Sphere puzzle

Abstract

A sphere puzzle having a plurality of sliding blocks, a series of protrusions, and first rails. The sliding blocks move in a double row along rings on tracks through the necks and under the bottom surfaces of second rails and stay fixed in their correct position with the help of a sliding ball on dents of the rings. A missing block enables movements with a large number of combinations, in order to complete required designs on the sphere surface.

1 . A sphere puzzle having an outer surface comprising
 seven triangular surface members with first rails, the first rails having a bottom surface;   a further triangular surface member with second rails and an opening, the second rails having a bottom surface;   a cover;   a first ring, a second ring and a third ring, each ring having protruding guides, each protruding guide having protruding guide necks, and ring comprising tracks with dents; and   a plurality of sliding blocks, adapted to enter through the opening, the sliding blocks having a stability ball,   
       wherein
 the sliding blocks are secured with the cover and driven by the bottom surfaces of the first and second rails and by the protruding guide necks; 
 the stability ball is adapted to cooperate in moving the sliding blocks along the tracks and on finding a position on the dents; 
 the sliding blocks are adapted to be moved by a human finger, in order to be combined to form a predetermined drawing; and 
 one block of the sliding blocks is allowed to move by virtue of a missing block adjacent to said sliding block, so that said one block may take the position of the missing block. 
 
     
     
         2 . The sphere puzzle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each triangular surface member has a perimeter and each first rail is arranged across the perimeter, each second rail further comprising top portions and three coupling portion retaining hooks. 
     
     
         3 . The sphere puzzle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the further triangular surface member has a perimeter and the second rail is arranged across the perimeter, each second rail further comprising top portions and three coupling portion retaining hooks. 
     
     
         4 . The sphere puzzle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each one of the protruding guides of the first ring is arranged along the length of the first ring, and has a body with a T-shaped section, the protruding guide neck dividing the first ring in two tracks, the dents being located along a center line of the track, and the first ring having eight engaging slots, four on each side of the first ring, to connect the first ring with the second and third rings. 
     
     
         5 . The sphere puzzle as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the second ring comprises two second semi-ring pieces, each one of the protruding guides of the second ring being arranged along the length of each of the second semi-ring pieces, each of the protruding guides having a body with a T-shaped section, the protruding guide neck dividing the second ring in two tracks, the dents being located along a center line of the track, and the second ring having two connection protrusions, one on each end of the second ring, to connect the second ring with the first ring, and connection slots located in the middle of the second ring, to connect the second ring with the third ring. 
     
     
         6 . The sphere puzzle as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the third ring comprises two third semi-ring pieces, each one of the protruding guides of the third ring being arranged along the length of each of the third semi-ring pieces, each of the protruding guides having a body with a T-shaped section, the protruding guide neck dividing the third ring in two tracks, the dents being located along a center line of the track, and the third ring having two connection protrusions, one on each end of the third ring, to connect the third ring with the first ring, and a connection slot located in the middle of the third ring, to connect the third ring with the second ring. 
     
     
         7 . The sphere puzzle as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each sliding block comprises two convex surfaces, the top surface and the bottom surface, connected by a block neck, the block neck being adapted to receive the protruding guides and the rails and wherein the bottom surface of the sliding block cooperates with the protruding guide necks and the bottom surfaces of the first and second rails to slide on tracks, wherein the stability balls and the dents cooperate to keep the sliding block in a fixed position along each ring. 
     
     
         8 . The sphere puzzle as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the cover seals the opening of the further triangular surface member when the sliding blocks are inserted on the tracks. 
     
     
         9 . The sphere puzzle as claimed in  claim 8 , where the sliding blocks are able to move along the two tracks of each of the rings, following a double row way, in x−1 number, x being the number of sliding blocks comprised in each of the six tracks of the three rings. 
     
     
         10 . The sphere puzzle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first ring is a complete ring. 
     
     
         11 . The sphere puzzle as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the bottom surface comprises a cantilever with one end fixed on the sliding block and another end attached to the stability ball, wherein the cantilever is free to move between a position where the stability ball enters a dent and a position where the stability ball slides on tracks. 
     
     
         12 . The sphere puzzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of protruding guides in each ring is equal to the number of sliding blocks in each track, wherein the sliding blocks are adapted to be moved from each track to the parallel adjacent track at any position of the rings. 
     
     
         13 . The sphere puzzle according to  claim 1 , wherein each protruding guide neck is square.