GB2242365A

GB2242365A - Puzzle

Info

Publication number: GB2242365A
Application number: GB9104919A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Vaughan Higgins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-03-29
Filing date: 1991-03-08
Publication date: 1991-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2011-03-08
Also published as: GB9104919D0; GB9007033D0; GB2242365B

Abstract

A puzzle comprises a plurality of cylindrical components 9 rotatably coaxially mounted one on top of each other, each component 9, except the uppermost and lowermost components 11, 3, comprising a plurality of segments 4, 5, 6, defining respectively a through hole, a downwardly facing cavity, or an upwardly facing cavity. The aim of the game is to pass a ball or other suitable object from the uppermost component 11 to the lowermost component 3 by sequentially aligning respective hole defining segments 4 by relative rotation of the components 9 such that the ball may pass therethrough. <IMAGE>

Description

Game Puzzle This invention relates to a game puzzle and particularly but not exclusively a puzzle to be played by a sole player which can be solved by the player by the use of logic.

According to the present invention there is provided game apparatus comprising a plurality of components movably connected together in sequence such that one component defines a first end which connects by intermediate components to a further component which defines a second end, each intermediate component having means defining a through path for passage of an article, and means for preventing passage of the article, and being movable relative to adjoining components whereby to present the through path along which the article may pass from one adjoining component to the other, or to prevent movement of the article therebetween, the game being complete when an article is moved from one of the end components to the other via each of the intermediate components.

Preferably, each intermediate component also has means for retaining the article therein when the retaining means is presented to the article in an adjoining component.

The exterior of the intermediate components is preferably opaque such that the path defining means, the passage preventing means and the retaining means cannot be identified Means may be provided on the exterior of the intermediate components to identify the locations of the path defining means, the path obstructing means and the path retaining means, though not distinguishing therebetween.

The components are preferably rotatable about a common axis.

The components may be substantially cylindrical and may comprise a plurality of segments each defining a respective one of the path defining means, the path obstructing means and the retaining means. The or each segment presenting the path defining means may include an opening. The or each segment defining the path obstructing means and/or the retaining means may comprise a cavity having radial side walls and a base on one face of the cylinder, thereby defining the path obstructing means or the retaining means dependent on whether the base is generally upwardly or downwardly facing.

An opening may be provided leading into the first and/or second end component to permit an article to be placed in or removed from the apparatus.

Alternatively means may be provided such that an article can be seen when in the first and/or second end component.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of game apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a component of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partially removed diagrammatic perspective view of the component of Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views to Figs. 2 and 3 of a further component of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of a still further component of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the component of Fig. 6.

The drawings show a game apparatus comprising a plurality of cylindrical components 9 whose diameter is greater than their height, and who are rotatably mounted one on top of each other on a central spindle 1. Each component 9 is provided with a central hole 13 to permit mounting on the spindle but the hole 13 only extends a part of the way through an uppermost cylindrical component 11, and the hole 13 in the component 11 is tapered such that the component 11 rotates with, rather than relative to, the spindle 11. A flange is provided on the lower end of the spindle 1 which engages against a lowermost cylindrical component 3.

Each of the components 9 except the uppermost and lowermost components 11, 3, are divided up into six segments. The segments either define a through hole or a cavity defined by side walls and either a top or bottom wall. In Fig. 3 the circumferential wall of the component 9 has been omitted to clearly show the different segments.

Segments 4 comprise a hole, whilst segments 5 define a downwardly facing cavity with a top wall, and segments 6 define an upwardly facing cavity with a bottom wall. The uppermost and lowermost components 11, 3 are solid except for a single hole 2 which respectively extends from either the base of the upper most component 11 or the top of the lowermost component 3 to connect with a circumferential opening 7.

In use, a ball or other object of a size to pass through the holes defined by the segments 4 or into the cavities defined by the segments 5 and 6, is placed into the hole 2 in the uppermost component 11 through the opening 7. The aim is for the ball to pass through the apparatus and out of the opening 7 in the lowermost component 3. This is accomplished by rotating the components 9 relative to each other such that the ball passes through a one of the holes 4 in each of the components 9 and eventually reaches the lowermost component 3. If however the ball becomes located in one of the cavities 6 it will be necessary to invert the apparatus to return the ball to the component 9 from which it had just come, and then rotate the other component 9 of the two such that the ball may subsequently pass through a hole 4.A player should be able to ascertain whether the ball has passed through one or more holes 4 or has passed into a cavity 6 or impacted the top of a downwardly facing cavity 5 by carefully listening to the sound made.

Alternatively, or in addition, if the ball is quite heavy relative to the apparatus it may be possible to sense where the ball is by feeling its weight. Once the ball has reached the lowermost component 3, if required the process can obviously be reversed by turning the apparatus over.

Figs. 2 and 3 show a component 9 with a first arrangement of segments 4, 5, 6. Figs. 4 and 5 show a further arrangement of the segments 4, 5, 6 and a mixture of such components 9 could be used in the apparatus thus raising the skill level required to pass a ball through the apparatus.

There is thus described apparatus suitable for playing a game of skill which tests a person's ability to detect and categorise sounds and to picture the contents of the apparatus. The apparatus is of relatively simple construction and can thus be inexpensively and robustly manufactured.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, aside from the above variations the configuration of the cylindrical components can be varied considerably. If required, markings could be provided on the exterior of the cylindrical components to indicate when respective segments are aligned, although of course the type of segments which are aligned would not be marked. The openings 7 may be smaller than the ball such that the ball is trapped within the apparatus but the ball is visible through the respective opening 7 when in either the lowermost or uppermost component 3, 11. Alternatively the ball may be trapped in the apparatus and a different method is provided of indicating when the ball is in either the lowermost or uppermost component.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising a plurality of components movably connected together in sequence such that one component defines a first end which connects by intermediate components to a further component which defines a second end, each intermediate component having means defining a through path for passage of an article, and means for preventing passage of the article, and being movable relative to adjoining components whereby to present the through path along which the article may pass from one adjoining component to the other, or to prevent movement of the article therebetween, the game being complete when an article is moved from one of the end components to the other via each of the intermediate components.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the exterior of the intermediate components is opaque such that the path defining means and the passage preventing means cannot be identified.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, in which means are provided on the exterior of the intermediate components to identify the locations of the path defining means and the path obstructing means, though not distinguishing therebetween.

4. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, in which the components are rotatable about a common axis.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, in which the components are substantially cylindrical.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, in which each intermediate component also has means for retaining the article therein when the retaining means is presented to the article in an adjoining component.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, in which the components comprise a plurality of segments each defining a respective one of the path defining means, the path obstructing means and the retaining means.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, in which the or each segment presenting the path defining means includes an opening.

9. Apparatus according to Claims 7 or 8, in which the or each segment defining the path obstructing means and/or the retaining means comprises a cavity having radial side walls and a base on one face of the cylinder, thereby defining the path obstructing means or the retaining means dependent on whether the base is generally upwardly or downwardly facing.

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, in which an opening is provided leading into the first and/or second end component to permit the article to be placed in or removed from the apparatus.

11. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 9 in which means is provided such that an article can be seen when in the first and/or second end component.

12. Game apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed in the foregoing specification or claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.