GB2186495A - Puzzle toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A puzzle toy comprises a housing 11, two superposed layers of tiles 12 arranged in the housing in first and second sets of parallel rows with the rows of one set extending perpendicular to the rows of the other set, and sliders (15,16) mounted in the housing and each arranged for longitudinal slidable movement in order to adjust the relative positions of the tiles. The sliders are arranged in first and second sets 13, 14, with the sliders in each set extending parallel to each other, and the sliders of the first set extending perpendicular to the sliders of the second set. Each slider is able to hold captive within the housing a respective double layered row of tiles, and each slider of one set is movable longitudinally in order relatively to move the respective double layered row of tiles in a direction parallel to the row of tiles associated with the remaining sliders of the set and relatively in a direction perpendicular to the double layered row of tiles associated with the sliders of the other set. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Puzzle toy This invention relates to a puzzletoycomprising a housing, tiles arranged in the housing, and means for adjusting the relative positions of the tiles during play with the toy.

One well known type of puzzle toy with movable tiles comprises a housing, a number of spaces arranged in the housing for receiving the tiles, a series of tiles which are one less in numberthanthe number of spaces, and means permitting finger access to the surfaces of the tiles to enable the relative positions of the tiles to be adjusted during play with the toy, the adjustment being carried out by moving an adjacent tile into the single remaining space, thereby leaving a further space into which a tilecan be moved and so on.Typically,thetiles may each bear a distinctive indication, and the objective during play will be to achieve a predetermined array of the indications e.g. a correct numerical sequence, if numbered indications are borne by the tiles.

The invention is concerned generally with puzzle toys of this type, but seeks to provide a more challenging puzzle to be solved by the user witch simple means.

According to the invention there is provided a puzzle toy comprising a housing, two superposed layers of tiles arranged in the housing in first and second sets of parallel rows with the rows of one set extending perpendicularto the rows ofthe other set, and sliders mounted in the housing and each arranged for longitudinal slidable movement in order to adjust the relative positions ofthetiles, in which: the sliders are arranged in first and second sets of sliders, with the sliders in each set extending parallel to each other and the sliders of the first set extending perpendicularto the sliders of the second set; each sliderisableto hold captive within the housing a respective double layer row oftiles; and each sliderofone set is movable longitudinally in order relatively to move the respective double layered row oftiles in a direction parallel to the row oftiles associated with the remaining sliders ofsaid one set and relatively in a direction perpendicularto the double layered row of tiles associated with the sliders ofthe other set.

By providing a double layered arrangement of tiles, a particularly challenging puzzle or game can be set, since it can be the design objective for one particular pattern or array oftiles to be presented on one side, and simultaneously a different pattern or array on the other side. Different design objectives will be achievable by different arrangements ofthe tiles in the two layers. The puzzle is particularly challenging, since movement of one of the sliders in order to adjustthe presentation on one side will inevitably cause an adjustment of the tiles on the other side, and this may well be inconsistent with the desired presentation forthe other side.

The housing may be formed buy a superposed pair of rectangular plates which are spaced from each other to perm it the sliders to be mounted for movement in the space defined between the plates, and corner arrangements which join the plates together.

Any desired numberofsliders may be provided in each set e.g. two or more. IN a preferred arrangement, 4 sliders are provided in each set, and each slider may hold captive a double layered row of 6tiles i.e. a total of 12 tiles on each slider.

In the preferred embodiment, 36tiles are provided in each layer (a total of 72 tiles in the two layers), but each tile at one ofthe corners of each layer is fixed.

Thus, for each layer, a slider can be adjusted (by manipulation of the first and/orsecond set of sliders) in order to alterthe relative disposition of 32 ofthe tiles. By virtue of the double layered arrangement of tiles, simultaneous adjustment of the tiles of both layers will take place as the slider is adjusted. Byway oaf example only,thetiles may be coloured and arranged so that, on one side, the correct presentation will be 6 rows each bearing a respective colour, whereas the correct presentation on the othersidewillbe6columnseach bearing a respective colour with the columns extending perpendicularto the rows.

To hold the tiles captive in the housing, it is preferred that each slider is shaped to define a longitudinal recess in which the respective double layered row oftiles can be received, there being end pieces at each end of the recess which retain the tiles and which cause motion of the entire row as the slider is adjusted. These end pieces project to one side from the plane of a support surface on which the tiles are supported, and preferably lugs are provided which project in an opposite direction and which are arranged so asto engage with the edge of one ofthe plates of the housing, in order to limitthe extent of inward movement of each slider.

To facilitate easy viewing of the tiles, preferably at least each plate is made oftransparent plastics material, and conveniently so also are the other components of the puzzle, with the exception of the tiles.

One embodiment of puzzle toy according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective and schematic illustration of a puzzle toy according to the invention; Figure2 is a diagramatic illustration of the mode of operation ofthetoy; Figure is an exploded view, also diagramatic, of movable sliders used for altering the positions of tiles provided in the puzzle; Figure4is a plan view a housing ofthe puzzle toy; Figure 5 is an end view of the housing; Figure Gis a sectional view taken on section line B in Figure 4; Figure 7is a section taken on the section line A in Figure 4;; Figure 8 is a perspective and detailed view of a slider; Figure9 is a plan viewofthe slidprshown in Figure 8; and, Figure 10 is an end view ofthe slider shown in Figure 8 and 9.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a puzzle toy which is designated generally by reference 10 and which comprises a housing 11, two superposed layers oftiles 12 arranged in the housing in first and second sets of parallel rows. In the schematic illustration of Figure 1, the first set of rows are designated by reference 13 and the second set of rows are designated by reference 14, and it will be seen that the tiles in each set extend in parallel rows, butthatthe rows of the first set extend perpendicular to the rows ofthe second set.

Aswill be described in more detail below, sliders are mounted in the housing and are each arranged for longitudinal slidable movement in order to adjust the relative positions of the tiles. The sliders are arranged in first and second sets ofsliders, a typical slider ofthe first set being designated by reference 15 in Figure 3 and a typical sliderofthe second set being designated by reference 16 in Figure 3.

The sliders in each set extend parallel to each other, and the sliders 15 of the first set extend perpendicular to the sliders 16 of the second set.

Moreover, as will become apparent from more detailed description below, each slider is able to hold captive within the housing a respective double layered row of tiles. Furthermore, each sliderofone set is movable longitudinally in order relatively to move the respective double layered row of tiles in a direction parallel to the row oftiles associated with the remaining sliders of that one set, whereas it is movable relatively in a direction perpendicular to the double layered row ofti les associated with the sliders of the other set.

As can be seen forthe slider 16 in Figure 3, a longitudinal recess 17 is defined between a support surface 18 and a pair of depending end pieces 19 which retain the double layered row of tiles in the recess 17 and also cause movement of the entire row as the slider is adjusted. These end pieces 19 project to one side from the plane ofthe support surface 18 on which the double layered row oftiles is supported, and lugs 20 project in an opposite direction and are arranged so asto engage with an edge ofthe housing in orderto limit the extent of inward movement of each slider. The sliders 15 of the first set are similarly arranged.

In the embodimentshown in Figure 1, there is a double layered arrangementoftiles, in which each layer is composed of 36tiles, though only 32 ofthese are movable. The fixedly arranged tiles are shown in dotted outline, and are designated by reference 1 2a, appearing at the corners ofthe layers. Longitudinal displacement of any one or more of the sliders of one setwill create a space or spaces which will permit longitudinal adjustment of one or more sliders of the other set, in order to cause an adjustment in the relative positions ofthetiles.

In a preferred embodiment, 36 coloured tiles are provided in each layer, and the correct design objective will be 6 parallel rows, each of its own colour, and the other side will comprise, in the correct design arrangement, 6 perpendicularly extending columns each of its own colour. To enable this design objective to be obtained, it will be necessary to arrange the double layered rows oftiles on each slider in a carefully controlled manner.

The construction ofthe housing 11 is shown in Figures4to 7 and comprises a superposed pairof rectangular plates 21 which are spaced from each other to permit the sliders to be mounted for movement in the space defined between the plates.

Corener arrangements 22 join the plates 21 together.

Figure 8to 10show in detail one example ofaslider which can be used in the puzzle toy It will, of course, be understood that 6 rows of colour on one side, and 6 perpendicularly extending columns of colour on the opposite side arejustone example of double layered tile arrangement which may be provided in a puzzle toy according to the invention. The objective of the puzzle is, after having muddled up the tile arrangements, for them to be repositioned correctly. In the preferred embodiment, there are two puzzles in one. First of all, it is necessary to reposition the tiles or elements correctly on just one side, which then leaves the arrangement on the other side muddled. This would be the simplest of two puzzles. A more complicated puzzle would be provided by the necessity to reposition the tiles correctly on both sides. Forthe latter case, with 6 colours and 36 tiles in each layer, there will be in the region of 8 x 1023 possible permutations.

Claims (8)

1. A puzzle toy comprising a housing, two superposed layers of tiles arranged in the housing in first and second sets of parallel rows with the rows of one set extending perpendicularto the rows of the other set, and sliders mounted in the housing and each arranged for longitudinal slidable movement in order to adjust the relative positions of the tiles, in which: the sliders are arranged in first and second sets of sliders, with the sliders in each set extending parallel to each other and the sliders ofthe first set extending perpendicularto the sliders of the second set; each slider is able to hold captive within the housing a respective double layered row of tiles; and each slider of one set is movable longitudinally in orderrelativelyto movethe respective double layered row oftiles in a direction parallel to the row oftiles associated with the remaining sliders of said one set and relatively in a direction perpendicularto the double layered row oftiles associated with the sliders ofthe other set.

2. A puzzle toy according to Claim 1, in which the housing informed by a superposed pair of rectangular plates which are spaced from each other to permit the sliders to be mounted for movement in the space defined between the plates, and corner arrangements which join the platestogether.

3. A puzzle toy according to Claim 1 or 2, in which foursliders are provided in each set, and each slider holds captive a double layered rowof6tiles.

4. A puzzle toy according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each slider is shaped to define a longitudinal recess in which the respective double layered row oftiles is received, there being end pieces at each end of the recess which retain the tiles and which cause motion of the entire row as the slider is adjusted.

5. Apuzzletoy according to Claim 4, in which the end pieces projectto one side from the plane of a supportsurface on which thetiles are supported, and lugs are provided which project in an opposite direction and which are arranged so asto engage with a facing edge ofthe housing in order to limitthe extent of inward movement of each slider.

6. Apuzzletoy according to anyone ofthe preceding claims, in which the housing and the sliders are made of transparent plastics material.

7. Apuzzletoy according to any one ofthe preceding claims, in which 72 coloured tiles are arranged in the housing in 2 layers, each layer having tiles of 6 different colours, and the arrangement being such that 6 parallel rows each of one colour can be obtained on one side ofthe puzzle toy, whereas 6 perpendicularly extending columns each of its own colour can be obtained on the other side.

8. A puzzle toy according to Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.