The present invention relates to a three-dimensional or spatial puzzle game having an outer spherical shell made of light-transmitting material and at least one annular space divider arranged in the inner space of the outer spherical shell, and independently movable spherical toy elements having the same size are arranged in the inner space of the outer spherical shell.

Puzzle games have long been known in the game industry. The most common and oldest are two-dimensional puzzle games, where you can move sliding elements in a delimited area so that you can only move a selected element to one position at a time. Spatial puzzles offer even more options, such as: by restoring the body surface pattern by moving the surface elements, e.g. for the Rubik's Cube, or a rolling element, most often a ball can be moved along predetermined paths inside the body so that the rolling element avoids traps such as holes, gates or cavities, so that the rolling element moves from a predetermined starting point to a predetermined end point.

Such a solution is described e.g. in disclosure of document US 4,451,038, wherein two disks, freely movable by external handles, are arranged along the equatorial plane of the interior of the transparent sphere, and eight disks are formed on the disks. The discs are provided with holes which, when assembled, allow the play pieces to move from one hemisphere to another, while the holes in the compartment walls allow certain play items to move between the compartments. The game elements are divided into seven groups of coloured balls and one group of dices. The object of the game is to arrange the pieces of the game so that balls are of the same colour in each compartment and the dice are in one compartment. Consequently, a game is a spatial puzzle game that requires dexterity and always has the same purpose. A further disadvantage is that the structure of the moving parts is relatively complex and accordingly, the likelihood of failure is not negligible. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional puzzle game where the purpose of the game can be varied according to many variations, the achievement of all game objectives requires dexterity and logical ability, and its simple structure does not include moving parts apart from the game elements that is the risk of failure is low. The object of the present invention is achieved by creating a three-dimensional or spatial puzzle game having an outer spherical shell made of light-transmitting material and at least one annular space divider arranged in the inner space of the outer spherical shell, and independently movable spherical toy elements having the same size are arranged in the inner space of the outer spherical shell, and a further, inner spherical shell made of light- transmitting material is arranged in the inner space of the outer spherical shell, and at least two shell chambers delimited by the outer spherical shell, the inner spherical shell and the annular space divider are arranged between the outer spherical shell and the inner spherical shell, and a radial distance between the outer spherical shell and the inner spherical shell is greater than the diameter of the spherical toy elements, and at least one circular opening per chamber is formed on the inner spherical shell, and the opening having a diameter greater than the diameter of each spherical toy element.

The opening has a diameter smaller than twice the diameter of the toy elements.

A radial distance between the outer spherical shell and the inner spherical shell is less than three times the diameter of the spherical toy elements.

The spatial puzzle game according to the invention has at least two annular space dividers confining a right angle between each other.

The outer and inner edges of the space dividers are concentric.

The outer spherical shell has a lockable opening.

The diameter of the toy elements is preferably 8 mm.

The opening preferably has a diameter of 8.5 mm.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing

Fig. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a spatial puzzle game according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the shell chamber of a preferred embodiment of the spatial puzzle game according to the invention,

Fig. 3a, 3b, and 3c are views showing parts of an embodiment of an annular space divider according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a colour variation game plan that is used to achieve increasingly complex colour combinations in the game. Figure 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the spherical spatial puzzle game 1 according to the present invention. The puzzle game 1 comprises a transparent outer spherical shell 2, a transparent inner spherical shell 3 concentrically arranged with the outer spherical shell 2, and, at least one, but in the embodiment shown three intersecting circular ring shaped space dividers 4, 5, 6, e.g. are bonded to each other such that the annular space divider 4, 5, 6 divides the inner space between the outer spherical shell 2 and the inner spherical shell 3 into eight congruent chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 each having a shape of a trihedron in this embodiment.

Since both of the spherical shells 2,3 are made of light-transmitting material, both the inner spherical shell 3 and its interior can be observed without hindrance. In this embodiment, the trihedron- shaped chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 are disposed between the outer spherical shell 2 and the concentric inner spherical shell 3 being spaced from each other by annular space dividers 4, 5, 6, so that each forms an enclosed individual space. The inner space of the inner spherical shell 3 is an undivided spherical cavity. The trihedral chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 each communicate the cavity of the inner shell 3 through openings 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.

In the trihedral chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 independently movable toy elements Ji-J _n are placed, a total of one hundred and twenty-eight ball-shaped toy elements Ji- Ji28 are preferably arranged in the embodiment shown. If the number of annular dividers 4, 5, 6 is greater than three as it is in the embodiment shown, in addition to the chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 14 further chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 14 are formed in the space between the outer spherical shell 2 and the inner shell 3, the shape of which corresponds to a spherical shape which can be written on a spherical surface, but which is not necessarily a spherical triangle corresponding to a trihedron. In other embodiments (not shown in the drawing), the annular dividers 4, 5, 6 may intersect each other not only at right angles but also at different angles. They are at least two, preferably three, but in a preferred embodiment more than three, and the centers of the spherical shells 2,3 do not necessarily coincide. However, it is true for all embodiments, that the number n of the Ji-J _n game elements is a natural number divisible by the number of chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 14, and each of the chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 14 communicates the inner cavity of spherical shell 3 through a single respective opening 15.

Figure 2 shows a single chamber 7 of the toy 1 of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, wherein the toy elements Ji-J _n are balls. In the figure it is seen that the chamber 7 is delimited by portions 4s, 5s, 6s of annular dividers 4, 5, 6s and is bounded by an inner spherical shell 3 and the outer spherical shell 2. The diameter D of the circular aperture 15 formed on the inner spherical shell 3 is larger than the diameter d of each ball-shaped toy element Ji-J _n but less than 2d, which is twice the diameter d. The aperture 15 is located near the portion 4s of the annular divider 4 delimiting the chamber 7 so that the distance t between the annular divider 4 and the aperture 15 is less than half the diameter d of the toy elements Ji-J _n , and the distance t equal to 40% of diameter d in order to make it difficult an accidental passage through the opening 15 of the ball-shaped toy elements Ji-J _n situated on the annular divider 4 adjacent to the opening 15. For example, in the embodiment shown, the opening 15 is located in the vicinity of the annular divider 5 in chamber 8, in the vicinity of the annular divider 5 in chamber 9, in the vicinity of the annular divider 4 in chamber 10, in the vicinity of the annular divider 5 in chamber 11, in the vicinity of the annular divider 4 in chamber 12, in the vicinity of the annular divider 4 in chamber 13, and in the vicinity of the annular divider 5 in chamber 14.

Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c. show a configuration of the three annular dividers 4, 5, 6 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the outer and inner edges 41,51,61,42,52,62 of the annular dividers 4, 5, 6 are concentric, i.e. the position of the spherical shells 2, 3 will also be concentric. If the annular dividers 4, 5, 6 is made of elastic material, e.g. made of silicone rubber, and using three right angled dividers 4,5,6 in the toy of the present invention, the three elements are formed according to Figures 3a, 3b and 3c, respectively. Divider 4 shown in Fig. 3a has a circular outer rim 41 and a circular inner rim 42. Four outer grooves 4al, 4a2, 4a3, 4a4 are formed on the outer flange 41 with angular spacings 90° and extending from the flange 41 of the divider 4 up to half the width S of the element 4, the grooves 4al, 4a2 can be inserted into grooves 5b 1, 5b2 of divider 5 shown in Fig 3b, while the grooves 4a4, 4a3 can be inserted into grooves 6b 1, 6b2 of divider 6 shown in Fig. 3c, and in FIGS. 6b 1, 6b2, and the grooves 5a 1, 5a2 of the divider 5 are fitted with the grooves 6b3, 6b4 of the divider 6 in the assembled state of the game. In this case, the assembly is performed by placing the divider 4 along a first great-circle of the inner spherical shell 3, and then placing the divider 5 along a second great-circle perpendicularly arranged to the first great-circle, and placing the divider 6 along a third great- circle perpendicular to each of said first and second great-circles, such that the grooves 4al ... 6b4 fit as above described. Adjusting the distance t between the space divider 4, 5, 6 and the opening 15 in each of the belt chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 14 to the extent described above. Subsequently, the elements Ji-J _n are placed through the openings 15 in the inner spherical shell 3, and finally e.g. fitting two hemispherical outer spherical shells 2 to the dividers 4, 5, 6 so that the inner surface of the spherical shells 2 is closely aligned with the dividers 4, 5, 6.

The annular dividers 4, 5, 6 may be made of rigid material, e.g. also made of rigid plastic or wood, in which case one element, e.g. 4 elements, may be made of one piece, while the elements 5,6 may be made of two halves cut in the bisecting line of the grooves 5al, 5a2 and 6b 1, 6b2, then fitted together. The inner edges 42, 52, 62 of the elements 4, 5, 6 may also be affixed to the inner spherical shell 3, and the edges 41, 51, 61 preferably to the outer spherical shell 2 by gluing as well. The material thicknesses of the elements 4, 5, 6 are at least sufficient to withstand the collision of the elements Ji-J _n without any damage, depending on their material quality.

The spatial puzzle according to the invention thus comprises an outer spherical shell 2 made of light-transmitting material and at least one annular space divider 4, 5, 6 arranged in the inner space of the outer spherical shell 2. Inside the outer spherical shell 2 same sized, independently movable spherical Ji-J _n elements are disposed. Inside the outer spherical shell 2 a further inner spherical shell 3 of light-transmitting material is arranged, and at least two belt chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 arranged between the inner spherical shell 3 and the outer spherical shell 2 are delimited by the annular space divider 4, 5, 6, the outer spherical shell 2, and the inner spherical shell. The radial distance between the outer spherical shell 2 and the inner spherical shell 3 is greater than the diameter d of the spherical elements Ji-J _n . The inner spherical shell 3 has at least one circular opening 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 per chamber 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. The openings 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 have a diameter D greater than the diameter d of each spherical Ji-J _n element. Preferably, the diameter D of the openings 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 is smaller than twice the diameter d of the Ji-J _n elements. The radial distance between the outer spherical shell 2 and the inner spherical shell 3 is preferably less than three times the diameter d of the spherical elements Ji-J _n - Preferably, at least two disc-shaped space dividers 4, 5, 6, and three in the embodiment shown, include right angle to each other. The outer and inner edges of each of the space dividers 4, 5, 6 are concentric, and the distance between the outer edges 41, 51, 61 and the inner edges 42, 52, 62 of each space divider 4, 5, 6, i.e. the ring thicknesses are the same. The outer spherical shell 2 is preferably provided with a lockable opening. The play elements Ji-J _n preferably have a diameter d of 8 mm, and apertures 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 preferably have a diameter D of 8.5 mm. In a preferred embodiment of the puzzle game of the present invention, the number of game elements Ji-J _n is one hundred and twenty-eight, however, this number may vary with the size of the game. The larger the diameter of the spherical shells 2,3 and the smaller the diameter d of the Ji-J _n game elements, the more space is available in each of the chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 for the elements Ji-J _n . Of course, the higher the number of Ji-J _n game elements, the harder to perform the game, the possibilities of which are described below.

The object of the puzzle according to the invention is to rearrange the game elements Ji-J _n e.g. such that each chamber 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 has game elements Ji-J _n of the same colour. For example, in a preferred embodiment where n = 128 and the number of chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 is eight as described above, eight groups each having sixteen preferably spherical playing elements Ji-J _n of eight different colours are used. At the beginning of the game, the Ji-Jns game elements are mixed in each of the chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

The player delivers each of the J i -J 1 ₂₈ game elements through the opening 15 of the respective chamber 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 into the inner space of the inner spherical shell 3, while attending not to allow game elements Ji-Jns to be entered by uncontrolled manner into the interior of the inner spherical shell 3 from another chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, then each Ji-Jns element is guided into the selected chamber 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 through the appropriate 15 openings and so on. In this case, the game has reached its goal if each chamber 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 has sixteen Ji-J elements of the same colour.

Of course, it is not necessary to arrange the same colours. The player can pre-design the colour variations to be arranged so that each of the chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 has a predefined colour combination. Figure 4 illustrates an example of a colour variation design that is used to unlock increasingly complex colour combinations in the game. According to the colour variation plan of Fig. 4, each of the chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 has four colours, each marked by e.g. P as red, F as black, Z as green and K as blue - and by Roman numerals I - II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII - and the objective of the game is to arrange in the eight chambers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, In the 12, 13, 14 thus marked a colour combination denoted next to its mark. For example, in the Z V chamber 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 should have been sixteen coloured elements Ji-Ji ₆ at the end of the game: three P red, two F black, two Z green, two K blue, two S yellow, two A gold, two E silver and one B bronze game elements J _r J _|6 . It is not necessary to use colours either. The elements Ji-J can have gameplay features e.g. fairy-tale characters or letters on their surface. In the latter case, the goal of the game may be to arrange meaningful words.

The toy 1 of the present invention can be played anywhere, either alone or in company. In a preferred embodiment, the surface of the space dividers 4, 5, 6 is provided with a noise-reducing material, e.g. it can also be coated with polyfoam, so that the noise of the game elements Ji-J that collide during the game does not disturb the player's environment.

The spherical shells 2,3 can be made of thicker material, which is more resistant to wear. In a preferred embodiment a lockable opening (not shown) can be provided on the outer spherical shell 2 through which the game elements Ji-Jns can be replaced.

The advantage of the puzzle game 1 according to the invention compared to the prior art is that the objective of the game can be varied according to many variations; all goals of the game improve logical skills and dexterity; its structure is simple, it does not contain movable parts except elements Ji-Jns to be producible easily and by low expenses; and the risk of failure is very low.