GB2251557A - Puzzle - Google Patents

Abstract

Layered jigsaw puzzle pieces each comprise two interlocking layered elements (A and B in FIGURE 2) which can interlock with other elements of other jigsaw puzzle pieces of the puzzle. <IMAGE>

Description

PUZZLE This invention relates to a puzzle and is more particularly concerned with that class of puzzles generally identified as jigsaw puzzles.

Jigsaw puzzles consist generally of a plurality of pieces that can be assembled together in a unique manner in order to build up a picture or design. It is believed that such puzzles tend to be disadvantageous because: (a) there is only one unique solution to the puzzle and thus enjoyment may tend to be lost in solving the puzzle on a second or third or subsequent occasion and (b) the puzzle may not be complex enough to satisfy some intellects more particularly because of the inherent two dimensional aspects of the puzzle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a puzzle which is improved in at least some respect and/or which at least alleviates the aforementioned, or other, disadvantages associated with jigsaw puzzles.

According to the present invention there is provided a jigsaw puzzle comprising a plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces, at least some of the pieces consisting of two or more elements, each element having a portion of a thickness which is less than the thickness of the associated piece, said reduced thickness portions of the elements of a jigsaw puzzle piece being co-operable with one another to form the piece.

Preferably, the elements of some of the jigsaw puzzle pieces are co-operable with elements of other jigsaw puzzle pieces, thus increasing the complexity of the puzzle. In this way, it is necessary to assemble each piece correctly from the correct selection of cooperable elements, in addition to assembly of the jigsaw puzzle itself from the completed pieces. It may be possible to complete some of the pieces and attempt to part assemble the jigsaw rather than building up all of the jigsaw puzzle pieces correctly before building the jigsaw. Preferably, the elements of each piece are arranged to interengage or interlock with one another and preferably each element comprises one or more portions equal to the thickness of the jigsaw puzzle piece in addition to said portions of reduced thickness.

In one embodiment of the present invention each jigsaw puzzle piece is of uniform thickness and made up from two elements and each element of the two may effectively comprise two layers, namely a first layer of thickness corresponding to half the thickness of the jigsaw puzzle piece as well as one or more portions of double layer thickness i.e. of thickness equal to that of the jigsaw puzzle piece. Thus, said elements may be arranged to interlock, with said reduced thickness portions overlying one another to create a jigsaw puzzle piece of uniform thickness. In this embodiment, each jigsaw puzzle piece is divided up into a number of squares (other geometrical shapes, e.g. triangles, hexagons or circles may be possible in other embodiments) and each square carries an information content thereon.

This information content may relate to any aspect or theme on which the puzzle is based. For example, this information could relate to coloured dots, symbols, letters or numerals or pictorial information. Most preferably, each jigsaw puzzle piece is divided into squares on both sides thereof so that said information content is included in every square on both sides of the piece. Thus, in assembling each jigsaw puzzle piece in order to complete the puzzle, although the correct shape of jigsaw puzzle piece may be assembled, the correct information content may not necessarily appear on the jigsaw puzzle piece. Thus the exercise in completing the puzzle is to assemble the jigsaw puzzle pieces to realise not only a correct shape but also the correct information content.Additionally, since in this embodiment, the jigsaw puzzle pieces may carry information on both sides thereof, it should be evident that it will be immediately possible to devise at least two different jigsaw puzzles corresponding to each side of the assembled jigsaw puzzle. Also, it will be possible to arrange for a greater number of puzzles to be solved by arranging for an appropriate number of possibilities of geometrical sequences or patterns to be displayed by the assembled jigsaw puzzle pieces. Additionally, each jigsaw puzzle piece need not be identically shaped to each other jigsaw puzzle piece and, where each piece comprises a number of squares, preferably, the jigsaw puzzle pieces comprise four-square pieces, five-square pieces, and six-square pieces.

Many other advantageous features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings.

An embodiment of a jigsaw puzzle in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a plan view of the jigsaw puzzle; FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 show exploded views of three different types of jigsaw puzzle piece utilised in the jigsaw puzzle shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 5 shows a perspective view of the puzzle shown in FIGURE 1 with a lid of the puzzle shown in an inverted position therebelow.

FIGURE 1 shows a view of a jigsaw puzzle 1 with a lid 2 ommited for clarity. (FIGURE 5 shows the lid 2 of the puzzle in an inverted position underneath square base 3 of the puzzle).

The jigsaw puzzle 1 comprises a number of jigsaw puzzle pieces 4 to 12 and each of said pieces consists of two elements A,B,C,D,E,F (see FIGURES 2 to 4). FIGURES 2 to 4 show the three basic types of jigsaw puzzle piece utilised in FIGURE 1. FIGURE 2 shows two identical elements A and B positioned one above the other in opposed relationship before being interlocked together to form a jigsaw puzzle piece which is divided into six squares and corresponding to jigsaw puzzle piece numbered 4,7,6,11 or 12 as shown in FIGURE 1. FIGURE 3 shows two jigsaw puzzle elements C and D which are in opposed relationship and which interlock with one another to form a jigsaw puzzle piece of five squares corresponding with pieces 8,9 and 10 as shown in FIGURE 1.FIGURE 4 shows elements E and F which are in opposed relationship and which can be interlocked together to form a jigsaw puzzle piece of four squares corresponding with jigsaw puzzle piece 5 in FIGURE 1. It will be noted that elements B and D are identical in shape and elements C,E and F are also identical in shape.

Once each jigsaw puzzle piece 4 to 12 is assembled, the jigsaw puzzle 1 can be completed by arranging the jigsaw puzzle pieces in the correct manner on the base 3.

The square base 3 consists of a peripheral frame 3a bounding a central square recess 3b (see FIGURE 5). Thus the jigsaw puzzle pieces 4 to 12 fit snugly in the recess 3b in the base.

Referring to FIGURE 2, element A has a central portion Al of a thickness X which is equal to half the thickness of the jigsaw puzzle piece. Portion Al, in this example, consists of two squares A2 and A3 arranged side-by-side. Element A also comprises two portions A4 and A5 which are equal to the thickness of the jigsaw puzzle 1 and which are, effectively, double layered and of thickness Y. Square portion A4 projects from one side of square A2 as shown and square portion A5 projects from one side of square portion A3 opposing the square portion A4 but offset as shown in FIGURE 2. Element B is identical with element A but shown inverted, and the reduced thickness portion Al co-operates with the reduced thickness portion Bl of element B to complete the thickness of the jigsaw puzzle piece throughout, with portion Al exactly overlying portion B1 once elememt A is moved vertically downwardly relative to element B in FIGURE 2. Thus, the two elements A and B interengage with double layered thickness portions A4 and A5 arranged on either side of reduced thickness portion B1 and double layer thickness portions B2 and 33 of element B arranged on either side of reduced thickness portion Al. In this way, once element A and element B have been assembled to one another, advantageously, they will remain fastened to one another via a friction fit rather than being loose.

The interfitting of elements C and D in FIGURE 3 and E and F in FIGURE 5 is similar to that already described in relation to elements A and B in FIGURE 2 and thus the interfitting of these elements will not be described in further detail.

FIGURE 5 shows the base 3 with jigsaw puzzle pieces 4 to 12 positioned therein although jigsaw puzzle pieces 6 and 11 have been omitted for clarity to show the depth of the recess 3b. The lid 2 is shown in an inverted position underneath the base 3 since the base 3 can be positioned inside the border 2a of the lid, whilst the puzzle is being solved, to give a firmer support.

Additionally, the inside of the lid 2b may be provided with information, for example with the solution to the puzzle or with a picture of the puzzle to be solved.

It is envisaged that each jigsaw puzzle piece 4 to 12 will carry a certain information content relevant to the puzzle to be solved. For example, where each piece is marked into a number of squares as shown a coloured dot may be placed in each square with the idea being to assemble the jigsaw puzzle pieces together with different coloured dots in a particular array or chosen geometrical pattern. Once again, it may be possible to arrange for a number of different puzzles to be solved using the identical pieces and colour coding i.e. for a plurality of geometrical patterns to be obtained using the same pieces. Alternatively, numbers could be positioned in each square and the same pieces may be utilised to provide a variety of different puzzles involving different mathematical sequences or exercises.Since it is possible to interengage element D with element A (elements D and B are identical in shape) and since it is possible to engage element C with element F it should readily be envisaged that a variety of jigsaw puzzle pieces can be assembled which may appear to be correct although the information content thereon may not necessarily be correct for the puzzle to be solved.

Thus, it is possible to arrange for much more complex puzzles to be solved than would be the case with an ordinary jigsaw puzzle.

It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not to be unduly limited by the particular choice of terminology and that a specific term may be replaced by or supplemented by any equivalent or generic term where sensible. Further it is to be understood that individual features, methods or functions related to the jigsaw puzzle or jigsaw puzzle elements might be individually patentably inventive. It is possible that the jigsaw puzzle pieces may be divided up into shapes other than squares, e.g. triangles or hexagons.

Claims (11)

1. A jigsaw puzzle comprising a plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces, at least some of the pieces consisting of two or more elements, each element having a portion of a thickness which is less than the thickness of the associated piece, said reduced thickness portions of the elements of a jigsaw puzzle piece being co-operable with one another to form the piece.

2. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1 in which the elements of some of the jigsaw puzzle pieces are co-operable with elements of other jigsaw puzzle pieces.

3. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the elements of each piece are arranged to interengage or interlock with one another.

4. A puzzle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each element comprises one or more portions equal to the thickness of the jigsaw puzzle piece in addition to said portions of reduced thickness.

5. A puzzle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each jigsaw puzzle piece is of uniform thickness and made up from two elements.

6. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 5 in which each element of the two comprises two layers, namely a first layer of thickness corresponding to half the thickness of the jigsaw puzzle piece as well as one or more portions of double layer thickness.

7. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 in which each jigsaw puzzle piece is divided up into a number of squares and each square carries an information content thereon.

8. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 7 in which each jigsaw puzzle piece is divided into squares on both sides thereof so that said information content is included in every square on both sides of the piece.

9. A puzzle as claimed in Claims 7 or 8 in which the jigsaw puzzle pieces comprise four-square pieces, fivesquare pieces, and six-square pieces.

10. A jigsaw puzzle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A puzzle as claimed in Claim 1 including at least one jigsaw puzzle piece substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURE 2 or FIGURE 3 or FIGURE 4 of the accompanying drawings.