AU2005200522A1 - Jigsaw puzzle assembly - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

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N AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 o3 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 00 FOR A STANDARD PATENT N ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: Shih-Hung Chuang Actual Inventor: Shih-Hung Chuang Address for Service: MADDERNS, 1st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: JIGSAW PUZZLE ASSEMBLY The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.

PatAU132) la.

r JIGSAW PUZZLE ASSEMBLY 0 1. Field of the Invention SThe present invention relates to a jigsaw puzzle, and more particularly to a 00 00jigsaw puzzle assembly having multiple subassemblies to be assembled respectively so as to form a complete picture and a frame assembly to secure the assembled jigsaw t puzzle pieces on top of a base assembly.

S2. Description of Related Art Jigsaw puzzles are popular toys for children and even adults. Conventional jigsaw puzzles generally have planar pictures which have been cut up into pieces, and then the pieces are fitted together to recreate the pictures. The quantities of pieces in puzzles can be varied by manufacturers so that assorted difficulty levels in doing the puzzles are achieved in order to satisfy consumer demands.

There have been some jigsaw puzzles invented that are called three-dimensional puzzles. One of the three dimensional puzzles is composed of cubic pieces that each have six surfaces painted with various patterns and that can be recombined to form six pictures corresponding to the respective surfaces of the cubic pieces.

Another three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle has a three dimensional frame being composed of horizontal brackets and vertical brackets. The brackets have a plurality of apertures defined therein. Puzzle pieces with poles can be mounted on the brackets by the poles being inserted in the apertures to form a three-dimensional shape.

In a third three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, there is a plurality of sheets painted with the same picture. The sheets are cut according to the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle.

The pieces are respectively adhered with the sheets and have different numbers.

Whereby, the pieces have different thicknesses and the picture is recreated by the pieces t so as to present a three-dimensional effect.

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Although various jigsaw puzzle games do meet the players' requirements to allow the players to gradually solve the puzzle by putting the puzzle pieces of the same 0feature together, there is no jigsaw puzzle available in the market to allow the players to assemble subassemblies of the jigsaw puzzle first and then to combine the assembled subassemblies to form the predetermined picture. Furthermore, there is no structure to preserve the picture after the jigsaw puzzle is completed.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an improved jigsaw puzzle to mitigate the aforementioned problems.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a jigsaw puzzle having multiple subassemblies to be assembled so that the user is able to assemble one subassembly at a time and then combine the subassemblies.

Another objective of the present invention is that a frame assembly is provided to the jigsaw puzzle so as to preserve the picture after the jigsaw puzzle is finished.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a securing device to the frame assembly to firmly combine the frame assembly so that the picture is protected.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a subassembly of the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the subassembly of the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention; In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views of the rear sides of the puzzle piece blocks Sof the subassembly of the puzzle piece blocks of the present invention; (.i SFig. 7 is a cross sectional view showing the combination between a puzzle piece 00oO block and a secondary frame; Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing that a joint is provided to a N bottom face of the base unit to enable one base unit to be assembled with another base unit; SFig. 8A is a side plan view showing the structure of the joint; Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view showing the assembly among one of the puzzle piece blocks, the base unit and the joint; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a side frame of the present invention; Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the bottom sides of the side frame and a corner frame; and Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the structure of a bottom side of the jigsaw puzzle assembly of the present invention.

With reference to Fig. 1, the jigsaw puzzle in accordance with the present invention includes a frame assembly and a puzzle piece assembly securely framed by the frame assembly With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it is noted that the puzzle piece assembly of the present invention includes multiple base units (21) and multiple puzzle piece blocks (22) detachably mounted on top of the base units The base unit (21) has multiple through holes (211) defined through the base unit (21).

With reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, multiple bosses (220) are formed on top of each of the puzzle piece blocks (22) to present a unique reflection of light after a unique 4 t picture is painted on top of each of the puzzle piece blocks (22) and light shines on the bosses (220). The puzzle piece blocks (22) include four corner puzzle piece blocks S(22A), side puzzle piece blocks (22B) and central puzzle piece blocks (22C). Each of the 0corner puzzle piece blocks (22A) has bosses (four are formed in this embodiment) (22A1) each formed on a corresponding one of corners of a bottom side of the corner t puzzle piece block (22A) and two first ribs (22A2) extending from one of the bosses c(22A1) to respectively connect to two different bosses (22A1).

SEach side puzzle piece block (22B) has bosses (22B1) (four in this embodiment) each formed on a corresponding one of corners of a bottom side of the side puzzle piece block (22B) and one second rib (22B2) interconnecting two of the bosses (22B1). Each central puzzle piece block (22C) has bosses (22C 1) (four in this embodiment) respectively formed on a corresponding one of corners of a bottom side of the central puzzle piece block (22C). Furthermore, each corner puzzle piece block (22A), each side puzzle piece block (22B) and each central puzzle piece block (22C) has a circular step (22A3, 22B3,22C3) formed on the bottom side of the corner puzzle piece block (22A), the side puzzle piece block (22B) and the central puzzle piece block (22C) and a cylindrical extension (22A4,22B4,22C4) extending from a center of the circular step (22A3, 22B3,22C3) of the corner puzzle piece block (22A), the side puzzle piece block (22B) and the central puzzle piece block (22C) to correspond to and be received in one of the through holes (211) of the base unit (21) as shown in Fig. 7.

The formation of the two ribs (22A2) of the corner puzzle piece block (22A) is to indicate that this particular corner puzzle piece block (22A) is located at a particular corner of the base unit (21) of the puzzle piece assembly The rib (22B2) of the side piece block (22B) is to show that this particular side puzzle piece block (22B) is located at a particular side of the base unit (21) and the central puzzle piece blocks (22C) are then surrounded by the corner puzzle piece blocks (22A) and the side puzzle piece Sblocks (22B). Therefore, it is noted that after the corner puzzle piece blocks (22A), the 00oO side puzzle piece blocks (22B) and the central puzzle piece blocks (22C) are mounted on a top face of the base unit the bosses (22A 1,22B 1,22C1) of the corner puzzle piece tblocks (22A), the side puzzle piece blocks (22B) and the central puzzle piece blocks (22C) keep the bottom faces of the corner puzzle piece blocks (22A), the side puzzle Spiece blocks (22B) and the central puzzle piece blocks (22C) from engagement with the top face of the base unit (21).

With reference to Fig. 8, it is noted that a bottom face of the base unit (21) is provided with multiple connecting areas (212) (four in this embodiment) each being a quarter of a circle. Each connecting area (212) includes an arcuate gap (2121) defined between a first wall (2122) and a second wall (2123) having a height lower than that of the first wall (2122) and a hook (2124) formed on an inner face of the first wall (2122).

A circular joint is provided to combine base units In this embodiment, the joint is able to combine four base units The joint has a recessed area (31) defined in a bottom face of the joint and a cross shaped protrusion (32) formed on the bottom face of the joint and having a crossed path (321) defined in the protrusion (32).

Furthermore, from the depiction of Fig. 8A, the joint has a step (30) formed on a top periphery of the joint to correspond to the hook (2124).

With reference to Fig. 9, it is noted that when the joint is applied to combine the base unit (21) having a puzzle piece block (22) detachably mounted on top of the base unit (21) via an extension of the cylindrical extension (22A4, 22B4, 22C4) into the through hole (211) of the base unit the hook (2124) is on top of the step (30) to 6 tn secure the joint in the arcuate gap (2121). Furthermore, because the height of the 0, second wall (2123) is smaller than that of the first wall (2122), after the joint is received in the arcuate gap (2121), the top face of the joint is flush with the first wall 0 (2122) of the base unit Further, side walls surrounded by the second wall (2133) of the base units (21) are respectively received in the crossed shaped paths (321) of the circular joint With reference to Figs. 10, 11 and 12, the frame assembly of the present (Ni 0invention includes corner frames (11) and side frames To simplify the structure of the frame assembly of the present invention, only one side frame (12) is introduced between two corner frames The combination of the corner frames (11) and the side frame (12) forms a rectangle. The corner frame (11) has a sectorial wall (111) formed between two adjacent side walls of the comer frame (11) to correspond to the arcuate gap (2121) of the base unit A first securing device is provided between the corner frame (11) and the side frame (12) to combine the corner frame (11) and the side frame The first securing device includes two half-cylindrical protrusions, a first halfcylindrical protrusion (112) formed on a side of the corner frame (11) and a second half-cylindrical protrusion (121) formed on a side of the side frame (12) to combine with the first half-cylindrical protrusion (112) to form a cylinder. The first securing device further has a hollow cylindrical connector (13) to receive therein the first halfcylindrical protrusion (112) and the second half-cylindrical protrusion (121). After the first half-cylindrical protrusion (112) and the second half-cylindrical protrusion (121) are received in the cylindrical connector the corner frame (11) and the side frame (12) are securely combined. Further, the side frame (12) has a half circular wall (122) formed on a side face of the side frame (12) to correspond to a combination of two 7 tt arcuate gaps (2121) of two base units Therefore, from the depiction of Fig. 12, it is noted that a joint is able to combine four base units a sectorial wall (111) of the Scorner frame (11) is able to connect to one base unit (21) and the half circular wall (122) 00 0 of the side frame (12) is able to combine two base units (21).

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it is noted that because the puzzle piece assembly (2) of the present invention is composed of multiple base units (21) and each base unit (21) c- has multiple puzzle piece blocks (22) detachably mounted thereon, a user is able to separately package one base unit (21) together with the puzzle piece blocks (22) on that one particular base unit (21) as a travel package. That is, the player of the jigsaw puzzle is able to carry one portion of the jigsaw puzzle as a pastime on a bus journey etc so that after each of the puzzle piece blocks (22) is mounted on each of the base units the player is then able to combine the base units (21) one by one via the joint Therefore, in addition to the indication of the rib formed on the back side of the corner puzzle piece block and the side puzzle piece block, the difficulty level of the jigsaw puzzle may be reduced by the travel package.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims (6)

1. A jigsaw puzzle comprising: Sa base; 00 oo 0multiple puzzle piece blocks detachably mounted on a top face of the base; a frame assembly surrounding the base and including corner frames and at least one side frame, each corner frame being located at a respective comer of the base and c- having a sectorial wall extending from two adjacent side walls of the comer frame, the at least one side frame being located at a side of the base and having a half circular wall c-i formed on a side face of the side frame, wherein at least one side frame is sandwiched between two corner frames; and a securing device to engage two adjacent side walls of the respective corner frame and the at least one side frame.

2. The jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is composed of multiple base units each selectively engageable with a corresponding one of the base units.

3. The jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base is composed of multiple base units each selectively engageable with a corresponding one of the base units and having multiple connecting areas each configured as a quadrant, each connecting area includes an arcuate gap defined between a first wall and a second wall having a height lower than a height of the first wall, wherein a circularjoint is provided to combine base units, the circularjoint has a recessed area defined in a bottom face of the joint, a cross shaped protrusion formed on the bottom face of the joint and a cruciform path defined in the cross shaped protrusion to correspond to and receive therein side walls surrounded by the second wall of each of the base units such that after a peripheral edge of the circular joint is received in arcuate 0gaps of base units and a peripheral edge of the half circular wall of the at least one side frame as well as the sectorial wall of each of the corner frames are received in the 0arcuate gaps in the base units, the base units are detachably interconnected* with one another.

4. The jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the joint further has a step 0formed on a top periphery of the joint to correspond to a hook formed on an inner face of the second wall such that after the hook is abutted to the step of the joint, engagement between adjacent base units are secured.

5. The jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the puzzle piece blocks each has multiple bosses formed on a top face thereof and including corner puzzle piece blocks, side puzzle piece blocks and central puzzle piece blocks, each corner puzzle piece block having first bosses respectively formed on a back side of the corner puzzle piece block to correspond to one of corners of the corner puzzle piece block and two first ribs interconnecting three of the first bosses of the corner puzzle piece block to indicate that the corner puzzle piece block is located at one of multiple corners of the base, each side puzzle piece block having multiple second bosses respectively formed on a back side of the side puzzle piece block to correspond to one of corners of the side puzzle piece block and a second rib interconnecting two of the second bosses to indicate that the side puzzle piece block is located at a side of the base, each central puzzle piece block having multiple third bosses respectively formed on a back side of the central puzzle piece block to correspond to one of corners of the central puzzle piece block to indicate that the central puzzle piece blocks are surrounded by the corner puzzle piece blocks and the side puzzle piece blocks. t

6. The jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base has multiple C through holes defined through the base, each of the corner puzzle piece blocks has a first circular step formed on the back side of the corner puzzle piece block and a first 00 00cylindrical extension extending from a center of the first circular step to be extended through a corresponding one of the through holes of the base, each of the side puzzle In piece blocks has a second circular step formed on the back side of the side puzzle piece cI block and a second cylindrical extension extending from a center of the second circular Sstep to be extended through a corresponding one of the through holes of the base, each of the central puzzle piece blocks has a third circular step formed on the back side of the central puzzle piece block and a third cylindrical extension extending from a center of the third circular step to be extended through a corresponding one of the through holes of the base such that after the first cylindrical extension of the corner puzzle piece block, the second cylindrical extension of the side puzzle piece block and the third cylindrical extension of the central puzzle piece block are extended through the corresponding through holes of the base, the first bosses, the first circular step, the second bosses, the second circular step, the third bosses and the third circular step keep the puzzle piece blocks away from engagement with the top face of the base to facilitate detachment of the puzzle piece blocks from the base. Dated this 8th day of February, 2005. Shih-Hung Chuang By his Patent Attorneys MADDERNS