FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a logic puzzle. More particularly, the invention relates to a three-dimensional (3D) jigsaw puzzle comprising a plurality of identically shaped puzzle components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Puzzles of all types have been popular for generations and can provide hours of entertainment to adults and children alike, while providing an intellectual challenge and stimulation. Three-dimensional logic and jigsaw puzzles particularly test a user's spatial skills and provide a unique alternative to previously available puzzles.

Examples of previous three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles include the Soma Cube, Bedlam Cube, Polycube, Conway Puzzle, Slothouber-Graatsma Puzzle, Diabolical Cube. Previous three-dimensional puzzles have been complicated to manufacture due to the large number of different parts required to be made and can thus be expensive to produce as they are typically formed of wood/timber. Furthermore, previous three-dimensional puzzles have lacked interlocking engagement between the puzzle components, making them unwieldy for the purposes of handling and vulnerable to coming apart easily, which is particularly a problem for larger puzzles. Examples of the invention seek to solve, or at least ameliorate, one or more disadvantages of previous three-dimensional puzzles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a three-dimensional logic puzzle, comprising a plurality of identically shaped puzzle components of an irregular form, the puzzle components being configured for interengaged assembly into the form of a predetermined three-dimensional geometric shape.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the puzzle components are each formed of a plurality of individual elements. The individual elements may be similar to one another. The individual elements may be cuboid. Alternatively, the individual elements may be formed of three planar bodies sharing a common centre and arranged perpendicular to each other. The puzzle components may be formed from four individual elements arranged in a generally "S" shape. Alternatively, the puzzle components are formed from three individual elements arranged in a generally "L" shape.

In some embodiments, the geometric shape is a cube and the length of sides of the cube is equal to the size of each element multiplied by the number of elements in each puzzle component.

In a preferred form, the puzzle components are configured for interlocking engagement with each other. In such embodiments, each puzzle component may be formed with at least one projection and at least one correspondingly shaped recess, the projection configured for engagement with a corresponding recess on an adjacent puzzle component. Preferably, the puzzle components comprise two projections and two recesses on opposing major sides of each puzzle components, wherein the arrangement of projections and recesses on each side is opposite to the opposing side.

The recesses may be disposed on minor sides of each puzzle component. The projections and/or the recesses may be formed with snap-fit interlocking features. The at least one projection can be generally cylindrical. Alternatively, the at least one projection can have a cross section in the form of a parallelogram. In some embodiments the geometric shape is a regular geometric shape. Preferably, the shape is selected from a group including a parallelepiped, a cube, a pyramid, a sphere, a prism, a cone, a cylinder and a torus. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a puzzle component for use in a puzzle of the above described type, the puzzle component being of irregular form. The puzzle component may be constructed of a plurality of like individual elements.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of assembling a three-dimensional logic puzzle, the puzzle comprising a plurality of identically shaped puzzle components of an irregular form which are configured for interengaged assembly into the form of a three-dimensional geometric shape, including the steps of reorientating each puzzle component by rotating it about its axes, and bringing the puzzle components into interengagement with other adjacent components to form the three-dimensional geometric shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be further described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 to 4 are 3D orthographic views of different sides of a logic puzzle of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a side view of surface B of the logic puzzle;

Figure 6 is a side view of surface A of the logic puzzle;

Figure 7 is a 3D orthographic view of a puzzle component for use in the puzzle of

Figures 1 to 4;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the puzzle component of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is another sectional view of the puzzle component of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a side view of the puzzle component of Figure 7;

Figure 11 is a 3D orthographic view of a logic puzzle of another embodiment of the invention; Figure 12 is a side view of a puzzle component for use in the logic puzzle of Figure

11;

Figure 13 is a 3D orthographic view of the puzzle component of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a 3D orthographic view of a logic puzzle of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 15 is a side view of the puzzle of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a side view of a puzzle component for use in the puzzle of Figure 14; Figure 17 is a perspective view of a logic puzzle of one embodiment of the invention;

FFiigguurree 1188 iiss a front view of the logic puzzle of Figure 17;

FFiigguurree 1199 iiss a left view of the logic puzzle of Figure 17;

FFiigguurree 2200 iiss a right view of the logic puzzle of Figure 17;

FFiigguurree 2211 iiss a top view of the logic puzzle of Figure 17;

FFiigguurree 2222 iiss a bottom view of the logic puzzle of Figure 17;

FFiigguurree 2233 iiss a rear view of the logic puzzle of Figure 17;

FFiigguurree 2244 iiss a perspective view of a puzzle component for use in the logic puzzle of Figure 17;

Figure 25 is ;

Figure 26 is ;

Figure 27 is ;

Figure 28 is ;

Figure 29 is ;

Figure 30 is ;

Figure 31 is

invention;

Figure 32 is a front view of the logic puzzle of Figure 31 ;

Figure 33 is a left view of the logic puzzle of Figure 31 ;

Figure 34 is a right view of the logic puzzle of Figure 31 ;

Figure 35 is a top view of the logic puzzle of Figure 31 ;

Figure 36 is a bottom view of the logic puzzle of Figure 31 ;

Figure 37 is a rear view of the logic puzzle of Figure 31 ; Figure 38 is a perspective view of a puzzle component for use in the logic puzzle of Figure 31 ;

Figure 39 is a front view of the puzzle component of Figure 38;

Figure 40 is a left view of the puzzle component of Figure 38;

Figure 41 is a right view of the puzzle component of Figure 38;

Figure 42 is a top view of the puzzle component of Figure 38;

Figure 43 is a bottom view of the puzzle component of Figure 38; and

Figure 44 is a rear view of the puzzle component of Figure 38. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a logic puzzle 10. The logic puzzle 10 is in the form of a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle. The puzzle 10 comprises a plurality of identically shaped puzzle components 12 (one of which is shown highlighted by a thicker outline) of an irregular form, as described further below. The puzzle components 12 are configured for interengaged assembly into the form of a predetermined three-dimensional geometric shape. In this regard, the shape and configuration of the puzzle components 12 are such that the puzzle components 12 can be arranged in at least one sequence to form a substantially complete three-dimensional shape with generally continuous sides which are made up of closely nested and interengaged puzzle components 12 that closely fit together, which may, but not necessarily, be interlocked together to retain the final three-dimensional geometric shape. The puzzle components 12 are identically shaped and sized, though may be provided in different colours, have different surface finishes or be made from different materials, to visually engage a user.

Figures 1 to 6 illustrate different views of the puzzle 10 to show the different faces A, B, C, D and E (face F is indicated but not seen in the drawings) and the arrangement of the puzzle components 12 (one of which is shown highlighted by a thicker outline) used to form the puzzle 10. It can be seen that one or more of the puzzle components 12 are oriented in a different manner, by rotating about any one of its axes, to reorientate the puzzle component 12 and interengage it with other adjacent components 12. In use, a user can arrange the puzzle 10 through trial and error to arrive at the desired predetermined form.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, the geometric shape or final predetermined form is a cube. Other forms that the three-dimensional shape may take are discussed below. In this embodiment, the length of sides of the cube is equal to the size of each element 14 of the puzzle component 12 multiplied by the number of elements 14 in each puzzle component 12. In other embodiments, a cube of this size can be formed by puzzle components 12 formed of eight elements 14. In such an embodiment, only eight puzzle components will be required, compared with 16 for the illustrated embodiment. In the illustrated example, each puzzle component 12 is formed of four individual elements that are generally cuboid, resulting in sides of the puzzle 10 being of a length equal to four individual elements 14. In view of this construction, puzzle 10 will be referred to as a 4X puzzle. Each element 14 is a basic-element cubelet of unit size. Also, the cube is formed of sixteen puzzle components 12 and an equivalent to sixty-four elements 14.

Figures 7 to 10 illustrate in more detail a puzzle component 12 for use with the embodiment shown in Figure 1. The puzzle components 12 are formed from four individual elements 14 of identical size and shape and which are arranged in a generally "S" shape. In this regard, two elements 14 are arranged along a common longitudinal axis which is offset from a common longitudinal axis of the other two elements.

Although the individual elements 14 are illustrated as being cuboid, it will be appreciated that they may take other forms, such as generally spherical or that shown in Figures 11 to 13, for example, which will be described in further detail below. Also, the individual elements may not be entirely cuboid so that there is some play in the final three- dimensional geometric shape. So as to provide a challenging puzzle, the puzzle components 12 are of irregular form so that the solution to the puzzle is not obvious and cannot be obtained by simply stacking the puzzle components 12 together. The term "irregular form" is intended to mean that the puzzle components are not even or balanced.

Figures 11 and 13 illustrate another puzzle 110 according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, puzzle component 112 (shown highlighted by a thicker outline in Figure 11) is not cuboid in shape and, instead, the individual elements 114 are formed of three planar bodies 113a, 113b, 113c of unit length and having a common centre and arranged to be mutually orthogonal. In elevation view, two of the planar bodies will be shown generally cross-wise.

Figure 11 also illustrates that the puzzle component 112 is formed of three integrally formed elements. Based on this construction, puzzle 112 will be referred to as a 3X puzzle. The puzzle components 112 are formed from three individual elements arranged in a generally "L" shape. Again, because the puzzle components 112 are of irregular form the solution to puzzle 110 is not obvious and cannot be obtained by simply stacking the puzzle components 112 together. In use, a user can arrange the puzzle 110 through trial and error to arrive at the desired predetermined form.

Although the illustrated embodiments relate to a puzzle component formed of three or four elements, it will be appreciated that other numbers of elements over 4, such as 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 for example, will also be possible. In such embodiments, the final form of the puzzle will include many more elements and may be larger in size, though to compensate this, the size of the elements may be reduced. For example, a 5X puzzle may be formed of 125 individual elements, a 6X puzzle may be formed of 216 elements and so on.

Furthermore, the puzzle components may be arranged in shapes other than the generally "L" or "S" shapes illustrated. In this regard, the puzzle components may take a "T", "C", "E" or cross or any other shape. Also, shapes having varying proportions or arm lengths may also be possible.

In some embodiments, the puzzle components 12 are simply retained together by their interengaging nature. However, the puzzle components 12 may also be configured for interlocking engagement with each other. Figures 1 to 10 illustrate one method of achieving this interlocking engagement in connection with puzzle 10.

To provide a method of interlocking, each puzzle component is formed with at least one projection, either snap-fit as described below or otherwise, or a male plug and at least one correspondingly shaped recess, either snap-fit as described below or otherwise, or female socket, the projections/plugs being configured for engagement with corresponding recesses/sockets on an adjacent puzzle component. As indicated above, the puzzle 10 may not be provided with any interlocking feature whatsoever. As illustrated in Figures 7 to 10, puzzle component 12 is formed with two projections 16 and two recesses 18 on opposing major sides thereof. Only recesses 18 are disposed on minor sides of each puzzle component 12, though the arrangement of projections 16 and recesses 18 may be varied so that the major and minor sides include different numbers and combinations of projections 16 and recesses 18. The arrangement of projections 16 and recesses 18 on each side is opposite to the opposing side. In this regard, where there is a projection 16 on one side, on the opposite side there is a recess, and vice versa. The result is that by placing two identical puzzle components side by side will allow them to be brought into interlocking engagement with each other. In other embodiments, a single projection 16, or more than two projections, and/or a single recess, and/or more than two recesses may be provided on either major side of the puzzle component 12. Also, one or more projections and/or one or more recesses may be provided on the minor sides. In one form the projections are configured for a slight interference fit so as to be retained in a corresponding recess via friction. In the forms illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the projections 16 take a generally hollow cylindrical form with a outward radial bulge 20 near a distal end. The recesses 18 are similarly of a generally hollow cylindrical form with an inward radial bulge 22 formed near a distal end. Bulges 20, 22 are configured to provide a snap-fit or snap-lock interlocking feature that undergoes tension while bringing the two parts together but which may be released once engaged so that neither part is under permanent strain to retain the puzzle components 12 together. To remove interlocked puzzle components 12 from each other, the interlocking features again undergo tension while separating the parts but this tension is released once separated. It will be appreciated that the interlocking feature of Figures 7 to 10 may be varied. In other examples, only the projection 16 or the recess 18 may be snap-fitting in nature, i.e. being generally cylindrical and provided with a bulge.

Figures 14 to 16 illustrate another embodiment of the invention which is also a 4X puzzle and configures generally similar to puzzle 10. In this puzzle 210, the puzzle components 212 (one of which is shown highlighted by a thicker outline in Figure 15) are also configured for interengagement but not interlocking engagement with each other.

As can be seen more clearly in Figure 16, the puzzle component 212 is again formed of four elements (214), however, the face of each element has two recesses 217, thereby dividing the face of each element into four sections to provide a more confusing visual appearance to increase the challenge to a user.

The puzzles of the illustrated embodiments take a final geometric shape of a cube, though it will be appreciated that other geometric shapes are possible, some of which will be regular and others not. For example, the shape may be selected from a group including, but not limited to, a cube, a parallelepiped, a sphere, a pyramid, a prism, a cone, a cylinder and a torus. It will be appreciated that the shape described by the final form of the puzzle may be the general outline of the assembled puzzle components and not necessarily a smooth surface since, for example, rectangular components cannot be used to form a smooth spherical surface. The described embodiments are preferably formed of a thermoplastic material using injection moulding processes. By configuring the puzzle so that the puzzle components can be identical, the puzzle components can be manufactured in volume, thereby greatly reducing the cost of manufacturing the puzzle. Of course, the described embodiments can also be formed from materials, such as wood, polymers and/or metals.

In use, a puzzle of the type described herein is completed by the steps of reorientating each puzzle component by rotating it about its axes, and bringing the puzzle components into interengagement with other adjacent components to form a three-dimensional geometric shape. Typically, this will include trial and error to arrive at the desired predetermined form.

Although a physical implementation of the invention has been described, it will be appreciated that it may also be implemented in a digital form via digital embodiments. Digital embodiments may include videogames, a webpage, a computer game or a mobile phone app. It will be appreciated that in such embodiments, the method of completing the puzzle may be virtually the same. Furthermore, the described puzzle components, which may be made of 3, 4, 5 or more individual elements, may also be used to build a three-dimensional toy structure such as a building or castle for example, thereby increasing the usefulness and appeal of the puzzle to users. It is of course envisaged that details of the described and depicted puzzle components may vary for ease of mass manufacture, for example to accommodate injection-molding tool design constraints.

The embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention disclosed. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.