Magic polyhedron
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Combination puzzles. (Discuss) Proposed since September 2008. |
Magic polyhedron is a term for a specific type of puzzle also known as twisty puzzles, the most popular of which is Rubik's Cube. The term may have originated from the original marketing name for Rubik's Cube, "Bűvös Kocka" which means "Magic Cube" in Hungarian.
"Rubik" is a trademark that refers to Ernő Rubik, the inventor of a specific set of puzzles which bear his name, many of them not magic polyhedra (e.g. Rubik's Magic). Similar puzzles created by other inventors should not bear the name "Rubik", as that would infringe on the trademark, as well as possibly lead people to erroneously believe that they were invented by Ernő Rubik.
List of magic polyhedra
Cubic puzzles
-
Pocket Cube
2×2×2 -
Rubik's Cube
3×3×3 -
Rubik's Revenge
4×4×4 -
Professor's Cube
5×5×5
Others
Many of these were invented by Uwe Mèffert, a prolific designer of magic polyhedra.
Cubes with an higher number of layers (6×6×6 and 7×7×7) were recently issued as prototypes by the Greek inventor Panagiotis Verdes, who patented a new mechanical method of creating cubes. Verdes, who founded his own company, states that with his method cubes with at least 11 layers can be made.