US3695617A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tensegrity structure puzzle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-06-11
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Granted: 1972-10-03
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Expires: 1991-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A puzzle comprising a cage-like tensegrity structure including a plurality of rigid columns having flexible tension members connected between the opposite ends thereof and having a slot at each end thereof. Each of the columns is slidably supported at opposite ends thereof by the tension members of adjacent columns, which tension members extend through the slots in the columns. A solid or hollow object is positioned within the cage-like structure, the object having an outer dimension which is sufficiently large so as to prevent removal thereof from the structure except when the structure is manipulated to one of a limited number of geometric shapes. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the structure comprises twelve columns and forms a polyhedron having six quadrilateral sides and eight hexagonal sides. The object may be removed from the cage-like structure by contracting four of the six quadrilateral sides and then expanding one of the two remaining quadrilateral sides.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey A Mogilner
- 👤 Rodney D Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:30
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/08; A63F9/088; A63F9/0876; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/12; A63F2250/124; E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/18; E04B1/19; E04B2001/1996
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A puzzle comprising: a tensegrity structure including a plurality of rigid columns having flexible tension members connected between the opposite ends thereof, each of said columns being slidably supported at opposite ends thereof by the tension members of adjacent columns to form a polyhedron; and a solid or hollow object positioned within said tensegrity structure, said object having an outer dimension which is sufficiently large so as to prevent removal thereof from said structure except when said structure is manipulated to one of a limited number of geometric shapes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A puzzle comprising: a tensegrity structure including a plurality of rigid columns having flexible tension members connected between the opposite ends thereof, each of said columns being slidably supported at opposite ends thereof by the tension members of adjacent columns to form a polyhedron; and a solid or hollow object positioned within said tensegrity structure, said object having an outer dimension which is sufficiently large so as to prevent removal thereof from said structure except when said structure is manipulated to one of a limited number of geometric shapes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A puzzle according to claim 1 wherein each of said columns has a slot at each end thereof, and wherein the tension member connected to one column extends through the slot in an adjacent column for slidably supporting said adjacent column.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A puzzle according to claim 2 wherein each of said columns has a hole bored therethrough at each end thereof, perpendicular to the plane of said slots, and wherein the opposite ends of said flexible tension members are inserted through said holes and knotted to connect said tension members to said columns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A puzzle according to claim 1 wherein said tensegrity structure comprises twelve rigid columns, wherein each of said tension members slidably supports the ends of two of said columns and wherein said polyhedron has six quadrilateral sides and eight hexagonal sides.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A puzzle according to claim 4 wherein said object may be removed from said structure by contracting four of said six quadrilateral sides and then expanding one of the two remaining quadrilateral sides, said contraction and expansion being achieved by sliding the ends of said columns along said tension members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A puzzle according to claim 4 wherein said columns may be manipulated relative to said tension members until said six quadrilateral sides of said polyhedron form a cube having four sides, a top and a bottom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A puzzle according to claim 6 wherein said object may be removed from said polyhedron by manipulating said columns to reduce the size of said sides of said cube and to increase the size of said top of said cube, and then removing said object through said top of said cube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A puzzle according to claim 1 wherein said tensegrity structure comprises nine rigid columns, wherein each of said tension members slidably supports the ends of two of said columns and wherein said polyhedron has two triangular sides, three quadrilateral sides and six hexagonal sides.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A puzzle according to claim 8 wherein said object may be removed from said structure by contracting said triangular sides and two of said three quadrilateral sides and then expanding the remaining quadrilateral side, said contraction and expansion being achieved by sliding the ends of said columns along said tension members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A puzzle according to claim 10 wherein said object may be removed from said structure by contracting said five hexagonal sides and then expanding one of said two pentagonal sides, said contraction and expansion being achieved by sliding the ends of said columns along said tension members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
A puzzle according to claim 1 wherein said object is a sphere.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A puzzle according to claim 12 wherein said sphere essentially entirely fills the space enclosed by said tensegrity structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US448974A
Cited
US3063521A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-04-03 | 1976-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-03 | 1980-04-03 | 1980-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-03 | 1984-04-03 | 1984-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |