Amusement devices: games – Puzzles – Jumping movement
Patent
1993-02-22
1994-06-07
Millin, Vincent
Amusement devices: games
Puzzles
Jumping movement
273155, A63F 908
Patent
active
053183010
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. 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 compensated by the fact that it can also be used for various purposes that are not game-related. In the case of the U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,245, this disadvantage is compensated by the fact that, in addition to the target shape, other bodies can also be built by means of these elements or groups of elements.
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 new puzzles.
It is an object of the invention to provide a three-dimensional puzzle game which is surprising with respect to its unfamiliar pattern and creates particular interest. The puzzle should be entertaining not only when it is put together but also when it is taken apart. Also, the special characteristic of a tetrahedron, which is that it can be divided by only a few angular cuts into a plurality of elements shaped as regular spatial frames, is to be demonstrated in an impressive fashion.
This object is achieved by means of the characteristics described in claim 1.
The puzzle game comprises a specific number of similar elements of partly different sizes which are all permanently connected with one another to form a branched chain. The chain structure can be put together to form a filled-in regular 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
FIGS. 1a and 1b are views of an assembled puzzle;
FIG. 2 is a view of a complete disassembled puzzle;
FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are views of three individually illustrated elements;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view concerning the principle of dividing the tetrahedron into the elements of the puzzle;
FIG. 5 is another schematic view of the dividing principle;
FIGS. 6a and 6b are views of the connection of two elements;
FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c are views of the process of the folding-apart on the example of two puzzle elements;
FIG. 8 is a view of a partially assembled puzzle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate an embodiment of a puzzle assembled from 21 elements. It is a regular tetrahedron of which two surfaces respectively are visible in the drawing. In FIG. 1a, six puzzle elements 1 to 6 are visible on the two surfaces. FIG. 1b is a view of the puzzle that is rotated by 120 degrees; in this case, five additional elements 7 to 11 are visible.
FIG. 2 shows the same embodiment as a completely disassembled puzzle with the elements 1 to 21.
The puzzle consists of a number of similar frame-shaped elements of different sizes and of a number of identical regular tetrahedrons which are the smallest puzzle elements. If the number of the smallest tetrahedron-shaped elements is n, there are n-1 mutually identical, next-larger, frame-shaped elements; n-2 next-lar
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Millin Vincent
Wong Steven B.
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