Amusement devices: games – Puzzles – Take-aparts and put-togethers
Patent
1997-10-03
1999-04-20
Wong, Steven
Amusement devices: games
Puzzles
Take-aparts and put-togethers
273156, A63F 912
Patent
active
058950443
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional puzzle.
Three-dimensional puzzles are well-known games of patience which may have an educational function, particularly an early learning role in sculpture and artistic sensitization when they reproduce famous or original works of art, such as museum pieces.
Amongst the simplest puzzles, mention may be made of the combination game disclosed by EP-A-0,051,576, which is formed from parallelepipedal elements which each contain at least one permanent magnet so that all the juxtaposed and superimposed elements of the puzzle hold together by means of magnetic attraction forces. The drawback with this type of puzzle is that they lack holding since their component parts are likely to slide over one another. Moreover, the shape of the individual elements of this known puzzle is particularly limited.
Other known three-dimensional puzzles are assembled by mechanical means. For example, French Utility Certificate Application FR-A-2,340,110 discloses a support-free puzzle consisting of complementary three-dimensional elements, occupying a single position in the said puzzle, assembled along arbitrary bearing surfaces to form tongue-and-groove joints or dovetail protuberances and cavities. The fragments may have a thin dish shape so that the resulting puzzle is hollow, or may be in the form of rods, wedges and/or cones. Patent Application EP-A-0,054,577 discloses a three-dimensional puzzle formed by two hemispheres which each consist of a cluster of three-dimensional pieces with a planar surface at the join between the two hemispheres. The pieces of the puzzle are connected together by a pair of spaced, parallel rods which penetrate into bores made in the puzzle. Two other rods perpendicular to the surface where the hemispheres join allow the two hemispheres to be connected together. Other puzzles still, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,324, consist of pieces which are associated both by mechanical and magnetic means. The pieces, of geometrical shape, are precisely magnetized and provided with paired protrusions and cavities arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the pieces.
The principal drawback with these known puzzles is that they are not adapted to containing pieces which each have a distinct and arbitrary shape and/or dimensions so they are unsuitable for the reproduction of works of art in the form of puzzles.
On the other hand, the invention proposes a three-dimensional puzzle comprising fragments of distinct and arbitrary shapes and/or dimensions which can occupy only a single position within the said puzzle, at least two of the said fragments each comprising at least one magnetic element oriented in such a manner that the said fragments are attracted to one another when they are suitably positioned.
Document FR-A-2,517,979 discloses a three-dimensional puzzle of the above-mentioned type whose various component fragments are kept assembled by magnetization and may or may not be cubic and may be identical or different. However, the puzzle does not hold together sufficiently and does not provide the tactile sensations necessary for application in children's educational or cultural early learning activities or in games for the visually impaired. The same applies to the three-dimensional puzzle disclosed in Patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,558, which is formed from pieces which are assembled either by mechanical means or by magnetic means and whose surfaces which are in mutual contact are not entirely paired with one another, the various pieces of this known puzzle not having, furthermore, a totally arbitrary shape and thickness.
The invention makes it possible to solve this double tactile and holding problem in that the surface of each of the fragments of the puzzle according to the invention is provided with at least one positioning protrusion and/or hollow capable of being paired with a positioning hollow and/or protrusion, respectively, provided on an adjacent fragment so that the said fragments are assembled both by mechanical and magneti
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