Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
  • A63F9/06—Patience; Other games for self-amusement
  • A63F9/08—Puzzles provided with elements movable in relation, i.e. movably connected, to each other
  • A63F9/0826—Three-dimensional puzzles with slidable or rotatable elements or groups of elements, the main configuration remaining unchanged, e.g. Rubik's cube
  • A63F9/0857—Three-dimensional puzzles with slidable or rotatable elements or groups of elements, the main configuration remaining unchanged, e.g. Rubik's cube with elements slidably connected to a visible central body, e.g. beads in grooves

Definitions

• THREE-DIMENSIONAL LOGIC GAME The subject of the present invention is a three-dimensional logic game comprising moving parts and a support and guiding device for these moving parts which are provided with a marking allowing them to be distinguished individually or in groups.
• the first teaser to have had great commercial success was probably the one that was launched in 1870 by the American Sam Lloyd.
• This teaser is made up of 15 square plates placed next to each other in a small square box which can normally contain 16 of these plates. Because of the box left free, there is at any time the possibility of moving by translation, one or more plates by occupying the previously free box, thus modifying the order of the plates.
• These plates being numbered from 1 to 15 on their visible face, the aim of this game consists, starting from a disorderly arrangement of the plates, to replace them in numerical order.
• teasers or logic games "three-dimensional" composed of a set of small solids (eg small cubes) that can be moved relative to each other, individually or in groups, in translational and / or rotational movement, the displacements of these small solids not being confined in a plane but can be done according to the three dimensions of space.
• small solids eg small cubes
• the "magic cube” created and patented by the Hungarian Rubik has aroused real interest and is practically known all over the world. Subsequently, various variants of this game were imagined and produced (the “cylinder”, the “octahedron”, the “diamond") which, however, differ from the “magic cube” only in their forms.
• Rubik's "magic cube” is composed in principle of twenty-seven solids, twenty-six of which form the side faces of the assembled cube and can be rotated, in groups of nine, around pivots carried by the twenty-seventh element of the game which forms the central nucleus (not visible).
• the twenty-six visible elements of the game are divided into six, twelve and eight elements identical in shape and size.
• a characteristic of the "magic cube" lies in the fact that the eight elements that form the corners of the cube can only be placed in the corners, the twelve elements that form the lateral edges of the cube can only be placed on the lateral edges, and the six elements that form the centers of the faces of the cube can only float on themselves around the pivots given off by the central kingdom of the game.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional logic game in which robotic parts, provided by a support and guide device, can be caused to move in groups, so that any moving part can occupy the place which was previously occupied by any other moving part.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a three-dimensional logic game in which the moving parts are guided along paths which are closed on themselves, which intersect in such a way that the moving part situated at a path intersection can be brought to move in each guide path connected by this intersection.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a three-dimensional logic game in which the moving parts are guided along rolling paths closed on themselves, at least one of which carries and guides two or more parallel rows of moving parts.
• the subject of the present invention is a three-dimensional game which comprises moving parts and a support and guide device for these moving parts, which are provided with a marking making it possible to distinguish them individually or in groups;
• the support and guide device is provided with means capable of holding the moving parts and guiding them along two or more guide paths; each guide path makes it possible to guide, in space, following a closed course on itself, obile parts arranged in contact with one another, in a row or several contiguous parallel rows;
• the soft parts are arranged in several contiguous parallel rows on at least one of the guide paths;
• the guide tracks have inlersections between them, so that a movable part located at such an intersection can be caused to move, following one direction or the other, in each guide path connected by this intersection.
• the guide tracks follow the surface of a fictional three-dimensional body comprising planar faces connected together by curved surfaces, the intersections between the guide tracks being located on the flat faces of the fictitious three-dimensional body, each guide path being formed along a line closing in on itself, formed by straight segments connected together by curved segments.
• the guide paths follow the surface of the fictional three-dimensional body comprising two rectangular rectangular faces which are mutually parallel, connected by four semi-cylindrical surfaces, each guide path being closed along a line closing on itself, constituted by two rectilinear segments located opposite one another on the two rectangular faces of the fictional three-dimensional body, parallel to one side of a rectangular face; these two rectilinear segments being connected to each other by 2 semicircular segments which the semicylindrical surfaces follow.
• the two flat rectangular faces of the fictional three-dimensional body are square faces
• the moving parts are arranged on two guide paths, perpendicular to each other, intersecting in the center of each square face, and each carrying three contiguous parallel rows of moving parts.
• the movable parts of the game each consist of a square plate with rounded corners, connected by a short rod to a round plate parallel to the square plate; the faces of the square plates located opposite the short rods are provided with a marking which makes it possible to distinguish the moving parts individually and / or in groups.
• the support and guiding device comprises: - arranged on plates, slides in the form of profiled grooves in which the round plates and the short rods can slide moving parts, the square plates, directed towards the outside of the game, sliding over the upper edges of the grooves, these slides arranged on the plates ensuring the maintenance and guiding of the moving parts along the rectilinear sections of their course, and - curved slides cooperating with turnstiles that can pivot freely about their axis, comprising flanges of polygonal shape on the edges of which the square plates of the moving parts bear on their rear face, the moving parts being moreover held and guided by the sliding of the sides and upper faces of the square plates along the curved slides provided with edges.
• the logic game further comprises an outer casing or housing in which are provided windows by which, we have access to moving parts or to some of them.
• these windows can give access to all the moving parts that the game includes or only to certain groups of moving parts.
• the case therefore covers certain moving parts of the game and the parts of the case which cover these moving parts can be either transparent (thus making it possible to see the moving parts to which there is no access), or opaque (thus hiding moving parts covered by these parts of the housing).
• the logic game according to the invention can be produced according to very numerous variants.
• the "fictitious three-dimensional body", the guide paths of which follow the surface can be chosen from numerous shapes.
• the choice of the number and arrangement of the guide paths and the number of lines of moving parts carried by each guide path make it possible to perform the three-dimensional logic game. -sessional according to many forms, variants and degrees of difficulty.
• fig. 1 is a perspective view of a logic game according to the invention
• fig. 2 to 13 show other views, sections and details of the game shown in fig. 1
• fig. 2 is a plan view of the game in FIG. 1, some moving parts of which have been removed for a better understanding of the drawing
• fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the two elements which together form the housing of the game in FIG. 1
• fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3
• fig. 5 shows a moving part of the game in FIG.
• fig. 6 is a section along the line VI-VI of FIG. 7; fig.7 shows a moving part of the game of fig. 1, back view, that is to say from the side which is directed inwards (and therefore invisible) when the various elements of the game are assembled;
• fig. 8 is a plan view of the game in FIG. 1 after removal of the housing, the moving parts of the set and certain guide elements also being removed for the purpose of simplification and easier understanding of the drawing;
• fig. 9 is an elevational view of the game in FIG. 1 after removal of the outer casing, certain moving parts and certain guide elements also being removed for the purpose of simplification and this easier understanding of the drawing; fig.
• fig. 10 shows a rotary guide part of the movable parts of the game in fig.1 hereinafter called “turnstile", seen along the axis of rotation of this guide part;
• fig. 11 shows a "turnstile” guide piece, seen perpendicular to its axis of rotation;
• fig. 12 shows another guide part, hereinafter called “curved slide”, cooperating with turnstiles as shown in fig.10 and 11, for guiding the moving parts of the game of fig. 1;
• Fig.13 is a sectional view along line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12;
• fig. 14 and 15 are perspective views of two other logic games according to the invention.
• the general, external shape of the game 1 shown in FIG. 1 is derived from that of a rectangular parallelepiped having two opposite square faces, the third dimension of parallelepiped being substantially less than that of one side of its square faces (eg: about a third).
• junctions between the neighboring faces are advantageously rounded, thus eliminating the edges of the "theoretical" parallelepiped from which the general external shape of the game is derived.
• the junction between the neighboring faces is strongly rounded, so that the. the general external shape of the game is rather close to that of a solid body having two parallel square faces connected to each other by semi-cylindrical surfaces.
• the junction zones between these semi-cylindrical surfaces are themselves rounded.
• the clearance 1 as shown in FIG. 1 only reveals an outer envelope or housing (2, 2), mobile nephews 3 and a part 4 of certain elements serving to guide these moving parts 3.
• the housing is formed of two identical complementary elements eb 2, together forming a housing in which are formed six openings or windows.
• a window 5 is provided in each of the two square faces of the set 1 and a window 6 is provided in each of the four semi-cylindrical walls of the housing. It should be noted that all of these windows are not transparent parts of the housing but real openings through which there is access to the moving parts 3
• FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate in more detail a housing element 2. It should be noted that fig..3 shows the housing element 2 seen from the inside, that is to say its concave side.
• La. Fig.3 shows the center of the element 'box? the square opening which, in the set 1 assembled, will form the window 5 of a square face of the housing.
• L fig.3 also shows on the four sides of the housing element 2, the cutouts which, in the set 1 assembled, will form the windows 6 of the semi-cylindrical walls of the housing.
• the tapered edges 7 are on the inner side (concave side) of the housing element 2, while for the other two corners rounded, the thinned edges 8 are on the outside (convex side) of the housing element 2.
• this particular shape (illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4) makes it possible to produce a housing by assembling (nesting) of two identical housing elements 2, which constitutes an advantage for their manufacture.
• the housing element 2 has on this inner face four small dishes g located near the corners of the central square window 5.
• each dish 9 In the center of each dish 9 is provided a small cylindrical mortise 10. These small mortises 10 are intended to receive small tenons 11 integral with the fixed reinforcement frame 12 to be mounted in the housing (see fig. 8 and 9).
• the game box 1 contains the moving parts 3 of the game 1 (see fig. 5 and 7) and all of the guide devices comprising stationary devices and mobile devices.
• the stationary guide devices consist of the fixed guide frame 12 (see fig. 8 and 9) which is completed by curved slides 13 (see fig. 8, 9, 12 and 13).
• the mobile guiding devices comprise twelve turnstiles 14 (see fig. 8, 9, 10 and 11) which for transferring the moving parts 3 from one face of the set 1 to the other.
• Each moving part 3 of the set 1 (see fig. 5 and 7) consists of a square plate 15 (with rounded corners) connected by a short rod 16 to a round, smaller plate 17, parallel to the square plate 15.
• the square plate 15 On its front face, that is to say that which is seen when the set 1 is assembled, the square plate 15 is 1 ordered by a small rib 18. This particular shape facilitates the handling of the moving parts 3 on the set 1 assembled.
• the square plate 15 On its rear face, the square plate 15 is provided with four small notches 19 each located along one edge of the square plate 15, in the middle of one of these sides.
• the fixed guide frame 12 (see fig. 8 and 9) comprises two identical plates 20 (essentially square) joined together by four spacers 21 arranged near the four corners of the plates 20.
• Each spacer 21 consists of a one-piece element formed by a bracket 22 connecting together two triangular plates 23.
• Each wing of the bracket 22 carries (on the inner side of the bracket) a small hollow cylindrical element 24 which constitutes a support for an axis 25 of the turnstiles 14.
• Each triangular plate 23 carries (on the outside of the spacer 21) a small tenon 11 intended to be engaged in a small mortise 10 of a housing element 2.
• Each plate 20 carries on its face turned towards the outside of the fixed guide frame 12, small elements 26, 27 and 28 which guide the moving parts 3.
• four guide elements 26 are arranged in the central zone of the plate 20
• four guide elements 27 are each arranged at a corner of the plate 20, and eight guide elements 28 are arranged, two by two, on the sides of the plate 20, between the elements 27.
• Each guide element 26 consists of a thin square plate carrying in the center of its rear face (the one which faces the plate 20) a short square rod which is fixed by its base (eg by gluing) against the plate 20 , while maintaining this rectangular plate spaced from the plate 20.
• Each guide element 28 consists of a thin plate, substantially square-shaped, carrying against its rear face a small support and spacing piece which is fixed by its base (eg: by gluing) against the plate 20, while maintaining the square-shaped plate spaced from plate 20.
• the ends of this plate directed towards the outside of the plate 20 have a tapered profile and thus constitute strips 29 similar to the strips 29 carried by the elements guide 27.
• notches 30 are formed in each of the four sides of the plate 20. These notches 30, which pass not only through the plate 20 proper but also through the guide elements 27 and 28, allow the insertion by insertion of the curved slides 13. Any moving part 3 held against one of the plates 20 is guided by the slides formed by the plate 20 itself and the strips 26, 27 and 28 carried by this plate 20.
• the round plate 17 of a moving part 3 can slide in the spaces between the plate 20 and the plates 26,27,28; the short rod 16 of the moving part 3 can slide between the edges of the neighboring plates 26, 27 and 28.
• turnstiles mobile guiding devices or "turnstiles" (see fig.8,9,10 and 11) are presented as small coils comprising two flanges, essentially hexagonal, mounted on either side of a hollow core capable of receiving an axis 25 around which the turnstile 14 can rotate freely.
• the flas ⁇ ues of the turnstile 14 have in the middle of each side of the hexagon a small lug 31.
• Each curved slide 13 consists of a plate te 32 fed with a double rim 4.
• the plate 13 comprises a semicircular part which extends from the side ⁇ e its diagonal by a rect angular part.
• a hole 33 is provided in the center of the semicircular part.
• a double rim 4 is integral with the plate 13 and borders it all around, except for the right side which is opposite the Lemircircular part.
• each of the four sides of the set 1 are mounted four curved slides 13 and three turnstiles 14, the latter being each mounted between two successive curved slides 13.
• An axis 25, passing through the holes 33 of the curved slides 13 and the hollow cores of the turnstiles 14 is fixed in place by virtue of the small hollow cylindrical elements 24 integral with the spacers 21 of the fixed frame 12.
• the curved slides 13 are held in place by the combined action of the notches 30 (in which the plates 32 are engaged), of the axis 25 (passing through the hole 33 of the plate 32), turnstiles 14 (between which they are held), and the housing elements 2 (which hold the corners of the curved runners 13, which they thus prevent from rotating about the axis 25).
• the curved slides 13 cooperate with the turnstiles 14 to guide the moving parts 3 when these are carried from one face to the game towards the other: by their rear face, the square plates 15 of the moving parts 3 are supported. against the ribs of the turnstile 14 whose pins 31 engage in the notches 13 formed on the rear face of the square plates 15, the lateral faces of the moving parts 3 slide against the plates 32 of the curved slides 1 mounted on either side turnstiles 14, and the edges of the front faces of the molded parts 3 slide against the edges 4 of the curved slides. All the guiding devices (fixed and mobile) of the game 1 hold and guide the 78 moving parts 3 which can be carried out along two closed paths, each comprising three adjacent rows of moving parts.
• the moving parts 3 being in contact with each other in each of the rows, the displacement of a single mold part 3 in one or the other direction causes the displacement of sixteen moving parts 3 arranged one after the other. others following a closed course that goes around the game.
• the moving parts 3 have distinctive sisnes on the front face consisting of colors, letters, drawings or symbols, or, possibly, a combination of these distinctive signs.
• the goal of the game 1 consists, starting from a disorderly arrangement of the moving parts 3, to replace them in a certain predetermined order.
• Game 1 will include, e.g. : 9 road moving parts, 9 orange moving parts, 9 yellow moving parts, 9 green moving parts, 9 blue moving parts, 9 black moving parts and 24 white moving parts.
• the goal of game 1 will in this case be to place in front of each of the six windows of the game box, 9 moving parts of the same color (with the exception of the white moving parts which must be hidden in the case).
• Game 1 can be made more difficult, for example: if in each group of 9 moving parts 3 of the same color, the parts also bearing numbers from 1 to 9.
• the object of the game consists in grouping in front of each of the windows of the game moving parts 3 of the same color, the moving parts of the same color having, in addition, to be placed in numerical order .
• Figs. 14 and 15 show two other forms of logic games in accordance with the invention.
• the set 34 shown in Fig. 14 has a substantially cubic shape.
• the housing of the game 34 has the shape of a cube with cut edges.
• the guide tracks follow the surface of a fictional three-dimensional body which is a cube with rounded edges, that is to say that the square faces are connected together by curved surfaces (quarter-cylinders).
• the moving parts 3 are guided along three guide paths, closed on themselves, which intersect each other at a right angle so that an intersection of the guide path is at the center of each face of the cube.
• Each guide path carries two contiguous parallel rows of moving parts 3.
• a square window gives access to the four moving parts 3 which are at the intersection of two guide paths.
• the housing has a transparent window (which is not an opening) which allows two movable nieces to be seen.
• the support and guiding device for this game is similar to that for game 1 which is illustrated in fig. 1 to 13, but the moving parts 3 which pass from one face to the other of the cube are obviously guided along a path in a quarter circle (and not in a semicircle) and the curved slides which are located near the cut edges of the cube are therefore suitable for this course in a quarter circle
• the game 35 shown in FIG. 14 includes 96 moving parts 3 of which 48 are visible.
• the clearance 35 shown in fig.15 is essentially in the form of a polyhedron with fourteen faces.
• the moving parts 3 of this set 35 are carried and guided by three guide paths, closed on themselves, which intersect at right angles.
• Only one of these guide paths carries two parallel rows contiguous to moving parts 3; the other two paths each carry a single line of moving parts 3.
• Fourteen windows are provided in the box of the game 35. Two windows located at the points of intersection between the two paths carrying a single line of moving parts 3 and each allow to see a moving part 3. Four windows located on the path of each guide path carrying a single line of moving parts 3, each give access to three moving parts Four windows located on the path of the guide path which carries two contiguous parallel lines of moving parts 3 each ten moving parts (including the two moving parts which are located at the intersection with a guide path carrying a single line of moving parts 3). It will be understood naked the logic games in accordance with the invention can be produced according to very many forms, variants and degrees of difficulty.

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• 1984
  • 1984-01-27 EP EP84900704A patent/EP0135528A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1984-01-27 WO PCT/BE1984/000002 patent/WO1984002851A1/fr not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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