Three-dimensional polyhedral jigsaw-type puzzle

Abstract

A multi-set assembly puzzle (100) whose flat pieces correspond to the panels of a soccer ball. A 32 piece complement comprises 20 hexagons (102) and 12 pentagons (104). Grooves (112) in all polygon sides (110) must have a cylinder (114) attached in it's right (R) else left (L) portions. Sides (110) adjoin only RR else LL. Adjoining pieces may be coupled by inserting a single connecting pin (120) through their aligned cylinder's centers (118). The Rs and Ls of the polygons' sides (110) may be configured to produce 22 different subspecies. The sides (110) are grouped in 90 adjoining pairs which are randomly assigned R else L. The polygon subspecies are then found by examining the Rs and Ls of their sides, and their quantities become the specification for the complement. Successive specifications are compared to all previous specifications. Identical specifications are eliminated, but the former set has another solution, and is rated less difficult. A set, its specification, its solutions, and its difficulty rating are assocciated by a serial number.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.