An almost virtually endless variety of puzzles are known. Perhaps the best known are the many varieties of jigsaw puzzles wherein the objective is to fit together a number of segments in the proper manner so as to form a coherent picture or image.

In the prior art document GB-A-2309649 there is shown a puzzle comprising a core member and a plurality of substantially planar elements each formed with an opening through which the core member extends when the planar element is mounted on the core member.

When the planar elements are mounted in a proper order on said core member, the planar elements together form a three-dimensional figure. The document GB-A-230949 also describes a method of creating a three dimensional figure, comprising the steps of (a) providing a core member and a plurality of substantially planar elements each formed with an opening therethrough, and (b) mounting the planar elements in a proper order on the core member to form the three-dimensional figure, the core member extending through the openings in the planar elements when the planar elements are mounted on the core member.

The puzzle described in GB-A-2309649 allows a player to assemble one three-dimensional figure only.

The present invention provides a puzzle comprising: a core member and a first plurality of substantially planar elements each formed with an opening through which the core member extends when the first plurality of planar elements are mounted on the core member; wherein: when the first plurality of planar elements are mounted on the core member in a proper order then the first plurality of planar elements together form a first three dimensional figure; characterised in that: the first plurality of planar elements are inner planar elements; the puzzle further comprises a second plurality of substantially planar elements which are outer planar elements and which are each formed with an opening therethrough which matches in shape and size a periphery of one of the first plurality of inner planar elements; and in that when the second plurality of outer planar elements are mounted in a proper order surrounding the first three dimensional figure previously formed from the first plurality of inner planar elements then the second plurality of outer planar elements together form a second three dimensional figure.

In a second aspect the present invention provides a method of creating two three dimensional figures comprising the steps of: (a) providing a core member and a first plurality of substantially planar elements each formed with an opening therethrough; and (b) mounting the planar elements of the first plurality in a proper order as inner planar elements

on to the core member to form a first three- dimensional figure, the core member extending through the openings in the inner planar elements of the first plurality when the planar elements are mounted on the core member ; characterised by the steps of: (c) providing a second plurality of substantially planar elements each formed with an opening therethrough which matches a periphery of one of the inner planar elements; and (d) mounting the second plurality of planar elements as outer planar elements surrounding the inner planar elements previously mounted on the core member, the outer planar elements being mounted in a proper order to form a second three-dimensional figure.

The present invention is of a puzzle which, when properly assembled through the correct assembly of individual planar elements, forms two three- dimensional figures such as sculptures or statues. For convenience and for ease of presentation, the system and method of the present invention is referred to in the specification as a"sculpture puzzle", it being understood that the present invention need not necessarily form a sculpture but may form any three- dimensional figure, nor is it necessary that the system be used as a puzzle.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a first example of a completed sculpture puzzle according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the completed sculpture puzzle of Figure 1 taken on the line A-A' ; Figures 3 to 7 show a number of examples of cores which may be employed in sculpture puzzles according to the present invention; Figure 8 illustrates one method of anchoring a core in a sculpture puzzle according to the present invention; Figure 9 illustrates a second method of anchoring a core member to a base member in a sculpture puzzle according to the present invention ; Figure 10 illustrates a third method of anchoring a core member in a sculpture puzzle according to the present invention; Figure 11 shows an inner composite planar element according to the present invention made up of a number of smaller interconnected sections ; Figure 12 shows an inner planar element and an outer composite planar element ; Figure 13 shows a second example of a completed sculpture puzzle according to the present invention ; and Figure 14 shows a cross-section through the completed sculpture puzzle of Figure 13 taken on the line B-B'.

The present invention is of a sculpture puzzle and a method for its use which can create complex three-dimensional figures through mounting in proper sequence of a number of planar elements on a core member.

The principles and operation of a puzzle according to the present invention (for convenience referred to as a sculpture puzzle) may be better

understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a typical sculpture puzzle which comprises a first plurality of planar elements 10 (some of which are shown in dotted lines) which together form a first three-dimensional figure 11 having the shape of a rocket and a second plurality of planar elements 12 which surround the first plurality of planar elements 11 and which together form a second three-dimensional figure 13 having the shape of a space shuttle. Figure 1 shows the puzzle fully assembled and properly solved.

A base assembly 14 is illustrated in Figure 1.

The function of base assembly 14, as that term is used herein, is to retain the planar elements 10 and 12 of the puzzle in position and to prevent them from inadvertently sliding off the bottom end of a main core member 15, as described below. Base assembly 14 may be made of any suitable material including, but not limited to, plastic, wood, cardboard and the like.

Attached to the base assembly 14 is a main core member 15, shown in broken lines in Figure 1 and in cross-section in Figure 2. The bottom end of the main core member 15 is suitably connected to, or integrally formed with, the base assembly 14. The function of the main core member 15 is described in more detail below. Main core member 15 may be made of any suitable material including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, wood, cardboard and the like.

The planar elements 10 of the first plurality are

each formed with an opening therethrough which is dimensioned to accommodate the main core member 15.

In solving the puzzle, the planar elements 10 are first mounted on the main core member 15 by sliding the planar elements 10 along the main core member 15.

When the planar elements 10 are mounted in a correct sequence, the complex first three-dimensional figure is formed, which in the example is a model of a Saturn V rocket.

Once the first plurality of planar elements 10 have been mounted on the core member 10 in a correct sequence to form the model of the Saturn V rocket, then the second plurality of planar elements 12 are mounted over the first plurality of planar elements 10 with the assembled planar elements 10 of the first plurality in effect forming a core member for the second plurality of planar elements 12. As can be seen clearly in figure 2, each planar element 12 is formed with an aperture extending therethrough which matches in shape and size the shape and size of one of the planar elements 10 of the first plurality. The planar elements 12 when assembled in a correct sequence together define the second three-dimensional figure 13 which is a model of the Space Shuttle. The second plurality of planar elements 12 when assembled to form the space shuttle 13 completely surround a majority of the planar elements 12 of the first plurality which form the Saturn V rocket. It can be seen in Figure 1 that when both of the first and second plurality of planar elements 10,12 have been mounted in correct sequences to form respectively the Saturn V rocket and the Space Shuttle, only the lowermost planar elements 10 of the first plurality which form the nozzles of the Saturn V rocket are

visible in the completed puzzle.

When a puzzle according to the invention is assembled as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and the planar elements 10 are slid vertically down along the main core member 15 and the planar elements 12 are then slid down along the outside of the assembled first plurality of planar elements it is important that the figure formed by the first plurality of planar elements 10 is either of constant cross-section or alternatively tapers from a greatest cross- sectional area adjacent the base 14 to a smallest cross-sectional area at the end of the figure furthest from the base. No planar element 10 should be greater in cross-sectional area than any of the planar elements 10 disposed between it and the base. This ensures that each of the outer second plurality of planar elements 12 can be slid down the outside of the assembled inner plurality of planar elements 10 to a position in which the aperture in the outer planar elements 12 matches the perimeter of an inner planar element 10.

A puzzle according to the present invention could be assembled without any base assembly 13 and with the first plurality of planar elements assembled on an unsupported core member with closure members provided at each end of the core member to hold fast assembled planar elements located between the ends of the core member. In such a circumstance the inner plurality of planar elements need not taper consistently from one end of the core member to the other since the outer plurality of planar elements could be mounted over the assembled inner plurality of planar elements from two ends of the core member rather than just one end.

The planar elements 10 and 12 may be made of any suitable material including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, wood, cardboard and the like. The planar elements 10 and 12 may all be of the same thickness or they may have different thicknesses. The planar elements 10 and 12 may be coloured or printed, especially on their edges, so that the three- dimensional figure is coloured. The colouring of planar elements 10 and 12 may also make it easier for the user to put together the puzzle in a correct sequence. To make the puzzle easier to solve, some or all of planar elements 10 and 12 may feature writings, such as numerals, which help the user correctly create the three-dimensional figure.

Each planar element 10 is symmetrical about the main core member 15. However, most of the planar elements 12 are asymmetrical about the main core member 15 so that each of these segments must be mounted on the main core member 15 not only in the correct sequence but also with the proper lateral orientation (or rotational position relative to the main core member 15).

There is no limitation on the size, as measured, for example, by the surface area, of a planar element 12 and the size of an adjacent element 12 so that it is entirely possible, for example, for a first planar element 12 to have a smaller surface area than an adjacent planar element 12 which is located between the first planar element and the base assembly 14.

Thus, the sequence of assembled planar elements 12 is not monotonic and succeeding planar elements may have various sizes and shapes regardless of the sizes and shapes of the adjacent planar elements 12.

Because the planar elements 10 and 12 are all substantially planar, contact between adjacent planar elements 10 and contact between adjacent planar elements 12 is along a plane. As can be seen from Figure 1, various features of the three-dimensional figures of the Saturn V rocket and the Space shuttle are formed respectively by sub-sets of planar elements 10 and 12. For example, the nozzles of the rocket of figure are formed of a sub-set of the four lowermost planar elements 10.

One or more main core members 15 of various cross-sectional shapes may be used. Shown in cross- section in figures 3 to 7 are various numbers and shapes of core members 15. It is to be understood that the planar elements 10 include corresponding openings which fit over and match the core member (s) 15. For example, Figure 2 shows a single circular core member 15. Using a single circular core member 15 significantly complicates the"solving"of the puzzle in that every element can be placed on the core member 15 in a great number of lateral orientations (or rotational positions relative to the core member 15). Figure 4 shows a puzzle which has a pair of core members 15 attached to the base member 14; using two core members 15 limits the possible orientations of each planar element 10 to two in the case in which the two core members 15 are of the same shape and diameter. When the pair of core members 15 are of different diameters there is only a single possible lateral orientation, which considerably simplifies the solution of the puzzle. Another way to ensure that only a single lateral configuration is possible is shown in Figure 5 which shows a core member 15 of a triangular cross-section with one side being shorter

than the others. When the triangular cross-section of the core member 15 is equilateral (Figure 6) three orientations are possible. Similarly when a cross- section of the core member 15 is used which is a regular hexagon (Figure 7) then the puzzle accommodates six possible orientations of planar element 10.

Base assembly 114 may be formed in any one of a number of ways. Three possibilities are illustrated in Figures 8 to 10.

In Figure 8, base assembly 14'includes a base member 100 to which the main core member 15 is permanently connected in any suitable fashion.

Alternatively, the main core member 15 may be integrally formed with base member 100.

Shown in Figure 9 is another base assembly 14" wherein main core member 15 comprises a thin broadened anchoring element 101 at its bottom end. Base assembly 14"includes a pair of sections 102 and 103 which are connected to each other by some suitable manner, such as, for example, through use of a suitable adhesive, so that one of the sections 102 and 103 is on each side of anchoring element 101. Section 102 features an opening for accommodating core member 15 while section 103 is preferably without such an opening.

Shown in Figure 10 is another base assembly 14"'.

Base assembly 14"'includes three sections 104,105 and 106 which are connected to each other by some suitable manner, such as, for example, through use of a suitable adhesive. Section 104 features an opening

for accommodating core member 15 while section 105 is without such an opening so that core member 15 is supported at the bottom by section 105 while being supported at the sides by section 104 and an additional section 106 forming base assembly 14"'.

A sculpture puzzle according to the present invention can include a suitable closure member which can be attached to the top end of main core member 15. The closure member serves to secure planar elements 10 and 12 on the core member 15 thereby preventing the inadvertent removal of planar elements 10 and 12.

Various mechanisms may be envisioned for a closure including, but not limited to, the screwing of a threaded closure member on to a threaded top portion of the main core member 15, the snapping or pressure fitting of a closure member on to the top of the main core member 15, and the like. The closure member may be a distinct and separate unit or it may be identical to, or very similar, to one of the planar elements 10 and 12. For example, a planar element 10,12 could have a number of protrusions which extend inwardly from the periphery of the opening in the element such once the element is pressed on the core member 15, the protrusions tend to retain the element in place.

In one alternative embodiment of the present invention suitable for beginning users and/or children, some planar elements 10,12 have a cross- section which varies axially and the planar elements could be relatively large so that each planar element 10,12 includes a number of features of the assembled figure. Because such a sculpture puzzle would be made up of relatively few segments, each of which is easily distinguishable from the others, the sculpture puzzle

would be considerably easier to solve.

Shown in Figures 11 and 12 are examples of alternative planar elements. In Figure 11 an inner planar element 10'of a sculpture puzzle is made up of a plurality of sections 61,62,63 which are connectable with each other in the manner of conventional two-dimensional jigsaw puzzles to form the overall composite planar element 10'. Thus prior to inserting the inner planar elements over the core member 15 each composite planar element 10'is first assembled from two or more pieces (three pieces 61, 62,63 are shown in Figure 12) in jigsaw fashion. The completed composite planar element 10'is then placed over a core member 15, as described above.

Alternatively, each composite planar element 10'may be assembled or fully assembled only after the portion 62 of composite segment with an opening 64 is placed over the core member 15.

The portion 62 of composite planar element 10' which includes the opening 64 for insertion over a core member 15 partially defines the periphery of the formed composite planar element 10', as shown in Figure 11, but the section which includes the opening 64 may be an interior section such that no portion of its periphery coincides with the periphery of the formed composite planar element 10'.

Shown in Figure 12 is an outer planar element 12' which is formed of two pieces 65,66 which must be assembled prior to mounting over a sculpture previously formed from a plurality of inner planar elements 10 (one planar element 10 is shown in Figure 12).

Figure 13 shows a completed second embodiment of sculpture puzzle according to the present invention.

The second embodiment comprises a first plurality of planar elements 110 (shown in dotted lines) which together form a first three dimensional figure 111 having the shape of the Post Office Tower. A second plurality of planar elements 112 which surround the first plurality of planar elements 111 together form a second three dimensional figure 113 having the shape of the Empire State Building. Figure 13 shows the puzzle fully assembled and properly solved.

A base assembly 114 is illustrated in Figure 13.

The function of base assembly 114 is identical to the function of the assembly 14 of Figure 1. A main core member 115 is attached to the base assembly 114. The function of core member 114 is the same as that of core member 14. The single circular core member 114 may be replaced with other suitable core members such as those shown in Figures 3 to 7. The core member 114 may be attached to the base 114 in a number of ways, such as those illustrated in Figures 8 to 10.

The Figure 13 sculpture puzzle is assembled in the same way as the Figure 1 sculpture puzzle by first assembling the first plurality of planar elements 110 on the core member 115 in a correct sequence to form the first three dimensional figure and then assembling the second plurality of planar elements 111 surrounding the first plurality of planar elements 110 to form the second three dimensional figure 113.

The Figure 13 sculpture puzzle differs from the Figure 1 sculpture puzzle in that the figure formed by the first plurality of planar elements 110 is neither

of constant cross-section nor of a cross-section which tapers from a greatest cross-section adjacent the base 114 to a smallest cross-sectional area at the end of the figure furthest from the base 114. Some planar elements 110 are of cross-sectional area greater than planar elements 110 disposed between them and the base 114 in the assembled figure. This is permitted by using a second plurality of planar elements 112 which are each composed of at least two pieces and which are joined together as they are assembled surrounding the inner plurality of planar elements 110. In Figure 14 it can be seen that a planar element 112 comprises two sections 112A and 112B which are shaped like pieces of a two-dimensional jigsaw and which are joined together to form a whole planar element 112. The planar element 112 therefore need not be slid downwardly along the pre-assembled inner figure 11, but instead each planar element 112 can be assembled surrounding an inner, planar element 110. Thus the inner figure 111 can have a varying cross-section which is unconstrained.

In Figure 13 it will be seen that the uppermost elements of the second plurality of planar elements 112 do not surround inner planar elements 110, but instead directly surround the main core member 115.

The apertures in the uppermost elements will match in shape and size the cross-section of the main core ember 115. The top end of the main core member 115 is threaded and a threaded closure member can be screwed on to the main core member 115 to form the top of the three-dimensional figure 113 while securing all of the planar elements 110 and 112 on the main core member 115.

The outer planar elements 112 will be made of a flexible material so that if outer planar elements are mounted in an incorrect order then an incorrectly placed element could be removed by flexing the element to disengage the interconnected component parts thereof.

While the invention has been described with respect to only a few embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. In particular the orientation of assembly could be changed and, for instance, the main core member 15 (or 115) could be horizontal in use. The base assembly would then permit the main core member 15 (or 115) to extend horizontally from the base member with the core member spaced apart from a surface beneath so that the planar elements are then slid laterally toward the base assembly rather than vertically as previously described.

The base assembly 14 (or 114) is not essential since a number of planar elements 10 (or 110), 12 (or 112) could be mounted on a core member 15 (or 115) to form a structure which is itself self-supporting. If necessary the planar elements 10 (or 110), 12 (or 112) at each end of the core member could be threaded to securely engage them to the core member 15 (or 115) for securing the planar elements 10,12 (or 110,112) lying between the end planar elements 10,12 (or 110,112).

The inner plurality of planar elements 10 (or 110) could be made of an opaque material and the outer plurality of planar elements 12 (or 112) formed of a

transparent or translucent material so that the figure 11 (or 111) formed from the inner plurality of planar elements 10 (110) could still be seen when the outer plurality of planar elements 12 (or 112) are assembled into an outer figure 13 (or 113) surrounding the inner figure 11 (or 111).

Whilst above a sculpture puzzle has been described which has a first three-dimensional figure 11 (or 111) formed on a core member 15 (or 115) and then a second three-dimensional figure 13 (or 113) formed over the first three-dimensional figure 11 (or 111), it is within the scope of the invention to have yet further three-dimensional figures, e. g. a third three-dimensional figure formed of planar elements surrounding the second three-dimensional figure 13 (or 113), a fourth three-dimensional figure formed of planar elements surrounding the third three- dimensional figure, etc. There is theoretically no limit on the number of three-dimensional figures which could be successively formed, each one surrounding the previously formed three-dimensional figures.