Puzzle
AssigneeProsoft Software, Inc.
InventorDror Rom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention comprises a puzzle including elements arranged in rows and columns, each element being rotatable about first and second perpendicular axes. The first axis of each element is parallel and co-planar to the first axes of every other element. Similarly, the second axis of each element is parallel and co-planar to the second axes of every other element. The puzzle also preferab ly includes a case that restrains non-rotational movement of each element and a linkage that forces rotation of all other elements in any one row to rotate about their respective first axes when any one of the elements in that row is rotated about its first axis. The linkage also forces rotation of all elements a column to rotate about their respective second axes when any one of the elements in that column is rotated about its second axis.
Claims20
A puzzle comprising:
- a plurality of elements arranged to define at least one row of elements and at least one column of elements, each of the plurality of elements being rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, the first axis of each of the plurality of elements being parallel to the first axis of every other of the plurality of elements, the second axis of each of the plurality of elements being parallel to the second axis of every other of the plurality of elements;
- a case that restrains non-rotational movement of each of the plurality of elements;
- and
- a linkage structure that forces all elements in the at least one row of elements to rotate about their respective first axes when any one of the plurality of elements in the at least one row of elements is rotated about its first axis and that forces all elements in the at least one column of elements to rotate about their respective second axes when any one of the plurality of elements in the at least one column of elements is rotated about its second axis.
A puzzle comprising:
- a plurality of spheres arranged in X rows and Y columns, where X and Y are positive integers, the number of spheres being X times Y, each sphere comprising:
- an outer surface including a plurality of faces, each of the plurality of faces having a different color or design than all other faces of that sphere;
- a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation;
- a case including a top half, X times Y top openings, wherein each of the plurality of spheres protrudes through the top opening so that a portion of the outer surface of each of the plurality of spheres is visible from outside the case and each of the plurality of spheres can be manipulated from outside the case;
- at least one row gear providing a mechanical link between each of the spheres in each row, so that when any one of the spheres in a row is rotated about the first axis, all other spheres in that row are forced to rotate about their respective first axes;
- and
- at least one column gear, one column gear of the at least one column gear being located between each of the spheres in each column, so that when any one of the spheres in a column is rotated about the second axis, all other spheres in that column are forced to rotate about their respective second axes.
An element of a puzzle comprising:
- six interlocking parts including first, second, third and fourth quads, a front end and a rear end;
- each of the first, second, third and fourth quads comprising:
- a face;
- a deck;
- a pair of blades that are parallel, spaced apart and protrude from the deck, each blade of the pair of blades includes a transverse hole extending therethrough;
- and
- a pair of bridges outboard of the pair of blades, each bridge of the pair of bridges extending to a vertex and including a transverse hole therethrough;
- each of the front and rear ends comprising:
- a face;
- a deck;
- and
- four parallel pins extending from the deck;
- wherein the transverse holes of the pair of bridges of each of the first, second, third and fourth quads align with the transverse holes of the pair of bridges of the first, second, third and fourth quads to define four locking channels into which one of the four pins of each of the front and rear ends extends when the first, second, third and fourth quads, front end, and rear end are assembled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.