EP0797470A1 - Jigsaw puzzles - Google Patents

Jigsaw puzzles

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Publication number
EP0797470A1
EP0797470A1 EP95942257A EP95942257A EP0797470A1 EP 0797470 A1 EP0797470 A1 EP 0797470A1 EP 95942257 A EP95942257 A EP 95942257A EP 95942257 A EP95942257 A EP 95942257A EP 0797470 A1 EP0797470 A1 EP 0797470A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
puzzle
pieces
interior
perimeter
straight
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP95942257A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0797470B1 (en
Inventor
Yves Libeskind
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Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0797470A1 publication Critical patent/EP0797470A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0797470B1 publication Critical patent/EP0797470B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
    • A63F9/06—Patience; Other games for self-amusement
    • A63F9/10—Two-dimensional jig-saw puzzles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of patience games known as puzzles, a term usually used to designate a set of pieces which, correctly assembled, reconstitute an image, previously fixed on a support, the whole then being cut out.
  • This image which represents any subject, is generally the reproduction of a painting, a drawing, or a photograph.
  • the present invention essentially relates to puzzles cut out by a set of lines in two directions belonging to the plane of the puzzle and approximately orthogonal, and the pieces of which are arranged in such a way that each piece occupies a defined position at the intersection of a row and a column, each of its four sides can therefore only be in direct contact with one side of a single other part. Any piece of the puzzle can therefore only be adjacent to four other pieces at most.
  • the cutting lines have a slightly irregular character, which recalls the cutting style of hand-made puzzles, but a perfectly regular cutting of the pieces is also possible.
  • the present invention relates to puzzles whose pieces are not simply juxtaposed, but are connected by a set of male and female elements, two by two complementary, belonging to the sides of these different pieces, and ensuring the solidarity of each part of the puzzle with the whole in the plane of the puzzle, without any other means being necessary for this purpose, the assembly and disassembly of these parts being then possible only in a direction not belonging to the puzzle map.
  • two adjacent parts are connected by a male element belonging to one side of one of the parts and a female element belonging to one side of the other part, these complementary elements, generally of rounded shape, ensuring solidarity of these two pieces.
  • two adjacent parts are connected by several male elements and several female elements, two by two complementary.
  • US Pat. No. 5,022,655 has proposed including in the cutting of the puzzle one or more rectangles, or more generally one or more polygons, so as to add pieces having a right side on either side of the borders of these rectangles, or of these polygons, as well as new corner pieces having two straight sides.
  • This solution effectively results in making the assembly of the puzzle significantly more difficult, the pieces constituting the border of the puzzle no longer being distinguished, by their shape, from these interior pieces.
  • the main objective of the present invention is to make the assembly of the puzzle actually more difficult and, thereby, more interesting, while preserving the essential characteristics of a puzzle, as defined above. To this end, it offers an innovative solution, more efficient and more satisfactory than those proposed to date.
  • the cutting lines of the puzzle comprise straight segments, of variable number and length, and such that the interior pieces of the puzzle each have, for all of these interior pieces or, failing this, for a part only of these, representing however more than half of them, at least one right side, these straight segments being arranged in such a way that they do not form, inside the perimeter of the puzzle, any closed polygonal line , that is to say no polygon, nor any polygonal line connecting two distinct points of the perimeter of the puzzle.
  • all of the interior pieces of the puzzle have, either, for part of them, one and only one right side, or, for the rest of these pieces, two adjacent straight sides forming an angle.
  • all of the interior pieces of the puzzle each have one and only one right side.
  • certain sides of the outer pieces of the puzzle, other than those forming the perimeter of the puzzle are straight.
  • the only pieces of the puzzle having at least one right side are interior pieces.
  • the arrangement of the straight segments has a regular character, resulting from the repetition of one or more patterns.
  • a first result of the present invention is to make it really more difficult to assemble a puzzle and less efficient, even inoperative, the method usually followed, consisting in starting by assembling the border of the puzzle, a generally simple step which makes it possible to delimit the contours of the puzzle, and continue the assembly by progressing inward. In some cases, the construction of the border of the puzzle may only come late, and even last, in the assembly process.
  • the invention shows that it is possible to make a puzzle comprising a large proportion, and as large as desirable, of interior pieces each having at least one straight side relative to the total number of interior pieces.
  • This proportion can thus represent the totality of these parts, the presence of traditional interior parts without right side being in no way necessary.
  • This situation where all of the interior pieces of the puzzle each have at least one right side, represents the most satisfactory embodiment of the invention, in that it allows the desired result to be fully achieved, which is to make actually making the puzzle more difficult.
  • the invention also makes it possible to produce a puzzle where certain sides of the external pieces, other than those forming the perimeter of the puzzle, are straight, which can represent an additional difficulty. Finally, the invention makes it possible to produce a puzzle whose only pieces having at least one right side are located not on the edge, but inside the puzzle, which constitutes a particularly unusual situation.
  • Another important result of the present invention is to preserve, whatever the embodiment chosen, the essential characteristics of a puzzle, as defined above, in particular, the solidarity of each part of the puzzle with the whole in the plane of the puzzle, the assembly and disassembly of the parts then being possible only in a direction not belonging to the plane of the puzzle.
  • the arrangement of the straight segments, which belong to the cutting lines of the puzzle is such that these segments do not form, inside the perimeter of the puzzle, any closed polygonal line, that is to say - say no polygon, no polygonal line connecting two distinct points of the perimeter of the puzzle.
  • each part of the puzzle is integral with the whole in the plane of the puzzle, by means, as has been specified, of a set of male and female elements, two by two complementary, belonging to sides of the different pieces, each piece being thus connected to at least one other piece of the puzzle.
  • This is achieved without the need to use any other means, such as, for example, double joining pieces.
  • each piece of the puzzle occupies a defined position at the intersection of a line and a column, each of its four sides can thus be directly in contact with only one side of a single other piece, which excludes, in particular, double joining pieces.
  • a final result of the present invention is to propose an original cutting style allowing the creation of new and varied models, and thus contributing to the renewal of the art of the puzzle.
  • the number of straight segments, which belong to the cutting lines of the puzzle is variable, and the arrangement of these straight segments is free, provided however of forming no closed polygonal line or connecting two distinct points of the perimeter of the puzzle .
  • These segments are of variable length, those of rather small length ensuring better cohesion of the puzzle structure. They can be isolated or linked, thus forming angles and thus broken lines.
  • the arrangement of the different straight segments has, in its most general form, an irregular character. This arrangement, where there is no reference to the arrangement of the different pieces, makes it possible to create a particularly difficult puzzle to assemble.
  • the arrangement of the different straight segments may, on the contrary, be regular, resulting from the repetition of one or more patterns.
  • the structure of the puzzle is then relatively balanced and homogeneous, which can be an advantage.
  • Such an arrangement can also be considered as an additional decorative element, insofar as the cutting lines are visible.
  • the straight segments, in whole or in part, can also be highlighted, either directly, these segments being underlined by a line forming an integral part of the image, or indirectly, these segments making it possible to delimit the contours of parts of the different color image.
  • FIG. 7 present examples which illustrate the possibilities of implementing the invention according to its various embodiments.
  • Each figure represents, for practical reasons, a puzzle comprising a reduced number of pieces, that is to say 80 pieces. Naturally, each of these figures could easily be adapted to make a larger puzzle.
  • the perimeter and the cutting lines of the puzzle have been represented, and the straight segments belonging to these cutting lines have been highlighted by a thicker line, just like the perimeter of the puzzle.
  • Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a puzzle according to the invention.
  • the puzzle (1) is cut by a set of lines (3) which include straight segments (6).
  • the outer pieces (4) which constitute the border of the puzzle and form its perimeter (2), of rectangular shape, have either a single right side, or, for those located at the corners, two adjacent straight sides.
  • the interior parts (5) also have, for each of them, either a single right side, or two adjacent straight sides.
  • the straight segments (6) have a variable length. Some of these segments are isolated, the others are interconnected and form angles and broken lines. The arrangement of the different segments has no apparent regularity.
  • Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a puzzle according to the invention.
  • the arrangement of the straight segments (6) here has a regular character, resulting from the repetition of the same pattern, itself symmetrical, once in the left half of the puzzle, once in the right half.
  • Figures 3, 4, and 5 show other exemplary embodiments of a puzzle according to the invention.
  • the interior parts (5) each have a single right side, and the straight segments (6) are isolated from each other.
  • these straight segments have a variable length, and their arrangement has no apparent regularity.
  • FIG. 1 shows a regular character, resulting from the repetition of the same pattern, itself symmetrical, once in the left half of the puzzle, once in the right half.
  • Figures 3, 4, and 5 show other exemplary embodiments of a puzzle according to the invention.
  • the interior parts (5) each have a single right side, and the straight segments (6) are isolated from each other.
  • these straight segments have a variable length, and their arrangement has no apparent regularity.
  • these straight segments all have the same length, equal to twice that of one side of a part, and are arranged alternately horizontally and vertically, in a simple repeating pattern, the assembly thus having a character regular and homogeneous.
  • these straight segments all have the same length, the smallest possible, equal to that of one side of a piece, with the exception of a single segment of double length placed in the center of the puzzle, and the arrangement of these segments also has a regular and homogeneous character.
  • FIG. 6 presents an exemplary embodiment of a puzzle according to a more general form of the invention.
  • the outer pieces (4) here have either a single right side, or two opposite straight sides, or two adjacent straight sides, these latter pieces not only being located at the corners of the puzzle.
  • the interior parts (5) also have, for the most part, either a single straight side, or two opposite straight sides, or two adjacent straight sides. In this example, some of these interior parts, in small numbers, have no right side.
  • Such a puzzle could also have included a few pieces, interior or exterior, having three straight sides, this situation obviously constituting a borderline case, each piece being necessarily connected by at least one of its sides to another piece of the puzzle.
  • FIG. 7 presents a last example of embodiment of a puzzle according to the invention. This figure is similar to Figure 1, but the perimeter (2) of the puzzle is here irregular in shape and the outer pieces (4) have no right side. Such a situation, where the only parts having at least one right side are interior parts, is particularly unusual.
  • the implementation of the present invention does not require any modification of the industrial process of production of puzzles and does not present any specific difficulty, whatever the manufacturing technique chosen. It only requires the production of a cutting model in accordance with the characteristics of the invention and, in the case of conventional manufacture, the use of a suitable cutting form.
  • the present invention in its various embodiments, is applicable to puzzles of any kind having at least the required characteristics, whatever the dimensions of the puzzle, the number and size of its pieces, the material of manufacture used (cardboard , wood, plastic, or any suitable material) and the thickness of that material. It applies to puzzles whose perimeter is rectangular, or any other shape. It applies to puzzles comprising all different parts, or comprising parts of strictly identical size and shape. It applies to two-sided puzzles, the image being able to be identical or different on the two faces of the puzzle, as well as to puzzles made up of several layers, opaque or partly transparent, cut in an identical or different manner. It applies to puzzles which represent a totally flat or slightly raised image, and to puzzles comprising certain hollowed-out interior parts.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

A method for making a jigsaw puzzle having original features. The cutting lines (3) of the puzzle (1) include a variable number of straight segments (6) of varying lengths. The straight segments are such that all the non-edge pieces (5) of the puzzle each have at least one straight side. This makes the puzzle harder and therefore more interesting to assemble than a conventional puzzle. The straight segments (6) are arranged in such a way that they do not define, inside the outer edge (2) of the puzzle, any closed polygon lines, i.e. any polygons, or any polygon line linking two separate points on the outer puzzle edge. Each puzzle piece is therefore secured to the rest of the puzzle in the plane thereof. Many puzzle patterns of all shapes and sizes and of all kinds may thus be provided.

Description

] - ] -
DESCRIPTION DE LINVENTIONDESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
PUZZLESPUZZLES
La présente invention concerne le domaine des jeux de patience connus sous le nom de puzzles, terme habituellement utilisé pour désigner un ensemble de pièces qui, correctement assemblées, reconstituent une image, au préalable fixée sur un support, le tout étant ensuite découpé. Cette image, qui représente un sujet quelconque, est généralement la reproduction d'un tableau, d'un dessin, ou d'une photographie.The present invention relates to the field of patience games known as puzzles, a term usually used to designate a set of pieces which, correctly assembled, reconstitute an image, previously fixed on a support, the whole then being cut out. This image, which represents any subject, is generally the reproduction of a painting, a drawing, or a photograph.
Plus précisément, la présente invention concerne essentiellement les puzzles découpés par un ensemble de lignes suivant deux directions appartenant au plan du puzzle et approximativement orthogonales, et dont les pièces sont disposées de telle manière que chaque pièce occupe une position définie à l'intersection d'une ligne et d'une colonne, chacun de ses quatre côtés ne pouvant ainsi être directement en contact qu'avec un seul côté d'une seule autre pièce. Une pièce quelconque du puzzle ne peut donc au plus être adjacente qu'à quatre autres pièces. En général, les lignes de découpe présentent un caractère légèrement irrégulier, qui rappelle le style de découpe des puzzles fabriqués manuellement, mais une découpe parfaitement régulière des pièces est également possible.More specifically, the present invention essentially relates to puzzles cut out by a set of lines in two directions belonging to the plane of the puzzle and approximately orthogonal, and the pieces of which are arranged in such a way that each piece occupies a defined position at the intersection of a row and a column, each of its four sides can therefore only be in direct contact with one side of a single other part. Any piece of the puzzle can therefore only be adjacent to four other pieces at most. In general, the cutting lines have a slightly irregular character, which recalls the cutting style of hand-made puzzles, but a perfectly regular cutting of the pieces is also possible.
Plus précisément encore, la présente invention concerne les puzzles dont les pièces ne sont pas simplement juxtaposées, mais sont reliées par un ensemble d'éléments mâles et femelles, deux à deux complémentaires, appartenant aux côtés de ces différentes pièces, et assurant la solidarité de chaque partie du puzzle avec l'ensemble dans le plan du puzzle, sans qu'aucun autre moyen ne soit nécessaire à cette fin, l'assemblage et le désassemblage de ces pièces n'étant alors possibles que dans une direction n'appartenant pas au plan du puzzle. Le plus souvent, deux pièces adjacentes sont reliées par un élément mâle appartenant à un côté de l'une des pièces et un élément femelle appartenant à un côté de l'autre pièce, ces éléments complémentaires, en général de forme arrondie, assurant la solidarité de ces deux pièces. Beaucoup plus rarement, deux pièces adjacentes sont reliées par plusieurs éléments mâles et plusieurs éléments femelles, deux à deux complémentaires. Parfois, la ligne de découpe séparant deux pièces adjacentes est simplement irrégulière, la présence des autres pièces assurant la solidarité de ces deux pièces. Traditionnellement, la disposition de ces éléments mâles et femelles est libre, les différentes pièces ayant un nombre variable d'éléments mâles et un nombre variable d'éléments femelles, mais, en pratique, ces éléments sont souvent disposés en alternance. Ceπaines pièces du puzzle, dites extérieures, constituent la bordure du puzzle, certains côtés de ces pièces formant le périmètre du puzzle. Ce périmètre est le plus souvent de forme rectangulaire, seule forme permettant à la fois la représentation fidèle d'une image elle-même rectangulaire et un encadrement facile une fois le puzzle assemblé, mais peut aussi être de toute autre forme. Les autres pièces, dites intérieures, constituent la partie intérieure du puzzle. Habituellement, un tel puzzle rectangulaire est composé de (m x n) pièces, soit (2 x (m + n) - 4) pièces extérieures, comprenant chacune un côté droit, à l'exception de quatre de ces pièces situées aux angles, comprenant chacune deux côtés droits adjacents, et ((m - 2) x (n - 2)) pièces intérieures, ne comprenant aucun côté droit.More precisely still, the present invention relates to puzzles whose pieces are not simply juxtaposed, but are connected by a set of male and female elements, two by two complementary, belonging to the sides of these different pieces, and ensuring the solidarity of each part of the puzzle with the whole in the plane of the puzzle, without any other means being necessary for this purpose, the assembly and disassembly of these parts being then possible only in a direction not belonging to the puzzle map. Most often, two adjacent parts are connected by a male element belonging to one side of one of the parts and a female element belonging to one side of the other part, these complementary elements, generally of rounded shape, ensuring solidarity of these two pieces. Much more rarely, two adjacent parts are connected by several male elements and several female elements, two by two complementary. Sometimes the cutting line separating two adjacent parts is simply irregular, the presence of the other parts ensuring the solidarity of these two parts. Traditionally, the arrangement of these male and female elements is free, the different parts having a variable number of male elements and a variable number of female elements, but, in practice, these elements are often arranged alternately. Some pieces of the puzzle, said to be external, constitute the border of the puzzle, certain sides of these pieces forming the perimeter of the puzzle. This perimeter is most often rectangular, the only form allowing both the faithful representation of an image itself rectangular and easy framing once the puzzle is assembled, but can also be of any other form. The other pieces, called interior, constitute the interior part of the puzzle. Usually, such a rectangular puzzle is composed of (mxn) pieces, i.e. (2 x (m + n) - 4) exterior pieces, each comprising a right side, with the exception of four of these pieces located at the corners, each comprising two adjacent straight sides, and ((m - 2) x (n - 2)) interior parts, including no right side.
La découpe traditionnelle d'un puzzle, opération effectuée manuellement, n'était pas toujours conforme à un modèle bien défini, mais pouvait au contraire être libre et irrégulière. Par exemple, cette découpe pouvait suivre la ligne séparant deux parties de l'image de couleurs différentes, le seul guide pour assembler le puzzle étant alors la forme des pièces. La découpe mécanique des puzzles, pratiquée aujourd'hui à une grande échelle, est uniformisée. Une même forme de découpe est généralement utilisée pour réaliser différents puzzles, représentant toutes sortes d'images. La difficulté d'assemblage d'un tel puzzle dépend essentiellement du nombre de pièces, de la taille moyenne des pièces, et de la complexité propre de l'image à reconstituer.The traditional cutting of a puzzle, an operation carried out manually, was not always in accordance with a well-defined model, but could on the contrary be free and irregular. For example, this cut could follow the line separating two parts of the image of different colors, the only guide to assemble the puzzle then being the shape of the pieces. The mechanical cutting of puzzles, practiced today on a large scale, is standardized. The same cutting shape is generally used to make different puzzles, representing all kinds of images. The difficulty of assembling such a puzzle essentially depends on the number of pieces, the average size of the pieces, and the specific complexity of the image to be reconstructed.
Avec l'objectif de rendre plus difficile l'assemblage du puzzle, le brevet US n° 5 022 655 a proposé d'inclure dans la découpe du puzzle un ou plusieurs rectangles, ou plus généralement un ou plusieurs polygones, de manière à ajouter des pièces ayant un côté droit de part et d'autre des frontières de ces rectangles, ou de ces polygones, ainsi que de nouvelles pièces d'angle ayant deux côtés droits. Cette solution a effectivement pour résultat de rendre l'assemblage du puzzle sensiblement plus difficile, les pièces constituant la bordure du puzzle ne se distinguant plus, par leur forme, de ces pièces intérieures.With the aim of making it more difficult to assemble the puzzle, US Pat. No. 5,022,655 has proposed including in the cutting of the puzzle one or more rectangles, or more generally one or more polygons, so as to add pieces having a right side on either side of the borders of these rectangles, or of these polygons, as well as new corner pieces having two straight sides. This solution effectively results in making the assembly of the puzzle significantly more difficult, the pieces constituting the border of the puzzle no longer being distinguished, by their shape, from these interior pieces.
Cependant, cette solution exige, en pratique et quel que soit le mode de réalisation retenu, la présence d'une certaine quantité de pièces intérieures traditionnelles sans côté droit. Cette contrainte, inhérente à la solution retenue par ce brevet, ne permet pas d'atteindre pleinement l'objectif recherché, qui est de rendre l'assemblage du puzzle réellement plus difficile. Par ailleurs, cette technique a l'inconvénient majeur de produire un puzzle constitué de plusieurs parties disjointes, la solidarité de l'ensemble du puzzle n'étant plus assurée et par conséquent sa structure fragilisée. Pour remédier à ce problème, ce même brevet propose de relier les différentes parties du puzzle, jusqu'ici disjointes, par des pièces particulières dites de jointure, constituées de l'addition de deux pièces simples, et traversant les frontières entre ces différentes parties. L'utilisation de telles pièces doubles a été auparavant proposée par le brevet FR n° 2 395 051, afin de relier deux puzzles juxtaposés pour obtenir un puzzle plus grand. Cette solution, qui assure effectivement une solidarité minimale de l'ensemble des parties du puzzle, est pourtant artificielle puisqu'elle nécessite l'utilisation de pièces doubles d'une nature totalement différente de celle des autres pièces du puzzle. Pour toutes ces raisons, la solution proposée par ce brevet n'est pas entièrement satisfaisante.However, this solution requires, in practice and whatever the embodiment chosen, the presence of a certain amount of traditional interior parts without a right side. This constraint, inherent in the solution adopted by this patent, does not fully achieve the desired objective, which is to make the assembly of the puzzle really more difficult. Furthermore, this technique has the major drawback of producing a puzzle made up of several disjointed parts, the solidarity of the whole puzzle no longer being ensured and therefore its structure weakened. To remedy this problem, this same patent proposes to connect the different parts of the puzzle, hitherto disjoint, by particular pieces called joint, consisting of the addition of two simple pieces, and crossing the borders between these different parts. The use of such double pieces has previously been proposed by patent FR No. 2,395,051, in order to connect two juxtaposed puzzles to obtain a larger puzzle. This solution, which effectively ensures minimal solidarity for all the parts of the puzzle, is however artificial since it requires the use of double pieces of a totally different nature from that of other pieces of the puzzle. For all these reasons, the solution proposed by this patent is not entirely satisfactory.
L'objectif principal de la présente invention est de rendre l'assemblage du puzzle réellement plus difficile et, par là, plus intéressant, tout en préservant les caractéristiques essentielles d'un puzzle, telles que définies précédemment. A cette fin, elle propose une solution innovante, plus efficace et plus satisfaisante que celles proposées à ce jour.The main objective of the present invention is to make the assembly of the puzzle actually more difficult and, thereby, more interesting, while preserving the essential characteristics of a puzzle, as defined above. To this end, it offers an innovative solution, more efficient and more satisfactory than those proposed to date.
Conformément à la présente invention, les lignes de découpe du puzzle comprennent des segments droits, en nombre et de longueur variables, et tels que les pièces intérieures du puzzle ont chacune, pour la totalité de ces pièces intérieures ou, à défaut, pour une partie seulement de celles-ci, représentant toutefois plus de la moitié d'entre elles, au moins un côté droit, ces segments droits étant disposés de telle manière qu'ils ne forment, à l'intérieur du périmètre du puzzle, aucune ligne polygonale fermée, c'est-à-dire aucun polygone, ni aucune ligne polygonale reliant deux points distincts du périmètre du puzzle.In accordance with the present invention, the cutting lines of the puzzle comprise straight segments, of variable number and length, and such that the interior pieces of the puzzle each have, for all of these interior pieces or, failing this, for a part only of these, representing however more than half of them, at least one right side, these straight segments being arranged in such a way that they do not form, inside the perimeter of the puzzle, any closed polygonal line , that is to say no polygon, nor any polygonal line connecting two distinct points of the perimeter of the puzzle.
Selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, la totalité des pièces du puzzle, tant extérieures qu'intérieures, ont chacune au moins un côté droit.According to one embodiment of the invention, all of the pieces of the puzzle, both exterior and interior, each have at least one right side.
Selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention, la totalité des pièces intérieures du puzzle ont, soit, pour une partie d'entre elles, un et un seul côté droit, soit, pour le reste de ces pièces, deux côtés droits adjacents formant un angle.According to another embodiment of the invention, all of the interior pieces of the puzzle have, either, for part of them, one and only one right side, or, for the rest of these pieces, two adjacent straight sides forming an angle.
Selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention, la totalité des pièces intérieures du puzzle ont chacune un et un seul côté droit.According to another embodiment of the invention, all of the interior pieces of the puzzle each have one and only one right side.
Selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention, certains côtés des pièces extérieures du puzzle, autres que ceux formant le périmètre du puzzle, sont droits.According to another embodiment of the invention, certain sides of the outer pieces of the puzzle, other than those forming the perimeter of the puzzle, are straight.
Selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention, les seules pièces du puzzle ayant au moins un côté droit sont des pièces intérieures.According to another embodiment of the invention, the only pieces of the puzzle having at least one right side are interior pieces.
Selon encore un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention, la disposition des segments droits présente un caractère régulier, résultant de la répétition d'un ou de plusieurs motifs.According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the arrangement of the straight segments has a regular character, resulting from the repetition of one or more patterns.
Selon un dernier mode de réalisation de l'invention, tout ou partie des segments droits sont mis en valeur, soit directement, ces segments étant soulignés par un tracé faisant partie intégrante de l'image, soit indirectement, ces segments permettant de délimiter les contours de parties de l'image de couleurs différentes. Un premier résultat de la présente invention est bien de rendre réellement plus difficile l'assemblage d'un puzzle et moins efficace, voire inopérante, la méthode habituellement suivie, consistant à commencer par assembler la bordure du puzzle, étape en général simple qui permet de délimiter les contours du puzzle, et à poursuivre l'assemblage en progressant vers l'intérieur. Dans certains cas, la construction de la bordure du puzzle peut n'intervenir que tardivement, et même en dernier, dans le processus d'assemblage. En effet, l'invention montre qu'il est possible de réaliser un puzzle comprenant une proportion importante, et aussi grande que souhaitable, de pièces intérieures ayant chacune au moins un côté droit par rapport au nombre total des pièces intérieures. Cette proportion peut ainsi représenter la totalité de ces pièces, la présence de pièces intérieures traditionnelles sans côté droit n'étant nullement nécessaire. Cette situation, où la totalité des pièces intérieures du puzzle ont chacune au moins un côté droit, représente le mode de réalisation le plus satisfaisant de l'invention, en ce qu'il permet d'atteindre pleinement le résultat recherché, qui est de rendre l'assemblage du puzzle réellement plus difficile. Naturellement, il est également possible de conserver une certaine quantité de pièces intérieures traditionnelles sans côté droit, la présence d'un petit nombre de ces pièces ne modifiant pas fondamentalement la nature de l'invention. L'invention permet également de réaliser un puzzle où certains côtés des pièces extérieures, autres que ceux formant le périmètre du puzzle, sont droits, ce qui peut représenter une difficulté supplémentaire. Enfin, l'invention permet de réaliser un puzzle dont les seules pièces ayant au moins un côté droit sont situées non pas en bordure, mais à l'intérieur du puzzle, ce qui constitue une situation particulièrement inhabituelle.According to a last embodiment of the invention, all or part of the straight segments are highlighted, either directly, these segments being underlined by a line forming an integral part of the image, or indirectly, these segments making it possible to delimit the contours parts of the image of different colors. A first result of the present invention is to make it really more difficult to assemble a puzzle and less efficient, even inoperative, the method usually followed, consisting in starting by assembling the border of the puzzle, a generally simple step which makes it possible to delimit the contours of the puzzle, and continue the assembly by progressing inward. In some cases, the construction of the border of the puzzle may only come late, and even last, in the assembly process. Indeed, the invention shows that it is possible to make a puzzle comprising a large proportion, and as large as desirable, of interior pieces each having at least one straight side relative to the total number of interior pieces. This proportion can thus represent the totality of these parts, the presence of traditional interior parts without right side being in no way necessary. This situation, where all of the interior pieces of the puzzle each have at least one right side, represents the most satisfactory embodiment of the invention, in that it allows the desired result to be fully achieved, which is to make actually making the puzzle more difficult. Of course, it is also possible to keep a certain amount of traditional interior parts without a right side, the presence of a small number of these parts not fundamentally changing the nature of the invention. The invention also makes it possible to produce a puzzle where certain sides of the external pieces, other than those forming the perimeter of the puzzle, are straight, which can represent an additional difficulty. Finally, the invention makes it possible to produce a puzzle whose only pieces having at least one right side are located not on the edge, but inside the puzzle, which constitutes a particularly unusual situation.
Un autre résultat important de la présente invention est de préserver, quel que soit le mode de réalisation retenu, les caractéristiques essentielles d'un puzzle, telles que définies précédemment, en particulier, la solidarité de chaque partie du puzzle avec l'ensemble dans le plan du puzzle, l'assemblage et le désassemblage des pièces n'étant alors possibles que dans une direction n'appartenant pas au plan du puzzle. En effet, selon l'invention, la disposition des segments droits, qui appartiennent aux lignes de découpe du puzzle, est telle que ces segments ne forment, à l'intérieur du périmètre du puzzle, aucune ligne polygonale fermée, c'est-à-dire aucun polygone, ni aucune ligne polygonale reliant deux points distincts du périmètre du puzzle. Cette caractéristique permet bien à chaque partie du puzzle d'être solidaire de l'ensemble dans le plan du puzzle, au moyen, comme cela a été précisé, d'un ensemble d'éléments mâles et femelles, deux à deux complémentaires, appartenant aux côtés des différentes pièces, chaque pièce étant ainsi reliée à au moins une autre pièce du puzzle. Ce résultat est obtenu sans qu'il soit nécessaire d'utiliser un quelconque autre moyen, tel que, par exemple, des pièces doubles de jointure. En effet, comme cela a été également précisé, chaque pièce du puzzle occupe une position définie à l'intersection d'une ligne et d'une colonne, chacun de ses quatre côtés ne pouvant ainsi être directement en contact qu'avec un seul côté d'une seule autre pièce, ce qui exclut, en particulier, les pièces doubles de jointure.Another important result of the present invention is to preserve, whatever the embodiment chosen, the essential characteristics of a puzzle, as defined above, in particular, the solidarity of each part of the puzzle with the whole in the plane of the puzzle, the assembly and disassembly of the parts then being possible only in a direction not belonging to the plane of the puzzle. Indeed, according to the invention, the arrangement of the straight segments, which belong to the cutting lines of the puzzle, is such that these segments do not form, inside the perimeter of the puzzle, any closed polygonal line, that is to say - say no polygon, no polygonal line connecting two distinct points of the perimeter of the puzzle. This characteristic allows each part of the puzzle to be integral with the whole in the plane of the puzzle, by means, as has been specified, of a set of male and female elements, two by two complementary, belonging to sides of the different pieces, each piece being thus connected to at least one other piece of the puzzle. This is achieved without the need to use any other means, such as, for example, double joining pieces. Indeed, as has also been specified, each piece of the puzzle occupies a defined position at the intersection of a line and a column, each of its four sides can thus be directly in contact with only one side of a single other piece, which excludes, in particular, double joining pieces.
Un dernier résultat de la présente invention est de proposer un style de découpe original permettant la création de modèles inédits et variés, et de contribuer ainsi au renouvellement de l'art du puzzle. En effet, le nombre de segments droits, qui appartiennent aux lignes de découpe du puzzle, est variable, et la disposition de ces segments droits est libre, à condition cependant de ne former aucune ligne polygonale fermée ou reliant deux points distincts du périmètre du puzzle. Ces segments sont de longueur variable, ceux de longueur plutôt petite assurant une meilleure cohésion de la structure du puzzle. Us peuvent être isolés ou bien reliés, formant alors des angles et ainsi des lignes brisées. La disposition des différents segments droits présente, dans sa forme la plus générale, un caractère irrégulier. Cette disposition, où tout repère quant à l'agencement des différentes pièces est absent, permet de réaliser un puzzle particulièrement difficile à assembler. La disposition des différents segments droits peut, au contraire, présenter un caractère régulier, résultant de la répétition d'un ou de plusieurs motifs. La structure du puzzle est alors relativement équilibrée et homogène, ce qui peut être un avantage. Une telle disposition peut également être considérée comme un élément décoratif supplémentaire, dans la mesure où les lignes de découpe sont visibles. Les segments droits, en totalité ou en partie, peuvent aussi être mis en valeur, soit directement, ces segments étant soulignés par un tracé faisant partie intégrante de l'image, soit indirectement, ces segments permettant de délimiter les contours de parties de l'image de couleurs différentes.A final result of the present invention is to propose an original cutting style allowing the creation of new and varied models, and thus contributing to the renewal of the art of the puzzle. Indeed, the number of straight segments, which belong to the cutting lines of the puzzle, is variable, and the arrangement of these straight segments is free, provided however of forming no closed polygonal line or connecting two distinct points of the perimeter of the puzzle . These segments are of variable length, those of rather small length ensuring better cohesion of the puzzle structure. They can be isolated or linked, thus forming angles and thus broken lines. The arrangement of the different straight segments has, in its most general form, an irregular character. This arrangement, where there is no reference to the arrangement of the different pieces, makes it possible to create a particularly difficult puzzle to assemble. The arrangement of the different straight segments may, on the contrary, be regular, resulting from the repetition of one or more patterns. The structure of the puzzle is then relatively balanced and homogeneous, which can be an advantage. Such an arrangement can also be considered as an additional decorative element, insofar as the cutting lines are visible. The straight segments, in whole or in part, can also be highlighted, either directly, these segments being underlined by a line forming an integral part of the image, or indirectly, these segments making it possible to delimit the contours of parts of the different color image.
Les figures numérotées de 1 à 7 présentent des exemples qui illustrent les possibilités de mise en oeuvre de l'invention suivant ses différents modes de réalisation. Chaque figure représente, pour des raisons pratiques, un puzzle comprenant un nombre réduit de pièces, soit 80 pièces. Naturellement, chacune de ces figures pourrait facilement être adaptée pour réaliser un puzzle de plus grande dimension. Sur chaque figure, seuls le périmètre et les lignes de découpe du puzzle ont été représentés, et les segments droits appartenant à ces lignes de découpe ont été mis en valeur par un tracé plus épais, tout comme le périmètre du puzzle.The figures numbered from 1 to 7 present examples which illustrate the possibilities of implementing the invention according to its various embodiments. Each figure represents, for practical reasons, a puzzle comprising a reduced number of pieces, that is to say 80 pieces. Naturally, each of these figures could easily be adapted to make a larger puzzle. In each figure, only the perimeter and the cutting lines of the puzzle have been represented, and the straight segments belonging to these cutting lines have been highlighted by a thicker line, just like the perimeter of the puzzle.
La figure 1 présente un premier exemple de réalisation d'un puzzle selon l'invention. Le puzzle (1) est découpé par un ensemble de lignes (3) qui comprennent des segments droits (6). Les pièces extérieures (4) qui constituent la bordure du puzzle et forment son périmètre (2), de forme rectangulaire, ont soit un seul côté droit, soit, pour celles situées aux angles, deux côtés droits adjacents. Les pièces intérieures (5) ont également, pour chacune d'entre elles, soit un seul côté droit, soit deux côtés droits adjacents. Les segments droits (6) ont une longueur variable. Certains de ces segments sont isolés, les autres sont reliés entre eux et forment des angles et des lignes brisées. La disposition des différents segments ne présente aucun caractère de régularité apparent.Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a puzzle according to the invention. The puzzle (1) is cut by a set of lines (3) which include straight segments (6). The outer pieces (4) which constitute the border of the puzzle and form its perimeter (2), of rectangular shape, have either a single right side, or, for those located at the corners, two adjacent straight sides. The interior parts (5) also have, for each of them, either a single right side, or two adjacent straight sides. The straight segments (6) have a variable length. Some of these segments are isolated, the others are interconnected and form angles and broken lines. The arrangement of the different segments has no apparent regularity.
La figure 2 présente un deuxième exemple de réalisation d'un puzzle selon l'invention. A la différence de la figure précédente, la disposition des segments droits (6) présente ici un caractère régulier, résultant de la répétition d'un même motif, lui-même symétrique, une fois dans la moitié gauche du puzzle, une fois dans la moitié droite. Les figures 3, 4, et 5 présentent d'autres exemples de réalisation d'un puzzle selon l'invention. Sur chacune de ces figures, les pièces intérieures (5) ont chacune un seul côté droit, et les segments droits (6) sont isolés les uns des autres. Sur la figure 3, ces segments droits ont une longueur variable, et leur disposition ne présente aucun caractère de régularité apparent. Sur la figure 4, ces segments droits ont tous la même longueur, égale au double de celle d'un côté d'une pièce, et sont disposés en alternance horizontalement et verticalement, selon un motif répétitif simple, l'ensemble présentant ainsi un caractère régulier et homogène. Sur la figure 5, ces segments droits ont tous la même longueur, la plus petite possible, égale à celle d'un côté d'une pièce, à l'exception d'un segment unique de longueur double placé au centre du puzzle, et la disposition de ces segments présente également un caractère régulier et homogène. Sur chacune de ces figures, il serait facile de prolonger ces différents segments droits, ou encore d'ajouter de nouveaux segments droits, pour faire apparaître des pièces intérieures ayant plusieurs côtés droits, par exemple deux côtés droits adjacents, comme sur les figures précédentes.Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a puzzle according to the invention. Unlike the previous figure, the arrangement of the straight segments (6) here has a regular character, resulting from the repetition of the same pattern, itself symmetrical, once in the left half of the puzzle, once in the right half. Figures 3, 4, and 5 show other exemplary embodiments of a puzzle according to the invention. In each of these figures, the interior parts (5) each have a single right side, and the straight segments (6) are isolated from each other. In Figure 3, these straight segments have a variable length, and their arrangement has no apparent regularity. In FIG. 4, these straight segments all have the same length, equal to twice that of one side of a part, and are arranged alternately horizontally and vertically, in a simple repeating pattern, the assembly thus having a character regular and homogeneous. In FIG. 5, these straight segments all have the same length, the smallest possible, equal to that of one side of a piece, with the exception of a single segment of double length placed in the center of the puzzle, and the arrangement of these segments also has a regular and homogeneous character. In each of these figures, it would be easy to extend these different straight segments, or even to add new straight segments, to reveal interior parts having several straight sides, for example two adjacent straight sides, as in the previous figures.
La figure 6 présente un exemple de réalisation d'un puzzle selon une forme plus générale de l'invention. Les pièces extérieures (4) ont ici soit un seul côté droit, soit deux côtés droits opposés, soit deux côtés droits adjacents, ces dernières pièces n'étant pas seulement situées aux angles du puzzle. Les pièces intérieures (5) ont également, pour la plupart, soit un seul côté droit, soit deux côtés droits opposés, soit deux côtés droits adjacents. Dans cet exemple, quelques-unes de ces pièces intérieures, en petit nombre, n'ont aucun côté droit. Un tel puzzle aurait pu également comprendre quelques pièces, intérieures ou extérieures, ayant trois côtés droits, cette situation constituant bien évidemment un cas limite, chaque pièce étant nécessairement reliée par au moins un de ses côtés à une autre pièce du puzzle.FIG. 6 presents an exemplary embodiment of a puzzle according to a more general form of the invention. The outer pieces (4) here have either a single right side, or two opposite straight sides, or two adjacent straight sides, these latter pieces not only being located at the corners of the puzzle. The interior parts (5) also have, for the most part, either a single straight side, or two opposite straight sides, or two adjacent straight sides. In this example, some of these interior parts, in small numbers, have no right side. Such a puzzle could also have included a few pieces, interior or exterior, having three straight sides, this situation obviously constituting a borderline case, each piece being necessarily connected by at least one of its sides to another piece of the puzzle.
La figure 7 présente un dernier exemple de réalisation d'un puzzle selon l'invention. Cette figure est semblable à la figure 1, mais le périmètre (2) du puzzle est ici de forme irrégulière et les pièces extérieures (4) n'ont aucun côté droit. Une telle situation, où les seules pièces ayant au moins un côté droit sont des pièces intérieures, est particulièrement inhabituelle.FIG. 7 presents a last example of embodiment of a puzzle according to the invention. This figure is similar to Figure 1, but the perimeter (2) of the puzzle is here irregular in shape and the outer pieces (4) have no right side. Such a situation, where the only parts having at least one right side are interior parts, is particularly unusual.
La mise en oeuvre de la présente invention ne demande aucune modification du processus industriel de production de puzzles et ne présente pas de difficulté propre, quelle que soit la technique de fabrication retenue. Elle demande seulement la réalisation d'un modèle de découpe conforme aux caractéristiques de l'invention et, dans le cas d'une fabrication classique, l'utilisation d'une forme de découpe adaptée.The implementation of the present invention does not require any modification of the industrial process of production of puzzles and does not present any specific difficulty, whatever the manufacturing technique chosen. It only requires the production of a cutting model in accordance with the characteristics of the invention and, in the case of conventional manufacture, the use of a suitable cutting form.
La présente invention, dans ses différents modes de réalisation, est applicable à des puzzles de toute nature ayant au minimum les caractéristiques demandées, quels que soient les dimensions du puzzle, le nombre et la taille de ses pièces, la matière de fabrication utilisée (carton, bois, plastique, ou toute matière appropriée) et l'épaisseur de ce matériau. Elle s'applique aux puzzles dont le périmètre est de forme rectangulaire, ou de toute autre forme. Elle s'applique aux puzzles comportant des pièces toutes différentes, ou comportant des pièces de taille et de forme strictement identiques. Elle s'applique aux puzzles à deux faces, l'image pouvant être identique ou différente sur les deux faces du puzzle, ainsi qu'aux puzzles composés de plusieurs couches, opaques ou en partie transparentes, découpées de manière identique ou différente. Elle s'applique aux puzzles qui représentent une image totalement plane ou en léger relief, et aux puzzles comprenant certaines parties intérieures évidées. Elle s'applique aux puzzles insérés dans un cadre ou maintenus sur un support par une couche magnétique ou adhésive, ou encore par un moyen mécanique quelconque. Elle s'applique enfin à toute simulation, sous une forme non matérielle et faisant appel à des techniques informatiques, d'un puzzle présentant l'une quelconque des caractéristiques précédentes.The present invention, in its various embodiments, is applicable to puzzles of any kind having at least the required characteristics, whatever the dimensions of the puzzle, the number and size of its pieces, the material of manufacture used (cardboard , wood, plastic, or any suitable material) and the thickness of that material. It applies to puzzles whose perimeter is rectangular, or any other shape. It applies to puzzles comprising all different parts, or comprising parts of strictly identical size and shape. It applies to two-sided puzzles, the image being able to be identical or different on the two faces of the puzzle, as well as to puzzles made up of several layers, opaque or partly transparent, cut in an identical or different manner. It applies to puzzles which represent a totally flat or slightly raised image, and to puzzles comprising certain hollowed-out interior parts. It applies to puzzles inserted in a frame or held on a support by a magnetic or adhesive layer, or even by any mechanical means. Finally, it applies to any simulation, in a non-material form and using computer techniques, of a puzzle having any of the preceding characteristics.
La présente invention n'est pas limitée par la description précédente et couvre donc toutes les variantes qui pourraient lui être apportées sans sortir de son cadre ni de son esprit. The present invention is not limited by the preceding description and therefore covers all the variants which could be made to it without departing from its scope or its spirit.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1) Puzzle (1) délimité par un périmètre (2) et constitué d'un ensemble de pièces (4,5) qui, correctement assemblées, reconstituent une image, au préalable fixée sur un support, le tout étant ensuite découpé par un ensemble de lignes (3) suivant deux directions appartenant au plan du puzzle et approximativement orthogonales, ces pièces (4,5) étant disposées de telle manière que chaque pièce occupe une position définie à l'intersection d'une ligne et d'une colonne, chacun de ses quatre côtés ne pouvant ainsi être directement en contact qu'avec un seul côté d'une seule autre pièce, ces pièces (4,5) étant reliées par un ensemble d'éléments mâles et femelles, deux à deux complémentaires, appartenant aux côtés de ces différentes pièces, et assurant la solidarité de chaque partie du puzzle avec l'ensemble dans le plan du puzzle, sans qu'aucun autre moyen ne soit nécessaire à cette fin, l'assemblage et le désassemblage de ces pièces n'étant alors possibles que dans une direction n'appartenant pas au plan du puzzle, certaines de ces pièces (4) dites extérieures constituant la bordure du puzzle, certains côtés de ces pièces formant le périmètre (2) du puzzle, les autres pièces (5) dites intérieures constituant la partie intérieure du puzzle, caractérisé en ce que les lignes de découpe (3) du puzzle (1) comprennent des segments droits1) Puzzle (1) delimited by a perimeter (2) and consisting of a set of pieces (4,5) which, correctly assembled, reconstitute an image, previously fixed on a support, the whole then being cut out by a set lines (3) in two directions belonging to the plane of the puzzle and approximately orthogonal, these pieces (4,5) being arranged in such a way that each piece occupies a defined position at the intersection of a line and a column, each of its four sides can therefore only be in direct contact with one side of a single other part, these parts (4,5) being connected by a set of male and female elements, two by two complementary, belonging alongside these different pieces, and ensuring the solidarity of each part of the puzzle with the whole in the plane of the puzzle, without any other means being necessary for this purpose, the assembly and disassembly of these pieces does not then being poss ibles that in a direction not belonging to the plane of the puzzle, some of these so-called external pieces (4) constituting the border of the puzzle, certain sides of these pieces forming the perimeter (2) of the puzzle, the other pieces (5) say interior constituting the interior part of the puzzle, characterized in that the cutting lines (3) of the puzzle (1) comprise straight segments
(6), en nombre et de longueur variables, et tels que les pièces intérieures (5) du puzzle ont chacune, pour la totalité de ces pièces intérieures ou, à défaut, pour une partie seulement de celles-ci, représentant toutefois plus de la moitié d'entre elles, au moins un côté droit, ces segments droits (6) étant disposés de telle manière qu'ils ne forment, à l'intérieur du périmètre (2) du puzzle, aucune ligne polygonale fermée, c'est-à-dire aucun polygone, ni aucune ligne polygonale reliant deux points distincts du périmètre du puzzle.(6), in variable number and length, and such that the interior pieces (5) of the puzzle each have, for all of these interior pieces or, failing this, for only a part of them, however representing more than half of them, at least one right side, these straight segments (6) being arranged in such a way that they do not form, inside the perimeter (2) of the puzzle, any closed polygonal line, this is that is to say no polygon, nor any polygonal line connecting two distinct points of the perimeter of the puzzle.
2) Puzzle selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que la totalité des pièces du puzzle, tant extérieures (4) qu'intérieures (5), ont chacune au moins un côté droit.2) Puzzle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that all of the pieces of the puzzle, both exterior (4) and interior (5), each have at least one right side.
3) Puzzle selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la totalité des pièces intérieures (5) du puzzle ont, soit, pour une partie d'entre elles, un et un seul côté droit, soit, pour le reste de ces pièces, deux côtés droits adjacents formant un angle.3) Puzzle according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that all of the interior pieces (5) of the puzzle have, either, for part of them, one and only one right side, or, for the rest of these pieces, two adjacent straight sides forming an angle.
4) Puzzle selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la totalité des pièces intérieures (5) du puzzle ont chacune un et un seul côté droit. 5) Puzzle selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que certains côtés des pièces extérieures (4) du puzzle, autres que ceux formant le périmètre (2) du puzzle, sont droits.4) Puzzle according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that all of the interior pieces (5) of the puzzle each have one and only one right side. 5) Puzzle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that certain sides of the outer pieces (4) of the puzzle, other than those forming the perimeter (2) of the puzzle, are straight.
6) Puzzle selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1, 3, ou 4, caractérisé en ce que les seules pièces du puzzle ayant au moins un côté droit sont des pièces intérieures (5).6) Puzzle according to any one of claims 1, 3, or 4, characterized in that the only pieces of the puzzle having at least one right side are interior pieces (5).
7) Puzzle selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la disposition des segments droits (6) présente un caractère régulier, résultant de la répétition d'un ou de plusieurs motifs.7) Puzzle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arrangement of the straight segments (6) has a regular character, resulting from the repetition of one or more patterns.
8) Puzzle selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que tout ou partie des segments droits (6) sont mis en valeur, soit direαement, ces segments étant soulignés par un tracé faisant partie intégrante de l'image, soit indirectement, ces segments permettant de délimiter les contours de parties de l'image de couleurs différentes. 8) Puzzle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all or part of the straight segments (6) are highlighted, ie ditαement, these segments being underlined by a line forming an integral part of the image, or indirectly , these segments making it possible to delimit the contours of parts of the image of different colors.
EP95942257A 1994-12-14 1995-12-13 Jigsaw puzzles Expired - Lifetime EP0797470B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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FR9415073A FR2728177A1 (en) 1994-12-14 1994-12-14 PUZZLES
FR9415073 1994-12-14
PCT/FR1995/001659 WO1996018443A1 (en) 1994-12-14 1995-12-13 Jigsaw puzzles

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US20230277922A1 (en) * 2022-03-04 2023-09-07 Mark Zadvinskis No-flip jigsaw puzzle

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US2953380A (en) * 1957-09-19 1960-09-20 Johann F Hassenbach Map puzzle
US5022655A (en) * 1989-08-16 1991-06-11 Meyer Karen E Jigsaw puzzle and technique
US5149570A (en) * 1990-09-21 1992-09-22 Merrie Cain Peel-off puzzle
US5230508A (en) * 1992-01-13 1993-07-27 Tabler Charles P Jigsaw puzzle

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FR2728177B1 (en) 1997-03-07
WO1996018443A1 (en) 1996-06-20
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