GB2031284A

GB2031284A - Completing a puzzle by generating water currents

Info

Publication number: GB2031284A
Application number: GB7841095A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd
Priority date: 1977-10-18
Filing date: 1978-10-18
Publication date: 1980-04-23
Also published as: GB2031284B; NL7810161A; FR2406464A1; DE2842511A1

Abstract

An amusement device comprises transparent enclosure 10 containing a liquid, components 54', 54'' of a puzzle within the enclosure to be assembled onto a target 42 and having specific gravities greater than the specific gravity of the liquid, and a pump 36 to generate currents within the liquid to cause the components to move toward the target for assembly. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Water game triangles The present invention is concerned with an amusement device in which a player selectively propels components of a puzzle submerged in liquid towards a target for assembly on the target.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an amusement device, comprising: a transparent enclosure for containing liquid, a target within the enclosure, components of a puzzle within the enclosure to be assembled on the target and having specific gravities greater than the specific gravity of the liquid, and a pump connected to the interior of the enclosure for transmitting the liquid into the enclosure to generate currents within the liquid to cause the components to move towards the target for assembly.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the amusement device, illustrating the transparent enclosure, the target which is mounted on a sheet positioned within the enclosure, the components of the puzzle, three of one color and six of another color, to be assembled on the target in accordance with indicia on the sheet designating how the components are to be assembled on the target in general, four additional indicia on the sheet designating four different patterns for assembly of the components, and the end of the conduit which connects the pumping mechanism to the interior of the enclosure.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 , illustrating the bellows-like pumping mechanism and the sheet to which the target is attached; and FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of two of the components of the puzzle - one of each color-- which are assembled on the target by generating currents within the liquid within the enclosure.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, the amusement device of the invention features a transparent enclosure 10 provided with a top member 12 having an opening 14 through which a liquid, e.g., water may be poured, and a stopper 1 6. The bottom member 18 of the enclosure 10 is provided with an opening 20 and is affixed to a base 30 within which is mounted a push button 32 protruding outwardly through an opening 34 within the base 30. There is provided within the base 30 a flexible bellows-like pump 36 operatively connected to the push button 32. A conduit 38 connects the bellows-like pump 36 to the opening 20 within the bottom member 18 of the enclosure 10 such that pushing the button 32 actuates the pump 36 causing liquid within the pump 36 and conduit 38 to be transmitted to the enclosure 10 to generate currents within the liquid within the enclosure 10.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a sheet 40 is mounted in spaced relationship within the enclosure 10 and is provided on one side thereof with a target generally designated by the reference numeral 42 consisting of a shelf 43 extending outwardly from sheet 40 along the entire bottom of the target 42, guide posts 44 and 46 extending outwardly from sheet 40, and indicia 50 illustrating the general pattern for assembling the components of the puzzle. The sheet 40 is also provided with four additional indicia, 50', 50", 50"' and 50" ", illustrating four different pattern configurations for assembling the puzzle. At the bottom of the sheet 40 there are provided ramps 52 and 53 which slope downwardly from the side walls of the enclosure 10 to the vicinity of the opening 20.

The puzzle in the preferred embodiment consists of three components 54' of one color and six components 54" of another color. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the components are in the shape of triangles defining three supporting surfaces 55. It will be apparent that the four patterns, 50', 50", 50' ' ',and 50 assist the player in progressively assembling the puzzle components 54' and 54" on the target 42.

The shelf 43 and guide posts 44 and 46 assist in holding the assembled components 54' and 54" in place during assembly of the remaining components. The components 54' and 54" are constructed of any material having a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of the liquid, for example, water, with which the enclosure 10 is filled.

After the enclosure 10 is filled with liquid through the opening 14 the player depresses the push button 32 which causes the bellows-like pump 36 to contract in turn forcing liquid from the bellows-like pump 36 through the conduit 38 into the liquid-filled enclosure 10 through the opening 20. The upwardly moving liquid from the conduit 38 creates currents in a generally upward direction in the enclosure 10 causing the components 54' and 54" contacted thereby to be projected upwardly towards the target 42. By varying the timing and force of pushing the button 32, the player may vary the effect that the currents have on the components in attempting to arrange the components 54' and 54" in one of the patterns 50', 50", 50''', 50" " on the target 42.

By varying the timing and force of pushing the button 32 the player may also dislodge and rearrange any of the components 54' and 54" which are being generally held in place by shelf 43 and guide posts 44 and 46 after having come to rest in an undesirable position on the target 42.

Since the specific gravity of the components 54' and 54" is greater than that of liquid, the components unless caught by the target 42 sink to the bottom of the enclosure 10 eventually engaging the ramps 52 and 53 which conduct the components to the vicinity of the opening 20 such that the components are in position to be moved upwardly by further action of the pumping mechanism 36. The currents within the liquid within the enclosure 10 continue for a period of time after the button 32 is depressed, and thus the components 54' and 54" tend to continue their movement through the enclosure permitting the player to "time" the next pushing of the button 32 with the location of a particular cor,1ponent. Thus, by carefully manipulating the push button 32 of the pump 36 it is possible to selectively position the components 54' and 54" in their intended manner on the target 42 in accordance with the general pattern 50 or with the specific patterns 50', 50", 50'' ' or 50" ".

Claims

1. An amusement device, comprising a transparent enclosure for containing a liquid, a target within the enclosure, components of a puzzle within the enclosure to be assembled on the target and having specific gravities greater than the specific gravity of the liquid, and a pump connected to the interior of the enclosure for transmitting the liquid into the enclosure to generate currents within the liquid to cause the components to move towards the target for assembly.

2. An amusement device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said target includes a generally horizontally positioned shelf within said enclosure for holding said components.

3. An amusement device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of posts positioned within said enclosure above said shelf.

4. An amusement device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said components has at least one supporting surface, said shelf being of a dimension less than the sum of said supporting surfaces of all of said components.

5. An amusement device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said components has three supporting surfaces of equal dimension permitting said supporting surfaces of said components to rest on said shelf and also against said supporting surfaces of other of said components.

6. An amusement device as claimed in any one of claims 2,4 or 5, further comprising a sheet positioned within said enclosure, said shelf being attached to said sheet and extending outwardly therefrom.

7. An amusement device as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 4, further comprising first indicia associated with said target indicating the general pattern in which said components are assembled on said target.

8. An amusement device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first indicia is on said sheet.

9. An amusement device as claimed in any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein at least one of said components differs in color or indicia from the other of said components thereby making it possible to vary the pattern of the components assembled on said target, and second, multiple indicia above said target including the different color or indicia of said one of said components indicating varying patterns in which said components may be assembled on said target.

10. An amusement device as claimed in any one of claims 7, 8 or 9, wherein said components are triangular in shape and said first indicia is a triangle consisting of the outlines of an assembly of said components indicating how said triangular components are to be assembled on said target.

11. An amusement device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said components are triangular in shape and said second, multiple indicia consists of a plurality of triangles, each consisting of the outlines of an assembly of said components and varying the position of said at least one of said components that differs in color or indicia from the other of said components.

12. An amusement device as claimed in any one of claims 5, 10 or 11, wherein said components are nine in number.

1 3. An amusement device as claimed in claim 12, wherein three of said components are of one color and six of said components are of another color, and wherein said second, multiple indicia each include designations corresponding to said different colors defining different patterns of said components.

14. An amusement device as claimed in any one of claims 1 , 2, 3 or 4 further comprising an outlet for the liquid positioned in the vicinity of the bottom of said enclosure, said target being positioned above said outlet, permitting said components underthe influence of gravity to move downwardly toward said outlet.

15. An amusement device as claimed in claim 14 further comprising guides sloping downwardly towards the place where said pump is connected to the interior of said enclosure.

1 6. An amusement device as claimed in claims 14 or 15, wherein said pump comprises a bellows-like pump, and a push-button connected to said pump.

1 7. An amusement device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.