EP2561910A1

EP2561910A1 - Puzzle with movable, rotating magnetic pieces

Info

Publication number: EP2561910A1
Application number: EP11758861A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Miguel Ángel URIBE MARTÍNEZ
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-03-22
Filing date: 2011-03-01
Publication date: 2013-02-27
Also published as: EP2561910A4; WO2011117447A1; ES1072766Y; ES1072766U

Abstract

The present invention consists of a puzzle of pieces that move vertically and horizontally on a board. Each piece has an image on its visible side which once put into its correct position allows the complete image to be seen.

Each piece is divided into sub-pieces which are enclosed in a transparent casing where they are able to rotate independently.

The base board consists of micro magnets in combination which provoke the rotation of the pieces, which also contain micro magnets.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention is to be found in the recreational games sector, more precisely in the area of puzzles and brainteasers.

Background of the invention

Nowadays, in the area of puzzles, there exists a great variety of designs destined mainly at entertainment and education.
All of which serve to defy the skill of the player, involving different manners of arrangement, movement and morphology of the pieces.
The most required skills for solving puzzles are visual ability, cognitive intelligence and motor skills (above all in infant games).
In very few occasions, memory is used in solving puzzles.
Neither is it common to bring into the game the possibility to rotate the pieces due to a magnetically charged agent.
Some forms of puzzles have been found which incorporate magnetic elements to hinder the solution of the game. Referenced cited: U200930195 ; U200930195 ; US4.402.510 ; US4.404.766 ; US5.318.302 ; US7.273.404
In the present invention, the visible pieces rotate and therefore it is necessary to memorize the image to find its correct position. This circumstance greatly hinders the solution of the game.
In this circumstance, each piece is divided into four sub-pieces which rotate independently. The magnets combine in the base in such form that the images are only completely visible in their correct position. Therefore, once a piece is moved from its position, the image is no longer seen, thus increasing the difficulty and the need for memory and attention.

Detailed Description

The present invention consists of a puzzle of pieces that move vertically and horizontally on a board. Each piece has an image on its visible side which once put into its correct position allows the complete image to be seen.
Each piece is divided into sub-pieces which are enclosed in a transparent casing where they are able to rotate independently.
The base board consists of micro magnets in combination which provoke the rotation of the pieces, which also contain micro magnets.

Examples

The following examples illustrate the present invention. However, they are not meant to limit the extent of the possibilities of the patent.

Example 1

Board with sixteen pieces (divided into four vertical and four horizontal rows), with one removable piece which facilitates the movement of the remaining pieces.
Each piece is divided into four parts (two vertical and two horizontal rows), which contain a micro magnet (or can be made with magnetic material).
The base board consists of a sequence of magnets whose possible number of combinations is two to the fourth power, or equaling sixteen.
Each of the sixteen pieces can be seen in sixteen different forms, however, they can only be seen completely in the correct position.

Example 2

Board with nine pieces (divided into three vertical and three horizontal rows), with one removable piece which facilitates the movement of the remaining pieces.
This variation of the game simplifies the solution, therefore is more appropriate for children (designed with infantile/cartoon characters), or for persons with motor skill difficulty.

Example 3

Board with one hundred pieces (divided into ten vertical and ten horizontal rows), with one removable piece which facilitates the movement of the remaining pieces.
This variation is extremely difficult, therefore it is more appropriate for persons of high mental capacity, who appreciate complicated challenges. The possibility to solve this variation is very low.

Example 4

Software to imitate the three dimensional game, which can be executed on any electronic games device or console. This software will consist of an options menu, which allows you to choose all the variations of the game, such as colour, sound, image, number of pieces, difficulty, time, best score and similar options.

Brief description of the drawings

The pieces are arranged on a hollowed cast in a rigid board, where they are able to move freely (Fig. 1)
The board consists of guides which facilitate the movement of the pieces and impede the detachment of the said pieces. (7)-(Fig. 5)
Once the puzzle has been solved, the final piece is placed to allow the complete image to be seen. (Fig. 2)
The base of the board is embedded with magnets in different combinations (Fig. 3), depending on the number of pieces and level of difficulty of the variation (8)-(Fig. 5)
In this manner, each piece is seen in a different form, depending on its position on the board (Fig. 4). The visible image can only be seen completely once its correct position has been found (Fig. 2).
Each piece is divided into four smaller pieces (4)-(Fig. 5) of equal size, with one side printed (2)-(Fig. 5) with the image which is to be solved. The other side of each piece will be a neutral and uniform colour (3)-(Fig. 5). The sub-pieces are enclosed in a casting (6)-(Fig 5) made of transparent, plastic material (5)-(Fig. 5), where they are able to rotate independently (1)-(Fig. 5).
The base board will be compact and made of solid, durable material (9)-(Fig. 6). In addition there will be the option to include back lighting to allow the game to be played In situations where there is a lack of light. Also a compartment will be available to store the removable piece and the instructions for solving the puzzle (12)-(Fig. 6), a picture of the resolved image (11)-(Fig. 6) and the commercial name (10)-(Fig. 6).

Claims

A puzzle of magnetically charged rotating moveable pieces, which are placed vertically and horizontally on a board; consisting of a printed image on the visible side of each piece which once placed in their correct position, the complete image is to be seen. Characterized due to each piece of the puzzle being subdivided into four pieces of equal size, whose one side is printed with the image to be solved, enclosed in a casting of transparent plastic material where they are able to rotate independently. The base of the board is embedded with small magnets in a sequence of combinations which provoke the rotation of the pieces, which are also embedded with micro magnets.