US3924857A

US3924857A - Puzzle toy

Info

Publication number: US3924857A
Application number: US565277A
Authority: US
Inventors: David E Christensen
Original assignee: Lee Raymond Organization Inc
Current assignee: Lee Raymond Organization Inc
Priority date: 1975-04-04
Filing date: 1975-04-04
Publication date: 1975-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-09

Abstract

A clear plastic housing contains a plurality of like spherical balls. The housing takes the form of a plurality of concentric spherical shells that are connected together by a plurality of radially extending partitions. The partitions divide the volume between any two neighboring shells into a plurality of arcuate volumes with like radii of curvature and like radial thickness. Each shell that is surrounded by a larger shell bears a plurality of like circular holes in its surface, to connect neighboring volumes in sequence to the spherical volume inside the smallest shell. The diameter of each ball is smaller than the diameter of any holes.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Christensen Dec. 9, 1975 [73] Assignee: Raymond Lee Organization, Inc., a

part interest [22] Filed: Apr. 4, 1975 [21] Appl. No.: 565,277

[52] us. (:1. 273/113; 273/153 R 51 1111. cm A63F 7/04 58 Field of Search 273/109, 113, 115, 116, 273/153 R, 120 R, 95 R; 46/43 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,154,136 9/1915 Simao 1 7. 273/153 R 2,467,781 4/1949 Ribbe... 273/153 R 3,317,209 v 5/1967 Dixon 273/109 3,399,894 9/1968 Smith 273/115 3,653,663 4/1972 Kinberg 273/115 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Harry G. Strappello [57] ABSTRACT A clear plastic housing contains a plurality of like spherical balls. The housing takes the form of a plurality of concentric spherical shells that are connected together by a plurality of radially extending partitions. The partitions divide the volume between any two neighboring shells into a plurality of arcuate volumes with like radii of curvature and like radial thickness. Each shell that is surrounded by a larger shell bears a plurality of like circular holes in its surface, to connect neighboring volumes in sequence to the spherical volume inside the smallest shell. The diameter of each ball is smaller than the diameter of any holes.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PUZZLE TOY SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows the invention in use. FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A plurality of hollow spherical shells are concentrically disposed at regular radial intervals between the smallest inner shell and the largest outer shell-30. The shells are held together by radially extending partitions 40 that extend between shells 20 and and divide the volume between any two neighboring shells into a plurality of arcuate volumes 50 that have the same thickness and radius of curvature. Like circular holes 60 in the surfaces of the shells 10 connect neigh- 2 boring annular volumes together in a sequence that eventually communicates with the central circular volume inside shell 20. The shells and partitions are made of clear plastic and form a housing.

Inside the housing is disposed a plurality of like spherical balls that are smaller in diameter than the holes. The various volumes inside the housing thus form a maze through which the balls may be rolled along preselected routes by manipulating the housing.

While the invention has been described with detailed reference to the drawings, the protection sought is to be limited only by the terms of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A toy, comprising:

a housing taking the form of a plurality of hollow spherical shells concentrically disposed and connected together by a plurality of radially extending partitions that block off the volume between any two neighboring shells into a plurality of arcuate volumesof like radii of curvature and like radial thickness with each shell that is surrounded by a larger shell bearing a plurality of like circular holes of clear plastic.

Claims

1. A toy, comprising: A HOUSING TAKING THE FORM OF A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW SPHERICAL SHELLS CONCENTRICALLY DISPOSED AND CONNECTED TOGETHER BY A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY EXTENDING PARTITIONS THAT BLOCK OFF THE VOLUME BETWEEN ANY TWO NEIGHBORING SHELLS INTO A PLURALITY OF ARCUATE VOLUMES OF LIKE RADII OF CURVATURE AND LIKE RADIAL THICKNESS WITH EACH SHELL THAT IS SURROUNDED BY A LARGER SHELL BEARING A PLURALITY OF LIKE CIRCULAR HOLES IN ITS SURFACE, WHEREBY NEIGHBORING ARCUATE VOLUMES ARE CONNECTED IN SEQUENCE TO THE CENTRAL SPHERICAL VOLUMES INSIDE THE SMALLEST SHELL; AND A PLURALITY OF LIKE SPHERICAL BALLS DISPOSED IN THE HOUSING, THE DIAMETER OF THE BALLS BEING LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE HOLES.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing is made of clear plastic.