Interlocking solid puzzles with sliding movement control mechanisms

A three-dimensional puzzle capable of being assembled and disassembled, said three-dimensional puzzle comprising:

• a plurality of rigid three-dimensional puzzle pieces having no moving parts, each of said plurality of puzzle pieces having a plurality of faces, said plurality of puzzle pieces including first and second puzzle pieces;
• said first puzzle piece having at least one face defining a recessed channel;
• said second puzzle piece having a stud projecting from at least one face thereof;
• said plurality of puzzle pieces capable of being selectively transformed between a disassembled configuration wherein all of said puzzle pieces are disconnected and separated from one another, and an assembled configuration wherein all of said plurality of puzzle pieces are proximally located and form a three-dimensional structure;
• said assembled configuration including at least one fully interlocked piece unit, said piece unit consisting of one or more of said plurality of puzzle pieces;
• wherein transformation of said puzzle pieces between said assembled and disassembled configurations involves movement of said puzzle pieces including at least one series of piece moves along agonic paths, said at least one series of piece moves including at least one set of required piece moves constituting moves required to achieve transformation, each required piece move consisting of an uninterrupted relative movement of a first piece unit relative to a second piece unit, said first piece unit consisting of one or more of said puzzle pieces wherein the relative position of each puzzle piece is maintained with respect to any other puzzle piece within said first piece unit during said required piece move, said second piece unit consisting of one or more of said puzzle pieces wherein the relative position of each puzzle piece is maintained with respect to any other puzzle piece within said second piece unit during said required piece move;
• each said set of required piece moves includes at least three moves wherein at least two of said at least three moves must be completed in a predetermined order relative to at least one other piece move for transformation of said puzzle pieces from said assembled configuration to said disassembled configuration;
• each of said set of required piece moves further including moves wherein opposing faces of adjacent puzzle pieces are slidably disposed in substantially adjacent parallel face-to-face relation, and wherein all of said opposing faces that are slidably disposed in face-to-face relation are substantially planar;
• said set of required piece moves including movement of puzzle pieces in parallel relation to at least three planes, each of said at least three planes being angled with respect to each other plane by amounts greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees;
• wherein each of said at least one set of required piece moves includes a first move wherein said first and second puzzle pieces move relative to one another such that opposing faces of said first and second puzzle pieces are in sliding flush contact with said stud received within said channel, and a second move wherein said stud is received within said channel for at least a portion of said second move, wherein said stud travels along a first agonic path within said channel during said first move and said stud travels along a second agonic path within said channel during said second move, said first and second agonic paths intersecting at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees, said channel located on said opposing face of said first piece, said stud located on said opposing face of said second piece;
• said stud being received within said channel during at least a portion of one of said piece moves included in said set of required piece moves thereby limiting relative movement between said first and second puzzle pieces.

A three-dimensional puzzle capable of being assembled and disassembled, said three-dimensional puzzle comprising:

• a plurality of rigid three-dimensional puzzle pieces having no moving parts, each of said plurality of puzzle pieces having a plurality of faces, said plurality of puzzle pieces including first and second puzzle pieces;
• said first puzzle piece having at least one face defining a recessed channel;
• said second puzzle piece having a stud projecting from at least one face thereof;
• said plurality of puzzle pieces capable of being selectively transformed between a disassembled configuration wherein all of said puzzle pieces are disconnected and separated from one another, and an assembled configuration wherein all of said plurality of puzzle pieces are proximally located and form a three-dimensional structure;
• said assembled configuration having all of said plurality of puzzle pieces fully interlocked with exactly one initial piece move possible wherein said initial piece move must be completed prior to any subsequent piece move resulting in one or more said puzzle pieces becoming disconnected and separated from any other said puzzle pieces, said initial piece move and subsequent piece moves being included in said set of required piece moves, whereby said initial piece move must be performed prior to the removal of any said puzzle pieces from said assembled configuration;
• transformation of said puzzle pieces between said assembled and disassembled configurations involving movement of said puzzle pieces including at least one series of piece moves along agonic paths, said at least one series of piece moves including at least one set of required piece moves constituting moves required to achieve transformation, said required piece moves each consisting of an uninterrupted relative movement of a first piece unit relative to a second piece unit, said first piece unit consisting of one or more of said puzzle pieces wherein the relative position of each puzzle piece is maintained with respect to any other puzzle piece within said first piece unit during said required piece move, said second piece unit consisting of one or more of said puzzle pieces wherein the relative position of each puzzle piece is maintained with respect to any other puzzle piece within said second piece unit during said required piece move;
• each said set of required piece moves includes at least three moves wherein at least two of said at least three moves must be completed in a predetermined order relative to at least one other piece move for transformation of said puzzle pieces from said assembled configuration to said disassembled configuration;
• each said set of required piece moves further including moves wherein opposing faces of adjacent puzzle pieces are slidably disposed in substantially adjacent parallel face-to-face relation, and wherein all of said opposing faces that are slidably disposed in face-to-face relation are substantially planar;
• said set of required piece moves including movement of puzzle pieces in parallel relation to at least three planes, each of said at least three planes being angled with respect to each other plane by amounts greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees;
• said stud being received within said channel during at least a portion of a piece move included in said set of required piece moves thereby limiting relative movement between said first and second puzzle pieces;
• said series of piece moves along agonic paths including at least one move wherein said stud is received within said channel and wherein said at least one move is terminated by engagement of said stud with a portion of one of said plurality of puzzle pieces;
• said three-dimensional puzzle including one or more guide studs projecting from faces of said plurality of puzzle pieces, and including one or more of said puzzle pieces having at least one face defining a recessed guide channel, said plurality of puzzle pieces including a first and a second mating piece, wherein all said guide channels included in said three-dimensional puzzle have profiles which are substantially the same, and wherein all said guide studs included in said three-dimensional puzzle have shapes and sizes which are substantially the same, and wherein the shape of said guide studs and the profile of said guide channels are such that when said first and second mating pieces are located next to each other wherein opposing faces of said first and second mating pieces are in flush contact wherein one of said first guide studs located on said opposing face of said first mating piece is received within one of s aid first guide channels located on said opposing face of said second mating piece, said first and second mating pieces can be moved apart by movements in directions perpendicular to said opposing faces wherein said first guide stud is removed from within said first guide channel.

A three-dimensional puzzle having a plurality of puzzle pieces capable of being configured in a spatially integrating manner to form a three-dimensional structure, said puzzle pieces capable of being manipulated between a solved configuration and a unsolved configuration by relative movement thereof, said puzzle comprising:

• a plurality of rigid three-dimensional puzzle pieces having no moving parts, each of said plurality of puzzle pieces having a plurality of faces, said plurality of puzzle pieces including first and second puzzle pieces;
• said first puzzle piece having at least one face defining a recessed channel;
• said second puzzle piece having a stud projecting from at least one face thereof;
• said plurality of puzzle pieces capable of being selectively transformed between said solved configuration wherein all of said plurality of puzzle pieces are proximally located and form a three-dimensional structure, and said unsolved configuration wherein every possible said solved configuration and said unsolved configuration includes at least two said puzzle pieces which remain proximally located;
• said solved configuration including at least one fully interlocked piece unit, said piece unit consisting of one or more of said plurality of puzzle pieces;
• wherein transformation of said puzzle pieces between said solved configuration and said unsolved configuration involves movement of said puzzle pieces including at least one series of piece moves along agonic paths, said at least one series of piece moves including at least one set of required piece moves constituting moves required to achieve transformation, said required piece moves each consisting of an uninterrupted relative movement of a first piece unit relative to a second piece unit, said first piece unit consisting of one or more of said puzzle pieces wherein the relative position of each puzzle piece is maintained with respect to any other puzzle piece within said first piece unit during said required piece move, said second piece unit consisting of one or more of said puzzle pieces wherein the relative position of each puzzle piece is maintained with respect to any other puzzle piece within said second piece unit during said required piece move;
• each said set of required piece moves includes at least three moves wherein at least two of said at least three moves must be completed in a predetermined order relative to at least one other piece move for transformation of said puzzle pieces from said solved configuration to said unsolved configuration;
• each of said set of required piece moves further including moves wherein opposing faces of adjacent puzzle pieces are sidably disposed in substantially adjacent parallel face-to-face relation, and wherein all of said opposing faces that are slidably disposed in face-to-face relation are substantially planar;
• said set of required piece moves including movement of puzzle pieces in parallel relation to at least three planes, each of said at least three planes being angled with respect to each other plane by amounts greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees;
• wherein each of said at least one set of required piece moves includes a first move wherein said first and second puzzle pieces move relative to one another such that opposing faces of said first and second puzzle pieces are in sliding flush contact with said stud received within said channel, and a second move wherein said stud is received within said channel for at least a portion of said second move, wherein said stud travels along a first agonic path within said channel during said first move and said stud travels along a second agonic path within said channel during said second move, said first and second agonic paths intersecting at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees, said channel located on said opposing face of said first piece, said stud located on said opposing face of said second piece;
• said stud being received within said channel during at least a portion of one of said piece moves included in said set of required piece moves thereby limiting relative movement between said first and second puzzle pieces.