{
  "patent_number": "US 3655201",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How the 2x2x2 Magnetic Puzzle Cube Works",
  "original_title": "Pattern forming puzzle and method with pieces rotatable in groups",
  "summary": "A 1970 patent for a 2x2x2 puzzle cube held together by magnets that allows groups of pieces to rotate around three axes to solve a color-matching challenge.",
  "what_it_does": "The patent describes a puzzle made of eight cube-shaped pieces that form a larger composite cube. Each piece has magnets on its hidden faces to keep the structure together while allowing specific groups of four cubes to rotate around three perpendicular axes. By rotating these groups, a user can scramble the colors on the outer faces and then attempt to restore the original pattern. The mechanism relies on the ability to move sets of four pieces independently without the entire cube falling apart.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover 3x3x3 puzzle cubes (like the Rubik's Cube) which use a central internal mechanism rather than magnets on cube faces.",
    "Does not cover puzzles that use mechanical interlocking tracks or internal stems instead of magnetic attraction to hold pieces together.",
    "Does not cover non-cube geometries that do not allow for the rotation of sets of four pieces around three perpendicular axes."
  ],
  "filed": "1970-03-04",
  "granted": "1972-04-11",
  "expires": "1990-03-04",
  "status": "expired",
  "holder": "Moleculon Research Corp",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/moleculon-research-corp",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Larry D Nichols",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/larry-d-nichols"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 75,
  "tags": [
    "mechanical",
    "consumer_electronics"
  ],
  "abstract": "Eight cube-type pieces are magnetically engaged to form a cubetype assembly with educational and entertaining features. The cubes are adapted to rotate in complementary sets of four about one of three mutually perpendicular axes. Each cube has colored surfaces and when properly arranged one distinct color on each of the six faces is presented. Each set which shares one face of the assembly may be rotated in multiples of 90* with respect to the other set. If the assembly is initially arranged properly and then disarranged by a random sequence of rotations, it then serves as a device whose object is the restoration of the original arrangement.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3655201/rotating-cube-puzzle",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3655201/rotating-cube-puzzle/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US3655201",
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}