3-Dimensional puzzle and method of forming same

Abstract

The present invention makes use of the spherical sectors, semi-spheres, cylindrical or circular sections of a solid object or the surface of an object, and breaks them into components. If no such spherical sectors, semi-spheres, cylindrical or circular sections are available on the object, or the existing ones cannot be used for any reason, one can create some adequate ones under allowable circumstances. The puzzle will come into being when any of its broken down components can be shared with (interchanged with components of) other flat or spherical or circular or cylindrical surfaces. The idea of the present invention is rather simple, however it may be applied in a versatile manner.

1 . A three-dimensional sliding element puzzle comprising: 
 a core member having at least one circular or annular cross-section; and    a plurality of puzzle members engageable with each other and slidably movable on an outer surface of said core member at least about a longitudinal axis of said cross section;    wherein at least one said puzzle member is selectively movable relative to another said puzzle member along at least two different paths; and    wherein said puzzle members are inter-engaged with each other for relative sliding movement.    
   
   
       2 . A puzzle according to  claim 1  wherein a first of said puzzle members has a first extension received within a correspondingly sized and shaped first recess of a second of said puzzle members, whereby said two puzzle members are engageable in a first configuration in which said puzzle members are slidably movable relative to each other along a first path, but are otherwise prevented from being movable from each other.  
   
   
       3 . A puzzle according to  claim 2  wherein said first of said puzzle members has a second extension received within a correspondingly sized and shaped second recess of said second of said puzzle members, whereby said two puzzle members are engageable in a second configuration in which said puzzle members are slidably movable relative to each other along a second path, but are otherwise prevented from being movable from each other.  
   
   
       4 . A puzzle according to  claim 1  wherein said puzzle is in a ring shape.  
   
   
       5 . A puzzle according to  claim 4  wherein said core member is in a ring shape.  
   
   
       6 . A puzzle according to  claim 1  wherein said puzzle is provided on an outer surface of a cylinder.  
   
   
       7 . A puzzle according to  claim 6  wherein said core member is in the shape of a cylinder.  
   
   
       8 . A puzzle according to  claim 1  wherein said core member is generally a sphere or portion of a sphere.  
   
   
       9 . A puzzle according to  claim 1  further including puzzle units engageable with said puzzle members.  
   
   
       10 . A puzzle according to  claim 9  wherein said puzzle units are releasably engageable with said puzzle members.  
   
   
       11 . A puzzle according to  claim 1  wherein said puzzle is in the form of a vessel or a cap.  
   
   
       12 . A puzzle according to  claim 1  wherein at least part of one puzzle member is engaged with the core member for retaining other puzzle members on said core member.  
   
   
       13 . A puzzle according to  claim 12  wherein a centre piece of said puzzle member is engaged with the core member.  
   
   
       14 . A puzzle according to  claim 1  wherein said puzzle members are engaged with each other by undercuts.  
   
   
       15 . A puzzle according to  claim 1  wherein said puzzle members positioned at the locus of said longitudinal axis are engaged with the core member.  
   
   
       16 . A puzzle according to  claim 1  further provided with flutes and/or pegs on said puzzle members and/or peg members for engagement with a further layer of puzzle units to form a further puzzle on said original puzzle.  
   
   
       17 . A three-dimensional sliding element puzzle comprising: 
 a core member having at least one circular or annular cross-section;    a plurality of puzzle members slidably movable on an outer surface of said core member; and    a plurality of peg members engaged with said outer surface of said core member, each said peg member having an outer part and an inner part;    wherein said plurality of puzzle members are engageable with each other and/or with at least one said peg member for relative movement;    wherein at least one said puzzle member is selectively movable relative to another said puzzle member along at least two different paths;    wherein at least one said puzzle member has an outer part and an inner part; and    wherein said inner part of said puzzle member is in contact with at least one peg member.    
   
   
       18 . A puzzle according to  claim 17  wherein said inner part of said puzzle member is elastic.  
   
   
       19 . A puzzle according to  claim 17  wherein said inner part of said puzzle member is a spring disc.  
   
   
       20 . A puzzle according to  claim 17  wherein said inner part of said puzzle member deforms during movement of said puzzle member on said core member.  
   
   
       21 . A puzzle according to  claim 17  wherein said inner part of said puzzle member is in contact with the inner part of the peg member.  
   
   
       22 . A puzzle according to  claim 17  wherein said puzzle is in a ring shape.  
   
   
       23 . A puzzle according to  claim 22  wherein said core member is in a ring shape.  
   
   
       24 . A puzzle according to  claim 17  wherein said puzzle is provided on an outer surface of a cylinder.  
   
   
       25 . A puzzle according to  claim 24  wherein said core member is in the shape of a cylinder.  
   
   
       26 . A puzzle according to  claim 17  wherein said core member is generally a sphere or a portion of a sphere.  
   
   
       27 . A puzzle according to  claim 17  further including puzzle units engageable with said puzzle members.  
   
   
       28 . A puzzle according to  claim 27  wherein said puzzle units are releasably engageable with said puzzle members.  
   
   
       29 . A puzzle according to  claim 17  wherein said puzzle is in the form of a vessel or a cap.  
   
   
       30 . A puzzle according to  claim 17  wherein said inner part of said peg member is narrower than said outer part of said peg member.  
   
   
       31 . A puzzle according to  claim 17  wherein said inner part of said puzzle member is in contact with a plurality of said peg members.  
   
   
       32 . A three-dimensional sliding element puzzle comprising: 
 a core member having at least one circular or annular cross-section;    a plurality of puzzle members slidably movable on an outer surface of said core member; and    a plurality of peg members engaged with said outer surface of said core member;    wherein said plurality of puzzle members are engageable with each other and/or with said peg members for relative movement;    wherein at least one said puzzle member is selectively movable relative to another said puzzle member along at least two different paths; and    wherein said peg members and said puzzle members are inter-engaged with each other directly or indirectly for relative sliding movement.    
   
   
       33 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  wherein at least part of said peg member is received within a recessed part of said puzzle member for relative sliding movement.  
   
   
       34 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  wherein said puzzle member includes a narrower middle layer sandwiched between two broader outer layers.  
   
   
       35 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  wherein said puzzle member includes a broader middle layer sandwiched between two narrower outer layers.  
   
   
       36 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  wherein said puzzle member includes a longer middle layer sandwiched between two shorter outer layers.  
   
   
       37 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  wherein said puzzle member includes a shorter middle layer sandwiched between two longer outer layers.  
   
   
       38 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  wherein each said peg member includes a wider part and a narrower part, and wherein said peg members are in contact with said core member.  
   
   
       39 . A puzzle according to  claim 38  wherein said puzzle member has a plurality of inwardly and/or outwardly extending members.  
   
   
       40 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  wherein said puzzle member has a plurality of grooves running along its sides.  
   
   
       41 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  wherein said peg member has a number of extensions and/or recesses.  
   
   
       42 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  wherein said puzzle member has a number of extensions and/or recesses.  
   
   
       43 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  wherein a plurality of peg members are positioned between said fixed peg members.  
   
   
       44 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  wherein a plurality of rail members are positioned between said fixed peg members.  
   
   
       45 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  wherein at least part of said puzzle member is received within a recessed part of said peg member for relative sliding movement.  
   
   
       46 . A puzzle according to  claim 45  wherein said peg member has a plurality of intersecting grooves.  
   
   
       47 . A puzzle according to  claim 45  wherein a plurality of peg members are positioned between said fixed peg members.  
   
   
       48 . A puzzle according to  claim 45  wherein a plurality of rail members are positioned between said fixed peg members.  
   
   
       49 . A puzzle according to  claim 45  wherein said peg member includes a post which extends above the surface of the puzzle.  
   
   
       50 . A puzzle according to  claim 48  wherein said rail member includes a rib which extends above the surface of the puzzle.  
   
   
       51 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  further including puzzle units engageable with said puzzle members.  
   
   
       52 . A puzzle according to  claim 51  wherein said puzzle units are releasably engageable with said puzzle members.  
   
   
       53 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  wherein said puzzle is in the form of a vessel or a cap.  
   
   
       54 . A puzzle according to  claim 32  further provided with flutes and/or pegs on said puzzle members and/or peg members for engagement with a further layer of puzzle units to form a further puzzle on said original puzzle.