Dividing method for three-dimensional logical puzzles

Abstract

A dividing method used to easily divide any given solid into perfectly interfitting parts by using at least one guiding polyhedron to establish an axis system serving as guiding paths for associated geometrical figure contours used to slice said given solid. This axis system is coincident with all or a subset of the geometrical centers of each face of the guiding polyhedron, with midpoints of the edges of the polyhedron, and with the vertices of the polyhedron. The dividing method is based on five different techniques: a selecting technique, a sizing technique, a multi-slicing technique, a multi-pivoting technique, and a multi-guiding technique. This dividing method can create extremely challenging, aesthetic and symmetrical three-dimensional puzzles having shifting and optionally sliding features. This dividing method works with polyhedron-based solids, spherical solids and odd-shaped solids of any kind.

1 . A method of dividing any given solid into perfectly interfitting parts covering an entire outer surface of a shiftable three-dimensional puzzle, the method comprising steps of:
 selecting at least one guiding polyhedron;   defining an axis system based on the at least one guiding polyhedron, wherein axes of the axis system passthrough all or a subset of geometrical centers of the faces, edges and vertices of the guiding polyhedron;   associating, with each axis, a planar geometrical figure contour which can be projected along each respective axis into an intersection with the given solid to be divided; and   dividing the given solid using the geometrical figure contour into perfectly interfitting parts covering the entire outer surface of the puzzle.   
   
   
       2 . The dividing method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the step of associating the geometrical figure contour with each axis comprises steps of selecting a proper form for each geometrical figure contour associated with the axes of the axis system and sizing each geometrical figure contour for dividing the given solid. 
   
   
       3 . The dividing method as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising a step of applying a multi-slicing technique wherein said given solid is sliced more than once along one or more of the axes of the axis system with geometrical figure contours of a different size. 
   
   
       4 . The dividing method as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising a step of applying a multi-pivoting technique wherein a circular geometrical figure contour is added to one or more axes of the axis system to divide said given solid into pivoting groups of one or more elements. 
   
   
       5 . The dividing method as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising a step of applying a multi-guiding technique wherein one or more guiding polyhedra are superimposed as guides for multiple axis systems, with axes passing through all or a subset of geometrical centers of faces, edges and vertices of the guiding polyhedral whereby each axis of every additional axis system is associated with a geometrical figure contour which can be projected into an intersecting relationship with the solid in order to slice the given solid into perfectly interfitting parts covering the entire outer surface of the solid. 
   
   
       6 . The dividing method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising at least one of the steps of:
 selecting a proper form for each geometrical figure contour associated with axes of the axis system;   sizing each geometrical figure contour to be used for slicing the given solid;   applying a a multi-slicing technique wherein the given solid is sliced more than once along at least one axis of the axis system with a geometrical figure contour of a different size;   applying a multi-pivoting technique wherein a circular geometrical figure contour is added to at least one axis of the axis system to divide said given solid into pivoting group of one or more elements; and   applying a multi-guiding technique wherein one or more guiding polyhedra are superimposed as guides for axis systems, with axes passing through all or a subset of geometrical centers of faces, edges and vertices of the guiding polyhedra, whereby each axis of each additional axis system is associated with a geometrical figure contour along which the geometrical figure contour can be projected into an intersecting relationship with the solid in order to slice the given solid into perfectly interfitting parts covering the entire outer surface of the solid.   
   
   
       7 . The dividing method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the guiding polyhedra are convex uniform polyhedra selected from the five platonic solids, the thirteen archimedean solids, the prism solids, and the antiprism solids. 
   
   
       8 . The dividing method as claimed in  claim 7  wherein most of the associated geometrical figure contours are circular in order to create a mostly symmetrical three-dimensional puzzle when said given solid is divided, wherein some of the interfitting parts act as pivoting elements while enabling substantially all of the other parts of the puzzle to be shifted. 
   
   
       9 . The dividing method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said given solid is a polyhedron. 
   
   
       10 . The dividing method as claimed in  claim 9  comprising a further step of superimposing sliding elements onto one or more outer surfaces of said puzzle. 
   
   
       11 . The dividing method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said given solid is a sphere. 
   
   
       12 . The dividing method as claimed in  claim 11  comprising a further step of superimposing sliding elements onto one or more outer surfaces of said puzzle. 
   
   
       13 . The dividing method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said given solid is an odd-shaped solid. 
   
   
       14 . The dividing method as claimed in  claim 13  comprising a further step of superimposing sliding elements onto one or more outer surfaces of said puzzle.