US3674276A - Disc puzzle - Google Patents

Abstract

Six dish-shaped members have their marginal edges interleaved at spaced peripheral points to form the sides of a cube unit. A circular rib is formed in each member and engages the edges of underlying bounding members to resist slippage during assembly of the unit. In other embodiments an odd plurality of cutouts extend inwardly from the marginal edge. During construction of the cube unit, a coin or medal may be enclosed therein to make a rattlelike device. When the cube unit is dropped, the interleaved members fly apart with a clatter.

Description

United States Patent Street et a1.

July 4, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10,069 1898 GreatBritain ..273l156 346,126 4/1931 GreatBritain ..273/156 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [5 7] ABSTRACT Six dish-shaped members have their marginal edges inter leaved at spaced peripheral points to form the sides of a cube unit. A circular rib is formed in each member and engages the edges of underlying bounding members to resist slippage during assembly of the unit. In other embodiments an odd plurality of cutouts extend inwardly from the marginal edge. During construction of the cube unit, a coin or medal may be enclosed therein to make a rattle-like device. When the cube unit is dropped, the interleaved members fly apart with a clatter.

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SHEET 10F 2 Frederick 6. Street Paul .5? Baa/mailer INVENTORS' BY MW ZYMg P'A'TENTEDJUL "4 I972 3. 674,276

sum 2 0r 2 Frederick 6. Sireef Paul .S. Buc/rwa/fer IN VEN TORS DISC PUZZLE The present invention relates to construction puzzles and more particularly to a cube puzzle comprised of dish-shaped members interleavable to form a cube unit.

In the past box puzzles have been made available for testing the mental and physical abilities of an individual whose task it is to construct a box unit from individual components. However, previously conceived puales utilize mechanical attaching means such as slots, tabs, or fasteners. The use of these mechanical means limits the extent to which manual dexterity can be exercised and tested.

The present invention is simply constructed from six dishshaped members that have their marginal edges interleaved to form a cube. The present puzzle must be constructed by sequentially adding components until all six sides are inserted into place. Retention of the components depends upon frictional engagement of the component marginal edges. By eliminating mechanical fastening means a greater degree of manual dexterity must be exercised before the present puzzle can be constructed.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the finished cube unit that is composed of individual dish-shaped components.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the cube illustrated in FIG.

' FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a plane passing through section line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4-13 illustrate the sequential steps during the construction of the cube unit.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the insertion of a coin onto one of the dish-shaped components, such coin being utilized as a noise maker in a finished cube.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating an alternate form of the dish-shaped component having a central portion and spokes connecting the central portion with a marginal edge.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a dish-shaped component that has been punctured so that a star remains in the central portion thereof.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly FIG. 1, reference numeral generally denotes the finished cube unit and as will be noted, the unit is made up from six dish-like components held together by interleaving engagement between the marginal edges of the components. Each component makes contact with bounding or adjacent components at four equally spaced peripheral points. The components can be fabricated from metal, plastic or the like.

In order to best appreciate the construction of the cube unit, the following discussion will relate to the step-by-step assembly of the cube unit.

In the first step shown in FIG. 4, the participant places one component 12 on the middle fingers of his hand and must be careful that the component does not rest upon his palm because this will reduce his dexterity. As will be noted, the dish-shaped component 12 includes a flat circular central portion 11 and a circular marginal curved edge 13.

As shown in FIG. 5, the participant next places the edge of a second component 14 under the edge of the bottom component 12 so that component 14 peripherally overlies com ponent 12 as indicated by 16. The component 14 is maintained in a vertical position perpendicular to component 12 by exerting thumb pressure on component 14.

During the third step shown in FIG. 6, the participant puts the edge of a third component 18 under the edge of the bottom component 12 and holds the third component in place with the tip of his thumb. Thus, components 14 and 18 are maintained in vertical positions. Then, these vertical components are slanted toward each other and the bottom component I2 is pressed downwardly with a finger of the other hand if the bottom component 12 slides up. The overlying engagement of the component 18 with component 12 is indicated by reference numeral 20.

The next step is illustrated in FIG. 7 wherein a fourth component 22 is positioned against the aforementioned components 12, 14 and 18. The lowest point 24 on the marginal edge of component 22 makes contact with the interior surface of the marginal edge of the lower component 12. Also, component 22 is made to overlie components 14 and 18 at points of contact 26 and 28, respectively.

In FIG. 8, an additional component 29 is placed opposite component 22. The marginal edge of component 29 is positioned to overlie the marginal edges ofcomponents 14 and 18 as indicated by reference numerals 30 and 32, respectively. The last component 29 is held in position by exerting finger pressure thereon withthe little finger. The lower point on the marginal edge of component 29 is positioned to engage the interior surface of the marginal edge of component 12 in the same manner as indicated by 24 in FIG. 7 as previously explained in connection with the positioning of component 22.

Referring to FIG. 9, by using both hands, the participant must squeeze the components 29 and 22 while pulling back the components 14 and 18 with the thumb of one hand and a finger of the other hand. Now, the hand originally holding the components, for example the left hand L, is removed. The right hand R holds the components.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the assembly is held together by squeezing lightly while it is transferred to a table top or the participant's knee.

In FIG. 11, the participant places the top component 34 into position and, while relaxing his grip on the sides slightly, the front and top components 18 and 34 are pulled apart until a slight gap appears between their edges.

FIG. 12 illustrates the final step in completing the cube unit. As noted in FIG. 12, the participant slips the marginal edge of the top component 34 in final position under the marginal edge of component 18 as indicated by reference numeral 42. Gentle lateral shaping of the components is performed until the construction assumes a cube.

FIG. 13 illustrates the finished hand held cube unit.

After a certain amount of proficiency has been gained by the participant, he may try constructing the cube unit with his eyes closed. Then, he may advance to the challenge of completing the construction behind his back.

The present invention may be employed to fascinate young children. Children who are much too young to be able to construct the puzzle may nevertheless be entertained by it. Before starting the assembly, a coin or medal 44 may be positioned in the component 12 as seen in FIG. 14. Then, after the construction is finished, the rattle-like device is available which a child can shake or roll. When the child drops the cube unit and the components fly apart with a clatter, the child will be delighted. Children are still more delighted when they learn that the unit is not broken but can be put back together again and made to fly apart time after time.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present'invention as previously discussed, a circular groove 46 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to be formed in each component along the line of intersection between the flat circular central portion 11 of the component and the marginal flange 13. Formation of the groove results in a circular rib or projection that extends in the same direction as the curved marginal edge of the component. The projection or rib serves to engage the outward edge 48 of components that come into contact with the interior surface of the marginal edge 13. As a result, the rib inhibits slippage of the components during assembly. However, a more challenging task is presented to the participant when utilizing components that do not have the rib formed therein.

Instead of using a component with a solid central body, metal may be cut out of the central component body as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, thus eliminating, at least in part, stabilizing portions of the body against which the edges 48 may rest during assembly. In FIG. 15, metal has been punched out of a solid component so that all that is left is a circular central element 50 attached to the circular marginal edge by three spoke-like elements 52. In FIG. 16, the component is machined so that a star 54 is centrally located within the marginal edge of the component. The points of the star are attached to the marginal edge.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in the formation of a disassemblable closed unit, a plurality of plate-like components, each plate-like component including a flat circular central portion and continuous laterally curved peripheral edge interleavable at spaced points therearound with several of the remaining components, said central portion having an odd plurality of evenly spaced cutouts thereabout, each cut-out extending inwardly from approximately the area of which the curved edge joins the central portion.

2. A disassemblable assembly comprising a plurality of dishshaped components positioned in releasable edge interleaved relation forming a cube, each side of the cube having a single component with a marginal edge overlying the marginal edges of first and second oppositely positioned bounding components, said marginal edge further underlying the marginal edges of third and fourth oppositely positioned bounding components, and a coin-like element positioned freely within the interior of the cube for noise producing movement therein upon manipulation of the cube, said coin-like element and said releasable edge interleaving comprising means normally causing said assembly to fly apart when dropped.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein each component includes a flat circular central portion, the marginal edge thereof being continuous and laterally curving peripherally about the central portion, each central portion having a plurality of cutouts therein, each cut-out extending inwardly from approximately the area at which the marginal edge joins the central portion.

4. A construction assembly comprising a plurality of dishshaped components positioned in releasable edge interleaved relation forming a cube, each side of the cube having a single component with a marginal edge overlying the marginal edges of first and second oppositely positioned bounding components, said marginal edge further underlying the marginal edges of third and fourth oppositely positioned bounding components, each component including a flat circular central portion, the marginal edge thereof being continuous and laterally curving peripherally thereabout, each central portion having an odd plurality of evenly spaced cut-outs thereabout, each cut-out extending inwardly from approximately the area at which the marginal edge joins the central portion.

Claims (4)

1. For use in the formation of a disassemblable closed unit, a plurality of plate-like components, each plate-like component including a flat circular central portion and continuous laterally curved peripheral edge interleavable at spaced points therearound with several of the remaining components, said central portion having an odd plurality of evenly spaced cut-outs thereabout, each cut-out extending inwardly from approximately the area of which the curved edge joins the central portion.

2. A disassemblable assembly comprising a plurality of dish-shaped components positioned in releasable edge interleaved relation forming a cube, each side of the cube having a single component with a marginal edge overlying the marginal edges of first and second oppositely positioned bounding components, said marginal edge further underlying the marginal edges of third and fourth oppositely positioned bounding components, and a coin-like element positioned freely within the interior of the cube for noise producing movement therein upon manipulation of the cube, said coin-like element and said releasable edge interleaving comprising means normally causing said assembly to fly apart when dropped.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein each component includes a flat circular central portion, the marginal edge thereof being continuous and laterally curving peripherally about the central portion, each central portion having a plurality of cutouts therein, each cut-out extending inwardly from approximately the area at which the marginal edge joins the central portion.

4. A construction assembly comprising a plurality of dish-shaped components positioned in releasable edge interleaved relation forming a cube, each side of the cube having a single component with a marginal edge overlying the marginal edges of first and second oppositely positioned bounding components, said marginal edge further undeRlying the marginal edges of third and fourth oppositely positioned bounding components, each component including a flat circular central portion, the marginal edge thereof being continuous and laterally curving peripherally thereabout, each central portion having an odd plurality of evenly spaced cut-outs thereabout, each cut-out extending inwardly from approximately the area at which the marginal edge joins the central portion.

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