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Three dimensional geometrical puzzleThree dimensional geometrical puzzle description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060061033, Three dimensional geometrical puzzle. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
SCOPE [0001] This invention relates to puzzles in general and to mechanical hand-held puzzles more particularly. BACKGROUND [0002] Many known mechanical puzzles utilize moving elements. In some embodiments, the moving elements are shifted relative to each other to obtain a desired pattern or graphical display. Many of the known designs implement mechanical elements in a manner that a desired pattern or graphical display is difficult to achieve and/or maintain. Such difficulties include binding and/or overly loose relative movements of the elements, which in some instances may be caused by overly complex mechanical designs. Some of the known designs utilize the moveable pieces to reconstruct or assemble two-dimensional patterns or pictures, but these implementations are typically uninteresting. [0003] What is needed, therefore, is a mechanical hand-held puzzle that comprises elements that may be moved relative to each other to achieve a desired pattern or graphical display in a manner that improves upon prior mechanical hand-held puzzles. FIGURES [0004] In FIG. 1, there is seen an exploded three-dimensional view of a mechanical hand-held puzzle; [0005] In FIG. 2, there is seen a puzzle that includes a plurality of moveable face pieces that give a puzzle an outward octagonal shape; [0006] In FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c there is seen a top, bottom, and side cross-sectional side view of one or more moveable mainframe as used with moveable face pieces that give a puzzle an outward octagonal shape; [0007] In FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c there is seen a top, bottom, and side cross-sectional side view of one or more moveable mainframe as used with moveable face pieces that give a puzzle an outward cylindrical shape; [0008] In FIG. 4, there is seen a puzzle that includes a plurality of moveable face pieces that give a puzzle an outward cylindrical shape; and [0009] In FIG. 5, there is seen a puzzle that includes one or more moveable face piece that gives a puzzle an outward three-dimensional shape. SUMMARY [0010] In one embodiment, a three-dimensional puzzle comprises at least two moveable mainframes, each movable mainframe defined by a bore, a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sides, wherein a bottom of at least one moveable mainframe is disposed in an opposing relationship to a top of at least another moveable mainframe; a shaft, wherein the shaft is disposed within the bore of each moveable mainframe such that when each movable mainframe moved it is constrained to rotationally move about the shaft; a top retainer and a bottom retainer coupled to respective top and bottom portions of the shaft, wherein the top and bottom retainers constrain the rotational movements of each moveable mainframe to occur between the top and bottom retainer; a plurality of moveable face pieces, wherein the number of moveable face pieces is equal to at least one less than the number of the plurality of sides, and wherein each moveable face piece is coupled to at least one of the sides; and at least one constraint mechanism for providing alignment, separation, and reduced friction between top and bottoms of each adjacently disposed movable mainframe. In one embodiment, the constraint mechanism comprises a bearing. In one embodiment, the constraint mechanism is disposed between adjacent moveable mainframes. In one embodiment, at least one moveable mainframe comprises a void, wherein at least one adjacently disposed moveable mainframe comprises at least one detent, wherein during the aligned separation the bearing is disposed within the void and within a detent. In one embodiment, at least one moveable mainframe comprises a void, wherein at least one adjacently disposed moveable mainframe comprises at least one detent, wherein during a non-aligned separation the bearing is disposed within the void and outside of a detent. In one embodiment, the constraint mechanism comprises a spring. In one embodiment, each moveable mainframe comprises 8 sides. In one embodiment, the number of moveable face pieces comprises 39 sides. In one embodiment, each moveable face piece is coupled to a side of a moveable mainframe by an interlocking type of mechanism. In one embodiment, the interlocking mechanism comprises a groove or a protrusion. In one embodiment, an outer surface of at least one moveable face piece comprises a flat geometry. In one embodiment, an outer surface of at least one moveable face piece comprises a curved geometry. In one embodiment, an outer surface of at least one moveable face piece comprises a three-dimensional geometry. [0011] In one embodiment, a shaped puzzle comprises a body, the body having a top and a bottom; and a plurality of moveable pieces, wherein relative to the body the moveable face pieces comprise an outer three-dimensional surface, wherein the moveable pieces are coupled to the body and limited to movement by the body, and wherein the movement comprises a rotational or linear movement between the top and bottom. In one embodiment, the shape comprises a cylinder. In one embodiment, the shape comprises a multisided geometry. In one embodiment, the body comprises a plurality of moveable mainframes disposed about a central shaft, and wherein between any two adjacent mainframes there is disposed a bearing. [0012] In one embodiment, a puzzle comprises a body, the body having a top and a bottom; and a plurality of moveable pieces, wherein the moveable pieces are coupled to the body and limited by the body to movement about the body in a rotational direction between the top and bottom, and wherein the body is coupled to moveable face pieces that define an outer shaped surface of the puzzle that is cylindrical or multisided. In one embodiment, the outer shaped surface may be further defined by a three dimensional surface. In one embodiment, the body comprises a plurality of adjacent moveable mainframes, wherein between any two adjacent mainframes there is disposed a self-aligning friction reducing mechanism. [0013] These and other features and aspects of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the following description, figures, and appended claims. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION [0014] Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. The drawings are in a simplified form and not necessarily to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front, as well as other terms, may be used with respect to the accompanying drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. In addition, the words couple, connect, and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes are used interchangeably, unless the difference is noted or made otherwise clear from the context. Also, it should be understood, these words and expressions do not necessarily signify direct connections, but may include connections through mediate components and devices. [0015] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is seen an exploded three-dimensional view of a mechanical hand-held puzzle (hereafter referred to as puzzle). In one embodiment, a puzzle 100 comprises at least two moveable mainframes 22, the body of each moveable mainframe 22 defined by a top portion 22a, the top portion defined by a top periphery 22aa; a bottom portion 22b, the bottom portion defined by a bottom periphery 22bb; and one or more side portions 22c, wherein adjacent side portions are coupled to each other and to respective edges of top and bottom portions 22a and 22b. In one embodiment, the moveable mainframes 22 comprise a topmost (front most in FIG. 1) moveable mainframe 22 and a bottommost (backmost) moveable mainframe 22. In one embodiment, other than at a bottom portion 22b of the bottommost moveable mainframe, the bottom portion of each moveable mainframe 22 is disposed against, or is in close proximity to, a top portion 22a of an adjacent mainframe. In one embodiment, the puzzle 100 further comprises a shaft 13, whereby the shaft is disposed within a respective bore 14 such that it passes centrally through each movable mainframe 22. In one embodiment, each mainframe 22 may be formed of a solid, wherein bore 14 passes through the solid in its entirety. In one embodiment, the moveable mainframe 22 may be defined by interconnected top, bottom, side portions 22a, 22b, 22c, and bore 14, each of which may comprise a thickness such that the interconnected parts encompass a hollow portion formed within the structure of the moveable mainframe. [0016] Top and bottom portions 22a and 22b of each moveable mainframe 22 may be defined by a geometry, which in one embodiment is a multisided geometry. In one embodiment, the multisided geometry can be described with reference to a geometry of the top and bottom peripheries 22aa and 22bb. In one embodiment, the top and bottom peripheries 22aa and 22bb define respective edges of top and bottom portions 22a and 22b. In FIG. 1, it is seen the edges themselves may comprise a geometry, for example a contiguous non-linear geometry. In one embodiment, each movable mainframe 22 comprises an 8 sided geometry (i.e. an octagon), with each side of the octagon defined by the edge geometries of top and bottom peripheries 22a and 22bb. [0017] Each side portion 22c of each moveable mainframe 22 can also be described by a geometry. In one embodiment, each side portion 22c comprises edges 22cc, which in FIG. 1 are illustrated by an exemplary side portion 22c. In one embodiment, each side portion 22c is coupled to respective edges 22aa and 22bb of respective top and bottom portions 22a and 22b, as well as to edges 22cc of adjacent side portions. In one embodiment, when viewed at a cross-section at any point between the top and bottom portion 22a and 22b, each side portion 22c comprises the same non-linear geometry as that of edges 22aa and 22bb. In other words, in the illustrated embodiment, each mainframe 22 can be described as an octagon having a top, a bottom, and 8 sides, with each of the 8 sides comprising a non-planar feature on its surface, the non planar feature extending along a length of each of the sides. In one embodiment, the non-planar feature disposed on each surface of each side portion 22c of each moveable mainframe 22 comprises a longitudinally disposed (from top to bottom) channel, groove, wedge, or the like (hereafter referred to as coupling portion 17a). [0018] Referring further to FIG. 1, there are seen three-dimensional views of a moveable face piece 25. In one embodiment, each moveable face 25 includes a plurality of surfaces. In one embodiment, an outer surface (relative to the center bore) of each movable face piece has thereon disposed or implemented a pattern. In one embodiment, an inner surface of each movable face piece has thereon disposed or implemented a coupling portion 17b. In one embodiment the coupling portion 17b is meant to provide a coupling function such that when mated to moveable mainframes 22 via coupling portions 17a, movement of the moveable face piece 25 is constrained by the coupling portion 17a. In an embodiment wherein the movable mainframes 22 are comprised of a solid, the coupling portions 17a may be formed within the solid. In an embodiment wherein the movable mainframes 22 are comprised of sides of some thickness, the coupling portions 17a may be formed within the thickness. In one embodiment, a geometry of a coupling portion 17a may comprise a reverse geometry to that of the coupling portion 17b; in other words, if coupling portion 17a comprises a longitudinal channel, coupling portion 17b may comprise a longitudinal protrusion. In FIG. 1, coupling portions 17a are seen to comprise a wedged groove, and coupling portion 17b comprises a shaped protrusion, whereby when the protrusion 17b is slideably inserted within the wedged groove 17a, an interlocking dovetail type fit occurs. Such an interlocking fit may be used to limit movement of the moveable face piece 25 to occur along a longitudinal top to bottom orientation of the groove. In one embodiment, the described interlocking fit may also act to restrain moveable face piece 25 against a particular moveable mainframe 22 so as to keep the face piece from falling off during its movement. Although not illustrated, it is understood that the coupling portions used with moveable face piece 25 and moveable mainframes 22 may be reversed in geometry, and yet provide a same or similar functionality. For example, in one embodiment, coupling portion 17b could comprise a longitudinal channel and coupling portions 17a could comprise a longitudinal protrusion. [0019] Referring now to FIG. 2, and other Figures as needed, there is seen a puzzle 100 that includes a plurality of moveable face pieces 25. In one embodiment, the number of moveable face pieces 25 is equal to one less than the number of movable mainframes 22 times the number of side portions 22c each mainframe is comprised of. For example, in one embodiment, where there are 5 moveable mainframes, and where each mainframe has 8 side portions, puzzle 100 comprises 39 moveable face pieces; in other words, there are ((5.times.8)-1) movable face pieces. Continue reading about Three dimensional geometrical puzzle... Full patent description for Three dimensional geometrical puzzle Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Three dimensional geometrical puzzle patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Three dimensional geometrical puzzle or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Sheet stacking/aligning apparatus, sheet handling apparatus, and image forming apparatus Next Patent Application: Game scoring kit Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Three dimensional geometrical puzzle patent info. 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