GB2116439A

GB2116439A - Crossword puzzle device

Info

Publication number: GB2116439A
Application number: GB08206800A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Meary Cajetan Gomes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-09
Filing date: 1982-03-09
Publication date: 1983-09-28

Abstract

The puzzle includes a plurality of tumblers (1) each having side faces (2) and a plurality of display faces (3), at least some of which faces carry information, a frame in which the tumblers (1) are carried side by side in parallel rows (4) so that an outermost display face (3a) of each tumbler (1) is co-planar with that of the other tumblers to form a display surface and means including rods (8), "L"-shaped apertures (13), and knobs (12), whereby each row (4) may be displaced out of the common plane, individual tumblers in the displaced row be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the row to bring a different display face (3) outermost and the row of tumblers put back with its outermost display faces (3a) in the common plane to vary the information displayed. Each tumbler has a projection (15) which engages in a complementary recess in an adjacent tumbler. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Puzzle toy This invention relates to a puzzle toy and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with such a puzzle toy which provides one or more crossword puzzles.

Conventional crossword puzzles generally are printed on paper and involve the filling in of a number of blank squares with the aid of clues.

Whilst such conventional crossword puzzles are generally satisfactory there is a growing need for a new, and more difficult, form of crossword puzzle which offers a greater challenge to the player.

According to the present invention there is provided a puzzle toy including a plurality of tumblers each having two substantially parallel side faces and a plurality of display faces interconnecting the side faces, at least some of which tumblers carry information on at least one display face thereof, a frame in which the tumblers are carried side by side in a number of substantially parallel rows so that the outermost display face of each tumbler is substantially coplanar with that of the other tumblers to form a substantially contiguous surface on which information which is a composite of the information individually carried by the tumblers, may be displayed, and means whereby each row of tumblers may temporarily be displaced out of the plane of the substantially contiguous surface, an individual tumbler or tumblers in the displaced row rotated about the longitudinal axis of the row relative to the other tumblers in the row to bring a different display face outermost and thus change the information displayed by the outermost display face, and the row of tumblers put back with its outermost display faces in the plane of the substantially contiguous surface, to vary the composite information display as required.

The display faces on each tumbler may be arranged in the form of a square, hexagon or octagon.

The individual information on each tumbler may be a letter blank or shaded blank to form a composite solution to one or more crossword puzzles. Alternatively the individual information on each tumbler may be a portion of a picture to form at least one composite picture.

Conveniently the frame is substantially rectangular in plan with four edge members forming the sides of the rectangle and upstanding from a base board. Advantageously the depth of at least two opposed edge members corresponds substantially to twice the maximum distance between two opposed display faces on a tumbler.

Advantageously the means whereby each row of tumblers may temporarily be displaced out of and in to the plane of the substantially contiguous surface includes a plurality of wire or rod members, with the tumblers in each row having a substantially central bore therethrough substantially at right angles to the two side faces thereof through which it opens, and by which bores the tumblers or that row are rotatably mounted on the respective wire or rod member.

Conveniently the end regions of the wire or rod members are located in apertures provided in said at least two opposed edge members so that the ends of the wire or rod members extend externally of the respective edge members for manipulation to displace the respective row. These apertures preferably are in the form of a slot arranged such that the associated wire or rod member, and thus the row of tumblers, may be displaced out of the plane of the substantially contiguous surface sufficiently to allow rotative movement of individual tumblers in the row to be effected, and then returned to the plane.

Advantageously each slot includes a stop for temporarily arresting return of the wire or rod member to the plane whilst rotative movement of individual tumblers in the row is effected. This stop may be a slot extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the slot.

Advantageously each tumbler includes means for releasable locking it to its adjoining tumbler or tumblers in a row. This locking means preferably includes a projection on one of the side faces of a tumbler and a cooperating snap-fitting recess in the adjacent side face of the adjoining tumbler in a row, with the spacing of the at least two opposed edge members being such as to allow longitudinal movement of the tumblers relative to the wire or rod member sufficient to permit release of the locking means and rotation of the unlocking tumbler or tumblers in the arrested displaced position of the row.

The puzzle toy may include at least one elongated mask member for blanking off tumblers in at least one edge region of the frame to reduce the size of the display area.

The tumblers may be made of plastics material, wood and/or metal. Advantageously the base board is extended beyond at least one edge member and provided with a housing or pocket on the extended portion.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect reference will now be made by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a plan view from above of a puzzle toy according to a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a detail of Figure 1 showing an edge member and a tumbler, to an enlarged scale, and Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through two tumblers of Figure 1, to an enlarged scale, showing the tumblers in an unlocked position.

A puzzle toy of the present invention, as shown in the accompanying drawings, includes a plurality of tumblers 1 each having two parallel side faces 2 and a plurality of display faces 3 interconnecting the side faces 2. The display faces 3 on each tumbler 1 may be arranged in any convenient manner such as in the form of a square as shown in the illustrated embodiment in which the tumblers are cubic in shape, or in the form of a hexagon or octagon (not illustrated). At least some of the tumblers 1 carry information on at least one display face 3 thereof. This individual information on each tumbler 1 may be in the form of a letter blank, or shaded blank as illustrated to form a composite solution to one or more crossword puzzles.For convenience only a crossword puzzle toy example of the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, although it is to be understood that the individual information on each tumbler display face 3 may be a portion of a picture to form at least one composite picture rather than the illustrated letter or blank carried on the display faces 3.

The puzzle toy of the invention also includes a frame in which the tumblers 1 are carried side by side in a number of substantially parallel rows 4 so that the outermost display face 3a of each tumbler 1 is substantially coplanar with that of the other tumblers 1 to form a substantially contiguous surface on which information which is a composite of the information individually carried by the tumblers 1, may be displayed as shown in Figure 1.

The frame is substantially rectangular in plan as shown in Figure 1 with four edge members 5 and 5a forming the sides of the rectangle and upstanding from a base board 6. As shown in Figure 1 the base board 6 conveniently is extended beyon at least one edge member 5 and provided with a housing or pocket 7 for containing sets of clues to the crossword puzzles carried on the puzzle toy. Such clues conveniently are carried on cards made from plastics material, which cards can be housed in the housing or pocket 7.

The puzzle toy of the invention includes means whereby each row 4 of tumblers 1 may temporarily be displaced out of the plane of the substantially contiguous surface, an individual tumbler or tumblers in the displaced row rotated about the longitudinal axis of the row relative to the other tumblers in the row to bring a different tumbler display face 3 outermost and thus change the information displayed by the outermost display face, and the row of tumblers put back with its outmost display faces in the plane of the substantially contiguous surface, to vary the composite information display as required.

To this end each means whereby each row of tumblers may temporarily be displaced out of and into the plane of the substantially contiguous surface includes a plurality of wore or rod members 8, with the tumblers 1 in each row 4 having a substantially central bore 9 (as shown in Figure 3) therethrough substantially at right angles to the two side faces 2 through which it opens, by which bores 9 the tumblers of that row are pivotally mounted on the respective wire or rod member 8 as shown in Figure 3.

The end regions of the wire or rod members 8 are located in apertures 10 provided in at least two opposed edge members 5a which have a depth corresponding substantially to twice the maximum distance between two opposed display faces 3 on a tumbler 1. The end regions of the wire or rod members 8 are located in the apertures 10 so that the ends 11 of the wire or rod members 8 extend externally of the respective edge members 5a for manipulation to displace the respective rows. Conveniently each end 11 carries a knob 12 or such like means for manipulation by the fingers of a user of the puzzle toy.

The apertures 10, as illustrated, are in the form of a slot 1 3 arranged such that the associated wire or rod member 8, and thus the row of adjoining tumblers 1, may be displaced out of the plane of the substantially contiguous surface sufficiently to allow rotative movement of individual tumblers 1 in the row to be effected, and then returned to the plane. This may be seen more clearly from Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, in which the tumbler 1 is shown displaced out of the plane of the substantially contiguous surface. When in the plane of the substantially contiguous surface the wire or rod member 8 would be located in the base 1 3a of the slot 13. All the other wire or rod members 8 of the rows of tumblers 1 whose display faces 3a make up the substantially continguous surface would likewise be located in the bases 1 3a of their respective slots 13.

As shown in Figure 2 each slot 1 3 preferably includes a stop for temporarily arresting return of the wire or rod member 8 to the plane of the substantially contiguous surface, whilst rotative movement of individual tumblers about the wire or rod member 8 is effected. This stop may take the form of a groove in the side wall of the slot 1 3 at the uppermost end thereof sufficient to retain the wire or rod member 8 in its uppermost displaced position or it may be in the from of a slot extension 1 4 as shown in Figure 2, extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the slot 13. This slot extension 14 extends from the uppermost end of the slot 1 3 opposite to the end 13a.

Thus by means of the cooperating slot 1 3 and slot extension 14 a row of tumblers 1 may be displaced upwardly out of the plane of the substantially contiguous surface and temporarily arrested in the displaced position whilst the individual tumblers are rotated about the wire or rod member 8 to change the uppermost display surface 3a. Thus in the uppermost displaced position as shown in Figure 2 the display face 3a showing the letter C can be rotated so that the display face 3 showing the letter Y becomes uppermost. The row of tumblers 1 may then be upturned such that the letter Y is displayed on the face 3 which becomes part of the contiguous surface, by movement of the wire or rod member 8 back along its associated slot extensions 14 and down its associated slots 1 3 until it abuts once again the slot base 1 3a.

Conveniently each tumbler 1 includes means for releasably locking the tumbler to its adjoining tumbler or tumblers in a row. This prevents accidental displacement of the tumblers in a row whilst one tumbler is being rotatively moved. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 this releasabie locking means may include a projection 1 5 on a side face 2 of a tumbler 1 and a cooperating snap-fitting recess 1 6 in the adjacent side face 2 of the adjoining tumbler 1 in a row. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the cooperating projection 1 5 and recess 1 6 have a rectangular cross-section to conform with the rectangular cross-section of the tumbler 1.If a tumbler having an octagonal or hexagonal crosssection is employed then the cooperating projection 1 5 and recess 1 6 may have a corresponding octagonal or hexagonal or even a circular cross-section to allow the uppermost display faces of interlocked tumblers to be in substantial alignment in the plane of the substantially contiguous surface. To enable two side by side interlocking tumblers 1 to be separated, the two opposed edge members 5a of the frame are spaced apart or recessed, such as to allow longitudinal movement of the tumblers 1 relative to the wire or rod member 8 sufficient to permit release of the projection 1 5 from the recess 1 6 and rotation of the unlocked tumbler 1 in the arrested displaced position of the row 4 as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The illustrated embodiment has 225 tumblers 1 in the form of cubes arranged in 15 rows of 1 5 tumblers per row. Conveniently the puzzle toy illustrated incorporates 4 crosswords, namely 2 crosswords involving all 225 tumblers or 225 diplay faces, 1 crossword involving 1 69 tumblers or 1 69 display faces and 1 crossword involving 144 tumblers or 144 display faces. The latter two crosswords involving the use ofa reduced number of the tumblers or the display faces may be simplified by the use of one or more elongated mask members (not shown) for blanking off tumblers in edge regions of the frame to reduce the size of the display area to a size corresponding to the reduced number of tumblers involved.Of course these two smaller crosswords need not necessarily start at the first top left tumbler shown in Figure 1, but may occupy positions on the top right corner area or other corner areas.

Clues to each of the 4 crosswords are given on 4 separate cards. The correct solution to each crossword will be found by lining up all the tumblers involved in the right one of four possible positions. In order to make the crossword puzzle more difficult to solve, a certain number of the display faces on the tumblers may be left blank for filling in with correct letters or for shading by the user of the puzzle. Additionally the display faces may be left unumbered with the clues for each of the four crosswords being given in strict sequence, both across and down. This obviates any difficulty in determining which particular sequence of display faces should carry a particular word. Quite appartfrom finding the solution to the clues it is necessary for the user to complete the actual design of the crossword by correct assembly of the shaded dislay faces in a pattern consistent with the correct solution. Thus it is necessary for the user of the puzzle both to design the crossword and then solve it. Of course when employing a puzzle of the invention whose tumblers have an octagonal or hexagonal crosssection providing 8 or 6 display faces per tumbler it is possible to provide 8 or 6 puzzles for solution with corresponding increase in complexity and difficulty in solving the puzzle.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A puzzle toy including a plurality of tumblers each having two substantially parallel side faces of a plurality of display faces interconnecting the side faces, at least some of which tumblers carry information on at least one display face thereof, a frame in which the tumblers are carried side by side in a number of substantially parallel rows so that the outermost display face of each tumbler is substantially co-planar with that of the other tumblers so form a substantially contiguous surface on which information which is a composite of the information individually carried by the tumblers, may be displayed, and means whereby each row of tumblers may temporarily be displaced out of the plane of the substantially contiguous surface, an individual tumbler or tumblers in the displaced row rotated about the longitudinal axis of the row relative to the other tumblers in the row to bring a different display face outermost and thus change the information displayed by the outermost display face, and the row of tumblers put back with its outermost display faces in the plane of the substantially contiguous surface, to vary the composite information display as required.

2. A puzzle toy according to claim 1, wherein the display faces on each tumbler are arranged in the form of a square, hexagon or octagon.

3. A puzzle toy according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the individual information on each tumbler is a letter blank or shaded blank to form a composite solution to one or more crossword puzzles.

4. A puzzle toy according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the individual information on each tumbler is a portion of a picture to form at least one composite picture.

5. A puzzle toy according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the frame is substantially rectangular in plan with four edge members forming the sides of the rectangle and upstanding from a baseboard.

6. A puzzle toy according to claim 5, wherein the depth of at least two opposed edge members corresponds substantially to twice the maximum distance between two opposed displace faces on a tumbler.

7. A puzzle toy according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means whereby each row of tumblers may temporarily be displaced out of an in to the plane of the substantially contiguous surface includes a plurality of wire or rod members, with the tumblers in each row having a substantially central bore therethrough substantially at right angles to the two side faces thereof through which it opens, and by which bores the tumblers of that row are rotatably mounted on the respective wire or rod member.

8. A puzzle toy according to claim 7 when appended to claim 6, wherein the end regions of the wire of rod members are located in apertures provided in said at least two opposed edge members so that the ends of the wire or rod members extend externally of the respective edge members for manipulation to displace the respective row.

9. A puzzle toy according to claim 8, wherein the apertures are in the from of a slot arranged such that the associated wire or rod member, and thus the row of tumblers, may be displaced out of the plane of the substantially contiguous surface sufficiently to allow rotative movement of individual tumblers in the row to be effected, and then returned to the plane.

10. A puzzle toy according to claim 9, wherein each slot includes a stop for temporarily arresting return of the wire or rod member to the plane whilst rotative movement of individual tumblers in the row is effected.

1 A puzzle toy according to claim 10, wherein the stop is a further slot extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the slot.

12. A puzzle toy according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein each tumbler includes means for releasably locking it to its adjoining tumbler or tumblers in a row.

13. A puzzle toy according to claim 12, wherein the locking means includes a projection on one of the side faces of a tumbler and a cooperating snap-fitting recess in the adjacent side face of the adjoining tumbler in a row, with the spacing of the at least two opposed edge members being such as to allow longitudinal movement of the tumblers relative to the wire or rod member sufficient to permit release of the locking means and rotation of the unlocked tumbler or tumblers in the arrested displaced position of the row.

14. A puzzle toy according to claim 13, including at least one elongated mask member for blanking off tumblers in at least one edge region of the frame to reduce the size of the display area.

1 5. A puzzle toy according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the tumblers are made of plastics material, wood and/or metal.

1 6. A puzzle toy according to any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the base board is extended beyond at least one edge member and provided with a housing or pocket on the extended portion.

1 7. A puzzle toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.