US2261040A

US2261040A - Puzzle

Info

Publication number: US2261040A
Application number: US300517A
Authority: US
Inventors: Steinhardt Irving
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-10-21
Filing date: 1939-10-21
Publication date: 1941-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 1958-10-28

Description

Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT O-F'F-ICE rUzzn-r; 7 Irving Steinha'rdt, New orkQNJY; Application October 21, 1939,? Sl'i aijN0. 300,517 8 Claims. oiiz'vs -uss) "This invention relates to amusement devices and, morelp'artioularly, to puzzles.

One object of the invention istoprovide apuzzle comprising a frame and a plurality of movable members mounted in theframe, the construction and Organization of :the frame and elements being such that the puzzle is of a. small size whereby it canb'e carried about conveniently in agarment pocket. or in a purse or handbag.

Another object of the invention is toprovide apuzzle in which the parts are in fixed assembled relation, and in which, in working the puzzle, certain of theparts are movable according to predetermined rules for providing a highly interesting device. V

A further object of the inventionis to provide a puzzle comprising a frame and a plurality of movable members mounted in p the frame, the construction and. organization of the frame and said elements being simple and inexpensive, and such as to facilitate the manipulation-of the sev eral movable members in the frame in working the puzzle. 7

A further object of the invention is generally to provide a puzzle which is simple in construction, convenient to manipulate, and interesting to work. a g The above objects "of the invention and other objects which might hereinafter appear will be more fully understood from" the following descri tion considered with reference ltothe accompanying drawing.

In" the drawing:

"'Fig. 1 is a perspective viewfon an'enla'rged "sca1e,'of a puzzle embodying the present invention;

2' is a rear view in elevationlof the puzzle, with parts broken away for illustration purposes; Fi 3 is 'asectional-view-on the line '3'-'3 "of *Fig. 4 is a sectional view on theline 4-4'Of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a puzzle'm'ade in'ac- -cordance with another form of the invention;

6 is a fragmentary plan view' of-the puzzle shown in Fig.- 5, with parts cut away for thepvQrpose of illustration-j Fig. -7 is a-sectiohal view on theline 1-'I of Fig, 5. p Y

- -Referringto the drawing in detail'and first to the form of the inventionillus'trated in Figs. 1 to 4,'the puzzle comprises, as here shown, a frame having a U-shaped member I 2- whichincludes in integral relatidn therfronticiir ved wall l4 and: the opposite sidewallsflB;fsaid member 1Tbeing pref? erably. U-shaped 13.5 .Lclearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and..3.i The :otherpart l8 .of .the'frame fits into U-shaped member l2, and .hasopposite end walls and-22 .whichiclose'the endsof U-shaped memher. [2, said-end walls 20 .and 22 conforming in size and shapeto :thecurvaturezof the inner surface of U-shaped member I2. Frame member 18 has. a rear .wall integral with end members 20 and-22.; Said rear wall is constituted by the

outer portions

24 and 26 .ofend

walls

20 and 22, respectively, and by opposite longitudinally extending

side portions

28 and 30,.andsaid rear wall also includes" a. plurality .of pairs of confronting .projections 332. and 34 sextendingfrom parts 28 .and 30 .of .theframe', respectively. Members 32 and 34 :are..som'ewhat resilient and for this purpose arejof dovetail shape. to provide the narrow portions' 36 at thejuncture of said members with side portions 28 and.30, respectively, of frame member l8. It will..be :observed'that there are a plurality of .pairs of'members 32. and 34 disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of frame member l8 and that theconfrontingedges of members '32 and 34 are spacedashort. distance from each other transversely of a longitudinal median. line. .Frame members l2 and I8 may be made of any suitable material, .Bakelite. or the like being preferred. -Apluralityof movable'members 38, also preferably formedof fBakelite, are pivotally mount- "edlin the frame in side byside relation on a metal pivot'pin '4 ll. extending longitudinally of the frame and-fixed at. its endsin .the

endwalls

20 and 22 offrame member J8. .Each movable member. 38 comprises an :apertured body portion 42 journalledfor ipivotalmovement on .pin 40. The opposite sides'44 of eachbodyportion 42 are fiat iandathe fre'eend 0f. saidbody portions is defined by diatl'converging surfaces .46 which meet at a lineiatcth'e center of saidv bodyportion in the direction of ..pin 40. When members 38 arepo- 'asit'ioned. centrallyf'of front wall [4- in theslots 48 thereof-,lwhich will be hereinafter'described more specifically, the souterends of the body portion '42: of said Jpins. arez'engaged by the confronting edge-portions of members32, 34 for holding the pins ..insaid position. "When the pins 38 are .m'ovedito tm left or to. the right on pivot pin 40, the'iend surface portions 46 are engagedby the .inners'urfaces of projections-32,; 34 for holding said? members releasably in said positions, respectively; The slots 48 in front wall 14 of frame member 12 extend transverselyof said front wall and are disposed -in spaced relation longitudinally sem n-am. :A central portion'50 of each -s10t'48 isisom'ewhat wider thaniathessideportions: 52 of each slot 48. Slot portions 50 are of about the same size as projecting head portions 54 of members 38 which extend through slots 48, so that said head portions can be pushed through said portions 58. Thus, the enlarged slot portions 50 permit frame member l8 with the movable members 38 mounted thereon to be assembled as a unit with frame member l2. Separation of frame member l8 from frame member l2 can be prevented in any suitable way, but ordinarily no additional securing means is necessary as the projeoting head portions 54 of movable members 38 are so nearly of the same size as enlarged portions 50 of slots 48 as to prevent unintended movement of the frame member l8 out of frame member I2. portion 58 which is movable in the narrower portions 52 of a companion slot 48. The portion'of wall I4 which is provided with slot 48 is preferably arouate to permit the pivotal movement of members 38 with a preferred sliding engagement.

of the inner or shouldered ends 58 of said.members with the outer surface of wall l4.

Wall M of frame member I2 has longitudinally extending zones indicated by the reference letters A, B and C, said zones being, disposed in laterally spaced relation on wall I4. Each zone has a plurality of laterally spaced stations in the paths defined by slots 43 for the projecting portions 54 of pivoted members 38, one station being at the center of each slot 48 defined by the enlarged portion 58 thereof and the other two stations being at the opposite ends of the same slot. Thus, for example, referring to Fig. 1, each member 38 is movable from its central station in zone B to two other stations at the ends of the companion slots in zones A and C, respectively. Said movable members 38 have arbitrary relative values assigned'thereto. As here shown, said members 38 are numbered consecutively from I to 1 indicating that member 38 which has the assigned arbitrary highest value of I is superior to each of the other movable members, while the member which is numbered 1 has the lowest value in relation to the other movable members.

In working the puzzle, the objectis to move members 38 one at a time from their respective stations in one zone to their respective stations in another predetermined zone, without moving a member of one value into or out of a zone 00: cupied by a member of another predetermined relative value, although it is permissible for the members to be moved through a zone even though any station in the latter is occupied by a member of such other relative value. Thus, for. example, assuming that all of the movable members are in zone B, the object of the puZZle'is to move all of members 38 into zone A or'into zone C, as may be pro-selected, so that all of said members are positoned in said pre-selected zone, and this must be done in compliance with the rule that a member of one arbitrary value cannot be moved into or out of a zone occupied by a member of another predetermined relative value. For example, with members 38 positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1, none of the members 38 of lower value than member 38 having the assigned highest value of one can be moved out of zone B, but this can be done if member 38 having the highest value I assigned thereto is first movedeither into zone A or into zone C. If said last mentioned member is moved into zone A, none of the other mem- Members 38 each has a reduced neck working this puzzle to move member 38 of the value I into zone C. As zones A and C are now occupied by members 38 each of a higher value than member 38 of value 3, it is necessary to move member 38 of value I into zone C in order that member 38 of value 3 can be moved into zone A. This method of manipulating the mov able members from their stations in the several zones is continued until all of said members are moved in compliance with the rules for working the puzzle into one predetermined zone. It will be understood that the rule can be changed to provide that the members of higher value cannot that members of lower value cannot be moved into or out of a zone occupied by a member of higher relative value. As hereinbefore stated, any of the members can be moved through zone B even though said zone is occupied by members of higher value, assuming the first mentioned rule is adopted, or even though said zone is occupied by members of lower value, assuming the last mentioned rule is adopted. Thus, for example, if any of the movable members except the member of highest value is in zone B, any of said movable members of lower value can be moved from zone A to zone C or vice versa as the case may be, passing through zone B, but said members of lower value could not be stationed in zone B as long as said zone is occupied by a member of higher value. The number of movable members in relation to the number of zones is such that all of said movable members can be moved one at a time from one predetermined zone to another predetermined zone without moving a member of one value into or out of a zone occupied by a member of another predetermined relative value, and, preferably, in order to avoid a too simple solution of the puzzle, the number of movable members is at least as large as the number of zones. It will be observed that the movable members are independently movable in the frame from one zone to another in fixed paths.

Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7 of the drawings, it will be understood that while'the construction of the puzzle Ina, as here shown, is different from the construction of puzzle I0 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the principle on which the puzzle is based is the same in respect to both forms. The frame of puzzle Illa as well as the movable members are formed of suitable sheet material such as cardboard, The frame comprises a front member 60 and aback member 62 between which the movable members 38a, which correspond to the members 38 of puzzle Ill, are movable from their stations in the several zones A, B and 0. Frame member 60 is provided with a plurality of aligned station openings 64 extending longitudinally of the frame in spaced relation in each of zones A, B and C, and movable members 3801. each carries a number, visible through said openings, indicating the arbitrary value assigned thereto.

Frame members

60 and 62 are secured to each other in spaced overlying relation by end spacing members 68 and 81 and by spacing members 88 disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of the frame and provided with enlarged end portions 10 which are engaged by the intermediate lateral projections 12 on each movable member 38a,.thereby constituting stops to limit the movement ofmembers 38a in the slots formed by frame members 69 and 62 and spacing members 68.

While I have shown and described the preferred forms of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms as well, and that in the constructions herein shown or described certain changes may be made. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the invention as herein shown or described except as may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A puzzle comprising a frame having a plurality of zones disposed laterally of each other and extending longitudinally of the frame, each of said zones having a plurality of stations defined by openings in the frame, said stationopenings in each of the zones being spaced from each other longitudinally of the frame, and a plurality of members pivotally mounted in said frame for movement transversely of said zones at said station-openings, there being a stationopening in each zone for each of said members, said movable members having arbitrary relative values, the number of said movable members in relation to the number of zones being such that all of said movable members can be moved one at a time from their respective stations in one zone to their respective stations in another zone Without moving a member of one value into or out of a station in a zone having a station thereof occupied by a member of another predetermined relative value, the number of said movable members being at least as large as the number of zones.

2. A puzzle comprising a frame having a plurality of zones disposed laterally of each other and extending longitudinally of the frame, each of said zones having a plurality of stations defined by openings in the frame, said stationopenings in each of the zones being spaced from each other longitudinally of the frame, and a plurality of members mounted in said frame for movement transversely of said zones at said station-openings, there being a station-opening in each zone for each of said members, said members projecting through said station-openings, respectively, in a direction transversely of the direction of movement of said members from the inside of the frame to the outside thereof for providing finger pieces for manipulation of said member by the user of the device.

3. A puzzle comprising a frame having a plurality of zones disposed laterally of each other and extending longitudinally of the frame, each of said zones having a plurality of stations defined by openings in the frame, said stationopenings in each of the zones being spaced from each other longitudinally of the frame, and a plurality of members pivotally mounted in said frame for movement transversely of said zones at said station-openings, there being a stationopening in each zone for each of said members, said members projecting through said stationopenings, respectively, in a direction transversely of the direction of movement of said members from the inside of the frame to the outside thereof for providing finger pieces for manipulation of said member by the user of the device.

4. A puzzle comprising a frame having a front Wall provided with a plurality of openings, a plurality of members pivotally mounted in said frame at the rear of said wall and movable longitudinally of said openings, respectively, said members having end portions projecting through said openings in a direction transversely of the direction of movement of said members for providing finger pieces for manipulation of said members by the user of the device, and means on said frame engageable with said members for releasably holding them in stationary position in the frame.

5. A puzzle comprising a frame having a front Wall provided with a plurality of openings, a plurality of members pivotally mounted in said frame at the rear of said wall and movable longitudinally of said openings, respectively, said members having end portions projecting through said openings in a direction transversely of the direction of movement of said members for manipulation of said members by the user of the device, said frame having a rear wall spaced from said front wall, and means formed in said rear wall engageable with the ends of said members remote from said front wall for releasably holding them in stationary position in the frame.

6. A puzzle comprising a frame having a front wall, and end walls, said front wall having a plurality of slots disposed in spaced relation between said end walls, a pivot pin mounted in said end walls, and a plurality of members pivotally mounted on said pivot pin and projecting through said slots, respectively, for movement about said pivot pin longitudinally of said slots.

7. A puzzle comprising a frame having a front wall, a rear wall, and end walls, said front wall having a plurality of slots disposed in spaced relation between said end walls, a pivot pin mounted in said end walls, a plurality of members pivotally mounted on said pivot pin and projecting through said slots, respectively, for movement about said pivot pin longitudinally of said slots, and resilient members formed in said rear wall engageable with said pivoted members to hold them releasably in stationary position.

8. A puzzle comprising a frame having a front wall and a rear Wall, said front wall having a plurality of openings arranged in laterally spaced groups, the openings in each group being spaced from each other longitudinally of said front wall, movable members between said front and rear walls movable laterally thereof and exposed to view through said openings, said rear wall having a plurality of resilient portions, and said movable members engageable individually at their inner ends with said resilient rear wall portions, respectively, for releasably holding said members in predetermined positions in relation to said openings in said front wall.

IRVING STEINHABQT.