GB2120558A

GB2120558A - Puzzle

Info

Publication number: GB2120558A
Application number: GB08212708A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ralph Richard Smithers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-30
Filing date: 1982-04-30
Publication date: 1983-12-07

Abstract

The puzzle comprises a solid, e.g. a dodecahedron, and a set of pieces, e.g. 60 isosceles triangles which fit the faces of the dodecahedron by pegs locating in holes. Each triangular piece (2) has three triangular markings (3,4 and 5) and a peg (6) which projects from both of its faces. A developed view of six completed faces of the dodecahedron is shown having five pieces on each face. A wire stand may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Puzzle This invention relates to a game or puzzle.

According to the invention, there is provided a puzzle which comprises a three-dimensional geometric figure having a plurality of surfaces and a series of disc-like members adapted to be detachably fitted to the surfaces of said figure, each said member being provided with markings on its edges which are adapted to correspond with corresponding markings on one or more of theother disc-like members.

Each of the surfaces of the figure preferably consists of a regular polygon and said polygons are desirably substantially identical.

The geometric figure may comprise a cube, tetrahedron or any other figure but a dodecahedron is preferred.

The disc-like members are preferably so arranged that, when fitted to the figure, at least one of the edges of each member extends substantially parallel to and is substantially flush with an edge of the figure. The disc-like members are desirably triangular in shape and preferably take the form of isosceles triangles.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the puzzle comprises a dodecahedron and five triangular disc-like members or pieces are adapted to be detachably fitted to each of its faces to cover the same, the edges of each said triangular member or piece being located, when fitted to a surface of the dodecahedron, adjacent to three similar members or pieces and being provided with markings each of which corresponds to a marking provided on only one edge of another triangular member or piece. With this arrangement, each piece can be fitted on the figure in only one position reJative to the other pieces if the markings on the edges of all of the pieces are to correspond to and to be aligned with the markings on the adjacent pieces.

The markings may take any suitable form but one desired form is to provide triangular markings extending along the edges of the members or pieces. The triangular markings may be of a contrasting colour to the remainder of the pieces or members and may be applied, for example, in the form of adhesive tape of the kind used for labels.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a figure forming part of a puzzle according to the invention in the form of a dodecahedron; Fig. 2 is an elevation viewed in the direction of arrow II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation viewed in the direction of arrow 111 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 illustrates a joint between two faces of the dodecahedron figure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line V-V in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a triangular piece adapted to be fitted to a surface of the figure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a developed view showing six faces of the dodecahedron fitted with pieces of the kind shown in Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a developed view showing the other six faces of the dodecahedron, again fitted with pieces of the kind shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that a solid figure of a dodecahedron has twelve faces each of which has five edges and thus consists of a regular pentagon. The figure is constructed from twelve sheets 1 of pentagon shape which are joined together along their edges as shown in Figs.

4 and 5 to form a figure which appears to be solid but is, in fact, hollow. The sheets may be made of any suitable material but a synthetic plastics is preferred.

A plurality of pieces in the form of isosceles triangles are adapted to be fitted onto the faces 1 of the dodecahedron and one such piece is shown in Fig. 6. As shown in this figure, the piece comprises a triangular disc 2 having three triangular markings 3, 4, 5 which extend to each of its edges and a peg 6 which projects from both of its faces. The markings 3, 4, 5 are preferably of a different and contrasting colour from the remainder of the disc 2 and may comprise pieces of adhesive tape or labels which are cut to the required shape and size and adhered to the disc.

The pegs of the pieces are receivable in holes (not shown) provided in the faces 1 of the dodecahedron, said pegs extending from both sides of the discs 2 so that one end can be gripped while the other end is inserted in a hole in the dodecahedron. Five triangular discs 2 can be fitted to each of the faces of the dodecahedron so that there are sixty such discs altogether.

The discs are preferably made of a synthetic plastics material and each peg may extend through a hole in the associated disc and be secured thereto by adhesive.

The triangular markings 3, 4 and 5 on the disc 2 are so arranged that three of the other discs have markings corresponding, respectively, to the markings 3, 4 and 5 along only one of their edges.

The other two edges of said other three discs have different markings as do all of the edges of the other fifty six discs so that there is only one position which the disc 2 can occupy on the dodecahedron, relative to the other discs, if the markings on said disc are to be aligned with the corresponding markings on the said other three discs. The same is true for all sixty of the discs.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the twelve faces of the dodecahedron with triangular discs fitted thereon and it will be seen that the triangular markings are such that each disc may only occupy one position, relative to the other discs, if the markings on all of the discs are to be aligned with the markings on the adjacent discs. The letters A-J in Figs. 7 and 8 indicate where the edges in one figure are joined to the edges in the other figure. Thus the edges marked A and B in Fig. 7 meet the edges marked A and B respectively in Fig. 8 and so on.

A game can be played with the puzzle by removing all of the triangular discs from the dodecahedron. One of the discs may then be fitted to the dodecahedron in any desired position with one edge aligned with the edge of one of the faces 1 of the dodecahedron. It will be found that, in fact, the base of each of the triangular discs is longer than the two equal sides so that there is only one orientation which said discs can occupy relative to the dodecahedron if the edges of the discs 2 and faces 1 are to be aligned with one another and if the discs are to mate with one another on the faces of the dodecahedron.

It is now necessary to find the three discs which have markings corresponding to the markings on the disc which is already in place on the dodecahedron and to place these discs in appropriate locations on said dodecahedron so that the markings correspond. It will be found that three discs are now located on one face of the dodecahedron and a single disc is located on an adjacent face. Further discs can now be fitted, each time making sure that the markings correspond with the markings on adjacent discs, until all of the discs have been fitted in place on the dodecahedron. The discs are fitted to the dodecahedron by engaging the pegs 6 in the holes provided in the surfaces of the dodecahedron for this purpose.

The puzzle according to the invention thus provides an interesting and novel game which can be played alone or in company with each player trying to complete the puzzle by correctly fitting all of the discs quicker than the other players.

A stand may be provided if desired in order to support the dodecahedron and make it easier to manipulate when the discs are being fitted. The stand can also serve to display the puzzle when it is not in use.

Various forms of stands may be provided but a preferred stand consists of a base from which a first arm extends substantially vertically and from the upper end of which a second arm extends inclined at an angle to the first arm. The dodecahedron is arranged to rest on or be supported by the second arm. The stand may be formed from a single length of rod or wire which is bent to form a base and to which feet, e.g. in the form of rubber sleeves, are fitted. In this case, the dodecahedron may be provided at one or more of its points with a bore through which the end of the second arm remote from the first arm may be passed so as to locate the dodecahedron on said arm.

The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment but modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the markings need not be triangular but any other suitable shape may be chosen. Further, the markings may be applied to the discs in any suitable manner and it is also envisaged to paint the markings on the discs or to apply the markings by printing techniques during manufacture of said discs.

Claims

1. A puzzle comprising a three-dimensional geometric figure having a plurality of surfaces and a series of disc-like members adapted to be detachably fitted to the surfaces of said figure, each said member being provided with markings on its edges which are adapted to correspond with corresponding markings on one or more of the other disc-like members.

2. A puzzle according to claim 1, wherein each of said surfaces consists of a regular polygon.

3. A puzzle according to claim 2, wherein all of the polygons making up said figure are substantially identical.

4. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the figure comprises a dodecahedron formed of pentagonal surfaces.

5. A puzzle according to claim 4, wherein a hollow figure is formed by joining said pentagonal surfaces together along their edges to form said dodecahedron.

6. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the disc-like members are so arranged that, when fitted to the figure, at least one of the edges of each member extends substantially parallel to and is substantially flush with an edge of the figure.

7. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the disc-like members are triangular in shape.

8. A puzzle according to claim 7, wherein the triangular members take the form of isosceles triangles.

9. A puzzle comprising a dodecahedron having twelve regular pentagonal surfaces and five triangular disc-like members or pieces adapted to be detachably fitted to each of said surfaces, the edges of each said triangular member or piece being located, when fitted to a surface of the dodecahedron, adjacent to three similar members or pieces and being provided with markings each of which corresponds to a marking provided on only one edge of another triangular member or piece.

10. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the markings on said disc-like members are of triangular shape with one edge of each marking extending along one edge of the associated disc-like member.

11. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the markings are of contrasting colour to the remainder of the disc-like members.

12. A puzzle substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

12. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the markings are applied to the disc-like members in the form of adhesive tape or labels cut to a desired size and shape.

13. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein each of said disc-like members has a peg or like member projecting from at least one of its faces and receivable in a bore provided in the surfaces of the said figure.

14. A puzzle according to claim 13, wherein each peg projects from both surfaces of the associated disc-like member.

1 5. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein a stand is provided for supporting the figure.

16. A puzzle according to claim 15, wherein the stand comprises a base, a first arm extending substantially vertically from the base and a second arm extending from the upper end of said first arm and inclined thereto, the figure being arranged to rest on or be supported by said second arm.

1 7. A puzzle substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

New claims filed on 14 Oct. 1982.

Superseded claims 1 to 1 7.

New claims:-

1. A puzzle comprising a dodecahedron having twelve regular pentagonal surfaces and five triangular disc-like members or pieces adapted to be detachably fitted to each of said surfaces, the edges of each said triangular member or piece being located, when fitted to a surface of the dodecahedron, adjacent to three similar members or pieces and being provided with markings each of which corresponds to a marking provided on only one edge of another triangular member or piece.

2. A puzzle according to claim 1 , wherein a hollow figure is formed by joining said pentagonal surfaces together along their edges to form said dodecahedron.

3. A puzzle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the triangular disc-like members are so arranged that, when fitted to the figure, at least one of the edges of each member extends substantially parallel to and is substantially flush with an edge of the figure.

4. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the triangular disc-like members take the form of isosceles triangles.

5. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the markings on said disc-like members are of triangular shape with one edge of each marking extending along one edge of the associated disc-like member.

6. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the markings are of contrasting colour to the remainder of the disc-like members.

7. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the markings are applied to the disc-like members in the form of adhesive tape or labels cut to a desired size and shape.

8. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein each of said disc-like members has a peg or like member projecting from at least one of its faces and receivable in a bore provided in the surfaces of the said figure.

9. A puzzle according to claim 8, wherein each peg projects from both surfaces of the associated disc-like member.

10. A puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein a stand is provided for supporting the figure.

1 A puzzle according to claim 10, wherein the stand comprises a base, a first arm extending substantially vertically from the base and a second arm extending from the upper end of said first arm and inclined thereto, the figure being arranged to rest on or be supported by said second arm.