Amusement devices: games – Puzzles – Jumping movement
Patent
1990-12-28
1993-02-09
Millin, V.
Amusement devices: games
Puzzles
Jumping movement
273153S, 273456, A63F 908
Patent
active
051848228
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a three-dimensional puzzle comprising a box-like casing and a number of game pieces that are freely movable relative to each other within a closed system defined by the casing. The game pieces are, at least partially, marked and thus, are distinguishable from each other.
2. Description of the Related Art Three-dimensional logical toys comprising movable game elements or pieces that are marked, are provided with symbols, or are differently coloured, and as a result, are at least partially distinguishable from each other, have been known. In the known logical toys or puzzles, the game elements or pieces are movable, one by one or even groupwise, along courses of motion that are defined by a closed system of guide tracks. When playing with such logical toys or puzzles, an initial pre-determined characteristic pattern of the game pieces is first mixed up by moving the game pieces into various different positions along paths allowed by the system of guide tracks. After the initial characteristic pattern is mixed up, the player tries to bring the game pieces back into their initial characteristic pattern or into positions in which the game pieces show other, different pre-determined characteristic patterns through a sequence of steps. The efforts of the player are considered successful if the pre-determined characteristic pattern(s) of the game pieces are realized, or arrived at, by performing the shortest possible sequence of operational steps. In other words, satisfaction and success are achieved by finding, out of a large number of possible combinations, the simplest and thus, less time-consuming consuming sequence of steps or solution leading to certain pre-determined characteristic patterns of the puzzle.
The three-dimensional puzzle according to the present invention belongs to the wide range of spatial logical toys of the kind referred to above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to develop a puzzle by which the relationships between three-dimensional space and two-dimensional planar structures, the interrelation of inner and outer space characteristics, their specific features and regularities can be explored.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an article of manufacture comprising a puzzle consisting of the smallest number of game pieces that are of the simplest design.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a puzzle which offers a considerably wide range of choices between possible step variations so that the player can entertain himself while the puzzle maintains his attention and improves his mechanical aptitude, simultaneously.
To achieve the foregoing objectives and in accordance with the purposes of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a three-dimensional puzzle comprising a container-like casing, the casing having an interior and being a substantially closed, shape-retentive hollow body having the shape of a geometric solid bound by lateral faces, at least four said lateral faces being identical to each other in size and shape; a number of flat plate-like game pieces that are freely movable relative to each other within a closed system defined by the casing, the game pieces being distinguishable from each other, the interior of the casing serving as a game space for the number of game pieces, and the game pieces being of a shape that is substantially identical to that of the at least four lateral faces of the casing, and laid out in size so that the game pieces are permitted free movement within the game space defined by the casing; and a retaining means for releasably holding any one of the game pieces to anyone of the at least four lateral faces of the casing, the retaining means provided for at least one of each of the at least four lateral faces of the casing and the game pieces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The manner by which the above and other subjects of the invention are obtained
REFERENCES:
patent: 416344 (1889-12-01), Rice
patent: 537168 (1895-04-01), Ormsby
patent: 3883988 (1975-05-01), Fields
patent: 4036503 (1977-07-01), Golick
Bognar Jozsef
Rubik Erno
Millin V.
Pierce William M.
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