THREE-DIMENSION PUZZLE

Abstract

A generally spherical three-dimensional puzzle includes first and second polar caps (14) disposed on opposite ends of a primary axis (A) of the puzzle. A plurality of base rings are stacked on the primary axis between the first and second polar caps. Each base ring is rotatable about the primary axis and relative to the other base rings and polar caps. The base rings and polar caps collectively share an infinite number of lines of longitude (L) passing through the polar caps. Additionally, the puzzle includes a plurality of slidable segments (20) disposed adjacent to external surfaces (22) of the base rings and polar caps. The plurality of slidable segments are slidable together along a common line of longitude of the puzzle when the base rings occupy a predetermined rotational state.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority is claimed to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/797,924, filed Dec. 19, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a puzzle and, more particularly, a three-dimensional puzzle.

BACKGROUND

Puzzles are popular pastimes that can be entertaining, educational, and intellectually stimulating. Traditional puzzles have always been constructed in two-dimensions, whereby a predetermined image or graphic is cut up into a plurality of pieces that can be separated and reassembled. The complexity of these two-dimensional puzzles has historically depended on the number of pieces and the level of detail in the image or graphic. To add a level of complexity and entertainment to puzzles, a number of three-dimensional puzzles have been developed including, for example, Rubik's Cube. In addition to challenging the user's mental and visual acuity, three-dimensional puzzles can also exercise a user's motor skills and physical dexterity.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A generally spherical three-dimensional puzzle includes first and second polar caps disposed on opposite ends of a primary axis of the puzzle. A plurality of base rings are stacked on the primary axis between the first and second polar caps. Each base ring is rotatable about the primary axis and relative to the other base rings and polar caps. The base rings and polar caps collectively share an infinite number of lines of longitude passing through the polar caps. Additionally, the puzzle includes a plurality of slidable segments disposed adjacent to external surfaces of the base rings and polar caps. The plurality of slidable segments are slidable together along a common line of longitude of the puzzle when the base rings occupy a predetermined rotational state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one version of a puzzle constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of part of the puzzle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken through line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another version of a puzzle constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another version of a puzzle constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another version of a puzzle constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another version of a puzzle constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another version of a puzzle constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a base ring of another version of a puzzle constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the base ring of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side cross-section view of the base ring of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the base ring of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a side view of an alternative version of a sliding segment constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the slidable segment of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the slidable segment of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is an end view of the slidable segment of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a top view of an alternative polar cap constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the polar cap of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an end view of the polar cap of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the polar cap of FIG. 17.

FIG. 21 is a top view of another alternative slidable segment constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the slidable segment of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a side view of the slidable segment of FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is an end view of the slidable segment of FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to a new and unique three-dimensional puzzle generally in the form of a sphere. The puzzle includes a plurality of rotatable base rings and a plurality of slidable segments carried on the base rings. The slidable segments can be moved around the puzzle through rotational manipulation of the rings. When one or more groups of the slidable segments are aligned along a line of longitude of the sphere, that group can be moved around the puzzle along the line of longitude. The rings and slidable segments can have one or more types of indicia such as colors, numbers, letters, etc. The object of the puzzle is to arrange the base rings and slidable segments relative to each other such that the indicia occupy a predetermined configuration relative to each other to “solve” the puzzle.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, one version of a puzzle 10 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure includes a generally spherical body 12 including a pair of polar caps 14, a plurality of base rings 18, a plurality of slidable segments 20, and a primary axis A. The pair of polar caps 14 are disposed at opposite ends of the puzzle 10 on the primary axis A. The plurality of base rings 18 of this version of the puzzle 10 includes four (4) base rings 18 stacked on the primary axis A between the polar caps 14. Each base ring 18 is rotatable about the primary axis A relative to the other base rings 18 and relative to the polar caps 14, as will be described in more detail below. As can be understood, the base rings 18 and polar caps 14 are encircled by an infinite number of lines of longitude L extending completely around the puzzle 10 and passing through the primary axis A at both of the polar caps 14. As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the plurality of slidable segments 20 are disposed adjacent to external surfaces 22 of the base rings 18 and external surfaces 24 of the polar caps 14.

The polar caps 14, base rings 18, and slidable segments 20 can be coupled together in a variety of ways. FIG. 2 depicts one version of coupling the polar caps 14 and base rings 18 together on the primary axis A. In FIG. 2, the puzzle 10 further comprises a central connector 26, which includes an elongated rod 28 with opposing ends 30 and a central portion 32. In this version, the opposing ends 30 of the rod 28 can be coupled to the polar caps 14 by any feasible means such as a threaded connection, a snap fit connection, an adhesive connection, a friction fit, or a pinned connection, for example, and the central portion 32 of the rod 28 can pass through central openings 34 in each of the base rings 18, as depicted. In some versions, the central openings 34 in the base rings 18 can have a diameter that is only slightly larger than a diameter of the central portion 32 of the rod 28 such that the base rings 18 can rotate about the rod 28 with little or no frictional resistance or sufficient frictional resistance to hold the base rings 18 in a desired rotational position. In other versions, the central openings 34 in the base rings 18 can be equipped with bearing assemblies that are friction fit onto the central portion 32 of the rod 28. Other arrangements of the base rings 18 relative to the rod 26 are also intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

As mentioned the opposing ends 30 of the rod 28 can be coupled to the polar caps 14. In some versions, the polar caps 14 can be fixedly coupled to the ends 30 of the rod 16 such that the polar caps 14 are fixed against rotation relative to the rod 28. In other versions, the polar caps 14 can be rotatably coupled to the ends 30 of the rod 26. Rotatable coupling can be achieved through a tongue and groove connection, a friction fit connection, a bearing assembly, or some other means.

Finally, while the version of FIG. 2 includes a central connector 26 that includes the rod 28, other versions of the puzzle 10 may couple the base rings 18 and polar caps 14 together in a different manner. For example, in one version, the base rings 18 and polar caps 14 may each include one or more annular flanges or annular recesses for coupling with an annular flange or annular recess of an adjacent base ring 18 or polar cap 14. In this manner, it may be possible to eliminate the additional rod 28 and integrate the central connector 26 into the base rings 18 and polar caps 14. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the version depicted in FIG. 2 is only one possibility and other variations in construction are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, and as mentioned, the plurality of slidable segments 20 are disposed on the puzzle 10 adjacent to exterior surfaces 22 and 24 of the base rings 18 and polar caps 14, respectively. When the base rings 18 are rotationally aligned, as depicted in FIG. 1 for example, the plurality of slidable segments 20 can be described as being separated into plurality of aligned groups 36, wherein each group 36 extends along a common line of longitude L of the puzzle 10. In the version depicted in FIG. 1, the puzzle includes four (4) such groups 36. Of the four (4) total groups 36 of aligned segments 20, one (1) group, which is identified as group 36a in FIG. 1, completely encircles the puzzle 10. When the base rings 18 occupy the predetermined and aligned configuration depicted in FIG. 1, the plurality of segments 20 that make up group 36a are slidable together about the puzzle 10 along their shared and common line of longitude. This sliding movement is facilitated in part by the manner in which the slidable segments 20 are connected to the base rings 18 and polar caps 14. One version of this connection is depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 depicts that each base ring 18 includes a plurality of guideway portions 40 formed in the external surfaces 22 thereof. Additionally, each polar cap includes a single guideway portion 40 formed in the external surfaces 24 thereof. In the currently disclosed version, each base ring 18 includes eight (8) guideway portions 40 spaced radially about the external surface 22. When the base rings 18 occupy the aligned configuration depicted in FIG. 1, for example, the guideway portions 40 of the base rings 18 are aligned such that the slidable segments 20 are aligned into the groups 36 discussed above. Moreover, as also discussed above, the group 36a of slidable segments 30 encircles the entire puzzle 10 along the common line of longitude L. This group 36a is capable of encircling the entire puzzle 10 because guideway portions 40 in each of the base rings 18 align with the guideway portions 40 in each of the polar caps 14 to collectively define a circular guideway extending along the common line of longitude L.

Each guideway portion 40 in the base rings 18 and polar caps 14 slidably supports (e.g., carry) at least one of the plurality of slidable segments 20. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, in the disclosed version, each guideway portion 40 includes a channel 44 formed in the external surfaces 22, 24 of the base rings 18 and polar caps 14. FIG. 3 depicts one version of such a channel 44, which includes an interior channel portion 44a and an exterior channel portion 44b that is narrower than the interior channel portion 44a. Correspondingly, each slidable segment 20 of this version includes an interior portion 21, a mid-portion 23 that is narrower than the interior portion 21, and an exterior portion 25 that can be wider than the mid-portion 23. So configured, the interior portion 21 of the slidable segments 20 can snap into the interior portions 44a of the base rings 18 and polar caps 14 such that the slidable segments 20 can slide along the length of the channels 44 between the base rings 18 and polar caps 14, but otherwise cannot be removed from the channels 44 or the puzzle 10. While the present version of the puzzle 10 has been described as including guideway portions 40 that are channels 44, this is merely one example and alternative constructs capable of slidably connecting the slidable segments 20 are also intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

Another feature of the present puzzle 10 that helps facilitate manipulation of the base rings 18 and slidable segments 20 is that each of the guideway portions 40 in the base rings 18 and polar caps 14 include a common first arc length L1 and common first width W1 (shown in FIG. 2, for example). Additionally, each of the slidable segments 20 includes a common second arc length L2 and common second width W2 (also shown in FIG. 2, for example). In this version, the first and second arc lengths L1, L2 are generally the same, but in other versions they could be different. For example, in one version, the second arc length L2 could be shorter than the first arc length L1. Common arc lengths L1, L2 can ensure that the slidable segments 20 can move between any of the guideway portions 40 in the base rings 18 or in the polar caps 14 with ease and without restriction. Moreover, this ensures that as long as each slidable segment 20 is positioned completely and solely within a single guideway portion 40, and not overlapping more than one guideway portion 40, any one or more of the base rings 18 can be rotated relative to the others. This allows the user to manipulate the base rings 18 and slidable segments 20 in a predictable manner toward solving the puzzle 10. In other versions of the puzzle 10, however, the arc lengths, other dimensions, sizes, and/or shapes of the various slidable segments 20 can vary. Such variations can be desirable to increase the complexity and difficulty of the puzzle 10.

Yet another feature of the puzzle 10 depicted and described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 is that, as depicted in FIG. 1, the slidable segments 20 have external surfaces 46 that reside within a first sphere S1 that has a diameter that is larger than a second sphere S2 in which the external surfaces 22, 24 of the base rings 18 and polar caps 14 reside. As such, this results in a puzzle 10 whereby the slidable segments appear to uniformly protrude or extend in a direction radially outward from the external surfaces 22, 24 of the base rings 18. This presents a visual and tactile cue to the user of which portions of the puzzle 10 are slidable versus which portions of the puzzle 10 are rotatable. To increase the complexity of the puzzle 10, however, the external surfaces 46 of at least some of the slidable segments 20 can reside within the second sphere S2 with the external surfaces 22, 24 of the base rings 18 and polar caps 14 or alternatively, at least some of the external surfaces 22, 24 of the base rings 18 and polar caps 14 can reside in the first sphere S1 with the external surfaces 46 of the slidable segments 20.

As discussed, the base rings 18, polar caps 14, and slidable segments 20 collectively define a puzzle 10. Solving the puzzle 10 can include arranging the base rings 18 and slidable segments 20 into a predetermined puzzle-solved configuration. The puzzle-solved configuration is dictated by the position of the slidable segments 20, the base rings 18, and the polar caps 14 relative to each other. In order to determine that the puzzle 10 occupies the puzzle-solved configuration at least some of the game faces 42 of the external surfaces 22, 24, 46 of the base rings 18, polar caps 14, and slidable segments 20 can include indicia 50. In FIG. 1, the indicia 50 comprise different colors such that the various external surfaces 22, 24, 46 present a predetermined order or pattern when the puzzle 10 occupies the puzzle-solved configuration. In other versions, the indicia 50 can include generally any visual and/or tactile indicator including, for example, alphabetical characters, numerical characters, alphanumerical characters, symbols, designs, icons, portions of a graphical representation, portions of a pattern, labels, or generally any other foreseeable indicia that may be desirable for such a puzzle.

As mentioned above, the complexity and difficulty of the puzzle 10 of the present disclosure can be altered by changing the number, size, and/or configuration of the base rings 18 and/or slidable segments 20. For example, FIG. 4 depicts one alternate version of the puzzle 10, which is generally identical to the puzzle 10 described with reference to FIGS. 1-3, except it includes less slidable segments 20 and the external surfaces 22 of the base rings 18 include multiple panels 54a, 54b, 54b disposed between adjacent groups 36 of slidable segments 20 when the rings 18 are aligned. As shown, when the base rings 18 of FIG. 4 are aligned, the puzzle 10 includes three (3) groups 36 of slidable segments 20. In FIG. 4, group 36a encircles the entire puzzle 10 along a common line of longitude L, similar to group 36a of FIG. 1. The multiple panels 54a, 54b, 54c of between the groups 36 can include varying colors or shades of colors, for example. The visual presentation of the varying panels 54a, 54b, 54c can constitute portions of a greater pattern or graphic, for example, that is formed when the puzzle 10 occupies the puzzle-solved configuration. It should be appreciated that while the puzzle 10 of FIG. 4 has less slidable segments 20 than the puzzle of FIG. 1, the presence of the panels 54a, 54b, 54c can add level of visual difficulty and/or entertainment to the puzzle 10.

FIGS. 5-7 depict further variations on the puzzle 10 described above in reference to FIGS. 1-3 and FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, the puzzle 10 is generally identical to the puzzle 10 described with reference to FIG. 4 with the exception that it includes four (4) groups 36 of slidable segments 20 when the base rings 18 occupy the aligned configuration. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the puzzle 10 is generally identical to the puzzle 10 described above with reference to FIG. 4, with the exception that it only includes two (2) base rings 18 stacked between the polar caps 14. In FIG. 6, the base rings 18 are aligned with the polar caps 14 such that the slidable segments 20 in group 36a extend along a common line of longitude L of the puzzle 10. In FIG. 7, the base rings 18 are rotated out of alignment with the polar caps 14 such that no group 36 of slidable segments 20 are aligned with the polar caps 14. In this configuration, no group 36 of slidable segments 20 can be slid around the puzzle 10 along a common line of longitude.

FIG. 8 still presents a further version of a puzzle 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. In FIG. 8, the puzzle 10 is constructed generally similarly to the puzzles 10 described previously, with that exception that it includes a first set of slidable segments 20a with external surfaces 46 disposed in a first sphere S1 and a second set of slidable segments 20b with external surfaces 46 disposed in a second sphere S2 that is also shared by external surfaces 22, 24 of the base rings 18 and polar caps 14, respectively. In this version of the puzzle 10, the puzzle solved configuration could include the first set of slidable segments 20a being arranged along a common line of longitude L of the puzzle 10, as depicted, or any other predetermined configuration. Regardless, the same manipulations can be made to position and reposition the base rings 18 and slidable segments 20a, 20b relative to each other, as necessary.

As mentioned, the puzzles 10 described in reference to FIGS. 1-8 are merely some examples. Other constructs of the puzzle 10 and its individual components are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, FIGS. 9-24 depict alternative constructs for the various components (i.e., base rings 18, slidable segments 20, and polar caps 14). Generally speaking, the components depicted in FIGS. 9-24 are similar to like components described with respect to prior figures, and therefore, not every detail will be repeated. For details not described in FIGS. 9-24, it should be appreciated that such features can be either identical to those described with respect to prior versions or they can be different.

FIGS. 9-12 depict various views of one prototype of a base ring 18 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The base ring 18 in FIGS. 9-12 can be constructed of plastic, for example, through an injection molding process, a blow molding process, a casting process, or generally any other process. As can be seen, similar to the base rings 18 described above with reference to FIG. 2, for example, the base ring 18 in FIGS. 9-12 includes a central opening 34, an external surface 22, and a plurality of guideway portions 40. As can be seen in FIG. 10, for example, a majority of the base ring 18 is substantially hollow to reduce weight and material. Accordingly, the base ring 18 depicted in FIGS. 9-12 can be described as including a central cylinder 52 and a plurality of hollow three-dimensional wedges 54 extending radially outward from the cylinder 52 and spaced circumferentially apart by gaps 56, as identified in FIG. 10, for example. Each gap 56 includes a pair of fins 58 extending toward each other from the adjacent wedges 54 but separated by a raceway 60. So configured, each guideway portion 40 defines a channel 44 similar to the channels 44 described above with prior versions, each channel 44 defined by a combination of adjacent wedges 54 and their associated gap 56, fins 58, and raceway 60.

Similar to the guideway portions described above with prior versions of the puzzle 10, the guideway portions 40 of the base ring 18 of FIGS. 9-12 are also adapted to slidably couple a plurality of slidable segments to the puzzle 10. FIGS. 13-16 depict one version of a slidable segment 20 constructed to be coupled to the base ring 18 of FIGS. 9-12. In FIGS. 13-16, the slidable segment 20 generally resembles the slidable segments 20 described with reference to FIG. 2, for example. That is, the slidable segment 20 includes a generally arc-shaped piece of material having an interior portion 21, a mid-portion 23 that is narrower than the interior portion 21, and an exterior portion 25 that can be wider than the mid-portion 23. So configured, the slidable segment 60 defines a pair of slots 60 adjacent to the mid-portion 23 and between the interior and exterior portions 21, 25. The slidable segment 20 is therefore adapted to couple into a guideway portion 40 of the base ring 18 of FIGS. 9-12, for example. More specifically, the slidable segment 20 is adapted to be slid into a guideway portion 40 such that a pair of opposing fins 58 reside within the slots 60. So configured, the slidable segments can only be removed by disassembling the base rings 18 of the puzzle 10 from each other and sliding the slidable segments 20 out of the guideway portions 40 and off of the respective base rings 18.

While FIGS. 13-16 illustrate a version of a slidable segment 20 similar to the slidable segments described with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, FIGS. 21-24 depict an alternative slidable segment 20 for use with the base ring 18 of FIGS. 9-12. The slidable segment 20 in FIGS. 21-24 is similar to the first set of slidable segments 20a described above with reference to FIG. 8. That is, the slidable segment 20 in FIGS. 21-24 is constructed to couple to the base ring 18 in FIGS. 9-12 in a manner the same as the segments in FIGS. 13-16, but it additionally includes a radially protruding portion 70 that defines the slidable segment 20 as having a larger outside dimension relative to the base ring 18 to provide a different tactile and strategic appeal to the puzzle 10, as described above with respect to FIG. 8, for example.

Referring back to FIGS. 11 and 12, this version of the base ring 18 also includes a cylindrical recess 58 formed in a topside thereof and extending coaxially along the primary axis A. The cylindrical recess 58 is configured to receive a portion of a polar cap 14 adapted to cooperate with the base rings 18. FIGS. 17-20 disclose such a polar cap 14. As shown, the polar cap 14 includes an upper button 60 and an attachment portion 62. The upper button 60 defines the external surface 24 of the polar cap 14 when installed on the puzzle 10 and also defines the guideway portion 40 of the polar cap 14. The guideway portion 40 of the polar cap 14 of FIGS. 17-20 is constructed substantially identical to the guideway portions 40 on the base ring 18 in FIGS. 9-12.

The attachment portion 62 of the polar cap 14 in FIGS. 17-20 is a generally cylindrical portion adapted to reside within the cylindrical recess 58 of the base ring 18 of FIGS. 9-12. The attachment portion 62 also includes a latching tab 64 that extends downward and terminates in a latching surface 66 for securing the polar cap 14 in the cylindrical recess 58. For example, when the polar cap 14 is in place in the cylindrical recess 58, the latching tab 64 extends down and such that the latching surface 66 can engage a bottom surface 68 (see FIG. 10) of the central cylinder 52 of the base ring 18. This prevents the polar cap 14 from easily being removed from the remainder of the puzzle 10. In an alternative version, the latching tab 64 and latching surface 66 can also retain or couple additional base rings 18 to the base ring 18 against which the polar cap 14 directly resides. For example, one version of the puzzle 10 can have two (2) base rings 18 each of which are constructed identical to the base ring 18 depicted in FIGS. 9-12. To arrive at the spherical shape, the two base rings 18 would be arranged as mirror images of each other. Thus, such a puzzle 10 can include two base rings 18 and two polar caps 14. At least one of the polar caps 14 can have a latching tab 64 that is long enough such that the latching surface 66 engages a top surface 70 (identified in FIGS. 9 and 12) of the central cylinder 52 of the base ring 18 that is opposite the base ring 18 against which the polar cap 14 resides. Thus, this latching tab 64 would secure both base rings 18 to the polar cap 14. Other variations are of course within the scope of the present disclosure.

Based on the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure provides a new and unique three-dimensional spherical puzzle. However, the scope of the invention is not defined by the examples described herein with respect to the drawings, but rather, is intended to encompass all change, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appending claims.

Claims

1. A generally spherical three-dimensional puzzle, comprising:

first and second polar caps disposed on opposite ends of a primary axis of the puzzle;

a plurality of base rings stacked on the primary axis between the first and second polar caps, each base ring rotatable about the primary axis and relative to the other base rings and polar caps, the base rings and polar caps collectively sharing an infinite number of lines of longitude passing through the polar caps; and

a plurality of slidable segments disposed adjacent to external surfaces of the base rings and polar caps, the plurality of slidable segments slidable together along a common line of longitude of the puzzle when the base rings occupy a predetermined rotational state.

2. The puzzle of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of guideway portions formed in the external surfaces of the base rings and polar caps, the guideway portions collectively defining at least one circular guideway extending along the common line of longitude when the base rings occupy the first predetermined rotational state.

3. The puzzle of claim 2, wherein the plurality of guideway portions collectively define a plurality of circular guideways extending along a plurality of spaced apart lines of longitude of the puzzle when the base rings occupy the first predetermined rotational state.

4. The puzzle of claim 2, wherein the guideway portions comprise channels formed in the external surfaces of the base rings and polar caps.

5. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein the external surface of each base ring defines a plurality of game faces separated by the slidable segments.

6. The puzzle of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of indicia disposed on the game faces of the base rings and on external surfaces of the slidable segments, each indicia occupying a predetermined positional relationship relative at least one other indicia when the base rings and slidable segments occupy a puzzle-solved configuration.

7. The puzzle of claim 6, wherein each indicia comprises at least one of the following: (a) an alphabetical character, (b) a numerical character, (c) an alphanumerical character, (d) a symbol, (e) a color, (f) a design, (g) an icon, (h) a portion of a graphical representation, (i) a portion of a pattern, and (j) a label.

8. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein external surfaces of the base rings define portions of a first spherical surface having a first diameter and an external surface of at least one of the slidable segments defines a portion of a second spherical surface having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter.

9. The puzzle of claim 2, wherein the plurality of slidable segments share a common first arc dimension.

10. The puzzle of claim 2, wherein the plurality of guideway portions share a common second arc dimension.

11. The puzzle of claim 10, wherein the first and second arc dimensions are equal.

12. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein the polar caps are fixed against rotation relative to the primary axis.

13. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein the polar caps are rotatable relative to the primary axis.

14. A generally spherical three-dimensional puzzle, comprising:

first and second polar caps disposed on opposite ends of a primary axis of the puzzle;

a plurality of base rings stacked on the primary axis between the first and second polar caps, each base ring rotatable about the primary axis and relative to the other base rings and the polar caps, the base rings and the polar caps of the puzzle collectively sharing an infinite number of lines of longitude passing through the polar caps;

a plurality of guideway portions formed in external surfaces of each of the plurality of base rings and polar caps, the guideway portions collectively defining at least one circular guideway extending along a line of longitude of the puzzle when the base rings occupy a first predetermined rotational state relative to each other; and

a plurality of slidable segments, each slidable segment disposed in one of the plurality of guideway portions, the plurality of slidable segments slidable together along the circular guideway between adjacent guideway portions when the base rings occupy the first predetermined rotational state.

15. The puzzle of claim 14, wherein the plurality of guideway portions collectively define a plurality of circular guideways extending along a plurality of spaced apart lines of longitude of the puzzle when the base rings occupy the first predetermined rotational state.

16. The puzzle of claim 14, wherein the guideway portions comprise channels formed in the external surfaces of the base rings and polar caps.

17. The puzzle of claim 14, wherein the external surface of each base ring defines a plurality of game faces separated by the respective plurality of guideway portions.

18. The puzzle of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of indicia disposed on the game faces of the base rings and on external surfaces of the slidable segments, each indicia occupying a predetermined positional relationship relative at least one other indicia when the base rings and slidable segments occupy a puzzle-solved configuration.

19. The puzzle of claim 18, wherein each indicia comprises at least one of the following: (a) an alphabetical character, (b) a numerical character, (c) an alphanumerical character, (d) a symbol, (e) a color, (f) a design, (g) an icon, (h) a portion of a graphical representation, (i) a portion of a pattern, and (j) a label.

20. The puzzle of claim 14, wherein external surfaces of the base rings define portions of a first spherical surface having a first diameter and an external surface of at least one of the slidable segments defines a portion of a second spherical surface having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter.

21. The puzzle of claim 14, wherein the plurality of slidable segments share a common first arc dimension.

22. The puzzle of claim 21, wherein the plurality of guideway portions share a common second arc dimension.

23. The puzzle of claim 22, wherein the first and second arc dimensions are equal.

24. The puzzle of claim 14, wherein the polar caps are fixed against rotation relative to the primary axis.

25. The puzzle of claim 14, wherein the polar caps are rotatable relative to the primary axis.

26. A method of solving a spherical three-dimensional puzzle, the method comprising:

rotating one or more of a plurality of stacked base rings about a common primary axis and into a first predetermined rotational state, whereby a plurality of slidable segments carried adjacent to external surfaces of the base rings are aligned along a common line of longitude of the spherical puzzle;

moving the plurality of slidable segments between the plurality of base rings by sliding the plurality of slidable segments together along the common line of longitude; and

positioning the base rings and slidable segments into a puzzle-solved configuration by further rotating one or more of the base rings about the primary axis, the puzzle-solved configuration arrived at when a plurality of indicia disposed on external surfaces of at least some of the base rings and slidable segments occupy a predetermined positional relationship relative to each other.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein rotating the one or more base rings further comprises rotating the one or more base rings relative to a pair of opposing polar caps of the spherical puzzle.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein moving the plurality of slidable segments further comprises moving at least one slidable segment between the base rings and the polar caps.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein sliding the plurality of slidable segments comprises sliding the plurality of slidable segments within a circular guideway formed in the external surfaces of the base rings and polar caps.