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I've had a five-ring puzzle for many years, and recently I fiddled with it, and accidentally solved it. In other words, I took off the ring that was on the cord that passes through the two rings attached to the "bike rack". The cord is attached at each end to two other rings. All rings are the same size, so you can not pass a ring through another ring. Here's a picture:
I now have several problems. First, I can't get the lone ring back on the cord between the two rings attached to the "bike rack". At least not the way it was when I started. I can get it back on with the cord going through the lone ring TWICE, but not simply passing through ONCE. At least that's the way I remember it being attached. Second, I can't find this puzzle on the Web, and I've search for Disentanglement,Wire, Rings and String, and Brain Teaser Puzzles. Therefore can't find a "solution". If I saw a solution, I could probably run it backwards to get the lone ring back onto the cord properly. Lastly, I don't know the "name" of this puzzle. Knowing the name would probably help me find it on the Web.
Does anyone know how to reverse-solve this puzzle, or supply its name? If so, please contact me at my email address (given below). Thanks.
Followup: My daughter found a "similar" puzzle at http://www.iq2you.com/index2.php?id=10&catId=10&productId=47&lang=ENG that has two holes in a stick that act like the two rings attached to my bike-rack, a cord with rings at each end, and a lone silver ring trapped on the cord. Notice the cord passes through that trapped ring TWICE. That may be the way it has to be. But I can't get my lone ring trapped in a similar manner on my puzzle. So I still need help. Please keep looking. Thanks.
Additional Followup: Well, my daughter did it! The original configuration is shown in the image on the right. Notice how the lone ring, on the left, is trapped above the cord(s), and by the bike-rack. The lone ring can slide to the left and remain on the bike-rack. If the cord can be disentangled from the rack, as it is in the image on the left, the lone ring comes off.
I still would like to know the name of this puzzle. If you'd like to read my solution, visit: Ring Puzzle with bike-rack Solution.
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