Three-dimension puzzle

Abstract

A generally spherical three-dimensional puzzle includes first and second polar caps ( 14 ) disposed on opposite ends of a primary axis (A) of the puzzle. A plurality of base rings are stacked on the primary axis between the first and second polar caps. Each base ring is rotatable about the primary axis and relative to the other base rings and polar caps. The base rings and polar caps collectively share an infinite number of lines of longitude (L) passing through the polar caps. Additionally, the puzzle includes a plurality of slidable segments ( 20 ) disposed adjacent to external surfaces ( 22 ) of the base rings and polar caps. The plurality of slidable segments are slidable together along a common line of longitude of the puzzle when the base rings occupy a predetermined rotational state.

1 . A generally spherical three-dimensional puzzle, comprising:
 first and second polar caps disposed on opposite ends of a primary axis of the puzzle;   a plurality of base rings stacked on the primary axis between the first and second polar caps, each base ring rotatable about the primary axis and relative to the other base rings and polar caps, the base rings and polar caps collectively sharing an infinite number of lines of longitude passing through the polar caps; and   a plurality of slidable segments disposed adjacent to external surfaces of the base rings and polar caps, the plurality of slidable segments slidable together along a common line of longitude of the puzzle when the base rings occupy a predetermined rotational state.   
     
     
         2 . The puzzle of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of guideway portions formed in the external surfaces of the base rings and polar caps, the guideway portions collectively defining at least one circular guideway extending along the common line of longitude when the base rings occupy the first predetermined rotational state. 
     
     
         3 . The puzzle of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of guideway portions collectively define a plurality of circular guideways extending along a plurality of spaced apart lines of longitude of the puzzle when the base rings occupy the first predetermined rotational state. 
     
     
         4 . The puzzle of  claim 2 , wherein the guideway portions comprise channels formed in the external surfaces of the base rings and polar caps. 
     
     
         5 . The puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the external surface of each base ring defines a plurality of game faces separated by the slidable segments. 
     
     
         6 . The puzzle of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of indicia disposed on the game faces of the base rings and on external surfaces of the slidable segments, each indicia occupying a predetermined positional relationship relative at least one other indicia when the base rings and slidable segments occupy a puzzle-solved configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The puzzle of  claim 6 , wherein each indicia comprises at least one of the following: (a) an alphabetical character, (b) a numerical character, (c) an alphanumerical character, (d) a symbol, (e) a color, (f) a design, (g) an icon, (h) a portion of a graphical representation, (i) a portion of a pattern, and (j) a label. 
     
     
         8 . The puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein external surfaces of the base rings define portions of a first spherical surface having a first diameter and an external surface of at least one of the slidable segments defines a portion of a second spherical surface having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. 
     
     
         9 . The puzzle of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of slidable segments share a common first arc dimension. 
     
     
         10 . The puzzle of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of guideway portions share a common second arc dimension. 
     
     
         11 . The puzzle of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second arc dimensions are equal. 
     
     
         12 . The puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the polar caps are fixed against rotation relative to the primary axis. 
     
     
         13 . The puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the polar caps are rotatable relative to the primary axis. 
     
     
         14 . A generally spherical three-dimensional puzzle, comprising:
 first and second polar caps disposed on opposite ends of a primary axis of the puzzle;   a plurality of base rings stacked on the primary axis between the first and second polar caps, each base ring rotatable about the primary axis and relative to the other base rings and the polar caps, the base rings and the polar caps of the puzzle collectively sharing an infinite number of lines of longitude passing through the polar caps;   a plurality of guideway portions formed in external surfaces of each of the plurality of base rings and polar caps, the guideway portions collectively defining at least one circular guideway extending along a line of longitude of the puzzle when the base rings occupy a first predetermined rotational state relative to each other; and   a plurality of slidable segments, each slidable segment disposed in one of the plurality of guideway portions, the plurality of slidable segments slidable together along the circular guideway between adjacent guideway portions when the base rings occupy the first predetermined rotational state.   
     
     
         15 . The puzzle of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of guideway portions collectively define a plurality of circular guideways extending along a plurality of spaced apart lines of longitude of the puzzle when the base rings occupy the first predetermined rotational state. 
     
     
         16 . The puzzle of  claim 14 , wherein the guideway portions comprise channels formed in the external surfaces of the base rings and polar caps. 
     
     
         17 . The puzzle of  claim 14 , wherein the external surface of each base ring defines a plurality of game faces separated by the respective plurality of guideway portions. 
     
     
         18 . The puzzle of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of indicia disposed on the game faces of the base rings and on external surfaces of the slidable segments, each indicia occupying a predetermined positional relationship relative at least one other indicia when the base rings and slidable segments occupy a puzzle-solved configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The puzzle of  claim 18 , wherein each indicia comprises at least one of the following: (a) an alphabetical character, (b) a numerical character, (c) an alphanumerical character, (d) a symbol, (e) a color, (f) a design, (g) an icon, (h) a portion of a graphical representation, (i) a portion of a pattern, and (j) a label. 
     
     
         20 . The puzzle of  claim 14 , wherein external surfaces of the base rings define portions of a first spherical surface having a first diameter and an external surface of at least one of the slidable segments defines a portion of a second spherical surface having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. 
     
     
         21 . The puzzle of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of slidable segments share a common first arc dimension. 
     
     
         22 . The puzzle of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of guideway portions share a common second arc dimension. 
     
     
         23 . The puzzle of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second arc dimensions are equal. 
     
     
         24 . The puzzle of  claim 14 , wherein the polar caps are fixed against rotation relative to the primary axis. 
     
     
         25 . The puzzle of  claim 14 , wherein the polar caps are rotatable relative to the primary axis. 
     
     
         26 . A method of solving a spherical three-dimensional puzzle, the method comprising:
 rotating one or more of a plurality of stacked base rings about a common primary axis and into a first predetermined rotational state, whereby a plurality of slidable segments carried adjacent to external surfaces of the base rings are aligned along a common line of longitude of the spherical puzzle;   moving the plurality of slidable segments between the plurality of base rings by sliding the plurality of slidable segments together along the common line of longitude; and   positioning the base rings and slidable segments into a puzzle-solved configuration by further rotating one or more of the base rings about the primary axis, the puzzle-solved configuration arrived at when a plurality of indicia disposed on external surfaces of at least some of the base rings and slidable segments occupy a predetermined positional relationship relative to each other.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein rotating the one or more base rings further comprises rotating the one or more base rings relative to a pair of opposing polar caps of the spherical puzzle. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein moving the plurality of slidable segments further comprises moving at least one slidable segment between the base rings and the polar caps. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein sliding the plurality of slidable segments comprises sliding the plurality of slidable segments within a circular guideway formed in the external surfaces of the base rings and polar caps.