GB2354178A

GB2354178A - Viewing pathways on three-dimensional puzzle shapes

Info

Publication number: GB2354178A
Application number: GB9919508A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Christophe Wattleworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-19
Filing date: 1999-08-19
Publication date: 2001-03-21
Anticipated expiration: 2019-08-19
Also published as: GB9919508D0; GB2354178B

Abstract

In three-dimensional puzzles where small tree-dimensional elements are hinged together to enable a variety of larger shapes to be formed by combination of all the smaller elements, with each of the faces (S14, S15 etc) of the smaller elements carrying colours, patterns or part-images, indicators (11, 12) are incorporated in order to show the viewing sequence of images around the completed larger shapes. These pre-determined sequences can provide reading or learning opportunities in story-telling, instructional, reference or educational activities. Additional indicators (10, 14) can provide start or finish points, or continuation prompts (13) for a folding action.

Description

2354178 PATHWAY SET AROUND A THREE-DIMENSIONAL PUZZLE SHAPE This invention

relates to a pathway set of indicators and symbols that lead the user around a three-dimensional puzzle shape.

Three-dimensional puzzle shapes consist of a number of smaller sized three- dimensional shapes. The smaller sized three-dimensional shapes are hinged to at least one other similar sized shape and fold to form a number of larger sized three-dimensional shapes by way of various combinations of the smaller sized three-dimensional shapes. The faces of the smaller sized three-dimensional shapes display a colour, pattern or image or part thereof, which may form a whole in combination with a number of other similar sized shape faces.

However present three-dimensional puzzle shapes only display discrete colours, patterns or images either on smaller sized three-dimensional shape faces or on larger sized three-dimensional shape faces being a combination of smaller sized three-dimensional shape faces and do not directly link 2 separately formed colours, patterns or images or create a predetermined viewing sequence around the three-dimensional puzzle shape.

According to the present invention there is provided a pathway set upon a three-dimensional puzzle shape comprising smaller sized three-dimensional shapes hinged together to form various larger sized three-dimensional shapes with the pathway set showing the predetermined viewing sequence to be followed by the user around the three-dimensional puzzle shape. The pathway set commences on the three-dimensional puzzle shape face with a start or re-start symbol and continues around the puzzle shape by way of track indicators and concludes on the three-dimensional puzzle shape face which shows a continuation indicator and an interim-end or end symbol. A pathway set includes track indicators though other elements of the pathway set may be omitted as appropriate to the design and the imagery of the specific three-dimensional puzzle shape. At the conclusion of a pathway set the three-dimensional puzzle shape is folded in a defined sequence to reveal the next pathway set. The beginning of the next pathway set is located with a start or re-start symbol, from here the track indicators are followed around the puzzle shape, the pathway set concludes on the threedimensional puzzle shape face with a continuation indicator and an interim-

3 end or end symbol and the puzzle shape is folded again in a defined sequence to reveal the next pathway set. Depending on the puzzle shape configuration the user is returned to the first pathway. set or continues to a third pathway set. In this way following each folding of the threedimensional puzzle shape in the defined sequence the user moves from pathway set to pathway set.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example of a three-dimensional puzzle cube with a larger cube consisting of eight smaller sized cubes. With reference to the accompanying drawings: - Figure I illustrates the first three sides of the puzzle cube with the beginning of the first pathway set including the green circle start symbol and track indicators shown as arrows.

Figure 2 illustrates the second three sides of the puzzle cube with the end of the first pathway set including track indicators, the red circle interim-end symbol and continuation indicator shown as a double headed upfacing arrow.

4 Figure 3 illustrates the first folding movement of the smaller sized cubes required to turn the puzzle cube inside out to reveal the second pathway set.

Figure 4 illustrates the second folding movement of the smaller sized cubes required to turn the puzzle cube inside out to reveal the second pathway set.

Figure 5 shows the third folding movement of the smaller sized cubes required to turn the puzzle cube inside out to reveal the second pathway set.

Figure 6 shows the puzzle cube turned inside out to reveal the first three sides of the second pathway set indicated by the green circle start symbol and is the equivalent to Figure I for the second pathway set.

Referring to the drawings, the puzzle cube pathway set consists of a start or re-start symbol 10, entry track indicators 11, exit track indicators 12, continuation indicator 13 and end or interim-end symbol 14. There are two pathway sets around the puzzle cube each of which leads the user around six larger sized cube faces passing twenty-four smaller sized cube faces creating the predetermined viewing sequence. The smaller sized cube faces have been numbered in Figure I and Figure 2 to illustrate the forming of a larger sized cube face from four smaller sized cube faces.

Figure I shows the first three larger sized cube faces and the start of the first pathway set. Each larger sized cube face is made of four smaller sized cube faces, the first larger face on the top of the cube is formed from the four smaller faces SL S231 S3 and S4. The pathway set begins with a green cicle start symbol 10 positioned in the centre close to the top edge of the first larger sized cube face, followed by an exit track indicator 12 positioned in the centre close to the bottom edge of the same face indicating the direction to be followed to view the next adjacent larger sized cube face. On the next larger sized cube face formed from the four smaller sized cube faces S5, S6, S7 and S8, an entry track indicator 11 is positioned in the centre close to the top edge with the tail of the arrow indicating the direction of the adjacent larger sized cube face viewed immediately prior to the current face. The exit track indicator 12 on the second larger sized cube face is positioned in the centre close to the righthand edge indicating the direction to be followed to view the next adjacent larger sized cube face formed from the four smaller faces S9, S 10, S I I and S12. In this way entry arrows 11 and exit arrows 12 provide track 6 indicators to guide the user's progression around the larger sized cube faces and create a predetermined viewing sequence starting from the first face on the top of the puzzle cube down to the second face on the side and around to the third face again on the side all shown in Figure 1. The pathway set and predetermined viewing sequence around the puzzle cube continues round the side to the fourth and fifth larger sized cube faces and is completed with the bottom and sixth larger sized cube face.

Figure 2 shows the last three larger sized cube faces of the first pathway set consisting of on the side of the puzzle cube the fourth larger sized cube face formed from the four smaller sized cube faces S 13, S 14, S 15 and S 16, and the fifth larger sized cube face formed from the four smaller sized cube faces S 17, S 18, S 19 and S20, and then down to the sixth larger sized cube face on the bottom which is formed from the four smaller sized cube faces S21, S22, S23 and S24. On the sixth larger sized cube face the red circle interim-end symbol 14 is positioned in the centre close to the bottom edge of the larger sized cube face and the continuation indicator 13, a double headed up-facing arrow is positioned in the centre of this face. At this point the user has completed the first pathway set and viewed the first set 7 of six larger sized cube faces and the first set of twenty-four smaller sized faces.

The continuation indicator 13 prompts the user to manipulate the puzzle cube in the sequence shown in Figure 3 by lifting, separating and folding down each pair of smaller sized cubes on the upper layer thereby forming a flat larger sized rectangular shape as seen in Figure 4. The direction of the second manipulation is indicated by dashed curved arrows 15 and by lifting up and separating the two sets of four smaller sized cubes along the long centre line and allowing them to rotate down another flat larger sized rectangular shape is formed as seen in Figure 5. The direction of the third manipulation is indicated by dashed curved arrows 16 and by lifting up and separating the two sets of four smaller sized cubes along the short centre line and allowing them to rotate down the larger sized cube shape is formed as seen in Figure 6.

Figure 6 shows the start of the second pathway set of the puzzle cube located by finding the green circle start symbol 10 from where the user begins viewing the second set of six larger sized cube faces and the second set of twenty-four smaller sized cube faces.

8 The user proceeds along the second pathway set following the same procedure as described for Figure I and Figure 2 above. At the end of this second pathway on the sixth and last larger cube face is a continuation indicator 13 shown as a double headed up-facing arrow and the red circle end symbol 14, indicating to the user that the puzzle cube is again folded as illustrated in Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 5 to reveal the first pathway set again. The user may recommence along this pathway set in the predetermined sequence from the beginning by finding the green circle start symbol 10 and thereby repeat the viewing of the puzzle cube.

The symbols and indicators of the pathway set may be represented in various forms most appropriate to the design and the imagery of the specific three-dimensional puzzle shape.

The purpose of track indicators in the pathway set is to indicate to the user of the three-dimensional puzzle shape the next adjacent face to be viewed and may additionally indicate the adjacent face previously viewed in the sequence. By way of examples of track indicators, but not being exhaustive or exclusive lists: entry track indicators may be used in the 9 pathway set and in such cases would include any appropriate pointer whose tail is usually close to and leading from any edge of a shape face, indicating that by turning back to this adjacent face the face previously viewed in the sequence would be located, some alternatives are arrows, letter V or the human hand with a finger extended; exit track indicators would again include any appropriate pointer but whose head is usually close to and leading to any edge of a shape face, indicating that by turning forward to this adjacent face the next face to be viewed in the sequence would be located, some alternatives include arrows, letter V or the human hand with a finger extended; linked entry and exit track indicators can be substituted for the separate entry and exit track indicators described above and would again include any appropriate trail or repeated pointer leading across a shape face from a start point close to one edge of the face, indicating that by turning back to this adjacent face the face previously viewed in the sequence would be located, by way of a trail to an end point close to another edge of the face, indicating that by turning forward to this adjacent face the next face to be viewed in the sequence would be located, some alternatives include foot, paw and other imprints made by a human, animals, birds, insects, other creatures or machinery, and repeated arrows, letter V's or human hands with a finger extended. The relative positioning of an entry and exit track indicator determines the direction of the last and next adjacent shape face for viewing respectively but the entry and exit track indicators do not always need to be positioned close to the edge of the adjacent face.

The purpose of start, re-start, interim-end and end symbols is to indicate to the user of the three-dimensional puzzle shape the start and end of a pathway set, but may be optionally omitted depending on the design and the imagery of the three-dimensional puzzle shape. Examples of start, restart, interim-end and end symbols, but not being exhaustive or exclusive lists, would include any appropriate symbol or words whether in English or any other language: some alternatives for start and re-start symbols being traffic lights with green light coloured, starter's gun, barrier in up position, go traffic sign and the words 'begin' and 'start'; some alternatives for interim-end and end symbols are traffic lights with red light coloured, upheld hand with palm viewed, barrier in down position, stop traffic sign and the words 'end' and 'finish'.

The purpose of the continuation indicator is to indicate to the user the location at which the three-dimensional puzzle shape requires folding in I I order to find the next pathway set, but the continuation indicator may be optionally omitted depending on the design and the imagery of the threedimensional puzzle shape. Examples of continuation indicators, but not being an exhaustive or exclusive list, include any appropriate symbol or words whether in English or any other language, and some alternatives are spiralling arrow, traffic lights with orange coloured, turn traffic sign 'turn here' and 'fold here'.

Claims

12 CLAIMS

1. A pathway set upon a three-dimensional puzzle shape comprising smaller sized three-dimensional shapes hinged together to form various larger sized three-dimensional shapes with the pathway set showing the predetermined viewing sequence to be followed by the user around the three-dimensional puzzle shape. The pathway set commences on the threedimensional puzzle shape face with a start or re-start symbol and continues around the puzzle shape by way of track indicators and concludes on the three-dimensional puzzle shape face which shows a continuation indicator and an interim-end or end symbol. A pathway set includes track indicators though other elements of the pathway set may be omitted as appropriate to the design and the imagery of the specific three-dimensional puzzle shape. At the conclusion of a pathway set the three-dimensional puzzle shape is folded in a defined sequence to reveal the next pathway set. The beginning of the next pathway set is located with a start or re-start symbol, from here the track indicators are followed around the puzzle shape, the pathway set concludes on the threedimensional puzzle shape face with a continuation indicator and an interim-end or end symbol and the puzzle shape is folded again in a 13 defined sequence to reveal the next pathway set. Depending on the puzzle shape configuration the user is returned to the first pathway set or continues to a third pathway set. In this way following each folding of the three-dimensional puzzle shape in the defined sequence the user moves from pathway set to pathway set.

2. A pathway set as claimed in Claim I wherein the track indicators indicate to the user of the three-dimensional puzzle shape the next adjacent face to be viewed and may additionally indicate the adjacent face previously viewed in the sequence. By way of examples of track indicators, but not being exhaustive or exclusive lists: entry track indicators may be used in the pathway set and in such cases would include any appropriate pointer whose tail is usually close to and leading from any edge of a shape face, indicating that by turning back to this adjacent face the face previously viewed in the sequence would be located, some alternatives are arrows, letter V or the human. hand with a finger extended; exit track indicators would again include any appropriate pointer but whose head is usually close to and leading to any edge of a shape face, indicating that by turning forward to this adjacent face the next face to be viewed in the sequence would be 14 located, some alternatives include arrows,, letter V or the human hand with a finger extended; linked entry and exit track indicators can be substituted for the separate entry and exit track indicators described above and would again include any appropriate trail or repeated pointer leading across a shape face from a start point close to one edge of the face, indicating that by turning back to this adjacent face tile face previously viewed in the sequence would be located, by way of a trail to an end point close to another edge of the face, indicating that by turning forward to this adjacent face the next face to be viewed Mi the sequence would be located, some alternatives include foot, paw and other imprints made by a human, animals, birds, insects, other creatures or machinery, and repeated arrows, letter Vs or human hands with a finger extended. The relative positioning of an entry and exit track indicator determines the direction of the last and next adjacent shape face for viewing respectively but the entry and exit track indicators do not always need to be positioned close to the edge of the adjacent face.

3. A pathway set as claimed in Claim I and Claim 2, wherein the start, restart, interim-end and end symbols, is to indicate to the user of the threedimensional puzzle shape the start and end of a pathway set, but may be optionally omitted depending on the design and the imagery of the three-dimensional puzzle shape. Examples of start, re-start, interim-end and end symbols, but not being exhaustive or exclusive lists, would include any appropriate symbol or words whether in English or any other language: some alternatives for start and re-start symbols being traffic lights with green light coloured, starter's gun, barrier in up position, go traffic sign and the words 'begin' and 'start'; some alternatives for interim-end and end symbols are traffic lights with red light coloured, upheld hand with pahn viewed, barrier in down position, stop traffic sip and the words 'end' and 'fmish'.

4. A pathway set as claimed in Claim I and Claim 2 wherein the continuation indicator is to indicate to the user the location at which the three-dimensional puzzle shape requires folding in order to find the next pathway set, but the continuation indicator may be optionally omitted depending on the design and the imagery of the three-dimensional puzzle shape. Examples of continuation indicators, but not being an exhaustive or exclusive list, include any appropriate symbol or words whether in English or any other language, and some alternatives are spiralling arrow, traffic lights with orange coloured, turn traffic sign 'turn here' and 'fold here'.