Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
  • A63F9/06—Patience; Other games for self-amusement
  • A63F9/08—Puzzles provided with elements movable in relation, i.e. movably connected, to each other
  • A63F9/0826—Three-dimensional puzzles with slidable or rotatable elements or groups of elements, the main configuration remaining unchanged, e.g. Rubik's cube
  • A63F9/0873—Three-dimensional puzzles with slidable or rotatable elements or groups of elements, the main configuration remaining unchanged, e.g. Rubik's cube a sphere rotatable with respect to an inner sphere
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
  • A63F9/06—Patience; Other games for self-amusement
  • A63F9/12—Three-dimensional jig-saw puzzles
  • A63F2009/124—Three-dimensional jig-saw puzzles with a final configuration being a sphere
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
  • A63F9/06—Patience; Other games for self-amusement
  • A63F9/12—Three-dimensional jig-saw puzzles
  • A63F9/1288—Sculpture puzzles
  • A63F2009/1292—Sculpture puzzles formed by stackable elements

Definitions

• the subject invention generally refers to a toy created from several mutually joined essentially similar individual elements in such a way that they form a spherical surface.
• the subject invention is envisioned as a three-dimensional jigsaw which consists of a series of spherical elements which function as components of a bigger whole, and assembly and disassembly of the toy is possible.
• the subject invention can be classified as A63H33/00 to A63H33/10.
• the three-dimensional jigsaw is a toy made up of several spherical surfaces, preferably 4 spherical surfaces, which are arranged one inside another, which consist of essentially geometrically same individual elements, different in their dimensions, which can easily be mutually joined in a way so as to form a spherical surface.
• This toy helps in developing fine motor skills in pre-school children, and considering the complexity during the assembly/disassembly of the toy, this toy can be produced in several varieties of models, depending on the child's age, that is, a simpler and a more complex variation of assembling the elements into the spherical element.
• the recommended material for producing the toy is a foam-like material with a polyurethane base.
• the three-dimensional jigsaw is firm, has a smooth surface and good sliding properties.
• Jigsaw toys are made up of essentially similar individual elements which are joined between themselves by way of special joints or fasteners.
• Document EP 63816 depicts a spatial jigsaw (puzzle) which consists of several three- dimensional elements that cannot be separated from one another, and that can move in relation to one another and are placed one inside the other. The outer and inner spherical elements have symbols which can be moved. The spatial jigsaw is used to develop patience and three-dimensional perspective.
• Document WO9420186 displays a spherical shape (10) which is made up of several elements (12) of polygonal shape that are mutually overlaping with their side walls.
• Each of the polygonal members has an outer surface of a predetermined shape and peripheral side edges that stretch from the outer surface and which limit the outer surface. Means of joining the coinciding edges of the polygonal parts is also supplied, so that a spherical shape can be formed.
• Document US5100359 depicts a toy made from a certain number of different elements which are mutually joined so as to form a spherical shape.
• the first part of the elements has a pyramid-like shape with a hexagonal cross-section, and the other part of the elements, of which each has a pyramid-like shape with a pentagonal cross-section.
• the corresponding elements are joined in a special way so as to form a spherical shape, and have mutually overlapping protrusions and sockets.
• Neither one of the above-stated documents depicts a three-dimensional jigsaw which has a variable degree of difficulty, i.e. variations in construction which require a more complex or a simpler level of expertise in assembling into a spherical shape, and can be adjusted in respect to the child's age. Furthermore, all the documents show essentially one spherical surface which is composed of several elements that are mutually overlapping because of their shapes, while the subject invention has more spherical surfaces arranged one inside the other, made up of elements which have to be assembled, while all the spherical surfaces freely rotate in all directions, which develops the child's knowledge of the geometrical shape of a sphere and its properties during the process of assembly or disassembly.
• the purpose of the subject invention is to create a new type of toy consisting of individual elements which can be assembled, which apart from developing the skill of assembly and the three-dimensional perspective also offers the possibility of varying degrees of difficulty in manipulation, without changing the concept upon which the three- dimensional jigsaw is based.
• the subject invention is comprised of several spherical shapes of varying dimensions which are situated one inside the other.
• Each of these spheres consists of several elements which can be mutually joined into a spherical surface, while the spheres can freely rotate in all directions.
• each of the spherical surfaces consists of 4 geometrically identical elements, while the spherical surface with the smallest diameter consists of two equal elements.
• the spherical surfaces can consist of 2 geometrically different elements, where the spherical shape with the smallest diameter consists of two equal elements.
• the side walls of certain elements have the same angle which is identical for all the elements.
• the spherical shapes can have different diameters; however the angles of the elements' sides remain the same in relation to the central point of the resulting sphere.
• the desirable dimension of the outer spherical surface is between 100 and 120 millimeters, while the targeted weight of the fully assembled toy is between 150 and 200 grams.
• Picture 1 shows the final shape of the fully assembled toy
• Picture 2 shows the three-dimensional view of the sphere disassembled into 4 component elements 4 following one of the methods of realizing the invention
• Picture 3 shows the three-dimensional view of the element of sphere 2 in various positions
• Picture 4 shows the three-dimensional view of the outer sphere made up of two elements
• Pictures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show the three-dimensional view of the toy in various phases of the spheres' assembly
• Pictures 9 and 10 show the layout and the three-dimensional view of element 8 of sphere 7.
• the three-dimensional jigsaw is a toy created from several spherical surfaces, preferably 4 spherical surfaces of different diameters, which are located one inside the other and which are assembled from individual elements, which can easily be joined in such a way that they form an individual spherical surface.
• the three-dimensional jigsaw is made up of spherical surfaces of different diameters, preferably 4 spherical surfaces (1), (5), (6) and (7), which are located one inside the other and assembled from individual elements, in such a way that they form a single spherical surface, where the outer spherical surface (1) is made up of the housing (3) and the element (2) inside which is a smaller diameter sphere (5) inside which is an even smaller diameter sphere (6), where spheres (5) and (6) are made up of 4 elements (2), and the sphere with the smallest diameter basically makes up an orb (7) which is made up of two elements (8, 8').
• Reference mark 1 denotes the final shape of the toy which is achieved by assembling the housing 3, element 2 and 10 movable elements which are located inside the housing, i.e. 6 movable elements within the housing, in case of the simpler model.
• the individual elements are expressed in the form of small elements made up of a plastic or similar material or polyurethane based foamy material.
• housing 3 and element 2 are assembled they make up the outer sphere 1 that has the biggest diameter.
• the spheres are visually, by way of sockets or grooves 0,5 to 1 millimeter deep, divided in half, and each half of the sphere is divided into 8 identical spherical segments 4, so that the angle of one spherical segment is 45°.
• element 2 is a spherical segment made up of two neighboring spherical segments 4 of the top half of the sphere and two neighboring segment 4 of the bottom half of the sphere which are shifted between themselves by 45°, i.e. the width of one sphere segment (see picture 3).
• housing 3 there are smaller diameter spheres 5, 6 and 7.
• the clearance between the outer sphere (housing 3 and element 2) with the biggest diameter and sphere 5 is such that it enables an uninterrupted rotation of sphere 5 in all directions.
• clearances between spheres 5 and 6, and sphere 6 and sphere 7 are such that the rotation of each individual sphere is enabled within another in all possible directions. Rotation is enabled thanks to the smooth surface of the elements which are made of the stipulated polyurethane based foamy material. When choosing the material needed for production, attention should be placed on the fact that the elements making up the jigsaw must possess: firmness, smooth surface and good sliding properties, as well as durability to wear and tear and atmospheric influences.
• Spheres 5 and 6 depending on the method of realizing the invention, are made up of 4 elements or 2 elements. As it is seen from picture 2, by one method of realizing the invention spheres 5 and 6 are made up of 4 identical elements of which each element has a geometrical shape identical to the shape of element 2 which has already been defined for the outer sphere.
• spheres 5 and 6 are made up of two elements of which one has the shape of housing 3, and the other the shape of element 2 which are already geometrically defined for the outer sphere.
• the smallest diameter sphere essentially makes up orb 7 considering that it regularly consists of two full elements 8 and 8'.
• one full element 8 is shown, which has three equal and symmetrically placed orb segments (horns), mutually interlocking with the other geometrically identical element 8' in such a way that they make up a sphere.
• the sphere can be divided into two pieces which are not geometrically the same in such a way that the surfaces between the two orb parts geometrically overlap one on top of the other so as to form a full element, i.e. sphere 7.
• the complexity of assembling the three-dimensional jigsaw is increased depending on the number of parts that have to be assembled, that is depending on the number of movable elements placed within the housing.
• the geometrical shape of the elements which mutually compose into spheres can be different than the geometrical shape, provided that their shape is such that the extraction or the assembly of elements is enabled.
• the individual movable elements placed within the housing, in such a way that they form spheres can be of different geometrical shapes, which also contribute to the complexity of assembling the toy. The greater the number of individual elements, which require specific positioning in order to assemble the toy's final shape, the more complex the assembly is going to be.
• the displayed invention has three levels, but their number can be increased by decreasing the width of the walls of individual levels, and by changing the diameter of the housing. In determining the complexity of assembly or disassembly of the toy, color also has a certain role. Through the stated variations it is possible to create toys which are suited for different ages with respect to the difficulty of their assembly / disassembly.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=46150520

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

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• 2007
  • 2007-07-30 HR HR20070339A patent/HRP20070339B1/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2008
  • 2008-07-21 CN CN200880101181XA patent/CN101959565A/zh active Pending
  • 2008-07-21 JP JP2010518754A patent/JP2010535050A/ja active Pending
  • 2008-07-21 CA CA2695090A patent/CA2695090A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-07-21 US US12/671,110 patent/US20100194043A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-07-21 EP EP08788799A patent/EP2214795A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2008-07-21 WO PCT/HR2008/000026 patent/WO2009016421A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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