US4575087A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Puzzle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-10-03
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Granted: 1986-03-11
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Expires: 2003-10-03
Abstract
Abstract A puzzle comprises a cube having translucent faces with a light source behind each face. Gravity-sensitive or orientation-sensitive switches such as mercury switches, are connected to an electronic circuit acting to compare the switching states and switching movements of the switches with a programmed sequence held in a memory to determine whether and which of the light sources to illuminate. In use of the puzzle the faces will light up when a predetermined sequence of rotations about three orthogonal axes are performed correctly to match the switching sequences with the stored sequence.
Inventors
- 👤 Iain Sinclair
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:31
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/0001; A63F9/06; A63F9/0612; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/04; A63F2250/045; A63F2250/0457
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A puzzle comprising a polyhedral body, binary indicator means on each face of said polyhedral body, gravity responsive switch means sensitive to a change of orientation of said polyhedral body about each of two axes inclined to one another, said gravity responsive switch means operating to cause said binary indicator means on one face of said polyhedral body to change from one binary state to another when said polyhedral body is turned from a first predetermined orientation to a second predetermined orientation and to remain in said other binary state whereby to indicate that said polyhedral body has passed through a given orientation change, memory means storing at least one predetermined sequence of changes of said gravity responsive switch means representing at least one predetermined sequence of orientation changes of said polyhedral body and, comparison means for comparing the instantaneous state of each said gravity responsive switch means with said sequence of changes stored in said memory means whereby to generate electrical signals for control of said binary indicator means to cause said change of binary state of any one indicator to said other binary state and maintenance of said indicator in said other binary state only if the associated orientation change is effected as part of said predetermined sequence of such changes by turning said polyhedral body about one or the other of said two axes about which the gravity responsive switch means associated with said one binary indicator means is sensitive, said comparison means including a microprocessor capable of producing electrical signals to control the state of a plurality of binary indicators simultaneously.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
265 words
A puzzle comprising a polyhedral body, binary indicator means on each face of said polyhedral body, gravity responsive switch means sensitive to a change of orientation of said polyhedral body about each of two axes inclined to one another, said gravity responsive switch means operating to cause said binary indicator means on one face of said polyhedral body to change from one binary state to another when said polyhedral body is turned from a first predetermined orientation to a second predetermined orientation and to remain in said other binary state whereby to indicate that said polyhedral body has passed through a given orientation change, memory means storing at least one predetermined sequence of changes of said gravity responsive switch means representing at least one predetermined sequence of orientation changes of said polyhedral body and, comparison means for comparing the instantaneous state of each said gravity responsive switch means with said sequence of changes stored in said memory means whereby to generate electrical signals for control of said binary indicator means to cause said change of binary state of any one indicator to said other binary state and maintenance of said indicator in said other binary state only if the associated orientation change is effected as part of said predetermined sequence of such changes by turning said polyhedral body about one or the other of said two axes about which the gravity responsive switch means associated with said one binary indicator means is sensitive, said comparison means including a microprocessor capable of producing electrical signals to control the state of a plurality of binary indicators simultaneously.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The puzzle of claim 1 wherein said binary indicator means are illuminable indicators the binary states of which comprise an illuminated state and non-illuminated state, controlled by the switching of said gravity responsive switch means, and by said comparison means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The puzzle of claim 1, wherein said polyhedral body is a cube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The puzzle of claim 1, wherein said polyhedral body is a tetrahedron.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The puzzle of claim 1, wherein said gravity responsive switch means include two gravity sensitive electrical switches each operable to change switching state only upon rotation about a given axis of rotation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The puzzle of claim 1, wherein said binary indicators are illuminable and said microprocessor is operable to cause said binary indicators to change state rapidly, whereby to flash on and off when certain combinations of switching movements occur.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The puzzle of claim 6, wherein said certain combinations of switching movements comprise a plurality of movements matching said stored sequence followed by one non-matching movement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The puzzle of claim 1, wherein each said binary indicator is an illuminable element which changes colour upon a change in its binary state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The puzzle of claim 1, wherein said gravity sensitive switch means include mercury switches the shape of which is such that switching commutation takes place about a given axis, and rotation about at least one axis different from said given axis does not cause switching commutation thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The puzzle of claim 1, wherein there are further provided timer means operable to de-energise such of the binary indicator means as may be energised a predetermined time after the last change of state of said orientation-sensitive means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
The puzzle of claim 1, wherein said polyhedral body is a cube having transparent or translucent sides within which is housed a plurality of lamps each having an associated reflector and mounted on a central chassis which also supports batteries for energisation of said puzzle, and electronic processor circuits for storing said predetermined sequence of switching movements and for effecting said comparison.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The puzzle of claim 11, wherein there are provided colour filters between each illuminable lamp and the associated said screen surface of said cube whereby each face lights up with a characteristic colour when illuminated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The puzzle of claim 1, wherein said memory stores a plurality of switching sequences for comparison, said processor operating to select a different sequence for comparison each time a sequence has been correctly matched.
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) | 1989-03-10 | 1989-09-09 | 1990-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-10 | 1993-09-09 | 1994-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-10 | 1997-09-09 | 1998-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |