GB2240281A - Puzzles - Google Patents

Abstract

A puzzle has two sets of elements, each element preferably being unique, and the elements of each set being combinable to form a respective body of predetermined shape. They may be two-dimensional, like a jigsaw, or three-dimensional, the bodies then preferably being square or rectangular sided blocks. The elements of both sets, possibly with some further ones, can also be combined to form a third body of predetermined shape. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements relatina to Puzzles" This invention relates to puzzles and is concerned with those of the kind in which a set of variously shaped pieces can be combined together in a unique way to form a complete body of a particular shape. Jigsaws are a common example in two dimensions, while there are three-dimensional versions in which solid pieces can be interengaged to make a compact whole.

It is the aim of this invention to provide more variety with such puzzles.

According to the present invention there is provided a puzzle comprising two sets of non-uniform elements, the elements of each set being combinable to form a respective body of a predetermined shape, and the elements of both sets being combinable together to form a third body, itself of a third predetermined shape.

Preferably, each element will be unique.

The combination of the two sets may require at least one further element in addition to those of the two sets in order to complete the third body.

The puzzle may be two-dimensional, the elements being assembled together on a flat surface in the manner of a jigsaw, for example. The shapes may be rectangular or square. For example, if the first shape is a 3 x 3 square and the second shape is a 4 x 4 square then the third shape can be 5 x 5 square. However, many other shapes are possible.

Alternatively, the puzzle may be three-dimensional, the elements of each set being solid and each body being a block. The shapes may then be cuboid or cube. In the preferred form, each element is of a shape that can be made up from identical small cubes fixed together face to face.

Various configurations are possible, such as L-shaped, Tshaped, I-shaped, a cross, and so on. Each body will therefore be a block the length of whose edges will be an integral multiple of the length of a small cube edge.

In one preferred form, the shapes of the first two bodies are both cubes, and the third body is also a cube. In that case, in accordance with Fermat's last theorem, there will be at least one of the further elements mentioned above.

An example of the invention in its three-dimensional form is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a group of pieces that are combinable to make up a first cube, Figure 2 is a similar view of another set of pieces which can make up a second cube, Figure 3 is a perspective view of two extra pieces, and Figure 4 is a perspective diagram showing cubes made up from the pieces of Figures 1 and 2 combined with the pieces of Figure 3 to make a larger cube.

It will be seen that all the pieces are different, but they are modular in the sense that they may be considered as being made from small cubes put together face to face in various configurations. For the cube of Figure 1, some of the pieces are three-dimensional, in the sense that not all of them can be placed between two parallel planes distanced by the length of a small cube edge, whereas for Figure 2 they are all just two-dimensional. It is considered that the latter makes it more difficult to combine the pieces into a larger cube. But the real difficulty comes when trying to combine all the pieces into the 4 x 4 x 4 cube of Figure 4.

Claims (6)

1. A puzzle comprising two sets of non-uniform elements, the elements of each set being combinable to form a respective body of predetermined shape, and the elements of both sets being combinable together to form a third body, itself of a third predetermined shape.

2. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each element is unique.

3. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one further element in addition to those of the two sets is provided to complete the third body.

4. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the puzzle is two-dimensional, the elements being assembled together on a flat surface in the manner of a jigsaw.

5. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said shapes are rectangular or square.

6. A three-dimensional puzzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

6. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the puzzle is three-dimensional, the elements of each set being solid and each body being a block.

7. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 6 and as appendant to Claim 3 when necessary, wherein each block is a cuboid or cube.

8. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 7, wherein each element is of a shape that can be made up from identical cubes fixed together face to face.

9. A puzzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A three-dimensional puzzle comprising two sets of non-uniform solid elements, the elements of each set being combinable to form a respective block of predetermined shape, and the elements of both sets being combinable together to form a third block, itself of a third predetermined shape.

2. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each element is unique.

3. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one further element in addition to those of the two sets is provided to complete the third body.

4. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, and as claimed in Claim 3 when necessary, wherein each block is a cuboid or cube.

5. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 4, wherein each element is of a shape that can be made up from identical cubes fixed together face to face.