US3784206A

US3784206A - Chinese ring puzzle

Info

Publication number: US3784206A
Application number: US00342951A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Sluss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-03-20
Filing date: 1973-03-20
Publication date: 1974-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-08

Abstract

A Chinese ring puzzle consisting of a series of rings, each one of which is fitted through an eyelet secured in a bottom plate, an elongated loop trapping all the eyelets with the rings on top and the plate on the other side; the loop being able to be extracted by skilful maneuvering of the rings; the puzzle being integral with a handle carrying a pen-lite battery, switch and lamp for illumination so the puzzle can be played after dark at night, and the handle also supporting a timer so to indicate the length of time competitive players take to solve the puzzle. The timer can be so arranged in the lamp circuit as to actuate the lamp when the timer is set and deactuate the lamp at the termination of the time interval set on the timer.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Sluss 4] CHINESE RING PUZZLE [76] Inventor: Willard L. Sluss, 7616 Brush Lake Rd., North Lewisburg, Ohio 45338 [22] Filed: Mar. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 342,951

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1971 Kirk 46/228 X l/l953' Frechtmann....' 273/] M FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain 273/158 [11] 3,784,206 Jan. 8, 1974 1,185,589 3/1970 Great Britain 273/135 A Primary Examiner-Ant0n O. Oechsle 57] ABSTRACT A Chinese ring puzzle consisting of a series of rings, each one of which is fitted through an eyelet secured in a bottom plate, an elongated loop trapping all the eyelets with the rings on top and the plate on the other side; the loop being able to be extracted by skilful maneuvering of the rings; the puzzle being integral with a handle carrying a pen-lite battery, switch and lamp for illumination so the puzzle can be played after dark at night, and the handle also supporting a timer so to indicate the length of time competitive players take to solve the puzzle. The timer can be so arranged in the lamp circuit as to actuate the lamp when the timer is set and deactuate the lamp at the termination of the time interval set on the timer.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures CHINESE RING PUZZLE This invention relates generally to puzzles.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel Chinese ring puzzle for challenging a players skill in solving and which gives diversion and fun to a player as well as to others who are watching the player trying to find a solution.

Another object is to provide a Chinese ring puzzle which includes a timer for keeping record of the length of time a player requires to solve the puzzle, so that it can be played competitively'between players.

Yet another object is to provide a Chinese ring puzzle which includes an illuminating lamp so that it can be played in the dark, such as when traveling in a car at night, and the like.

Other objects are to provide a Chinese ring puzzle which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use, and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification andthe accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof shown fragmentarily, and illustrating primarily a novel handle.

FIG. 3 is an electrical diagram thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a Chinese ring puzzle according to the present invention wherein there is a series'of closed rings 11, each of which is held captive in an eye opening 12 of an eyelet 13 made from rod material and which is secured upon a long bottom plate 14; the eyelets being arranged in a straight row. An elongated closed loop 15 entraps all the eyelets with the rings on top and the plate on the other side. By skilful manipulation of the rings in various combinatioms the loop can be extracted, thus solving the puzzle.

In the present invention, the puzzle 10 is incorporated with a handle 16 secured thereto, the handle having a screw threaded, removable end cap 17 so to allow replacement of a pen lite. dry cell battery 18' within a central chamber formed in the handle. The battery is in an electric circuit with a switch 19 also contained in the handle and an electric lamp bulb 20 located in a socket housing 21 that is pivotable from a position adjacent an end of the handle (as shown by solid lines in the drawing) to a position (as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 2) where it illuminates the puzzle 10 so that it can be played with out-of-doors at night time, or in a car after dark. Wiring 2] to the lamp is carried along the pivotable arms 22 from the battery and switch. Atimer 23 in the handle can be either of mechanical wind up type or electrical by being incorporated into the electric circuit so to automatically put out the light when a set time is up for a player.

The rings, loop and eyelets are made of stiff wire or the like.

Thus a novel Chinese ring puzzle has been provided.

. I claim:

1. In a Chinese ring puzzle the combination of a plurality of rings, each said ring being held captive in an eyelet, said eyelets being secured on an elongated plate, and an elongated loop entrapping all said eyelets with the rings on top and said plate on the other side, a hollow handle being secured to said puzzle, said handle containing an electric switch and timer and a replaceable pen-lite dry cell battery, said battery, switch and timer being in an electric circuit with a lamp adapted to illuminate said puzzle in a darkness, and means responsive to the setting of said timer for actuating said lamp and responsive to the termination of the time interval set on the timer to deactuate said lamp.