Mechanical maze puzzle

Abstract

The mechanical puzzle of the present invention includes concentrically arrangeable cylinders in which a pin projects from a first cylinder to engage with a groove which forms a maze pattern on a concentrically adjacent second cylinder. The puzzle may be solved by rotating and advancing or retracting the cylinders with respect to one another to move the pin from a starting point through a continuous passage and to an ending point. The puzzle may have multiple cylinders with multiple pin/groove pairs, may have different pin/maze arrangements, may be constructed of plastic, wood, or other material, may include secret compartments, may vary in diameter and skill level to suit users of differing mental and physical abilities, and may have interchangeable components to minimize obsolescence from user fluency.

1 . A puzzle comprising:
 a first cylinder having a first end, a second end, and an outwardly directed radial surface extending between the first and second ends;   a second cylinder having a first end, a second end, an inwardly directed radial surface extending between the first and second ends, and an outwardly directed radial surface extending between the first and second ends and oppositely disposed from the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder, and wherein the first cylinder is insertable into the second cylinder such that the outwardly directed radial surface of the first cylinder opposes the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder and wherein the first cylinder is slidably rotatable and translatable within the second cylinder;   and wherein one of the outwardly directed radial surface of the first cylinder and the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder supports a first pin projection, and the other one of the outwardly directed radial surface of the first cylinder and the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder includes a first groove, and wherein a maze pattern is formed by the first groove, and wherein the first pin projection is engageable with the first groove and is guidably moveable through the first groove by rotation and translation of the first and second cylinders with respect to one another.   
   
   
       2 . The puzzle recited in  claim 1  wherein the length of the first cylinder exceeds the length of the second cylinder to form a first handle adjacent the second cylinder. 
   
   
       3 . The puzzle recited in  claim 1  wherein the first groove extends to and opens adjacent one of the first and second ends of the cylinder including the first groove so that the first pin may be disengaged from the first groove to allow the first cylinder to be removed from and/or re-inserted into the second cylinder. 
   
   
       4 . The puzzle recited in  claim 1  wherein the first pin projection is supported by the outwardly directed radial surface of the first cylinder and wherein the first groove is included by the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder. 
   
   
       5 . The puzzle recited in  claim 1  wherein the first pin projection is adjacent one of the first and second ends of the first cylinder. 
   
   
       6 . The puzzle recited in  claim 1  wherein the first pin projection is midway between the first and second ends of the first cylinder. 
   
   
       7 . The puzzle recited in  claim 1  wherein the first pin projection is supported by the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder and the first groove is included by the outwardly directed radial surface of the first cylinder. 
   
   
       8 . The puzzle recited in  claim 1  wherein one of the first and second ends of the second cylinder is enclosed, and wherein the enclosed end of the second cylinder includes an accommodation space. 
   
   
       9 . The puzzle recited in  claim 8  and further comprising a canister supportable within the accommodation space. 
   
   
       10 . The puzzle recited in  claim 9  and further comprising a spring adjacent the canister. 
   
   
       11 . The puzzle recited in  claim 2  and further comprising:
 a third cylinder having a first end, a second end, an inwardly directed radial surface extending between the first and second ends, and an outwardly directed radial surface extending between the first and second ends and oppositely disposed from the inwardly directed radial surface of the third cylinder;   and wherein the second cylinder is insertable into the third cylinder such that the outwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder is adjacent the inwardly directed radial surface of the third cylinder, and wherein the second cylinder is slidably rotatable and translatable within the third cylinder, and wherein one of the outwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder and the inwardly directed radial surface of the third cylinder supports a second pin projection and the other one of the outwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder and the inwardly directed radial surface of the third cylinder includes a second groove, and wherein a maze pattern is formed by the second groove.   
   
   
       12 . The puzzle recited in  claim 11  wherein the second groove extends to and opens adjacent one of the first and second ends of the cylinder supporting the second groove so that the second pin may be disengaged from the second groove to allow the second cylinder to be removed from and re-inserted into the third cylinder. 
   
   
       13 . The puzzle recited in  claim 12  wherein the length of the first cylinder exceeds the length of the third cylinder to form a first handle adjacent the third cylinder, and wherein the length of the second cylinder exceeds the length of the third cylinder to form a second handle adjacent the third cylinder. 
   
   
       14 . The puzzle recited in  claim 13  wherein an outside diameter of the first and second handles formed by the first and second cylinders is greater than the inside diameter of the third cylinder. 
   
   
       15 . The puzzle recited in  claim 11  wherein one of the first and second grooves includes a blind passage. 
   
   
       16 . The puzzle recited in  claim 11  wherein one of the surfaces supporting the first and second grooves further includes a third groove which is not continuous with either the first or the second grooves and from which the pin cannot be moved into either of the first and second grooves. 
   
   
       17 . The puzzle recited in  claim 11  wherein one of the first and second grooves includes a loop. 
   
   
       18 . The puzzle recited in  claim 11  wherein the first groove on the inwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder and the second groove on the outwardly directed radial surface of the second cylinder are replaced by a common slot. 
   
   
       19 . The puzzle recited in  claim 11  wherein at least two of the first, second, and third cylinders are attached to each other by a flexible member.