US2091191A

US2091191A - Puzzle

Info

Publication number: US2091191A
Application number: US42920A
Authority: US
Inventors: Courtland R Van Luven
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-09-30
Filing date: 1935-09-30
Publication date: 1937-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1954-08-24

Description

Aug. 24, 1937.

C. R. VAN LUVEN PUZZLE '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 30, 1955 s- 1937. c. R. v' N LUVEN 2,091,191

PUZZLE Filed Sept. 50, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATESB PATENT GFFIQE Application September 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved puzzle and seeks, among other objects, to provide a device of this character which will be formed of one continuous piece of wire or, if desired, several pieces of wire, bent to define interengaging loops forming an outer elliptical portion and an inner elliptical portion, and having a common center portion about which is adapted to be received a flexible cord loop at the solution of the puzzle after manipulation through the loops.

Another object of the invention is to provide a puzzle which will be characterized by simplicity construction but which will require a great amount of skill and patience for solution.

A further object of the invention is to provide a puzzle which may be manufactured cheaply and which may be effectually used as an advertising novelty, as a premium, or may be sold for a few cents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a puzzle which will be light in weight and which will provide amusement over a long period of time.

Other and incidental objects of the invention not specifically mentioned in the foregoing will render themselves apparent during the course of the following description.

The construction of my improved puzzle and the steps for solving the same are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing my improved puzzle wi'th the flexible cord loop employed passed beneath one of the wire loops, comprising the first step toward the solving of the puzzle.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the flexible loop in position prior to completing the first step, the loop being shown in dotted lines after said first step is completed.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the flexible loop prior to the completion of the second step, the center portion being omitted for the sake of clearness.

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the flexible loop after the second step has been completed 30, 1935, Serial No. 42,920

ing, in dotted lines, the flexible loop at the completion of the fifth step.

Figure '7 is a side elevation, with the center portion shown, and illustrating the loop as it would appear during the process of manipulation through the sixth step, the loop being shown in dotted lines at the completion of said sixth step.

figure 8 illustrates the loop as it would appear during the manipulation of the final step, and shows, in dotted lines, the loop engaged about the center portion of the puzzle, in which position the puzzle is solved.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional View on the line El9 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan view showing a slightly modified construction of the center portion.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan view, partly broken away and shown in section and showing a slightly modified construction for connecting the outer ends of the wire loops employed with the center portion.

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan View showing one of the loops employed flattened for receiving suitable advertising indicia.

Figure 13 is a, fragmentary detail plan View showing a modified center portion construction.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, and especially to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that my improved puz zle includes wire loops l, 2, 3 and 5, which are substantially elliptical in shape and have end portions extending longitudinally diametrically of the puzzle to define a center portion 5. The loops i and 2 are arranged as a pair and are arranged so that the loop normally overhangs,

the loop 2 in substantially concentric relation. The corresponding outer ends of each of the loops are tapered and connected, and said pair of loops l and 2 cooperate with

loops

3 and 4, which are arranged in a, similar manner and cross, or interengage, the wires of said loops l and 2 to define outer and inner elliptical body portions 6 and l, the inner elliptical portion being substantially oval.

The center portion may merely comprise a group of adjacent wires, forming the end portions of the loops, soldered together, or, as shown in Figure l, a plate 8 containing suitable advertising matter, may be clamped, soldered, or otherwise permanently attached to the center portion within the area of the inner elliptical body portion. Or, if desired, and as shown in Figure 13, the wires 5 may be spread apart and attached to the outer edges of the plate 8.

As illustrated in the drawings, the loops are adapted to interengage and have their larger end portions lying in substantially overhanging relationship at opposite sides of the center portion. As will be understood, each of the loops at opposite sides of the center portion, has its narrower portion extending in the same direction and terminating to define a pointed end 9 for the outer elliptical portion while the loops lying in overhanging relationship at opposite sides of the center portion at the other end of the puzzle, have their smaller portions extending in the opposite direction and terminating in a blunt point iii. If it is desired that the length of the puzzle be shorter, the ends 9 and it may be turned inwardly instead of outwardly.

Ihe meeting end portions of the wires defining the points ii and iii are soldered or otherwise socured so that all of the loops of the puzzle will be maintained in proper operative relationship.

Associated with the puzzle, and forming a part necessary for the solution thereof, is a. flexible cord ll having a knot 52 thereon. The loop it may be formed of soft cord or any other suitable flexible material.

As seen in Figure 10 of the drawings, the end portions of the

loops

5, 2, 3 and 5 may be cut off at the point 8 and a one-piece center portion !3 substituted for the wire center portion. 5. The center portion 23 includes a r latively wide flat late it which is adapted to receive thereon indicia in the form of advertising or other suit able printed or stamped matter. The end portions of the loops are soldered or otherwise secured to the opposite ends of the center per- 0 tion it.

In Figure 11, I have shown a center portion !5 which is provided with. a socket l%, which socket is adapted to receive therein a pair of end portions El or loops which are identical in construction with the loops i, 2, 3 and d. It should be understood, however, that a center portion of any suitable design may be employed so long as it is disposed in the same position with respect to the loops, that is to say, extending longitudinally of the puzzle and between the loops of each pair of loops defining the inner ellipse of said puzzle.

The object of the puzzle is to manipulate the flexible cord loop l I from a point entirely exteriorly of the puzzle to engagement about the center portion within the confines of the inner elliptical body portion of said puzzle without, at any time, breaking and retying the cord loop.

I have shown the process of solving the puzzle step by step and will now explain said process.

As seen in Figure l of the drawings, the knot ll.

of the loop ii is inserted beneath the loop I toward the right and between said loop and the upper surface of the center portion and, holding the puzzle in the left hand, the loop is pulled toward the right with its entire length, with the exception of the knot l2 and upper end of the cord loop ll, extending exteriorly of the body portions. Half of the cord is left depending and all of the slack is taken to the right, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

The next step is to grasp the knot l2 in the hand and carry it down toward the right over the right end and place it between the loop ii and the center portion and draw to the right, as shown in Figure 3. The knot i2 is then shifted toward the left back up over the right end, as shown in Figure 3, and looped through the loop 3, as shown in Figure 3, in dotted lines. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the knot I2 is again carried over the right end and downward to the loop 4, through said loop to the left, all slack being taken up, and again shifted up over the left end to the loop 5 and under the loop I again to the left. The knot is then carried down over the left end, as shown in Fi ure 5, and is brought down to the loop 2 and put through said loop to the left. All the slack is drawn up and the knot is shifted up over the left end to the loop i and through said loop to the right, taking up all slack to the right, and down over the right and to the loop i. The knot is then put through the loop 3 to the right and is carried over the right end at a ninety degree angle so that the loop encompasses or surrounds the center portion 5 and thus solves the puzzle.

In order to remove the flexible cord loop II with the knot 92 from the center portion 5, it is necessary but to reverse the steps hereinabove described, when it will be found that the loop may be easily removed from the puzzle without the necessity of breaking the loop.

It should be understood that, while I have shown the puzzle as being elliptical in shape, it may be rectangular or circular, or any other suitable design. In a circular form I would employ a relatively large center plate.

It is thought that a reading of the foregoing description will clearly indicate that I have provided a puzzle which will give a great deal of pleasure to those seeking enjoyment from devices of this type.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

A puzzle including a single strand of wire bent to define loops interengaging for forming substantially elliptical inner and outer body portions, said loops having extended ends disposed in engaging parallel relation to form a common center portion for the body portions, a flexible cord loop adapted to be positioned about the center portion within the area of the body portions at the solution of the puzzle after manipulation through the first-mentioned loops, and a plate adapted for carrying suitable advertising indicia, said plate serving to retain the portions defining the common center portion in close relation.

COURTLAND R. VAN LUVEN.