Back to results
US 5,645,278 AGranted
Three-dimensional ball-in-track puzzle
OwnerJohn D. Harrisinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An amusement device comprises six rigid bodies permanently connected via six pivots in a closed loop, each body containing a track segment or track segments bearing game pieces movable in the track segments. Axes of the pivots form a symmetrical pattern around a line of symmetry, and as a consequence, the pivots allow the rigid bodies to be reoriented by a player, so as to align different track segments end to end. Game pieces can then be moved from one track segment to another. The object of play is to arrange game pieces in a specific pattern among the six bodies.
Claims2
A mechanical puzzle comprising
- six rigid bodies attached in a closed loop via pivot mechanisms, each said rigid body holding two of said pivot mechanisms so that axes of said mechanisms remain in rigid relation to each other, said axes forming a group which is symmetrical about a single line of symmetry, said rigid bodies having track segments on their surface said track segments continuing across said bodies, said track segments on a particular body aligning with said track segments on another body, said track segments retaining game pieces movable along said track segments, said pieces movable from one body to another body by way of alignment of said track segments, the degree of pivoting of said bodies determining which of said track segments align.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.