GB2196264A - Jigsaw - Google Patents

Abstract

A jigsaw comprises a picture in relief (1) cut into a plurality of irregular interlocking pieces (5, 6) which can be assembled to reconstruct the original picture in relief. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Jigsaw This invention relates to a jigsaw.

Generally, a jigsaw comprises a picture pasted or printed on a board and cut into irregular pieces. The pieces are then assembled to reconstruct the original picture.

Conventionally, the pieces are of substantially uniform thickness.

According to the present invention there is provided a jigsaw comprising pieces of differing thicknesses which can be assembled to form a picture, at least part of which is in relief.

Some parts may be of a uniform thickness which differ from the thickness of other parts of uniform thickness. In other cases the thickness of a single piece may vary from one part of the piece to another.

Preferably, at lease some of said pieces will interlock one with another.

The part which is in relief may comprise, for example, a head, a building, a tree or a cloud.

Typically, the difference in thickness between the thickest piece and the thinnest piece will be between 10 mm and 100 mm and preferably between 30 mm and 60 mm.

Typically, between 50 and 95% of the pieces will have a thickness greater than the thinnest piece.

The present invention also provides a method of making a jigsaw which comprises the steps of forming a picture in relief and cutting said picture into irregular pieces which can be assembled to reconstruct the original picture in relief.

Preferably, said method includes the step of cutting said picture into irregular pieces at least some of which interlock with one another.

For a better understanding of the invention reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a jigsaw in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a picture in relief 1 which comprises the entire body 2 of a clown and a surrounding background 3. The body 2 and balloons 4 are all in relief.

The jigsaw is made by cutting the picture in relief 1 into a plurality of irregular pieces. The pieces interlock one with another. Pieces 5 are similar to a conventional jigsaw piece in that they are of uniform thickness. However, parts 6 differ in that, in each, a portion 7 of the surface extends upwardly out of the plane of the remainder of the piece 6, in this case to form the top of the hat 9 of the clown.

The jigsaw has a special appeal insofar as it is three dimensional and thus provides tacticle as well as visual stimulation.

The tip of the nose 8 is disposed approximately 50 mm above the plane of piece 5.

Furthermore, only a few of the 16 pieces of the jigsaw are of uniform thickness.

The pieces could be moulded from plastics material.

The jigsaw could be extended to comprise several layers, for example seven three dimensional characters cut into six horizontal regular layers or strips.

1. A jigsaw comprising pieces of differing thicknesses which can be assembled to form a picture, at least part of which is in relief.

2. A jigsaw as claimed in Claim 1, in which at least one of said parts is of a uniform thickness which differs from another part of uniform thickness.

3. A jigsaw as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the thickness of a least one of said pieces varies from one part of the piece to another.

4. A jigsaw as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least some of said pieces will interlock one with another.

5. A jigsaw as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the difference in thickness between the thickest piece and the thinnest piece is between 10 mm and 100 mm.

6. A jigsaw as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the difference in thickness between the thickest piece and the thinnest piece is between 30 mm and 60 mm.

7. A jigsaw as claimed in any preceding Claims, wherein between 50% and 95% of the pieces have a thickness greater than the thinnest piece.

8. A jigsaw substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of making a jigsaw which comprises the steps of forming a picture in relief and cutting said picture into irregular pieces which can be assembled to reconstruct the original picture in relief.

10. A method according to Claim 9, including the step of cutting said picture into irregular pieces at least some of which interlock one with another.

11. A method of making a jigsaw substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Jigsaw This invention relates to a jigsaw. Generally, a jigsaw comprises a picture pasted or printed on a board and cut into irregular pieces. The pieces are then assembled to reconstruct the original picture. Conventionally, the pieces are of substantially uniform thickness. According to the present invention there is provided a jigsaw comprising pieces of differing thicknesses which can be assembled to form a picture, at least part of which is in relief. Some parts may be of a uniform thickness which differ from the thickness of other parts of uniform thickness. In other cases the thickness of a single piece may vary from one part of the piece to another. Preferably, at lease some of said pieces will interlock one with another. The part which is in relief may comprise, for example, a head, a building, a tree or a cloud. Typically, the difference in thickness between the thickest piece and the thinnest piece will be between 10 mm and 100 mm and preferably between 30 mm and 60 mm. Typically, between 50 and 95% of the pieces will have a thickness greater than the thinnest piece. The present invention also provides a method of making a jigsaw which comprises the steps of forming a picture in relief and cutting said picture into irregular pieces which can be assembled to reconstruct the original picture in relief. Preferably, said method includes the step of cutting said picture into irregular pieces at least some of which interlock with one another. For a better understanding of the invention reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a jigsaw in accordance with the invention. Referring to the drawing, there is shown a picture in relief 1 which comprises the entire body 2 of a clown and a surrounding background 3. The body 2 and balloons 4 are all in relief. The jigsaw is made by cutting the picture in relief 1 into a plurality of irregular pieces. The pieces interlock one with another. Pieces 5 are similar to a conventional jigsaw piece in that they are of uniform thickness. However, parts 6 differ in that, in each, a portion 7 of the surface extends upwardly out of the plane of the remainder of the piece 6, in this case to form the top of the hat 9 of the clown. The jigsaw has a special appeal insofar as it is three dimensional and thus provides tacticle as well as visual stimulation. The tip of the nose 8 is disposed approximately 50 mm above the plane of piece 5. Furthermore, only a few of the 16 pieces of the jigsaw are of uniform thickness. The pieces could be moulded from plastics material. The jigsaw could be extended to comprise several layers, for example seven three dimensional characters cut into six horizontal regular layers or strips. CLAIMS

1. A jigsaw comprising pieces of differing thicknesses which can be assembled to form a picture, at least part of which is in relief.

2. A jigsaw as claimed in Claim 1, in which at least one of said parts is of a uniform thickness which differs from another part of uniform thickness.

3. A jigsaw as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the thickness of a least one of said pieces varies from one part of the piece to another.

4. A jigsaw as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least some of said pieces will interlock one with another.

5. A jigsaw as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the difference in thickness between the thickest piece and the thinnest piece is between 10 mm and 100 mm.

6. A jigsaw as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the difference in thickness between the thickest piece and the thinnest piece is between 30 mm and 60 mm.

7. A jigsaw as claimed in any preceding Claims, wherein between 50% and 95% of the pieces have a thickness greater than the thinnest piece.

8. A jigsaw substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of making a jigsaw which comprises the steps of forming a picture in relief and cutting said picture into irregular pieces which can be assembled to reconstruct the original picture in relief.

10. A method according to Claim 9, including the step of cutting said picture into irregular pieces at least some of which interlock one with another.

11. A method of making a jigsaw substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.