US20050206080A1

US20050206080A1 - Motorized three dimensional jigsaw puzzle

Info

Publication number: US20050206080A1
Application number: US10/804,670
Authority: US
Inventors: Shih-Hung Chuang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-18
Filing date: 2004-03-18
Publication date: 2005-09-22

Abstract

A 3D jigsaw puzzle includes a frame defining therein a space, multiple substantially triangular prism sets each rotatably received in the space of the frame and having a triangular prism respectively having multiple side faces, pieces detachably mounted on the side faces of the triangular prisms and respectively having thereon a pattern so configured that pictures are presented when the patterns of the pieces on side faces of the triangular prisms are combined and a rotation device to rotate the multiple substantially triangular prism sets so as to rotate the pictures.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a jigsaw puzzle, and more particularly to a motorized three dimensional jigsaw puzzle having multiple substantially triangular prisms each with multiple pieces detachably mounted on the side faces of the triangular prisms such that the user has three different pictures to be presented when the jigsaw puzzle is completed.
2. Description of Related Art
Normally a three dimensional jigsaw puzzle provides a single picture to be presented after the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle are completed. Therefore, no matter how the jigsaw puzzle is presented, there is only one message transmitted by the picture. Further, due to the available space on the jigsaw puzzle, the message is short and thus sometimes confusing when the jigsaw puzzle is used as a commercial bulletin.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an improved jigsaw puzzle to mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved jigsaw puzzle having multiple substantially triangular prisms connected to a motor such that when the motor is activated, the triangular prisms are rotated and, therefore, different pictures and/or messages are presented after the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle on the side faces of the triangular prisms are completed.
Another objective of the present invention is that each of the triangular prisms has multiple pieces detachably mounted on side faces of the triangular prisms and are complementary to the pieces on an adjacent triangular prism such that when the triangular prisms are aligned with one another in a particular position, different pictures are presented.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one triangular prism set of the jigsaw puzzle;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the shapes of the pieces on the triangular prisms;
FIG. 4 is schematic view showing the cross sectional structure of the triangular prism to cope with the structure of the pieces;
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross sectional view showing the combination of the triangular prism set and the transmission device;
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taking from line 6-6 in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are schematic views showing the rotation of the triangular prisms of the present invention; and
FIG. 8 Fig. is an exploded perspective view of a different triangular prism set of the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the motorized three dimensional (3D) jigsaw puzzle constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a frame (1) and multiple substantially triangular prism sets (2).
The frame (1) defines a space (11) to receive the triangular prism sets (2) therein. Each triangular prism set (2) has a substantially triangular prism (20) and multiple pieces (3). Furthermore, a transmission device (4) is provided on a bottom of the triangular prism set (2).
The substantially triangular prism (20) has three side faces each having a groove (21) defined along a longitudinal axis of the triangular prism (20). The pieces (3) includes a top piece (31), a bottom piece (32) and mediate pieces (33). Each piece (3) has at least one (two are shown in this embodiment) extension (34) formed on a face of the piece (3) to correspond to the groove (21) of the triangular prism (20).
With reference to FIG. 3, the top piece (31) has a flat top side face (311) corresponding to a top side face of the frame (1), two opposite tapered side faces (312) and a bottom face (313) opposite to the flat top side face (311) and having a cutout (314). The bottom piece (32) has a flat bottom face (321) corresponding to a bottom side face of the frame (1), two opposite tapered side faces (322) and a top face (323) with a projection (324) defined therein. One of the mediate pieces (33) adjacent to the top piece (31) has a projection (331) corresponding to the projection (324) of the bottom piece (32) and one of the mediate pieces (33) adjacent to the bottom piece (32) has at least one cutout (332) corresponding to the projection (324) of the bottom piece (32). The rest of the mediate pieces (33) have a configuration complementary to the adjacent mediate piece (33) so that the mediate pieces (33) are able to be mutually combined. Furthermore, the tapered side face feature not only applies to the top piece (31) and the bottom piece (32), but also applies to each one of the mediate pieces (33).
With reference to FIG. 4, it is noted that with the tapered side face feature of each of the pieces (3), when the laterally adjacent pieces (3) are assembled with the substantially triangular prism (20) by the extension (34) being inserted into the corresponding groove (21), the side faces of the adjacent pieces (3) are closely engaged with one another to perfectly engage with the three side faces of the triangular prism (20). That is, taking the pieces (3) in FIG. 4 as top pieces (31) for example: when the three top pieces (31) are laterally combined, the tapered side faces (312) of one top piece (31) are perfectly engaged with the tapered side faces (312) of an adjacent top piece (31).
Referring to FIG. 2, as previously stated, the transmission device (4) is mounted at bottom ends of the triangular prisms (2). At a top end of each of the triangular prisms (20), a first connection head (35) is detachably mounted on the top end of the triangular prism (20) and has a pole (351) extending upward from a top face of the first connection head (35) and three connection bosses (352) extending downward from a bottom face of the first connection head (35) to correspond to three top openings (212) respectively defined in a top end of each of the three side faces of the triangular prism (20) to communicate with a corresponding one of the grooves (21). The bottom face of the first connection head (35) abuts the flat side face (311) of each of the top pieces (31). The transmission device (4) includes a second connection head (41) with three bosses (411) formed on a top face of the second connection head (41) to correspond to three bottom openings (213) which are defined in the bottom end of the triangular prism (20) to communicate with the three grooves (21) and a first gear (412) integrally formed on a bottom face of the second connection head (41). After the bosses (411) are inserted into the bottom openings (213) of the triangular prism (20), the second connection head (41) is securely connected to the triangular prism (20). A second gear is provided to mate with the first gear (412) and a motor (414) is connected to the second gear (413) to control rotation of the second gear (413).
With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, it is noted that after the poles (351) of the connection heads (35) of the triangular prisms (20) are rotatably inserted into the space (11) and the pieces (3) are detachably mounted on the triangular prisms (20), the mutually meshed first gears (412) and second gears (413) will drive the respective triangular prism (20) to rotate after the motor (414) is activated.
It is noted that the pieces (3) detachably mounted on the three side faces of each of the multiple substantially triangular prism sets (2) so that there will be three different pictures presented when each of the pieces (3) is provided with a pattern (as shown in FIG. 2). Therefore, matching three pictures on the triangular prism sets (2) not only increases the difficulty of the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention, but also after the jigsaw puzzle is completed, the user can use the different pictures to transmit messages by the rotation of the triangular prism sets (2).
With reference to FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C and still using FIG. 6 for reference, it is noted that when the motor (414) is rotated, the respective triangular prism (20) is rotated such that the pictures composed of the patterns on each of the pieces (3) are also rotated.
With reference to FIG. 8, it is noted that the triangular prism (20) has holes (21′) defined in each of the side faces of the triangular prism (20) to correspond to projection (31) formed on a rear side face of the piece (31′).
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A 3D jigsaw puzzle comprising:

a frame defining therein a space;

multiple substantially triangular prism sets each rotatably received in the space of the frame and having a triangular prism respectively having multiple side faces;

pieces detachably mounted on the side faces of the triangular prisms and respectively having thereon a pattern so configured that pictures are presented when the patterns of the pieces on side faces of the triangular prisms are combined; and

means for rotating the multiple substantially triangular prism sets so as to rotate the pictures.

2. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pieces include top pieces, mediate pieces and bottom pieces, wherein each top piece has a flat top side face corresponding to a top side face of the frame, two opposite tapered side faces and a bottom face, each bottom piece has a flat bottom side face corresponding to a bottom side face of the frame, two opposite tapered side faces and a top face, each of the mediate piece has a top face configured to complementarily correspond to a bottom face of an adjacent mediate piece or the bottom face of the top piece, two tapered side faces and a bottom face configured to complementarily correspond to a top face of an adjacent mediate piece of the top face of the bottom piece, such that after the top pieces, the mediate pieces and the bottom pieces are combined on the side faces of the triangular prisms, the pictures are presented.

3. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 2, wherein one top piece, one bottom piece and multiple mediate pieces are able to cover one side face of one of the triangular prisms.

4. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the triangular prisms has grooves respectively defined in the side faces along a longitudinal axis of the triangular prisms and each of the pieces has at least one extension extending out from a rear side face of the piece to correspond to the groove of the side face.

5. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the triangular prisms has grooves respectively defined in the side faces along a longitudinal axis of the triangular prisms and each of the pieces has at least one extension extending out from a rear side face of the piece to correspond to the groove of the side face.

6. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the triangular prisms has grooves respectively defined in the side faces along a longitudinal axis of the triangular prisms and each of the pieces has at least one extension extending out from a rear side face of the piece to correspond to the groove of the side face.

7. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotating means includes a connection head mounted on a bottom end of the triangular prism and having a first gear formed on a bottom face of the connection head, a second gear meshed with the first gear to be operateably connected to a motor such that when the motor is activated, the rotation of the second gear drives the first gear to rotate and the triangular prism is also rotated.

8. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rotating means includes a connection head mounted on a bottom end of the triangular prism and having a first gear formed on a bottom face of the connection head, a second gear meshed with the first gear to be operateably connected to a motor such that when the motor is activated, the rotation of the second gear drives the first gear to rotate and the triangular prism is also rotated.

9. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotating means includes a connection head mounted on a bottom end of the triangular prism and having a first gear formed on a bottom face of the connection head, a second gear meshed with the first gear to be operateably connected to a motor such that when the motor is activated, the rotation of the second gear drives the first gear to rotate and the triangular prism is also rotated.

10. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rotating means includes a connection head mounted on a bottom end of the triangular prism and having a first gear formed on a bottom face of the connection head, a second gear meshed with the first gear to be operateably connected to a motor such that when the motor is activated, the rotation of the second gear drives the first gear to rotate and the triangular prism is also rotated.

11. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rotating means includes a connection head mounted on a bottom end of the triangular prism and having a first gear formed on a bottom face of the connection head, a second gear meshed with the first gear to be operateably connected to a motor such that when the motor is activated, the rotation of the second gear drives the first gear to rotate and the triangular prism is also rotated.

12. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 4, wherein each triangular prism has openings defined in a top end of the triangular prism, a second connection head has a pole extending upward to be received in a top of the space in the frame and connection bosses extending downward into the openings of the triangular prism.

13. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 5, wherein each triangular prism has openings defined in a top end of the triangular prism, a second connection head has a pole extending upward to be received in a top of the space in the frame and connection bosses extending downward into the openings of the triangular prism.

14. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 6, wherein each triangular prism has openings defined in a top end of the triangular prism, a second connection head has a pole extending upward to be received in a top of the space in the frame and connection bosses extending downward into the openings of the triangular prism.

15. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 7, wherein each triangular prism has openings defined in a top end of the triangular prism, a second connection head has a pole extending upward to be received in a top of the space in the frame and connection bosses extending downward into the openings of the triangular prism.

16. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 15, wherein each triangular prism has bottom openings defined in the bottom end of the triangular prism and the connection head has bosses formed on a top face of the connection head to fit into the bottom openings, wherein the first gear is formed on a bottom face of the connection head.

17. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the top piece, the bottom piece and the mediate pieces respectively have a projection extending from a rear side of the top piece, the bottom piece and the mediate pieces, each side face of the triangular prism has multiple receiving holes corresponding to and receiving therein the projections of the top, the bottom and the mediate pieces.

18. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the top piece, the bottom piece and the mediate pieces respectively have a projection extending from a rear side of the top piece, the bottom piece and the mediate pieces, each side face of the triangular prism has multiple receiving holes corresponding to and receiving therein the projections of the top, the bottom and the mediate pieces.

19. The 3D jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the top piece, the bottom piece and the mediate pieces respectively have a projection extending from a rear side of the top piece, the bottom piece and the mediate pieces, each side face of the triangular prism has multiple receiving holes corresponding to and receiving therein the projections of the top, the bottom and the mediate pieces.