Pathway puzzle

Abstract

A puzzle game comprising of a series of paths on a defined number of coaxial circles, such that the number of coaxial circles are two or greater, wherein rotations of the circles cause different pathways on adjacent circles to align, thereby extending the pathways across the circles. Pathways are defined in such a way that a given player will be able to rotate the circles in such a way wherein a path from the outer edge of the outermost circle will be able to be followed through paths in adjacent circles continuing through the centermost circle whereupon the path when continued will be taken back through adjacent circles until thereby reaching the outer edge of the outermost circle, constituting a winning scenario. Puzzles may have an arbitrary number of winning scenarios, but certain more difficult puzzles will include a single pathway that satisfies the winning condition.

1 . A puzzle consisting of a plurality of coaxial shapes of increasing circumference that contain pathway indicia, wherein the shapes when rotated in a certain fixed position will generate an unbroken pathway visible through the indicia from the outermost edge of the outermost shape or a given start point, into the center or other predetermined shape, and back out through the outermost edge of the outermost shape or to a given end point. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the indicia in  claim 1  is represented by etching, stickers, tooling, drawing, painting, color, mounting, wires, and light sources. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the coaxial shapes use three-dimensional pathway indicia that continue from a polygonal shape's face to its outside edge. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the shapes as specified are mounted on a single base with a rigid centermost member used as the axis of rotation for the coaxial shapes. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the centermost member contains a plurality of slots that contain spring-like mechanisms for braking. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the plurality of shapes that are mounted around the centermost member contain detents that cooperate with indicated spring-like braking mechanisms. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the detents for braking align with specific positions of a shape's pathway indicia. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the assembly can be easily disassembled in order to reconfigure the apparatus with different coaxial shapes that have different pathway indicia. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the shapes as specified are mounted on a multiple individual bases, that contain a plurality of rigid centermost members used as the axis of rotation for the coaxial shapes. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the centermost members contains a plurality of slots that contain spring-like mechanisms for braking. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of shapes that are mounted around the centermost member contain detents that cooperate with indicated spring-like braking mechanisms. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the detents for braking align with specific positions of a shape's pathway indicia. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the assembled unit can be easily disassembled in order to reconfigure the apparatus with different coaxial shapes that have different pathway indicia. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the assembled unit contains specialized structural inserts to prevent base pieces from rotating axially when rotatable pieces are turned. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the rotatable polygonal shapes instead of having flat surfaces are angled or rounded. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pathways on the coaxial shapes will only generate a singular unique pathway solution as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pathways on the coaxial rotatable polygons will only generate a multiple pathway solutions as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pathways mathematically generate numerous incorrect solutions that are one shape away from the correct solution. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of shapes that are mounted around the centermost member contain a plurality of slots that contain spring-like mechanisms for braking. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the centermost member contains detents that cooperate with indicated spring-like braking mechanisms. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the detents for braking align with specific positions of a shape's pathway indicia. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of shapes that are mounted around the centermost members contain a plurality of slots that contain spring-like mechanisms for braking. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the centermost members contain detents that cooperate with indicated spring-like braking mechanisms. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the detents for braking align with specific positions of a shape's pathway indicia. 
     
     
         25 . Software that executes on electronic devices that comprises of functionality as indicated in  claim 1 .