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US 4,473,228 AGranted
Three-dimensional combinatorial linkage
OwnerJohn R. Hartinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A three-dimensional interchange linkage which permits any of a number of devices abounding a core to be laterally interchanged. A preferred form of the linkage is found in an icosahedral puzzle in which groups of five separate pieces can be rotated to re-order and re-arrange the pieces in the manner of a puzzle. The linkage which retains the pieces of the puzzle to the core while allowing lateral interchanges is essential to the operation of the puzzle.
Claims7
A three-dimensional combinatorial puzzle, comprising:
- piece means having a plurality of pieces respectively provided with an indicia bearing face for defining a combination of said indicia;
- and
- linkage means having a speherical core for permitting any contiguous group of five of said pieces to be simultaneously rotated about a separate axis so that said pieces can be shifted to provide altered combinations of said indicia.
A method of rearrangeably connecting a plurality of devices to the surface of a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:
- resting an arcuate inner surface of a shoe of each of twenty shoes upon the generally spherical outer surface of a core;
- slidably trapping each of said shoes beneath at least one of a plurality of isolated caps securely coupled to said core;
- and
- mounting individual ones of said plurality of devices to each of said twenty shoes so that said devices are coupled to said core in interchangeable freedom.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.