US4376537A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary puzzle device
Assignee: Nintendo Co Ltd
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Filing: 1980-12-30
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Granted: 1983-03-15
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Expires: 2000-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A puzzle game device with which one tries to solve a puzzle by shifting puzzle elements. The puzzle game device includes a rotary indicator having puzzle holes, a shunting body having at least one shunting hole and puzzle elements. The rotary indicator is rotatable correlatively to the shunting body. Puzzle indication can be changed by shifting puzzle elements in the rotary indicator into other puzzle holes through the medium of shunting holes of the shunting body.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunpei Yokoi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:21
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/08; A63F9/0803; A63F9/0811; A63F9/0826; A63F9/083; A63F7/00; A63F7/22; A63F7/36; A63F7/40; A63F2007/4031; A63F2007/4043; A63F2009/0815
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
A rotary puzzle device comprising: a rotary indicator of drum shape having at least two puzzle holes which pass through a circumferential part of said rotary indicator in an axial direction; a pair of shunting bodies of drum shape which are rotatable relative to said rotary indicator provided one on each side of said rotary indicator which have at least one shunting hole passing therethrough at a position corresponding with the puzzle holes of said rotary indicator; a plurality of puzzle elements provided in said puzzle holes of said rotary indicator and in said shunting hole of one of said pair of said shunting bodies; and puzzle elements moving means comprising a pair of support discs provided one on each side of said pair of shunting bodies and projections, in the same number as the shunting holes of said shunting body, projecting toward said shunting holes of the shunting body and a shaft passing through centers of said rotary indicator and said shunting bodies coupled at each end to one of said pair of support discs, wherein the distance between projections of said pair of support discs is substantially equal to the total length of puzzle elements which are located between a pair of opposing shunting holes plus the length of one puzzle element so that when one puzzle element in one shunting hole is pushed in a puzzle hole, one puzzle element in said puzzle hole is shifted into an opposite shunting hole which is vacant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
A rotary puzzle device comprising: a rotary indicator of drum shape having at least two puzzle holes which pass through a circumferential part of said rotary indicator in an axial direction; a pair of shunting bodies of drum shape which are rotatable relative to said rotary indicator provided one on each side of said rotary indicator which have at least one shunting hole passing therethrough at a position corresponding with the puzzle holes of said rotary indicator; a plurality of puzzle elements provided in said puzzle holes of said rotary indicator and in said shunting hole of one of said pair of said shunting bodies; and puzzle elements moving means comprising a pair of support discs provided one on each side of said pair of shunting bodies and projections, in the same number as the shunting holes of said shunting body, projecting toward said shunting holes of the shunting body and a shaft passing through centers of said rotary indicator and said shunting bodies coupled at each end to one of said pair of support discs, wherein the distance between projections of said pair of support discs is substantially equal to the total length of puzzle elements which are located between a pair of opposing shunting holes plus the length of one puzzle element so that when one puzzle element in one shunting hole is pushed in a puzzle hole, one puzzle element in said puzzle hole is shifted into an opposite shunting hole which is vacant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
218 words
A rotary puzzle device comprising: at least one rotary cylindrically shaped indicator having at least two longitudinal puzzle holes provided therein and having a central longitudinal axis, said rotary indicator further being transparent; a pair of shunting cylindrically shaped bodies, each of said bodies being provided on opposite sides of said rotary indicator and having a central axis which corresponds to said central axis of said rotary indicator, said bodies being rotatable relative to said rotary indicator, said bodies further being transparent; at least one shunting hole provided longitudinally in said bodies and corresponding to said puzzle holes; a pair of end discs each of said discs being provided on opposite sides of said shunting bodies and having a central axis which corresponds to said central axis of said rotary indicator, said discs being coupled together such that they move together and slide back and forth longitudinally of said rotary indicator and shunting bodies; at least one projection provided on each of said end discs, a number of said projections corresponding to the number of shunting holes; and a plurality of puzzle elements provided in said puzzle and shunting holes; whereby said puzzle elements may be moved about in said puzzle by sliding said discs back and forth and rotating said rotary indicator relative to said shunting bodies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
218 words
A rotary puzzle device comprising: at least one rotary cylindrically shaped indicator having at least two longitudinal puzzle holes provided therein and having a central longitudinal axis, said rotary indicator further being transparent; a pair of shunting cylindrically shaped bodies, each of said bodies being provided on opposite sides of said rotary indicator and having a central axis which corresponds to said central axis of said rotary indicator, said bodies being rotatable relative to said rotary indicator, said bodies further being transparent; at least one shunting hole provided longitudinally in said bodies and corresponding to said puzzle holes; a pair of end discs each of said discs being provided on opposite sides of said shunting bodies and having a central axis which corresponds to said central axis of said rotary indicator, said discs being coupled together such that they move together and slide back and forth longitudinally of said rotary indicator and shunting bodies; at least one projection provided on each of said end discs, a number of said projections corresponding to the number of shunting holes; and a plurality of puzzle elements provided in said puzzle and shunting holes; whereby said puzzle elements may be moved about in said puzzle by sliding said discs back and forth and rotating said rotary indicator relative to said shunting bodies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A rotary puzzle device according to claim 2, wherein said rotary puzzle device includes at least two rotary indicators having puzzle holes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A rotary puzzle device according to claim 2, wherein said rotary indicator has at least three puzzle holes and the number of shunting holes of the shunting rotary body is less than that of puzzle holes of the rotary indicator at least by one.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A rotary puzzle device according to claim 2, wherein said puzzle holes of the rotary indicator are arranged at equal intervals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A rotary puzzle device according to claim 2, wherein the rotary indicator and the shunting body are drum-shaped and puzzle holes and shunting holes are provided at the circumferential part of the rotary puzzle in axial direction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-03-14 | 1986-09-13 | 1987-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-14 | 1990-09-13 | 1991-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-14 | 1994-09-13 | 1995-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |