Three-dimensional puzzle

Abstract

The invention provides for a series of five related three-dimensional mechanical puzzle devices comprising of a real or imaginary spherical support element and a plurality of moveable interlocking shapes which can be manipulated around any of a number of distinct axes to assume a very high number of configurations. The external appearance of the devices are keyed so that the unique identity of each external segment can be determined and related to the global reference frame thus realising a series of puzzles which can be regarded as solved if the segments are positioned in a desirable rather than a undesirable configuration. The realisation of said devices via an electronic simulation.

1 . a three dimensional combination puzzle comprising
 a plurality of outer bodies having an inner face moveable over a real or imagined spherical inner core, either two, three, four or five adjoining surfaces and an outer surface,   said adjoining surfaces defined by the intersection of swept conic faces generated around either four, six or ten axes defined by joining opposite vertices of regular polyhedra intersecting at the centre of the real or imagined inner core to create recurring instances of two, three, four or five distinct shapes,   means associated with said adjoining surfaces releasably maintaining said outer bodies in various relationships around real or imagined inner core, and enabling said outer bodies to be rotated in groups about said core,   said outer surfaces forming a recognisable three dimensional shape and/or exterior pattern.   
   
   
       2 . a three dimensional combination puzzle according to  claim 1  whereas a simplified version is realised by the occlusion of one or more of the said plurality of distinct outer shapes and/or by the reduction in the number of outer bodies by omission. 
   
   
       3 . a three dimensional combination puzzle according to  claim 1  or  2  realised via electronic simulation.