US2011266A

US2011266A - Maze puzzle

Info

Publication number: US2011266A
Application number: US710242A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earl S Boynton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-02-08
Filing date: 1934-02-08
Publication date: 1935-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1952-08-13

Description

1935. E. s. BOYNTON 2,011,266

MAZE PUZZLE Filed Feb. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet} 27 26 5 INVENTOR i 4 ll 5 H 57 55M '2 TI 9W} T Ms as Y 2% l4 HI A ORNEY Aug. 13, 1935. E. s. BOYNTON MAZE PUZZLE 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1934 INVENTOR ORNEY 1i. movable element or elements, functioning as a vice versa.

Patented Aug. 13, 1935 V i Q 7 "L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y PUZZLE EarlS. Boyntorr, East Orange, N. J. Application mam 8, 1934, Serial No. 710.242

6Claims.' (01. 273-453) y Present inv n n lates to puzzles; and. face. are the circular grooves 26-and 2! connected more particularly to an improved labyrinth-puzrespectively with the outer edge of the member zle. I r 25 by the radial grooves 28 and 29 respectively.

A feature of my invention resides in combin- Formed integral with the member 25 and ex- .5 ing, with a labyrinth-puzzle, movable elements tending upward from its upper surface through .3

for switching the ball, or other travelling eleaperforation30, in thecover l3, is a knob 3| ment, from one portion of the labyrinth to anandby means of whichthe member 25 may be other. rotated. In the groove 26is a vertical perfora- A further feature ofmy invention resides in. tion 32, while in the groove 21 is a vertical per ill: the provision, in a switchingelement for a labyforation 3-3. The: function of these holes 32 and rinth-puzzle, of a sub-labyrinth formed in and 33, and the rotatable cylindrical member 25 is constituting part of the switching element. to permit the transfer-of the ball or travelling A still further feature of my invention resides element from the labyrinth" or labyrinths on the in. combining with a double-faced labyrinth, a face [3 to. the labyrinth IS on the face [4, and

a l5 switch or switches, for transferring the ball, or On the face I? the labyrinth is shown in 'the other travelling element from one face to the. form of a plurality of parallelly arranged other face of the double faced labyrinth. grooves, as shown in Fig. 2, and substantially Further features and objects of the invention centrally located in the face I! is a-rectangular fi will be more fully understood from the following compartment 34 inwhich is slidably mounted a detail description and the accompanying drawgrooved plate 35. Extending outwardly from the ings, in which v plate 35 is an operating knob 36 which works in Fig. 1 is a plan view of one face,'of one embodi an elongated slot 3! in the cover M. The plate ment of my invention; 35-i-s provided with

perforations

38 and 39 which Fig. 2 is a planview of the other face of the may be brought into registry with perforations embodiment of Fig. 1; in the diaphragm l5 to permit the transfer of Fig. 3 is a section on the line .3--3 of Fig. 1; the ball'or other travelling member 40 from the i Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig.1; labyrinth on the face M to the labyrinth IS on Fig; 5. is a plan view of another embodiment, the face l3, or vice versa. ac and The diaphragm I5 is perforated at various Fig.6 is a section on theline 6-45 of Fig. 5. points, as. designated by the reference numeral The puzzle consists of a shallow box or frame H, it being noted that such perforations 4| con I0, preferably rectangularin formpthe opposite nect the bottoms of the grooves of t aby faces of which are recessed, as indicated by the on one of such faces with the well 22 or the rec- 36; reference characters Hand l2 respectively. In tangular compartment 34. r i

the recess l l is secured a cover l3, of glass, ce1 The rotatable cylindrical member 25 and the luloid or. other-suitable material, and asimilar sliding plate have been added to stimulate the cover [4 is secured in the recess [2. Preferably interest of the person attempting to solve the formed integral with the box or frame l0 and pu le, and rende s the puzzle more difiicult of 40. lying between the covers [3 and I4, is a diasolution. In solving this .m-odification of the .phra'gm l5, in th faces [6 a d I"! f which are puzzle both the member 25 and the plate 35 must formed labyrinths to be hereinafter described. be utilized, and all of the labyrinths, except the In one face of the diaphragm, as the face [6, blind labyrinths 28 and 2| must be brought into shownin plan in Fig. 1 and in section in Fig. 3, play. There is a correct path over which the 43 is a labyrinth comprised of two substantially cirball, or other travelling member 40 must move 45 cular labyrinths or mazes I8 and I9, auxiliary to have such member move from the position at labyrinths 20 and 2|, superficially disconnected the centerof the labyrinth "to the center of from" the labyrinths l8 and I9, and a circular the labyrinth l9, and the finding of this path is well 22. The well 22 is connected to the'labyrendered more or less diificult by the character 50. rinth l8 by the groove 23 and to the labyrinth of the various labyrinths and by the members'25 l9 by the groove 24. 9 V and 35 Rotatably mounted in the well 22 is a cylin- In: the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 drical member 25 having its upper surfaceas and'6 there is providedpreferably a rectangular viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, lying in the same plane fiat plate 45 on one face of which, as the upper as the surface l6 of the diaphragm I5, and in this face shown in Fig. 6, is arranged a labyrinth or 55 maze 45 of any degree of complexity and intricacy desired. It will be noted. on reference to Fig. 5 that the labyrinth 46 is divided naturally into two portions by the groove 41, which groove forms part of the labyrinth 46. On one side of the groove 41 is a chamber 48, from which it is usual to start the traveller, such as the ball 49. On the right hand side of the groove 41 and forming part of the labyrinth 46 is a chamber 59 similar to chamber 48 and the object of the puzzle is to move the traveller or ball 49.from the chamber 48 through the labyrinth 46 and into the chamber 55. I

The face of the rectangular plate 45 on which is formed the labyrinth 46, is provided at various points about the surface thereof, with preferably cylindrical depressions 5!. Centrally arranged with regard to such depressions 5!, and in the bottom thereof, are perforations 52. The under' face of the rectangular plate 45 is recessed as shown in Fig. 6, and as indicated by the'reference numeral 53. Mounted for rotation in the cylindrical depressions 5| are the cylindrical labyrinth switch elements 54, and preferably, though not necessarily, each of switch elements 54'ha's formed integral therewith and on the under face thereof, an extension '55 which extends through the perforation 52 and is rotatably mounted therein. The lower end of the extension 55 is made noncircular or otherwise fashioned to facilitate the gripping thereof in order to rotate the cylindrical switch member 54 in its associated depression 5!. Adjacent the point of emergence of extension 55 is formed a groovein which is situated a snap ring 55 which holds the cylindrical switch element 54 in its associated cylindrical depression 5 I The number of switch elements 54 employed may be as numerous as desired. For the purpose of arranging such elements symmetrically about the face of the rectangular plate 45, I have shown six such switch elements 54, but as stated above, the number is immaterial and does not aifect the patentability of my invention.

The upper face of each of the switch elements 54 stands flush with the'face of the rectangular plate 45 in which the labyrinth 46 is formed. Also in the face of each switch element 54 are formed grooves 51, which grooves upon rotation of the switch element 54 may be brought into registry with one or more of the grooves forming the labyrinth 46. The grooves 5'! of the switch elements 54 may be merely transfer grooves, and by means of which the traveller or ball 49 is passed from a groove of the labyrinth 46 on one side of a switch 54 to a groove of the labyrinth 46 on the other side of such switch 54, or the system of grooves 51 in some or all of the switch elements 54 may be so complex in character as to constitute a labyrinth or sub-labyrinth.

I have found that plurality of switch elements 54 with a labyrinth or sub-labyrinth on the face thereof adds to the interest in the puzzle, as ordinarily there is one path over which the traveller or ball 49 may pass from the chamber 48 into the chamber 56. With the various switch elements 54, it is possible to not only further complicate the labyrinth path including, the labyrinth 46, but also to devise short cuts so that the number of paths over which the traveller or ball 49 may travel is increased.

My device is of such character as to permit it to be made of molded or moldable material, such as bakelite or other similar well known commercial material, and thus may be made in quantities at relatively low costs.

The form and shape of the device and the labyrinths and other elements may be varied as desired without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A puzzle comprising a box having transparent heads, a diaphragm arranged parallel with said heads and dividing the box into separate compartments and provided on both sides thereof with labyrinths for the guidance of a ball, perforations extending through said diaphragm and a switching device associated with the labyrinths on one face of the diaphragm for permitting the passage of the ball from one face to the other.

2. A puzzle comprising a box having transparent heads, a diaphragm arranged parallel with said heads and dividing the box into separate compartments and provided on both sides thereof with labyrinths for the guidance of a ball, perforations extending through said diaphragm and switching devices associated with the labyrinths on each face of the diaphragm for per mitting the passage of the ball from one face to the other.

3. A puzzle comprising a box having transparent heads, a diaphragm arranged parallel with said heads and dividing the box into separate compartments and provided on both sides thereof with labyrinths for the guidance of a ball, a switching device associated With the labyrinths on one face of the diaphragm and perforations extending through said diaphragm and associated with the switching devices whereby the passage of the ball from one face to the other of the diaphragm is permitted.

l. A puzzle comprising a box having transparent heads, a diaphragm arranged parallel with said heads and dividing the box into sepa-- rate compartments and provided on both sides thereof with labyrinths for the guidance. of a ball, a rotatable switching device on one'face of the diaphragm associated with said perforations, and means for connecting said switch with the labyrinths on its associated face, whereby passage of the ball from such labyrinths through said latter perforations to the other face of the diaphragm is permitted. #5. A puzzle comprising a box having trans parent heads, a-diaphragm arranged parallel with said heads and dividing the box into separate compartments and provided on both sides thereof with labyrinths for the guidance of a ball, a reciprocating switching device on one face of the diaphragm associated with said perforations, and means for connecting said switch with the labyrinths on its associated face, whereby passage of the ball from such labyrinths through said latter perforations to the other face of the diaphragm is permitted.

6. A puzzle comprising a plate having a labyrinth or maze formed in one face thereof, a plurality of switching elements rotatably mounted in said plate and having a labyrinth or maze formed in one face thereof, and means for rotating the switch elements to selectively bring the grooves of the labyrinth thereon into registry with the grooves of the labyrinth in the face of the plate. 7 EARL S. BOYNION.