Puzzle toy

Claim 2

A puzzle toy comprising: a. a body member having a hollow interior cavity and an aperture communicating with said cavity and opening exteriorly of said body member, b. a rigid, rod-like member adapted to be inserted through said aperture into said cavity to a locking position in which a portion thereof projects outwardly from said body member, said body member aperture and said cavity being enlarged inwardly from the outer opening of said aperture whereby to permit manual lateral pivoting of said rod about its point of entry into said aperture, said rod resting in pivotal engagement with said body member at the outer opening of said aperture, and c. cooperating primary locking elements carried respectively by said body member within said cavity and by the portion of said rod Within said cavity and operable to secure said rod releasable against withdrawal from said body member, said withdrawal being the object of the puzzle, said primary locking elements being releasable responsively to said manual pivotal movement of said rod relative to said body member.

Claim 3

A puzzle toy as recited in claim 1 wherein the portion of said rod normally extending within said cavity is provided with a laterally opening notch formed therein, and wherein said primary locking elements comprise: a. a tooth fixed in said body member and projecting into said cavity laterally of said rod whereby to engage in said notch, and b. a spring carried by said body member within said cavity in opposed relation to said tooth, whereby as said rod is introduced longitudinally of itself between said tooth and said spring, said spring is deflected and operates to urge said rod laterally of itself to move the notch thereof into engagement with said tooth, and to yieldably maintain said engagement.

Claim 4

A puzzle toy as recited in claim 2 wherein the end of said rod inserted into said body member cavity is taperingly pointed, whereby to facilitate its insertion between said tooth and said spring.

Claim 5

A puzzle toy as recited in claim 1 with the addition of secondary locking means carried by said body member and functioning when operative to render said primary locking elements inoperable to release said rod for withdrawal, said secondary locking means being rendered inoperative by pre-determined, non-obvious bodily placement of said body member.

Claim 6

A puzzle toy as recited in claim 4 wherein said secondary locking means includes a first lock member mounted freely in a hollow of said body member, said first lock member being movable in relatively opposite directions by gravity when said body member is tilted in relatively opposite directions, between an operative position in which it prevents release of said primary locking elements, and an inoperative position in which it does not inhibit release of said primary locking elements.

Claim 7

A puzzle toy as recited in claim 5 wherein said secondary locking means includes additionally a second lock member mounted freely in a hollow of said body member, said second lock member being movable in relatively opposite directions by gravity when said body member is tilted in relatively opposite directions in a plane disposed angularly to the plane of tilting causing movement of said first lock member, between an operative position in which it obstructs movement of said first lock member toward its inoperative position, and an inoperative position in which it does not obstruct movement of said first lock member.

Claim 8

A puzzle toy as recited in claim 5 wherein said rod has a transversely opening notch formed in the portion thereof normally disposed within said body member cavity, wherein said primary locking elements include a tooth fixed in said body member and extending into said cavity laterally of said rod and engaging in said notch, and a cantilever spring fixed in said body member with its free end portion disposed in said cavity in opposed relation to said tooth whereby to urge said rod laterally toward said tooth to maintain said notch in engagement with said tooth, and wherein said first lock member of said secondary locking means consists of a pin carried loosely in a bore of said body member intersecting said cavity transversely of said rod in closely spaced relation to the side of said spring opposite to that at which said rod is disposed, said pin when in its operative position intersecting said cavity to obstruct movement of said spring away from said tooth.

Claim 9

A puzzle toy as recited in claim 4 wherein said secondary locking means comprises a pendulum supported for free universal pivoting movement in the cavity of said body member, said pendulum being operable at all positions of its pivotal movement relative to said body member, except one such position, to obstruct and prevent release of said primary locking eleMents.

Claim 10

A puzzle toy as recited in claim 8 wherein said body member has a planar base, and wherein said one position of said pendulum occurs when said base is rested on a planar horizontal surface, and said pendulum is at rest.

Claim 11

A puzzle toy as recited in claim 8 wherein said rod has a transversely opening notch formed in the upper edge of the portion thereof normally disposed within said body member cavity, wherein said primary locking elements include a rigid tooth fixed in said body member and extending downwardly into said cavity for engagement in said notch, and a cantilever spring fixed in said body member with its free end portion disposed in said cavity beneath and in opposed relation to said tooth whereby to urge said rod laterally toward said tooth to maintain said notch in engagement with said tooth and wherein said pendulum is pivoted in said cavity beneath the free end portion of said spring, said pendulum having an upward extension the upper end of which is normally disposed in closely spaced relation beneath said spring, and said spring having a hole formed therein of a size to pass over said pendulum extension as said spring is moved downwardly by pivotal movement of said rod, said pendulum extension obstructing and preventing movement of said spring except when said hole is aligned therewith.

Claim 12

A puzzle toy as recited in claim 10 wherein said body member is provided with a planar base, and wherein said pendulum extension is aligned with the hole of said spring only when said base is supported horizontally, and said pendulum is at rest.