GB2122099A

GB2122099A - Puzzle

Info

Publication number: GB2122099A
Application number: GB08218341A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Simon Roberts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-06-24
Filing date: 1982-06-24
Publication date: 1984-01-11

Abstract

The puzzle comprises a puzzle zone 11 of predetermined size and shape defined e.g. by a tray 12, and a plurality of rigid pieces 13 which have related geometric shapes but are of differing sizes. The puzzle may be three dimensional and the zone may be a different shape to that of the pieces. Many different set of pieces or different zones may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Puzzle This invention relates to puzzles.

It is a disadvantage of the conventional jigsaw puzzle that it has a unique solution and, once a person has successfully completed a particular jigsaw puzzle, its future appeal is limited. It is also relatively easy to complete a jigsaw puzzle, even if it has a large number of pieces, because the person doing the puzzle has two immediate indicåtions that a particular piece has been correctly placed, namely the fit and the coloration of the piece in relation to its neighbours.

The "Chinese Puzzle" our "Tangram" makes use of seven pieces of different shapes and sizes which can be assembled togetherto form various different geometric figures. It therefore has a more continuing appeal to the person using the puzzle.

However, the pieces are required to be assembled in solid edge-to-edge contact so it is immediately apparent if a particular piece is misplaced, because it will not fit with its neighbours.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved form of puzzle.

According to the invention there is provided a puzzle comprising means defining a puzzle zone of fixed size and shape, and a plurality of rigid pieces all of which are capable of being packed into said zone in one or more specific arrangements, all the pieces having related geometric shapes as herein defined and the pieces being of a plurality of different sizes.

Preferably, all the pieces differ in size from each other.

The expression "related geometric shapes" is intended to mean that the shapes of the individual pieces are either the same, for example the pieces are all circles or all squares, or that the shapes are geometrically similar, for example the pieces are all rectangles or all triangles although they may be of different relative proportions.

In a specific embodiment the puzzle zone is circular and the pieces comprise circles of a plurality of different radii. Preferably all of the circles are of different radii.

The puzzle zone may be defined by a circular tray or a tube so as to prevent the pieces from overlapping the boundaries of the puzzle zone.

In an alternative, the puzzle zone may comprise a rectangle for example a rectangular tray or box, and the pieces may comprise a plurality of rectangles, the rectangles having a common length and a plurality of different widths.

Alternatively, the pieces may be of related polygonal shapes, for example hexagons, octagons or the like.

In each case, the puzzle zone may be of the same shape or of a different shape from that of the pieces.

The puzzle may be provided with a plurality of differently shaped puzzle zones to be used separately with the same set of pieces, or with a single puzzle zone to be used with one of a plurality of sets of pieces.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention; and FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a puzzle 10 takes the form of a circular puzzle zone 11 which is defined as a tray or recess in a profiled plastic sheet 12.

The puzzle further comprises a plurality of circular pieces 1 3.

Sixteen such pieces are provided in the example shown and the objective of the puzzle is to pack all of the sixteen pieces into the puzzle zone by selectively positioning the pieces closely together. It will be seen that each of the sixteen pieces 13 has a different radius. No indication is provided on the pieces which might enable a person using the puzzle to arrive at the solution other than by trial and error. For example, the colour of the pieces may be uniform and, if different colours are used, this has no significance on the final positioning of the pieces. When circular pieces are used, these can be rotated and there is no question of a particular piece "fitting" positively with its neighbours.

In the example shown, the pieces are circular discs, laid within a shallow tray formed in the plastics sheet 12 which defines the puzzle zone 11. They could however be cyiinders or rollers placed within a larger cylinder, while still retaining the circular geometry illustrated.

In a further alternative, shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the puzzle zone 1 4 comprises a rectangular box or tray in which a plurality of rectangular pieces 1 5 are to be packed. Each of the rectangular pieces has a common length but the pieces have different widths. It is desirable that all of the pieces differ from each other in width since this makes the puzzle more interesting but it would be possible for some of the pieces to be the same width as each other provided that a range of widths is used. In the same way, the circular pieces 1 3 of the previously described embodiment need not all be of different radii but a range of radii should be provided.

The rectangular pieces having the common length bracketed at 1 6 are arranged in the rectangular puzzle zone 14 which has one side of a multiple of the common length 16, the length of this side being indicated at 1 7. The objective of the puzzle is to pack all the pieces within the puzzle zone by selecting pieces whose combined width makes up the width of the puzzle zone.

Although the pieces in the rectangular puzzle shown in Figure 2 fit together edge-to-edge in the completed puzzle, the fact that one piece fits with its neighbours does not indicate that it is correctly placed, which adds to the interest of the puzzle.

It is intended that no coloration or pattern is used to indicate the correct layout of the pieces and in fact more than one "correct" solution is available for any set of pieces.

If desired, the puzzle could be extended to become a three-dimensional rather than a twodimensional puzzle, relating for example to the packing of differently sized spheres in a box.

The puzzle may be provided with a plurality of differently shaped puzzle zones to be used separately with the same set of pieces or with a single puzzle zone to be used with one of a plurality of sets of pieces.

The pieces and the puzzle zone may be provided with interengaged formations such as studs and sockets, or pegs and holes, the number of formations on the puzzle zone being in excess of the number of formations on the total number of pieces in the set. In this way, pieces can be temporarily located in position as the puzzle is being done.

Claims

1. A puzzle comprising means defining a puzzle zone of fixed size and shape, and a plurality of rigid pieces all of which are capable of being packed into said zone in one or more specific arrangements, all the pieces having related geometric shapes as herein defined and the pieces being of a plurality of different sizes.

2. A puzzle according to Claim 1 wherein all the pieces differ in size from each other.

3. A puzzle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the puzzle zone is circular and the pieces comprise circles of a plurality of different radii.

4. A puzzle according tb Claim 3 wherein the puzzle zone is defined by a circular tray or a tube.

5. A puzzle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the puzzle zone comprises a rectangle and the pieces comprise a plurality of rectangles, the rectangles having a common length and a plurality of different widths.

6. A puzzle according to Claim 5 wherein the puzzle zone is defined by a rectangular tray or box.

7. A puzzle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the pieces are of related polygonal shapes.

8. A puzzle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the puzzle zone is of a different shape from that of the pieces.

9. A puzzle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 having a plurality of differently shaped puzzle zones to be used separately with the same set of pieces.

10. A puzzle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 with a single puzzle zone and a plurality of sets of pieces for use therewith.

11. A puzzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A puzzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.