Mechanical maze puzzle

Abstract

The mechanical puzzle of the present invention includes concentrically arrangeable cylinders in which a pin projects from a first cylinder to engage with a groove which forms a maze pattern on a concentrically adjacent second cylinder. The puzzle may be solved by rotating and advancing or retracting the cylinders with respect to one another to move the pin from a starting point through a continuous passage and to an ending point. The puzzle may have multiple cylinders with multiple pin/groove pairs, may have different pin/maze arrangements, may be constructed of plastic, wood, or other material, may include secret compartments, may vary in diameter and skill level to suit users of differing mental and physical abilities, and may have interchangeable components to minimize obsolescence from user fluency.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of mechanical puzzles, and more particularly to a puzzle which includes a plurality of cylinders of varying diameters which may be concentrically arranged inside one another such that a pin projection on one or more cylinders may be engageable with a groove which forms a maze on an adjacent cylinder, thereby allowing a user to advance, rotate, and/or retract one or more of the cylinders with respect to the adjacent cylinder to navigate the pin projection through the groove in an attempt to solve the puzzle either by aligning the cylinders with one another concentrically in a pre-determined position or by fully disengaging the cylinders from one another.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mechanical puzzles have permeated societies around the world for thousands of years and are generally best known for their entertainment value to both adults and children. In addition to their amusement potential, mechanical puzzles may be used as aids for improving cognitive and/or physical skills where a user may have limited ability because of age (either very young or very advanced in years) or impairment.

Currently available mechanical puzzles span a wide range, including, for instance, sequential movement puzzles. Generally, these puzzles require a user to physically manipulate pre-attached puzzle pieces to arrive at a solution based on color matching, pattern matching, or the like. Sequential movement puzzles come in a variety of shapes, sizes, configurations, and levels of difficulty. Manipulation of almost all sequential movement puzzles requires a considerable degree of mental skill and fine motor control, placing even the simplest puzzle out of reach of very young users and those with limited brain function or motor control. Further, although the initial solution to many sequential movement puzzles is often difficult, such as for Rubik's Cube, for example, it is typically the case that the solution may be successfully and easily duplicated once discovered, thereby significantly reducing the entertainment value of the puzzle.

Conventionally available mechanical puzzles also include what are known in the art as dexterity challenges. One of the more commonly known puzzles in this category involves a labyrinth through which an accompanying ball is manipulated by carefully tilting the entire puzzle to avoid having the ball fall into randomly placed holes. Sinking the ball into any of the holes requires a user to begin the game again. Like sequential movement puzzles, however, dexterity challenges are also subject to reduced entertainment value over time because repetitive solving is so easily achieved once the series of physical manipulations necessary to successfully solve the puzzle becomes known.

Additionally, where labyrinths are not equipped with a transparent cover to ensure that the ball does not become separated from the game, the game may be rendered useless by loss of the ball. Conversely, where a transparent cover is in place, the ball may become wedged between the cover and the labyrinth such that a user must stop the game to dislodge the ball, each interruption making it necessary to restart the game from the beginning. Like sequential movement puzzles, labyrinth puzzles require a great degree of fine motor control for successful manipulation. This generally places most labyrinth-type puzzles out of the reach of very young children and those with diminished control of the hands or arms.

Finally, most conventionally available mechanical puzzles, including those mentioned supra, rely to a great degree on a user's vision for color or pattern matching (as with sequential movement puzzles) or visualization of a solution path (as with labyrinth-type puzzles). This factor removes most such puzzles from the ambit of yet another group of potential puzzle solvers who may be visually impaired.

What is therefore needed is a mechanical puzzle which may be suitable for a wide range of users of different age groups, skill levels, and physical abilities. The ideal puzzle may be sized to fit a variety of different-sized grips to make it easy for both children and adults to grasp.

Additionally, the ideal puzzle could be worked by most users regardless of limited mental ability or restricted range of motion in the hands or upper extremities. Moreover, the ideal puzzle could be worked by individuals without regard to limited or absent vision. Finally, the degree of difficulty of the ideal puzzle would be variable to accommodate most users and to minimize the possibility of user fluency and subsequent puzzle obsolescence.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The mechanical puzzle of the present invention includes a set of concentrically arranged cylinders, which may include one or more cylinders with a pin projection and one or more cylinders bearing a groove which forms a maze. The pin projection may preferably be sized such that it easily engages with the groove and may be moved from a starting point through a continuous groove and toward an ending point by advancing, rotating, and/or retracting the cylinders with respect to one another.

The puzzle of the present invention may be available in a variety of skill levels based either on degree of difficulty of the maze pattern or on visibility of the maze while working the puzzle. For example, easier versions may allow a user to view the maze while manipulating the puzzle, intermediate versions may allow a user to view only part of the maze while working the puzzle, and more difficult versions may occlude the maze from a user's view altogether while the puzzle is being worked.

Mazes may range from very straightforward to very complex, further determining the degree of difficulty of the puzzle. The cylinder to be extracted may also be labeled with messages designed to come into a user's view successively as he progresses through the puzzle, thereby allowing the user gage his progress or compare his skills to the skills of others.

The size of the puzzle, and more particularly the size of the outermost cylinder, may be available in different diameters to fit a variety of grips. The overall size of the puzzle may conceivably be any size as long as the relative size of the cylinders allows them to be concentrically arranged with respect to one another and leaves sufficient space between them to allow them to slide over one another while maintaining a pin-groove connection.

The puzzle of the present invention may have multiple embodiments, including, but not limited to, a version in which a pin on a first cylinder projects inward to engage with an outwardly directed maze on a concentrically adjacent smaller cylinder; a version in which a pin on a first cylinder projects outward to engage with an inwardly directed maze on a concentrically adjacent larger cylinder; a version which includes a hidden canister which becomes accessible when the puzzle is successfully solved; versions with multiple concentrically arranged cylinders having a pin/maze combination between each pair of adjacent cylinders; and versions with multiple concentrically arranged cylinders having 2 oppositely disposed pins which are engageable with opposite sides of a single maze between them.

The puzzle of the present invention may preferably be constructed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) though the puzzle may conceivably be constructed from any of a number of other materials such as molded plastic or other polymer, metal, fiberglass, cardboard, wood, or even glass, for example. The potentially large number of possible maze patterns and visibility combinations may provide sufficient variety to make the puzzle suitable for virtually any user. Moreover, the availability of differently sized puzzles may make it optimal for users with varying degrees of mental capacity and physical ability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will be best further described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the puzzle of the present invention which illustrates a first cylinder having a pin projecting from its outer surface and connected to a second cylinder bearing a groove which forms a maze on its inner surface;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of the puzzle of FIG. 1 as assembled;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the puzzle of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken through the projecting pin along line 3-3 and illustrating a first pin/groove arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the puzzle of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken through the projecting pin along line 3-3 and illustrating a second pin/groove arrangement;

FIG. 5 is a cutaway perspective view of a second embodiment of the puzzle of the present invention similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2 except that the second cylinder is modified to include a closed end, a spring, an accommodation space, and a canister;

FIG. 6 is a cutaway perspective view of a third embodiment of the puzzle of the present invention which is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2 but which further includes large-diameter handles on the first and second cylinders, a second pin on the outer surface of the second cylinder, and a third cylinder concentrically adjacent the second cylinder and having a maze on its inner surface;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the puzzle of FIG. 6 taken through the projecting pins along line 7-7 and illustrating a first pin/groove arrangement;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the puzzle of FIG. 6 taken through the projecting pins along line 7-7 and illustrating a second pin/groove arrangement;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the puzzle of FIG. 6 taken through the projecting pins along line 7-7 and illustrating a third pin/groove arrangement;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the puzzle of FIG. 6 taken through the projecting pins along line 7-7 and illustrating a fourth pin/groove arrangement;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the puzzle of FIG. 6 taken through the projecting pins along line 7-7 and illustrating a fifth pin/groove arrangement;

FIG. 12 is a schematic layout of a first maze pattern for use in the puzzle of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic layout of a second maze pattern for use in the puzzle of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic layout of a third maze pattern for use in the puzzle of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic layout of a fourth maze pattern for use in the puzzle of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic layout of a fifth maze pattern for use in the puzzle of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic layout of a sixth maze pattern for use in the puzzle of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic layout of a seventh maze pattern for use in the puzzle of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The description and operation of the invention will be best initiated with reference to FIG. 1, which is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention seen as puzzle 21 of the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a first cylinder 23 having a first end 25, a second end 27, an outer surface 31, an inner surface 32, and a pin 33 projecting from outer surface 31 near first end 25. Although pin 33 may be any size, it may preferably be about ⅛ of an inch in diameter and may project about ⅜ of an inch away from outer surface 31. Pin 33 may be formed integrally with the first cylinder 23, may be formed and inserted in a bore formed in first cylinder 23, or may be attached to first cylinder 23 in any other manner.

FIG. 1 illustrates a second cylinder 35 having a first end 37, a second end 41, an outer surface 43 and an inner surface 45 into which a groove 47 is cut to form a maze pattern. Groove 47 may be formed by cutting, routing, pressure impression, or other manufacturing technique. Pin 33 on first cylinder 23 is slidably engageable with groove 47 at first end 37 of second cylinder 35. First cylinder 23 may be advanced into second cylinder 35 by rotating one or both of cylinders 23 and 35 and moving cylinders 23 and 35 longitudinally toward one another where groove 47 permits or retracting them longitudinally away from one another to move pin 33 through groove 47 and toward second end 41 of second cylinder 35.

An optional lanyard 48 is shown connected to a first anchoring structure 49 on the inner surface 32 of first cylinder 23 adjacent second end 27 and to a second anchoring structure 50 on the outer surface 43 of second cylinder 35 adjacent first end 37. Lanyard 48 may be included to ensure that first and second cylinders 23 and 35 remain in close proximity to one another when they are disjoined. Lanyard 48 may preferably be of a length which allows first cylinder 23 to be passed through second cylinder 35 to the extent necessary to completely solve puzzle 21. Anchoring structures 49 and 50 are illustrated as eye loops but may be any structures which secure lanyard 48 and allow first cylinder 23 to be passed through second cylinder 35, including structures that may even allow lanyard 48 to be released from either or both of cylinders 23 or 35.

First cylinder 23 may preferably be ⅞ of an inch in diameter, and second cylinder 35 may preferably be about 1 and ¼ inches in diameter, although the size of cylinders 23 and 35 may conceivably be any size as long as the relative size of cylinders 23 and 35 allows them to be concentrically arranged with respect to one another and leaves sufficient space between them to allow them to move slidably over one as pin 33 is manipulated through with groove 47.

Although cylinders 23 and 35 may conceivably be constructed of any of a variety of materials such as polymer, metal, fiberglass, cardboard, wood, or even glass, for example, they are preferably made of plastic or a similarly lightweight material. More visible, and possibly easier, versions of puzzle 21 may be achieved by constructing second cylinder 35 of a transparent material (such as plexiglass, for example) which would allow a user to view groove 47 while puzzle 21 is being worked. Cylinder 35 may also be mostly opaque but may include transparent portions so that a user may view some part of groove 47 while working puzzle 21. Finally, second cylinder 35 may be constructed of a completely opaque material to force users to rely on mental acuity and memory to navigate pin 33 through groove 47.

Groove 47 may be machine-cut, using a computer-driven lathe, for example, or may be hand cut. Groove 47 may preferably be approximately 5/32 of an inch wide, or about 1/32 of an inch larger than pin 33. Groove 47 may extend into inner surface 45 and only partially through second cylinder 35 or may extend completely through second cylinder 35 and outer surface 43. Where groove 47 extends completely through second cylinder 35, it may be necessary to reinforce outer surface 43 of second cylinder 35 to maintain its structural integrity, especially where groove 47 may completely bisect second cylinder 35 radially by design.

Both cylinders 23 and 35, and thus the overall size of puzzle 21, may be sized to accommodate a wide range of grip sizes. For example, cylinders with bigger diameters may be more ideal for very young, very old, arthritic, or motor-challenged users because of their difficulty grasping small or narrow objects. Conversely, cylinders with smaller diameters may be desirable where there is a need to improve fine motor skills through physical therapy for injury or restricted range of motion, or even where a more compact version of puzzle 21 would be preferable (during travel, for example).

First cylinder 23 may preferably be approximately 14 inches long and second cylinder 35 may be about 12 inches long. Although first and second cylinders 23 and 35 may be virtually any length, it may be preferable for first cylinder 23 to be about 2 inches longer than second cylinder 35 to allow a user enough room to comfortably grasp second end 27 of first cylinder 23 while working puzzle 21.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of puzzle 21 of FIG. 1 as assembled. First cylinder 23 is illustrated partially withdrawn away from (or alternatively only partially advanced toward, depending on the direction in which puzzle 21 is worked) second end 41 of second cylinder 35. When a user approaches puzzle 21, pin 33 may preferably be nearest to second end 41 of second cylinder 35. A user may grasp second end 27 of first cylinder 23 adjacent first end 37 of cylinder 35 and proceed to manipulate first cylinder 23 with respect to second cylinder 35 and attempt to move pin 33 closer to first end 37 of second cylinder 35. Successfully moving first cylinder 23 in the described direction may ultimately allow a user to extract first cylinder 23 from second cylinder 35.

Although puzzle 21 is described as being worked in a particular direction, users may work puzzle 21 in a first direction by advancing pin 33 on first end 25 of first cylinder 23 into groove 47 at first end 37 and toward second end 41 of second cylinder 35, or, alternatively in a second direction by retracting pin 33 at first end 25 of first cylinder 23 away from second end 41 of cylinder 35 and toward (and ultimately out of) first end 37 of second cylinder 35. Working the puzzle 21 in the first direction may be required to achieve the pin 33 placement necessary to work the puzzle in the second direction where groove 47 is accessible from only one end of second cylinder 35.

Although pin 33 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as being adjacent to first end 25 of first cylinder 23, pin 33 may conceivably be located anywhere along the outer surface 31 of first cylinder 23, including, but not limited to, the approximate center of first cylinder 23. Further, first cylinder 23 may be about 4 inches longer than second cylinder 35, a length relative to second cylinder 35 which may permit a user to grasp cylinder 23 from either end 25 or end 27 (rather than from only one end as described above). To that end, variations of the pattern of groove 47 are possible, and will be described further supra, which would allow a user to extract cylinder 23 from either end of second cylinder 35 (where groove 47 is accessible from either end of cylinder 35) or which would force a user to move a centrally located pin such as pin 33 from a starting position midway between first and second ends 37 and 41 of second cylinder 35 toward first end 37 or toward second end 41 of cylinder 35 to seek a solution (where groove 47 is accessible from only one end of cylinder 35). Where pin 33 is located near the center of first cylinder 23 and the starting position of pin 33 is midway between first and second ends 37 and 41 of second cylinder 35, it may be preferable to attach optional lanyard 48 midway between first and second ends 37 and 41 of second cylinder 35 to avoid indicating which direction of movement yields the solution.

Where groove 47 is accessible from both ends of second cylinder 35, puzzle 21 may more readily lend itself to speed contests and the like, and therefore may benefit from markings to distinguish one end from the other (each end marked with a different color or symbol, for example). The ability to distinguish one end from another may provide a common starting points for all players in a given contest and may also discourage players from cheating by improperly flipping the puzzle over and extracting the pin from the starting point as though it were the ending point (as opposed to properly moving the pin completely through the maze). Optional lanyard 48 may also be used to determine the whether first cylinder 23 has passed through second cylinder 35. Although lanyard 48 is illustrated as being attached to outer surface 43 of second cylinder 35 adjacent to first end 37, lanyard 48 may conceivably be attached anywhere on outer surface 43 of second cylinder 35 as long as the length of lanyard 48 is sufficient to allow first cylinder 23 to be passed completely through second cylinder 35.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of puzzle 21 taken through pin 33 along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 which illustrates a first pin/groove arrangement in which pin 33 may project from outer surface 31 of first cylinder 23 and may engage with groove 47 on inner surface 45 of second cylinder 35.

FIG. 4 cross-sectional view of puzzle 21 taken through pin 33 along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 which illustrates a second pin/groove arrangement in which a pin 51 may project from inner surface 45 of second cylinder 35 and may engage with a groove 53 on outer surface 31 of first cylinder 23.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention seen as puzzle 55, which is similar to puzzle 21 of FIGS. 1 and 2 except for modifications to second cylinder 35, described as follows. In FIG. 5, second cylinder 35 is closed at second end 41 by end piece 57. End piece 57 may be formed simultaneously with second cylinder 35 or may be formed separately as a cap or plug type closure. End piece 57 is adjacent a spring 61 which extends into an accommodation space 63 adjacent second end 41 of second cylinder 35. Groove 47 (not shown in FIG. 5) may or may not extend the full length of inner surface 45 of second cylinder 35.

A canister 65 may fit into accommodation space 63 such that when first cylinder 23 is advanced toward canister 65, first end 25 of first cylinder 23 exerts force on canister 65, which compresses spring 61 in turn. Groove 47 may preferably be designed so that moving pin 33 into a blind passage of groove 47 causes canister 65 to be trapped by first cylinder 23. Spring 61 is shown between end piece 57 and canister 65, but may conceivably be located between canister 65 and first end 25 of first cylinder 23.

Canister 65 is shown as having a lid 67 but may conceivably have any of a variety of accesses, including a hidden access. Compression of spring 61 by canister 65 when puzzle 55 is fully assembled may prevent canister 65 from shifting about inside second end 41 of second cylinder 35, potentially helping to conceal its presence. Conversely, canister 65 may be removed from second cylinder 35 once groove 47 is successfully navigated so that first cylinder 23 may be removed.

While FIG. 5 illustrates puzzle 55 as a 2-cylinder puzzle, it is conceivable to incorporate canister 65 into a multi-cylinder puzzle having any number of cylinders. Canister 65 may be used to contain items such as candy or small prizes which can be offered as motivation or reward for successful navigation of the maze 47, for instance. Additional uses for canister 65 are virtually unlimited: it may be used as a hiding place; it may be used to contain a gift or a note; or, it may used to contain a clue where, for example, an organized game may involve several hidden puzzles that must be found and worked in succession.

FIG. 6 is a cutaway perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention seen as puzzle 71, which is similar to puzzle 21 of FIGS. 1 and 2 except for a added features as follows. Second end 27 of first cylinder 23 may include a large-diameter handle 73, and second end 41 of second cylinder 35 may similarly include a large-diameter handle 75. Second cylinder 35 may also include a pin 77 projection from outer surface 43 adjacent first end 37. Handles 73 and 75 may preferably be approximately 2 inches in length, potentially increasing the overall length of first and second cylinders 23 and 35 by about 2 inches each.

Puzzle 71 may further include a third cylinder 81 having a first end 83, a second end 85, an outer surface 87, and an inner surface 91. The length of cylinder 81 may preferably be about 12 inches to match the preferred length of the main portion of first and second cylinders 23 and 35. Third cylinder 81 may include a groove 93 on its inner surface 91 and may have a diameter larger than that of second cylinder 35 which closely approximates the diameter of handles 73 and 75 of first and second cylinders 23 and 35, respectively, to prevent any two adjacent cylinders (either 23 and 35 or 35 and 81) from being withdrawn as a pair without having worked both of pins 33 and 77 through grooves 47 and 77, respectively, so that two independent solutions must be determined sequentially to some degree. The use of handles 73 and 75 requires each of grooves 47 and 77 to be navigated by each of pins 33 and 77, respectively, before either first cylinder 23 or second cylinder 35 can be withdrawn from third cylinder 81.

To solve puzzle 71, a user may extract first cylinder 23 from first end 37 of second cylinder 35 by manipulating first cylinder 23 to move pin 33 through groove 47, and may subsequently extract second cylinder 35 from second end 85 of third cylinder 81 by manipulating second cylinder 35 to move pin 77 through groove 93. Although handles 73 and 75 are illustrated at opposite ends of puzzle 71 in FIG. 6, it is conceivable that both handles could be located at the same end of puzzle 71, in which case second cylinder 35 could be extracted from third cylinder 81 after first cylinder 23 is extracted from second cylinder 35 or could be extracted from third cylinder 81 with first cylinder 23 in tow, after which first cylinder 23 could then be extracted from second cylinder 35. The components of puzzle 71 may also be attached to one another using lanyards such as optional lanyard 48 on puzzle 21 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of puzzle 71 taken through pin 77 along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 which illustrates the first of many possible pin/groove arrangements. Although pins 33 and 77 are not illustrated as aligned with one another in FIG. 6, FIG. 7 depicts pins 33 and 77 as being aligned for clarity and ease of reference. Pin 33 may project from outer surface 31 of first cylinder 23, either adjacent to first end 25 or second end 27 or midway between ends 25 and 27, to engage with groove 47 on inner surface 45 of second cylinder 35, and pin 77 may project from outer surface 43 of second cylinder 35 to engage with groove 93 on inner surface 91 of third cylinder 81.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of puzzle 71 taken through pin 77 along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 which depicts pins 33 and 77 in alignment for clarity and illustrates a second pin/groove arrangement in which a pin 95 may extend from inner surface 45 of second cylinder 35 and may engage with a groove 97 on outer surface 31 of first cylinder 23, and a pin 101 may extend from inner surface 91 of third cylinder 81 and may engage with a groove 103 on outer surface 43 of second cylinder 35.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of puzzle 71 taken through pin 77 along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 which depicts pins 33 and 77 in alignment for clarity and illustrates a third pin/groove arrangement in which a pin 105 may extend from inner surface 45 of second cylinder 35 and may engage with a groove 107 on outer surface 31 of first cylinder 23, and a pin 111 may extend from outer surface 43 of second cylinder 35 and may engage with a groove 113 on inner surface 91 of third cylinder 81.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of puzzle 71 taken through pin 77 along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 which depicts pins 33 and 77 in alignment for clarity and illustrates a fourth pin/groove arrangement in which a pin 115 may extend from outer surface 31 of first cylinder 23 and may engage with a groove 117 on inner surface 45 of second cylinder 35, and a pin 121 may extend from inner surface 91 of third cylinder 81 and may engage with a groove 123 on outer surface 43 of second cylinder 35. In this configuration, it may be preferable for second cylinder 35 to have thicker walls to structurally support each of grooves 117 and 123 on each of inner surface 45 and outer surface 43, respectively.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of puzzle 71 taken through pin 77 along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 which depicts pins 33 and 77 in alignment for clarity and illustrates a fifth pin/groove arrangement in which a pin 125 may extend from outer surface 31 of first cylinder 23 and may engage with a slot 117, which extends completely through inner surface 45 of second cylinder 35 and through outer surface 43 as shown. A pin 131 may extend from inner surface 91 of third cylinder 81 and may also engage with slot 117. In this configuration, the lengths of pins 125 and 131 may be short enough to allow both pins 125 and 131 to pass one another, or may be long enough to prevent them from passing one another to introduce a greater degree of difficulty. For example, maze patterns may be designed such that pins 125 and 131 may pass one another only where one of the pins 125 or 131 can be parked in a blind passage of slot 117 to allow the other of the pins 125 or 131 to pass. The level of difficulty for this particular configuration may be inversely proportional to the number of passable points built into a given maze pattern.

FIG. 12 is a schematic layout of a first maze pattern for use with the present invention in which X represents a starting point and Y represents an ending point. Although the maze pattern in FIG. 12 is illustrated as having a blind passage at X, the maze pattern could conceivably be open at X to allow exit from the maze.

The solution to the maze of FIG. 12 is illustrated in dashed line format. Letters A through D represent passages in the maze which may link together when the maze is applied to a circumferential surface. A pin (not illustrated) may preferably move along the dashed line from X to A1 which links to A2, to D1 which links to D2, and finally to Y. B1 and C1 link to blind passages B2 and C2, respectively.

FIG. 13 is a schematic layout of a second maze pattern in which a pin (not illustrated) may preferably move along the dashed line from X to A1 which links to A2, to B1 which links to B2, to C1 which links to C2, to D1 which links to D2, to E1 which links to E2, to F1 which links to F2, to G1 which links to G2, to H1 which links to H2, and finally to Y. J1 links to blind passage J2.

FIG. 14 is a schematic layout of a third maze pattern in which a pin (not illustrated) may preferably move along the dashed line from X to A1 which links to A2, to B1 which links to B2, to C1 which links to C2, to D1 which links to D2, to E1 which links to E2, and finally to Y. With reference to FIG. 5, the FIG. 14 maze may be ideal for use with puzzle 55 because it includes a blind passage at X in which a pin may be parked to help trap a canister (not illustrated). The maze of FIG. 14 may generally also be used with any puzzle illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 11. Additionally, although the FIG. 14 maze is illustrated as having a blind passage at X, it could conceivably be open at X to allow a pin to exit the maze, in which case a solution could be achieved from either direction (moving from X to Y or from Y to X).

FIG. 15 is a schematic layout of a fourth maze pattern in which a pin (not illustrated) may preferably move along the dashed line from X to A1 which is linked to A2, to B1 which is linked to B2, and finally to Y. C1 links to blind passage C2.

FIG. 16 is a schematic layout of a fifth maze pattern which may be ideal for (but is not limited to) use with puzzles with a centrally located projecting pin such as that discussed in FIG. 2 above. In the maze of FIG. 16, a pin (not illustrated) may optimally be initially situated at mid-maze starting point X and may preferably be moved along the dashed line from X to A1 which links to A2, to C1 which links to C2, and finally to Y. Alternatively, a pin may be moved from X to J1 which links to J2, to K1 which links to K2, to passage K3 which links to a loop L in either direction. Entrance into and exit from loop L is only by way of passage K3, and movement within loop L is restricted to rotational movement. While loop L is illustrated in FIG. 16 as being radially oriented and restricting translational movement, loop L may be any conceivable maze pattern which doubles back onto itself and is accessible by only a single passage.

To successfully solve the maze of FIG. 16 from a position anywhere between X and loop L, a user may move the pin toward X and subsequently toward Y as described above. F1 and F2 are blind passages which are placed to entice false starts in the X-to-L direction. F3 is also a blind passage.

FIG. 17 is a schematic layout of a sixth maze pattern in which a pin (not illustrated) may preferably move along the dashed line from X to E1 which links to E2, and finally to Y. A1, B1, C1, and D1 link to blind passages A2, B2, C2, and D2, respectively.

FIG. 18 is a schematic layout of a seventh maze pattern in which a pin (not illustrated) may preferably move along the dashed line from X to A1 which links to A2, to B1 which links to B2, to E1 which links to E2, and finally to Y. C1 and D1 link to blind passages C2 and D2, respectively.

The mazes of FIGS. 17 and 18 may be used independently of one another or may be used together in multi-cylindrical, multi-maze puzzles such as puzzle 71 of FIG. 6, for example. Further, the mazes of FIGS. 17 and 18 are optimal for use on opposing surfaces of the same cylinder, such as the alternative pin/groove arrangement described in FIG. 10, since they are designed to preserve the structural integrity of the cylinder in such an arrangement by traversing one another minimally.

Maze patterns which may be used with puzzle embodiments described in FIGS. 1 through 11 are not limited to those shown in FIGS. 12 through 18, which are merely representative. Further, although the maze patterns in FIGS. 12 through 18 illustrate a single solution path between beginning and ending points, it is conceivable that a given maze pattern may have more than one solution path between beginning and ending points. It is also conceivable that maze patterns developed for the puzzle of the present invention may be numbered or even named to distinguish them from one another for separate sale or interchangeable use.

Additionally, although maze patterns in FIGS. 12 through 18 illustrate specific combinations of longitudinal turns in the X-Y direction and lateral or radial turns perpendicular to the X-Y direction, or diagonal turns which incorporate both lateral and longitudinal elements, the number of possible turn combinations may be limited by the length of the puzzle cylinders, the circumference of the cylinder surface bearing the maze pattern, and the pin size.

Finally, although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.

Claims

1. A puzzle comprising:

a first cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an outwardly directed radial surface extending between the first and second ends;

a second cylinder having a first end, a second end, an inwardly directed radial surface extending between the first and second ends, and an outwardly directed radial surface extending between the first and second ends and oppositely disposed from the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder, and wherein the first cylinder is insertable into the second cylinder such that the outwardly directed radial surface of the first cylinder opposes the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder and wherein the first cylinder is slidably rotatable and translatable within the second cylinder;

and wherein one of the outwardly directed radial surface of the first cylinder and the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder supports a first pin projection, and the other one of the outwardly directed radial surface of the first cylinder and the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder includes a first groove, and wherein a maze pattern is formed by the first groove, and wherein the first pin projection is engageable with the first groove and is guidably moveable through the first groove by rotation and translation of the first and second cylinders with respect to one another.

2. The puzzle recited in claim 1 wherein the length of the first cylinder exceeds the length of the second cylinder to form a first handle adjacent the second cylinder.

3. The puzzle recited in claim 1 wherein the first groove extends to and opens adjacent one of the first and second ends of the cylinder including the first groove so that the first pin may be disengaged from the first groove to allow the first cylinder to be removed from and/or re-inserted into the second cylinder.

4. The puzzle recited in claim 1 wherein the first pin projection is supported by the outwardly directed radial surface of the first cylinder and wherein the first groove is included by the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder.

5. The puzzle recited in claim 1 wherein the first pin projection is adjacent one of the first and second ends of the first cylinder.

6. The puzzle recited in claim 1 wherein the first pin projection is midway between the first and second ends of the first cylinder.

7. The puzzle recited in claim 1 wherein the first pin projection is supported by the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder and the first groove is included by the outwardly directed radial surface of the first cylinder.

8. The puzzle recited in claim 1 wherein one of the first and second ends of the second cylinder is enclosed, and wherein the enclosed end of the second cylinder includes an accommodation space.

9. The puzzle recited in claim 8 and further comprising a canister supportable within the accommodation space.

10. The puzzle recited in claim 9 and further comprising a spring adjacent the canister.

11. The puzzle recited in claim 2 and further comprising:

a third cylinder having a first end, a second end, an inwardly directed radial surface extending between the first and second ends, and an outwardly directed radial surface extending between the first and second ends and oppositely disposed from the inwardly directed radial surface of the third cylinder;

and wherein the second cylinder is insertable into the third cylinder such that the outwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder is adjacent the inwardly directed radial surface of the third cylinder, and wherein the second cylinder is slidably rotatable and translatable within the third cylinder, and wherein one of the outwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder and the inwardly directed radial surface of the third cylinder supports a second pin projection and the other one of the outwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder and the inwardly directed radial surface of the third cylinder includes a second groove, and wherein a maze pattern is formed by the second groove.

12. The puzzle recited in claim 11 wherein the second groove extends to and opens adjacent one of the first and second ends of the cylinder supporting the second groove so that the second pin may be disengaged from the second groove to allow the second cylinder to be removed from and re-inserted into the third cylinder.

13. The puzzle recited in claim 12 wherein the length of the first cylinder exceeds the length of the third cylinder to form a first handle adjacent the third cylinder, and wherein the length of the second cylinder exceeds the length of the third cylinder to form a second handle adjacent the third cylinder.

14. The puzzle recited in claim 13 wherein an outside diameter of the first and second handles formed by the first and second cylinders is greater than the inside diameter of the third cylinder.

15. The puzzle recited in claim 11 wherein one of the first and second grooves includes a blind passage.

16. The puzzle recited in claim 11 wherein one of the surfaces supporting the first and second grooves further includes a third groove which is not continuous with either the first or the second grooves and from which the pin cannot be moved into either of the first and second grooves.

17. The puzzle recited in claim 11 wherein one of the first and second grooves includes a loop.

18. The puzzle recited in claim 11 wherein the first groove on the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder and the second groove on the outwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder are replaced by a common slot.

19. The puzzle recited in claim 11 wherein at least two of the first, second, and third cylinders are attached to each other by a flexible member.