Geometrical shape apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus comprising a set of shapes, the shapes derived from a hexagonal footprint, and wherein for each of the shapes, at least some of the vertices of the hexagon joined with straight lines to define a perimeter of a respective shape of the set.

1 . Apparatus comprising a set of shapes, the shapes derived from a hexagonal footprint, and wherein for each of the shapes, at least some of the vertices of the hexagon joined with straight lines to define a perimeter of a respective shape of the set, wherein the plurality of shapes have side lengths of either x, 2x, or √3x, wherein a shape that includes a side length of x or 2x interfaceable with any other shape including a side length of x or 2x; and a shape including a side length of √3x interfaceable with a shape including a side length of √3x, and all of the shapes include a side length of x, and a first subset of the shapes include a side length of 2x, and a second subset of the shapes includes a side length of √3x, where x is the side length of the hexagonal footprint. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein for at least some of the shapes the centre point of the hexagonal footprint is joined to two vertices. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each shape is derived by selecting a starting point at a vertex or centre point of the hexagonal footprint; joining the starting point, in sequence, to one or more further vertices or the centre point; and returning to the starting point, where the sequence defines the shape. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising eighteen shapes; wherein there are nineteen shapes when a hexagon shape is included. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein five of the nineteen shapes are reflectively asymmetric, and wherein five further shapes are defined by reflections of the five reflectively asymmetric shapes, to provide a set of twenty four shapes within the hexagonal footprint. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the total area of the twenty four defined shapes is 78y, where y is the area of one of six equilateral triangles configurable to form the hexagonal footprint. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the footprint and the shapes are defined in two dimensions. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a bounded area of particular outline arranged to receive the shapes. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a shape placement region arranged to permit deployment of all shapes at the same time. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the shape placement region has an area of at least 72y, wherein y is the area of one of six equilateral triangles configurable to form the hexagonal footprint. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the shape placement region has an area of at least 78y. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the shape placement region is of substantially hexagonal shape. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the shape placement region has a hexagonal footprint having an area of 96y or greater. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein there are a plurality of configurations of the shapes which can be accommodated by the shape placement region. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a number of additional shapes, being duplicate shapes of one or more of the set of shapes. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a composite shape is capable of being formed using each of the set of shapes and one or more of the duplicate shapes. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a subset of the set of the nineteen shapes, arranged to allow the selection of the subset of shapes to construct a hexagonal shape within a hexagonal outline of a shape placement region having a substantially hexagonal shape. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising instructions relating to use of the shapes as at least one of a game, a puzzle, a gaming apparatus and an educational apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is arranged to allow a user to configure the relative positions of the shapes. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a shape placement template for use with the shapes which comprises a bounded area of particular outline arranged to receive the shapes. 
     
     
         22 . A The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the shape placement template comprises multiple shape placement sub-regions. 
     
     
         23 . Computer-readable instructions for a data processor, which, when executed by the data processor, cause a visual display apparatus to display a set of shapes, the shapes derived from a hexagonal footprint, and wherein for each of the shapes, at least some of the vertices of the hexagon joined with straight lines to define a perimeter of a shape. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus comprising a data processor, a visual display device, and the data processor configured to cause the visual display device to display a set of shapes, the shapes derived from a hexagonal footprint, and for each of the shapes, at least some of the vertices of the hexagon joined with straight lines to define a perimeter of a shape. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the apparatus is configured to allow a user to provide an input to allow a user to determine relative displayed positions of at least some of the shapes. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the data processor is configured to cause the visual display device to display a shape placement region into which a user may cause the shapes to be located.