Puzzle
AssigneeGeneral Symmetrics, Inc.
InventorDouglas A. Engel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Puzzles, including both two dimensional and three dimensional versions, are comprised of movable segmented segments on a base. In various embodiments the base is a sphere. The segmented sections form geometric figures and each geometric figure has a common segmented section with another geometric figure. In the two-dimensional version the geometric figure is in the form of a circle. In the three-dimensional versions the geometric figure is in the form of a sphere; a square, with the segmented sections forming a cube; a triangle, with the segmented sections forming tetrahedron; or a pentagon, with the segmented sections forming a dodecahedron.
Claims12
A puzzle comprising a base for rotatably supporting segmented sections cooperating to form at least two geometric figures of circular cross section, said segmented sections being rotatable about non-orthogonal axes, the geometric figures overlapping to form an area of common intersection in a plane through the geometric figures, said segmented sections being defined along an outer edge by the locus of said circular cross sections and along an inner edge by an arc of radius equal to the radius of said circular cross section in said plane, each of said segmented sections dissected by at least two other arcs of radius equal to the radius of said circular cross section in said plane to form at least three separate pieces, each of said pieces being movable to a position anywhere in any of said geometric figures including the area of common intersection.
A puzzle having a planar base for rotatably supporting a plurality of pieces each cooperating with a center circular section to form at least two whole circles of equal radius and having an area of common intersection formed of more than one of said pieces, each individual piece is defined by at least three arcs, each arc having a radius equal to that of said whole circles, each of said pieces being movable with respect to other of said pieces along said arcs upon rotation of said whole circles from any one of said whole circles to a position in any other of said whole circles.
A puzzle comprising a base for rotatably supporting first segmented sections cooperating to form at least two geometric figures of circular cross section, said segmented sections being rotatable about non-orthogonal axes, the geometric figures overlapping to form an area of common intersection in a plane through the geometric figures, said segmented sections being defined along an outer edge by the locus of said circular cross sections and along an inner edge by first arcs of radius equal to the radius of of said circular cross section in said plane, the first of said segmented sections dissected by at least two second arcs of radius equal to the radius of said circular cross section in said plane to form at least two separate pieces, said circular cross sections further encircling at least one concentric piece dissected into second segmented sections by at least two third arcs of radius equal to the radius of said circular cross sections, some of said second segmented sections further dissected by at least one fourth arc of radius equal to the radius of said concentric circular piece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.