US3873096A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interconnected puzzle blocks
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-07-05
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-07-05
Abstract
Abstract A puzzle device is shown comprised of a plurality of blocks that can be interconnected in a plurality of positions. The blocks have faces thereon with differing indicia. In a certain one of these positions, the differing indicia on adjacent blocks are all linearly aligned and form a preselected interrelationship, such as a mathematically correct equation. The indicia on the blocks and the means for interconnecting the blocks is such that the place of alternate ones of the blocks may be interchanged with each other for interconnection, each of the blocks may be rotated in place about the longitudinal axis of the puzzle for interconnection in a plurality of positions and one or more of the blocks may be rotated about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the puzzle for interconnection in one of two orientations.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip L Shoptaugh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:10
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/12; A63F3/00; A63F3/04; A63F3/0415
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A puzzle device comprising a plurality of freely disposed blocks each having a first axis and a plurality of faces disposed about said first axis with indicia appearing on more than one of said faces and interconnection means associated with each of said blocks adapted to enable said blocks to be serially interconnected with said first axes thereon aligned to form the longitudinal axis of the assembled puzzle device and with faces of adjacent blocks linearly aligned in a row extending along said longitudinal axis, said interconnection means being adapted to enable: a. each of said blocks to be interconnected with an adjacent block in a plurality of rotational positions about said longitudinal axis; b. at least two of said blocks to be interchanged with each other along said longitudinal axis for interconnection in said plurality of rotational positions; and c. at least one of said blocks to be interconnected with an adjacent block in either of two opposite orientations about a second axis thereof normal to said longitudinal axis of said assembled puzzle device, said indicia appearing on said more than one of said faces of said at least one of said blocks and being of such form and placement on said faces as to give no indication specifically identifiable with either one of said two opposite orientations of said at least one of said blocks about said second axis normal to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A puzzle device comprising a plurality of freely disposed blocks each having a first axis and a plurality of faces disposed about said first axis with indicia appearing on more than one of said faces and interconnection means associated with each of said blocks adapted to enable said blocks to be serially interconnected with said first axes thereon aligned to form the longitudinal axis of the assembled puzzle device and with faces of adjacent blocks linearly aligned in a row extending along said longitudinal axis, said interconnection means being adapted to enable: a. each of said blocks to be interconnected with an adjacent block in a plurality of rotational positions about said longitudinal axis; b. at least two of said blocks to be interchanged with each other along said longitudinal axis for interconnection in said plurality of rotational positions; and c. at least one of said blocks to be interconnected with an adjacent block in either of two opposite orientations about a second axis thereof normal to said longitudinal axis of said assembled puzzle device, said indicia appearing on said more than one of said faces of said at least one of said blocks and being of such form and placement on said faces as to give no indication specifically identifiable with either one of said two opposite orientations of said at least one of said blocks about said second axis normal to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The puzzle device of claim 1 wherein said interconnection means comprises a protrusion along said first axis of one of said plurality of blocks adapted to fit into a cavity alOng said first axis of another of said plurality of blocks, at least one of said blocks having identical interconnection means at opposite sides of said faces thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The puzzle device of claim 2 comprising a first block having identical protrusions along said first axis thereof on opposite sides of said faces thereof, a second block having identical cavities along said first axis thereof on opposite sides of said faces thereof, and a third block having interconnection means identical to one of said first and second blocks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The puzzle device of claim 3 including at least five of said blocks of which three have interconnection means identical to one of said first and second blocks and two have interconnection means identical to the other of said first and second blocks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said indicia faces of on three of said blocks relates to numerical symbols and said indicia faces of on the other of said blocks relates to mathematical symbols, the interconnection of said blocks being in a manner whereby the first, third and fifth blocks include said numerical symbols thereon and the second and fourth blocks include said mathematical symbols thereon, resulting in a plurality of linearly aligned rows of mathematical equations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said mathematical and numerical symbols are adapted to give no indication of the orientation of said blocks about said second axes thereof normal to said longitudinal axis of said device when assembled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 5 wherein all of said blocks are octagonally shaped in outer configuration, resulting in eight faces on each of said blocks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said interconnection means includes octagonally shaped cavities on both sides of some of said blocks and octagonally shaped protrusions on both sides of the other of said blocks, said protrusions fitting into said cavities when said blocks are interconnected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The puzzle device of claim 1 wherein said indicia on faces of said blocks comprise letters of the alphabet, said letters appearing on faces of said at least one of said blocks being selected from those letters which may be written to read correctly as a letter of the alphabet whether right side up or upside down.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The puzzle device of claim 1 wherein the indicia appearing on certain faces of said blocks will present an identical appearance regardless of the orientation of the block upon which it appears about a second axis thereof normal to said longitudinal axis of said device when assembled.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |