GB2469517A

GB2469517A - Disc matching puzzle

Info

Publication number: GB2469517A
Application number: GB0906627A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Acford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-17
Filing date: 2009-04-17
Publication date: 2010-10-20
Also published as: GB0906627D0

Abstract

A puzzle comprises at least two discs each having markings such as colours, letters or like distinctive symbols provided on at least one face. The puzzle is solved by positioning the discs in order that the markings on adjacent discs match. The discs may have marks on both faces such that they may be positioned either way up. The discs may be rotatable and/or removable, and the markings may be Braille. The discs may be any desired geometric shape, e.g. circular, hexagonal, or octagonal. In a preferred embodiment the puzzle comprises a 3x3 array of nine circular discs 1-9 removably retained on a base or board, the markings on each face comprise two each of four colours, and at least one spare disc is provided. The base or board may be modular or folding for increased portability. The puzzle may alternatively be provided electronically (not shown), e.g. using a computer, with the board and discs displayed on a screen and the discs being manipulated using input means.

Description

A PUZZLE

DESCRIPTION

A first embodiment of the invention comprises nine discs with distinctive markings on at least one side and said nine discs being retained within a holder. The object of the puzzle is to position the discs within the holder such that the distinctive markings on each disc are the same as those on each and every adjacent disc.

In order that the invention may be better understood reference will be made to the attached drawings where: -Fig #1 shows a plan view of the invention configured with nine discs placed in three rows of three and with the discs in the puzzle solved' position.

Fig #2 shows the same view as Fig# 1 but with one of the discs removed.

Fig #3 shows a physical embodiment of the invention that allows the disc holder to be folded and placed in a holding case.

Now referring to the figures, the discs 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 are rotatable within the holder (10). When the puzzle is solved then the distinctive markings are the same on all adjacent discs. For the purpose of the drawings the discs are marked with the letters G,B,Y,P which represents possible colours Green, Blue, Yellow, Pink. Any distinctive markings may be used providing it does not provide the solution to the puzzle by way of its orientation, as the letters in the attached figures do.

In order to make the puzzle more difficult the discs can be made removable such that each of the nine discs can be placed in any one of the nine positions provided within the holder. In a further embodiment of the invention the discs can have distinctive markings on both sides and be arranged such that they can be positioned in the holder in any position and either way up. Depending on the design of the marks on each of the discs there can be one or more possible solutions.

The description of the puzzle and figures 1,2,3 show a puzzle with three rows of three discs in further embodiments the number of rows and the number of discs per row may be varied.

In a still further embodiment of the invention there is at least one spare disc and the distinctive markings on the discs are such that only the correct disc or discs must be discarded in order to complete the puzzle.

In the embodiment of the invention described there are eight marks on each disc, in other embodiments there can be less or more marks on each disc.

The distinctive markings on the discs can be in the form of colours, dots, braille marks, pictures or other distinguishing marks or patterns.

In the embodiment of the invention described there are up to four adjoining places where each disc must have their distinctive marks matched.

In a further embodiment of the invention the four adjoining places can be varied to a larger or smaller number, in some cases the shape of the disc may be varied to achieve the required number of adjoining places for matching the distinctive marks. Shapes such as a hexagon, octagon etc may be used.

The holder for the discs may be formed by more than one part, the parts being arranged to fold up as shown in Fig #3 or to slide apart in order to reduce the area of the profile of the puzzle.

The reduced area puzzle can be fitted into a holding case (15) with a lid (14) for transportation.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig #3 the puzzle is folded into three parts 11,12,13 in order to make it more easily portable.

The puzzle may be placed in a larger profile area case without folding or reducing its normal profile area.

The puzzle may be placed in one of the holders in a solved or in a not solved condition.

All the above description refers to a physical embodiment of the invention. In a further embodiment the principle may be applied to a puzzle presented on a display such as a computer screen. In this embodiment the discs are rotated and turned over by suitable input devices to a control system that controls the display. Such an embodiment may be constructed using a computer using operating keys, mouse or other input device to manipulate the discs.

Accordingly the present invention comprises a puzzle comprising at least two discs that have distinctive markings on at least one side and said discs being positioned adjacent to each other with matching adjacent distinctive markings in order to solve the puzzle and said discs having physical or electronic form.

Claims

CLAIMSI) A puzzle comprising at least two discs that have distinctive markings on at least one side and said discs being positioned adjacent to each other with matching adjacent distinctive markings in order to solve the puzzle and said discs having physical or electronic form.
2) A puzzle as claimed in claim #1 where the puzzle is in a physical form and consists of moveable discs that are retained within a retention means.
3) A puzzle as claimed in claim #1 where the puzzle is in an electronic form, the discs being displayed on a display means and said discs being manipulated by means of an input interface to a control means that generates the display.
4) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-3 where the distinctive markings are colours.
5) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-3 where the distinctive markings are braille.
6) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-3 where the distinctive markings are other marks or symbols.
7) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-6 where the discs are removable and can be placed in any one of the possible positions within the holder.
8) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-7 where the discs have distinctive marks on both sides and are arranged such that they can be used either way up.
9) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-8 where at least one spare disc is provided.
10) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-9 where there are eight distinctive marks on one or both sides of the discs.
II) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-9 where there are less than eight or more than eight distinctive markings on one or both sides of the discs.
12) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-11 where there are three rows of three discs.
13) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-11 where there are at least two rows of at least two discs.
14) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-13 where the discs are circular.
15) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-13 where the discs are of another shape.
16) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-15 where one distinctive mark on each disc must be matched on adjacent discs.
17) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-15 where more than one distinctive mark on each disc must be matched with adjacent discs.
18) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-17 where there are up to four adjoining places on adjacent discs that must have the distinctive marks matched.
19) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1-17 where the number of places where the distinctive marks have to be matched is more or less than four, in some cases this is achieved by using discs of a shape other than a circle, such as a hexagon, octagon.
20) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1,2 and 4-19 where the puzzle can be folded in order to reduce its projected area and to render it more portable.
21) A puzzle as claimed in claims 1,2 and 4-19 where the puzzle can be separated into two or more sections in order to reduce its projected area and to render it more portable.