Octo
a.k.a. Meeting Colors, Disco Puzzle
Made in Indonesia and purchased in 2007.
(plastic, 5/8 diameter beads in 3.75 inch ring)
Eight beads each have 4 sections and can rotate.
In addition, the upper and lower halves of the ring can rotate with respect to each other
(so it is possible to mix up the 4 sections of the eight rings with each other).
Similar to the
Netblock UFO and Sando Rings puzzles,
this is a relatively easy puzzle that can be solved one bead at a time.
Jaap's Page
notes that a similar puzzle is described in the patents of Ayers and presents a solution.
Further Reading
Jaap's Page,
from: http://www.jaapsch.net/puzzles/octo.htm
Power Strike Page,
from: http://www.powerstrike.net/puzzles/spotlight/octo.htm
Ayers Patent,
from: www.uspto.gov - patent no. 4,708,345
Ayers Second Patent,
from: www.uspto.gov - patent no. 4,881,738