Puzzle with magnetic system

Description

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The magnetic puzzle pertains to game devices; it is designed for mental self-entertainment and can be used to create intellectual games. The magnetic puzzle can be practically applied for combinatorial operations aimed at developing logical and spatial thinking, as well as fine motor skills.

Description of Related Art

A known analog is the ‘Puzzle—Magnetic Constructor,’ patented by the Russian Federation under invention No. 2699846, dated Apr. 2, 2019, and published on Sep. 11, 2019. This patent describes a magnetic system with the function of a magnetic constructor, consisting of at least one type of identical elements: regular polyhedra, with a number equal to Q. Each polyhedron has m faces, and each face features a set of axially magnetized disks of different polarities, embedded and fixed at the center of the face, parallel to its surface. The system allows for mutual shuffling of the polyhedra.

The common features of the analog with the disclosure are: the presence inside each element of the puzzle, consisting of at least one kind of identical elements, of a magnetic system with the function of a magnetic constructor. This analog and the claimed puzzle both consist of at least one kind of elements containing magnets near their surfaces. In both cases, these magnets in static (not during interaction with the puzzle) hold the elements mutually stationary, preventing the puzzles from falling apart.

The disadvantage of the analog described in Russian patent No. 2699846 is its relatively complex production process and less favorable ergonomic characteristics.

The difference from the analog under the Russian patent No. 2699846 is that the claimed puzzle consists of elements of spherical shape, not of regular polyhedrons as in the analog. Thus, the shape of active elements of the puzzle differs significantly, which predetermines the peculiarities of use of each of the products.

In use, the claimed puzzle maintains the relative positions of elements during play, unlike the patented analog, which involves assembling new figures by moving groups of elements. The advantage in use of the claimed puzzle is that the claimed puzzle allows the player to simultaneously rotate four elements relating to each other around parallel, but not coinciding axes. In this case, the rotation of these elements is not independent, and the rotation of one element unambiguously determines the rotations of the other three elements. It increases interest of the player towards the process of rotations in comparison with that in the patented puzzle under the patent of the Russian Federation for invention No. 2699846, where there is no interconnected magnetic system providing dependence of simultaneous rotations of elements around different axes.

The rotating sphere puzzle (PROTOTYPE) is detailed in US patent No. U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,540B1, issued under application WO2002087714A1 and published on Nov. 7, 2002. It consists of multiple overlapping spherical figures, each rotatable about three mutually orthogonal axes, with the center as the pivot point. Each figure includes a base and several parts symmetrically distributed around the base's periphery. These parts are shared with adjacent figures and can be moved to corresponding positions on other spherical figures, including overlapping areas, through successive rotations with specified angular increments.

Let's examine the features of the prototype in more detail. U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,540B1 describes a puzzle with multiple substantially spherical figures of equal size, arranged in a three-dimensional matrix along three orthogonal axes X, Y, and Z. These figures are spaced equidistantly from each other and overlap to create zones of intersection. Each spherical figure includes a base with symmetrically arranged recesses around its periphery. Each figure has three orthogonal axes A, B, and C, which are parallel to axes X, Y, and Z, respectively, and pass through the center of each sphere. Each figure can rotate around these orthogonal axes A, B, and C, the casing also including means for guiding the spherical figures for rotation.

The claimed solution also involves rotating spherical figures, but their rotations during the game are interconnected through magnetic fields.

The common features of the prototype under the U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,540B 1 with the disclosure are the following:

• • 1) the presence of eight spheres of the same diameter;
  • 2) the spheres form a 2×2×2 matrix;
  • 3) each sphere can rotate only along three directions orthogonal to each other and parallel to the edges of the formed cubic structure.

The disadvantages of the prototype include the need for an additional external casing for construction and the potential for issues during separate rotation of spheres. This results in limited visibility of the internal elements of the spheres, to which the player has no access. Consequently, there is a risk of elements jamming inside the casing and misalignment of puzzle parts during use.

SUMMARY

The claimed disclosure differs from the prototype described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,540B1 in the following ways:

• • 1) magnetic interaction eliminates the need for an external casing to restrain the structural elements;
  • 2) Due to magnetic interaction, the disclosure involves four spheres in each rotation and does not permit the independent rotation of any single sphere. This design encourages players to view the puzzle as a unified whole rather than a collection of separate spheres, thereby requiring a coordinated solution rather than a sequence of independent rotations;
  • 3) The absence of moving mechanical parts, such as intersecting spheres, in the disclosure reduces the likelihood of jamming;
  • 4) The complete state of the claimed puzzle is readily visible to an external observer. In contrast, the patented solution hides elements between the spheres, which means that the claimed solution prevents unnecessary actions to determine the position and orientation of elements during assembly;
  • 5) In the disclosure, magnetic interaction provides each ball with a finite number of stable positions relative to the other balls. If a player slightly under-turns four balls, magnetic fields will cause them to automatically align properly, allowing the player to complete the puzzle without extra effort to correct minor misalignments;
  • 6) The disclosure includes two versions, both achieving the same technical result. The two versions differ in their magnetic system arrangements: one version has the magnetic system integrated within the puzzle, while the second option features magnets inserted into truncations on each ball, making them visible from the outside.

It is important to note that the smoothness of turning elements is crucial in the practical application of the puzzle. The magnetic principle suggests that the more magnets involved, the smoother the game. Conversely, a more sparse arrangement of magnets results in less smooth gameplay. This factor is evident when analyzing the analog and prototype, as they do not meet modern requirements for a smooth and comfortable gaming experience.

A review of current techniques did not uncover solutions identical to the claimed invention. The distinguishing features of the disclosure are not found in this and related fields of technology. The combination of claimed features ensures that the main objective of the invention-enhancing the efficiency of the magnetic puzzle—is achieved.

The disclosure solution allows ensuring universality for industrial manufacturing of the puzzle, and its application allows the puzzle to function in an optimal way.

The purpose of the disclosure is to expand the puzzle's functionality, particularly by enhancing ease of use for players and improving game characteristics.

The technical problem addressed by the claimed invention is to broaden the range of technical means available in puzzle production and to improve ergonomic characteristics. This includes enhancing visibility of internal spheres, preventing element jamming, avoiding misalignment of puzzle parts, and ensuring smoother movement of the elements. The claimed invention aims to address these problems, enhance device efficiency, increase convenience, and broaden the range of applications.

The technical objective of the present invention is to develop a puzzle with a magnetic system that has optimal parameters and a design that expands its application scope while being more convenient to manufacture and operate.

The primary technical result of the claimed invention is the implementation of a set of design elements that expand the range of technical means and enhance technological connectivity among puzzle elements, thus increasing device efficiency and operational convenience. The general technical result is achieving technological connectivity within the puzzle elements, which ensures smooth interaction. This applies to both versions of the puzzle. An additional technical result is the simplification of production efforts for the second option, which features ‘inserted’ magnets. Each magnet is placed in a recess on the truncated segment of each ball, rather than inside the ball itself.

These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those skilled in the art to which the subject invention appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject invention without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:

FIG. 1—an exterior view of the puzzle with the game markings applied;

FIG. 2—general view of the mutual arrangement of balls and magnets inside them;

FIG. 3—a schematic representation of the orientation of the magnet in the ball;

FIG. 4—separate balloons of the northern and southern types;

FIG. 5—cross-sections of the balls of the northern type (left) and southern type (right) along the equators, under which the magnets are located;

FIG. 6—general view of the arrangement of the balls and additional magnets inside them;

FIG. 7—location of additional magnets in the balls of northern (left) and southern (right) types;

FIG. 8—a schematic representation of the arrangement of the magnet in the truncated ball;

FIG. 9—a sketch of the appearance of the assembled puzzle;

FIG. 10—a sketch of the appearance of the puzzle in the disassembled state;

FIG. 11—a photograph of the puzzle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject invention. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a puzzle in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 1. Other embodiments of the puzzle in accordance with the invention, or aspects thereof, are provided in FIGS. 2-11, as will be described.

Option 1 describes a structure with full spheres that include base and meridional magnets, as well as additional magnets. All magnets are located below the surface of the spheres. Option 2 features the same magnetic structure as Option 1 (base, meridional, and additional magnets), but with truncated balls. Here, magnets are inserted into holes at the center of the truncation circles and are visible from the outside, without affecting the gaming device's performance. From the end user's perspective, both options will perform equally well, with only minor variations in smoothness due to the additional magnets and truncations.

It should be noted that both options of the disclosure achieve the same purposes and technical results.

The essence of the invention is encapsulated in a set of essential features that are sufficient to achieve its intended purpose.

The essence of the disclosure is as follows: In the first version of the puzzle with a magnetic system, there are eight spherical elements of equal diameter. These spheres contain magnets near their surfaces to maintain the magnetic system, preventing the puzzle from falling apart. The spheres form a cubic structure with their centers arranged in a 2×2×2 matrix. Each sphere can rotate along three mutually orthogonal directions. Each sphere is a solid ball made of a homogeneous, non-magnetic material, and contains permanent magnets fixed under the surface of each ball, immovably held by the ball material itself. The magnets are positioned close to the surface, providing sufficient magnetic attraction to hold the balls in place. The magnetization is such that the attraction between magnets of different polarities from adjacent balls is sufficient to hold them together. Each ball contains six base magnets positioned at the ends of three mutually perpendicular diameters. Each base magnet's poles lie along one of these diameters. The polarities of all base magnets inside each ball are uniform, with the same poles directed inward. Along each meridional arc connecting the nearest base magnets, meridional magnets are spaced evenly. The orientation of these meridional magnets places their north and south poles along the same radius of the ball. Each meridional arc contains an odd number of magnets, arranged symmetrically relative to the base magnets they connect, and this arrangement is identical across all spheres. The polarities of the meridional magnets alternate such that the magnets nearest to the base magnets have opposite polarities. Consequently, the number, arrangement, and orientation of magnets (excluding polarities) are consistent across all balls. The magnets in balls touching each other in the 2×2×2 matrix have opposite polarities. Each ball is colored to uniquely identify it and determine its orientation within the matrix. Additionally, four extra magnets are placed around each base magnet at an equal distance from the nearest meridional magnets. The orientation of these additional magnets is such that their poles align along the same radius as the base magnet, and their polarity is consistent across all spheres.

In the second embodiment, the puzzle with a magnetic system consists of eight spherical elements of equal diameter, containing magnets near their surfaces to hold the magnetic system together and prevent the puzzle from falling apart. These spherical elements form a cubic structure with their centers arranged in a 2×2×2 matrix. Each sphere can rotate in three orthogonal directions. Each element is a truncated ball made from a single solid material and contains permanent magnets rigidly fixed within the ball material, with no independent movement of the magnets relative to the ball. The magnets are positioned close to the surface to ensure sufficient magnetic attraction to hold the truncated balls together. Each magnet is magnetized to provide enough attraction to hold adjacent truncated balls. Each truncated ball has six base magnets positioned at the ends of three mutually perpendicular diameters. Each base magnet's poles lie along one of these diameters, and all base magnets within each ball have uniform polarities directed inward. Along each meridional arc connecting the nearest base magnets, meridional magnets are evenly spaced. The orientation of these meridional magnets places their north and south poles along the same radius of the truncated ball. Each meridional arc contains an odd number of magnets arranged symmetrically relative to the base magnets and is identical across all truncated balls. The polarities of the meridional magnets alternate, so those nearest to the base magnets have opposite polarities. The number, arrangement, and orientation of magnets (excluding polarities) are the same for all truncated balls. Magnets in balls touching each other in the 2×2×2 matrix have opposite polarities. All truncated balls have equal truncation sizes and the same number of truncations as magnets. Each truncation is aligned with a magnet such that the radius passing through the magnet's poles also passes through the truncation's center. Each truncated ball is colored to uniquely identify its orientation in the matrix. Additionally, four extra magnets are placed around each base magnet at an equal distance from the nearest meridional magnets, with the same polarity for all spheres.

In the magnetic system puzzle, each full ball or truncated ball may contain three meridional magnets between adjacent base magnets.

Regardless of the presence of additional magnets or truncations, the four balls with base magnets oriented inward with southern poles are called ‘southern-type balls,’ while the remaining four balls with base magnets oriented inward with northern poles are called ‘northern-type balls.

The claimed puzzle consists of eight balls, each of southern 4 and northern 5 types, with the same radius. These balls are made of non-magnetic material 6 and contain permanent base 2 and meridional 3 magnets. The base 2 and meridional 3 magnets are rigidly held within the southern 4 and northern 5 type spheres by the non-magnetic material 6, without the possibility of any independent movement of the magnet relative to the containing sphere. Within each ball, the magnets are oriented so that both poles lie on the same radius. In particular, the magnets may be cylinders with axial magnetization, in which case these cylinders will be arranged so that the extensions of their axes of symmetry will pass through the centers of their respective spheres, as shown in FIG. 3. All magnets are arranged at such a distance from the surface of their containing spheres that any two magnets belonging to different spheres, one of which is oriented to the center of its sphere by its south pole and the other by its north pole, are able to hold these spheres side by side. Thus, all magnets in each ball are arranged along three equators 1, which belong to three mutually perpendicular equatorial planes. The outer ends of the radii passing through the poles of the magnets align with these equators. The total number of magnets on each equator 1 is consistent across all spheres of southern 4 and northern 5 types and is a multiple of eight.

The magnets are arranged along the equators 1 evenly and in such a way that one base magnet 2 is located exactly under the points of their intersection, these magnets 2 are common to the two respective equators and lie at the ends of three mutually perpendicular diameters, there are six such base magnets 2 inside each ball. The remaining magnets are located along meridional arcs connecting the nearest base magnets, there are 12 such arcs for each ball and they all contain the same number of meridional magnets.

Thus, each ball contains a total of N=3×(8*π−2) base 2 and meridional 3 magnets, where π is a natural number equal for all balls.

Polarities of base 2 and meridional 3 magnets along each equator 1 alternate, i.e. the magnet directed to the center of the ball by the south pole is surrounded by magnets directed to the center of the ball by the north poles and vice versa. Due to the arrangement of magnets along each equator 1 in multiples of eight, all six base magnets 2 inside a ball have the same polarity. If all six base magnets point toward the center with south poles, the ball is classified as a southern type 4. Conversely, if all six base magnets point toward the center with north poles, the ball is classified as a northern type 5.

Of the eight balls, four are of the southern type 4 and four of the northern type 5. The eight balls are placed in space in such a way that their centers lie at the vertices of the cube, and the balls themselves touch each other, with each ball of southern type 4 touching three balls of northern type 5 and vice versa. Thus a three-dimensional matrix of size 2×2×2 of balls of northern 5 and southern 4 types is obtained. Each ball in this matrix is oriented so that all three points by which it touches other balls are the ends of three mutually perpendicular diameters on which lie the poles of base magnets 2. Consequently, each ball is turned towards each neighboring ball by one of its base magnets 2. By virtue of the choice of the polarity of the magnets and the specified alternation of the balls of the northern and southern types, the base magnets 2 of any two related balls are attracted, preserving the interposition of the balls. Each ball has a marking on it, which allows to determine its orientation in the matrix of balls unambiguously by its appearance. One simple option of such markings is the color marking of each ball shown in the sketches of FIG. 9-10, which uses six different colors, the markings of which are applied where the base magnets are located beneath the surface.

The principle of work of the puzzle as a game device consists in the following. The player takes in hands the matrix of eight balls described above and by successive joint turns of balls confuses their orientations, and then tries to restore the initial orientations of all eight balls relative to each other, based on the markings applied to the balls, like playing Rubik's cube. The unique feature of the game is that, due to the placement of the base 2 and meridional 3 magnets, the player can only rotate four balls simultaneously on the same side of the matrix, without applying mechanical work against magnetic forces. And each ball of four is rotated around its axis coinciding with its diameter, which is perpendicular to the plane in which the centers of the rotated balls lie. Thus, during the joint rotation of the four balls their rotation axes are co-directional, the directions of rotation alternate, i.e. if one of the balls is rotated clockwise, the neighboring balls are rotated counterclockwise, and the absolute angular sizes of the rotations of all four balls coincide at every moment during the joint rotation. The player needs to rotate all four balls participating in the joint rotation by an angle multiple of 90 degrees, otherwise further participation of these balls in other joint rotations will not be possible without breaking the magnetic bonds. Such behavior of the puzzle is achieved due to the location and orientation of the magnets inside the balls. Namely, the magnetic connection between each ball participating in the joint rotation and its neighboring stationary ball, formed by their base magnets, provides immobility of the rotation axis of this ball relative to the whole matrix of balls, at the same time the meridional magnets of the balls participating in the joint rotation, located along the equators perpendicular to the axes of this joint rotation, perform the role of gear teeth connecting the rotations of these balls with each other.

In order to slightly improve the convenience of using the puzzle, it is possible to add additional magnets 7 in the total number of 192 pieces, 24 for each ball. In each ball additional magnets 7 are oriented as well as other magnets, that is both magnetic poles of each additional magnet lie on the same radius of the ball containing this magnet, thus in balls of southern type additional magnets 7 are directed by their southern poles to their centers, and in balls of northern type—by their northern poles, these magnets are also located at such distance from the surface of the ball that the force of mutual attraction of poles of different polarity of magnets of different balls was sufficient to hold these balls, thus their magnetism was sufficient to hold these balls. In each ball, four additional magnets 7 are evenly distributed around the six base magnets 2, maintaining a distance equal to or less than the distance from a base magnet 2 to the nearest meridional magnet 3. Each additional magnet 7 is equidistant from the two closest meridional magnets 3. The additional magnets 7 play the following role in the puzzle. By virtue of location and orientation, the nearby additional magnets 7 of the neighboring balls are attracted to each other and tend to turn the balls so as to be opposite each other, but such a position of all eight balls is achieved only when they are held together by magnetic bonds between the base 2 and not the meridional 3 magnets, that is, when no four balls are in a state of incomplete joint rotation, at which the magnitudes of the angles at which the balls involved in this rotation are turned are not multiples of 90 degrees. Thus, the additional magnets 7 contribute to the completion of each joint rotation at a multiple of 90 degrees, improving the user-friendliness by increasing the smoothness of rotation of the balls in the process of interaction of the player with the puzzle.

Regardless of whether additional magnets are present, the puzzle's stability can be enhanced by using eight identical truncated balls (option 2) instead of eight identical full balls (option 1). Thus, all truncations of all balls are circles of the same sizes located above magnets, so that the center of each truncation lies on that radius of the truncated ball which passes through both poles of the corresponding magnet. Due to presence of these truncations the balls do not touch each other, but adjoin each other by circles of truncations that increases stability of the puzzle, but decreases smoothness of its movement at joint rotation of four balls, and variation of smoothness does not influence efficiency of work of the design in any option of execution.

In option 2 of the claimed invention with additional magnets 7 in the presence of truncated balls, the following particular realization of the puzzle is possible. The balls have a size of 3 cm in diameter and are made of PLA plastic. Cylindrical magnets with axial magnetization of two kinds are used: base magnets 2 are magnetic cylinders of 3 mm diameter and 8 mm height with a grip force of 450 g, meridional 3 and additional 7 magnets are magnetic cylinders of 3 mm diameter and 2 mm height with a grip force of 220 g. Inside each ball, all magnetic cylinders are oriented so that their axes of symmetry lie on the radii of that ball. The truncation planes of the spheres coincide with the planes in which the bases of the magnetic cylinders facing outward from the spheres lie, thus exposing each magnet at one end. Each magnetic cylinder is so far from the center of the ball containing it that the truncation of the ball passing along the outer base of this magnetic cylinder has a diameter of 3.2 mm. Each meridional arc contains three meridional magnets 3, thus each equator, under which the magnets are located, contains twelve meridional magnets 3 and four base magnets 2, and since the magnets are placed along the equator at equal distance from each other, the angle between the axes of the base magnet 2 and the nearest meridional magnet 3 is 22.5 degrees. At the same time, the additional magnets 7 are arranged so that the angles between the axes of each additional magnet 7 and the nearest base magnet 2 are 12 degrees.

A specific realization of option 2 of the claimed puzzle consisting of truncated balls without additional magnets can be carried out similarly to the above described realization for balls with truncations and additional magnets 7, with the only difference that in this case the balls do not contain additional magnets 7 and corresponding truncations above them, all other magnets and truncations have the same arrangement as in the above implementation.

The specific implementation of option 1 of the claimed puzzle consisting of complete non- truncated balls with additional magnets can be carried out similarly to the realization described above for balls with truncations and additional magnets 7, but without truncations of each ball. The location of all magnets in this case is the same as in realization of the option of a puzzle for balls with truncations and additional magnets 7, magnets in this case will be hidden by material of balls.

The specific implementation of the option 1 of the claimed puzzle consisting of non-truncated balls without additional magnets can be carried out similarly to the realization described above for the option of the puzzle consisting of balls without truncations, but with additional magnets 7, with the only difference that the balls in this realization will not have truncations, the arrangement of magnets will remain unchanged.

The possibility of multiple reproduction of the claimed construction stems from the method of its industrial completion, which makes it possible to reproduce the claimed puzzle device on an industrial scale.

Such a combination of versatility, achieving the possibility of multiple reproduction with relative ease of manufacture, has not been achieved in the prototype.

Drawing positions by number:

• • 1—equators, under which the magnets are located;
  • 2—base magnets;
  • 3—meridional magnets;
  • 4—balls of the southern type;
  • 5—balls of the northern type;
  • 6—non-magnetic material holding the magnets;
  • 7—additional magnets;
  • 8—magnet located in the ball;
  • 9—the balls that form the puzzle;
  • 10—marks on the balls to determine their orientation.