JP2004520115A - Entertainment puzzles - Google Patents

Abstract

An entertaining puzzle consisting of a plurality of identical, nearly planar regular polygon puzzle pieces. The vertices of two adjacent puzzle pieces are connected to each other by a connecting portion. Each connecting part is rotatably connected to one puzzle piece, and is rotatably and slidably connected to an adjacent puzzle piece. As a result, the puzzle piece rotates in an arc relative to the adjacent puzzle piece. In addition, a manual operation is performed to form a shape or a desired form, a picture, or a photograph according to an intended combination of the connected puzzle pieces. Dexterity is improved and entertainment is obtained.

Description

【Technical field】
[0001]
The present invention relates to entertainment puzzles.
[Background Art]
[0002]
It is well known that puzzles (or polygons) are composed of a plurality of identical square puzzle pieces that, when combined, form different shapes and arrangements and can create unique features and intriguing appearances. . The player can improve dexterity and coordination ability while having fun while operating. The idea of "puzzle" implies that when handling puzzle pieces by hand, some skill and experience is required to complete the desired picture, photo or form.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
[0003]
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel entertainment puzzle.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[0004]
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it consists of a plurality of substantially equilateral polygonal puzzle pieces in which a corner is connected by a rotatable connection part, and each connection part is rotatable with respect to the adjacent corner of the adjacent puzzle piece. A connected entertainment puzzle is provided. Each connection has a generally spherical first end and a generally T-shaped second end. Alternatively, each connection comprises generally spherical ends facing each other. Each connection of the former type is rotatably connected at its second end to an equilateral polygon puzzle piece, at its first end to a rotatable adjacent equilateral polygon puzzle piece, and It is slidably connected. Each connection of the latter type is rotatably and slidably connected to the respective equilateral polygon puzzle pieces at both ends. For each equilateral polygon puzzle piece, its two corners each have a groove, one of which is used to be connected by one end of the connection. Also, the other groove opens inside the equilateral polygon puzzle piece, thereby allowing the other end of the adjacent coupling portion to be inserted inside the equilateral polygon puzzle piece. Each groove has a size having a width that allows rotation of the connecting portion. At the corresponding corner, one side of two adjacent equilateral polygon puzzle pieces can rotate and come into contact with each other. I have.
[0005]
Preferably, a protrusion is provided at the center of the inside of each equilateral polygon puzzle piece into which the connecting portion can be inserted. The projection forms a passage in the inner surface of the side of the puzzle piece so as to hold the connection at the farthest position where the connection can be inserted, and suppresses sliding of the connection.
[0006]
Preferably, the end connected rotatably and slidably to the inside of an adjacent equilateral polygon puzzle piece is spherical and slightly larger than the groove of the equilateral polygon puzzle piece.
Further, it is preferable that the equilateral polygon puzzle piece is formed of a plastic material.
Further, it is preferable that each equilateral polygon puzzle piece has a cover covering at least one main surface on which the decoration is applied. When a plurality of puzzle pieces are connected so as to be arranged close to each other, the decoration of each puzzle piece may constitute a unique form or a picture or a photograph.
【The invention's effect】
[0007]
With the above structure, the present invention can provide a puzzle for improving dexterity and entertainment.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0008]
1, 2 and 3 show a puzzle made up of equilateral triangle puzzle pieces.
As shown in FIG. 3, the puzzle has the same overall dimensions, ie, the puzzle pieces consist of equilateral triangle puzzle pieces having the same shape. Each equilateral triangular puzzle piece is connected to one or two adjacent equilateral triangular puzzle pieces by a connecting part. One end 19 of the connecting part 12 is connected to the equilateral triangular puzzle piece, and the other end part 18 is connected to the other equilateral triangular puzzle piece. Is rotatably and slidably connected to the equilateral triangular puzzle piece. For each equilateral triangular puzzle piece, its two corners each have a groove 20, one of which is used to be connected by one end of the connection 12. The other groove 20 opens inside the equilateral polygon puzzle piece, so that the other end 18 of the other connecting portion 12 can be inserted inside the equilateral polygon puzzle piece. The size of each groove 20 is such that the connecting portion can rotate up to 120 °. Thereby, the puzzle pieces adjacent to each other can be relatively rotated up to 240 °. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a process at the time of an operation in which each connecting portion 12 connects two adjacent equilateral triangular puzzle pieces 10 and 11. Specifically, the connecting portion 12 extends the entire length of the groove 20 provided at one corner of each puzzle piece, and connects two adjacent puzzle pieces. One end 19 of the connecting portion 12 is fitted into a groove 20 provided at one corner of the puzzle piece 10, and the other end 18 is inserted into a groove 20 provided at one corner of the puzzle piece 11, A rotatable and slidable connection is formed. Two adjacent puzzle pieces 10, 11 can rotate relative to each other by up to 240 ° between two adjacent arrangements. The two adjacent arrangements are a first adjacent arrangement shown in FIG. 2 where a pair of sides 15 and 16 of the puzzle pieces 10 and 11 abut against each other, and a pair of sides 13 and 14 of the puzzle pieces 10 and 11. Are the second adjacent arrangements (not shown) in contact with each other. In FIG. 1, the puzzle pieces are in an open configuration, ie, between a first and a second proximity configuration.
[0009]
The puzzle pieces 10, 11 and the connection 12 are usually made of a suitable plastic material.
The first end 18 of each connecting portion 12 is substantially spherical, and the second end of each connecting portion is substantially T-shaped (not shown). Alternatively, as shown in the drawings, each link 12 has substantially spherical ends 18, 19 facing each other.
[0010]
The end 18 of the connecting portion 12 inserted inside the equilateral triangular puzzle piece is designed such that its diameter becomes a solid spherical shape slightly larger than the width of the groove 20 provided at the corner of the triangular puzzle piece. You. The connecting portion 12 is inserted inside the triangular puzzle piece so that the puzzle pieces are easily connected and gathered by the elastically deformable plastic so that they are not easily dropped off during play and easily disassembled for storage. You.
[0011]
A V-shaped protrusion 17 is provided at the center of the inside of each equilateral triangular puzzle piece into which the connection portion can be inserted, and the protrusion 17 suppresses the sliding of the connection portion together with the inner surfaces of the sides 13 and 15. Is formed, and the connecting portion is held so that the two pieces are located in the first or second close arrangement at the farthest position where the connecting portion can be inserted.
[0012]
FIG. 3 shows a puzzle composed of 16 regular triangle puzzle pieces in which “vertical” puzzle pieces are arranged by connecting vertices (corners) with adjacent puzzle pieces, and the configuration is such that “continuous” puzzle pieces are arranged. In fact, the arrangement shown in FIG. 3 shows an answer to a “problem” that forms an equilateral triangle by a combination of continuous puzzle pieces. As described above, the end 18 of each connecting portion 12 is held and elastically held by one of the projections 17. This facilitates manipulation of the combined triangles at each stage of assembly and when completed, ie, when the puzzle pieces have been rotated to their correct locations in the final configuration.
[0013]
In the drawings, the main upper surface of the puzzle piece is not shown, but during normal use, the connecting portion 12 is not visible from the outside. As a result, as the puzzle pieces are rotated and arranged at the selected close positions, the handling of the puzzle pieces is determined in advance, and it becomes harder to handle. This is because it is not possible to visually recognize which end of the connecting portion is being rotated and which end is being rotated and slid to be connected. Thus, the degree of manual manipulation techniques required to combine puzzle pieces to form different shapes needs to be more sophisticated or at least learned through practice. Usually, each puzzle piece is decorated with a plurality of colors, or has a picture, a part of a picture that constitutes a whole picture, a picture when a triangle or a part of a combination triangle is completed. It has a decorated front. The puzzle pieces that are closer to each other can be rotated by the connecting portion 12, and the puzzle pieces can be arranged so that the front face or the rear face of each puzzle piece is connected side by side. Therefore, it is necessary to decorate both sides, and it is necessary to increase the number of forms, pictures, and photographs. In operation, you need to decide which puzzle pieces should be used to form a combined triangle or other shape, and which side should be on top to create the desired shape In addition, the difficulty of operation is increased, and the entertainment is further enhanced.
[0014]
The connection 12 must be slidable to some extent so that the puzzle pieces can rotate freely as required, but each connection or several connections may be made so that the range of movement of the puzzle pieces is greater. It is desirable that both ends of the part can be rotatably and slidably connected to the puzzle piece.
[0015]
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a puzzle in which the structure and the operation process are similar to those of a regular puzzle piece, which is a quadrilateral puzzle piece. The completed form is shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a puzzle formed of regular hexagonal puzzle pieces and having a similar structure and operation process to a puzzle consisting of regular triangular puzzle pieces and in the process of being formed. The completed form is shown in FIG.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a partial plan view showing two equilateral triangle puzzle pieces in an open state.
FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing two equilateral triangle puzzle pieces of the puzzle in a closed state.
FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing a plurality of equilateral triangle puzzle pieces, in which all puzzle pieces are in a closed configuration and an equilateral triangle is formed by combination.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a puzzle composed of square puzzle pieces in a state where four pieces are being formed.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a puzzle composed of square puzzle pieces in a state where a plurality of puzzle pieces are accurately arranged.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a puzzle composed of hexagonal puzzle pieces in a state where four pieces are being formed.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a puzzle composed of hexagonal puzzle pieces in a state where a plurality of puzzle pieces are accurately arranged.

Claims (6)

Consisting of a plurality of substantially equilateral polygonal puzzle pieces that connect corners with a rotatable connection part, each connection part is rotatably connected to an adjacent corner of an adjacent puzzle piece, and each connection part is A first end having a substantially spherical shape and a second end having a substantially T-shape, or substantially spherical ends facing each other, and in the former case, each connecting portion is equilateral at its second end. A rotatable connection to the polygonal puzzle piece and a rotatable and slidable connection to the adjacent equilateral polygonal puzzle piece at the first end, wherein in the latter case each connection is At both ends, each of the equilateral polygon pieces is rotatably and slidably connected to each other, and two of the corners of each equilateral polygon are provided with grooves, and one of these grooves is a connecting portion. The other groove is inside the equilateral polygon puzzle piece. Opened to the other end, the other end of the adjacent connecting portion can be inserted inside the equilateral polygon puzzle piece, so that one side of the adjacent equilateral polygon puzzle piece rotates at the corresponding corner and abuts each other, An entertaining puzzle, wherein each groove is sized to have a width that allows rotation of the connecting portion. At the center of the inside of each equilateral polygon puzzle piece into which the connecting part can be inserted, a projection is provided so that the connecting part is held at the farthest position where the connecting part can be inserted, and the projecting part is the corresponding side of the puzzle piece The amusement puzzle according to claim 1, wherein a passage is formed in the inner surface to suppress sliding of the connecting portion. 2. The end of the equilateral polygon puzzle piece that is rotatably and slidably connected to the inner side of the adjacent equilateral polygon puzzle piece is spherical, and is slightly larger than the groove of the equilateral polygon puzzle piece. Or the entertainment puzzle according to 2. An entertainment puzzle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the equilateral polygon puzzle pieces are preferably formed of a plastic material. An entertainment puzzle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection is preferably made of a plastic material. Each equilateral polygonal puzzle piece has a cover that covers at least one decorated main surface, and when the plurality of puzzle pieces are connected in close proximity, the decoration of each puzzle piece is unique. The entertainment puzzle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the puzzle can be configured in a form, a picture, or a photograph.