US20080303212A1

US20080303212A1 - Three-Dimensional Puzzle Maze

Info

Publication number: US20080303212A1
Application number: US11/759,753
Authority: US
Inventors: Jim LAI; Hyun-Chul Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-07
Filing date: 2007-06-07
Publication date: 2008-12-11

Abstract

A 3-dimensional puzzle maze structure that can be made by foam pieces that are inter-connected with one another. Castle pieces can fit onto the base pieces. Castle pieces can also fit onto other castle pieces. Second base pieces can fit on top of castle pieces. The users can build this type of 3-dimensional puzzle maze according to individual creativity and imagination. This puzzle maze is stimulating towards children's play activities and good for education purposes.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF PRESENT INVENTION

Foam puzzle pieces are available in many stores. However, these pieces are for 2-dimensional uses only. That is, users can connect these pieces into floor boards of various shapes. Mostly, people use these foam floor boards as decorative objects and as a protection to cushion children's accidental falls during play activities.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide 3-dimensional puzzle maze building structure, based upon the foam pieces, so that children that can use their creativity and imagination to construct 3-dimensional puzzle mazes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the opportunity to build a puzzle maze structure integrated to the area where children are playing, instead of just a cushion area that children treated as separate from their play things.
Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a combination foam pieces that can be fitted to one another and inter-connected with one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first base piece, having jagged edges on all sides for inter-connecting with other base pieces.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first castle piece, having two prongs at bottom and three prongs on top.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tunnel piece, having two prongs at bottom and an arched top.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second base piece, where carved out squares are added from first base piece.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second base piece, having two prongs at top and bottom.

FIG. 6 is an assembled view of a puzzle maze using combinations of first base piece, first castle pieces and tunnel pieces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a first base piece of foam material serves as the floor of a puzzle maze.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, first castle pieces and tunnel pieces can be inserted into the carved out plus signs on the first base piece, as users see fit. First castle pieces can be fitted on top of other castle pieces.
Referring to FIG. 6, it shows an assembled view of a puzzle maze having various castle pieces and tunnel pieces fitted on a base piece. A ball shape is shown, as illustration of potential manner of play.
Users can put a hamster, or an electronically controlled mouse, to run along the maze.
Referring to FIG. 4, a second base piece of foam material is shown. It is essentially the same as the first base piece, having jagged edges around its perimeter, so that many base pieces can be inter-connected. However, as can be seen, a carved out square hole is made in between every two carved out plus signs, so that the center prong from the 3-prong side of a castle piece can be inserted into said square hole.
Referring to FIG. 5, a second castle piece is shown, containing three prongs on top and on bottom. Such second castle piece can be fitted snugly into second base piece.
This allows a second floor of base piece to be built on top of castle pieces. In fact, users can put castle pieces on top of castle pieces, to users' liking, and then put a second base on top, and then build more castle pieces, second castle pieces and tunnels on the second floor, and on and on. No drawing of second or third floor assembled puzzle maze is needed, as the disclosure herein is sufficient for reasonably skilled people in this regard.
The jagged edges around the perimeter allow the base pieces (including the first and the second) to be inter-connected.
Other than gravity, users' imagination and creativity are the only limitations as to how the 3-dimensional puzzle maze can be built.
The foam material can be any type of flexible material commonly found on toys available in the market and requires no disclosure in present invention and is not part of the claimed invention, except to the extent it is used with other claimed elements.

Claims

1. A puzzle maze, comprising:

A plurality of first base pieces of foam material, each having jagged edges around the perimeter for inter-connecting with other first base pieces, and each having carved out plus signs evenly spread out the surface area of said first base piece;

A plurality of first castle pieces of foam material, each having two prongs at bottom and three prongs on top, so that the two bottom prongs can fit snugly into two adjacent carved out plus signs; and,

A plurality of tunnel pieces of foam material, each having two prongs at bottom and an arched top, so that the two bottom prongs can fit snugly into two adjacent carved out plus signs.

2. The puzzle maze of claim 1, further comprising:

A plurality of second base pieces of foam material, each having carved out plus signs evenly spread out the surface area of said second base piece, and each having carved out squares evenly spread out the surface area of said second base piece.

3. The puzzle maze of claim 2, further comprising:

A plurality of second castle pieces of foam material, each having three prongs at top and bottom, so that said second base piece can fit snugly on top of said second castle pieces, forming a multi-level maze structure.