Amusement devices: games – Puzzles – Folding and relatively movable strips and disks
Patent
1996-03-13
1997-06-03
Wong, Steven B.
Amusement devices: games
Puzzles
Folding and relatively movable strips and disks
273153R, A63F 908
Patent
active
056346417
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a play device to match up graphical or alpha-numeric data on at least one upper surface of the device.
Such devices are known in the form of computational disks, which is to say computation scales in circular form. In this case, two logarithmic scales are disposed opposite each other on an upper surface of the device, respectively on two concentric elements of which one is rotatable relative to the other which serves as a base block. This system of course permits bringing into correspondence, for each position of the rotatable element, data or results on said scales (or on additional scales), for example two multiplication factors and the result of the latter. However, these uses of such a device are limited in practice to arithmetic operations and to mathematical functions with a single variable.
The present invention has for its object a more elaborate device, offering multiple possibilities for using data and results which can be not only continuous mathematical functions, but also discrete values, of nonnumerical data such as names, symbols, logical operators, communication ports, etc. or various graphical elements such as designs. A particular object of the invention consists in arranging the device such as to permit a large number of possible combinations between diverse data, which is to say the physical elements which they bear.
According to a basic aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device of the type indicated above, which comprises: base block and having respectively a second and a third surface visible on said upper surface; elements relative to the base block; ratios between the base block, the rotatable elements and the manual drive means; and on the rotatable elements and representing data and results in the form of circular scales, for indexing and/or other graphical elements, these locating means being disposed so as to be placed in mutual correspondence by rotation with the rotatable elements driven by said manual means.
Thus, the upper surface of the device has at least three visible surfaces which are movable relative to each other and which permit being placed in correspondence two-by-two by mutual rotation. This permits in particular causing to correspond the data on two of these surfaces, to find a result by correspondence between one of them and a third surface. In another application in which the fixed ratio of a kinematic connection between the two rotatable elements is not a whole number, the device can be a game consisting in finding the respective positions of the two rotatable elements which fulfil a given condition, for example which complete in a coherent manner a design distributed on said visible surfaces of the upper surface of the device.
To define fixed kinematic ratios, the transmission means can comprise gearing, chains and/or toothed belts.
In one preferred embodiment, two of said rotatable elements are coaxial. In particular, it can be provided that the first, the second and the third visible surface are adjacent two-by-two, one of them being disposed between the two others.
According to a first modification of the device, said two rotatable elements are coupled by a kinematic connection with fixed ratio, one to the other, and to common manual drive means. In another modification, permitting more complicated combinations, said two rotatable elements are coupled respectively to two manual drive means, adapted to be actuated independently of each other.
In a preferred embodiment of the device, the transmission means comprise at least one planetary gearing. Preferably, three coaxial planetary gearing elements, namely two planetary wheels and a planet carrier, belong respectively to said rotatable elements and to the base block. Planet gears can also constitute rotatable elements each having a visible surface provided with locating means.
In the case in which two drive means are provided, the transmission means can comprise two coaxial planetary gearings which have a common element and which are each connected to one of
REFERENCES:
patent: 4560164 (1985-12-01), Darling
patent: 4752074 (1988-06-01), Juang
patent: 4784387 (1988-11-01), Liversidge
patent: 4869506 (1989-09-01), Wiggs et al.
patent: 5100142 (1992-03-01), Cannata
patent: 5370394 (1994-12-01), Huncaga
DSLE System S.A.
Wong Steven B.
LandOfFree
Play device to match up data or designs does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Play device to match up data or designs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Play device to match up data or designs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-385932