Disentanglement Puzzles (#1)
Here are a different class of puzzles, called disentanglement puzzles. The object is to disentangle one of the parts, often a ring. A few basic puzzles comprise only 2 pieces which must be taken apart. Unlike puzzle boxes, everything about the puzzle is visible immediately, so it’s a different type of challenge. This is my second favorite class of puzzles, behind secret opening puzzles (such as puzzle boxes, locks, and bolts).
Wire and string disentanglement puzzles are generally inexpensive. Most of the puzzles shown here were purchased from Daiso, a Japanese five-and-dime chain, for $1.50 each. I think that Daiso’s designs are copies of other puzzles – many of the designs are found in more massive Tucker Jones tavern puzzle versions. I don’t know how copyright and patents apply to puzzles, but I can’t imagine that the original inventors are too happy to see their designs duplicated.
I had to resort to reading the solution on this one. It turns out that it was manufactured poorly, so you really had to crank on it to solve it. My coworker solved it by bending one of the springs (which I assume you’re not supposed to do). Oh well, that’s what you get for a $1.50 puzzle!
This is a classic buttonhole puzzle. There are 2 of them pictured; they don’t link together. You put it through a buttonhole, and the owner of the shirt has to get it out without cutting it. My coworker Mike Butler introduced me to it, and he made a makeshift version out of a rubber band and pencil. It took me a while to figure out how to solve it. I recall one night drifting off to sleep trying to figure it out. I had the geometry so well memorized that I was manipulating it mentally.
I think this is a pretty old, classic design.
I think this is another old, classic design.
I’ve seen larger, more expensive versions of this floating around.
Another old, classic design.
One of the names for this puzzle is the “wedding vows”. The object is to move one ball over to where the other one is. I had to look up the solution for this one.
This has the same geometry as the Tucker Jones tavern puzzle “Tinkers Bell”.
This has the same geometry as the Tucker Jones tavern puzzle “Double Bypass”.
This final puzzle I got for free from William Strijbos when I bought a puzzle box and a puzzle bolt off of him. It is definitely one of my favorite disentanglement puzzles due to its simple, elegant construction. Of course, the two pieces can be taken apart by applying a little force and bending them slightly, but that’s not the correct solution:
