Larry D. Nichols, born 1939 in the United States, is a puzzle designer. He grew up in Xenia, Ohio, and studied chemistry at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, before moving to Massachusetts to attend Harvard Graduate School. He is best known for the invention of mechanical puzzles including 'The Nichols Cube Puzzle' (1974), patent US365520.[1] He has lived with his wife Karen in Arlington, Massachusetts since 1959.
In 1957, 17 years before Dr. Rubik’s invention popularly known as the “Rubik's Cube”, Dr. Nichols conceived of a twist cube puzzle with six colored faces. It was a 2×2×2 cube assembled from eight unit cubes with magnets on their inside faces, allowing the cubes to rotate in groups of four around three axes. The object of the puzzle was to mix the colors on the faces of the cube and then restore them.
After making many preliminary models, in 1968 a working prototype was constructed, and on April 11, 1972, U.S. patent 3,655,201 was issued covering the Nichols' Cube. The patent focused on the 2×2×2 puzzle but mentioned the possibility of larger versions.
Nichols' patents became the subject of a court hearing, between his employer, and the Ideal Toy Company.[2][3][4] In 1985, a U.S. District Court ruled that Rubik’s Cube infringed the Nichols patent, but in 1986 the Court of Appeals ruled that only the smaller 2×2×2 Rubik’s Pocket Cube was guilty of infringement, and not the popular 3×3×3 Rubik's Cube.[5]
Frank Fox got a British patent for a spherical sliding puzzle in 1974 [8]
Terutoshi Ishige received a Japanese patent for a 3x3x3 in 1976 [9]
Careeredit
Nichols received a degree in chemistry in 1958 from DePauw University, where he was a Rector Scholar, and went on to earn a doctorate at Harvard. As a Harvard student, he invented and produced games and puzzles. He became chief scientist for the Moleculon Research Corporation of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and invented one of its primary products, Poroplastic, in 1973. Poroplastic film has the mechanical properties of a typical plastic, but is able to hold large quantities of almost any liquid within tiny pores. Usage of Poroplastic materials centers on controlled drug delivery and environmental health and safety products.[10]
Referencesedit
^Pattern forming puzzle and method with pieces rotatable in groups US 3655201 A
^Role of Larry Nichols '58 in Inventing Famous Toy is Recalled
December 07, 2023
larry, nichols, born, 1939, united, states, puzzle, designer, grew, xenia, ohio, studied, chemistry, depauw, university, greencastle, indiana, before, moving, massachusetts, attend, harvard, graduate, school, best, known, invention, mechanical, puzzles, includ. Larry D Nichols born 1939 in the United States is a puzzle designer He grew up in Xenia Ohio and studied chemistry at DePauw University in Greencastle Indiana before moving to Massachusetts to attend Harvard Graduate School He is best known for the invention of mechanical puzzles including The Nichols Cube Puzzle 1974 patent US365520 1 He has lived with his wife Karen in Arlington Massachusetts since 1959 Larry D NicholsBornLarry Nichols1939 age 83 84 Xenia OhioNationalityAmericanEducationDePauw University Harvard Graduate SchoolOccupation s Inventor chemistEmployer s Moleculon Research Corporation of Cambridge MassachusettsKnown forPuzzle designer inventorTitleChief scientistDiagram from Nichols patent showing a cube held together with magnetsPocket Cube animation Contents 1 The Nichols Cube Puzzle Twizzle 1 1 Analogues of the invention 2 Career 3 ReferencesThe Nichols Cube Puzzle Twizzle editIn 1957 17 years before Dr Rubik s invention popularly known as the Rubik s Cube Dr Nichols conceived of a twist cube puzzle with six colored faces It was a 2 2 2 cube assembled from eight unit cubes with magnets on their inside faces allowing the cubes to rotate in groups of four around three axes The object of the puzzle was to mix the colors on the faces of the cube and then restore them After making many preliminary models in 1968 a working prototype was constructed and on April 11 1972 U S patent 3 655 201 was issued covering the Nichols Cube The patent focused on the 2 2 2 puzzle but mentioned the possibility of larger versions Nichols patents became the subject of a court hearing between his employer and the Ideal Toy Company 2 3 4 In 1985 a U S District Court ruled that Rubik s Cube infringed the Nichols patent but in 1986 the Court of Appeals ruled that only the smaller 2 2 2 Rubik s Pocket Cube was guilty of infringement and not the popular 3 3 3 Rubik s Cube 5 Analogues of the invention edit Manipulative toy William O Gustafson 1960 6 Rubik s Cube 1974 7 Frank Fox got a British patent for a spherical sliding puzzle in 1974 8 Terutoshi Ishige received a Japanese patent for a 3x3x3 in 1976 9 Career editNichols received a degree in chemistry in 1958 from DePauw University where he was a Rector Scholar and went on to earn a doctorate at Harvard As a Harvard student he invented and produced games and puzzles He became chief scientist for the Moleculon Research Corporation of Cambridge Massachusetts and invented one of its primary products Poroplastic in 1973 Poroplastic film has the mechanical properties of a typical plastic but is able to hold large quantities of almost any liquid within tiny pores Usage of Poroplastic materials centers on controlled drug delivery and environmental health and safety products 10 References edit Pattern forming puzzle and method with pieces rotatable in groups US 3655201 A The Legal Puzzle of the Rubik s Cube NY Times Cube Is A Problem To CBS First Version Age of Puzzles Patent US3081089 Manipulatable toy by William O Gustafson 1960 Patent US4378117 Spatial intelligent toy by Erno Rubik 1974 Patent GB1344259 Amusement device by Frank Fox 1974 WIRED Rubik Applies for Patent on Magic Cube Role of Larry Nichols 58 in Inventing Famous Toy is Recalled Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Larry D Nichols amp oldid 1147602470, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
