GB2346332A

GB2346332A - Puzzle device

Info

Publication number: GB2346332A
Application number: GB9902534A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carl Burton Palmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-04
Filing date: 1999-02-04
Publication date: 2000-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-04
Also published as: GB2346332B; GB9902534D0

Abstract

A maze type puzzle 1 comprises a transparent body containing an inlet 2 and outlet 3; and a plurality of compartments, the common wall between adjacent compartments having an aperture 12 or 24 therein, the compartments being arranged so that there is no straight path through the apertures from the inlet to the outlet; and a ball 30 dimensioned to pass through the inlet, apertures and outlet. The puzzle is played by moving the body to cause a ball put into the inlet to travel from compartment to compartment through the apertures to the outlet. Preferably the puzzle has more than one layer of compartments (Figure 3), is generally spherical in shape (Figure 1), and of a size suitable to be hand held. Preferably the exterior walls of the body have a pattern of flat surfaces 6 which provide multiple images of the interior, making it more challenging to see where the apertures are.

Description

PUZZLE DEVICE The invention relates to a puzzle device for use by adults and children.

It is an object of the invention to provide a puzzle or like device in which the player has to pass a ball from an inlet to an outlet alpng a tortuous path within the device.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a puzzle comprising a transparent body containing a plurality of compartments, adjacent compartments ! having a common wall having an aperture therein ; the body having an inlet and an outlet ; the compartments being arranged so that there is no straight path through the holes from the inlet to the outlet ; and a ball member dimensioned to pass through the inlet and apertures to the outlet; the puzzle being played by moving the body to cause a ball put into the inlet to travel through compartments to the outlet.

In another aspect there is provided a method of playing a game comprising passing a ball member into the inlet of a generally transparent body having a plurality of compartments, the body having an outlet, adjacent compartments having a common wall having an aperture therein. The compartments being arranged so that there is no straight path from the inlet to the out) et, the method including the step of moving the body to pass a ball put into the inlet from one compartment to another via apertures until the ball emerges from the outlet.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one puzzle of the invention; Figure 2 is a vertical section through the puzzle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the internal dividers.

The puzzle comprises a sphere 1 or ball made of glass or plastics, e. g. PERSPEX (registered trade mark) or like transparent or semi-transparent material. The ball has a top inlet 2 and a diametrically opposite outlet 3, shaped to receive a small ball. The top 4 and bottom faces 5 of the sphere are flat so that it may be placed on a table.

The sphere is made up of flats 6, which may be triangular or rectangular or trapezoidal as seen in plan. The arrangement of the flats is selected to provide multiple images of the interior, as will be explained below.

The interior of the sphere contains a number of generally horizontal divider plates 10.

The plates 10 are circular and dimensioned so that they can fit at assigned levels within the spheres, some of the area 11 have holes 12, of the same size and shape as the inlet 2. The plates are divided into nine areas 11.

Divider frames 20 having upright walls are present between the horizontal plates 10 and between the top of the uppermost frame and the underside of the sphere roof, and between the bottom of the lowermost frame and the floor of the sphere. Each frame comprises two pairs of cross walls 21A, 21B and 22A, 22B, to form the shape of a central square 23 having extensions. The walls correspond in shape and size to the floor plan of the areas 11, so that together they form compartments.

The walls 21A, 21B; 22A, 22B have one flat edge to rest on or below the adjacent divider plate and curved portions to conform to the facing curved inner surface of the sphere. Holes 24 are present in some of the wall portions. When the divider plates and the frames are present in the sphere some of the compartments formed have no holes in their walls, some one hole in one watt and some a number of holes in different walls. (The sphere is in two halvqs ; the plates and frames are fitted in one half and glued in place, following which the second sphere half is glued to the first).

To play the game, a ball 30 is inserted into the sphere via the inlet 2. The player then has to manipulate the sphere so that the tall 30 in one compartment can reach a hole 12 or 24 in one of its walls and then pass to the next compartment. In this way by skillful manipulation the ball 30 may be moved from compartment to compartment to reach the outlet. Of course if the Bat ! enters a blind compartment the player must release it from that compartment so that it can be moved further towards the outlet.

Because the sphere walls are flat they which distort the interior of the sphere and it is more challenging for the player to see exactly where the holes are in any compartment. This adds to the amusing character of the puzzle.

The puzzle is intended for adults and preferapty in the nature of an executive toy but it may also be used by children. For this purpose the sphere may be made of polished glass and be presented in a velvet lieed box. Altematively the invention can be applied to plastics spheres.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A puzzle comprising a transparent body containing a plurality of compartments, adjacent compartments having a common wall having an aperture therein; the body having an inlet and an outlet; the compartments being arranged so that there is no straight path through the holes from the inlet to the outlet; and a ball member dimensioned to pass through the inlet, apertures and the outlet ; the puzzle being played by moving the body to cause a ball put into the inlet to travel through apertures in compartments to the outlet.
2. A puzzle according to Claim 1, wherein the compartments are arranged in layers.
3. A puzzle according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the body is generally spherical and is dimensioned to be hand held.
4. A puzzle according to Claim 3, wherein the exterior walls of the body have a pattern of flats.
5. A puzzle according to claim 4, wherein the flats are arranged to present multiple images of the apertures.
6. A method of playing a game comprising passing a ball member into the inlet of a generally transparent body having a plurality of compartments, the body having an outlet, adjacent compartments having a wall in common, the wall having an aperture therein dimensioned to allow the ball to pass through, the compartments being arranged so that there is no straight path from the inlet to the outlet the method including the step of moving the body to pass the ball from one compartment to another until the ball emerges from the outlet.
7. A method according to Claim 6 including holding the body in one or both hands and body is manipulated by the player to move the ball from the inlet to the outlet.