Amusement devices: games – Puzzles – Take-aparts and put-togethers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-18
2001-03-06
Wong, Steven (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Puzzles
Take-aparts and put-togethers
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196544
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to three-dimensional puzzles of the type comprising a plurality of three-dimensional pieces which can be juxtaposed to form one or more new objects having specific external characteristics. In one aspect, it relates to a puzzle consisting of identically shaped pieces decorated with a pattern of continuous stripes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many types of three-dimensional puzzles are known. A common type comprises a plurality of three-dimensional pieces which can be arranged in juxtaposition to form one or more new objects having specific desirable characteristics. These desirable characteristics are also known as the goal of the puzzle. In some puzzles, the goal can be the formation of one or more objects having a pre-determined three-dimensional shape; in other puzzles the goal can be the formation of one or more objects having indicia (e.g., colors, letters, icons, patterns and the like) on the external surface which are arranged to form a predetermined pattern; and in still other puzzles, the goal can be the formation of new objects having a specific combination of three-dimensional shape and arrangement of indicia on the external surface.
New puzzles are constantly needed to satisfy the recreational and intellectual demands of users. Puzzles which consist of identically shaped pieces are particularly challenging (and thus desirable) as they allow a greater number of possible assembly configurations, thus increasing the intellectual challenge to the user trying to achieve a specific goal.
To prevent the user from losing interest in the puzzle after finding a solution to one goal, it is desirable to make a puzzle having multiple goals. The multiple goals can be independent, i.e., where each goal is achievable in the alternative, or they can be dependent, i.e., where some goals are achievable only after a solution to a previous goal has been found. For example, a first goal can be to arrange the puzzle pieces to produce two or more secondary objects each having specific goal characteristics. A second, dependent goal, can be to arrange the completed secondary objects to form a tertiary object having its own goal characteristics.
In addition to presenting an intellectual challenge to the user with regard to finding solutions for one or more pre-determined goals, it is desirable for a three-dimensional puzzle to have one or more goal configurations which are aesthetically pleasing. This allows the puzzle to be displayed in the home or office when not being used. A three-dimensional puzzle which forms a sculpture as at least one goal is thus desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the current invention comprises a three-dimensional puzzle including a plurality of puzzle pieces, each puzzle piece being of identical size and shape to the others and having at least two different indicia applied on the external surfaces thereof to define a pattern of visibly continuous stripes thereon. The puzzle pieces are juxtaposable to form a secondary puzzle module having at least two of the different indicia visible on the external surfaces thereof defining a pattern of visibly continuous stripes thereon. In other embodiments of the invention, the secondary puzzle module has a greater number of different indicia visible on the external surface. In yet another embodiment of the invention the puzzle pieces are polycubes. In a still further embodiment of the invention the puzzle pieces have the shape of a Z-polycube formed from four unit cubes. In a still further embodiment of the invention the puzzle consists of four puzzle pieces.
In another embodiment of the invention, the secondary puzzle module can be a polycube solid having orthogonal exterior dimensions of three units by three units by two units and forming a passage therethrough having orthogonal dimensions of one unit by one unit by two units. In a further embodiment of the invention, the pattern of visibly continuous stripes on the secondary module includes stripes on the exposed surface of the passage. In a still further embodiment of the invention, the pattern of visibly continuous stripes on the secondary module consists of six stripes running diagonally across each plane surface having exterior dimensions of three units by three units and five stripes running diagonally across each plane surface having exterior dimensions of three units by two units.
Another aspect of the current invention comprises a three-dimensional puzzle consisting of four puzzle pieces, each puzzle piece being of an identical size, having the shape of a Z-polycube formed from four unit cubes and having at least two different indicia applied on the external surfaces thereof to define a pattern of visibly continuous stripes thereon. The puzzle pieces are juxtaposable to form a secondary puzzle module having the shape of a polycube solid with orthogonal exterior dimensions of three units by three units by two units and forming a passage therethrough having orthogonal dimensions of one unit, one unit, and two units and having at least two of said different indicia visible on the external surfaces thereof defining a pattern of visibly continuous stripes thereon. In a further embodiment, the pattern of visibly continuous stripes on the secondary module can include stripes on the exposed surface of said passage. In a still further embodiment, each of the different indicia is an indicia selected from the group consisting of surface colors, surface textures, letters formed on the surface, numbers formed on the surface, symbols formed on the surface, and icons formed on the surface. In still another embodiment, the pattern of visibly continuous stripe on the secondary module consists of six stripes running diagonally across each plane surface having exterior dimensions of three units by three units and five stripes running diagonally across each plane surface having exterior dimensions of three units by two units. Further embodiments specify the different indicia defining the pattern of visibly continuous stripes on the secondary puzzle module, for example, two, three, four, five, six and at least seven contrasting surface colors.
Still another aspect of the current invention comprises a three-dimensional puzzle including at least two sets of puzzle pieces. Each set has a like number of puzzle pieces, all puzzle pieces in all sets are of identical size and shape and have at least two different indicia applied on the external surfaces thereof to define a pattern of continuous stripes thereon, the pattern of continuous stripes being different on each said piece of all sets. The puzzle pieces of each set are juxtaposable to form a secondary puzzle module having at least two different indicia visible on the external surfaces thereof defining a pattern of continuous stripes thereon, and the secondary puzzle modules are juxtaposable to define a tertiary puzzle module having at least two different indicia visible on the external surfaces thereof forming a pattern of continuous stripes thereon. In another embodiment, the puzzle comprises at least four sets of puzzle pieces having at least four different indicia visible on the external surfaces of the puzzle pieces, the secondary puzzle modules, and the tertiary puzzle module. In yet another embodiment, the puzzle comprises at least five sets of puzzle pieces having at least five different indicia visible on the external surfaces of the puzzle pieces, the secondary puzzle modules, and the tertiary puzzle module. In a further embodiment, the puzzle pieces are polycubes. In yet another embodiment, each set consists of four puzzle pieces, each puzzle piece being in the shape of a Z-polycube formed from four unit cubes.
In another embodiment, each secondary puzzle module has a polycube shape with orthogonal exterior dimensions of three units by three units by two units and forms a passage therethrough having orthogonal interior dimensions of one unit by one unit by and two units. In still another embodiment, the tertiary puzzle module comprises at least tw
Sidley & Austin
Wong Steven
LandOfFree
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