Spheric puzzle

Description

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to magic cubes, and particularly to a spheric magic cube or spheric puzzle.

2. Background of the Invention

[0002] A puzzle device which is highly popular is that sold under the trademark RUBIK'S CUBE in which a main cube is divided into groups of minor cubes of nine cubes disposed three by three along each face of the main cube. Each of the groups of cubes is independently rotated about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the group. The axes of the groups being othorgonally related. The faces of the minor cubes are variously colored and it is the general object of the puzzle to successively rotate the groups about their respective axes from a random arrangement of the minor cubes to a condition wherein the minor cubes achieve a predetermined arrangement, for example with the faces of the minor cubes in a group being of the same color.

[0003] Currently, there're two types of Magic cubes. One is cubic, and the other is spheric. Groups of the cubic type of Magic cubes can rotate only in two directions. Groups of the spheric type of Magic cubes can rotate in three directions, such as Hungarian-Globes, Magic Balls, K-Ball, and so on. However, parts of each group of the Magic cubes could not be disassembled. Thus, it is inconvenient in using the Magic cube.

[0004] U.S. Patent 4,478,418 discloses a puzzle device having an inner spherical support with circular tracks for receiving legs and feet of slidable outer shell members.

[0005] What is needed is to provide an improved spheric puzzle which is convenient to be used.

SUMMARY

[0006] A exemplary spheric puzzle device includes a plurality of slidable members, and a plurality of rails. The slidable members form a hollow sphere. Each of sides of each of the rails is slidably mounted between corresponding sides of two adjacent slidable members.

[0007] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a group of a spheric Magic cube in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Magic cube includes a plurality of groups of slidable members, rails, shafts, and decorating slices;

[0009] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the slidable members of FIG. 1; and

[0010] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the rails and the shafts of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Referring to FIGs. 1 to 3, a spheric puzzle device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes eight triangular and cambered slidable members, twelve long and cambered rails 2, six shafts 3, and a plurality of decorating slices 4. The slidable members enclose a hollow sphere. The rails 2 are located between every two adjacent slidable members. The shafts 3 are located between corners of the slidable members. Three decorating slices 4 are mounted to each slidable member. The decorating slides 4 are colored.

[0012] Each slidable member includes an inner slidable member 12, an outer slidable member 14, and a bracket 16. The inner slidable member 12 and the outer slidable member 14 are mounted together via the bracket 16. The inner slidable member 12, the outer slidable member 14, and the mountable bracket 16 can be mounted together by screws or rivets. Each side of the inner slidable members 12 defines a slot 122 therein.

[0013] Each rail 2 has a T shape. The rail 2 includes a body 22, connecting portion 24 extending inwardly from a lengthwise center of the body 22, and a pair of hooks 222 extending downwardly from opposite lengthwise sides of the body 22. Each of the brackets 16 has three arms (not labeled) perpendicular to one another.

[0014] Each shaft 3 includes a pair of tabs 32 and 34 extending from a circumference of the shaft 3. A receiving slot 36 is defined between the tabs 32 and 34. Each decorating slice 4 includes a plurality of protrusions 42 extending inwardly therefrom for engaging with a corresponding outer slidable member 14.

[0015] In assembly, hooks 222 of the rails 2 are placed between inner slidable members 12 and the corresponding outer slidable members 14. The bracket 16 is placed to an inner surface of the inner slidable member 12. Each bracket 16, a corresponding inner slidable member 12, and a corresponding outer slidable member 14 are mounted together by screws or rivets (not shown). Edges of the rails 2 are slidably located between the inner slidable member 12 and the corresponding outer slidable members 14. The hooks 222 of the rails 2 are slidably engaged in the slots 122 of the inner slidable members 12. Ends of each of the bracket 16 are mounted to three rails 2 that are perpendicularly to one another. Each shaft 3 is located among ends of the corresponding rails 2. Thus, a hollow sphere is shaped. The decorating slices 4 can be mounted to an outer surface of the outer slidable members 14 to decorating the sphere. The Magic cube can slide along three rails. The rails are perpendicular to one another. In work, edges of the inner slidable members 12 can slide through the receiving slots 36 of the shafts 3.

[0016] Furthermore, the slidable members can be connected by ribs and dents between two adjacent slidable members. Numbers of the decorating slices can be 1, 2, or 4, and so on. And different colors of decorating slices can be used.

[0017] It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the claims, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A spheric puzzle comprising a plurality of slidable members, forming a hollow sphere , characterized in that the puzzle further comprises a plurality of rails (2) , the rails being mounted between two adjacent slidable members, such that the slidable members are slidable in relation to said rails.

2. The spheric puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the slidable members comprises an inner slidable member (12) and an outer slidable member (14) mounted over the inner slidable member, and wherein the sides of the rails (2) are slidably located between edges of the inner slidable members and the corresponding outer slidable members.

3. The spheric puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sides of the inner slidable members (12) define a slot (122) therein, and each of the rails (2) has a pair of connecting means (222) which engage in the slots (122) of the inner slidable members (12).

4. The spheric puzzle as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the slidable members further comprises a bracket (16).

5. The spheric puzzle as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the brackets comprises three arms perpendicular to one another, and the arms are mounted to three corresponding rails (2) perpendicular to one another.

6. The spheric puzzle as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of shafts (3) located between rail ends.

7. The spheric puzzle as claimed in claim 6, wherein a pair of tabs (32, 34) extends from a circumference of each of the rails to form a receiving slot (36) and the edges of the inner slidable members (12) slide through the receiving slots.

8. The spheric puzzle as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of decorating slices (4), the decorating slices being mounted on the outer slidable member (14).

Ansprüche

1. Sphärisches Puzzle mit einer Mehrzahl von verschiebbaren Teilen, die eine Hohlkugel bilden, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Puzzle darüber hinaus eine Mehrzahl von Schienen (2) aufweist, die zwischen zwei benachbarten verschiebbaren Teilen derart montiert sind, dass die verschiebbaren Teile gegenüber den Schienen verschiebbar sind.

2. Sphärisches Puzzle nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jedes der verschiebbaren Teile ein inneres verschiebbares Teil (12) und ein äußeres verschiebbares Teil (14) aufweist, das über dem inneren verschiebbaren Teil montiert ist, und dass die Seiten der Schienen (2) verschiebbar zwischen den Kanten der inneren verschiebbaren Teile und der entsprechenden äußeren verschiebbaren Teile angeordnet sind.

3. Sphärisches Puzzle nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Seiten der inneren verschiebbaren Teile (12) darin einen Schlitz (122) bilden und dass jede der Schienen (2) ein Paar von Verbindungsmitteln (222) hat, die in die Schlitze (122) der inneren verschiebbaren Teile (12) eingreifen.

4. Sphärisches Puzzle nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jedes der verschiebbaren Teile eine Klammer (16) aufweist.

5. Sphärisches Puzzle nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jede der Klammern drei Arme aufweist, die rechtwinklig zueinander verlaufen, und dass die Arme an drei entsprechenden Schienen (2) montiert sind, die rechtwinklig zueinander verlaufen.

6. Sphärisches Puzzle nach Anspruch 2, weiter gekennzeichnet durch eine Mehrzahl von Schäften (3), die zwischen den Schienenenden angeordnet sind.

7. Sphärisches Puzzle nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein Paar von Ansätzen (32, 34) sich von einem Umfang jeder der Schienen erstrecken, um einen Aufnahmeschlitz (36) zu bilden, und dass die Kanten der inneren verschiebbaren Teile (12) durch die Aufnahmeschlitze gleiten.

8. Sphärisches Puzzle nach Anspruch 2, weiter gekennzeichnet durch eine Mehrzahl von Dekorplatten (4), die auf dem äußeren verschiebbaren Teil (14) montiert sind.

Revendications

1. Casse-tête sphérique, comprenant une pluralité d'éléments coulissants formant une sphère creuse, caractérisé en ce que le casse-tête comprend en outre une pluralité de glissières (2), les glissières étant montées entre deux éléments coulissants adjacents, de sorte que les éléments coulissants puissent coulisser par rapport auxdites glissières.

2. Casse-tête sphérique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel chacun des éléments coulissants comprend un élément coulissant interne (12) et un élément coulissant externe (14) monté sur l'élément coulissant interne, et dans lequel les côtés des glissières (2) sont positionnés de manière coulissante entre les bords des éléments coulissants internes et des éléments coulissants externes correspondants.

3. Casse-tête sphérique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les côtés des éléments coulissants internes (12) définissent une fente (122) à l'intérieur de ceux-ci, et chacune des glissières (2) comporte une paire de moyens de connexion (222) qui entrent en prise dans les fentes (122) des éléments coulissants internes (12).

4. Casse-tête sphérique selon la revendication 2, dans lequel chacun des éléments coulissants comprend en outre un support (16).

5. Casse-tête sphérique selon la revendication 4, dans lequel chacun des supports comprend trois bras perpendiculaires les uns aux autres, et les bras sont montés sur trois glissières (2) correspondantes, perpendiculaires les unes aux autres.

6. Casse-tête sphérique selon la revendication 2, comprenant en outre une pluralité de tiges (3) positionnées entre les extrémités des glissières.

7. Casse-tête sphérique selon la revendication 6, dans lequel une paire de languettes (32, 34) s'étendent à partir d'une circonférence de chacune des glissières pour former une fente réceptrice (36), et les bords des éléments coulissants internes (12) coulissent à travers les fentes réceptrices.

8. Casse-tête sphérique selon la revendication 2, comprenant en outre une pluralité de tranches décoratives (4), les tranches décoratives étant montées sur l'élément coulissant externe (14).

Drawing