Electronic maze puzzle
First Claim
1. A maze puzzle comprising a puzzle body including a recess defining a generally cylindrical cavity in the body;
- a maze pattern within said recess located on the cylindrical wall of the body;
said maze pattern comprising a series of interconnected grooves extending from a starting position generally toward the bottom of the recess to a final position groove generally toward the surface of the recess adjacent to the surface of said puzzle body but concealed therein;
said maze pattern including a plurality of paths with at least one of which extends from the starting point to the final groove and a plurality of other paths which extend from the starting point but do not provide a complete path to the final groove;
a plurality of electrical switch means each of said switch means associated with and located at concealed different locations in several of said grooves;
a power source connected to said switch means;
a signal generator powered by said power source through said electrical switch means;
an operator positioned in said recess including graspable means for rotating and extending the operator out of said recess in the process of solving the maze puzzle;
said operator including maze engaging a means for traveling in the grooves of said maze pattern and operative in the region of said switch means for operating such switch means whereby said engaging means as it travels past a switch means powers said signal generator to provide a signal to the puzzle player related to the position of the switch means operated.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A maze puzzle is disclosed employing a concealed maze pattern on one member and a second member movable with respect to the first member and including a pin or follower which engages the maze pattern. A plurality of switches are located in various positions in the maze pattern and are operated as a pin passes each point. A sound generator producing an appropriate audible signal provides an audible message to the player. A similar generator provides a power for visual indicators such as a liquid crystal display or light emitting diode. A key member is either concealed or locked within the puzzle until a certain level of successful performance of the puzzle is achieved. The key may be used to open a secret compartment in the puzzle.
22 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A maze puzzle comprising a puzzle body including a recess defining a generally cylindrical cavity in the body;
-
a maze pattern within said recess located on the cylindrical wall of the body; said maze pattern comprising a series of interconnected grooves extending from a starting position generally toward the bottom of the recess to a final position groove generally toward the surface of the recess adjacent to the surface of said puzzle body but concealed therein; said maze pattern including a plurality of paths with at least one of which extends from the starting point to the final groove and a plurality of other paths which extend from the starting point but do not provide a complete path to the final groove; a plurality of electrical switch means each of said switch means associated with and located at concealed different locations in several of said grooves; a power source connected to said switch means; a signal generator powered by said power source through said electrical switch means; an operator positioned in said recess including graspable means for rotating and extending the operator out of said recess in the process of solving the maze puzzle; said operator including maze engaging a means for traveling in the grooves of said maze pattern and operative in the region of said switch means for operating such switch means whereby said engaging means as it travels past a switch means powers said signal generator to provide a signal to the puzzle player related to the position of the switch means operated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A maze puzzle comprising:
-
a body including a recess in one surface thereof having a cylindrical wall; a maze pattern on the cylindrical wall of said recess; an operator member extending into said recess including a follower engaging said maze pattern to allow the operator member to move from an innermost position in said body to an outermost position as controlled by said maze pattern; a key removable secured to said maze puzzle and restrained from removal unless said operator member is at a preselected position; and a locked compartment in said maze puzzle openable by said key. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. In a maze puzzle, electronic signal means comprising:
-
a power source; a signal generator capable of producing a perceptible signal for the maze puzzle player; said maze puzzle including a plurality of concealed maze grooves and a concealed follower for traversing the maze grooves in the solving of the maze puzzle; a plurality of concealed switches each associated with a preselected location in the maze puzzle; said switches operatively connected to said power source and said signal generator; said follower being secured to an externally manually operable portion of the maze puzzle and operative upon movement of said externally manually operable portion to operate a switch as it passes through the maze groove in which the switch is located. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification