US 9,987,551 B2 · Gear-based mechanical puzzle

Abstract

A multi-surfaced gear-based mechanical puzzle where the objective is to choose the proper sized gear and position on the surface(s) from available holes to have the gears align and rotate in unison on one or multiple surfaces, flat or curved, from a dictated start point to a dictated finish point. Challenges such as going from “a” point to “c” point directly or additionally through way point “c” are outlined in an accompanying instruction booklet. Additionally, challenges may be presented as using a specific number or specific size of gears, for example, to achieve the objective. In achieving the right combination of gear sizes and positions, the objective of going from one start point to a finish point by turning one gear to cause all other gears in the train to turn in unison can be accomplished. The puzzle and components may be made from wood, plastic, metal or a composite material.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A puzzle comprising three or more generally planar playing surfaces that are angularly disposed relative to one another, with recesses formed in the playing surfaces, wherein the recesses are not formed with equal, uniform space between the recesses across the playing surfaces, and a number of different sized gear-shaped drive members which can be rotatably mounted by insertion into the recesses on the playing surface at different locations, wherein the gear-shaped drive members may be placed into relative alignment with each other with multiple combinations of differently sized, gear-shaped drive members and routes available on the three or more playing surfaces to achieve a specific challenge of driving the gear-shaped drive members from a designated starting point to a designated end point along the three or more generally planar playing surfaces.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gear-based mechanical puzzle

Life of this patent

Gear-based mechanical puzzle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6