GB2422556A

GB2422556A - A three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle

Info

Publication number: GB2422556A
Application number: GB0501749A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Chaim Kishon; Dan Hershkovitz; Gil Druckman
Original assignee: Character Games Ltd
Current assignee: Character Games Ltd
Priority date: 2005-01-27
Filing date: 2005-01-27
Publication date: 2006-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2025-01-27
Also published as: GB2422556B; GB0501749D0; WO2006079831A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a puzzle which on completion comprises a core member; and a plurality of substantially planar layers 20 stacked on the core member, each planar layer having an aperture 25 through which the core member extends, the stacked planar layers being of differing shapes and together defining a recognisable three-dimensional figure. The puzzle comprises planar layers each formed at least in part, from a plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces 21, 22, 23 interlocked together and an image can be seen in its entirety on a planar surface of the planar layer once the jigsaw puzzle pieces 21, 22, 23 are interlocked together. One of the jigsaw puzzle pieces 24 has the aperture through which the core member extends. At least one other of the jigsaw puzzle pieces 21, 22, 23 does not have an aperture. At least one of the jigsaw puzzle pieces 24 bears an indicator additional to the image part thereon which indicates in which planar layer the apertured jigsaw puzzle piece should be located in the completed puzzle.

Description

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PUZZLE

The present invention relates to a puzzle and, more particularly to a puzzle which, when assembled, forms a three-dimensional figure (e.g. a statue).

Jigsaw puzzles are well known. In a jigsaw puzzle the objective is to fit together a number of segments in a proper manner so as to form a coherent picture or image.

In the prior art document GB-A-2309649 there is shown a puzzle comprising a core member and a plurality of substantially planar elements each forming an opening through which the core member extends when the planar element is mounted on the core member. When the planar elements are mounted in the proper order on the core member, the planar elements together form a three-dimensional figure. The document GB-A-2309649 also describes a method of creating a three-dimensional figure comprising the stages of (a) providing a core member and a plurality of substantially planar elements each formed with an opening therethrough and (b) mounting the planar elements in a proper order to form a three-dimensional figure, the core member extending through the openings in the planar elements when the planar elements are mounted on the core member.

In the prior art document GB-A-2333240, there is shown a puzzle which includes a core member and a first plurality of planar elements. The sequential mounting of these elements as inner elements on the core member forms a first three-dimensional figure. The puzzle includes a second plurality of planar elements whose sequential mounting surrounding the first three-dimensional figure forms a second three-dimensional figure. The planar elements can be composed of more than two pieces which can be interlocked in the manner of a conventional jigsaw. However, it is envisaged in GB-A-2333240 that the planar elements will be plain in colour and unadorned.

The present invention provides a puzzle which on completion comprises: a core member; and a plurality of substantially planar layers stacked on the core member, each planar layer having an aperture through which the core member extends, the stacked planar layers being of differing shapes and together defining a recognisable three- dimensional figure, wherein: at least some of the planar layers are each formed from a plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces interlocked together and the jigsaw puzzle pieces of each such planar layer each have on a surface thereof a part of an image which can be seen in its entirety on a planar surface of the planar layer once the jigsaw puzzle pieces are interlocked together.

The applicant has realised that extra interest can be added to the puzzles described in the prior art documents by constructing each planar layer so that it is formed of jigsaw pieces and each layer becomes a standard jigsaw puzzle. Each layer will, when completed, have on it a coherent picture or image. In this way to solve the total puzzle the puzzler must solve layer by layer a series of "2D" jigsaws in order to construct the whole "3D" puzzle.

Thus for a puzzle which comprises 124 layers, with layer having 40 pieces, the puzzle as a whole becomes in effect a 4,160 piece jigsaw puzzle.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a photographic representation of a completed puzzle according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a photographic representation of one of the layers of the Figure 1 puzzle; Figure 3 is a photographic representation of the second layer of the puzzle of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a close up photographic view of a part of a completed puzzle of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a view of puzzle pieces of the puzzle of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a view of further puzzle pieces of the puzzle of Figure 1.

Turning first to Figure 1, there can be seen in the figure a completed puzzle 10 according to the present invention. The puzzle comprises a plurality of planar layers of puzzle pieces stacked one on top of the other. The detailed view of Figure 4 shows a part of the completed puzzle and it can be seen that there are a plurality of planar layers, e.g. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.

The puzzle 10 will comprise a vertically extending core member (not shown) , typically mounted on a base assembly (again not shown), as described previously in e.g. GB-A- 2333240. In the case of the illustrated puzzle, the core member is triangular in section.

Turning to Figure 2, there can be seen in the figure one planar layer 20 of the completed puzzle 10 of Figure 1.

The planar layer 20 comprises itself a plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces, e.g. 21, 22, 23. In order to complete the S planar layer the pieces of the planar layer 20 must be located by the puzzler and then assembled in the correct manner. It can be seen that once the jigsaw pieces are assembled in the correct manner then a coherent picture is seen by the puzzler, in the manner known from conventional jigsaw puzzles.

In each layer, e.g. 20, there is a key piece, 24 in the figure, in which an aperture 25 is formed, in this case a triangular aperture. The aperture 25 allows the piece 24 to be slid over the core member (not shown) of the puzzle and thereby located in place. The key piece 25 (unlike the other pieces in the layer 20) is numbered, in this case with a number 56 (circled in the drawing). This indicates the number of the layer in which the key piece is to be used.

The bottom-most layer in the puzzle is layer number 1 and then the layers will be numbered consecutively to the top.

Each layer will have a key piece with an aperture therethrough and each key piece will be numbered to show the layer in the completed puzzle to which it relates. Without this numbering, it would be extremely difficult to complete the puzzle of the invention. Each key piece will at least give a clue as to the other pieces to be assembled in the relevant layer.

It will be noted from Figure 2 that the pictorial representation in the completed layer does not extend right to the edge of the completed layer. Instead, a border 26 in a plain colour is provided around the periphery of the layer. This is to ensure that a consistent colour is given to the exteriors of the completed puzzle (see Figure 1) once it is assembled, otherwise the completed puzzle will be aesthetically unappealing.

A further layer 30 is shown in Figure 3 having a plurality of jigsaw pieces, e.g. 31, 32, 33 which are assembled together to form a completed planar layer. The planar layer also has a key piece 34 with a triangular aperture 35 into which the core member is inserted. The key piece 34 is numbered with the number 19, this being circled in the figure.

Initially, the puzzle pieces will be supplied in sheets such as shown in Figures 5 and 6. A sheet 50 in Figure 5 contains a plurality of different layers, e.g. 51, 52, 53, each of the layers being formed from a plurality of jigsaw pieces, the pieces being detachable from the sheet 50 by a puzzler. Similarly, the sheet 60 of Figure 6 shows a number of different layers e.g. 61, 62, 63, again each comprising a plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces, the pieces being detachable from the sheet 60. Figures 5 and 6 together show that each layer in the completed puzzle will have thereon a pictorial representation different to the other layers.

Also, it can be seen in Figures 5 and 6 that each layer has a key piece which is numbered. Each key piece will have a line of weakening formed in a triangular configuration to allow the formation of a triangular aperture in the key piece and therefore to allow the key piece to be slid over a triangular core (not shown in the figure) In a variant on the puzzle described above, every puzzle piece of every layer could be numbered with the number of the layer to which it relates in order to make completion of the puzzle easier. Alternatively, the layers could be grouped together into, for instance, five different groups, e.g. if the total number of layers in the completed puzzle is 250 then the first 50 layers could be group 1, layers 51 to 100, group 2, layers 101 to 150 group 3, etc. Each puzzle piece of each layer could then bear on it (either on its front side or on its reverse side) the number of group to which it relates. This would assist the puzzler in completing the puzzle.

The planar elements can be made of any suitable material including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, wood, cardboard and the like. The planar elements may all be the same thickness or they may have different thicknesses. There is no limitation on the size or surface area of each planar element and it is typical that the size and surface area of a planar layer will be different to the sizes of the planar layers to which it is adjacent in the assembled puzzle. This gives the completed puzzle its shape, as can be seen from Figure 1. The puzzle illustrated in Figure 1 is assembled by sliding key pieces of each planar layer vertically down along a single main core member, but multiple core members could be provided with at least two of the jigsaw pieces in each layer being provided with apertures so that one jigsaw piece can be slid over one core member and another jigsaw piece slid over another.

Additionally, or alternatively, the core member(s) could be branched to allow the creation of a puzzle of an overall shape when completed which is not possible with the use of a single core member.

Previously, the core member has been described as triangular in nature. If the triangular cross-section of the core member is such that one side is shorter than the others, then only one orientation of the key piece on the core member is possible. However, if the triangular cross- section of the core member is equilateral then three orientations of each key piece is possible and this can add an extra dimension to the puzzle. Different shapes of core members can be used, e.g. when a hexagonal core member is used then six possible orientations of key pieces are possible.

The puzzle of the present invention would typically include a suitable closure member which could be attached at the top of the core member (or a plurality of closure members could be provided where there are a plurality of core members) . The closure member would serve to secure the planar layers on the core member and prevent their inadvertent removal. For instance, a threaded closure member could be screwed onto a matching threaded top portion of a core or there could be a snap fit or pressure fit of a closure member. The closure member may be a distinct or separate component which may be identical to or very similar to one of the planar layers in configuration. The uppermost planar layers of the puzzle (typically formed whole and not of jigsaw pieces) could be glued together to form a closure member.

Whilst above the use of a base assembly is described this is not essential and the structure can be formed such that it is self-supporting. Alternatively, a base layer of the puzzle could be configured (e.g. provided with a thread) so that it can be secured in place on the core member (In this case it would be typically formed whole and not from jigsaw puzzle pieces)

Claims

CLJiIMS: 1. A puzzle which on completion comprises: a core member; and a

plurality of substantially planar layers stacked on the core member, each planar layer having an aperture through which the core member extends, the stacked planar layers being of differing shapes and together defining a recognisable three-dimensional figure, wherein: at least some of the planar layers are each formed from a plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces interlocked together and the jigsaw puzzle pieces of each such layer each have on a surface thereof a part of an image which can be seen in its entirety on a planar surface of the planar layer once the jigsaw puzzle pieces are interlocked together.
2. A puzzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the jigsaw puzzle pieces of each planar layer formed of jigsaw puzzle pieces has therein the aperture through which the core member extends.
3. A puzzle as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of the apertured jigsaw puzzle pieces bears an indicator which indicates in which planar layer the apertured jigsaw puzzle piece should be located in the completed puzzle.
4. A puzzle as claimed in claim 3 wherein the apertured jigsaw puzzle pieces are the only jigsaw puzzle pieces which each bear an indicator indicating in which one of the planar layers the jigsaw puzzle piece should be located.

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5. A puzzle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the planar layers which are formed of jigsaw puzzle pieces are divided into groups of planar layers and the jigsaw puzzle pieces each bear an indicator indicating to which group of planar layers the jigsaw puzzle piece belongs.
6. A puzzle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the planar layers formed of jigsaw puzzle pieces each have a peripheral section on the image displaying surface thereof which is plain in colour and which does not comprise part of the displayed image.
7. A puzzle as claimed in claim 6 wherein none of the images displayed on the surfaces of the completed planar layers formed of jigsaw puzzle pieces can be seen in the completed puzzle.
8. A puzzle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the core member extends vertically from a base assembly and the planar layers are stacked on top of the base assembly.
9. A puzzle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims having at least one closure member is attachable to at least one end of the core member to secure the assembled planar layers on the core member.
10. A puzzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

611248. AWP, CTF