# US 10,369,458 B2 · Three-dimensional puzzle or display platform

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- Number: US 10,369,458 B2
- Document ID: US10369458B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/298,418
- Filed: 2016-10-20
- Published: 2017-05-18
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-03
- Applicants: Mark Randall Stolten
- Inventors: Mark Randall Stolten
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369458B2

## CPC

- A63F 9/0857: {with elements slidably connected to a visible central body, e.g. beads in grooves}
- A63F 9/0811: {with rotatable concentric rings or discs (A63F9/083 takes precedence)}
- A63F 9/0842: {each group consisting of again a central element and a plurality of additional elements rotatable about three orthogonal axes at both ends, the additional elements being rotatable about at least two axes, e.g. Rubik's cube}
- A63F 9/0861: {with elements slidably connected to neighbouring elements, e.g. with hollow interior}
- A63H 33/26: Magnetic or electric toys (electric drives A63H29/22 {; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068})
- A63F 2009/0815: {with rotary, stacked elements, e.g. elements with a puzzle image on a curved or cylindrical outer surface}
- A63F 2009/2482: {Electromotor}
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS

## Abstract

A three-dimensional platform comprising a tessellated surface of pieces, each piece comprising a top and sides. The pieces comprise a fixed square piece having at least two opposing sides orientated acutely relative to the top to define a fixed square retention surface. The remaining surfaces orientate substantially perpendicular relative to the top. There is a mobile square piece having at least two opposing sides orientated obtusely relative to the top to define a mobile square retention surface. The remaining surfaces are oriented substantially perpendicular relative to the top. A mobile triangular piece having all sides orientated obtusely relative to the top. The fixed square retention surface indexes only with either the mobile square retention surface or the triangular piece surface to effect retention of the pieces to define the three-dimensional platform.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A three-dimensional puzzle or display platform comprising a centroid and a tessellated surface of pieces about the centroid, each piece comprising a top and sides, and the pieces comprising
a plurality of types of fixed pieces selected from
(i) square form pieces,
(ii) triangular form pieces,
(iii) integrated square form and triangular form pieces, and
(iv) one or more of (i) to (iii), and
a plurality of moveable pieces selected from
(a) square form pieces,
(b) triangular form pieces,
(c) rectangular form pieces, and
(d) one or more of (a) to (c), and
wherein the tessellated surface of pieces about the centroid is formed from a combination of fixed and moveable pieces with the proviso that
if the fixed piece is a square form piece then the moveable pieces are selected from any one of (a) to (d),
if the fixed piece is a triangular form piece then the moveable pieces are selected from (a) and/or (c),
if the fixed piece is an integrated square form and triangular form piece then the moveable pieces are selected from (a) and/or (c),
wherein the fixed pieces are fixed to the centroid by an anchoring mechanism that allows substitution of fixed pieces by each other,
wherein the fixed pieces on the centroid are fixed relative to each other in a rotational plane about the centroid,
wherein the centroid is a spherical centroid, and
wherein the square form and triangular form pieces have sides of substantially equal chord length.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 1 wherein the triangular form piece is fixed, the fixed triangular pieces having sides defining a retention mechanism, the retention mechanism including at least a portion of each side surface extending over a portion the square form pieces,
wherein a retention surface of the triangular pieces defines a three-dimensional platform, and wherein the anchoring mechanism allows substitution of the fixed pieces by other fixed pieces.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 1 wherein the square form piece is fixed, the fixed square form piece having sides defining a retention mechanism, the retention mechanism including at least a portion of each side surface extending over the other pieces, and, defining a plurality of channels that extends across the centroid surface through the surface area not occupied by those pieces that are anchored.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 1 wherein
the moveable pieces have at least two opposing sides orientated obtusely relative to the top to define a moveable square retention surface, and the remaining surfaces oriented substantially perpendicular relative the top,
the fixed pieces have at least two opposing sides orientated acutely relative to the top to define a fixed square retention surface, and the remaining surfaces oriented substantially perpendicular relative the top, and
optionally the triangular pieces each have all sides orientated obtusely relative to the top.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 1, wherein a square form piece is fixed, wherein the fixed square form piece has at least two opposing sides orientated acutely relative to the top to define a fixed square retention surface, and the remaining surfaces oriented substantially perpendicular relative the top,
the moveable square piece having at least two opposing sides orientated obtusely relative to the top to define a moveable square retention surface, and the remaining surfaces oriented substantially perpendicular relative the top, and
the moveable triangular piece having all sides orientated obtusely relative to the top,
wherein the fixed square retention surface indexes only with either the moveable square retention surface or the triangular piece surface to effect retention of the pieces to define the three-dimensional platform.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 1 wherein the anchoring mechanism allows rotation of each fixed piece about its axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 1 wherein the fixed pieces are readily substituted by one another.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 1 wherein the pieces are layered on the surface of the centroid such that the surface of the centroid is at least partially enclosed.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 1 wherein the moveable pieces define at least one pathway or channel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 9 wherein at least one pathway extends around the surface of the centroid.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 9 wherein at least one pathway is defined by one or more rotational planes.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 9 wherein at least one pathway is defined by a plurality of rotation planes.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 9 wherein a plurality of rotational planes are evenly interspersed about the surface of the centroid.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 1 wherein the fixed pieces comprise a contour on at least one edge surface, the contour shaped, such that when abutted with the one or more of the moveable pieces, the moveable pieces are prevented from being lifted from the surface of the centroid.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 14 wherein the contour on at least one edge surface of the fixed pieces comprises a lip or overhang.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 15 wherein the lip or overhang extends, at least partially, above a portion of one or more of the moveable pieces.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 16 wherein the moveable pieces are retained by a lip or overhang and the surface of the centroid.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

A puzzle or display platform of claim 14 wherein at least some of the moveable pieces, on at least one edge portion, define an edge profile such that when abutted with another of the moveable pieces, the moveable pieces are prevented from being lifted from the surface of the centroid.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

A method of using a three-dimensional puzzle or display platform of claim 1 wherein a fixed piece is substituted by another fixed piece of a different type to define a three-dimensional puzzle or display platform having different channels of movement for the movable pieces.