GB2116049A - Manipulative puzzle - Google Patents

Abstract

The puzzle comprises two (or more) planar elements rotatable independently about an axis O and a plurality of assemblies C made up from parts B mounted for rotation as shown about axes perpendicular to the axis O. The constituent parts are identified by suitable colours, numbers or patterns on their external faces, the object of the puzzle being to return i.e. to a start position after "scrambling" by successive random rotations. The planar elements may be modified for mounting of 2, 3, 5 or more assemblies of type C, these assemblies themselves being modified when more than two planar elements are used by being made up from the appropriate number of constituent parts, e.g. for a puzzle including three independently rotatable planar elements, each assembly C has nine constituent parts. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hand-held puzzle This invention relates to hand-held puzzles for amusement and educational purposes. According to the invention there is an arrangement as hereinafter described, the arrangement comprising two parts of the type illustrated in Figure 1 and hereinafter referred to as part type A, and sixteen parts of the type illustrated in Figure2 and hereinafter referred to as part type B, the parts type B being arranged in groups of four to form assemblies as illustrated in Figure 3 and hereinafter referred to as assemblies C.

The constituent parts are assembled as shown in Figure 4, the complete puzzle being held together by an axle (0) which may be part of one of the parts type A. Referring to Figure 4 parts type A are able to rotate independently about the axle (0) and assemblies Care able to rotate in planes perpendicular to the plane of rotation of parts type A.

The 'start' position for the puzzle is identified by suitable colours, numbers or patterns on the external faces of the constituent parts. The object of the puzzle is to return it to this start position after the parts type B have been scrambled by successive random rotations of the parts type A and assemblies C through angles of 90 , 1800 and 270".

Embodiments of the invention will now be described. The embodiments are puzzles having the same principles of operation as hereinbefore described but differing in constructional features in the following ways, 1) there may be more than two parts serving the function of the parts type A with the necessary increase in the number of constituent parts of the assemblies C, 2) there may be 2,3,5 or more assemblies C with the necessary modifications to parts type A, and 3) any combination of 1) and 2) above. An example of these embodiments is illustrated in Figure 5which shows a 3-modified part type A, 3-modified assembly C arrangement.

CLAIMS (Filed on 1st March '83) 1. A hand-held puzzle consisting of an assembly of parts of two main types, one being essentially cuboid in shape with quarter-cylinder projections on one pair of square, opposite faces as illustrated in Figure 2 such that four of these parts may be arranged together to form an assembly having cylindrical projections as illustrated in Fgure 3. Four assemblies of the type shown in Figure 3 are held at equal distances from, and in a plain perpendicular to the axis of an axle joining two of the parts illustrated in Figure 1 having cut-aways and semicylindrical recesses to carry the assemblies and enable them to rotate in planes parallel to the axis of the axle. The exposed faces of the component parts of the complete puzzle may be individually identified by, for example, colours.

2. Hand-held puzzles having principles of construction as claimed in claim 1 but differing in constructional detail in that there may be more than two parts serving the function of the parts illustrated in Figure 1 with the necessary modifications to the part-cylindrical recesses in order to accommodate the assemblies illustrated in Figure 3, which are also modified in respect of the number of constituent parts to enable the modified parts of the type illustrated in Figure 1 to be individually rotated about the axle.

3. Hand-held puzzles having principles of construction as claimed in claim 1 but differing in constructional detail in that there may be two, three, five or more assemblies of the type illustrated in Figure 3 with the necessary modifications to the parts of the type illustrated in Figure 1 in order to accommodate the assemblies symmetrically about the axle.

4. Hand-held puzzles having principles of operation as claimed in claim 1 but differing in constructional details in that there may be any combination of the modifications claimed in claims 1 and 2, an example of which is illustrated in Figure 5.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Hand-held puzzle This invention relates to hand-held puzzles for amusement and educational purposes. According to the invention there is an arrangement as hereinafter described, the arrangement comprising two parts of the type illustrated in Figure 1 and hereinafter referred to as part type A, and sixteen parts of the type illustrated in Figure2 and hereinafter referred to as part type B, the parts type B being arranged in groups of four to form assemblies as illustrated in Figure 3 and hereinafter referred to as assemblies C. The constituent parts are assembled as shown in Figure 4, the complete puzzle being held together by an axle (0) which may be part of one of the parts type A. Referring to Figure 4 parts type A are able to rotate independently about the axle (0) and assemblies Care able to rotate in planes perpendicular to the plane of rotation of parts type A. The 'start' position for the puzzle is identified by suitable colours, numbers or patterns on the external faces of the constituent parts. The object of the puzzle is to return it to this start position after the parts type B have been scrambled by successive random rotations of the parts type A and assemblies C through angles of 90 , 1800 and 270". Embodiments of the invention will now be described. The embodiments are puzzles having the same principles of operation as hereinbefore described but differing in constructional features in the following ways, 1) there may be more than two parts serving the function of the parts type A with the necessary increase in the number of constituent parts of the assemblies C, 2) there may be 2,3,5 or more assemblies C with the necessary modifications to parts type A, and 3) any combination of 1) and 2) above. An example of these embodiments is illustrated in Figure 5which shows a 3-modified part type A, 3-modified assembly C arrangement. CLAIMS (Filed on 1st March '83)

1. A hand-held puzzle consisting of an assembly of parts of two main types, one being essentially cuboid in shape with quarter-cylinder projections on one pair of square, opposite faces as illustrated in Figure 2 such that four of these parts may be arranged together to form an assembly having cylindrical projections as illustrated in Fgure 3. Four assemblies of the type shown in Figure 3 are held at equal distances from, and in a plain perpendicular to the axis of an axle joining two of the parts illustrated in Figure 1 having cut-aways and semicylindrical recesses to carry the assemblies and enable them to rotate in planes parallel to the axis of the axle. The exposed faces of the component parts of the complete puzzle may be individually identified by, for example, colours.

2. Hand-held puzzles having principles of construction as claimed in claim 1 but differing in constructional detail in that there may be more than two parts serving the function of the parts illustrated in Figure 1 with the necessary modifications to the part-cylindrical recesses in order to accommodate the assemblies illustrated in Figure 3, which are also modified in respect of the number of constituent parts to enable the modified parts of the type illustrated in Figure 1 to be individually rotated about the axle.

3. Hand-held puzzles having principles of construction as claimed in claim 1 but differing in constructional detail in that there may be two, three, five or more assemblies of the type illustrated in Figure 3 with the necessary modifications to the parts of the type illustrated in Figure 1 in order to accommodate the assemblies symmetrically about the axle.

4. Hand-held puzzles having principles of operation as claimed in claim 1 but differing in constructional details in that there may be any combination of the modifications claimed in claims 1 and 2, an example of which is illustrated in Figure

5.