GB2118845A - Interlocking puzzle - Google Patents

Abstract

The puzzle comprises a plurality of pieces for assembly in interlocking relationship to produce an object such as a cube or sphere, in which adjacent faces of the pieces in the assembled object are provided, respectively, with mating slots (14) and protrusions. All of the pieces of a puzzle are of similar configuration and lend themselves to mass production by moulding. The protrusions are produced as "Bow-tie" elements (42) having one limb slightly larger than the other for a tight permanent fit in a slot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvement in or relating to puzzles Field of Invention This invention relates to puzzles and is concerned particuiarly with a constructional puzzle comprising a plurality of separate component pieces adapted to be assembled together, for amusement, in interlocking relationship to form an object, such as a sphere.

Background to the Invention Puzzles of this kind are currently available and generally comprise a plurality of differently shaped pieces of wood adapted to be assembled in a unique manner to form an object such as a sphere or barrel. With the known puzzles, because the component pieces of a particular puzzle are of a variety of different shapes they are generally handmade of wood and so are relatively expensive to produce.

One object to the present invention is to provide a puzzle of this kind more suited to being made by mass production techniques to allow for lower production costs.

The Invention According to the present invention there is provided a puzzle comprising a plurality of pieces of generally parallelepipedal configuration, the pieces being adapted to be assembled together in interlocking relationship to produce an object, in which adjacent faces of the pieces in the assembled object are provided, respectively, with mating slots and protrusions.

The faces of the pieces which together constitute the outer face or faces of the assembled object are appropriately shaped to produce an object of desired form. For example, where the assembled object is a cube such faces are plane.

However, such faces may be curved in two dimensions for production of a cylinder, for example, or in three dimensions for production of, say, a sphere. It is thus to be understood that the term "generally parallelepipedal configuration" includes such variations within its scope.

The pieces may be based on a generally cubic form, but other less regular configurations are also possible.

In one simple embodiment the component pieces are adapted to be assembled together to form a cube having, e.g. three component pieces along each side. Such a 3 x 3 x 3 cube is made up of 27 component cubic pieces in total, comprising one inner piece all six faces of which are formed with a slot or protrusion; six centre face pices, each such piece having five faces with a slot or protrusion and one plane face; 12 edge pieces each such piece having four faces formed with a slot or protrusion and two plane faces; and eight corner pieces, each having three faces formed with a slot or a protrusion and three plane faces.

Because all of the pieces of a particular puzzle are of similar configuration they lend themselves readily to mass production, e.g. by moulding techniques. For example, for the cubic embodiment described above the various component pieces can all be formed using one basic mould having the form of a cube with a series of removable inserts being provided for forming appropriate slots in various of the faces (the inner faces) as required. One convenient form of mould for this purpose is of cubic configuration with one fixed insert to define a slot in one face of the required configuration. A removable insert is provided which can be fixed in position (e.g.

screwed) in opposed relationship to the fixed insert for forming a further slot, and two further pairs of siidable, removable inserts are provided for use as required. It will thus be clear that by use of an appropriate number of the removable inserts pieces having three, four, five and six slots, suitable for use as inner, centreface, edge and corner pieces (as explained above) may be produced.

Suitable protrusions may then be provided in appropriate positions on the pieces by fixing, e.g.

glueing, inserts into selected slots. The inserts have a configuration equivalent to a double slot configuration, i.e. having one limb to fit in and fill the slot and another, similar limb for extending outwardly of the slot to constitute a protrusion.

Preferably the inner, slot-filling limb is fractionally larger than the outer protrusion-forming limb so that although the slot filling limb is a tight fit within the slot, a small gap is left between the outer, protrusion-forming limb and an associated slot to allow for easy sliding assembly and disassembly. The inserts are conveniently also formed by a moulding technique.

It will thus be clear that in this embodiment all of the component pieces of the puzzle can be produced using two basic moulds, one for the basic cubic pieces and one for the inserts.

Considering now an embodiment in which the assembled pieces constitute a cylinder, this can be basically similar to the cubic embodiment described above except that faces of the component pieces which constitute the side wall of the cylinder when assembled are appropriately curved. The pieces for such an embodiment may be similarly produced by moulding techniques, although it will be clear that in this case more than two basic moulds will be rquired for all but the most simple embodiments.

Similar considerations apply to production of, say, a sphere puzzle, and additional basic moulds will also be required.

The slots of the various component pieces of a particular puzzle are conveniently of re-entrant configuration to provide for positive interlocking of the pieces when assembled. For example, the slots may be of trapezoidal configuration, keyhole configuration or any other convenient shape.

The outer face or faces of the object formed by the component pieces of a particular puzzle when assembled may be marked in various ways, e.g. by printing, painting or attaching (e.g. sticking) suitable covering material, so that the assembled object resembles some other object. For instance a cube puzzle may be provided with markings to represent the faces of a die, and a sphere may be provided with markings to represent a globe. As a further possibility, different pictures may be provided on each face of a cube. It will be clear that such markings facilitate assembly, although the face or faces may be left plain if desired in order to produce a harder puzzle.

As a further possible variation, a puzzle of cubic form may comprise a separate removable inner cube, formed of several component pieces assembled together, and an outer shell similarly formed of assembled pieces.

Although the embodiments above have been described as being conveniently formed by a moulding technique, e.g. being formed of plastics material, such as a polythene material, it will be clear that the pieces can also be made by other techniques and of other materials, e.g. of wood, although such alternatives are probably less economic.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled puzzle forming a cube marked to represent a die; Fig is a perspective view, shown to an enlarged scale of the inner piece of the puzzle of Fig. 1 in the form in which originally moulded with six removable inserts also illustrated: Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a centre face piece of the puzzle of Fig.1 in the form in which originally moulded, with no inserts being illustrated; Fig. 4 is a view similar Fig. 3 illustrating an edge piece; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig.. 3 illustrating a corner piece; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of puzzle in accordance with the present invention, illustrated in assembled condition in which it forms a cylinder.

Detailed Description of Drawings Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a puzzle in accordance with the invention comprising 27 component pieces 10, each of generally cubic configuration, which when assembled together to the condition illustrated in Fig. 1 form a cube 12 the faces of which are marked to represent a die. Adjacent faces of the pieces 10 in the condition in which assembled are provided with mating slots 14 and protrusions 1 6 of trapezoidal configuration to allow the pieces to be assembled together in interlocking relationship.

The 27 component pieces 10 of the puzzle comprise one inner piece (not visible in Fig. 1) all six faces of which are prdvided with a respective slot or protrusion: six centre face pieces such as piece 1 8 in Fig. 1, each such piece having one plane face and five faces provided with a respective slot or protrusion; 12 edge pieces-such as piece 20 Fig. 1, each such piece having two plane faces with the remaining four faces having a respective slot or protrusion; and eight corner pieces such as piece 22 in Fig. 1, each such piece having three plane faces and three faces provided with a slot or protrusion.

The various different types of component pieces are all formed by a moulding procedure, conveniently being made of a polythene material, using the same basic mould. The mould is in the form of a cube and is provided with one fixed insert of trapezoidal section for forming a slot of trapezoidal configuration in one face of a piece produced in the mould. Five additional removable inserts are also provided; these include one insert adapted to be removably fixed in position, e.g.

screwed in position, in opposed relationship to the fixed insert, and two further pairs of inserts adapted to be slidably fitted within the mould.

By fitting an appropriate number of the removable inserts to the mould (two, three, four or five) it will be clear that it is possible to produce four different types of basic cubic piece (having three, four, five or six slots).

These four different types of basic piece are illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5 in the form in which they are moulded. Thus, Fig. 2 illustrates a basic inner piece 24, all six faces of which are provided with a respective slot 14. Fig. 3 illustrates a basic cen-tre face piece 26 having one plane face 28, the remaining five faces have a respective slot 14 therein. Fig. 4 illustrates a basic edge piece 30 haying two plane faces 32 and four slotted faces 34. Fig. 5 illustrates the basic corner piece 36 having three plane faces 38 and 3 slotted faces 40.

The four basic types of puzzle piece, including pieces 1 8, 20 and 22 as described above, are then produced from the four basic types of moulded slotted pieces 24, 26, 30 and 36. This is effected by fitting "bow-tie"shaped inserts 42 (as illustrated in Fig. 2) into various of the slots 14 of the moulded pieces, with the various inserts 42 and remaining slots 14 being appropriately arranged to allow for interfitting of all the component pieces to produce a cube as illustrated in Fig. 1.For the illustrated embodiment, on average two inserts 42 are required for each component piece 1 0. Here it is to be noted that although six inserts 42 are illustrated in Fig. 2, any number from 0 to 6 could be fitted to the particular piece 24 as required, with the appropriate number and arrangement of inserts, of course, depending upon the configuration of the surrounding pieces with which the resulting piece.

is to be interfitted.

The inserts 42 are conveniently also in the form of plastics mouldings. Although not illustrated in Fig. 2, the mouldings are preferably formed with one limb slightly larger than the other. The larger limb is designed to be a tight fit within a slot 14 and it is this limb which is used for permanently fitting an insert within a slot of a piece as moulded. If desired, glue may be used for permanently fixing the inserts in position. The smaller limb is dimensioned to provide a small clearance between the protrusion 1 6 formed thereby and an associated slot 14 to facilitate easy sliding for engagement and disengagement.

Fig. 1 illustrates the component pieces assembled to form a cube 1 2. These pieces can be disassembled in stages, such as the following: Firstly the cube is split into three layers 3 x 3 each one piece thick. In the illustrated embodiment this may be effected e.g. by sliding the layer of pieces forming the face having two spots in the direction of arrow 'A' the two remaining layers may then be split from one another by further sliding movement in the same direction. Each component layer may then be split into three strips comprising 3 aligned pieces by sliding movement in the direction of arrow 'B'. Each resulting strip may then be dismantled into individual pieces by sliding in the direction of arrow 'C'.

The resulting 27 component pieces 10 must then be refitted together in a unique manner to reproduce the cube 12.

It will be apparent that the component pieces 10 of the cube 12 may be produced from two basic moulds for producing slotted cubic pieces, such as 24, 26, 30 and 36, and for producing inserts 42. The puzzle thus lends itself readily to mass production with attendant low production costs.

With the illustrated embodiment it is envisaged that one convenient size would involve component pieces 10 having a side of 1 a (25.4 mm) with the slots 14 having an opening of 1/8" (3.2 mm) wide and a maximum width (at its base) of 5/16" (7.9 mm), and a depth of 5/16" (7.9 mm). The, inserts 42 have a height of 5/8" (1 5.9 mm), with the large. limb having a maximum thickness of 5/1 6" (7.9 mm) and the smaller limb having a maximum thickness of 9/32" (7.1 mm).

Fig. 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention comprising a plurality of pieces 44 which when assembled together to the condition illustrated in Fig. 6 form a cylinder 46 comprising five cylindrical layers 48 each comprising nine component pieces 44.

As with the previous embodiment, this embodiment is made up of a number of different basic types of piece, including inner pieces, centreface pieces 50, edge pieces 52 and corner pieces 54. The main difference between these embodiments is that in the present embodiment the edge pieces 52 are formed with a curved outer face 56, and the corner pieces 54 are provided with two curved outer faces which merge to form one part-cylindrical face 58.

It will be clear that because of these two different curved faces 56 and 58 additional moulds will be required for producing the component pieces 44 of the cylinder 46 but otherwise similar considerations apply.

alternatively instead of using different moulds one convertibie mould could be used.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS'

   1. A puzzle comprising a plurality of pieces of generally parallelepipedal configuration, the pieces being adapted to be assembled together in interlocking relationship to produce an object, in which adjacent faces of the pieces in the assembled object are provided, respectively, with mating slots and protrusions.

   2. A puzzle according to claim 1, wherein the faces of the pieces which together constitute the outer face or faces of the assembled object are appropriately shaped to produce an object of desired form.

   3. A puzzle according to claim 2, wherein the assembled object cube and such faces are plane.

   4. A puzzle according to claim 2 wherein such faces are curved in two dimensions and the assembled object is a cylinder.

   5. A puzzle according to claim 2, wherein such faces are curved in three dimensions and the assembled object is a sphere.

   6. A puzzle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pieces are based on generally cubic form.

   7. A puzzle according to claim 3, in the form of a cube having three component pieces along each side, and comprising one inner piece all six faces of which are formed with a slot or protrusion; six centre face pieces, each such piece having five faces with.a slot or protrusion and one plane face; twelve edge pieces each such piece having four faces formed with a slot or protrusion and two plane faces; and eight corner pieces, each having three faces formed with a slot or a protrusion and three plane faces.

   8. A puzzle according to claim 7, wherein thq component pieces are formed by a moulding technique using one basic mould having the form of a cube with a series of removable inserts being provided for forming appropriate slots in various of the faces (the inner faces) as required.

   9. A puzzle according to claim 8, wherein the component pieces are made using a mould of cubic configuration with one fixed insert to define a slot in one face of the required configuration, with a removable insert being provided which can be fixed in position in opposed relationship to the fixed insert for forming a further slot, with two further pairs of slidable, removable inserts being provided for use as required.

   10. A puzzle according to claim 1, 4 or 5, wherein the component pieces are produced by a moulding technique using a first, cubic mould with a series of removable inserts forming appropriate slots in the inner faces of the component pieces; and one or more further moulds generally similar to the first, cubic mould, but.having one or more appropriately shaped side walls for producing appropriately shaped outer face or faces of the object when assembled, 1 A puzzle according to claim 8, 9 or -10, wherein suitable protrusions are provided in appropriate positions on the moulded pieces by fixing inserts into selected slots, the inserts having a configuration equivalent to a double slot configuration,'Le. having one limb to fit in and fill the slot and another, similar limb for extending outwardly of the slot to constitute a protrusion.

   12. A puzzle according to claim 1 wherein the inserts are formed by any moulding technique.

   13. A puzzle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slots of various component pieces of the puzzle are of re-entrant configuration.

   14. A puzzle according to claim 13, wherein the slots are of trapezoidal or keyhole configuration.

   15. A puzzle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer face or faces of the object formed by the component pieces of a particular puzzle when assembled is or are provided with markings.

   16. A puzzle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the component pieces are made of plastic material.

   1 7. A puzzle according to claim 16, wherein the pieces are made of polyethylene.

   18. A puzzle according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or 13 to 15, wherein the pieces are made of wood.

   19. A method of producing a puzzle in accordance with claim 1, comprising producing suitable component pieces by a moulding technique using one or more basic moulds having removable inserts for forming appropriate slots in the inner faces of the pieces as appropriate; and fixing inserts into selected slots to form protrusions.

   20. A method according to claim 1 9 for producing a puzzle of cubic form, using a basic mould of cubic configuration with one fixed insert to define a slot in one face of the required configuration, with a removable insert being provided which can be fixed in position in opposed relationship to the fixed insert for forming a further slot, with two further pairs of slidable, removable inserts being provided for use as required.

   21. A method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the inserts are formed by a moulding technique.

   22. A method according to claim 19, 20 or 21, wherein the inserts are fixed by glueing.

   23. A puzzle substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

   24. A puzzle substantially herein described with reference to, and as shown in , Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

   25. A method of producing a puzzle, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.