Field of the invention.

The present invention relates to a game device. In particular, it relates to a puzzle having rotatable parts enabling the player to shift and arrange puzzle elements into predetermined or random configurations. The game device may be used as a plaything for relaxation or amusement or as a training apparatus for exercise of the mind, personal challenge and satisfaction. Background to the Invention.

A rotary puzzle device has been disclosed in US Patent No. 4376537 and its equivalent GB Patent No. 2087735. The prior art rotary puzzle device includes a rotary indicator having puzzle holes and a pair of shunting bodies having shunting holes. One shunting body is provided on each side of the rotary indicator and is rotatable in relation thereto. A plurality of puzzle elements are provided in the puzzle holes and shunting holes. The puzzle holes and shunting holes are axially extended and, when in register, allow puzzle elements to travel through them freely.

There is further provided a pair of end plates having projections axially extending into the shunting holes and being provided one on each side of the pair of shunting bodies. The end plates are fixedly spaced apart with the projections of one end plate fully occupying the shunting holes of its adjacent shunting body. The end plates are axially movable relative to the rotary indicator and shunting bodies in order to axially displace puzzle elements disposed within the puzzle holes and shunting holes between two opposing projections correspondingly located on respective end plates. The rotary puzzle device described above is complex, in that it is provided with a large number of moving parts which are liable to breakage over time.

Furthermore, the prior art rotary puzzle offers little flexibility in terms of the challenge provided to a player of the game. For example, there is proposed to be a specific number of rotary indicators that may offer too little challenge to one user or excessive challenge to another. As explained in GB

Patent No. 2087735, too little challenge results in the player soon losing interest

in the game and excessive challenge results in a dissatisfied player who has lost the will to try the game.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a more flexible rotary puzzle device which offers the player a gradual sense of achievement and the option of increasing or decreasing the degree of difficulty, depending on age and intellectual capabilities. Summary of the Invention.

With this object in view, the present invention provides in one aspect a rotary puzzle device comprising at least one display body and two shunting bodies respectively axially disposed on each side of the at least one display body, each display body having at least one axially extending puzzle cavity spaced from the axis of the display body, a number of puzzle elements movable in the puzzle cavities and mounting means for mounting the at least three bodies together for relative coaxial rotation characterised in that the mounting means comprises an axially extending shaft body having at least one shaft section releasably connectable to at least one further shaft section such that the length of the shaft body and therefore the number of display bodies may be varied by the player. This construction allows flexibility in terms of the degree of challenge offered to a player of the game. Preferably, each shunting body has at least one axially extending shunting cavity into which a puzzle element can move and the display body is preferably provided with a plurality of puzzle cavities preferably spaced from the axis of the display body by an amount equal to that of each shunting cavity.

Each display body is conveniently rotatably mounted on the shaft body by disposing the shaft body through an aperture formed in the display body. This enables rotation of the display body about its axis and the two shunting bodies are removably mounted respectively on each end of the shaft body. The shaft body consists of at least one shaft section, preferably a number of, shaft sections, each shaft section advantageously having a male connecting end and a complementary female connecting end. The shaft sections are connected together by their respective opposite connecting ends to form the shaft body. The shaft sections conveniently extend through a central aperture in

each display body.

Conveniently, the shaft section is releasably connected to a display body by providing a groove in the display body coaxial with a centrally located aperture in which a connection portion of the shaft section is seated with a sufficiently neat fit to achieve releasable connection and rotation of the display body. The portion of the shaft body is preferably elastic enabling a spring action upon press fitting the connection portion into the groove to engage the connection portion with the groove.

Further, similar male and female connecting means may then be provided respectively in the two shunting bodies about their axes for coupling to female or male connecting ends of adjacent shaft sections. In this way, additional display bodies and puzzle elements may be accommodated into the rotary puzzle device by incorporating additional shaft sections.

It can be seen that a puzzle element can be shifted from one position to another by relatively rotating adjacent bodies and aligning cavities in the adjacent bodies. The rotary puzzle device may also permit the arrangement of puzzle elements into predetermined configurations by shifting the puzzle elements both circumferentially and axially in a systematic or random manner. However to increase the challenge of the game, the passage of a puzzle element between cavities in adjacent bodies may be prevented by a stop means, two types of which may be provided.

A first stop means may be provided in at least one puzzle cavity in a display body to prevent a puzzle element travelling from one shunting body through the puzzle cavity to an adjacent cavity in an adjacent body. Alternatively, or additionally, a second stop means can be provided in at least one other puzzle cavity in a display body to prevent a puzzle element travelling from the other shunting body through the puzzle cavity to an adjacent cavity in an adjacent body.

In a practical embodiment, the rotary puzzle device has a plurality of display bodies and each display body may be provided with any combination of at least three kinds of puzzle cavities, a first of which may be provided with a first stop means, a second of which is provided with a second stop means and

the third of which allows puzzle elements to travel through it. There is further provided at least one puzzle element for each display body. The number of puzzle elements may be equal to or a multiple of that of the number of display bodies. The total number of puzzle elements is less than the total number of puzzle and shunting cavities. The puzzle elements may be disposed respectively within a corresponding number of the cavities.

In another embodiment, a shunting cavity in a shunting body may be provided with third stop means to prevent puzzle elements disposed therein from travelling through to the other side of the shunting body which is not provided with another adjacent display body. Alternatively, an end cap can be provided on the other side to axially close the shunting cavity. Conveniently, a shunting body may take the form of a display body which can perform the functions of the shunting body and an end cap is provided to prevent puzzle elements from travelling through the shunting cavity to the other side of the shunting body.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, at least one of the at least two puzzle elements may be marked for identification, preferably by colour. In another practical embodiment, all the puzzle elements are marked for identification. The number of marked puzzle elements may be equal to or a multiple of the number of display bodies. Each marked puzzle element may have a different marking or a number of puzzle elements may be provided with the same marking so as to form, for example, a plurality of groups of puzzle elements having a particular colour. The puzzle elements may be arranged into different predetermined configurations to solve the puzzle. Conveniently, for each puzzle cavity in a display body, a puzzle element received therein may be viewable externally from the display body through an appropriately dimensioned window in the circumferential wall of the display body. Further, for each shunting cavity in a display body, a puzzle element received therein may also be viewable from externally of the shunting body through an appropriately dimensioned window in the circumferential wall of the shunting body.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, each stop

means may be disposed within its cavity away from external direct view, for example, that of a player of the rotary puzzle device. The stop means may be in the form of hidden ledges located around the periphery of an axial opening to a cavity. The first, second and third stop means may be located at respective different positions around the periphery of the respective axial openings. Preferably, the stop means are formed integrally with the display or shunting bodies. Alternatively, the stop means may simply be a closed end wall of the cavity. This is particularly so in the case of the third stop means.

In another preferred embodiment, there are provided at least two, preferably three, puzzle cavities for each puzzle element. Cavities having the first, second or no stop means are preferably randomly distributed amongst the puzzle cavities in each display body and throughout the device. Similarly, the shunting cavities may be randomly arranged in each shunting body.

Each display and shunting body are provided with a substantially drum-like configuration. However, the bodies need not be provided with a cylindrical surface, but may have an equilateral polygonally shaped surface. For example, the polygonally shaped surface may be hexagonal, octagonal or dodecagonal. In this way, the number of puzzle cavities and elements may be varied in order to increase the complexity and challenge of the puzzle. The puzzle elements may be in the form of balls, planar bodies or cubic angular shapes and are correspondingly configured to the stop means so that each puzzle element will slot in a cavity in a body with its axial end faces being substantially flush with the axial end faces of the body without inhibiting relative rotation between adjacent bodies. The various parts of the present rotary puzzle device are preferably made of suitable plastic materials which may be conveniently injection moulded to produce the desired configuration.

The invention may also provide in a further aspect a rotary puzzle device comprising at least one display body and two shunting bodies respectively axially disposed on each side of the at least one display body, each display body having at least one axially extending puzzle cavity spaced from the axis of the display body, a number of puzzle elements movable in said puzzle

cavities and mounting means for mounting the at least three bodies together for relative coaxial rotation characterised in that at least one puzzle cavity in at least one display body is provided with stop means to prevent a puzzle element from travelling through said cavity to an adjacent cavity in an adjacent body. Preferably, each shunting body has at least one axially extending shunting cavity and the display body is preferably provided with a plurality of puzzle cavities preferably spaced from the axis of the display body by an amount equal to that of each shunting cavity. Brief Description of the Drawings. The features of the invention and the workings of the rotary puzzle device will be more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention. This description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the rotary puzzle device incorporating a cut-away section showing the structural elements of the device.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the rotary puzzle device of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the device of the invention. Figure 4 is a top plan view of a display body incorporated within the rotary puzzle device of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the display body of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a sectional view of the display body of Figure 4 along the line B-B. Figure 7 is a sectional view along line A-A in Figure 2, showing the central shaft and shunting bodies, without the display bodies.

Figure 8 and 9 are side elevational views of the two different shunting bodies of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a shunting body in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of a display body in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 12 is a bottom plan view of the display body shown in top plan view in Figure 11.

Figure 13a is a top plan view of one female shunting body in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 13b is a side view of the female shunting body of Figure

13a.

Figure 14a is a top plan view of one male shunting body in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 14b is a side sectional view of the male shunting body of Figure 14a.

Figure 15a is a side view of one shaft section in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 15b is a side sectional view of a second shaft section in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 15c is a bottom plan view of the shaft section of Figure 15b.

Figure 16a is a side view of a puzzle element in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 16b is a top plan view of a puzzle element in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 16c is a bottom plan view of a puzzle element in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 17 is a side elevational view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention. Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 3 show a preferred rotary puzzle device 11 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. The illustrated device 11 comprises three display bodies 20 and two shunting bodies 30 respectively disposed on each side of the display bodies 20. The display bodies 20 and the shunting bodies 30 are mounted together such that adjacent bodies are co-axially rotatable relative to each other.

Each display body 20 has at least two cavities 22 for puzzle elements radially spaced from its axis and each shunting body 30 has at least

one shunting cavity 32 corresponding radially spaced from its axis. The puzzle and shunting cavities 22, 32 are preferably of similar dimensions and can be aligned by rotating adjacent display and shunting bodies 20, 30 relative to one another. In Figure 1 , there is shown a puzzle element 40, at least one of which is provided and disposed within a number of the puzzle and shunting cavities 22, 32 such that its disposition does not inhibit relative rotation between adjacent bodies 20, 30. The number of puzzle elements 40 is such that at least one cavity can be left vacant or partly vacant. A puzzle element 40 may be shifted from its occupied cavity in one body into an adjacent vacant or partly vacant cavity 22 in an adjacent body 20, when the two cavities 22 are aligned. Further, for at least one puzzle cavity in each display body, a puzzle element 40 received therein is viewable from externally of the display body 20 through a window 24. For the preferred display bodies shown in Figures 1 , 3, 5, 11 and

12, windows 24 are provided in the circumferential wall of the display bodies 20 allowing external viewing of the puzzle cavities 22 located therein. The windows 24 may be of any desired shape, but in the preferred embodiments described below are circular. The shunting cavities 32 provided in the shunting bodies 30 are generally concealed from external view.

However, in the alternate embodiment of shunting bodies 30 shown in Figure 3, the shunting cavities 32 are likewise provided with windows 34 in the circumferential wall of the shunting bodies 30 so that a puzzle element 40 received in a shunting cavity 32 is also externally viewable by the player. In other alternate embodiments not shown in the drawings, both the display and shunting bodies 20, 30 may have their circumferential walls made of translucent materials to allow viewing of the puzzle and shunting cavities 22, 32 from externally of the bodies 20, 30.

As shown in Figure 1 , at least one of the puzzle cavities 22 is either a first cavity axially open to receive therein puzzle elements 40 from the bottom end of the device. This first cavity has only first stop means 21 to prevent puzzle elements 40 from passage through the top end of the cavity. Alternatively, and

as more clearly shown in Figure 4 and 6, a second cavity may be provided which is axially open to receive therein puzzle elements 40 from the top end of the cavity only. The second cavity is provided with second stop means 23 to prevent puzzle elements 40 from passing through the bottom end of the cavity. 5 Further, at least one puzzle cavity 22 in each display body 20 is a third cavity 25 axially open to receive therein puzzle elements 40 from each end of the device. This cavity permits puzzle elements 40 to travel through each of its ends. Each shunting cavity 32 in a shunting body 30 is axially open to receive therein puzzle elements from a puzzle cavity 22 in an adjacent display body 20. Thus, the

10 shifting of a puzzle element from one cavity into another may be prevented by a first stop means 21 or second stop means 23 provided in the puzzle cavities 22. It will therefore be apparent that puzzle elements 40 can only be shifted freely from cavity to cavity by means of the third cavity 25 in each display body 20, or via the shunting cavities 32 in the shunting bodies 30 which are disposed at

15 each end of the device 11.

Referring to Figures 1 , 3 and 17, it can be seen that all preferred embodiments of the rotary game device according to the invention are substantially of cylindrical shape and the respective display and shunting bodies 20, 30 have therefore substantially a disc or drum configuration.

20 Nevertheless, the game device of the invention may take other suitable shapes and forms and does not necessarily need to have a cylindrical surface, but may have an equilateral polygonal surface; for example a dodecagonal shape as shown in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure 4, the dodecagonal shaped display body

25 20 has at least one first cavity having first stop means 21 , one second cavity having second stop means 23, and one third cavity 25 without stop means, respectively. There are in total twelve puzzle cavities 22, each forming a side of the dodecagonal shaped display body 20.

Referring now to Figure 10, the corresponding shunting bodies 30

30 have the same dodecagonal shape, and the shunting cavities 32 have the same or similar dimensions as the puzzle cavities 22. There are provided third stop means 31 at one end to prevent puzzle elements 40, received in the shunting

cavities 32 from travelling through to the other side of the shunting body 30 where such is not provided with another adjacent display body 20 or an end cap. Other cavities 34 in the shunting body 30 are provided with other stop means 33 at both ends to prevent puzzle elements from entering therein. It is to be understood that these other cavities 34 are not shunting cavities 32 and that they, together with these other stop means 33 are formed in the shunting body 30 to save material costs in manufacturing by avoiding the provision of a solid or substantially solid shunting body. This is equally true of the embodiment shown in Figures 13 and 14 described below. In an alternate embodiment, (not shown), the shunting body 130 may be provided with an end cap 190 on the other side to axially close the shunting cavities 132 thus preventing puzzle elements 40 received therein from passing through to the other side of the shunting body. In the manufacturing process, the shunting bodies 30 may be made in the same form as the display bodies 20 having first or second, and third cavities. Thus, the first and third cavities in one shunting body 30A would be used as shunting cavities 32 whilst the second and third cavities in the other shunting body 30B would be used as shunting cavities 32. Further, end caps may be provided to prevent puzzle elements 40 from falling out of the game device through the third cavities. As shown in Figure 4 and 10, the display bodies 20 and the shunting bodies 30 may have respective apertures about the axis to enable rotatable mounting to a central shaft. In the device 11 of the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1 , each display body 20 is mounted for rotation about the central section 15 by a suitable arrangement. In the first embodiment, the intermediate section of the central shaft section 15 consists of axially extending ribs 19 spaced apart circumferentially. The radially extending side walls 29 of each puzzle cavity 22 project into the guide space between the ribs 19 such that the side walls 29 may deform slightly to allow rotation of the display body 20 when transversing over the ribs 19 and then snap into respective adjacent guided spaces.

The two shunting bodies 30A, 30B are removably mounted respectively on each end of the central shaft 15. In Figure 7, the central shaft 15

is shown to be a shaft section having a male connecting end 16 at the bottom end and a female connecting end 17 at the top end. The two ends 16, 17 are complementary ends so that a number of such shaft sections 15 may be joined together to form the central shaft sections. In this way, additional display bodies 20 may be provided to increase the complexity of the puzzle. The top shunting body 30A is provided with a similar male connecting means 36 to couple with the female connecting end 17 of the central shaft section 15 and the bottom shunting body 30B is provided with a similar complementary female connecting means 37 to couple with the male connecting end 16 of the central shaft section 15. The connecting ends or portions may comprise a number of bosses 41 at the male end to be received in recesses in the female end as shown in Figures 8 and 9. in the embodiments shown, the bosses 41 are tear drop in shape but any desired shape may be adopted.

Other connecting arrangements may also be utilised to allow rotation of the display bodies 20 and shunting bodies 30 about the central shaft 15, and one such alternative arrangement forming the second embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 11 , 12 and 15a-c. As described above with reference to Figure 7, the central shaft 15 may consist of a single shaft section engageable with further shaft sections at the option of the player of the game. Thus the shunting bodies 30A and 30B are also removably mounted to the central shaft 15 to enable connection or disassembly of shaft elements. The shaft sections 15 are conveniently of cylindrical shape so that the central shaft assembly will also be of a convenient cylindrical shape.

In accordance with the arrangement shown in Figures 15a-c, the bosses 41 of the shaft sections 115a and 115b are replaced with catches 153 of tear drop shape, though any desired shape may be employed. The catches 153 are accommodated in complementary slots 156 formed in the upper cavity 193 of an adjacent shaft section 115b to enable a snap-fit and secure connection of adjacent shaft sections 115a and 115b to be achieved. Further advantage in terms of secure connection between adjacent shaft sections 115a and 115b may be obtained by providing a slot 155 in the upper cavity 194 of the shaft section 115b as shown in Figures 15b and 15c.

The complementary lateral axially extending protrusion 152 formed in the external wall of shaft section 115a or male portion 136 of male shunting body 130A is inserted into slot 155 to ensure connection. This arrangement also provides advantages in terms of the truer alignment of shaft sections 115a and 5 115b. This enables easier rotation of the display and shunting bodies around the central shaft body constituted by connection of a number of shaft sections 115a, 115b and so on having the above described characteristics.

Ease of rotation of the display body 120 as shown in Figures 11 and 12 may further be assisted by providing the display body 120 on one face, 0 for example, the bottom face thereof with a circular groove 150 coaxial with the central aperture 127 of the display body 120 through which the shaft section 1 1512. passes. Shaft section 115b is provided with a connection portion 165 which is of semi-circular configuration and which is provided with semi-circular protrusions 158. The connection portion 165 is slightly larger in dimension than 5 the distance from the axis to the wall of groove 150 but is deformable allowing it to be pressed into the groove 150 by the player to engage the protrusions 158 with cavities 150a formed in the wall of the groove 150 in the display body thereby allowing releasable connection of the shaft section 115b with the display body 120. This process is eased by making connection portion 165 0 somewhat elastic. Other shaft sections 115a and so on are connected to other display bodies 120 in a similar manner.

The male and female shunting bodies 130A and 130B of the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 13, 14a and 15 are connected to the shaft 15 constituted as described above by inserting the male 5 portion of shaft section 115b into the receiving cavity 137 of the female shunting body 130B. Again, a boss 153 formed on the external surface of the male portion of shaft section 115b may be engaged with slot 175 formed in the wall surrounding cavity 137 to ensure a more secure fit between shaft section 115b and shunting body 130A. 0 Similarly, the female portion of shaft section 115a is engaged with the male portion 136 of the male shunting body 130A by inserting portion 136 into the cavity 137 of display body 120. Again bosses 153 are provided on the

external surface of male portion 136 and complementary slots 162 in the wall of the shaft section 115a to assist connection. Slots 160 provided on each side of bosses 150 allow the male portion 136 to be more easily deformed when pressing shaft section 115a into position. Upon reaching the required position the bosses 153 snap into receiving slots 156 of shaft section 115a ensuring connection.

This method of connection allows easier rotation of the bodies around the shaft than the first embodiment of the invention. The player merely rotates a display body 120, for example and upon cessation of rotation the protrusions 158 sit neatly within the same or different cavities 150a in the wall of the groove 150. The rounded nature of the cavities 150a together with the semi¬ circular protrusions 158 makes rotation easier by reducing friction which would otherwise cause wear of parts and less comfortable use of the device by a player. Returning to the shunting bodies 130A and 130B of the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 13, 14a and 14b there is a yet further advantage in terms of their construction over the design of shunting bodies 30A and 30B of the first embodiment as shown in Figures 8 and 10. In particular, shunting bodies 130A and 130B are provided with fewer cavities and thus even less material is consumed in the construction of the shunting bodies of the second embodiment than the first. However, the principle of operation of both embodiments is essentially the same. Stop means 133 prevent puzzle elements from travelling into the cavities 134 and stop means 131 prevent puzzle elements from travelling through cavity 132 and being lost should no end cap be provided. However, while a stop means 131 has been provided in the embodiment shown in Figures 13, 14a and 14b, this is not absolutely essential because an end cap 190 has also been provided.

The display body 120 shown in Figures 11 and 12 is of complementary design to the shunting bodies 130A and 130B. However, the provision of a cylindrical cavity 127 rather than ribs 19, as shown in Figure 4, facilitates rotation of the display body 120 about the shaft section 115a or 115b. The cavities 140 and 141 are also better suited to a planar puzzle element of the

type illustrated in Figures 16a-c.

It will also be seen that cavity 140 is provided with rounded first stop means 121 and cavity 141 is provided with two rounded second stop means 123. Both stop means are identical in function to stop means 21 and 23 as described above with reference to Figures 1 and 4.

Referring to Figures 1 and 6, it can be appreciated that the first stop means 21 and second stop means 23 within the puzzle cavities 22 are disposed such as to be invisible by external direct viewing. To achieve this, the windows 24 are appropriately dimensioned so that the first stop means 21 and second stop means 23 are not in the normal line of vision of a player of the game device. In the preferred embodiment, the stop means are in the form of hidden ledges 21 and 23 of semi-circular configuration which are located around the periphery of the axial end openings of the puzzle cavities 22, as shown in Figure 4. The first, second and third cavities may be randomly distributed around the periphery of each display body. The first stop means 21 and the second stop means 23 may be located at corresponding positions or at respective different positions around the periphery of their opposite axial end openings respectively. This is equally true of stop means 121 and 123 of the second embodiment.

The puzzle element 40 shown in Figure 1 , has a cubic angular shape corresponding to that of the cavities 22, 32, and it is also correspondingly configured to have recesses 42, 44 in its axial end faces to receive the cavity in a shunting body 30A or 30B with its end faces being substantially flush with the axial end faces of the body without inhibiting relative rotation between adjacent bodies. In another embodiment, the puzzle elements may simply be balls or other shapes and forms which enable the necessary working relationship between the cavities and stop means. One such alternative embodiment provides puzzle elements in the form of planar bodies 44 as shown in Figures 16a-c. The recesses 42 and 44 are of the same kind as above described. The planar body configuration more readily allows puzzle elements to travel through the cavities.

In the manufacturing process, the first stop means 21 and second stop means 23 would be formed integral with the bodies and may sometimes

simply be the axial end walls of the cavities.

In the preferred embodiment, the puzzle elements 40 are sized to allow only one puzzle element to be disposed within one cavity. In addition, the rotary game device 11 is provided with more cavities than puzzle elements. In a practical embodiment, there is provided at least one puzzle element 40 for each display body 20, and at least one of at least two puzzle elements is marked for identification; for example by colour or any other indications or indicia.

For a detailed understanding of the working of the rotary puzzle device, the following description of a game provided by the device will be referred to as an illustration. The device 11 of Figures 1 , 3 or 17 is provided with twelve coloured puzzle elements comprising four groups of three puzzle elements in four different colours, for example blue, yellow, red and green. There are a total of thirty-six puzzle cavities, thus making three puzzle cavities for every puzzle element. Each of two shunting bodies may have four equally spaced apart circumferential faces 35 marked with the same four different colours respectively. Thus, by selectively rotating adjacent display and shunting bodies and aligning cavities in adjacent bodies, the coloured puzzle elements can be shifted from one position to another. In this manner, puzzle elements 40 in puzzle cavities and shunting faces on shunting bodies of the same colour can be arranged into alignment. Preferably, the device would be disposed horizontally when the bodies are being rotated to shift the puzzle elements 40 circumferentially and vertically to allow puzzle elements 40 to shift axially from an upper cavity into an adjacent lower cavity when the two cavities are aligned. It is appreciated that the aim of the game is to align all elements and the faces into respective alignments of the same colour. In this regard, the elements may only pass through the third cavities 25 in each display body 20 or transfer through the shunting cavities in the shunting bodies 30A or 30B. The puzzle elements 40 cannot pass through the randomly distributed first and second cavities within the device, adding a further challenging dimension to the game. In another embodiment, shown in Figure 3, there are provided twenty coloured puzzle elements 40 in groups of five. Each of the shunting

bodies 30A and 30B has four equally spaced apart shunting cavities with windows 24 rather than concealed randomly located shunting cavities and visible equally spaced coloured circumferential faces. The aim is to arrange each group of five coloured elements into axial alignment. The preferred device described herein has three display bodies

20. However, a number of such display bodies can be assembled together by removing the shunting bodies, connecting the opposite ends of respective shaft sections 115a and 115b and replacing the shunting bodies as described above with regard to the second embodiment. The assembled device may have a multiple of three display bodies. Further, the length of the shaft body or shaft section can be made such as to mount only one display body. Additional display bodies can then be individually inserted into the device.

The skilled addressee will appreciate that a game device according to the present invention can be varied by providing different combinations of display and shunting bodies, puzzle and shunting cavities, puzzle elements and stop means to provide games and puzzles of differing kinds and complexity.