GB2177012A - An amusement device - Google Patents

Abstract

An amusement device and puzzle comprises a stack of rebated discs, preferrably in the shape of a sphere, mounted on an axle for relative rotation. The rebated discs form a maze of pockets and annuli with access through holes and gates. Coloured balls contained within the device are located at a home base and, by a sequence of rotary moves of the discs relative to each other and by tilting the axle, each ball may be transferred through the maze of labyrinths, gates and holes to an away base. The periphery of each disc is marked with characters to identify the positions of the pockets, blind and open, also to enable the relative position of each disc to datum points on the bases to be observed. The puzzle has one solution for the smallest number of moves which is unique to each device for a very large number produced. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An amusement device The present invention relates to an amusement device ortoy.

In general,the invention provides an amusement device which includes a plurality of relatively rotatable bodies provided with means forming an internal maze of passageways through which rolling elements can be passed from one location to another.

In a preferred form the device comprises a stack of rebated discs mounted on axial means for relative rotation and means forming a maze of pockets and annuliwith access via holes and recessesthrough whichballscan be guidedfrom one location tothe other by relative rotation of the discs about the axial means and by tilting the axial means ofthe device in different directions.

The discs would normally have different sizes, usually diameters, and would be assembled with other components such as end caps to provide an appropriate shape such as a frustrum of a cone, a sphere, a prism, a cylinder or a pyramid. The discs or equivalentcan be opaque ortransparentora mixture of both to permit a user to view the passage of a ball through the internal maze. Coded indicia such as arrows, symbols, colours or alphanumeric characters on the device permit the desired moves of relative rotation and tilting to be defined. The individual components ofthe device can be moulded from synthetic plasticormadefrom a machined orcast light metal alloy.

The invention may be understood more readily, and various other aspects and features of the invention may become apparent from consideration of the following description.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure lisa side view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2is a sectional side view of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan and an inverted plan view ofthe device shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of a gate disc ofthe device; Figure 5is a plan view of one of the end caps ofthe device; Figure 6is an inverted plan view ofthe end cap shown in Figure 5; Figure 7is a sectional view of the end cap, the view being taken along the line I-I of Figure 6.

Figure 8is a sectional view ofthe end cap the view, being taken along the line ll-ll of Figure 6; Figure9is a plan view of one of the cap bases ofthe device; Figure 10 is a sectional side view ofthe cap base, the view being taken along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a plan view of a first type of disc ofthe device; Figure 12is an inverted plan view of the first disc of the device; Figure 13is a sectional side view ofthe first disc, the view being taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 12; Figure 14is a sectional view of part of the first disc, the view being taken along the line V-V of Figure 12; Figures 15to 17depict components which collectivelyform part of the axial means of the device;; Figure 18is a plan view a secondtype of disco the device; Figure 19 is an inverted plan view of the second disc; Figure 20 is a sectional side view of the second disc, the view being taken along the lineVI-Vl of Figure 19; Figure 21 is a sectional view of parts of the second disc, the view being taken along each of the lines VIl-VIl of Figures 18 and 19; Figures a plan view of a third type dise ofthe device; Figure 23is an inverted plan view of the third disc; Figure 24 is a sectional side view of the third disc, the view being taken along the line IX-IX of Figure 23;; Figure 25is a sectional view of parts ofthethird disc, the view being taken along each of the lines Vlil-Vlil of Figures 22 and 23; Figure 26is a plan view of a fourth type of disc ofthe device; Figure27is an inverted plan view of the fourth disc; Figure28is a sectional side view of the fourth disc taken along the line X-X of Figure 27; Figure 29 is a sectional side view of parts of the fourth disk taken along each of the linesXI-Xl of Figures 26 and 27; Figure 30 is a plan view of a central disc ofthe device; Figure 31 is an inverted plan view of the central disc; Figure 32is a sectional side view of the central disc, the view being taken along theXII-Xll of Figure31;; Figure 33 is a sectional side view of parts ofthe central disc, the view being taken along each ofthe lines Xlll-Xlll of Figures 30 and 31; and Figure34depictsanotherembodimentofa device constructed in accordance with the invention.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a device constructed in accordance with the invention is composed of a stack of relatively rotatable discs 2 assembled onto axial means 3. The discs 2 have differential diameters designed to cooperate with end caps 4to form a sphere.

The discs 2 are formed with upstanding axial walls or ribs 1 which cooperateto form concentric annuli 7 some divided byfurtherwalls 1' to form acircum- ferential series of pockets 8. Holes 9 extend through the discs 2 in various locations and some ofthewalls 1 are provided with recesses 10 forming entry and exit gates. The locations of the pockets 8 the gates 10 and the holes 9 are identified by means of coded indicia A at the periphery of each disc 2. The indicia maytaketheform ofcoloursoranalphanumeric symbol our a combination of such. Each disc 2 has a circumferential flange 17 which carries the coded indicia Ato identify the positions ofthe pockets 8, holes 9 and gates 10.Each of these flanges 17 has cutouts 18 spaced around its peripheryforgripping with the fingers two permit easy rotation of the discs around the axial means 3. The periphery of the central equatorial disc 15 bears a reference mark 80 such as an arrow.

The caps 4are also provided with walls 1 which define a number of sectors 12 identified byfurther indicia B such as a colour code and arrow. Convenientlythe caps 4 can also be designated with respective symbols North and South. These sectors 12 form reference pockets for receiving coloured balls 5 which can be madeto pass from one cap to the opposite cap via the pockets 8, holes 9 and gates 10 by relative rotation ofthe discs 2 and tilting ofthe axis ofthe axial means.

The caps 4 co-operate with plane discs or bases 30 formed with holes 9 through which the balls 5 leave the sectors 12.

Figures 5 to 8 depict one of the caps 4 and Figures9 and 10 its associated bases 30. Projections and recesses 39,40 locate the disc 4 and its base 30. At leastthe outer boundary 14 of each cap 4 is made transparent sothatthe balls 5can be seen. The discs2 can also be transparent, permitting a userto view from one end cap 4to the other via the internal maze of pockets 8 and annuli 7. Thus it is possible to observe thewhere- abouts of the balls 5 within the maze and to see the balls 5 move. The discs 2 can however be made from opaque material so that once the balls leave one end cap 14 and enterthe maze they cannot be seen. To avoid crowding ofthe balls 5 leaving one cap 4, itis preferable to incorporate a gate disc 16 (Figure4) between the base 30 of each end cap 4and the first adjacent disc 2.The gate disc 16 comprises a single hole 9 through which all the balls must leave the end cap4.

The discs 2 form pairs of discs of similar size and if desired identical design but even with an identical pair of discs 2 the coded indicia applied thereto can be different. Although the number of discs 2 can vary, for the purpose of exemplification the discs 2 in this described embodiment can be considered as first to fourth discs proceeding from one end cap 4to a central equatorial disc 15.

Figures 11 to 14 depict one of a pair offirst discs 2; Figures 18to 21 depict one of a pair of second discs; Figures 22 to 25 depict one of a pair ofthird discs 2; Figures 26 to 29 depict one of a pairoffourthdiscs 2;and Figures 30 to 33 depict a central equatorial disc2.

The axial means 3 is composed of a pair of pins 19, a pair of spacertubes 31 and a single dowel 32 as shown in Figures 15to 17. Thetubes 31 areconveniently attached to the pins 19 and the central dowel pin serves to locate and lockthe central equatorial disc 15. All the discs 2, the caps 4 and their bases 30 have central bores for receiving the components of the axle means 3. The pins 19 fit into counterbores in the caps 4. The pins 21 may themselves be marked with an N or S to identify the North and South location. Asmall ciearance is established between each disc 2, the equatorial disc 15 and the caps 4so thatthe individual discs may be rotated freely aboutthe axial means 3.The individual pockets 8 can be designed to only accept a single ball 5 at a time.

The overall spherical shape of the device is only one of a variety of shapes that the device cou Id adopt and Figure 34 depicts anotherform ofthe device in the form ofafrustum of a cone. Other possible shapes area beehiveora cylinder or those mentioned pre viousiy.

Although the discs 2 are shown having circular perimeters they could have square or polygonai peripheries and likewise the walls 1 which definethe annuli 7 could be polygonal. The discs 2 can be manufactured from suitable moulded plastics or by a die cast metal alloy.

During use ofthe device the different coloured balls are to be transferred one at a time through the maze ofannuli 7, pockets 8, holes 9 and gates 10 from the various coloured home sectors in one cap 4tothe equivalent in the other cap 4. To achieve this the discs 2 must be rotated relative to one another in a particu lar sequence with respect to data marks B, 80. The sequence of moves also involves tilting of the axial means 3 in the particular directions to permit a ball 5 to roll across oraroundthe parts a discannuli 7to direct a ball into a specific pocket 8 orthrough a specific hole 9 or gate 10.The game is then achieved when all the balls have been transferred from one cap 4to the other and backagain.Thesolutiontothe maze is solved by finding a code which comprises a listing ofthesymbols or colours on the periphery of each disc when the discs 2 are rotated in such a sequence and in such an angular relationship that a ball 5 is transferred step by step without interference.

The nesting of the rebated discs 2 forms closed pockets, just like a maze, and a ball 5 dropping into a closed pocket interferes with the game. A ball 5 in a closed or blind pocket has to be returned to the last correct move. The puzzle cannot be solved by rotating each disc2 in a setorderand simply placing the coded symbols of adjacent discs against one another in turn.

Some discs need to be rotated relative to the data marks B, 80 before other discs which are closer or adjacent to the home cap 4 are so rotated. The reason forthis isthatsomegatesto pockets 8 and annuli 7 need to be opened in advance or else the ball 5 being transferable would be trapped in a blind pocket and the ball will need to be returned to an earlier position.

Some discs 2 also need to be rotated more than once to progressively open gates to annuli 7 and pockets8 that are not blind.

The game can be played by one or more players depending on the number of coloured sectors 12 and in the case of a multi-player game a colour could be designated to each player. The winner ofthe game is then the player which transfers all the balls of one colourfrom one cap 4 to the other and back again in the fastest time. Many variations can be adopted, such as by transferring balls from one coloured sector in one cap 4to a different coloured sector in the opposite cap and back again to another colour, for example, red to black, black to green, green to blue, blueto orange, etc. Anothervariation would befora playerto hide an opposing player's ball in a blind pocket within the maze and the player then mustfind his colour ball and transfer itto the cap 4 sector 12 previously designated by his opponent in the fastest time.

The device can be manufactured as a kit of parts for assembly by a purchaser and in this connection the indicia or symbols could be supplied in the form of self-adhesive labels for attachment in any sequence during the assembly. This gives rise to possibility of a whole number of models each exhibiting a different code solution for the transfer of a ball through the maze.

Claims (7)

1. An amusement device which includes a plurality of relatively rotatable bodies provided with means forming an internal maze of passageways through which rolling elements can be passed from one location to another.

2. An amusement device comprising a stack of rebated discs mounted on axial means for relative rotation and means forming a maze of pockets and annuli with access via holes and recesses through which balls can beguidedfrom onelocationtothe other by relative rotation of the discs about the axial means and by tilting the axial means ofthe device in different directions.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the discs are assembled with end caps and the device takes the overall form of a sphere.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the discs are of different sizes.

5. Adevice according to claim 2,3or4wherein the location of the pockets, holes and recesses are identified by coded indicia visible on at least the discs.

6. Akitofpartswhich is capable of assemblyto form a device according to any one of the preceding claims.

7. An amusement device or parts therefor su b- stantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.