GB2145633A - Puzzle - Google Patents

Abstract

The puzzle comprises a pair of parts 10, 12, one of which slides with respect to the other, which together provide a closed loop 24 in which a plurality of captive balls 28 of varying colours can be moved. The sliding part 12 has a plurality of columns 40 containing balls and, by movement of the sliding part, different columns of balls can form part of the closed loop. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Puzzles This invention relates to puzzles intended for both amusement and intellectual exercise.

According to one aspect of the present invention a puzzle comprises a pair of parts which are guided for relative movements between a number of discrete relative positions, the parts having channels which are differently aligned in different discrete positions and the channels containing moveable pieces which are capable of being shifted between said channels in said discrete positions.

According to another aspect of the present invention a puzzle comprises a pair of parts which are guided for relative movement between a number of discrete relative positions, one part having at least one open-ended channel and the second part having at least two open-ended channels, the arrangement being such that, in each of the discrete positions, at least one channel of the one part is aligned with at least one channel of the second part to form a channel loop, the channels containing moveable pieces which are capable of being shifted between the channels when in said discrete positions. Specifically the parts may be guided for linear or rotary relative movement.When the relative movement is linear the one part may have a series of parallel channels and the second part has at least one pair of arcuate channels, each arcuate channel of a pair being aligned with the same two parallel channels in any discrete position.

The walls of the channels are preferably formed to retain the moveable pieces in the channels whilst leaving the pieces capable of manual manipulation.

For example each channel may be open-topped and has one or more overhanging upper flanges serving to retain the moveable pieces in the channels. The moveable pieces may conveniently comprise balls, and there may be sets of moveable pieces which are capable of being distinguished one set from another either visuaily or manually.

To provide the user with the challenge of achieving a specific arrangement or pattern of moveable pieces, a set of design cards, or the like, each having printed or otherwise shown thereon a different pattern of moveable pieces, each pattern being capable of being achieved by multiple movements of the moveable pieces between the channels of the two parts.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways but one specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a puzzle according to the present invention; Figure 2 a is plan view, on a reduced scale, of the puzzle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a scrap sectional front elevation on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2, and Figure 4 diagrammatically illustrates one of a number of design cards for use with the puzzle of Figures 1 to 3.

The puzzle shown in Figures 1-3 of the drawings essentially comprises two relatively moveable parts 10 and 12, which for convenience will be referred to hereafter as the stationarytrough 10 and the moveable slide 12. Cooperating with these two parts are 44 balls 28, in equal numbers of four different colours, for example, yellow, green, blue and red.

As will be described, the object of the puzzle is for the user to achieve a disposition of the balls in the two parts 10 and 12 corresponding to a particular design or pattern shown on one of a number of design cards 14 of which an example is shown in Figure 4. For convenience in illustrating this invention Figure 4 shows the balls marked with the letters Y, G, B and R to represent the four colours of the different balls. Figure 4 represents a design card which would normally be printed in colourto show the arrangement of balls to be achieved. A variety of different designs or patterns can be achieved and this can be represented by different design cards, basically of the type shown in Figure 4.As has been mentioned, the object of the puzzle is to move the balls between the two parts 10 and 12 to change from one design or pattern of one design card to the different design or pattern of another design card.

For this purpose both parts 10 and 12 are provided with channels in which the balls are received, and by shifting the moveable slide 12 relative to the stationary trough 10, different channels of the moveable slide 12 can be aligned with the channels of the stationary trough.

Describing the parts now in more detail, it will be seen from Figure 1 that the stationary trough 10, which may conveniently comprise a plastics moulding, includes a base 16 which forms an elongate trough 18 between a pair of parallel side members 20 integrally formed with the base 16.

Extending inwardly into each member 20, at a level just above the base 16, is an elongate groove 22 for a purpose to be described. Each member 20, in a region midway along its length, is provided with an arcuate channel 24 of generally rectangular vertical cross section, but formed with overhanging champhered flanges 26 along each of its upper edges in order to locate and retrain the balls 28 in the channels 24. The arcuate channels 24 are of such a circumferential length that they just receive six balls 28, without the balls 28 extending beyond the walls 30 of the rough 18. It will be appreciated that each channel 24 is open at each of its ends, with the two ends of each channel 24 being positioned in the face of the wall 30 of the corresponding member 20.

The depth of each channel 24 is slightly less than the diameter of the balls 28, so that, as shown in Figure 3, the balls protrude slightly above the channels 24, and can be readily manipulated by hand along the channels 24. The lower surface of each channel 24 is positioned at a level spaced above the upper face of the groove 22 so that there is a web, not shown, of each member 20, forming the base of the channel 24 and the top of the groove 22 in certain regions of each member.

The moveable slide 12, which is arranged for linear reciprocal movement with respect to the stationary trough 10, and which can again comprise a plastics moulding, has a base 36, shown in Figure 3, extending upwardly from which are nine vertical walls 38. These walls 38, define between them eight parallel channels 40, each of a length capable of receiving four balls 28. Each wall 38 is provided with overhanging champhered flanges 42, there being one flange for each of the end walls 38, and two flanges for the intermediate walls 38, these champhered flanges serving to retain the balls 28 in the same way as the champhered flanges 26 of the arcuate channels 24.The base 36, provides the lower surfaces of the parallel channels 40 at a depth corresponding to the depth of the arcuate channels 24, so that the balls in the arcuate channels 24 of the stationary trough 10 and the parallel channels 40 of the slide 12 are at the same level. Thus when the parts are for example in the position of Figures 1 and 2, the two arcuate channels and the two aligned parallel channels form a closed loop, and balls can readily be transferred from the stationary channels 24 to the moveable channels 40 and vice versa. The depth of the moveable parallel channels 40 is thus again such that the balls 28 protrude slightly from the upper end of the channel for ease of manual manipulation.

To facilitate the guidance of the slide 12 with respect to the stationary part 10, the slide 12 has along each of its longitudinal edges a horizontal flange 46 which is received in the respective groove 22 of the adjacent member 20 of the stationary trough 10. The two parts can be assembled during manufacture by inserting the slide into the stationary trough from one end and thereafter locating and securing in position, for example by adhesive, each of a pair of end walls 46 of the stationary trough 10. Naturally, prior to such assembly the balls 28 are located in the stationary channels 24 and the moveable channels 40 of the two parts.

It is believed that, from the foregoing description, the manner in which this puzzle is used will be readily apparent. The slide 12 can be shifted from left to right in Figures 1 and 2 between a series of discrete positions at which any one of the first to the fifth parallel channels 40 of the sliding part 18 (as numbered from the left) can be aligned with the lefthand ends of the arcuate channels 24, at which time, of course, a different parallel channel 40 will be aligned with the right-hand ends of the arcuate channels 24.In any one of these discrete positions of the parts the twelve balls in the two arcuate channels, and the four balls in each of the two parallel channels 40 at that time aligned with the arcuate channels, can be shifted as a closed loop of twenty balls through the desired number of bali positions in order to transfer balls from the arcuate channels to the parallel channels 40 and vice versa.

Thereafter the slide is shifted to a different position and a chosen number of balls again transferred between arcuate and parallel channels. This process is continued until the desired pattern of the chosen design card is achieved. This provides a stimulating intellectual exercise appropriate for old and young alike, and different design cards can present greater or lesser challenges to the user for achieving the desired patterns.

Within the basic concept of the present invention various alternative embodiments are envisaged.

Whilst the arrangement shown in the drawings incorporates only one arcuate channel on each side of the slide there could be more than one such arcuate channel on each side. Afurther alternative which is envisaged is that, instead of a linear movement between the two parts, a rotary movement could be achieved, the two parts having a circular meeting plane, for the ends of their channels through which the balls are passed, and here again the stationary part can have one or more arcuate channels opening to different part of the circumferential meeting plane between the two parts.

In the case of relatively moveable parts of which one rotates in respect to the other, the channels in the rotary or moving part may comprise diametrically arranged channels, which bridge over one another, or alternatively arcuate channels each of which opens into the meeting plane between the two parts.

Claims (10)

1. A puzzle comprising a pair of parts which are guided for relative movements between a number of discrete relative position, the parts having channels which are differently aligned in different discrete positions and the channels containing moveable pieces which are capable of being shifted between said channels in said discrete positions.

2. A puzzle comprising a pair of parts which are guided for relative movement between a number of discrete relative positions, one part having at least one open-ended channel and the second part having at least two open-ended channels, the arrangement being such that, in each of the discrete positions, at least one channel of the one part is aligned with at least one channel of the second part to form a channel loop, the channels containing moveable pieces which are capable of being shifted between the channels when in the said discrete positions.

3. A puzzle was claimed in Claim 2 in which the two parts are guided for relative linear movement.

4. A puzzle was claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the one part has a series of parallel channels and the second part has at least one pair or arcuate channels, each arcuate channel of a pair being aligned with the same two parallel channels in any discrete position.

5. A puzzle is claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in which the walls of the channels are formed to retain the moveable pieces in the channels.

6. A puzzle is claimed in Claim 5 in which each channel is open-topped and has one or more overhanging upper flanges serving to retain the moveable pieces in the channels.

7. A puzzle is claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in which the moveable pieces comprise balls.

8. A puzzle is claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in which there are sets of moveable pieces which are capable of being distinguished one set from another either visually or manually.

9. A puzzle is claimed in any one of the preceding Claims having associated with it a set of design cards or the like each having printed or otherwise shown thereon a different pattern of moveable pieces, each pattern being capable of being achieved by multiple movements of the moveable pieces between the channels of the two parts.

10. A puzzle substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings with or without the design card of 3--4 of the accompanying drawings.