Apparatus comprising three dimensional shapes rotatably supported in one another

Abstract

Apparatus including at least three 3-dimensional shapes, a first one of the 3-dimensional shapes being rotatably supported within a second one of the 3-dimensional shapes, the second one of the 3-dimensional shapes being rotatably supported within a third one of the 3-dimensional shapes, at least one of the 3-dimensional shapes including an opening capable of connecting at least one of the shapes to another one of the shapes.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . Apparatus comprising:
 at least three 3-dimensional shapes, wherein a first one of said 3-dimensional shapes is rotatably supported within a second one of said 3-dimensional shapes, said second one of the 3-dimensional shapes is rotatably supported within a third one of said 3-dimensional shapes, and wherein at least one of said at least three 3-dimensional shapes includes at least one opening capable of connecting said at least one of said shapes to another of said shapes;   at least one ball, wherein said at least one opening permits movement of said at least one ball from at least one of said 3-dimensional shapes to another one of said 3-dimensional shapes; and   wherein at least one of said 3-dimensional shapes is supported in another of the 3-dimensional shapes by a gimbal.   
   
   
       32 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein means are present for rotatably supporting one shape of said at least three 3-dimensional shapes in another one of said shapes, said means comprising at least one set of a projection and a cradle wherein one of said projection and said cradle is positioned on a surface of said one shape and a remaining one of said projection and said cradle is positioned on a surface of another one of said at least three 3-dimensional shapes. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  or  32 , wherein said at least three 3-dimensional shapes are rotatably supported by means arranged on diametrically opposed sides of said shapes. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein an imaginary line connecting the means arranged on opposed sides of said shapes passes through a center of said shapes. 
   
   
       35 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said first one and said second one of said shapes are supported by means contained in a common plane. 
   
   
       36 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein said common plane is arranged to extend through a center of the apparatus. 
   
   
       37 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 35  or  36 , wherein said at least three 3-dimensional shapes are arranged such that one of said shapes is supported within another of said shapes with respective supporting means being angularly spaced apart on said plane. 
   
   
       38 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein said supporting means has an angular regular spacing. 
   
   
       39 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said at least three 3-dimensional shapes have a common 3-dimensional shape. 
   
   
       40 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein at least one of said shapes comprises a sphere. 
   
   
       41 . The apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein at least one of said shapes includes a surface having a plurality of planar facets. 
   
   
       42 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said apparatus comprises between three and five of said 3-dimensional shapes. 
   
   
       43 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein at least one of said shapes is substantially transparent. 
   
   
       44 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein at least one of said shapes includes a plurality of openings. 
   
   
       45 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein each of said shapes includes at least one opening. 
   
   
       46 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein at least one of each of said at least one opening in said shapes is arranged to be aligned in one orientation of said apparatus. 
   
   
       47 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein said one orientation is such that said at least one of each of said at least one opening in said shapes is aligned such that said opening is on an uppermost surface of the apparatus relative to ground. 
   
   
       48 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein at least one opening is provided with a projecting portion extending from an outer surface of said shape. 
   
   
       49 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein said projecting portion has a height which is substantially equal to a distance from one of said shapes on which said projecting portion is provided and another of said shapes which contains said one of said shapes on which said projecting portion is provided. 
   
   
       50 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one ball has a diameter substantially equal to or smaller than a diameter of the at least one opening. 
   
   
       51 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said apparatus comprises a game or a toy. 
   
   
       52 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , further comprising a mechanism which is operated to limit rotation of any one or more of the shapes. 
   
   
       53 . The apparatus according to  claim 52 , wherein said mechanism is operable to prevent the rotation of at least one of the shapes. 
   
   
       54 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the apparatus is arranged so that said at least one ball moves to an innermost shape under influence of gravity when the apparatus is shaken or otherwise agitated. 
   
   
       55 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 44  or  45 , wherein said at least one opening is an opening to an enclosure which is structured to receive therein a single ball. 
   
   
       56 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein at least one of the shapes includes a plurality of enclosures. 
   
   
       57 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 56 , wherein the enclosures are present in a total number which is equal to a total number of balls present and each of the enclosures is coded to match a respective one of said balls. 
   
   
       58 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 56  or  57 , further comprising a mechanism which is operable to retain in respective enclosures, balls received in the enclosures. 
   
   
       59 . Apparatus comprising:
 three 3-dimensional shapes, wherein a first shape of said 3-dimensional shapes is rotatably supported within a second shape of said 3-dimensional shapes, said second shape of said 3-dimensional shapes is rotatably supported within a third shape of said 3-dimensional shapes, and wherein said first shape includes at least one opening connecting an interior of said first shape with an interior of said second shape, said second shape includes at least one opening connecting said interior of said second shape with an interior of said third shape, and said third shape includes a plurality of enclosures on an outside surface thereof;   a plurality of balls sized to move through said at least one opening in each of said first shape and said second shape and to removably fit within said enclosures; and   wherein said first shape is supported in said second shape by a gimbal, and wherein each of said first shape and said second shape includes a weighted portion in the surface thereof.   
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein said three 3-dimensional shapes are each substantially spherical. 
   
   
       61 . The apparatus of  claim 59  or  60 , further comprising, on said outside surface of said third shape, at least one knob which is movably connected to a frame constructed and arranged to selectively retain one or more of said plurality of balls within said enclosures. 
   
   
       62 . The apparatus of  claim 59  or  60 , wherein said plurality of balls and said plurality of enclosures are coded so that only one of said plurality of balls corresponds to only one of said enclosures.