GB2472581A

GB2472581A - Three dimensional labyrinth puzzle

Info

Publication number: GB2472581A
Application number: GB0913910A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeremy Goode
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-10
Filing date: 2009-08-10
Publication date: 2011-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-10
Also published as: GB0913910D0; GB2472581B

Abstract

A puzzle 2 comprises a transparent cuboidal housing 4, a ball 10 disposed within the housing, and labyrinth plates 20a, 20b, 20c extending within the housing, each plate comprising a planar network of spaced apart, interconnected lands 22a-k. The lands of adjacent plates define a three dimensional pathway (X, fig. 4) extending between, and through, the plates, along which the ball can be moved by tilting and rotating the housing. The housing is preferably in the shape of a cuboid defined by planar walls 6a, 6b, 8a-d, and may be fully enclosed with no openings for removing the ball. The lands 22a-k of a particular plate are preferably spaced apart to provide a channel along which the ball may roll within the plate, with the lands of adjacent plates arranged such that they prevent the ball from leaving the channel at some locations, and define passages at other locations which allow the ball to leave the channel bypassing through the adjacent plate. Adjacent plates are preferably spaced by a distance of around half the ball diameter. The puzzle may include a target region 12 which the ball is moved towards by physically manipulating the housing.

Description

A PUZZLE

The present invention relates to a puzzle, in particular to a three dimensional puzzle.

Many forms of puzzles are known and widely available. One form of puzzle involves moving a ball along a path within the puzzle to a predetermined target area or position. One traditional form of this puzzle comprises a board mounted on a pivoted assembly or gimbal arrangement, whereby the board may be tilted from horizontal about two orthogonal axes. The board is provided with a path thereon defined by members or walls extending from the surface of the board along which a ball may be moved under the action of gravity by appropriate rotation and tilting of the board about one or both of the orthogonal axes. Puzzles of this type are very often made from wood.

In a more modern form of this puzzle, one or more balls are retained within a housing, usually a transparent, plastic housing and are moved within the housing by the user tilting or rotating the housing, allowing the ball to move under the action of .. : gravity. The interior of the housing is provided with obstacles, in particular plates with holes therein, over and through which the user must navigate the ball to the intended target position. * S. * . * S.

A three dimensional puzzle of the aforementioned general type is disclosed in SE 7700695-5. The puzzle comprises a labyrinthine board, having a plurality of walls extending perpendicular therefrom and a plurality of holes, the walls defining a *S..

pathway on the board, along which a ball may be moved by the person playing the game by manipulating the orientation of the board.

SU 1 724 294 discloses a three-dimensional puzzle, in which a ball is to be moved past a variety of obstacles.

A ball-in-labyrinth game is disclosed in WO 91/10487. The game comprises an upper box and a lower box, each box having a plurality of parallel channels formed therein and defined by a plurality of parallel ribs. The upper and lower boxes are arranged to have the channels in the lower box extending perpendicular to the channels in the upper box. The channels in the upper and lower boxes are separated by a plate provided with a plurality of holes therein, each hole connecting a channel in the lower box with a channel in the upper box. A ball is provided, to be moved along the channels and through the holes by the person playing the game.

It would be advantageous if an improved three dimensional puzzle of the aforementioned general type could be provided, in particular a puzzle that can provide the user with a greater level of challenge in three dimensions.

According to the present invention, there is provided a puzzle comprising: a transparent housing; a ball disposed within the housing; a plurality of members extending within the housing, each member *.s.

.. : comprising a plurality of spaced apart lands; *... wherein the lands of adjacent members together define a pathway for the ba!! ***.

to move along within the housing, the pathway extending between and through the * ** adjacent members; whereby rotating and tilting the housing allows the ball to be moved along the pathway within the housing. ***.

S *SS*

The puzzle of the present invention comprises a transparent housing. By being transparent, the housing allows the user to view the interior of the housing and the ball therein. The housing may be entirely transparent. Alternatively, one or more portions of the housing may be opaque or coloured, to limit or prevent the interior from being viewed therethrough. Such opaque or coloured portions also provide a suitable place to apply patterning, designs, brands or trade marks and the like on the housing.

The housing may have any suitable shape. The housing may be provided with one or more curved or arcuate surfaces, for example spherical, conical, cylindrical and the like. It is preferred to provide the housing with flat or planar walls.

In one preferred embodiment, the housing is formed from a plurality of planar side walls, such as a polyhedron, for example a tetrahedron, hexahedron, octahedron and the like. In one particularly preferred embodiment, the housing is cuboidal in shape, that is a form having six rectangular, planar surfaces. The surfaces of the polyhedron may be the same size or different sizes. A cube is one preferred form for the housing, in which the surfaces of the housing are square and of the same size.

Alternatively, the housing is formed as a generally flattened cuboid, that is with upper and lower opposing major surfaces, that may be square or rectangular, and opposing minor surfaces, that are rectangular. In a further embodiment, the housing is formed as a pyramid, for example a tetrahedron, a square pyramid or a pentagonal pyramid.

Alternatively, the housing may be shaped as a double pyramid, that is the general form of two pyramids joined base to base.

It has been found that puzzles having a housing with a relatively high surface area to volume ratio generally present the user with a lower level of challenge that one with a housing having a low surface are to volume ratio. Thus, for example, a *..S : puzzle having a generally rectangular housing with a depth significantly less than its width and/or length can be relatively easy to solve and move the ball along the correct pathway. In such a puzzle, all regions of the interior of the housing are easier * ** to view and the user is more easily able to identify the pathway between the lands of the members. In contrast, a puzzle with a cubic housing, that is one in which the length, width and depth of the housing are the same, has a central region that is **S.

*..: distanced from the walls of the housing and, consequently, more difficult to view.

Identifying the correct pathway for the ball within the central region of the housing is thus more difficult. The degree of difficulty increases as the number of members within the housing increases.

The housing may be formed from any suitable material, with plastic being particularly preferred. Suitable plastics for use in forming the housing are well known in the art and commercially available.

The puzzle comprises a ball within the housing. The housing may be completely enclosed with no openings therein. In such embodiments, the ball is placed within the housing during manufacture prior to the housing being completely assembled. Once fully assembled, the ball may not then be removed from within the housing. This eliminates the risk that the ball may be lost by a user. This is a preferred arrangement. However, an alternative arrangement is to provide the housing with one or more openings therein, through which the ball may be inserted or removed from the housing. For example, the housing may be provided with a first opening through which the ball is passed to start the puzzle, and a second opening spaced apart from the first, through which the ball may be removed upon completion of the puzzle, the first and second openings being connected by a pathway as described below.

The puzzle further comprises a plurality of members disposed within the housing. The members provide an obstruction to the free movement of the ball within the housing and together define a pathway along which the ball may pass.

The members each comprise a plurality of lands. The lands within each member are spaced apart from one another.

In one embodiment, the lands of a given member are spaced apart by a ** * *... distance greater than the diameter of the ball. In this first pattern, the ba!! is free to move within a member between adjacent lands. The ball is prevented from leaving the member by either the lands of an adjacent member or a wall of the housing.

Thus, a pathway for the ball is defined by the lands of a given member and the lands of an adjacent member and/or a wall of the housing. In this region of the puzzle, the ball is free to roll along a channel in one member, the ball being confined to the channel by a wall of the housing and/or one or more lands of an adjacent member.

In a second pattern, the lands of the given member and the lands of an adjacent member are also arranged to provide a passage for the ball to leave the given member and pass into the adjacent layer. Thus, the pathway for the ball to pass from one given member to another is defined by the lands of the given member and the lands of the adjacent member. In this way, the ball is free to move from one member to another member, for example through an intermediate member.

The lands in the members are arranged to connect each channel formed by the first pattern of lands with one or more passages formed by the lands in the second pattern, thereby providing the ball with a pathway that extends along and through the members within the housing. In this way, the puzzle provides a fully three dimensional pathway for the ball to be moved along.

In this embodiment, the adjacent members are preferably spaced apart by a distance less than the diameter of the ball, with a spacing of approximately half the diameter of the ball being particularly preferred.

In an alternative embodiment, the lands in a given member are arranged in one of two patterns, each member comprising lands arranged in both patterns. In a first pattern, the distance between adjacent lands is less than the diameter of the ball, thereby preventing the ball from passing through a member between the two adjacent lands. The members are disposed adjacent one another within the housing and spaced apart. The distance between the lands of adjacent members is again less than the diameter of the ball, thereby preventing the ball from passing between :. the adjacent lands of adjacent members. The spacing of the lands within each member and the spacing of adjacent members is such that the ball may pass a!ong *Se.

the lands through a passage defined by the adjacent lands in the two adjacent .. members. * **

In a second pattern, lands within each member are arranged to provide a : passage through the member between the lands. In particular, within the member, *:*** there are regions in which the adjacent lands are spaced apart by a distance greater than the diameter of the ball. In this way, the ball is able to pass through a given member. The second pattern of lands thereby connects a passage defined by the lands one side of a member with a first adjacent member to a passage defined by the lands of same member and a second adjacent member or a wall of the housing.

Overall, the combination of lands in the first pattern and second pattern and the combination of a plurality of members provides the puzzle with a pathway that allows the ball to move between two adjacent members, by virtue of the lands being arranged in the first pattern, and through a given member, by having the lands in the member arranged in the second pattern.

Each member preferably comprises a plurality of lands arranged in the first pattern, providing the member with a plurality of regions where the ball is unable to pass through the member. Each member may comprise lands arranged in the second pattern to provide a single passage through the member. Alternatively, and more preferably, at least some, more preferably all, of the members comprise lands arranged in the second pattern so as to provide a plurality of passages through the member for the ball to pass from one side of the member to another, In this embodiment, the adjacent members are spaced apart by a distance sufficient to allow the ball to travel between the adjacent members. Preferably, the distance between adjacent members is approximately the same as the diameter of the ball.

The puzzle comprises a plurality of members within the housing. A minimum of two members arranged adjacent and spaced apart from one another are required, the pathway for the ball being defined by the lands of the two members. The

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pathway for the ball may also be defined between a member and the inner surface of * , a wall of the housing. In this arrangement, the member adjacent the wall is provided * S. with one or more passages therethrough defined by the lands of the member, to provide a path for the ball through the member. *S*.

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More preferably, the puzzle comprises three or more members. In this way, the lands of adjacent members define a pathway therebetween for the ball, the pathway also including passages through one or more members. The use of three or more members within the housing allows the user to be provided with a challenge of negotiating the ball along a pathway extending in three dimensions.

The lands within a given member may be arranged in any suitable pattern, with the proviso that they cooperate with the lands of the adjacent member or members, so as to provide a pathway for the ball, as described above. In one preferred arrangement, the lands of a member are arranged on a grid-like' pattern, that is the lands extend either parallel to or orthogonal to one another within the member. The passages defined by the lands in this way are thus generally rectangular in general form.

The lands of each member may be formed from any suitable material. Again, plastic is a particularly preferred material, allowing the members to be formed by well known techniques, such as injection moulding. In a preferred embodiment, at least some of the lands of at least some of the members are transparent to light. In this way, the lands act to diffract and reflect light entering the housing, providing visual effect to the user of the puzzle and, in some cases, increasing the difficulty in selecting the pathway to be followed by the ball.

A member may be formed with a first set of lands to cooperate with a first adjacent member, as described above, and a second set of lands to cooperate with a second adjacent member. More preferably, each member is provided with a single set of lands which cooperate with the lands of all the adjacent members. **.. * * * S. *

Each member within the housing comprises a plurality of lands as

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aforementioned. The lands define the passages between and through the members, * to provide the path through which the ball is to be navigated by the user. A member * S. may comprise one or more bodies in addition to the lands, to present a further obstacle to the free passage of the ball. Alternatively, a member may consist of a plurality of lands. *

*S**I. S *

The lands in a given member of the puzzle are preferably interconnected, such that each land in the member is either directly or indirectly connected to each other land in the member. This is a particularly advantageous form for the member, in particular in terms of its ease of manufacture and in the challenge presented by the puzzle to the user. In a preferred embodiment, each member consists of a plurality of interconnected lands, the lands forming the only obstacle to the free movement of the ball within the housing. In this way, the puzzle may be provided with a particularly severe challenge to the user to navigate the ball through the passages defined by the members. Such members are also to manufacture, for example from a suitable plastic by moulding.

The lands may of any suitable shape and configuration. Preferably, the lands are all of the same shape and form with differing lengths, although a given member may comprise lands of different shapes and sizes. The lands may have any suitable cross-sectional shape. Preferably, the lands have a rectangular cross-section, with a square cross-section being particularly preferred. As an alternative, some or all of the lands may be triangular in cross-section.

The lands are preferably formed from a transparent or translucent material, such as plastic. The lands are preferably transparent. The lands may have plain surfaces. Alternatively, the lands may be provided with a contoured surface, such as a surface provided with grooves, ribs or the like, which act to reflect and refract light entering the housing. In this way, the visual appearance of the puzzle may be enhanced. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the lands may be provided with a fluorescent coating or prepared from a material containing a fluorescent component, again to provide enhanced visual appearances of the puzzle. **.I * * *

In general, by providing the members with lands that are transparent or * * translucent, the user is provided with a puzzle that is spatially disorientating with little *. *** or no discrete points of reference for the pathway to be followed by the ball. This * S. enhances the challenge of the puzzle and enjoyment for the user. Further, by having the lands of all members transparent or translucent, the user may always see the ball within the housing, regardless of its position.

*S*.., * The members may be any shape or form within the housing, provided that the lands of adjacent members cooperate as described above to define a path along which the ball may be caused to move. In a particularly preferred embodiment, each member is planar, that is all the lands of the member tie in a single plane. A particularly preferred arrangement is one in which each member of the puzzle is planar and consists only of a plurality of interconnected lands.

The members may be arranged in any suitable or preferred pattern within the housing. In a preferred arrangement, the housing contains a plurality of parallel, spaced apart members disposed therein.

The puzzle preferably comprises members that are substantially flat or planar, with the lands of the member lying in a single plane. Most preferably, all the members in the puzzle are of this form.

In a particularly preferred arrangement, all the members within the housing are parallel. In the case that all the members are flat or planar, the members are preferably arranged parallel to one another, so as to form a series or stack of members.

The members are preferably spaced apart from one another, to allow the ball to occupy the space between the adjacent members. More preferably, the puzzle comprises nothing disposed between the adjacent members, with the housing being empty therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, the puzzle consists of the housing, a plurality of spaced apart members disposed therein and a ball therein. The members are preferably held apart by spacing members. The spacing members occupy only a minor portion of the surface area of a member and preferably extend from one member to contact or engage with the adjacent member. Preferably, the * ._ spacing members each extend from one member and engage with a recess in an * ** adjacent member. The spacing members may be of any suitable shape and form, as 25 described above for the lands of the members.

Preferably, the housing is provided with one or more members that extend S...

across the interior of the housing from one side wall to the opposing side wall. This is particularly preferred when the housing has a plurality of planar sides as described hereinbefore, in particular when the housing is cuboidal in shape. In a preferred arrangement, all of the members within the housing extend across the housing from one side wall to the opposing side wall. A particularly preferred arrangement the members within the housing all extend parallel to one another and all extend across the interior of the housing from one side wall to an opposing side wall.

The members may extend within the housing at any angle to the walls of the housing. In a preferred embodiment, at least one member extends parallel to at least one wall of the housing. In the preferred embodiment in which the walls of the housing are planar, in particular where the housing is polyhedral, some, preferably all, of the members extend parallel to a wall of the housing. In the embodiment in which the housing is cuboidal in form, all the members preferably extend parallel to two opposing walls of the housing and extend perpendicular to the remaining four walls of the housing.

Within the housing, one or more members may be adjacent a wall of the housing on one side. This is particularly the case where the member extends parallel to the wall of the housing. The said member may be spaced from the adjacent wall, in which case a pathway for the ball may be defined between two adjacent lands of the member and the inner surface of the wall. Alternatively, the wall of the housing may be provided with projections extending from its inner surface to cooperate with the lands of the adjacent member, to thereby define a pathway for the ball.

Alternatively, the puzzle may be provided with one or more members extending within the housing with its lands in contact with the inner surface of a wall. In embodiments in which the housing comprises one or more planar sides, in particular those in which the housing is polyhedral, it is particularly preferred to provide at least * one member extending across a planar wall of the housing with the lands of the said * .0* member in contact with the inner surface of the planar wall. * ** S * *

* 25 As described above, the puzzle of the present invention is arranged to provide a pathway along which the ball is moved by the user. The puzzle may have the pathway arranged in a number of different ways. First, the pathway may simply **..

extend along and through the members within the housing, the user merely being S.....

required to manipulate the puzzle by rotating and tilting the housing by hand to allow the ball to travel along the pathway under the action of gravity. The pathway may begin at one position within the housing and end at a second. Alternatively, the pathway may be closed, that is the ball following the pathway will return to its starting position. In a preferred arrangement, the puzzle is provided with a predetermined start point for the ball and a predetermined end point, the pathway extending between the two. In this embodiment, the object of the puzzle for the user is to move the ball along the pathway from the start point to the end point and, if desired, in the reverse direction. To alter the level of challenge to the user, the puzzle may be provided with two or more pathways extending between the start and end point. A particularly challenging embodiment of the puzzle is one in which the puzzle is provided with one or more pathway options for the user which do not lead to the target point, for example being blind pathways that present an obstacle or dead end to the passage of the ball. In this respect, the puzzle offers a challenge to the user analogous to that of navigating a path through a traditional maze, but provided in three dimensions.

The puzzle of the present invention is particularly advantageous in that it can be formed in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, providing the user with a wide range of different design options. Further, the puzzle may be formed in a wide range of 1 5 levels of difficulty, with the difficulty increasing, for example, with an increase in the number and complexity of arrangement of the lands in a given member and the overall number of members within the housing. Further difficulty can be achieved by providing the housing with a form having a low surface area to volume ratio, thereby allowing the puzzle to be provided with one or more pathways extending through the central region of the housing, some distance from the walls of the housing, making the passage of the ball difficult to view and to manipulate. *** * * * S. *

*** Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: * S. * . S * *5 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a puzzle according to one embodiment of the present invention; *IS* *.*S Figure 2 is a plan view of the puzzle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the puzzle of Figure 1 in the direction of arrow Ill; Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a puzzle of the general type of Figure 1, showing the pathway to be followed by the ball; Figure 5 is a side view of a puzzle according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figures 6a to 6f are plan and side views of individual members comprised in the puzzle of Figure 5.

Refernng to Figure 1, there is shown one embodiment of a puzzle of the present invention. The puzzle, generally indicated as 2, comprises a generally cuboidal housing 4, having opposing major walls, upper wall 6a and lower wall 6b, as viewed in Figure 1. The upper and lower walls 6a, 6b are square. The housing 4 further comprises generally rectangular minor or side walls 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d. The walls of the housing 4 are formed from sheets of transparent plastic. If desired, one or more of the walls may bear a design or pattern, including a name, slogan or trade mark, covering part or all of their surface. However, sufficient of the walls should be left uncovered, so as to allow the user to view the interior of the housing 4.

A ball 10 is free to move within the housing 4.

The puzzle 2 comprises a target region 12, formed as a generally rectangular cavity, formed by walls 14 and a floor 16, and disposed in the housing adjacent the centre of the upper major wall6a. The target region 12 has an opening 18 in one 25 wall 14 thereof, to allow the ball 10 to enter and leave the target region. A similar .. target region is disposed within the housing 4 adjacent the lower major wall 6b (not * S. visible in Figure 1). The target regions provide a start and end position for ball 10, the user moving the ball 10 through the puzzle from one target region to the other S...

and, if desired back again. : 30

S

The puzzle 2 further comprises a plurality of members 20a, 20b and 20c disposed within the housing 4. The embodiment shown in Figure 1 comprises three members. However, it is to be understood that more than three members may be provided, in particular if the dimensions of the housing are changed, so as to allow a greater number of members to be housed therein.

The members 20a, 20b and 20c are shown in perspective view in Figure 1.

The upper member 20a is shown in plan view in Figure 2, with the upper member 20a, the middle member 20b and the lower member 20c shown in side view in Figure 3. The members 20a, 20b, 20c are flat or planar and lie parallel to each other within the housing 4, extending across the interior of the housing from each side wall 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d. The member 20a is disposed within the housing 4 in contact with the inner surface of the upper wall 6a. The member 20c is similarly disposed within the housing 4 in contact with the inner surface of the lower wall 6b. The member 20b is disposed equidistant between the two members 20a and 20c. The arrangement of the members 20a, 20b, 20c is shown in side view in Figure 3.

All the members 20a, 20b, 20c having the same general form as shown in Figure 2 and consist of a plurality of interconnected lands 22. The lands 22 are generally elongate and vary in length. The lands 22 extend in a grid-like pattern, with each land being connected to one or more lands extending orthogonally thereto, thereby forming a member having a plurality of interconnected lands extending parallel to either one pair of opposing side walls Ba, Bc or parallel to the other pair of opposing side walls 8b, 8d. The lands 22 in each member are interconnected, such that each land is connected directly with adjacent lands and indirectly with every ":. other land in the member.

I *Is*

" 25 The lands 22 are uniform in cross-section, being generally square in cross- *** section. The lands 22 are formed from a transparent plastic, that may be clear or more preferably coloured. The surfaces of the lands may be provided with features, such as ridges, to refract and reflect light, to enhance the visual appearance of the *.I.

: puzzle.

I

S.'...

I

The lands 22 in a given member 20 are spaced apart and arranged to provide channels between adjacent and opposing lands andlor between adjacent lands and a side wall of the housing 4. As shown in the figures, the channels are generally defined between two parallel lands 22 with orthogonal lands extending to further define the channels. The lands 22 are arranged such that adjacent lands on either side of the channel are at a distance apart that is greater than the diameter of the ball 10, in particular from 105 to 125% of the diameter of the ball. Thus, the ball 10 is free to roll along the channel in the member 20 between the lands.

As shown in Figure 3, the members 20a, 20b, 20c are evenly spaced apart within the housing between the upper and lower walls 6a, 6b. The lands in each member have a thickness of about 60 to 75% of the diameter of the ball 10 and are spaced apart by a distance of about 50% the diameter of the ball 10, such that the distance between the opposing surfaces of the upper and lower members 20a and 20c is about twice the diameter of the ball 10.

The lands 22 of two adjacent members are arranged such that they cooperate to define a pathway for the ball 10. The pathway may be of two forms. First, the lands of one member 20 provide a channel along which the ball 10 may roll, as hereinbefore described, with the lands of the adjacent member preventing the ball from moving vertically between the upper and lower walls 6a and 6b. An example of this form of pathway is shown in region A of Figure 1, where an elongate channel is formed by the land 22a of the upper most member 20a and the wall 8a of the housing 4. The channel is terminated at one end (the right end as viewed in Figure 1) by a perpendicular land 22b. A land 22c in the middle member 20b lies below the channel and prevents the ball 10 from moving downwards (again as viewed in Figure 1). In 25 this way, the balI 10 is limited to rolling horizontally along the channel in the upper S.... member 20a. * *.

A second form of pathway is provided by the lands of adjacent members that S...

: allows the ball lOto move from one member to another. An example of this form of pathway is shown in region B of Figure 1, where a generally L-shaped channel is formed by lands 22f, 22g, 22h and 22i in the upper member 20a. The adjacent lands 22j and 22k in the middle member 20b are positioned to allow the ball 10 to pass vertically up and down in the corner of the housing between the upper, middle and lower members 20a, 20b and 20c.

The movement of the ball 10 between the members 20a, 20b and 20c is also represented diagrammatically in Figure 4. In particular, a portion of a pathway for the baIl 10 within the housing 4 is represented by a dotted line X. The path X is shown starting in an elongate channel 102 in the lower member 20c, the ends of the channel being defined by lands 104 and 106, the ends of which are visible in Figure 4. The channel is bounded by the lower wall 6b of the housing 4. The channel 102 is further bounded from above (as viewed in Figure 4) by a land 108 in the middle member 20b. As shown by the dotted line X, the ball is free to roll along the channel 102.

The lands 106 and 108 are spaced apart to provide a passage 110 between them at one end of the channel 102, along which the ball may pass and leave the lower member 20c and enter a channel 112 within the middle member 20b. The channel 112 is bounded from below by the land 106 in the lower member 20c and at one end by the land 108 in the middle member 20b. The channel 112 is further bounded at its other end by a land 114 in the middle member 20b, again viewed end on in Figure 4. Finally, the channel 112 is bounded from above (as viewed in Figure 4) by a land 116 in the upper member 20a.

The lands 106 and 114 are spaced apart to provide a passage 118 therebetween, through which the ball may leave the channel 112 and enter a further channel 120 in the lower member 20c, bounded by the land 106, the lower wall 6b, the land 114 and further land 120 in the lower member 20c. Similarly, a passage 124 ::.: is defined between the lands 114 and 122, through which the ball 10 may pass and leave the channel 120. S * * * I * I.

As represented in Figure 4, the lands of one member cooperate with the walls of the housing and the lands of adjacent members to provide a series of channels and passages that are connected to provide a complete pathway for the ball through *.... 30 the interior of the housing. It will be appreciated that the portion X of the pathway represented in Figure 4 is shown in two dimensions, but that the pathway extends through the interior in three dimensions.

The pathways along the channels of one member and through the members are interconnected by an appropriate arrangement of the lands 22 in the members, providing a pathway connecting the two target regions. To increase the complexity of the puzzle, while a single pathway from one target region to the other may be provided, it is preferable to include pathways that do not lead to one or other of the target regions, but terminate within the housing, for example at a wall.

As will be appreciated, the arrangement of lands in adjacent members 22a, 22b and 22c must be different, in order to provide the pathways along and through the members, as described above. However, it has been found that alternate members in the puzzle may be of the same arrangement. Thus, the arrangement of lands 22 in the upper member 20a may be the same as that of the lower member 20c. This, in turn reduces the complexity and cost of manufacture of the puzzle.

The operate the puzzle, the user rolls the ball 10 along the channels in one member until a connecting pathway through the member is located and the ball can move from one member to another. In this way, the ball 10 is navigated through the interior of the housing. The user causes the ball to roll or fall through the puzzle by tilting or rotating the housing 4, allowing the ball to move under the action of gravity.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment shown in Figure 1 is just one possible arrangement of the puzzle of this invention. The housing 4 may be increased in depth to accommodate a greater number of members. The housing may also be other than cuboidal as shown in Figure 1, for example being another S. * polyhedral form. Alternatively, the housing may comprise one or more curvilinear walls, for example by spherical or dome-shaped.

Thus, referring to Figure 5, there is shown an alternative arrangement of a *as * . puzzle according to the present invention. The puzzle, generally indicated as 202, *:** 30 comprises a generally cubic housing 204, having six square walls, the edges of four of which 206a, 206b, 206c and 206d are visible in Figure 5, with one wall 206e being in full view. The housing 204 is transparent and contains a plurality of members 220a to 220g. The members 220 are each flat or planar, extend across the interior of the housing and comprise a plurakty of lands. The members 220 are formed from a transparent plastic.

The general arrangement of the members 220a to 220g and their cooperation to define a pathway extending in three dimensions within the housing is as described above. The housing further contains a ball 210. The principles of construction and operation of the puzzle of Figure 5 are as described above with respect to the puzzle of Figures 1 to 4.

Referring to Figures 6a to 6f, there is shown a set of six members for use in the puzzle of the general configuration of Figure 5. Each member 302a to 302f is shown in both plan and side view in each of Figures 6a to 6f. As shown in Figures 6a to 6f, each member consists of a plurality of interconnected lands 304 extending in a generally perpendicular or grid-like pattern, the lands defining a pathway for a ball when the members are assembled with a housing, such as that shown in Figure 5.

As shown in Figures 6a to 6f, each member 302a to 302f is provided with one a plurality of spacing members 306 extending perpendicularly therefrom. Each spacing member 306 terminates in a tip that engages with a corresponding recess in an adjacent member (not shown for clarity).

It will be noted from Figures 6a to 6f that the members are provided in pairs, 302a and b, 302c and d, and 302e and f. The members in each pair are formed to a a. a * have the same but opposite arrangement of lands 304. In this way, the number of * ** different members that are required to be moulded may be reduced, thereby reducing the costs and complexity of manufacturing the puzzle. ****

S IS.. *.

S S

Claims

CLAIMS1. A puzzle comprising: a transparent housing; a ball disposed within the housing; a plurality of members extending within the housing, each member comprising a plurality of spaced apart lands; wherein the lands of adjacent members together define a pathway for the ball to move along within the housing, the pathway extending between and through the adjacent members; whereby rotating and tilting the housing allows the ball to be moved along the pathway within the housing.
2. The puzzle according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of planar walls.
3. The puzzle according to claim 2, wherein the housing is cuboidal.
4. The puzzle according to claim 3, wherein the housing is a cube.
5. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing is fully enclosed, with no openings to remove the ball from within the housing. * ** * . ** 25
6. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the lands in a given member are spaced apart to provide a channel along which the ball may roll within the member.I

*.S**.

*
7. The puzzle according to claim 6, wherein the lands of a member adjacent the given member are disposed to prevent the ball from leaving the channel in the given member. * 19
8. The puzzle according to claim 7, wherein the lands in the adjacent member are disposed to define a passage along which the ball may pass to leave the given member.
9. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the members are spaced apart from one another.
10. The puzzle according to claim 9, wherein adjacent members are spaced apart by a distance approximately half the diameter of the ball.
11. The puzzle according any preceding claim, comprising three or more members within the housing.
12. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the lands in each member are arranged to extend parallel to or perpendicular to each other.
13. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the lands are transparent.
14. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein each member comprises a single set of lands to cooperate with each adjacent member.
15. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein each member consists *:::* of a plurality of lands.
16. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the lands in each member are interconnected, with each land being either connected directly to or I...connected indirectly by an intermediate land to each other land in the member.
17. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein each land is rectangular in cross section.
18. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein each member is planar such that all the lands of the member lie in the same plane.
19. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the members are arranged parallel to one another within the housing.
20. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing is empty between adjacent members.
21. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the members extend across the interior of the housing from one wall to the opposite wall.
22. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein the members extend parallel to one or more walls of the housing.
23. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one member extends across the inner surface of a wall of the housing.
24. The puzzle according to any preceding claim, the housing further comprising at least one target region therein.
25. A puzzle substantially as hereinbefore described having reference to the accompanying figures. * * **.. * ** * S * * ** **S.S *S..I*.**.IS S