Spherical puzzle

A manipulatable game piece, comprising:

• a spherical support member;
• a plurality of abutting track sections encompassing said spherical support member;
• said abutting track sections forming a substantially spherical shell configuration about said spherical support member;
• circumferential tracks formed at abutments of said track sections;
• movable members carried on said circumferential tracks and including means cooperating with said abutting track sections for retaining said abutting track sections in said substantially spherical shell configuration by clamping said track sections together thereby, said movable members being shiftable on said circumferential tracks relative to said spherical support member;
• and
• means for selectively aligning said abutting track sections relative to said spherical support member along two different planes.

A manipulative game, comprising:

• a plurality of track members joined together in substantially parallel alignment with one another to form a predetermined shape;
• said plurality of track members including a first track member and a second track member;
• said first track member being movable relative to said second track member;
• track means provided between said plurality of track member for allowing said first track member to be movable about a plurality of planes relative to said second track member;
• retention means including means engaging and movable relative to said track means for holding said plurality of track members in substantially parallel alignment with one another through engagement with said track means as said first track member is moved relative to said second track member;
• and means for disassembling said manipulative game through movement of said track members to a predetermined configuration with respect to said retention means.

A manipulative game, comprising:

• a plurality of track members joined together in substantially parallel alignment with one another to form a predetermined shape;
• at least one arcuate edge provided on each of said plurality of track members, said arcuate edges acting to form a plurality of circumferentially-extending interfaces between said plurality of track members upon the joining together of said plurality of track members for allowing said plurality of track members to be movable relative to one another;
• tracks provided between said plurality of track members for allowing at least one of said plurality of track members to be movable about a plurality of planes relative to the remaining said plurality of track members;
• said tracks including said arcuate edges of proximate track members acting in conjunction to form circumferentially-extending tracks adjacent said circumferentially-extending interfaces formed between said plurality of track members;
• retention means engaging said tracks for holding said plurality of track members adjacent one another through engagement with said tracks as said at least one of said plurality of track members is moved relative to the remaining said plurality of track members;
• said retention means including circumferential members which slidingly engage said tracks for movement thereon;
• intersections formed at the meeting of at least three proximate track members of said plurality of track members;
• said retention means including first circumferential members and second circumferential members, said first circumferential members having a projecting portion for engaging and retaining said second circumferential members on said tracks when said second circumferential members are at an intersection;
• and
• means for disassembling said manipulative game through movement of said track members to a predetermined configuration with respect to said retention means.