Amusement devices: games – Puzzles – Folding and relatively movable strips and disks
Patent
1993-02-18
1994-09-13
Millin, Vincent
Amusement devices: games
Puzzles
Folding and relatively movable strips and disks
273153R, A63F 912
Patent
active
053462157
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a three-dimensional puzzle game for adults and children which results in a regular tetrahedron in the assembled state. It is used for entertainment and for demonstrating a specific geometrical principle.
The main game value of known puzzles is the achieving of the more or less tricky task of creating an order out of disorder. The disassembling or mixing-up does not have any special appeal. This has the disadvantage that the interest in the puzzle will wane as soon as it is determined how it can be assembled correctly and can be solved.
The tetrahedron puzzles known from U.S. Patent Documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,565,442 and 4,323,245 as well as the tetrahedron puzzle known from German Design Patent G 88 08 167.2 also have this disadvantage. In the case of the latter, this disadvantage is compensated by the fact that it can also be used for various purposes that are not game-related.
Another disadvantage of the known puzzles is that, even when they have a regular design, not much attention is paid to the geometrical principles on which the puzzles are based because the "pile of rubble" of the individual pieces stimulates thoughts on how the destroyed whole can be restored and not on according to which principle the individual pieces were shaped.
In addition, familiarity alone is a disadvantage in the case of puzzle games, and there is always a demand for novel puzzles.
It is the object of the invention to provide a three-dimensional puzzle game which is surprising in its unfamiliar pattern and creates special interest. The puzzle is to be entertaining not only when it is assembled but also when it is disassembled. For this purpose, the special characteristic of the tetrahedron is to be demonstrated impressively which is that it can be divided by means of a plane cut into a "tetrahedron disk" and into a new tetrahedron.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view of an assembled puzzle;
FIG. 2 is a top view of a disassembled puzzle;
FIGS. 3a and 3b are views of two individual puzzle bodies for the demonstration of the size relationships between all elements; and
FIG. 4 is a view of the connection of the puzzle bodies on the example of two connected elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates an assembled puzzle. It is a filled-in regular tetrahedron. On one surface, all puzzle elements are visible; on the second one, the largest three; on the third one, the largest two; and on the fourth one, only the largest element. Of the four surfaces, only the first two are visible in the drawing.
When the puzzle is held on the smallest element and is pulled upwards, it unfolds into a chain of adhering elements which has the appearance of a band which winds helically about an imaginary vertical center axis and becomes continuously wider in the downward direction. When this structure is placed on a plane base, the elements are grouped such that they create the appearance of a snail shell with a five-cornered base. A knocking-against this shape causes it to spread out more flatly into a structure of the type of a hexagon, as illustrated in a top view in FIG. 2.
The game consists of several puzzle bodies of different sizes which are all permanently connected with one another. All elements, with the exception of the smallest one, are truncated pieces of a regular tetrahedron, as created by means of a flat cut in parallel to one of its surfaces. The smallest element is itself a regular tetrahedron.
FIGS. 3a and 3b are top views of two individual puzzle elements and illustrate the size relationships between all elements: the smaller base triangle 2-3-4 of each truncated tetrahedron piece is identical to the larger base triangle 5-6-7 of the next smaller truncated tetrahedron piece. Correspondingly, the smaller base triangle of the
REFERENCES:
patent: 1050141 (1913-01-01), Joy
patent: 1565901 (1925-12-01), Brandt
patent: 1997022 (1935-04-01), Stalker
patent: 3800442 (1974-04-01), Petrocelli
patent: 4437668 (1984-03-01), Simpson et al.
patent: 4578291 (1986-03-01), Miner
patent: 5108100 (1992-04-01), Essebaggers et al.
Millin Vincent
Wong Steven B.
LandOfFree
Three-dimensional puzzle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Three-dimensional puzzle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Three-dimensional puzzle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1115466