Three-dimensional polyhedral jigsaw-type puzzle

• US 5,104,125 A
• Filed: 01/16/1990
• Issued: 04/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Wilson
• Original Assignee: John Wilson
• Inventors: Wilson, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pierce, William M.
• Application Number:
  US07/464,905
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 273/157 R, 273/155, 273/156, 273/160, 273/273, 446/118, 446/119, 446/120, 446/125, 446/127, 446/487, 446/108, 446/109, 446/111, 434/211
• US Class Current: 273/157.00R
• 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

Abstract

A multi-set assembly puzzle (100) whose flat pieces correspond to the panels of a soccer ball. A 32 piece complement comprises 20 hexagons (102) and 12 pentagons (104). Grooves (112) in all polygon sides (110) must have a cylinder (114) attached in it'"'"'s right (R) else left (L) portions. Sides (110) adjoin only RR else LL. Adjoining pieces may be coupled by inserting a single connecting pin (120) through their aligned cylinder'"'"'s centers (118). The Rs and Ls of the polygons'"'"' sides (110) may be configured to produce 22 different subspecies. The sides (110) are grouped in 90 adjoining pairs which are randomly assigned R else L. The polygon subspecies are then found by examining the Rs and Ls of their sides, and their quantities become the specification for the complement. Successive specifications are compared to all previous specifications. Identical specifications are eliminated, but the former set has another solution, and is rated less difficult. A set, its specification, its solutions, and its difficulty rating are assocciated by a serial number.

Claims

1. An assembly puzzle having a hollow geometric assembled form comprised of a plurality of nominally regular polygon panels, each of said polygon panels including a plurality of edges,

each of said edges including a groove extending longitudinally therein, said groove having opposed first and second end portions,

means for joining edges of adjacent polygon panels in confronting relationship, including a plurality of cylinders,

each groove in each edge of each of said panels having a portion adapted to fixedly secure one of said cylinders and another portion adapted to removably receive one of said cylinders extending from an adjacent panel, whereby complementary edges may be matingly engaged with the respective cylinders disposed in end-adjacent, axial alignment,

means for releasably securing said cylinders disposed in end-adjacent, axial alignment,

each of said polygon panels having a unique arrangement of cylinders secured to the edges thereof to define a limited number of polygon panel arrangements which can form the assembled puzzle.

2. The assembly puzzle of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of polygon panels comprise an individual and separate puzzle piece.

3. The assembly puzzle of claim 1, wherein said plurality of polygon panels includes a plurality of first polygons and a plurality of second polygons.

4. The assembly puzzle of claim 3, wherein said first polygons each comprise a hexagon, and said second polygons each comprise a pentagon.

5. The assembly puzzle of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of cylinders comprises a hollow tubular member having a bore extending axially therethrough, whereby matingly engaged confronting edges of adjacent polygon panels have respective cylinders disposed in end-adjacent fashion with the bores of the end-adjacent cylinders in axial alignment.

6. The assembly puzzle of claim 5, further including a plurality of locking pins, each dimensioned to be received in the axially aligned bores of two end-adjacent cylinders of a pair of matingly engaged confronting edges of adjacent polygon panels.