Three dimensional interlocking puzzle

A three-dimensional take-apart and put-together puzzle comprising:

• a plurality of interlocking discs, each disc having a first planar side surface and a second planar side surface substantially parallel to said first planar side surface;
• a first recessed planar surface formed in said first planar surface of each disc, each first recessed planar surface being parallel and spaced between said corresponding first and second planar side surfaces;
• a second recessed planar surface formed in said second planar surface of each disc, said second recessed planar surface coplanar to said first recessed planar surface, each second recessed planar surface being parallel and spaced between said corresponding first and second planar side surfaces;
• a radial slot formed in each disc, each radial slot mateable with said radial slot of a corresponding radial slot of another disc to interlock pairs of discs together creating interlocking disc groups;
• a first male element projecting from said first recessed planar surface of each disc, said first male element projecting toward said first planar side surface of said disc;
• a second male element projecting from said second recessed planar surface of each disc, said second male element projecting toward said second side surface of said disc;
• a first female element adjacent said first male element and extending through said first recessed planar surface and said second planar side surface, said first female element defining a first receptacle in said first recessed planar surface of each disc for receiving a male element of a different disc;
• a second female element adjacent said second male element and extending through said second recessed planar surface and said first planar side surface, said second female element defining a second receptacle in said second recessed planar surface of said disc for receiving a male element of a different disc;
• whereby said first and second male elements of each of said interlocking disc group releasably connect with said first and second female elements of at least one other interlocking disc pair thereby forming the puzzle.

A method of constructing a three-dimensional take-apart and put-together puzzle, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of discs, each disc having a first planar side surface and a second planar side surface substantially parallel to the first planar side surface;
• forming a male element projecting from each first planar side surface of each disc;
• forming a female element adjacent the male element and extending through the disc, the female element defining a receptacle in each disc for receiving the male element of a different disc;
• forming a radial slot in each disc;
• positioning the first planar side surfaces of a pair of discs against one another and aligning the radial slots of each disc creating an overlapping, unconnected disc set;
• and
• mateably connecting the aligned radial slots of an unconnected disc set with the aligned radial slots of another unconnected disc set creating interlocking disc groups;
• and
• releasably connecting each interlocking disc group with at least one other interlocking disc group by mating the male elements with the female elements.