Shiftable cubic puzzle with superimposed slidable elements

Abstract

A cubic puzzle improves on the Rubik's Cube by adding slidable elements to exterior surfaces of the cube. The improved cubic puzzle has a plurality of cubic elements connected to an interior central element, the cubic elements of each of the six surfaces of the cube being grouped into six rotatable groups of cubic elements that can be rotatably shifted relative to the central element about one of the three orthogonal axes of the cubic puzzle. The cubic puzzle further includes a plurality of slidable elements slidably disposed on exterior faces of the cubic elements.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is the first application filed for the present invention.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates generally to three-dimensional logical puzzles and, in particular, to cubic puzzles.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The famous Rubik's Cube®, named after its inventor Ernö Rubik, has to date sold well over 200,000,000 units worldwide and has become a cultural icon, spawning a virtual industry of three-dimensional logical puzzles. The design of the Rubik's Cube® is described and illustrated in Hungarian Patent HU-B-170062. See also Rubik's U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,116, U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,117 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,179.[0004]Today, approximately a quarter of a century later, the original Rubik's Cube®, not to mention its numerous variants, remains popular, not only with the so-called “speed-cubers” but also with the general population. Despite the existence of published solutions for these rotatable cubic puzzles, people of all age...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]In general, and as will be elaborated below, the present invention is an improved cubic puzzle enabling both shifting and sliding motion. This new cubic puzzle improves upon the classic Rubik's Cube® by superimposing sliding motion to the underlying shifting motion of the cube, thus providing a radically new challenge to cubic puzzle enthusiasts. The sliding motion is provided by a cluster of square slidable elements superimposed over the outer faces of the shiftable cubic elements of the cube. Grooves (or alternatively tongues or lips) can be provided in the outer faces of the shiftable cubic elements to enable the superimposed slidable elements to slide relative to the underlying faces of the cube.

Problems solved by technology

Despite the existence of published solutions for these rotatable cubic puzzles, people of all ages and backgrounds are still drawn to the challenge that these toys pose.

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