Three dimensional puzzle
A multiple dimensional puzzle configuration having interlocking puzzle components defining a fixed geometric shape upon proper assembly. Each of the multiple puzzle elements has multiple surfaces that engage corresponding interlocking surfaces of adjacent puzzle component elements within a display formation for commercial indicia or other so designated messages when assembled.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/188,179 filed Aug. 7, 2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Technical Field
This invention relates to puzzle art, specifically to three dimensional puzzles that require the user to disassemble and reassemble a puzzle configuration in which the corresponding puzzle parts are interlocked by their interengaging relative physical dimensional aspects.
2. Description of Prior Art
Prior art devices of this type are of a wide variety of different shapes and dimensions; see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,829,101, 5,826,873, 6,293,547, 6,601,849, 6,648,330 and U.S. Publication 2006/0001212 A1.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,829,101 a puzzle assembly with intersecting pieces is disclosed wherein a block is formed from contoured interengaging puzzle pieces that form two intersecting cylinders within the block.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,873 is directed to a three dimensional puzzle having interlocking components, each of which has at least one engageable surface that when so assembled define a known shape.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,849 claims a spherical puzzle having contoured interfacing elements to form a representation of a golf ball.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,547 discloses a multi-dimensional puzzle wherein a cylindrical base has lateral slots and longitudinal slots so as to define multiple tubular assembled members by joining interengagement surfaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,330 illustrates a 3D puzzle having a plurality of geometrically different components that have right angular orientations to achieve when so assembled a cube configuration.
U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0001212 A1 defines a block puzzle having a series of puzzle pieces capable of forming a variety of so defined independent dimensional shapes when assembled in a specific way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA dimensional puzzle of an assembled geometric shape formed from a plurality of interlocking contoured surface components. Each puzzle component defines both an exterior geometric surface and multiple access interior curvilinear surfaces for inner dimensional registration with one another along corresponding surface interfaces.
Referring to
Once separated, as described, the so defined puzzle pieces pairs then can be separated along the corresponding second cut line 16 of their respective adjoining contoured cut surfaces 17B and 20B and 18B and 19B to define the four independent puzzle pieces 17, 18, 19 and 20 hereinbefore described as best seen in
The critical aspect of the puzzle pieces is that each of the puzzle pieces has multiple contoured surfaces generally referred to at 21 and multiple adjacent opposing flat planar surfaces 22. This unique surface configuration allows for a variety of assemblies beyond that of the basic rectangular puzzle cube 10 when solved as illustrated in
Referring back to
Referring now to
It will thus be seen that a new and novel three dimensional puzzle configuration has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A three dimensional puzzle having multiple registering puzzle components derived from a single monolithic element comprising,
- first and second pairs of puzzle components having corresponding curvilinear engagement surfaces,
- said first pair of puzzle components having corresponding secondary curvilinear engagement surfaces defining a secondary pair of puzzle components from said first puzzle component pair,
- said second pair of puzzle components having corresponding secondary curvilinear engagement surfaces defining a secondary pair of puzzle components from said secondary component pair,
- said first corresponding curvilinear engagement surfaces are at right angle orientation to said corresponding secondary curvilinear engagement surfaces of said respective first and second pairs of puzzle components wherein each of said puzzle components are selectively-engaged to their corresponding puzzle component surfaces in a predetermined registerably selective order.
2. The puzzle configuration of claim 1 wherein said corresponding curvilinear engagement surfaces are continuously contoured.
3. The puzzle configuration of claim 1 wherein said corresponding curvilinear engagement surfaces are registerable along one axis.
4. The three dimensional puzzle configuration of claim 1 wherein each of said puzzle component parts has adjacent contoured engagement surfaces and planar surfaces in oppositely disposed relation thereto.
5. The three dimensional puzzle configuration of claim 1 wherein said multiple registering puzzle components arrangement define respective oppositely disposed end surfaces of geometric retainment shapes.
6. The three dimensional puzzle configuration set forth in claim 5 wherein said puzzle component geometric retainment shape end surfaces are engaged in respective retainers of said so defined geometric shape.
7. The three dimensional puzzle configuration set forth in claim 1 wherein said corresponding curvilinear engagement surfaces are in multiple axis registering engagement with one another.
8. The three dimensional puzzle configuration set forth in claim 4 wherein the assembly of said multiple registering puzzle components along adjacent planar surfaces define a sculptural assembly.
9. The three dimensional puzzle configuration set forth in claim 1 wherein said selectively engaged puzzle components to their corresponding component surfaces in a predetermined order define assembled display surfaces for indicia thereon.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 6, 2009
Publication Date: Feb 11, 2010
Inventor: Timothy P. Moran (Sarasota, FL)
Application Number: 12/462,640
International Classification: A63F 9/12 (20060101);