THREE DIMENSIONAL PUZZLES

• US 3,578,331 A
• Filed: 02/20/1969
• Issued: 05/11/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hilaire G. Degast
• Original Assignee: Hilaire G. Degast
• Inventors: Degast, Hilaire G.
• Application Number:
  US04/800,858
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• US Class Current: 273/157.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/1094 non-planar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/124 with a final configuration being a sphere
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/482 with holes or fingers, e.g. blind hole
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/12 Three-dimensional jig-saw puzzles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 52/10 Polyhedron

Abstract

Three-dimensional puzzles are disclosed for forming a hollow ornamental object having a surface of revolution. The surface is formed, for the most part, of a plurality of substantially identical puzzle pieces each of which has projections and complementary recesses about its periphery for cooperation with corresponding complementary recesses and projections on a contiguous piece. In one embodiment, the surface is a sphere, and the pieces are arranged in sets forming triangular and pentagonal portions of the spherical surface. In a second embodiment, the surface of revolution is cylindrical. A pair of such cylindrical surfaces intersect to form a cross.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional puzzle for forming a hollow object having a surface of revolution, comprising:

a plurality of identical four-sided puzzle pieces each forming an individual section of said surface of revolution, each of said pieces having complementary peripheral necked projections and recesses on the sides thereof, said projections and recesses being shaped to interfit with one another so that a projection from one piece will interfit with a corresponding comPlementary recess on an adjacent contiguous piece to interlock the contiguous pieces together to form a self-supporting surface, said pieces being shaped so that, when fitted together, sets of three of said pieces will share a common corner and form substantially triangular portions of said surface, and sets of five of said pieces will share another common corner and form substantially pentagonal portions of said surface.

2. A three-dimensional puzzle as recited in claim 1, wherein said surface of revolution is a sphere.

3. A three-dimensional puzzle as recited in claim 2 wherein at least some of said pieces are provided with an aperture of sufficient size to receive a finger to facilitate handling thereof.