Mathematical puzzle with prize release means

A new and improved mathematical puzzle with prize release means comprising, in combination:

• a lower half sphere with a planar circular top face and a spherical bottom face, the lower half sphere having a spherical recess centrally formed on the top face thereof, an annular geared track formed about a periphery of the spherical recess on the top face of the lower half sphere, and an annular cut out formed on the top face of the lower half sphere adjacent to a periphery thereof with an outwardly extending horizontally oriented lip integrally formed on an entire inboard edge of the cut out;
• an upper half sphere having a planar bottom face and a spherical top face with a closed interior space defined therebetween, the upper half sphere including a spherical recess centrally formed on the bottom face thereof with a diameter equal to that of the recess of the lower half sphere, a post fixedly coupled between an apex of the upper half sphere and an apex of the recess of the upper half sphere within the interior space thereof, a plurality of linearly aligned buttons residing radially within a plane including the apex of the upper half sphere and with the plane further situated perpendicular with respect to the bottom face of the upper half sphere with the buttons having a first unbiased orientation wherein the button substantially resides exterior of upper half sphere and a second biased orientation wherein the button protrudes within the interior space upon the depression thereof, and a window formed substantially within the above mentioned plane below the buttons for allowing a user to view within the interior space, wherein each button has indicia representative of a number imprinted thereon;
• a locking mechanism for maintaining the bottom face of the upper half sphere and the top face of the lower half sphere connected, the locking mechanism including a locking tab with a vertical portion coupled to and depending from the bottom face of the upper half sphere adjacent a periphery thereof, a first angled portion integrally formed with a bottom end of the vertical portion and further extending both upwardly and radially outward therefrom, and a second angled portion integrally formed with the bottom end of the vertical portion and further extending both upwardly and radially inward therefrom whereby upon abutting the bottom face of the upper half sphere and the top face of the lower half sphere, the second angled portion is adapted to secure to the lip of the annular cut out of the lower half sphere thus locking the sphere halves together, the locking mechanism further including a release button positioned on the bottom face of the upper half sphere adjacent the periphery thereof with the button adapted to engage the first angled portion and further force it radially outward upon the depression thereof thereby disengaging the second angled portion and the lip of the lower half sphere;
• and
• a rotatable equation assembly including a central rod rotatably coupled to the post of the upper half sphere with a horizontally oriented first gear fixed to a lower end of the central post and adapted to rotate coincidentally therewith, a second gear rotatably and tangentially coupled to the recess of the upper half sphere within the interior space thereof and adapted to rotate coincidentally with the first gear, a vertically oriented third gear rotatably coupled to the recess of the upper half sphere within the interior space thereof with the third gear adapted to rotate coincidentally with the first gear and the second gear and further adapted to engage the annular geared track of the lower half sphere when the bottom face of the upper half sphere and the top face of the lower half sphere are connected, whereby the central post is adapted to rotate upon the rotation of the lower half sphere with respect to the upper half sphere, the rotatable equation assembly further including a multiplicity of arcuate arms each having a first end hingably coupled to an upper end of the central rod and extending radially therefrom proximal to an inner surface of the upper half sphere, each arm including indicia printed thereon visible through the window representative of an equation and at least one protrusion formed on the arm adjacent at least one of the buttons with indicia representative of a correct answer to the equation, whereby upon the depression of a correct button, the corresponding arm depresses the locking button thereby disengaging the locking mechanism and allowing access to the spherical recesses thus releasing a prize and further another arm is situated adjacent the buttons upon the rotation of the lower half sphere with respect to the upper half sphere.