GB2238253A - Puzzle - Google Patents

Abstract

A puzzle comprises a large number of triangular pieces each having six corner display zones marked R (Red), O (Orange), M (Mauve), Y (Yellow), P (Pink) and G (Green). Different pieces have different arrangements of those colours at the corner display zones and the aim of the puzzle is to join all the pieces together, achieving visual correspondence of juxtaposed display zones of adjacent pieces (Red-Red, Orange-Orange etc.), to make a composite triangle. Shapes other than triangles may be employed. <IMAGE>

Description

PUZZLE This invention relates to a puzzle.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a puzzle comprising a plurality of pieces, each piece being bounded by straight edges and having a plurality of visually distinct zones along its edges, wherein the pieces are capable of being placed together to provide a composite two-dimensional pattern of predetermined shape, and with visual correspondence of juxtaposed zones of adjacent pieces.

Suit ably the pieces may be placed together without any gaps being present within the composite twodimensional pattern.

The said visually distinct zones may be visually distinct by any means, for example by means of the use of different patterns, for example, dots, stripes and so forth, or by means of characters, such as letters, numbers or pictures of objects. Preferably, however, they are visually distinct by being of different colour, and visual correspondence of juxtaposed zones of adjacent pieces is achieved by placing identical colours together.

Suitably, the pre-determined shape defined by the completed pattern is of a regular geometrical shape, for example a triangle, rectangle, square, hexagon etc.

Preferably, the edges of the pre-determined shape defined by the completed pattern are all of equal length.

Preferably, the pieces are all of identical shape. Preferably, though not necessarily, the pieces are of identical shape which are complimentary to the shape of the composite pattern. Thus, the pieces may be rectangular, square, or, preferably, equilaterally triangular. Preferably, most or all of the pieces are of unique appearance within the set of pieces.

Preferably, thought not necessarily, the straight edges of each piece are of identical length.

Most suitably, each edge of each piece has visually distinct display zones extending along the edge from each corner. Suitably, the display zones extend to a central position of the edge.

Suitably, each corner of each piece has adjacent display zones extending from the corner, and which are visually distinct. Most preferably, therefore, a piece with n corners has 2n display zones.

Preferably, each display zone of each piece is visually distinct from all the other display zones of that piece.

Preferably, the pieces do not have re-entrant portions.

Preferably, each of the pieces of the puzzle has the same variations of visually distinct zones, though in different arrangements. For example, when the pieces are triangular there are preferably six display zones for each piece and these six display zones may suitably display six different colours. All the other pieces have six display zones which display the same six colours, although in different arrangements.

Pieces of the puzzle could be thick blocks, provided these have display faces which could provide a composite two-dimensional pattern. Conveniently, however, the pieces may be of a thin material, for example cardboard.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a puzzle comprising a plurality of identically shaped pieces, each of which is bounded by straight edges of identical length, and each edge of each piece has two display zones extending from respective corners, with each corner of each piece having two display zones extended to the corner, one along one meeting edge and the other along the other meeting edge, wherein all of the display zones of each piece display visually distinct material, which material is also exhibited by all of the display zones of all of the other pieces, but in a plurality of different arrangements, wherein the pieces are capable of being placed all together to provide a composite two-dimensional pattern of pre-determined shape, without gaps therein, and with visual correspondence of juxtaposed zones of adjacent pieces.

Although the invention described can provide an extremely demanding and challenging puzzle, simple variants may be made for quite small children. For example, in the case of an embodiment with triangular pieces, each corner of a piece may be associated with just one colour, and the puzzle could revolve around the matching-up of three colours only. On the other hand, for an extremely difficult puzzle, one could employ a large number of colours, in excess of the number of display zones for a given piece.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows triangular pieces of a puzzle in accordance with the invention.

In the drawing, the letters P, G, Y, M, 0 and R have been used to to denote respectively the colours pink, green, yellow, mauve, orange and red.

The puzzle comprises 100 pieces, each of which is an equilateral triangle of identical size. Each piece is marked with a circle which makes tangential contact with the three edges. Each corner is bisected by a line 4.

Six display zones are each bounded by the edge of the piece, the circle, and the line bisecting a corner. Each display zone is coloured differently, as indicated in the drawing.

Each piece of the puzzle has six display zones as described above and the six display zones of each piece display the aforementioned six colours, in different arrangements. Thus, in the uppermost piece shown, pink and green display zones are at one corner, yellow and mauve at another, and red and orange at the third, whilst in another piece, making edgewise contact with the uppermost piece, yellow and orange are at one corner, mauve and red at another and pink and green at a third.

In this embodiment, most of the 100 pieces are unique in their arrangements of colours in their display zones, and the arrangements of colours have been chosen such that it is possible to put all the pieces together to form a composite equilateral triangle, with no gaps between any of the pieces, and with visual correspondence of juxtaposed display zones of adjacent pieces. That is to say, orange and mauve display zones along the edge of one piece must be matched with corresponding orange and mauve display zones along the juxtaposed edge of the next piece and so forth.

As well as being a visually attractive puzzle, it is also intellectually challenging. If the pieces are placed together with little thought being given to how the last pieces might be put in place, it is invariably found that it is quite impossible to put the last few pieces in correctly to finish the puzzle. Very considerable thought has to be given to solving the puzzle, and a strategy of putting the pieces together has to be planned.

It is possible to produce very similar embodiments with other shaped pieces, for example square or rectangular pieces, or hexagonal pieces, and with pieces which are not all of the same shape. Somewhat different embodiments, which have in common with the above embodiment, the idea of requiring visual correspondence of juxtaposed display zones, may be envisaged. An extremely difficult puzzle, which is a three-dimensional analogue of the two-dimensional puzzles described herein, may also be envisaged and constitutes a further aspect of the present invention.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (14)

1. A puzzle comprising a plurality of pieces, each piece being bounded by straight edges and having a plurality of visually distinct zones along its edges, wherein the pieces are capable of being placed together to provide a composite two-dimensional pattern of pre-determined shape, and with visual correspondence of juxtaposed zones of adjacent pieces.

2. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the pieces are placeable together without any gaps being present within the composite two-dimensional pattern.

3. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the visually distinct zones are visually distinct by being of different colour, and visual correspondence of juxtaposed zones of adjacent pieces is achieved by placing identical colours together.

4. A puzzle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pre-determined shape defined by the completed pattern is a regular geometrical shape.

5. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the edges of the pre-determined shape defined by the completed pattern are all of equal length.

6. A puzzle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pieces are all of identical size and shape.

7. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the pieces are of identical shape which is complimentary to the shape of the composite pattern.

8. A puzzle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the straight edges of each piece are of identical length.

9. A puzzle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pieces are all equilateral triangles.

10. A puzzle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each edge of each piece has visually distinct display zones extending along the edge from each corner.

11. A puzzle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each corner of each piece has adjacent display zones extending from the corner, and which are visually distinct.

12. A puzzle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each display zone of each piece is visually distinct from all the other display zones of that piece.

13. A puzzle comprising a plurality of identically shaped pieces, each of which is bounded by straight edges of identical length, and each edge of each piece has two display zones extending from respective corners, with each corner of each piece having two display zones extended to the corner, one along one meeting edge and the other along the other meeting edge, wherein all of the display zones of each piece display visually distinct material, which material is also exhibited by all of the display zones of all of the other pieces, but in a plurality of different arrangements, wherein the pieces are capable of being placed all together to provide a composite two-dimensional pattern of pre-determined shape, without gaps therein, and with visual correspondence of juxtaposed zones of adjacent pieces.

14. A puzzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.