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US4657255A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pyramid shaped puzzle

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-12-12
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Granted: 1987-04-14
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Expires: 2005-12-12
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Abstract

Abstract A pyramid-shaped puzzle including a plurality of maze-panels intermediate the vertex and base of the pyramid, each maze-panel having a plurality of holes through it. One or more balls is dropped through an opening in the vertex and the puzzle is manipulated by a player to guide the ball to a designated location in the base.

Inventors

  • 👤 Zoltan S. Seres

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 00:45
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/22; A63F7/30; A63F7/305; A63F7/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 174 words
A puzzle comprising: a. a base having a square bottom, rigid upstanding side walls about its perimeter, a plurality of upstanding partitions forming at least one maze, and a home destination in each corner of said base; b. a stop-flag and foot assembly inserted through each corner of said base and rotatable with respect thereto; c. a plurality of stacked successively smaller maze-panels stacked together and to said base to form a pyramid, said maze-panels each having a square bottom, rigid upstanding side walls about their perimeter, a plurality of upstanding partitions forming at least one maze and at least one hole through each said maze-panel; d. a flat panel having one hole therein attached to said uppermost maze panel; e. a housing enclosing a ball release spindle having a plurality of vanes and rotatable with respect to the vertical axis of said puzzle attached to said flat panel; and f. at least one game-piece which can be maneuvered through the mazes of said respective maze-panels and holes to reach a designated home destination.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 174 words
A puzzle comprising: a. a base having a square bottom, rigid upstanding side walls about its perimeter, a plurality of upstanding partitions forming at least one maze, and a home destination in each corner of said base; b. a stop-flag and foot assembly inserted through each corner of said base and rotatable with respect thereto; c. a plurality of stacked successively smaller maze-panels stacked together and to said base to form a pyramid, said maze-panels each having a square bottom, rigid upstanding side walls about their perimeter, a plurality of upstanding partitions forming at least one maze and at least one hole through each said maze-panel; d. a flat panel having one hole therein attached to said uppermost maze panel; e. a housing enclosing a ball release spindle having a plurality of vanes and rotatable with respect to the vertical axis of said puzzle attached to said flat panel; and f. at least one game-piece which can be maneuvered through the mazes of said respective maze-panels and holes to reach a designated home destination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
A puzzle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said game-piece is a ball.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
A puzzle in accordance with claim 1 wherein four different colored game-pieces are employed and said home destinations each have a different color that matches the color of one of said game-pieces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
A puzzle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said puzzle is constructed of transparent material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
A puzzle in accordance with claim 1 wherein after a game-piece has been maneuvered into a destination, said flag-stop can be rotated to lock the game-piece into the home destination.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US932845A Cited
US2261804A Cited
US3488052A Cited
US3840234A Cited
US3785651A Cited
US4025075A Cited
US3994076A Cited
GB1506663A Cited
US4376537A Cited
GB2113106A Cited
WO1984000307A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-04-13 1990-10-13 1991-04-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-04-13 1994-10-13 1995-04-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-04-13 1998-10-13 1999-04-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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