FR3097448A1 - Puzzle storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (1) for storing a puzzle in an assembled or partially assembled state, comprising: i) a support mat (2) having a support surface of an assembled or partially assembled puzzle; ii) a winding core (3), designed to be positioned at one end of the mat (2) so as to allow the assembly formed by the support mat and the puzzle to be wound up, said core comprising at least one clamp (4) forming a zone (5) of superposition between an outer wall portion of the core and a clamp wall, allowing the insertion of the assembly formed by the mat and the puzzle. FIGURE 1

Description

Puzzle storage device

The present invention relates to a puzzle storage device for storing a puzzle in an at least partially assembled state.

A classic puzzle storage device consists of a soft mat and an elongated roller. The document WO9525569 describes for example a compact storage system by winding around a central roller. The roller spans the full width of the puzzle, providing continuous support across that width. The storage mode is to wrap the mat around the roller. The assembled pieces of the puzzle are placed on the mat and sandwiched between the mat and the roller and then between the two faces of the mat. In this type of device, in particular with large-sized puzzles, the winding initiation phase is often difficult to achieve because the pieces at the edge of the puzzle tend to come apart. To compensate, the user must quickly move their hands repeatedly or enlist the help of another person to prevent the puzzle from coming apart.

There is therefore a need for a compact storage device which is truly easy to implement, whatever the size of the puzzle.

To overcome these various drawbacks, the invention provides various technical means.

First of all, a first objective of the invention consists in providing a puzzle storage system which is simple, compact, practical and inexpensive.

Yet another object of the invention aims to provide is to provide a puzzle storage system which can be easily used with large puzzles.

To do this, the invention provides a puzzle storage device in the assembled or partially assembled state, comprising:
i) a support mat having a support surface of an assembled or partially assembled puzzle;
ii) a winding core, designed to be positioned at one end of the mat so as to enable the assembly formed by the support mat and the puzzle to be rolled up,
said core comprising at least one gripper arranged along the outer wall of the core and allowing the insertion of the assembly formed by the mat and the puzzle.

In use, the pliers form a notch allowing the assembly formed by the mat, the puzzle and a possible cover sheet to be fixed, thus making it possible to implement a winding phase around the core in a particularly simple way. Once the insertion of an edge of the puzzle and the mat has been carried out in the clamp(s), the core is in the appropriate position to allow a phase of winding around it. Thus, even for a large-sized puzzle, a single user has no difficulty in starting the winding since the mat and the puzzle are firmly held against the core by the clamp(s). The device is simple, robust, inexpensive and very easy to use. Once the mat and the puzzle are stored in the rolled-up position, the core being pinched in the rolled-up elements, there is no risk of the unit separating. The puzzle is thus stored in a safe and durable way.

Advantageously, the clamp is open on three sides.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the device also comprises a cover sheet, designed to at least partially cover the puzzle placed on the support mat, the clamp allowing the insertion of the assembly formed by the mat, the puzzle and the cover sheet.

The sheet facilitates the start of winding phase, especially if the core has rings.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the core comprises a roller, the length of which corresponds to the width of the carpet, which thus makes it possible to eliminate the cover sheet.

Such a roll may comprise an elongated gripper occupying most or all of the width of the roll, or several grippers spaced from each other, for example one at each end and one in the centre.

Alternatively, the core comprises at least two rings which are formed by winding a lamella on itself, said rings being designed to be arranged at a distance from each other when storing a puzzle by winding around the rings.

Such a ring system does not occupy the entire width of the carpet and allows particularly compact storage when not in use.

Advantageously, the cover sheet has a minimum length corresponding to the perimeter of the core, and preferably to the perimeter of the core plus 10% of this perimeter.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the perimeter of the core is at least 21 cm, and preferably between 20 cm and 40 cm.

The invention also provides a method for storing a puzzle in the assembled or partially assembled state using a storage device comprising a support mat having a support surface for an assembled or partially assembled puzzle and a winding core comprising a gripper, said method comprising the steps of:
i) assembling pieces of a puzzle on the support mat;
ii) position the core on the winding leader edge by inserting the mat and possibly the jigsaw into the clamp;
iii) wrap the mat and puzzle around the core.

In an advantageous embodiment, the method also includes a step consisting of laying a cover sheet on the assembled parts before wrapping everything around the core.

All the implementation details are given in the following description, supplemented by Figures 1 to 4, presented solely for the purpose of non-limiting examples, and in which:

Fig.1

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a storage device at the time of positioning the elements, before winding;

Fig.2

Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 in rolling phase;

Fig.3

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a winding core;

Fig.4

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a winding core.

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a puzzle storage device 1. As illustrated, the device comprises a support mat 2 forming a support surface for a puzzle assembled or being assembled at least partially assembled. The support mat is preferably made of non-slip material.

It may also include a cover or holding sheet 6, used to cover at least a portion of the puzzle to be stored. The backing sheet is preferably shorter than the backing mat. Its minimum length is designed to allow slightly more than one turn of the puzzle to be rolled up. A longer length is possible, but the maintenance of the puzzle can also be carried out by the support mat 2, which comes to rest on the puzzle during the winding phase. The retaining sheet 3 may or may not be made of the same material as the flexible mat. It is advantageously semi-rigid, for good support during the winding phase.

In a variant embodiment, the dimensions of the support mat 2 and of the retaining sheet are identical.

The cover sheet 6 has a minimum length corresponding to the perimeter of the core 3, and preferably to the perimeter of the core plus 10% of this perimeter. The perimeter of the core is at least 21 cm, and preferably between 20 cm and 40 cm.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the device comprises a winding core 3, designed to be positioned at one end of the mat 2 so as to allow the assembly formed by the support mat and the puzzle to be rolled up.

In the example of Figure 3, the core comprises a roller 7 whose length corresponds substantially to the width of the belt 2.

As a variant, the core comprises at least two rings 8 such as that illustrated in the example of FIG. 4. In this example, the ring 8 is formed by a strip 9 wound on itself. Such rings are designed to be placed at a distance from each other when storing a puzzle by wrapping around the rings.

To facilitate the start of the winding phase, the core includes at least one clamp 4 in which the assembly formed by the mat, the puzzle and the possible retaining sheet can be inserted.

In the example of Figure 3, the clamp 4 is made using an arcuate section placed against the core 3, forming a zone 5 of overlap between a portion of the outer wall of the core and the arcuate portion. The clamp is fixed to the core for example by gluing or riveting, or the like, or by welding in the case of metal elements. The clamp can also be made integral with the core by extrusion or injection in the case of plastic elements.

In the example of Figure 4, the clamp is formed by an overlap zone 5 between the two wound ends of the ring 8. In this example, the inner end 10 of the lamella is fixed against the inner wall of the lamella , at the start of overlay area 5.

As illustrated schematically in Figures 1 and 2, the storage of a puzzle using the device is carried out as follows. It is necessary, prior to storage, to plan to assemble the puzzle on a support mat 2. Roll-up storage can be done as soon as the puzzle has at least one surface of a few assembled pieces. The higher the percentage of assembled parts, the easier it is to put things away.

To carry out the storage by rolling up, the user positions the core 3 on the rolling start edge by inserting the mat and possibly the puzzle into the clamp(s) 4. The clamp(s) make it possible to firmly fix the mat together, the puzzle as well as the possible covering sheet. The user can then easily initiate the rolling of the mat and the puzzle around the core. Once the winding is complete, the user can place straps or rubber bands or straps to attach the assembly in rolled up mode.

To deploy the puzzle, the rolled up assembly is simply placed on a suitable reception surface, the straps or other means of attachment are removed, and the assembly unrolled. At the end of the unrolling, the clamp(s) of the core (roller or rings) are removed, in order to release the puzzle, laid flat, ready to be displayed and/or completed.

1. Puzzle storage device
2. support mat
3. Winding core
4. Clamp
5. Overlay area
6. cover sheet
7. Roll
8. Ring
9. Rolled lamella
10. Lamella end

Claims (9)

Device (1) for storing puzzles in the assembled or partially assembled state, comprising:
i) a support mat (2) having a supporting surface of an assembled or partially assembled puzzle;
ii) a winding core (3), designed to be positioned at one end of the mat (2) so as to enable the assembly formed by the support mat and the puzzle to be rolled up, said core comprising at least one gripper (4) arranged along the outer wall of the core and allowing the insertion of the assembly formed by the carpet and the puzzle. Storage device (1) according to Claim 1, in which the clip (4) is open on three sides. Storage device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, also comprising a cover sheet (6), designed to at least partially cover the puzzle placed on the support mat (2), the clamp allowing the insertion of the assembly formed by the carpet (2), the puzzle and the cover sheet (6). Storage device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the core comprises a roller (7) the length of which corresponds to the width of the mat (2). Storage device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the core comprises at least two rings (8) which are formed by winding (5) on itself a lamella, the said rings being designed to be arranged at a distance from each other when storing a puzzle by rolling around the rings. Storage device (1) according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, in which the cover sheet (6) has a minimum length corresponding to the perimeter of the core (3), and preferably to the perimeter of the core plus 10% of this perimeter. Storage device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the perimeter of the core is at least 21 cm, and preferably between 21 cm and 40 cm. Method for storing a puzzle in an assembled or partially assembled state with the aid of a storage device (1) comprising a support mat (2) having a support surface for an assembled or partially assembled puzzle and a winding core (3) comprising a clamp (4), said method comprising the steps of:
i) assembling pieces of a puzzle on the supporting mat (2);
ii) positioning the core (3) on the rolling start edge by inserting the mat and possibly the puzzle into the clamp (4);
iii) wrap the mat and puzzle around the core. A method of storing a puzzle according to claim 8, also comprising a step of laying a cover sheet (6) over the assembled pieces before wrapping the whole around the core.