Geometric random selection device

Abstract

A hand-manipulatable three-dimensional device for generating groups of symbol combinations selected in pseudo-random sequence, having relatively movable faces, each of the faces bearing a distinguishing symbol. A stand on which the device may be mounted, permits reading of the faces at selective orientations of the device. The device may be used as a parlour game or the like.

1 . A hand-manipulatable three-dimensional device for generating and displaying groups of symbol combinations selected in pseudo-random sequence comprising: 
 an octahedral unit formed of eight elements having equilateral congruent triangular faces, the elements interconnected together to permit rotation of one-half of the unit with respect to the other half along each of the three orthogonal planes of symmetry of the unit, the elements grouped about and enclosing a center sphere with their triangular faces facing outwardly, seven of the elements being movable on the outer surface of the sphere, the edges of which define the allowable directions of rotation of the other elements about the sphere and guide those elements during rotation;    a similar triangular foot of part spherical contour mounted centrally by post means to the underside of each of the elements, the part spherical contour of the feet corresponding to that of the surface of the sphere such that the feet are slidable on the surface of the center sphere;    circular sections of part spherical contour, centrally mounted by means of post means above the surface of the sphere for holding the feet between the circular sections and the surface of the sphere, the circular sections being spaced from adjacent circular sections to form paths between which the post means of the movable elements pass; and    a pyramidal segment being rotatably secured at the center of its base to the center of the triangular face of each of the elements, the base of each pyramidal segment being of similar size and shape to the triangular faces of the elements of the unit, each of the pyramidal segments having an outwardly directed apex and three outer faces, the three outer faces of each pyramidal segment converging at the apex, each of the faces of the pyramidal segments bearing a distinguishing symbol to provide clear coordination or non-coordination with a corresponding symbol on an adjoining face of an adjacent pyramidal segment on an adjacent element,    whereby the coordination or non-coordination of the symbols on adjacent triangular pairs of faces of the elements when viewed along the facing outer vertex of each of progressive segments may be visualized.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said symbol on each of the faces of the pyramidal segments is a pair of colours.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the faces of the eight tetrahedral segments are marked as follows:  
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
                   
                   
               
                   
                   
               
                   
                 A 
                 I 
                 E 
               
                   
                 B 
                 J 
                 F 
               
                   
                 C 
                 K 
                 G 
               
                   
                 D 
                 L 
                 H 
               
                   
                 E 
                 A 
                 I 
               
                   
                 F 
                 B 
                 J 
               
                   
                 G 
                 C 
                 K 
               
                   
                 H 
                 D 
                 L 
               
                   
                   
               
                   
                   
               
           
              
              
             
             
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
             
          
         
       
     
     A, B, . . . , and L each representing a pair of colours.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein four of said pairs of colours share a common colour.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said groups of symbol combinations are groups of colours, said colours being the same or different.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein means are provided to releasably secure against unpurposeful disengagement the segments in predetermined positions attained by relative rotation thereof with respect to the elements of said positions such that corresponding edges of adjacent faces on adjacent segments are aligned when the segments are in said predetermined positions.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising a stand having a base and upstanding arms spaced from each other on the base, the arms having, on their upper ends, means located so as to hold therebetween the apexes of oppositely positioned segments on the unit to permit rotation of the unit on the axis passing through said opposite apexes.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein axially aligned sleeve means are secured to the upper ends of the arms of the stand, with open, facing ends of the sleeve means to receive the outer apexes of oppositely positioned segments on the unit and permit rotation of the unit with respect to the stand.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve means when combined with the geometry of the unit inserted between the arms of the stand, are provided with stop means to releasably hold the unit in position, against unintended rotation motion, at determined rotative positions 60° apart, so that when the unit is rotated to each of said positions, the unit is positioned for viewing the unit over the apex of each of the apexes of a set of segments so that the faces of that segment and the adjacent faces of the segments adjacent thereto may be seen at one time by a user.  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the stop means for each of the sleeve means are 120° apart and in phase with respect to the stop means of the other sleeve means.  
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the base is provided with alignment means to permit orientation with respect to a user of the unit when held in position in the stand so that the user may align the stand and unit for viewing the unit over the apex of one of the segment so that the faces of that segment and the adjacent faces of segments adjacent thereto may be seen at one time by the user.  
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the alignment means comprises a pair of linear markings on the base of the stand, each of such markings oriented so as to direct the alignment of the stand relative to the user, each of the linear markings positioned to enable alignment of the stand for the viewing of a different set of three segments and the adjacent faces of segments adjacent thereto.  
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein edges of the base form the linear markings.