# US 5,645,278 A · Three-dimensional ball-in-track puzzle

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 5,645,278 A
- Document ID: US5645278A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/594,646
- Filed: 1996-02-02
- Granted: 1997-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 1994-09-15
- Inventors: John D. Harris
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5645278A

## CPC

- A63F 9/0857: {with elements slidably connected to a visible central body, e.g. beads in grooves}
- A63F 9/0869: {with groups of elements rotating about at least three axes not intersecting in one point, e.g. toroidal shapes}
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The mechanical puzzle of claim 1 wherein
six of said track segments, one on each rigid body, can be aligned into a closed track, thereby allowing said game pieces to be moved along said closed track, and which loop of said rigid bodies may be moved to other orientations, also forming a closed track while involving other collections of track segments, said bodies being shaped so as to block the exit of said game pieces from said puzzle, all track segments being filled to capacity with said game pieces, such that said game pieces cannot move along said track segments, except when said track segments align to form said closed track.