CA1188342A

CA1188342A - Puzzle for persons with impaired vision

Info

Publication number: CA1188342A
Application number: CA000397963A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Karen Schofield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-09
Filing date: 1982-03-09
Publication date: 1985-06-04

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention provides a three-dimensional puzzle having a plurality of puzzle pieces moveable relative to one another and being distinguishable by touch for determining when the pieces are in the puzzle solving position.

Description

FIELD OF T~IE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional hand manipulated puzzle suitable for use by blind persons.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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Recently there has been a keen interest in hand manipula-ted puzzles. The most common of these puzzles is the RUBIK's* Cube which is made up of different coloured pieces moveable relative to one another and secured by a common core. The objec-t of the RUBIK's* Cube is to move the pieces such -that the colours align with one another at the different faces of the cube.
Another hand manipulated puzzle is sold under the trade mark CRAZY ACES. In this particular puzzle four totally separate cubes are provided on their faces with the different suits ~ound in a deck of cards. The object of the game is to stack the cubes such that no one suit is repeated at any side of the stack.
The two puzzles described above as well as other similar puzzles have become extremely popular. In fact, there are now national RUBIK's* Cube contests to determine champions for solving the RUBIK's* Cube in the shortest period of time~
The one unfortunate aspect of puzzles such as the RUBIK's* Cube is that the only way to determine when the puzzle is solved is through visual inspection and therefore these puzzles cannot be played by persons with impaired vision who are unable to see when the pieces have been moved to the appropriate puzzle solving positions.
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______________________________ The present invention provide.s a three-dimensional hand manipulated puzzle suitable for use by persons with impaired vision. The puzzle of the present inventior.
comprises a plurality of puzzle pieces which are moveable relative to one another to at least one correct and numerous incorrect puzzle solving positions. Each of the puzzle pieces has a number of faces which are distinguishable by touch. A person playing with the puzzle can therefore determine by feel, when the puzzle has been solved.
One of the prime advantages of the puzzle of the present invention is that although it is directed to persons with impaired vision it may also be played by persons without impaired vision since the faces oE the pieces which are distinguishable by touch are also distinyuishable by sight.
BRIEF_DISCUSSION_OF_THE_DRAWINGS
l`he above as well as other advantages and features of the present invention will be described in greater detail according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention in which:
Figure 1 is a front perspective view looking down on a three-dimensional puzzle according to an aspect of the present invention:
Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view showing the rear of the puzzle of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a front perspective view looking down on a different puzzle according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention;

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1 Figure ~ is a bottom perspective view of the rear of the puzzle shown in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a front perspective view looking down on a plurality of puzzle pieces according to an alternate preferred form of the present invention; and Figure 6 is a rear perspective view looking up at the puzzle pieces shown in Figure 5.
DETAILED_DESCRIPTION ACCORDING TO T~lE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A puzzle generally indicated at 1 in Figures 1 and 2 is made up of a plurality of playing pieces marked in a brail-like manner with projections on the different faces of the playing pieces. These playing pieces are integrated by a common core and are all moveable at the core relative to one another as is well known in the art. The puzzle is solved as shown in the Figures 1 and

2 positions by aligning the pieces such that each piece presents the same num~er of projections on all faces of the puzzle, i.e. at face A, each piece presents a single projection; at face B each piece presents six projections; at face C each piece presents three projections, at face D each piece presents two projections; at face E each piece presents four projections and at face F each piece presents five projections. Since these projections are distinguishable by touch a person playing with the pu7zle can determine by simply feeling each of its faces when the puzzle has been solved. Similarly one can determine by touch when the puzzle has not been solved as would be the case if the puzzle pieces were moved such that the number of projections per piece were not consistent at all faces of z 1 the puzz~e.
Figures 3 and ~ show a puzzle 3 in which various sides of the puzzle pieces are again distinguishable by touch although in a somewhat different manner from puzzle 1 described above. Here it will be seen that when the puzzle is solved, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the puzzle pieces at faces Al, Cl and Dl of the puzzle have different patterns of recesses with each pattern being consistent at each face. At face Bl the puzzle pieces are all flattened and at faces El and Fl the puzzle pieces present distinct textured surfaces. However, consistent with puzzle 1, a person playing with puzzle 3 can determine by running his or her hands over each of the faces when the pieces are in or are out of the correct puzzle solviny position.
Figures 5 and 6 show a puzzle formed of pieces 5 ~hrough 3 oE modified structure from the puzzle described above but of similar principle of operation. According to this particular embodiment of the present invention the pieces are not joined together but rather are totally separable from one another. Each face of each piece bears an arrangement of bosses which are ~xaggerated to the extent that they are easily distinguishable by touch to determine when the puzzle is in an unsolved position as shown in Figures 5 and 6 and to determine when it is in a solved position as would be the case when no arrangement of bosses is repeated at any one side of the puzzle with the cubes stacked together.
As described above, one of the highly advantageous features of the present invention is that both persons 1 with and without impaired vision can play with any of the puzzles shown in Figures 1 through 6. This is a result of the fact that the various faces on the playing pieces are manually identifiable through their relief patterns and are also visually identifiable by these same patterns.
Although various preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein in detail it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A three-dimensional hand manipulated puzzle suitable for use by persons with impaired vision, said puzzle comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces moveable relative to one another to a least one correct and numerous incorrect puzzle solving positions, each puzzle piece having a plurality of faces of various different textures which are distinguishable by touch whereby the correct and the incorrect puzzle solving positions are detectable by feeling of the puzzle.

2. A puzzle as claimed in Claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said puzzle pieces are integrated by a common core and are moveable at said core relative to one another.

3. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said puzzle pieces are totally separable from one another.