of the hypotenuse of those triangles is one third of the length of a side of the square. Two of the 12 pieces are such right isosceles triangles. The ten other pieces represent all the configurations which can be formed in the above mentioned division of the square by the joining of two, three or four such right isosceles triangles. The puzzle can be assembled into the square in many different ways and this exhibits long-lasting attraction to users.

Description

lOB6344 This invention relates to a puzzle, and more particularly it relates to a square puzzle in which twelve pieces of puzzle pieces can closely be fitted into a square shape. The puzzle pieces are shaped in such a manner that they can be closely juxtaposed to each other into the square shape in many different ways~
There have been known and used a number of various , puzzles. For example, Canadian Patent 216,154 issued February 28, 1922 to Richard Fryer discloses a puzzle which comprises a ;
plurality of sets of three elements. The elements of the respective sets vary in shape and size and they are adapted to r collectively define a particular design. Canadian Patent ! 264,897 issued October 12, 1926 to Frances John Findley shows a puzzle which comprises units in the form of squares and -, fractional units in the form of plain closed figures having two ; sides at right --angles to each other. Any of the units is permanently grouped together so as to form given figures, which '~
figures are movable and adapted to be matched.
Canadian Patent 358,463 issued June 9, 1936 to ` 20 Irene Isobel Leslie discloses improved educational and enter-taining device. The device is generally made of a rectangular board with a recess with flat bottom having divisions marked thereon each bearing indicia. The device further includes loose flat sections to fill the recess and each of the sections corresponds to one of said divisions and bears indicia equivalent to that marked on the one of said divisions.
Canadian Patent 492,168 issued April 21, 1953 to Jean Frechtmann discloses in Fig. 3 thereof a puzzle comprising a plurality of square pieces. Most of the pieces bear a portion of a figure so that when those pieces are juxtaposed into a rectangular shape we can see that figure.

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Canadian Patent 653,359 issued January 30, 1962 to Johann F. Hassenbach discloses a jig saw puzzle comprising a rectangular group of interfitting pieces. Each : piece has a rectangular peripheral configuration and bears alignable fragmentary surface indicia to form a complete representation when interfi~ted. The pieces have at least one cut-out portion formed in the contours thereof and/or at least one projection which extend outwardly from the contours thereof and which is adapted to fit the cut-out portion of its respective ;~
lG piece.
Conventional puzzles consisting of a plurality of pieces, which bear a portion of a figure so as to complete that i~ figure when the pieces are juxtaposed correctly, can be fitted side by side together only in one way. Therefore, these puzzles are rather easier to correctly juxtapose as the portions of such a figure facilitate a good g~idance for completion. ``
The inventor of the present invention has found a puzzle in which a plurality of pieces can be juxtaposed "
into a square shape in many different ways. Such a puzzle is more interesting to play with than the conventional puzzles and exhibits long-lasting attraction to users.
In one aspect of this invention there is provided a : .
square puzzle comprising twelve polygons (or polyaboloes) adapted ~`
to be juxtaposed into a square in different ways, the shapes and sizes of the polygons being based on the division of the square into thirty-six right isosceles triangles, the length of the hypotenuse of each of the thirty-six right isosceles triangles being one third the length of a side of the square, two of the twelve pieces being such right isosceles triangles, the other ten pieces representing all the configurations which can be formed in the above mentioned division of the square ~(~86344 by the joining of two, three or four such right isosceles tri-angles.
The puzzle preferably further comprises a square tray within which the pieces are fit together when correctly assembled.
The obj~ects, aspects and advantages of this invention will further be appreciated by reading the following description ~ ;
which refers to accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1: The rightisosceles triangle A of which there are two pieces in the puzzle.
Fig. 2: The right isoscelestriangle B which is double the size of the triangle A. -~
Fig. 3: The square C which is double the size of the triangle A with the hypotenuse of the triangles A forming the diagonal of the square.
Fig. 4: The polygon D is a five sided polygon, -with the surface area of three triangles A. It is formed - by joining three such triangles A at their sides and at their right angles.
Fig. 5: The polygon E is a four sided polygon three times the size of triangle A.
Fig. 6: The square F with the surface area four times the size of triangle A.
Fig. 7: The parallelogram G with the surface four times the size of triangle A with one altitude equal to the hypotenuse and the other altitude equal to a side of triangle A.
Fig. 8: The right isoscelestriangle H with the surface equivalent to four triangles A and the altitude equal to the hypotenuse of t~riangle A.
Fig. 9: The rectangle I with the surface equal to four triangles A formed by placing two squares "C" side by side.

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Fig. 10: The polygon J with the surface equal to four triangles A formed by placing the square "C" at one half of the hypotenuse of the triangle "B".
Fig. 11: The polygon K is four times the surface of triangle A and is formed by removing one triangle of the four triangles in the square "F" and adding this triangle with its -~
hypotenuse to the opposite side from which it was removed to ;~
the square "F". r Figs. 12 to 23: Various solutions of the puzzle of fitting the twelve pieces into a square.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 12, the puzzle consists of twelve polygons. The shapes and sizes of these polygons are based on the division of a square into thirty-six right isosceles triangles. The length of the hypotenuse of those triangles is one third the length of a side of the square. Two ;~
of the 12 pieces are such right isoscelestriangles. The remaining ten pieces represent all the configurations which can .::
be formed in the above mentioned division of the square by the jdining of two, three or rour such right isosceles triangles.
In Figs. 12 and 23, there are shown possibly twelve ;;
different solutions of the puzzle of fitting the twelve pieces into a square. -~
These pieces may preferably be made of a cardboard -or plastic board of a suitable thickness. The pieces may be colored in two or more different colors. The puzzle may further consist of a shallow square tray within which the twelve pieces are closely fit when correctly assembled. The ~
puzzle may also consist of such twelve pieces, such as a tray and `
a cover for the tray. Such a tray and cover are preferably made ~ -of plastics.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A square puzzle comprising twelve polygons adapted to be juxtaposed into a square in different ways, the shapes and sizes of the polygons being based on the division of the square into thirty-six right isosceles triangles, the length of the hypotenuse of each of the thirty-six right isosceles triangles being one third the length of a side of the square, two of the twelve pieces being such right isosceles triangles, the other ten pieces representing all the configurations which can be formed in the above mentioned division of the square by the joining of two, three or four such right isosceles triangles.

2. The square puzzle according to Claim 1 wherein said pieces are colored in different ways.

3. The square puzzle according to Claim 1 wherein said pieces are made of plastic boards.

4. The square puzzle according to Claim 1, further comprising a tray within which the twelve pieces are fit when the pieces are juxtaposed correctly.

5. The square puzzle according to Claim 4 further comprising a matching cover for the tray.

6. The square puzzle according to Claim 1, 2 or 4 wherein the twelve polygons consist of two first right isosceles triangles, a second right isosceles triangle which is double the size of the first right isosceles triangle, a first square which is double the size of the first right isosceles triangle with the hypotenuse of the first right isosceles triangle forming the diagonal of the first square, a first polygon which is a five sided polygon, with the surface area of three first right isosceles triangles and which is formed by joining three first right isosceles triangles at their sides and at their right angles, a second polygon which is a four sided polygon three times the size of the first right isosceles triangle; a second square with the surface area four times the size of the first right isosceles triangle, a parallelogram with the surface four times the size of the first right isosceles triangle with one altitude equal to the hypotenuse and the other altitude equal to a side of the first right isosceles triangle, a third right isosceles triangle with the surface equivalent to four first right isosceles triangles and the altitude equal to the hypotenuse of the first right isosceles triangle, a rectangle with the surface equal to four first right isosceles triangles formed by placing two first squares side by side; a third polygon with the surface equal to four first right isosceles triangles formed by placing the first square at one half of the hypotenuse of the second right isosceles triangle; and a fourth polygon which is four times the surface of the first right isosceles triangle and which is formed by removing one triangle of the four first right isosceles triangles in the second square and adding this first right isosceles triangle with its hypotenuse to the opposite side from which it was removed to the second square.