GB2426464A

GB2426464A - A 3-dimensional puzzle

Info

Publication number: GB2426464A
Application number: GB0510953A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Mepham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-24
Filing date: 2005-05-27
Publication date: 2006-11-29
Also published as: GB0510953D0; GB0510570D0

Abstract

A puzzle apparatus comprises a plurality of sets of three-dimensional puzzle element. Each of the puzzle elements of a set has an identifier that is unique within said set. The puzzle elements are arranged in accordance with their identifiers, for example in accordance with the rules of the Dion cube Sudoku puzzle.

Description

A puzzle apparatus This invention relates to the field of puzzle apparatus. Sudoku is a popular newspaper puzzle that usually takes the form of a grid of nine rows by nine columns, subdivided into nine subgrids of three rows by three columns (Fig. 1). Clues are provided in the form of numerals (typically between 16 and 30 numerals) that have been correctly placed on the grid (Fig. l(a)). The solver continues to place the numerals 1 to 9 on the grid, under the restriction that no number may be repeated within any subgrid, row or column; a solution is found when the grid is completed whilst complying with that restriction. The Dion puzzle (Fig. 2) is an extension of the Sudoku puzzle. In the Dion puzzle, nine sudoku grids are provided, so that the sudoku problem is conceptually extended into the vertical plane. An extra rule is added that any numeral can only appear once in the column that would be, as it were, above or below any square in the two-dimensional grid. Many people find it helpful to use paper to experiment with alternative solutions or partial solutions of the sudoku grid or Dion puzzle. However, in particular in relation to the nine Dion grids forming the Dion puzzle, the complexity of the puzzle can make paper-based methods unattractive. According to the invention there is provided a puzzle apparatus as claimed in the claims set out below. The use of three-dimensional puzzle elements allows a solver to physically move the puzzle elements to experiment with alternative solutions and partial solutions and has the advantage that the solver is no longer required to mentally visualise the solution since the solution may simply be built from the threedimensional puzzle elements. In use, a solver may, for example, choose to construct an arrangement from a combination of blank puzzle elements and puzzle elements including identifiers, then replace each of the blank puzzle elements with a puzzle element believed to meet the restrictions of the game of sudoku. If the solver places a puzzle element in a position which proves to be incorrect, it is a simple matter to replace that puzzle element with either a blank puzzle element or a puzzle element including an alternative identifier. The three-dimensional puzzle elements have the advantage of allowing that process to be repeated numerous times with ease, and without the need to begin the puzzle again on a clean sheet of paper. In the case of a Dion sudoku puzzle, the use of threedimensional puzzle elements may allow the solver to take apart the cuboidal array to form various vertical or horizontal slices, negating the need to mentally visualise the placing in three-dimensions of a puzzle element including an identifier. The puzzle apparatus may advantageously be used as a three-dimensional tool to aid in the solving of a sudoku grid printed on paper or a set of Dion grids printed on paper. The arrangement formed by the three-dimensional puzzle elements may be substantially square (for example a sudoku array) or substantially cubiodal (for example a Dion puzzle). The identifiers labelling the puzzle elements within a set may be identical from set to set. At least some of the puzzle elements may have at least one face that does not carry an identifier. Puzzle elements may be provided that carry no identifier. Such blank or partially blank elements may be provided to enable a person attempting to solve the puzzle to construct an interim solution using at least some blank or partially blank elements. Each puzzle element may take the general form, for example, of a tile, sphere or a block such as a cube. Each three-dimensional puzzle element may be removably connectable to at least one other three-dimensional puzzle element. The puzzle element may be connectable in various ways, for example, the three-dimensional puzzle elements may be connected by the engagement of cooperating protrusions and recesses. Alternatively, the three-dimensional puzzle elements may be connected by a connecting element. A puzzle in accordance with the present invention is set by placing a number of three-dimensional puzzle elements within an arrangement preferably taking the form of either a Sudoku array or Dion puzzle, the user being left to deduce the correct placing of the remaining threedimensional puzzle elements. The puzzle elements of a correctly assembled puzzle are placed such that every subgrid contains one set of puzzle elements, and such that every column and every row of every square grid contains a set of puzzle elements. In the case of a arrangement taking the form of a Dion puzzle, every subgrid contains one set of puzzle elements and every column and every row of every square grid in each of three orthogonal planes contains a set of puzzle elements. Also according to the invention there is provided a kit comprising one or more groups of 81 puzzle elements, divided into 9 sets, each puzzle element within each set being labelled with an identifier that is unique within said set. The kit may further comprise one or more bases or boards, for receiving the puzzle elements. The kit may still further comprise a plurality of printed sudoku or Dion puzzles. Also according to the invention there is provided a kit comprising 729 puzzle elements, divided into 81 sets, each puzzle element within each set being labelled with an identifier that is unique within said set. The kit may further comprise a base (for example, with 81 holes) to accommodate the bottom layer of puzzle elements. The kit may still further comprise a plurality of printed Dion cube puzzles. Also according to the invention there is provided a puzzle manufactured from cubes numbered on three or more faces and having holes on three faces and connectors (for example pegs) on the reverse faces so that one cube can be connected with another to build a complete cube that obeys the rules of sudoku given certain starting numbers. Also according to the invention there is provided a computer displaying a representation of the threedimensional object formed according to the invention. The present invention further provides a puzzle game comprising a plurality of sets of three-dimensional puzzle elements, each of the puzzle elements of a set having an identifier that is unique within said set, wherein the puzzle elements are arranged in accordance with their identifiers. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is (a) a traditional printed sudoku puzzle and (b) its solution; Fig. 2 is a set of grids making up an example of a Dion puzzle; Fig. 3 is (a) a representation of the Dion puzzle of Fig. 2 and (b) a representation of the puzzle elements running between the centre of each face of the Dion puzzle of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a puzzle element according to the invention including (a) an identifier on each of three faces and (b) three blank faces. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the assembled puzzle takes the form of a square array of puzzle elements. The square is formed from eighty-one puzzle elements and takes the form of a nine by nine array. The square is subdivided into nine subarrays, each subarray being formed from 9 puzzle elements and taking the form of a three by three array. Thus 9 sets of puzzle elements are provided. Each set comprises nine puzzle elements associated with identifiers, in this example the numerals 1 to 9. A puzzle in accordance with the present invention is set by setting the location of between 16 and 30 initial puzzle elements within the square array, the user being left to deduce the correct placing of the remaining puzzle elements. The location of the initial puzzle elements is set, for example, by providing a traditional paper sudoku grid. The puzzle elements take the form of cubes numbered on two faces and having holes on the remaining four faces into which pegs can be "plugged" so that one cube can be attached to another to build a complete square grid that obeys the rules of sudoku, given certain starting numbers. In practice, a solver would initially connect puzzle elements in accordance with a printed sudoku puzzle, the blanks in the printed puzzle being replaced by blank puzzle elements. As the solver formulates possible solutions to the puzzle, blank puzzle elements are replaced by puzzle elements having numerals. It will be understood that the present invention also allows the game of sudoku to be played as a parlour game or time trial, where a number of solvers simultaneously attempt to find a solution to a particular printed sudoku puzzle. In that case an appropriate number of puzzle elements is provided, and the winner of the game is the first to assemble 81 three-dimensional puzzle elements into a square array meeting the rules of sudoku. It will be understood that it is possible to construct puzzles in accordance with the general principle described above, each puzzle taking the form of a square grid which may be subdivided into x subgrids, each subgrid being formed from x puzzle elements and taking the form of an x by x array. Thus x sets of puzzle elements are provided. Each set comprises x puzzle elements associated with identifiers, for example the numerals 1 to X . In another embodiment of the present invention, the assembled puzzle takes the form of a cube. Each side of the cube is nine puzzle elements long. It will be understood that the cube may be formed from a combination of nine square arrays, each square array being formed from eighty-one puzzle elements and taking the form of a nine by nine array. Each square array may be subdivided into nine subgrids, each subgrid being formed from 9 puzzle elements and taking the form of a three by three array. Thus 81 sets of puzzle elements are provided. Each set comprises nine puzzle elements associated with identifiers, in this example the numerals 1 to 9. A puzzle in accordance with the present invention is set by placing between 16 and 30 puzzle elements within each square grid, the user being left to deduce the correct placing of the remaining puzzle elements. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the puzzle elements take the form of cubes numbered on three faces and having holes on three faces and pegs on the reverse faces so that one cube can be "plugged" into another to build a complete cube that obeys the rules of Dion sudoku given certain starting numbers. As described above, a solver would initially connect puzzle elements in accordance with a printed Dion sudoku puzzle, the blanks in the printed puzzle being replaced by blank puzzle elements. As the solver formulates possible solutions to the puzzle, blank puzzle elements are replaced by puzzle elements having numerals. In the case of a Dion sudoku puzzle, the use of threedimensional puzzle elements allows the solver to take apart the cuboidal array to form various vertical or horizontal slices, negating the need to mentally visualise the placing in three-dimensions of a puzzle element including a numeral. It will be understood that it is possible to construct puzzles in accordance with the general principle described above, each puzzle taking the form of a cube. Each side of the cube is X puzzle elements long. It will be understood that the cube may be formed from a combination of x square grids, each square grid being formed from x4 puzzle elements and taking the form of a x by x array. Each square grid may be subdivided into X subgrids, each subgrid being formed from x puzzle elements and taking the form of an x by x array. Thus x4 sets of puzzle elements are provided. Each set comprises x puzzle elements associated with identifiers, for example the numerals 1 to x .

Claims

1. A puzzle apparatus, comprising: a plurality of sets of three-dimensional puzzle elements, each of the puzzle elements of a set having an identifier that is unique within said set, wherein the puzzle elements are arranged in accordance with their identifiers, in accordance with the rules described herein.

2. A game as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the arrangement formed by the three-dimensional puzzle elements is substantially square.

3. A game as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement formed by the three dimensional puzzle elements is substantially cuboidal.

4. A game according to any preceding claim, wherein each three-dimensional puzzle element is removably connectable to at least one other three-dimensional puzzle element.

5. A game according to claim 4, wherein the threedimensional puzzle elements are connected by the engagement of cooperating protrusions and recesses.

6. A game according to claim 4, wherein, the threedimensional puzzle elements are connected by a separate connecting element.

7. A game according to any preceding claim, wherein each puzzle element is substantially cubiodal.

8. A game according to claim 2, wherein the number of sets of puzzle elements is given by x , the number of unique identifiers of each set is given by x , and the total number of puzzle elements is given by x4, where x is an integer.

9. A game according to claim 3, wherein the number of sets of puzzle elements is given by x4, the number of unique identifiers of each set is given by x , and the total number of puzzle elements is given by x6, where x is an integer.

10. A game according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein x = 3.

11. A game according to any preceding claim, wherein the identifier is a number.

12. A kit comprising a plurality of puzzle games according to any of claims 1 to 11.

13. A method for constructing a puzzle comprising the steps of: a) providing a plurality of sets of threedimensional puzzle elements which, when assembled, form an arrangement of predetermined configuration, each of the three-dimensional puzzle elements of a set having a unique identifier, b) arranging the plurality of three-dimensional puzzle elements with regard to the identifiers and the rules described herein to form an arrangement of predetermined configuration.