WO2003061793A1

WO2003061793A1 - Soccer ball for puzzle

Info

Publication number: WO2003061793A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/000098
Authority: WO
Inventors: Su-Won Bae
Original assignee: Modooone I B Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2001-12-28
Filing date: 2002-01-21
Publication date: 2003-07-31
Also published as: KR200279836Y1

Abstract

Disclosed is a soccer ball-shaped puzzle comprising twelve regular pentagonal pieces (10), each having five sides whose lengths are identical, and twenty regular hexagonal pieces (20), each having six sides whose lengths are identical, wherein all of the sides thereof being formed with means for engaging one side with another side, whereby a total of thirty-two pieces are combined with one another appropriately, thereby allowing a user to enjoy a puzzle while completing a soccer ball having thirty two sides, and allowing the user to be aware of sources of pride of his country, local self-governing body, or home town, etc. if the surfaces thereof are printed with the national flag, places of scenic beauty, traditional artwork while playing the puzzle. Each side of the regular pentagonal pieces and the regular hexagonal pieces is formed with either a male engaging part or a female engaging part.

Description

SOCCER BALL FOR PUZZLE

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to a soccer ball-shaped puzzle and, more particularly, to a soccer ball-shaped puzzle comprising 12 regular pentagonal pieces, each having five sides whose lengths are identical, and 20 regular hexagonal pieces, each having six sides whose lengths are identical, wherein all of the sides thereof being formed with means for fixedly engaging one side with another side, whereby a total of 32 pieces are combined with one another appropriately, thereby allowing a user to enjoy a puzzle while completing a soccer ball having 32 sides, and at the same time allowing the user to be aware of sources of pride of his country, local self-governing body, or home town, etc. if the surfaces thereof are printed with the national flag, local places of scenic beauty, traditional artwork and so on.

Background Art

As well known to those skilled in the art, since the 2002 FIFA World

Cup™ was held in Korea and Japan, interest in soccer has recently been increasing. Under such growing interest in soccer, puzzle games using a soccer ball would contribute to increasing interest in soccer and also to pleasing soccer lovers. In addition, there has been a need for introducing features of Korea or local self- governing bodies and places of scenic beauty and the like to foreigners visiting

Korea or Koreans who live in other districts; however, actually such products have not fully been developed.

Conventional puzzles similar to the puzzle disclosed in the present invention are shaped with two dimensional pieces, thereby making it easy to solve, and thus, the conventional puzzles have failed to allure interest except for young children or babies.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a soccer ball-shaped puzzle which is structured to take the form of a soccer ball after it is completely assembled, thereby alluring the users to assemble the soccer ball and enjoy the puzzle while utilizing free time and feeling the atmosphere of the soccer grounds at sightseeing places in the cities which will host the 2002 World Cup games, and also being capable of publicizing, in a natural manner, a country or self-governing body by printing the national flag, sightseeing places, traditional artwork, etc on the surface of the completed soccer ball.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a soccer ball-shaped puzzle comprising 12 regular pentagonal pieces, each side being formed with either a male engaging part or a female engaging part, and 20 regular hexagonal pieces having sides whose lengths are identical to those of the regular pentagonal pieces, each side being formed with either a male engaging part or a female engaging part.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a fully solved soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view schematically showing a disengaged soccer ball- shaped puzzle according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a top plan view schematically showing a disengaged soccer ball- shaped puzzle according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4a is a top plan view of a regular pentagonal piece which is an element of the soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4b is a top plan view of a regular pentagonal piece which is an element of the soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5a is a top plan view of a regular hexagonal piece which is an element of the soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5b is a top plan view of a regular hexagonal piece which is an element of the soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to another embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a top plan view illustrating an engagement of a regular pentagonal piece and a regular hexagonal piece which are the elements of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a fully solved soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a top plan view schematically showing a disengaged soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a top plan view schematically showing a disengaged soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to another embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4a is a top plan view of a regular pentagonal piece which is an element of the soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 4b is a top plan view of a regular pentagonal piece which is an element of the soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to another embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 5a is a top plan view of a regular hexagonal piece which is an element of the soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 5b is a top plan view of a regular hexagonal piece which is an element of the soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to another embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 6 is a top plan view illustrating an engagement of a regular pentagonal piece with a regular hexagonal piece which are the elements of the present invention.

A better understanding of the present invention may be obtained through the following example which is set forth to illustrate, but is not to be construed as the limit of the present invention.

As illustrated, a soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to the present invention comprises 12 regular pentagonal pieces 10, each side of which is formed with either a male engaging part (a) or a female engaging part (b), and 20 regular hexagonal pieces 20, each side of which is formed with either a male engaging part (a) or a female engaging part (b) wherein all the sides of the regular pentagonal pieces 10 and regular hexagonal pieces 20 are identical in length. A real soccer ball is also composed of 12 regular pentagonal pieces and 20 regular hexagonal pieces, and thus, the soccer ball-shaped puzzle of the present invention is also constructed to be the same shape as a real soccer ball.

The regular pentagonal and hexagonal pieces 10 and 20 in Figs. 2 and 3 show neither male engaging parts (a) nor female engaging parts (b) formed thereon, in order to make the figures simplified for the sake of convenience. In lieu thereof, the sides on which male engaging parts (a) are formed are indicated with '0 ' and the sides on which female engaging parts (b) are formed are indicated with 'Δ.'

The regular pentagonal and hexagonal pieces 10 and 20 may be formed from paper or plastic.

A male engaging part (a) may be made with a variety of shapes. As a way of example, as illustrated in Figs. 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b, the male engaging part (a) is extended outwardly, to a predetermined length and with some width, from the center of an edge of the regular pentagonal or hexagonal pieces 10 or 20 and is formed with projecting parts (al) on both ends.

The boundary line formed by either the regular pentagonal or hexagonal pieces 10 or 20 and the male engaging part (a) connected with each other may be bendable. Where the regular pentagonal or hexagonal pieces 10 or 20 are made with paper, the boundary line can be easily bent by a user himself. Where they are made with plastic, the boundary line may be formed thinly so as to allow it to be bent in an easy manner.

A female engaging part (b) may be made with a variety of shapes. As a way of example, as illustrated in Figs. 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b, the female engaging part (b) is extended outwardly, to a predetermined length and with some width, from the center of an edge of the regular pentagonal or hexagonal pieces 10 or 20 and is formed with slots (bl) as wide and long as in the male engaging parts (a), immediately next to the boundary line between the regular pentagonal or hexagonal pieces 10 or 20. The boundary line formed by either the regular pentagonal or hexagonal pieces 10 or 20 and the male engaging part (a) connected with each other may also be bendable. Where by the regular pentagonal or hexagonal pieces 10 or 20 are made with paper, the boundary line can be easily bent by a user himself. Where they are made with plastics, the boundary line may be formed thinly so as to allow it to be bent in an easy manner.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, when the male engaging part (a) is inserted into the slot (bl) of the female engaging part (b), the engagement between them can be maintained owing to the projecting part (a) of the male engaging part (a). The soccer ball-shaped puzzle illustrated in Fig. 2 is formed with 12 regular pentagonal pieces 10, each side of which is only formed with male engaging parts (a) but having no female engaging parts (b), as referred to in Table 1, described below.

Table 1

On the sides of 20 regular hexagonal pieces 20 illustrated in one embodiment of the present invention are formed male engaging parts (a) and female engaging parts (b) as many as indicated in Table 2. That is, they comprise 10 regular hexagonal pieces 20 formed with one (1) male engaging part (a) and five (5) female engaging parts (b), 7 regular hexagonal pieces 20 formed with three (3) male engaging part (a) and three (3) female engaging parts (b) and 3 regular hexagonal pieces 20 formed with no male engaging part (a) and six (6) female engaging parts (b) 3.

Table 2

12 regular pentagonal pieces 10 illustrated in Fig. 3 according to another embodiment of the present invention are, as indicated in Fig. 3, composed of 1 regular pentagonal piece 10 formed with zero (0) male engaging parts (a) and five (5) female engaging parts (b), 1 regular pentagonal piece 10 formed with five (5) male engaging parts (a) and zero (0) female engaging parts (b), 2 regular hexagonal piece 10 formed with two (2) male engaging parts (a) and three (3) female engaging parts (b), 4 regular hexagonal pieces 10 formed with four (4) male engaging parts (a) and one (1) female engaging part (b), 2 regular pentagonal pieces 10 formed with three (3) male engaging parts (a) and three (3) female engaging parts (b), and 2 regular pentagonal pieces 10 formed with one (1) male engaging part (a) and four (4) female engaging parts (b).

Table 3

20 regular hexagonal pieces 20 indicated in Table 4 according to another embodiment of the present invention are composed of 2 regular hexagonal pieces 20 formed with one (1) male engaging part (a) and five (5) female engaging parts

(b), 6 regular hexagonal pieces 20 formed with two (2) male engaging parts (a) and four (4) female engaging parts (b), 6 regular hexagonal pieces 20 formed with three (3) male engaging parts (a) and three (3) female engaging parts (b), 2 regular hexagonal pieces 20 formed with five (5) male engaging parts (a) and one (1) female engaging part (b), 3 regular hexagonal pieces 20 formed with four (4) male engaging parts (a) and two (2) female engaging parts (b), and 1 regular hexagonal piece 20 formed with six (6) male engaging parts (a) and zero (0) female engaging parts (b).

Table 4

In the above, only two embodiments have been described with respect to the present invention. However, male engaging parts (a) and female engaging parts (b) formed on the regular pentagonal and hexagonal pieces 10 and 20 may be engaged variously in terms of numbers and combinations.

As regular pentagonal and hexagonal pieces 10 and 20 are increased in kind, the difficulty of the soccer ball-shaped' puzzle according to the present invention would increase. But, if they are decreased in kind, the difficulty thereof would decrease accordingly. Referring to the figures, the difficulty of the soccer ball-shaped puzzle as shown in Fig. 2 is low, but that of the soccer ball-shaped puzzle as shown in Fig. 3 is high.

The soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to the present invention can display a variety of patterns or figures, etc. on the surface thereof when the puzzle is solved, that is, the soccer ball is completed. In other words, the soccer ball can be assembled to complete the pattern to be displayed.

A user can enjoy the puzzle game by solving the puzzle while completing any figure which will be displayed on the surface of the completed soccer ball, such as a national flag, a sightseeing place, a scenic place or a variety of traditional artwork, etc. In this case, this may lead a foreigner to become more aware of the

Korean national flag or sightseeing place, etc. in a natural manner.

The respective national flags of the countries attending to the World Cup games, or scenic places in Korea can be displayed on the surfaces of 12 regular pentagonal pieces 10 and 20 regular hexagonal pieces 20. On the side of local self-governing bodies, they can display traditional artwork or scenic places on the surfaces thereof; if so, this may be effective for Koreans living in other districts and foreigners, to introduce them in a natural manner.

The soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to the present invention enables the user to enjoy the puzzle and simultaneously a country or a local self-governing body, to introduce the country or that district in a natural manner to foreigners or

Koreans in other districts. That is, the soccer ball-shaped puzzle can be used in various manners.

The soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to the present invention can also be used as a decoration if it is displayed indoors after being completed.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a soccer ball-shaped puzzle which, upon assembling, is structured to take the form of a soccer ball, thereby alluring the users to assemble the puzzles and enjoy the puzzle while utilizing free time and feeling the atmosphere of soccer grounds at sightseeing places in cities, and is also capable of publicizing, in a natural manner, a country or self-governing body by printing the national flag, sightseeing places, traditional artwork, etc on the surface of the completed soccer ball. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A soccer ball-shaped puzzle, comprising: twelve regular pentagonal pieces, each side of which is formed with either a male engaging part or a female engaging part; and twenty regular hexagonal pieces, each side of which is formed with either a male engaging part or a female engaging part, wherein all the sides of the regular pentagonal pieces and regular hexagonal pieces are identical in length.

2. The soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to claim 1, wherein all the sides of the twelve regular pentagonal pieces are formed with male engaging parts, and the twenty regular hexagonal pieces comprise ten regular hexagonal pieces formed with one male engaging part and five female engaging parts, seven regular hexagonal pieces formed with three male engaging parts and three female engaging parts, and three regular hexagonal pieces formed with zero male engaging parts and six female engaging parts.

3. The soccer ball-shaped puzzle according to claim 1, wherein the twelve regular pentagonal pieces comprise one regular pentagonal piece formed with zero male engaging parts and five female engaging parts, one regular pentagonal piece formed with five male engaging parts and zero female engaging parts, two regular pentagonal pieces formed with two male engaging parts and three female engaging parts, four regular pentagonal pieces formed with four male engaging parts and one female engaging part, two regular pentagonal pieces formed with three male engaging parts and three female engaging parts, and two regular pentagonal pieces formed with one male engaging part and four female engaging parts; and the twenty regular hexagonal pieces comprise two regular hexagonal pieces formed with one male engaging part and five female engaging parts, six regular hexagonal pieces formed with two male engaging parts and four female engaging parts, six hexagonal pieces formed with three male engaging parts and three female engaging parts, two regular hexagonal pieces formed with five male engaging parts and one female engaging part, three regular hexagonal pieces formed with four male engaging parts and two female engaging parts, and one regular hexagonal piece formed with six male engaging parts and zero female engaging parts.