US4040630A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Puzzle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-01-02
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Granted: 1977-08-09
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Expires: 1996-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A puzzle including a plurality of pieces each having a subset of coded symbols on its top and bottom surfaces. The pieces are adapted to fit together to form a closed structure when a plurality of symbols in the respective subsets of adjacent pieces match each other. In one embodiment, the pieces are arcuate blocks each having symbols formed by a plurality of peg arrangements extending from the top surface of the blocks, and correspoding aperture arrangements in the bottom surface of the block. The blocks are arranged end-to-end to form several courses, and the courses are stacked above each other with the blocks of one course overlapping two blocks of each adjacent course. However, the blocks may overlap each other only when their aperture arrangements match the peg arrangements of the blocks below. In another embodiment of the invention, the pieces are formed by a plurality of arcuate strips each having a plurality of spaced apart symbols. The strips overlap each other to form a continuous loop with a plurality of vertically adjacent symbols matching each other.
Inventors
- 👤 William G. Brattain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:00
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/12; A63F9/1208; A63F2009/1216; A63F9/1252; A63F2009/1256; A63F2009/126; A63F2009/1264
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A puzzle comprising a plurality of stacked pieces each having a subset of coded symbols taken from a set of said symbols, said coded symbols being present on both the top and bottom surfaces of said pieces with the top symbols of each piece being adapted to interface with matching symbols on the bottom of other pieces, said subsets being derived from said set such that said pieces, when arranged in a puzzle solution, mate with other pieces to form continuous loops with vertically mating pieces overlapping each other such that a plurality of bottom symbols of each piece match a plurality of top symbols of a mating piece adjacent one end thereof, and a plurality of top symbols of each piece match a plurality of bottom symbols of a mating piece adjacent the other end thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A puzzle comprising a plurality of stacked pieces each having a subset of coded symbols taken from a set of said symbols, said coded symbols being present on both the top and bottom surfaces of said pieces with the top symbols of each piece being adapted to interface with matching symbols on the bottom of other pieces, said subsets being derived from said set such that said pieces, when arranged in a puzzle solution, mate with other pieces to form continuous loops with vertically mating pieces overlapping each other such that a plurality of bottom symbols of each piece match a plurality of top symbols of a mating piece adjacent one end thereof, and a plurality of top symbols of each piece match a plurality of bottom symbols of a mating piece adjacent the other end thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The puzzle of claim 1 wherein top and bottom, vertically aligned symbols of each piece, have identical codes such that all of the vertically aligned symbols of a plurality of mating pieces have identical codes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The puzzle of claim 2 wherein a plurality of courses are formed by arranging said pieces end-to-end to form a plurality of closed loops, said courses being stacked above each other with vertically adjacent pieces offset from each other such that portions of the coded symbols of one piece match portions of the coded symbols of at least two vertically adjacent pieces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The puzzle of claim 3 wherein said top symbols are formed by pegs projecting from the top surface of said pieces, and said bottom symbols are formed by apertures in the bottom surface of said piece which correspond to, and are directly beneath, said top symbols.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The puzzle of claim 4 wherein said pegs and apertures are coded by providing a plurality of different peg and aperture shapes, each shape corresponding to one of said coded symbols.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The puzzle of claim 4 wherein said pegs and apertures are coded by providing a plurality of different peg and aperture arrangements, each arrangement corresponding to one of said coded symbols.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The puzzle of claim 3 wherein said set comprises four differently coded symbols and the subsets on each piece comprise three coded symbols taken from the set of four coded symbols.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The puzzle of claim 7 wherein said pieces are twenty-four in number, and wherein each subset utilizes three, non-repeated coded symbols such that each of said twenty-four pieces has a unique subset.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The puzzle of claim 2 wherein said pieces are relatively thin and are arranged in continuous loops with vertically adjacent pieces overlapping such that all vertically aligned coded symbols are identical.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The puzzle of claim 9 wherein said pieces are sixteen in number, each of which includes a subset of four coded symbols chosen from a set of two coded symbols.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The puzzle of claim 10 wherein each of said subsets are unique whereby the two coded symbols in said set are arranged in sixteen different combinations.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The puzzle of claim 11 wherein one coded symbol in said set is an aperture such that a vertically disposed rod may be placed through such vertically aligned symbols, and the other coded symbol in said set comprises the absence of an aperture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The puzzle of claim 12 further including a plurality of movable alignment rods extending upwardly from a playing surface such that said rods may be positioned to extend through a plurality of vertically aligned apertures.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The puzzle of claim 11 wherein three symbols in the subset of each piece overlap with three symbols in the subset of each adjacent piece.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The puzzle of claim 1 wherein said symbols are coded by forming a plurality of differently shaped apertures through said piece, each shape corresponding to one of said codes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
68 words
The puzzle of claim 15 further including a playing surface having a plurality of holes in a loop corresponding to the loop formed by the arrangement of symbols on said pieces, said holes being adapted to support in an upright position a plurality of pegs corresponding to the shape of said coded apertures such that said pegs may be inserted through a plurality of matching, vertically aligned symbols.
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) | 1980-08-08 | 1981-02-07 | 1981-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-08 | 1985-02-07 | 1985-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-08 | 1989-02-07 | 1989-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |