GB2461888A

GB2461888A - Cubic puzzle

Info

Publication number: GB2461888A
Application number: GB0812957A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jesse Rodney Hill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-07-16
Filing date: 2008-07-16
Publication date: 2010-01-20
Also published as: GB0812957D0

Abstract

A cubic puzzle comprises a plurality of cubic bodies21, each having a pattern defined on each of its six faces, the plurality of cubic bodies being capable of being assembled into a three dimensional form in which the patterns on all of the cubic bodies21at each face of the three dimensional form define a desired pattern on that face. The cubic bodies21may have different patterns applied to at least four of their six faces. The puzzle may comprise eight cubic bodies21, twelve cubic bodies21or twenty-seven cubic bodies21which can be assembled into a 2x2x2, 2x3x3 and 3x3x3 three dimensional form, respectively. The puzzle may be contained within a container31which may have means32for separating each layer of the cubic bodies21, the container31may be transparent.

Description

"GAMES APPARA1US" This Invention relates to games apparatus and, nore particularly, to games apparatus for use by one or a plurality of players.

Puzzle8, comprising a plurality of separated eleizenta intended to be attached, connected, manipulated or otherwise assembled together to define a particular visual presentation or presentations, are well known in the art and such games apparatus include Jigsaw puzzles a�i three dimensional puzzles such as the rubiks cube.

The present Invention seeks to provide a three dimensional puz2i e games apparatus.

* According to the present invention there is provided a plurality of independent three dImensional generally cubic bodies, each of which has a pattern defined on each of its six faces, said plurality of cubic bodies being capable of being assembled into a three dIjional form, in which the patterns on all the faces of the cubic bodies at each face of the three dimensional form define a desired pattern on that face.

Preferably the patterns applied to the faces of the p cubic bodies are selected from a limited rnznber of face patterns, re preferably the ntmther of face patterns is less than 20 and most preferably the u*auber of face patterns is 10.

In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention each cubic body has different patterns applied to at least four of its six faces and the Intention of the puzzle Ia to assemble the cubic bodies into a three dLnens lanai form where the patterns on all the faces of the cubic bodies in each face of the three disensional form define a pattern individual to that face.

In one embodiment in accordance with the invention, intended primarily for children, the apparatus eoirqrises eight cubic bodies intended to be assembled into a three dimensional form two cubic bodies in height, in width and In length.

In another embodiment the apparatus comprises twenty seven cubic bodies intended to be assembled into a three dimensional form three cubic bodies in height, in width, and in length.

In a further embodiment the apparatus comprises twelve cubic bodies Intended to be assembled into a three dimensional form two cubic bodies In height, in width, and three cubic bodies in length.

In one embodiment each cubic body has its edge regions radiused and its corner regions radlused bet, in au. forms each cubic body defines six major faces with each said face * generally at right angles to the four faces adjacent thereto and generally parallel to the face moat remote therefrom.

Each, or selected ones, of said cubic bodies may be of solid or hollow construction.

Each, or selected ones, of said cubic bodies may comprise a wood, plastics material, paper, or metal or any other substantially rigid material. Each, or selected ones, of said cubic bodies may be made of a resilient material, such as rubber or rubber substitutes, capable of maintaining its cubic body form when in an unstressed condition.

In one embodiment in accordance with the invention the pat terne applied to the six faces of one cubic body, or each of the cubic bodies In a group of cubic bodies, is Jixlividual to that body or a group of bodies sod is different to the other pattern forms applied to the other bodies in the three dimensional form.

The invention also envisages a three dimensional form of cubic bodies in accordance with the Invention, In cnbination with a cont1nr capable of receiving the three dimensional form therein.

Preferably the container is made of a transparent material.

Preferably the container cont4ns means for separating each layer of the cubic bodies in the three dimensional form.

The invt ton will now be described further by way of example with rele tence to the accanpanying drawings in which Fig.l shows a blank illustrating the six faces of a cubic body, Fig. 2, figures 1 to 10 inclusive, iUustrates ten patterns each of which may be applied to a face of a cubic body, Fig. 3 shows, in perspective view, a three dimensional body canpriaing twenty seven cubes with three faces illustrated, Fig. 4 shows an perspective view of the three dimensional form illustrated In Fig. 3, from a different direction illustrating the other three faces of the three cIttni'nRiOnal form, Fig. 5 shows a blank illustrating all six sides of a three dimensional form, and Fig. 6 shows a container in accordance with the invention.

The blank illustrated In Pig. 1 sbowa six cube aides A, B, C, D, E, and F, and a cube is fornEd when the blank folded along Junctions of the faces A to P Inclusive so that the faces B and 1) lie parallel, faces C and E lie parallel, and faces A ark! F lie parallel.

Figures 2 -1 inclusive show ten different patterns as nay be applied to each of the faces A to F of the cube and thus using these ten patterns in all possible combinations with the six panels A to F inclusive, there is a possible one miUion combination of patterns as nay be applied to each cube. In the illustrated patterns the pattern is defined by two different six! distinct colours.

However, within that possible combination there are a limited munber of combinations as amy be applied to the cubes to produce regular and interconnected patterns over the six surfaces of the three rI1nnqional form constructed from blocks.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 twenty seven cubes 21 are arranged to form a three dimensional form three cubic bodies 21 in height, in width and in length.

The patterns applied to the twenty seven cubes 21 are

shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1

CUBE FACE

A B C D E F

1. 10 9 5 6 3 1 2. 5 9 1 6 7 4 3. 1 7 5 6 3 6 4. 10 8 7 6 4 6 5. tO 9 4 6 10 1 6. 7 9 1 6 5 6 7. 9 1 1 6 8 2 8. 1 1 1 6 1 8 9. 10 8 2 6 7 6 10. 8 10 3 6 9 4 11. 3 9 2 6 10 8 12. 1 9 5 6 10 8 13. 5 2 7 6 5 8 14. 2 4 6 5 1 10 15. 7 3 5 6 3 3 16. 9 2 5 6 9 4 17. 10 4 4 6 7 1 18. 7 3 10 6 5 2 19. 7 1 4 6 5 6 20. 2 2 5 6 10 6 21. 7 2 2 6.10 6 22. 1 3 5 6 10 6 23. 10 9 6 5 3 1 24. 4 1 6 5 1 8 25. 4 4 1 6 5 6 26. 8 7 8 4 1 3 27. 10 5 10 9 6 5

V

The puzzle to be solved is to arrange the twenty seven cubic bodies 21 Into the three dimensional, form such that the patterns on the si three dimensional form define recognjsajge patterns, preferably flowing from one face to the next as shown in Pig. 5.

Fig. 3 shows a blank for a three dimensional form illustrating one pattern which can be obtained using the twenty seven cubes defined in Table 1 and, as will be seen from Pi.g.

3, four connected sides of the three dimensional body, aides Sb, Cc, I and FE, define parallel diagonal stripes Which continue from face to face around the continuous body whilst the end face Ac defines diagonal stripes matching face Sb and end face FE defines diagonal stripes matching face Pa.

It viii be appreciated that using' the twenty seven blocks defined in Table 1 other regular patterns may be defined for the three dimensional body and, by using blocks with different arrangeinta of patterns Fig. 2, 1 to 10 an infinite nmiber of end solutions can be obtained.

Fig. 6 shows a container of particular advantage with the puzzle in that said container 31 is made from a transparent material and iiludes internal walls 32 which define nine apertures, arranged in three rows of three each capable of receiving three cubic bodies 21.

Thus, the container 32 can simply comprise a container for the twenty seven cubes but, further, when a plurality of cubes has been assembled to partially complete the puzzle said assembly can be inserted into the container in their "patterns" disposition to retain their respective positions whilst the remaining cubic bodies 21 may be free of the container for manipulation and arrangnt to complete the puzzle.

Whilst the present invention has been described by way of rgin1e with reference to a specific embodiment the invention is not restricted thereto and mauy nodificationa and variations will be apparent to persona skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS-1. A THREE DIAMENTIAL PUZZLE GAME CONSISTING OF 27CUBES WITH EACH OF THEIR FACES HAVING DEFINEDGEOMETRICAL PATTERNS.
2. A GAME AS DEFINED IN CLAIM 1, WHEN CORRECTLYASSEMBLED FORMS ONE OF THREE DEFINATE PATTERNSOLUTIONS.
3. A GAME AS CLAIMED IN ANY PROCEEDING CLAIM IS MADE FROM METAL, PLASTICS MATERIAL OR WOOD OR ANY COMBINATION OF THESE MATERIALS.
4. A GAME AS CLAIMED iN ANY OTHER PROCEEDINGCLAIM THAT IS PRODUCED BY WAY OF COMPUTERGRAPHICS WITH OR WITHOUT SOUND EFECTS ANDWITH OR WITHOUT A GAME COMPLETE TIMING DEVICE.
5. A GAME SUBSTANTIALLY AS HEREIN DESCRIBEDABOVE AND ILLUSTRATED IN THE ACCOMPANYINGDRAWINGS.