Puzzle with magnetic system

Abstract

A puzzle with a magnetic system including eight spherical elements of the same diameter, containing magnets near their surfaces and connected to each other by magnetic attraction, wherein the spherical elements form a cubic structure with their centers arranged in a 222 matrix, wherein each sphere is configured to rotate in three mutually orthogonal directions.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. A puzzle with a magnetic system comprising: eight spherical elements of the same diameter, containing magnets near their surfaces and connected to each other by magnetic attraction, wherein the spherical elements form a cubic structure with their centers arranged in a 222 matrix, wherein each sphere is configured to rotate in three mutually orthogonal directions.

6. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein each spherical element is a ball made of solid, homogeneous, non-magnetic material and contains a magnetic system composed of permanent magnets located beneath the surface of each ball, which are rigidly fixed inside the balls by the material of each ball.

7. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein all magnets in each ball are positioned at such a distance from the respective ball's surface that the magnetic attraction force is sufficient to keep the balls within the 222 matrix.

8. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein each magnet in the magnetic system has a magnetization such that the attraction force between the poles of different polarities of magnets from different balls is sufficient to hold these balls in the 222 matrix.

9. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein within each ball, base magnets are located at the ends of mutually perpendicular diameters.

10. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein each base magnet is oriented so that both its poles lie along one of the mutually perpendicular diameters of the ball.

11. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein the polarities of all base magnets inside each ball are such that all base magnets in each ball are directed inward with the same poles.

12. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein along each meridional arc connecting the nearest base magnets, meridional magnets are placed at equal distances from each other.

13. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein the orientation of the meridional magnets is such that the north and south magnetic poles of each meridional magnet lie on the same radius of the ball containing that magnet.

14. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein each meridional arc connecting the nearest base magnets in each ball contains the same number of magnets.

15. The puzzle of claim 14, wherein the arrangement of magnets on the arcs is symmetrical with respect to the base magnets they connect, and is the same for all balls.

16. The puzzle of claim 14, wherein the polarities of the meridional magnets on each meridional arc alternate such that the meridional magnets closest to the base magnets have opposite polarities.

17. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein the number, arrangement, and orientation of the magnets, excluding their polarities, are identical for all balls.

18. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein the magnets in the same positions in touching balls within the 222 matrix have opposite polarities.

19. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein each ball is colored in such a way that its coloration allows for the unambiguous determination of its orientation within the matrix of balls.

20. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein inside each ball, around each base magnet, and at an equal distance from the nearest meridional magnets, there are four additional magnets, wherein the orientation of these additional magnets is such that the north and south magnetic poles of each additional magnet lie on the same radius of the ball containing that magnet, and the polarity of each additional magnet matches the polarity of the nearest base magnet.

21. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein three meridional magnets are arranged between each pair of adjacent base magnets within each ball.

22. A magnetic system puzzle comprising: eight spherical elements of the same diameter, each containing magnets near their surfaces to maintain the magnetic system and prevent the puzzle from falling apart, wherein the spherical elements form a cubic structure with their centers, arranged in a 222 matrix, and each sphere can rotate only along three orthogonal directions, wherein each spherical element is a truncated sphere made from solid, homogeneous non-magnetic material, containing a magnetic system comprised of permanent magnets located inside each truncated sphere wherein the magnets are rigidly fixed within the spheres by the material of each sphere, with no independent movement of the magnets relative to their containing spheres, wherein all magnets in each truncated sphere are positioned at such a distance from its surface that the magnetic attraction is sufficient to keep the truncated spheres in the puzzle's structure, wherein each magnet in the magnetic system is magnetized such that the attraction between magnets of opposite polarity from different truncated spheres is sufficient to hold these spheres in the 222 matrix, wherein inside each truncated sphere, there are six base magnets located at the ends of three mutually perpendicular diameters, wherein each base magnet is oriented so that both of its poles lie on one of these mutually perpendicular diameters, wherein the polarities of all base magnets inside each truncated sphere are such that all base magnets point inward with the same poles, wherein along each meridional arc connecting the nearest base magnets, meridional magnets are positioned at equal distances from each other, wherein the orientation of these meridional magnets ensures that the north and south poles of each meridional magnet lie on the same radius of the truncated sphere, wherein the meridional arcs connecting the nearest base magnets contain the same odd number of magnets, and the placement of these magnets along the arcs is symmetrical relative to the base magnets they connect, and is consistent across all truncated spheres, wherein the polarities of the meridional magnets alternate such that the meridional magnets closest to the base magnets have opposite polarities, wherein the number, placement, and orientation of magnets, excluding their polarities, are the same for all truncated spheres, wherein magnets in the same positions, located in touching truncated spheres within the 222 matrix, have opposite polarities, wherein the sizes of all truncations are the same, and each truncated sphere contains an equal number of truncations, which matches the number of magnets within each sphere, wherein each truncation of a truncated sphere is positioned above one of the magnets in that sphere so that the radius passing through both poles of the magnet also passes through the center of the truncation, wherein each truncated sphere is painted in a way that allows its orientation within the matrix of truncated spheres to be unambiguously determined, wherein in each truncated sphere, four additional magnets are placed around each base magnet at equal distances between the nearest meridional magnets, and wherein the orientation of these additional magnets is such that the north and south poles of each additional magnet lie on the same radius of the truncated sphere containing the magnet, and the polarity of each additional magnet matches the polarity of the nearest base magnet.

23. The magnetic system puzzle of claim 22, wherein three meridional magnets are arranged between each pair of adjacent base magnets within each truncated ball.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] 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:

[0031] FIG. 1an exterior view of the puzzle with the game markings applied;

[0032] FIG. 2general view of the mutual arrangement of balls and magnets inside them;

[0033] FIG. 3a schematic representation of the orientation of the magnet in the ball;

[0034] FIG. 4separate balloons of the northern and southern types;

[0035] FIG. 5cross-sections of the balls of the northern type (left) and southern type (right) along the equators, under which the magnets are located;

[0036] FIG. 6general view of the arrangement of the balls and additional magnets inside them;

[0037] FIG. 7location of additional magnets in the balls of northern (left) and southern (right) types;

[0038] FIG. 8a schematic representation of the arrangement of the magnet in the truncated ball;

[0039] FIG. 9a sketch of the appearance of the assembled puzzle;

[0040] FIG. 10a sketch of the appearance of the puzzle in the disassembled state;

[0041] FIG. 11a photograph of the puzzle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] It should be noted that both options of the disclosure achieve the same purposes and technical results.

[0045] The essence of the invention is encapsulated in a set of essential features that are sufficient to achieve its intended purpose.

[0046] 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 222 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 222 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.

[0047] 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 222 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 222 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.

[0048] In the magnetic system puzzle, each full ball or truncated ball may contain three meridional magnets between adjacent base magnets.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] Thus, each ball contains a total of N=3(8*2) base 2 and meridional 3 magnets, where is a natural number equal for all balls.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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 222 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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 typeby 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.

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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.

[0063] Such a combination of versatility, achieving the possibility of multiple reproduction with relative ease of manufacture, has not been achieved in the prototype.

[0064] Drawing positions by number: [0065] 1equators, under which the magnets are located; [0066] 2base magnets; [0067] 3meridional magnets; [0068] 4balls of the southern type; [0069] 5balls of the northern type; [0070] 6non-magnetic material holding the magnets; [0071] 7additional magnets; [0072] 8magnet located in the ball; [0073] 9the balls that form the puzzle; [0074] 10marks on the balls to determine their orientation.