Amusement devices: games – Puzzles – Jumping movement
Patent
1984-03-12
1985-10-15
Oechsle, Anton O.
Amusement devices: games
Puzzles
Jumping movement
206 15, A63F 908
Patent
active
045469792
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to puzzles of a kind comprising one or more movable members and a holder defining an area within which such member(s) is (are) bodily displaceable in a given plane but so that a problem is involved in finding a sequence of displacements which will bring the or a particular member into a predetermined (hereafter called "home") position.
Some known puzzles of this kind are in the form of a maze. The holder supports a pattern of barrier walls within the field of movement of a movable member and the problem is to discover a route along which such member can move to reach the "home" position.
Other known puzzles of the kind referred to comprise a plurality of movable pieces assembled like pieces of a mosaic within a holder which leaves restricted free space, and the problem is to re-arrange the assembly by successive movements of pieces, to bring a given one of the pieces (hereafter called the "key-piece") to the "home" position. Such mosaic puzzles, like the maze puzzles above referred to, can obviously be of various degrees of difficulty. A mosaic puzzle which is very testing of patience and skill can be posed by apparatus comprising a holder which defines a rectangular field of movement for a plurality of pieces having in their plane of movement rectangular shapes of various sizes each of which is equal to or a multiple of a square module which is an aliquot portion of the said rectangular field, the free or uncovered area in the field being greater than the area of some but not all of the pieces. One piece can be larger than any of the others and such largest piece can be the key-piece which has to be brought to the "home" position. There may for example be at least four square pieces equal in size to the basic module, a number of rectangular pieces of length and breadth dimensions 2L.times.1L where L is the edge length of the basic module, and a single square component of edge length 2L. A particular example of such a puzzle is described in British Patent specification No. 592.536.
According to the present invention a puzzle of the kind referred to in the first paragraph of this specification incorporates or is associated with a container so that an exit mouth of the container via which contents of the container can be removed is free or freeable to allow passage of contents from the container only when the or a particular movable member has been brought into the "home" position.
The container of a device according to the invention can be used for example as a confectionery packaging device.
The puzzle of a device according to the invention can e.g. be of a maze or mosaic type as hereinbefore referred to.
In preferred embodiments of the invention the member whose displacement into the "home" position signifies successful solution of the puzzle is itself formed to serve as the container. Preferably the holder provides a support surface underlying the movable member(s) and the said displaceable member-cum-container is in the form of an inverted box whose mouth is closed by said support surface until such member is moved into the "home" position. Advantageously the said member has a step portion, i.e. a portion of reduced height, along one margin and the holder for the pieces provides in the vicinity of the "home" position a boundary wall aperture of sufficient height to allow such step portion to protrude therethrough. In these circumstances there need be no aperture in the said underlying support surface because contents of the displaceable member-cum-container can exit via the open bottom of the step portion when it is in that protruding position. As an alternative to that construction, the said underlying support surface can have an exit aperture with which an opening at the bottom of the said member/container registers when that member is in its "home" position. In such embodiments of the invention the puzzle is preferably of the mosaic type hereinbefore referred to, the container being formed by the key-piece. It is very satisfactory for example for the puzzle pieces to be rectang
REFERENCES:
patent: 2460264 (1949-01-01), Prentice et al.
patent: 3216558 (1965-11-01), Marsh
Kelrack Limited
Oechsle Anton O.
LandOfFree
Movable piece 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 Movable piece puzzle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Movable piece puzzle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2431205