EP0107937A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Puzzle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-10-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A puzzle comprises a cube (11) having translucent faces and a plurality of light sources (46, 55) one behind each face to cause illumination as the cube is turned about axes normal to the faces. Gravity-sensitive or orientation-sensitive switches (47,48) such as mercury switches, are connected to an electronic circuit (57, 58, 59, 60) acting to compare the switching states and switching movements of the switches with a pre-programmed sequence to determine whether and which of the lamps (46, 55) to illuminate. In use of the puzzle the faces will light up when a predetermined sequence of rotations about three orthogonal axes is performed correctly to match the switching sequences with the stored sequence.
Inventors
- 👤 Iain Sinclair
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 04:09
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/0001; A63F9/06; A63F9/0612; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/04; A63F2250/045; A63F2250/0457
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A puzzle or toy comprising a polyhedron having binary indicator means on at least one face thereof, and means sensitive to the orientation of the polyhedron and operative to cause the said binary indicator means to change from one binary state to another when the polyhedron is turned from a first predetermined orientation to a second predetermined orientation whereby to indicate that the polyhedron has passed through a given orientation change.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A puzzle or toy comprising a polyhedron having binary indicator means on at least one face thereof, and means sensitive to the orientation of the polyhedron and operative to cause the said binary indicator means to change from one binary state to another when the polyhedron is turned from a first predetermined orientation to a second predetermined orientation whereby to indicate that the polyhedron has passed through a given orientation change.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1 in which there are further provided second binary indicator means on another face of the polyhedron and second orientation-sensitive means operative to cause the second binary indicator means to change from one binary state to the other when the polyhedron is turned from the said second predetermined orientation to a third predetermined orientation whereby to indicate that the polyhedron has passed through a second given orientation change.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1 in which each face of the said polyhedron is provided with an associated binary indicator and the said orientation-sensitive means include means sensitive to a change of orientation of the polyhedron about each of two axes inclined to one another and operable to cause the said change of any one face only if the associated orientation change is effected as part of a predetermined sequence of such changes by turning the polyhedron about one or the other of the said two axes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A puzzle as claimed in any preceding claim in which the said orientation-sensitive means include gravity sensitive switching devices operable to change over from one position to another when turned about a given axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A puzzle as claimed in Claim 4 in which the said binary indicator means are (i) illuminable indicators the binary states of which comprise an illuminated state and a non-illuminated state controlled by the switching of the said switching means or (ii) mechanical changeover devices having optically distinguishable states; the different states of the binary indicator means being optionally distinguishable or also distinguishable in a tactile manner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A puzzle as claimed in any preceding claim in which the said polyhedron is a cube or a tetrahedron.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
A puzzle as claimed in any preceding claim in which the said orientation-sensitive means include two gravity sensitive electrical switches each operable to change switching state only upon rotation about a given axis of rotation about which the other switch is operable, a memory and comparison means optionally being provided so that a predetermined switching sequence may be stored in the memory and so that the instantaneous switching state of the switches can be compared with the said stored switching sequence to generate electrical signals for control of the binary indicator means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A puzzle as claimed in Claim 7 in which the said comparison means includes a processor capable of producing electrical signals to control the state of a plurality of binary indicators simultaneously, the said binary indicators optionally being illuminable with the processor operable to cause the indicators to change state rapidly, whereby to flash on and off when certain combinations of switching movements occur.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
A puzzle as claimed in any preceding claim and having one or more of the following features, namely (i) the said binary indicators are illuminable elements which change colour upon a change in their binary state; (ii) the orientation-sensitive means include mercury switches the shape of which is such that switching commutation takes place about a given axis, and rotation about an axis different from the said given axis does not cause switching coomutation thereof; and (iii) there are further provided timer means operable to de-energise such of the binary indicator means as may be energised a predetermined time after the last change of state of the said orientation-sensitive means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
A puzzle as claimed in any preceding claim in which the polyhedron is a cube having transparent or translucent sides within which is housed a plurality of light sources each having an associated reflector and mounted on a central chassis which also supports batteries for energisation of the puzzle, and electronic processor circuits for storing the said predetermined sequence of switching movements and for effecting the said comparison, colour filters optionally being provided between each illuminable lamp and the associated screen surface of the cube whereby each face lights up with a characteristic colour when illuminated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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