Keyed access to hollow three-dimensional puzzles

Abstract

A three-dimensional puzzle such as, for example, a spherical puzzle, has shiftable, and optionally also slidable, puzzle elements that are arranged to enclose a hollow center. The enclosed hollow center defines a secret compartment for optionally containing a prize or other object. The secret compartment can be accessed by manipulating the puzzle elements to match a predetermined (and optionally reprogrammable) pattern that unlocks the puzzle to thus provide access to the secret compartment. A set of keys and corresponding keyways on certain puzzle elements provides the requisite interlocking of elements. Only when the keys are properly aligned with respective keyways can the puzzle be opened to reveal the interior compartment. This puzzle can be a coreless-type puzzle or a puzzle having an inner center element. The puzzle can be spherical, polyhedral or odd-shaped provided there is a suitable opening path for engagement of keys and keyways.

1 . A three-dimensional logical puzzle comprising a plurality of shiftable puzzle elements that are interfitted together so that the puzzle elements can be shifted relative to one another into a plurality of different arrangements, the puzzle elements being arranged to enclose a hollow center defining an enclosed secret compartment, wherein at least one of the arrangements of the puzzle elements corresponds to a puzzle solution that unlocks the puzzle to provide access to the enclosed secret compartment. 
   
   
       2 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of the puzzle elements have keys and keyways for selectively interlocking the puzzle elements so that the puzzle can only be unlocked when the keys and corresponding keyways are aligned. 
   
   
       3 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the puzzle elements are keyed by a keying technique comprising steps of: (i) selecting matching keys and keyways and (ii) disposing the keys and keyways along an opening path of the puzzle. 
   
   
       4 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the puzzle elements are further keyed by a complementary multi-keying technique comprising steps of: (i) implementing keys and keyways on all or a subset of the puzzle elements that are not situated along the opening path. 
   
   
       5 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the arrangement of puzzle elements corresponding to the puzzle solution is determined by a path-positioning technique comprising steps of locating at least one opening path coincident with a shifting plan of the puzzle and passing on edges of the puzzle elements, the opening path being defined as a trajectory slicing the puzzle in two parts and providing access to the enclosed secret compartment. 
   
   
       6 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the puzzle elements comprise a plurality of opening paths, wherein each opening path has its own unique key and keyway combination. 
   
   
       7 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the puzzle elements comprise a plurality of opening paths, wherein some or all of the opening paths share a common key and keyway combination. 
   
   
       8 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the keys and keyways are reprogrammable by the user so that the user can change the arrangement of puzzle elements corresponding to the puzzle solution that opens the puzzle and provides access to the enclosed secret compartment. 
   
   
       9 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the puzzle elements are self-supporting and interlocking to define a coreless puzzle. 
   
   
       10 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the puzzle elements are arranged to define a spherical puzzle and wherein all or a subset of the puzzle elements are keyed elements having keys and keyways that are positioned along at least one opening path to enable the elements to slide out relative to one another when the puzzle elements are manipulated into a solution pattern in order to provide access to the enclosed secret compartment. 
   
   
       11 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the puzzle elements can be completely disassembled and reassembled to provide a further challenge. 
   
   
       12 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the puzzle elements are arranged to define a spherical, polyhedral or odd-shaped puzzle. 
   
   
       13 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the puzzle elements are mounted on an inner center element by retaining means that retain at least some of the puzzle elements while allowing rotation of at least some of the puzzle elements relative to the inner center element. 
   
   
       14 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the inner center element is a splittable inner center element having an inner opening path. 
   
   
       15 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the puzzle elements together define a spherical, polyhedral or odd-shaped puzzle. 
   
   
       16 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 13  wherein all or a subset of the puzzle elements comprise keys and keyways on all or a subset of protrusions and guiding faces of the puzzle elements to enable the elements to be activated to release locking devices that interlock the splittable inner center element when the puzzle elements are manipulated into a solution pattern in order to provide access to the enclosed secret compartment. 
   
   
       17 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 16  wherein keyed puzzle elements can be reprogrammed to alter the arrangement of puzzle elements corresponding to the solution pattern required to open the puzzle, the puzzle being reprogrammed by relocating locking devices of the puzzle and duplicating some of the keys and keyways. 
   
   
       18 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the locking devices interlock the splittable inner center element, upon which some puzzle elements are carried, with other free keyed elements that are released when the puzzle is opened, the splittable inner center element being provided with tongues and grooves along its inner opening path for interfitting opposed inner center element tongues and grooves when both halves of the splittable inner center element are reunited, thus providing an interlocking area for firmly securing together all puzzle elements. 
   
   
       19 . The puzzle as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the interlocking area is provided with latching disk grooves suited to receive a latching disk, the latching disk grooves being engraved in adjacent opposed inner center element tongues and grooves, the locking device being constituted of a latching disk attached to a keyed pivoting element, the locking device being actuated for disengagement when its keyed pivoting element matches every key and keyway of its surrounding keyed mobile elements. 
   
   
       20 . A method of creating a three-dimensional logical puzzle having an enclosed secret compartment, the method comprising steps of: (i) applying a path-positioning technique comprising locating one or more opening paths, the one or more opening paths each being defined by a trajectory slicing the puzzle in two parts and providing access to the enclosed secret compartment; and (ii) applying either a keying or multi-keying technique that involves selecting matching keys and keyways and disposing the keys and keyways along one or more of the opening paths of the puzzle. 
   
   
       21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20  further comprising a step of applying a reprogramming technique that involves enabling the user to rearrange the puzzle elements to customize the solution pattern that opens the puzzle.