GB2210800A - Holder for games and jigsaw puzzles - Google Patents

Abstract

A holder for a game or jigsaw puzzle comprises a tray (10) on which the game or jigsaw puzzle is played with and a lid (44) having a layer of compressible material (46) thereon for holding the game or jigsaw puzzle in place on the tray. Auxiliary trays 32 can be provided which are insertable on rails in the body of the holder (Fig. 3B. not shown). Alternatively a plurality of trays in a knock down kit form can be assembled and held together by a locking piece (Figs. 7-11 not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Holder for games and jigsaw puzzles DESCRIPTION This invention concerns a holder for games and jigsaw puzzles.

Often time does not permit for a game or jigsaw puzzle to be completed at one sitting. Either the game or jigsaw puzzle has to be dismantled and started again at a later time or left in a position in which it can unfortunately be easily disturbed or in which it causes inconvenience.

It is with the latter case that the present invention is mainly concerned, the object of the invention being to provide a holder for an unfinished game or jigsaw puzzle, whereby the game or jigsaw puzzle may by stored undisturbed to be continued with later.

According to the present invention there is provided a holder for a game or jigsaw puzzle comprising a tray on which the game or jigsaw puzzle is played with and means for holding the game or jigsaw puzzle on the tray for storage.

The means for holding the game or jigsaw puzzle in place is preferably a lid for the tray, the lid preferably having thereon a layer of compressible material, that will hold the game or jigsaw puzzle pieces in place without disturbing their positions.

The lid preferably fits onto the tray from above, i.e.

is separable from the holder, rather than being hinged thereto. The compressible material may be sponge or foamed rubber or plastics.

The tray preferably has a rough texture in order to restrict sliding of a game or jigsaw puzzle pieces thereon. Guide members may also be provided to delimit an area of the tray suitable for the size of a particular game board or jigsaw puzzle. The guide members and tray may have corresponding holes and pins say on a grid basis for holding them in any desired position.

The holder preferably also has storage provisions for game or jigsaw puzzle pieces to be used. Such provision may be one or more further trays that may conveniently fit below the main tray for storage purposes. Compressible material may also be provided such that it will hold pieces on the further tray or trays when stored in the holder.

In one preferred embodiment the holder of the invention has rails on which the further trays slide under the main tray, the rails converging towards the main tray in order to bring the further trays up to the compressible material therefor without disturbing any pieces on the trays.

Conveniently the further trays have catches or clips for securing the lid in place so that the action of securing the lid completes bringing the further trays into overall contact with the compressible material provided for them.

In another preferred embodiment holder of- the invention comprises a surround for at least a base and a lid, the surround preferably being made up of interengaging components, typically corner pieces and wall pieces that may advantageously be moulded from plastics material.

The surrounds are preferably such that they can be laid on top of each other to provide a series of trays. The surrounds are preferably held together by retaining clips which engage wall locations therefor as well as overlie a lid of the holder.

The holder of the invention may also have foldable legs or supports so that it can be used at an angle, i.e. by using the legs or supports at one side thereof, or say by a person in bed i.e. using both legs or supports.

The holder of the invention may advantageously have a detachable location means, such as a clip, for holding a card such as a picture of a jigsaw puzzle such as is usually on the lid of the puzzle box or game instructions, the location means preferably being attachable to an edge of the holder at any desired point.

The compressible material that may be used in the holder of the invention may be treated to render it antistatic, so as to prevent game or jigsaw pieces sticking to it. Alternatively or additionally the lid of the holder may have pin holes thereon leading to the compressible material to aid release therefrom of game or jigsaw puzzle pieces.

The holder of the invention may be used for playing thereon most board games including draughts, monopoly and the like as well as for jigsaw puzzles and then for storing uncompleted games or puzzles to be resumed later without the likelihood of the game or puzzle being disturbed. Thus the game or puzzle may be resumed in the knowledge that it is as it was when stopped prior to storage.

The present invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view from above of a holder for games or jigsaws; Figure 2 is an exploded view from below of the holder of Figure 1; Figures 3A, B and C showing the stages of putting together the holder of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a guide component of the holder of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 5 is a section on line AA of Figure 1.

Figure 6 shows an alternative form of a holder for games or jigsaws; Figure 7 is a part section through the holder of Figure 6; Figures 8A, B and C are respectively perspective, plan and side views of a component of the holder of Figure 6; Figures 9A and B are respectively perspective and end view of a wall component of the holder of Figure 6; Figures 10A and B are respectively perspective views from above and below of a corner component of the holder of Figure 6; and Figure 11 shows a retaining clip for the holder of Figure 6.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, a holder for a game or jigsaw comprises a tray 10 having a raised boundary 12 and a plurality of holes 14 arranged on a grid basis on its upper surface.

The upper surface of the tray is preferably also of a rough texture in order to restrict sliding of game or jigsaw pieces over the surface. The holes 14 in the surface of they tray 10 are to receive pegs 16 of guide members 18 (see Figure 4) which are used to mark out a boundary for a game board or jigsaw that is smaller in area than the tray 10. The members 18 are castellated on both upper and lower surfaces so that they can be crossed over on top of each other as shown in Figure 1.

The tray 10 also has a carrying handle 20 on one edge and a detachable slotted member 22 on the opposite edge, the member 22 being for holding a lid from a jigsaw box 24 that has on it the picture to be made up from the jigsaw and being attachable at any point around the edge of the tray.

The tray 10 has side pieces 26 extending downwards therefrom on one pair of opposing edges thereof. The side pieces 26 carry rails 28 on which smaller trays 30 can be slid under the tray 10. These trays 30 are for holding game or jigsaw pieces while the game or jigsaw is in progress and for holding unused pieces during storage. The trays 30 have raised edges 32 and lugs 34 at each end, the lugs 34 being slidable on the rails 28.

The rails 28 are parallel to the tray 10 for most of their length but then curve towards the tray. This is so that as the smaller trays 30 are slid along the rails they are clear of the underside of the tray 10, which has on it compressible material layers 36, for most of their travel in order to avoid disturbing game or jigsaw puzzel pieces 38 thereon. The trays 30 are raised parallel to the main tray by means of catches 40 on the intended outer edges of the trays 30 that locate over ledges 42 on lid 44.

The lid 44 has on its underside a sheet of compressible material 46, such as of foamed rubber or plastics, so that when latched onto the main tray it holds any game, playing pieces or jigsaw puzzle pieces in place.

Attached to 'the underside of the holder are foldable legs 50 so that the holder can be held at an angle using one leg 50 or used by a person in bed using both legs 50. The legs are shown folded up in Figure 2 and folded down in Figures 3A to C.

In use the game/puzzle holder can be used for holding the game as it is being played or a jigsaw puzzle as it is being constructed, with pieces not in use being placed in the further trays 30. If the game or puzzle cannot be completed at the time, the trays 30 are slid into place in the holder and the lid placed on top of the game or jigsaw and latched by the catches on the trays 30. The game/puzzle can then be moved without disturbing any of the pieces of the game or puzzle and play resumed at a later time. Being generally flat, the game/puzzle holder is easy to store.

Turning to Figures 6 to 11 of the accompanying drawings, a holder 70 for a game or a jigsaw comprises plastics moulded wall 72 and corner 74 components that interengage to provide a surround for flat sheets forming a base 76, a lid 78 and intervening floors 80.

The wall components 72 and the lid 78 are retained in lace by clips 82 that engage location pieces 84 on the walls 72 and overlie the lid 78.

In more detail, the wall components 72 are preferably extruded from plastics material and comprises an upper ledge 90 for either the lid 78 or another wall component 72 and a lower ledge or slot 92 for retaining a base 76 or floor 80. Between the two ledges 90 and 92 the wall component has a rebated groove 94 along its length to receive correspondingly shaped location pieces 96 (see below) and corner components 74. As can be seen in Figure 7 as series of wall componets may be built up on top of each to provide as many layers as desired.

Wall components 72 are formed into a surround by means of corner components 74, preferably injected moulded from plastics material. The corner components are generally L-shaped in section and provide location slots 100 at right angles suitably shaped to receive ends of wall components 72. The location slots comprise an outer leaf 102 with an inwardly facing protrusion 103 corresponding in shape to the groove 94 of the wall components and an inner leaf 104 of lesser height than the outer leaf 102. The inner leaf 104 is of lesser height in order to provide corner support for the sheets 78 and 80.

To hold the whole assembly together the retaining clips 82 (Figure 11) have pairs of resilient projections 108 that locate in holes 110 of the location pieces 96 that fit in the grooves 94 of the wall components 72. The holes 110 have one pair of convex side walls 112 to retain the projections 108 which are outwardly concave. The clips 82 also have a lip 114 to overlie the top or lid 78 and a ring pull 116 for removal of the clip.

The lid 78 and floors 80 will have on their intended under surface a layer of compressible material, such as foamed rubber to hold a game or jigsaw puzzle pieces in position even during movement of the holder as a whole. The intended upper surface of the base and the floors 80 preferably have a rough texture to prevent slipping of game or jigsaw puzzle pieces.

The embodiment of Figures 6 to 11 may be readily assembled and built up to as many storage levels as are desired. One of the wall components may be provided with a handle 118 that has appropriately shaped ends for retention in the groove 94 of a wall component 72.

Claims (16)

1. A holder for a game or jigsaw puzzle comprising a tray on which the game or jigsaw puzzle is played with and a lid having a layer of compressible material thereon for holding the game or jigsaw puzzle in place on the tray.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid is separable from the holder.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the compressible material is selected from sponge or foamed rubber or plastics.

4. A holder as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tray has a rough texture on its intended upper surface.

5. A holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the tray has guide means attachable thereto to delimit an area of the tray.

6. A holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising one or more storage trays that fit below a main tray which has compressible material on its underside.

7. A holder as claimed in claim 6, wherein the holder has rails on which the further tray or trays slide under the main tray, the rails converging towards the main tray, whereby the further tray or trays may be brought up to the compressible material therefor without disturbing any game or jigsaw pieces on the further tray or trays.

8. A holder as claimed in claim 7, wherein the further tray or trays have catches or clips for securing the lid so that the action of securing the lid completes bringing the further tray or trays into overall contact with the compressible material provided for the tray or trays.

9. A holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 comprising a surround for at least a tray base and a lid.

10. A holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein the surround is made up of interengaging components.

11. A holder as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the surround is made up of corner and wall pieces.

12. A holder as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11, comprising two or more surrounds laid on top of each other to provide a series of trays.

13. A holder as claimed in claim 12, wherein the surrounds are held together by retaining clips which engage wall locations therefor as well as overlying the lid.

14. A holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 having foldable legs or supports whereby it may be used inclined to a surface.

15.- A holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 having detachable location means for holding a card.

16. A holder for a game or jigsaw puzzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.