US20210252381A1

US20210252381A1 - Jigsaw puzzle assembly tray and display frame

Info

Publication number: US20210252381A1
Application number: US16/953,158
Authority: US
Inventors: Suzanne T. Paulhamus
Original assignee: Puzzle Fix LLC; Puzzie Fix LLC
Current assignee: Puzzle Fix LLC; Puzzie Fix LLC
Priority date: 2020-02-17
Filing date: 2020-11-19
Publication date: 2021-08-19

Abstract

A jigsaw puzzle display assembly includes (a) a base having a puzzle surface and a frame peripheral to the puzzle surface defining a well configured to hold a plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces, and (b) a transparent sheet configured to overlie the jigsaw puzzle pieces within the well. The frame includes a detachable rail having a cantilevered segment that is dimensioned to overlie a peripheral portion of the transparent sheet without obscuring the puzzle pieces, i.e., with respect to an observer viewing a completed puzzle disposed within the display assembly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/977,642, filed Feb. 17, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate a number of exemplary embodiments and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of the present disclosure.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a display assembly for a jigsaw puzzle according to various embodiments.
FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the assembled display of FIG. 1 along line A-A according to some embodiments.
FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the assembled display of FIG. 1 along line B-B according to some embodiments.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a stackable storage tray for a jigsaw puzzle according to certain embodiments.
FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of an example assembly tray according to certain embodiments.
FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of an example assembly tray according to further embodiments.
FIGS. 6-13 are engineering drawings of exemplary display assemblies, stackable storage trays, portable assembly trays, and accessory trays that may be used during assembly, display and/or storage of one or more jigsaw puzzles in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference characters and descriptions indicate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. While the exemplary embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the present disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within this disclosure and the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

As entertainment and art, jigsaw puzzles are commonly assembled on a surface or support, such as a tabletop. Once assembled, to memorialize a completed puzzle, a backside adhesive such as glue or tape may be used to bond the various pieces together. Such techniques are typically irreversible, however, rendering disassembly of the puzzle painstaking or impossible without damaging the puzzle pieces.
Notwithstanding recent developments, it would be advantageous to provide an article to facilitate the assembly, display and/or storage of a jigsaw puzzle where the article is portable and the puzzle pieces reusable.
As disclosed herein, a display assembly for a jigsaw puzzle may include a base having a puzzle surface and a frame peripheral to the puzzle surface defining a well configured to hold one or more puzzle pieces. In particular embodiments, the well is configured to hold a completed jigsaw puzzle where the areal dimensions of the well may be substantially equal to the areal dimensions of the completed puzzle.
The peripheral frame may include one or more rails integral with the base and one or more detachable rails that cooperate to laterally secure the puzzle pieces within the well. The base and the integral rails may form a unitary part. The detachable rails may be affixed to the base without using an adhesive, e.g., using frictional connections such as tongue-and-groove or post-and-cavity connections. Furthermore, a rigid or semi-rigid transparent sheet may cover the puzzle pieces and one or more of the detachable rails may include a cantilevered segment that overlies a peripheral portion of the transparent sheet to secure the transparent sheet and hold the underlying puzzle pieces within the display assembly. The cantilevered segment(s) may be sized and dimensioned to overlie a portion of the transparent sheet without obscuring the puzzle pieces, i.e., when a completed puzzle disposed within the display assembly is viewed by an observer.
As used herein, a layer, sheet, or other element that is “transparent” or “optically transparent” may, in some examples, be characterized by a transmissivity within the visible spectrum of at least approximately 90% (e.g., 90, 95, 99, or 99.5%, including ranges between any of the foregoing values) and less than approximately 10% bulk haze.
The display assembly may further include a locking mechanism proximate to one or more of the integral rails. The locking mechanism(s) may supplement the cantilevered segment(s) of the detachable rails to secure the transparent sheet. An example locking mechanism may be press-fit into an integral rail, such as by a post-and-cavity frictional connection and may be rotatable between locked and unlocked positions. Such a locking mechanism may include a segment configured to overlap a portion of the transparent sheet in a locked state and may be unlocked by moving the segment by rotating the locking mechanism. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism may be reversibly connected to the frame, where the locking mechanism is configured to rotatably engage and disengage a portion of a top surface of the transparent sheet.
In some embodiments, in an assembled state, an upper surface of the transparent sheet may be substantially co-planar with an upper surface of one or more of the integral rails of the peripheral frame. That is, in some embodiments, the depth of the well may be substantially equal to the combined thickness of the puzzle pieces and the transparent sheet. The display assembly may further include a mounting element integral with the base and may be used to store or display a partially-completed or completed jigsaw puzzle.
A variety of methods and materials may be used to form the base and the detachable rails. Example methods may include additive methods such as casting, extruding, molding, or 3D-printing, and subtractive methods such as CNC machining. Example materials may include organic and inorganic materials, such as polymers, metals, glasses, or ceramics. Such materials may be water resistant. In particular embodiments, the base and the detachable rails may be formed from sheets of moderately expanded, closed-cell polyvinyl chloride (PVC) using a CNC router. The transparent sheet may include a rigid or semi-rigid protective element such as a glass sheet or a plexiglass sheet, for example. In some embodiments, the transparent sheet may be tinted.
According to further embodiments, an assembly tray for a jigsaw puzzle may include a base having a working surface and a raised frame peripheral to the working surface. Multiple such assembly trays may be stacked. In a stacked configuration, the base of an overlying tray may engage with the raised peripheral frame of an underlying tray such that the overlying tray and the underlying tray are prevented from moving laterally with respect to one another. For instance, and by way of example, in a stack of such assembly trays, each successive tray may include a raised frame having inner areal dimensions (i.e., length and width) that are greater than the respective exterior areal dimensions of an overlying tray.
In some embodiments, a bottommost assembly tray in an assembly tray stack may include two or more upwardly-extending posts, and one or more overlying assembly trays may each include two or more vias where each upwardly-extending post is arranged to slidably engage with a corresponding via such that the overlying assembly trays may each be secured to the bottommost assembly tray via the posts. Furthermore, a cover plate may be configured to overlie a topmost assembly tray in such an assembly tray stack. The cover plate, if provided, may include two or more cavities enabling the cover plate to also be secured to the bottommost assembly tray via the posts.
Each tray may include one or more radially-extending tabs that allow the tray (and any overlying tray(s)) to be lifted from the stack by a user, exposing the working surface of the underlying tray. In some embodiments, one or more jigsaw puzzle pieces may be located on the working surface of each respective assembly tray in a stack of assembly trays. That is, pieces from a first jigsaw puzzle may be disposed on the working surface of a first assembly tray, and pieces from a second jigsaw puzzle may be disposed on the working surface of a second, overlying assembly tray. In this manner, as will be appreciated, the jigsaw puzzle pieces from multiple different puzzles may be segregated and stored, i.e., as incomplete puzzles, partially-completed puzzles, or fully-completed puzzles, on respective working surfaces.
In accordance with various embodiments, a jigsaw puzzle display assembly may include (a) a base having a puzzle surface and a frame peripheral to the puzzle surface defining a well configured to hold one or more jigsaw puzzle pieces, and (b) a transparent sheet overlying one or more jigsaw puzzle pieces within the well. The frame may include a detachable rail having a cantilevered segment that overlies a peripheral portion of the transparent sheet. In particular embodiments, the jigsaw puzzle pieces are unobscured by the detachable rail.
Features from any of the embodiments described herein may be used in combination with one another in accordance with the general principles described herein. These and other embodiments, features, and advantages will be more fully understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.
The following will provide, with reference to FIGS. 1-13, detailed descriptions of jigsaw puzzle display and storage trays. The discussion associated with FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a description of a portable display assembly. The discussion associated with FIG. 3 includes a description of a stackable storage tray. The discussion associated with FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a description of example assembly trays. Engineering drawings for exemplary display assemblies, storage trays and assembly trays are provided in FIGS. 6-13.
Referring to FIG. 1, illustrated is an exploded view of a jigsaw puzzle display assembly in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. Display assembly 100 may include a base 110 having a puzzle surface 112 and a frame 120 peripheral to the puzzle surface 112 defining a well 114 configured to hold one or more puzzle pieces 130. In particular embodiments, the well 114 may be configured to hold a completed jigsaw puzzle where the areal dimensions (i.e., length and width) of the well may be substantially equal to the areal dimensions of the completed puzzle. In certain embodiments, the length of the well and the width of the well may independently range from approximately 0% to approximately 10% greater than the respective length and width of a completed jigsaw puzzle disposed within the well, e.g., approximately 0%, approximately 1%, approximately 2%, approximately 3%, approximately 4%, approximately 5%, or approximately 10%, including ranges between any of the foregoing values.
The peripheral frame 120 may include one or more rails 122 integral with the base 110 and, as disclosed further herein, one or more detachable rails 140, 150 that cooperate with the integral rails 122 to secure the puzzle pieces 130 on the puzzle surface 112 within the well 114. The detachable rails 140, 150 may be affixed to the base 110 without using an adhesive. For instance, detachable rail 140 may include a longitudinal tongue 142 configured to reversibly engage, e.g., by frictional forces, with a longitudinal groove 116 formed in bottom integral rail 122. In a similar vein, detachable rail 150 may include a plurality of posts 152 configured to reversibly engage, e.g., by frictional forces, with respective cavities 118 that extend at least partially through base 110 along an edge thereof. As will be appreciated, display assembly 100 may include one or more detachable rails. Each detachable rail may be secured using any suitable method, and although display assembly 100 is illustrated having a detachable rail 140 secured using a tongue-and-groove connection and a detachable rail 150 secured using a post-and-cavity connection, in alternate embodiments different combinations of connection mechanics may be used.
Referring still to FIG. 1, a protective, transparent sheet 160 may overlie puzzle pieces 130 within well 114. Cantilevered segment 144 of detachable rail 140 and cantilevered segment 154 of detachable rail 150 may be sized and dimensioned to overlie a peripheral portion of the transparent sheet 160 when detachable rails 140, 150 are attached to the display assembly 100 in order to secure the transparent sheet 160 and thereby hold the underlying puzzle pieces 130 within the well 114 without overlying any portion of the puzzle pieces 130.
In the illustrated embodiment, puzzle pieces 130 may directly overlie puzzle surface 112 and abut a puzzle edge 143 formed along an inner surface of bottom rail 122. A step adjacent to the bottom rail 122 may include the puzzle edge 143 and a ledge 145 proximate to puzzle edge 143. In an assembled display 100, a transparent sheet 160 may overlie puzzle pieces 130 while extending laterally to additionally overlie ledge 145.
The display assembly 100 may further include a locking mechanism 170 proximate to one or more of the integral rails 122. The locking mechanism(s) 170 may supplement the cantilevered segments 144, 154 of the detachable rails 140, 150 to secure the transparent sheet 160 to the display assembly 100. An example locking mechanism 170 may include a post 172 that may be press-fit into a lock cavity 128 formed in integral rail 122 and may be rotated between locked and unlocked states. Such a locking mechanism may include a segment 174 configured to overlap a portion of the transparent sheet 160 in a locked state and may be unlocked by moving the segment 174 by rotating the locking mechanism 170 by rotating the locking mechanism post 172 with respect to the lock cavity 128 formed in integral rail 122.
In some embodiments, in an assembled state, an upper surface of the transparent sheet 160 may be substantially co-planar with an upper surface of one or more of the integral rails 122 of peripheral frame 120. That is, in some embodiments, the depth of the well 114 may be substantially equal to the combined thickness of a puzzle piece 130 and the transparent sheet 160.
The display assembly may further include a mounting element or handle 180 integral with the base 110 and may be used to transport, store, or display a partially-completed or completed jigsaw puzzle. The display assembly 100 is thus configured to hold a completed puzzle securely, such as while hung and exhibited on a wall, while also allowing the puzzle to be viewed in its entirety and optionally disassembled and reassembled.
The assembled architecture of display assembly 100 may be further appreciated with reference to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, which show respective cross-sectional views along the lines A-A and B-B of FIG. 1.
With reference now to FIG. 3, illustrated is a stacked configuration of jigsaw puzzle assembly and storage trays according to some embodiments. The stacked assembly 300 may include a base tray 310, one or more overlying trays 322, 324, 326, etc., which are collectively referred to herein as overlying trays 320, and a cover 330. The base tray 310 and each of the overlying trays 320 may include a working surface 310 a, 322 a, 324 a, 326 a, etc., respectively, for assembling and/or storing the plural pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
In the illustrated embodiment, base tray 310 may include two or more upwardly-extending posts 315, and each of the one or more overlying trays 320 may include two or more corresponding vias 325 where each upwardly-extending post 315 may be arranged to slidably engage with a respective via 325 such that the overlying trays 320 may be secured to the base tray 310 via the posts 315. Furthermore, cover 330 may be configured to overlie a topmost assembly tray (e.g., tray 326) in such an assembly tray stack 300. The cover 330, if provided, may include two or more cavities (not shown) enabling the cover plate to also be secured to the stacked assembly 300 via posts 315. As will be appreciated, the stackable trays illustrated in FIG. 3 enable, for example, neat and compact storage.
Referring to FIG. 4, illustrated is a stacked assembly tray according to some embodiments. Stacked assembly tray 400 may include a primary (lower) tray 410 having a primary frame 411 located peripheral to a primary puzzle surface 412, and a secondary (upper) tray 420 having a secondary frame 421 located peripheral to a secondary puzzle surface 422. The respective trays 410, 420 may be arranged such that outer areal dimensions of the secondary frame 421 are less than respective inner areal dimensions of the primary frame 411. As such, the secondary tray 420 may be slidably disposed over the primary puzzle surface 412 of the primary tray 410. During tabletop assembly of a jigsaw puzzle, for instance, puzzle pieces may be sorted, arranged, and moved between primary puzzle surface 412 and secondary puzzle surface 422. Furthermore, in some embodiments, secondary tray 420 may overlie and protect a partially-completed or fully-completed jigsaw puzzle disposed over the primary puzzle surface 412 of primary tray 410.
Referring to FIG. 5, illustrated is a stacked assembly tray according to further embodiments. Stacked assembly tray 500 may include a primary (lower) tray 510 having a primary frame 511 located peripheral to a primary puzzle surface 512, and a secondary (upper) tray 520 having a secondary frame 521 located peripheral to a secondary puzzle surface 522. The respective trays 510, 520 may be arranged such that outer areal dimensions of the secondary frame 521 are less than respective inner areal dimensions of the primary frame 511. As such, the secondary tray 520 may be slidably disposed over the primary puzzle surface 512 of the primary tray 510. During assembly of a jigsaw puzzle, puzzle pieces may be sorted, arranged, and moved (glided) back and forth between primary puzzle surface 512 and secondary puzzle surface 522 via an opening 525 in the secondary frame 521, thus obviating a need to pick up and re-place an individual jigsaw puzzle piece or an assembly of jigsaw puzzle pieces.
Referring to FIGS. 6-13, shown are engineering drawings for an example jigsaw puzzle display assembly and example stacked assembly trays. In accordance with certain embodiments, the example assemblies may be dimensioned to accommodate jigsaw puzzles of different sizes and shapes. For instance, a jigsaw puzzle may have dimensions (in inches) of 21.25×15×0.08. As will be appreciated, however, the engineering drawings are merely illustrative, and one or more dimensions therein may be altered during manufacture to accommodate a jigsaw puzzle having different dimensions.
Drawings for a jigsaw puzzle display assembly (such as jigsaw puzzle display assembly 100 as shown in FIG. 1) are shown in FIGS. 6-9. FIG. 6A is a plan view and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of base 110. Plan views of a detachable rail 140, a detachable rail 150, and a locking mechanism 170 are shown in FIGS. 7A, 8A, and 9A, respectively. FIGS. 7B, 8B, and 9B show corresponding side views of detachable rail 140, detachable rail 150, and locking mechanism 170, whereas respective end views are shown in FIGS. 7C, 8C, and 9C.
Referring to FIG. 10, shown is an example assembly tray. As seen in the top down plan view of FIG. 10A, the illustrated assembly tray includes a working area having areal dimensions of 21.375×15.125 (in²). Corresponding side and end views are shown in FIG. 10B and FIG. 10C. Slidable inserts configured for use with the assembly tray of FIG. 10 are shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12.
Referring to FIG. 11, shown is a slidable insert (such as secondary tray 420 described herein with reference to FIG. 4). Top down, side, and end views of the slidable insert are illustrated in FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, and FIG. 11C, respectively. Referring next to FIG. 12, shown is a further slidable insert (such as secondary tray 520 described herein with reference to FIG. 5). Top down, side, and end views are illustrated respectively in FIG. 12A, FIG. 12B, and FIG. 12C.
An example large insert is illustrated in FIG. 13. The large insert of FIG. 13 may be configured to overlie and protect puzzle pieces located on the puzzle surface of an assembly tray while providing an additional working surface.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Example 1: A jigsaw puzzle display assembly has a base having a puzzle surface and a frame peripheral to the puzzle surface defining a well configured to hold a plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces, and a transparent sheet configured to overlie the plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces within the well, where the frame includes a detachable rail having a cantilevered segment overlying a peripheral portion of the transparent sheet.
Example 2: The jigsaw puzzle display of Example 1, where the base and the frame include a water-resistant polymer.
Example 3: The jigsaw puzzle display of any of Examples 1 and 2, where a depth of the well is substantially equal to a combined thickness of the transparent sheet and one of the plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces.
Example 4: The jigsaw puzzle display of any of Examples 1-3, where the transparent sheet overlies a completed jigsaw puzzle.
Example 5: The jigsaw puzzle display of any of Examples 1-4, where the plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces are unobscured by the detachable rail when the detachable rail is connected to the frame.
Example 6: The jigsaw puzzle display of any of Examples 1-5, where the detachable rail is connected to the frame through a tongue and groove fitting.
Example 7: The jigsaw puzzle display of any of Examples 1-6, where the detachable rail includes one or more integral posts.
Example 8: The jigsaw puzzle display of any of Examples 1-7, where the detachable rail is connected to the frame through a post and cavity fitting.
Example 9: The jigsaw puzzle display of any of Examples 1-8, where the frame includes a pair of detachable rails.
Example 10: The jigsaw puzzle display of Example 9, where each detachable rail includes a cantilevered segment overlying a respective peripheral portion of the transparent sheet.
Example 11: The jigsaw puzzle display of any of Examples 9 and 10, where the plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces are unobscured by the detachable rails.
Example 12: The jigsaw puzzle display of any of Examples 1-11, where the transparent sheet overlies a ledge formed in the frame.
Example 13: The jigsaw puzzle display of any of Example 12, where a height of the ledge above the puzzle surface is substantially equal to a thickness of one of the plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces.
Example 14: The jigsaw puzzle display of any of Examples 1-13, further including a locking mechanism reversibly connected to the frame, where the locking mechanism is configured to rotatably engage and disengage a portion of a top surface of the transparent sheet.
Example 15: The jigsaw puzzle display of any of Examples 1-14, where the plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces are free of a backside adhesive.
Example 16: A jigsaw puzzle display assembly includes a base having a puzzle surface and a frame peripheral to the puzzle surface, and a transparent sheet overlying the puzzle surface, where the frame includes a detachable rail having a cantilevered segment overlying a peripheral portion of the transparent sheet.
Example 17: The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of Example 16, where the frame includes a pair of detachable rails, each detachable rail having a cantilevered segment overlying a respective peripheral portion of the transparent sheet.
Example 18: The jigsaw puzzle display assembly any of Examples 16 and 17, further including a locking mechanism reversibly connected to the frame, where the locking mechanism is configured to rotatably engage and disengage a portion of a top surface of the transparent sheet.
Example 19: A jigsaw puzzle assembly tray includes (a) a primary tray having a primary puzzle surface and a primary frame peripheral to the primary puzzle surface, and (b) a secondary tray having a secondary puzzle surface and a secondary frame peripheral to the secondary puzzle surface, where outer areal dimensions of the secondary frame are less than respective inner areal dimensions of the primary frame, and the secondary tray is slidably disposed over the primary puzzle surface.
Example 20: The jigsaw puzzle assembly tray of Example 19, where the secondary frame includes an opening through which puzzle pieces located on the secondary puzzle surface are movable to the primary puzzle surface.
As used herein, the term “substantially” in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition may mean and include to a degree that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a small degree of variance, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property, or condition may be at least approximately 90% met, at least approximately 95% met, or even at least approximately 99% met.
The process parameters and sequence of the steps described and/or illustrated herein are given by way of example only and can be varied as desired. For example, while the steps illustrated and/or described herein may be shown or discussed in a particular order, these steps do not necessarily need to be performed in the order illustrated or discussed. The various exemplary methods described and/or illustrated herein may also omit one or more of the steps described or illustrated herein or include additional steps in addition to those disclosed.
The preceding description has been provided to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize various aspects of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. This exemplary description is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Reference should be made to any claims appended hereto and their equivalents in determining the scope of the present disclosure.
Unless otherwise noted, the terms “connected to” and “coupled to” (and their derivatives), as used in the specification and/or claims, are to be construed as permitting both direct and indirect (i.e., via other elements or components) connection. In addition, the terms “a” or “an,” as used in the specification and/or claims, are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” Finally, for ease of use, the terms “including” and “having” (and their derivatives), as used in the specification and/or claims, are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.”
It will be understood that when an element such as a layer or a region is referred to as being formed on, deposited on, or disposed “on” or “over” another element, it may be located directly on at least a portion of the other element, or one or more intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” or “directly over” another element, it may be located on at least a portion of the other element, with no intervening elements present.
While various features, elements or steps of particular embodiments may be disclosed using the transitional phrase “comprising,” it is to be understood that alternative embodiments, including those that may be described using the transitional phrases “consisting” or “consisting essentially of,” are implied. Thus, for example, implied alternative embodiments to a base that comprises or includes polyvinyl chloride include embodiments where a base element consists essentially of polyvinyl chloride and embodiments where a base consists of polyvinyl chloride.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A jigsaw puzzle display assembly, comprising:

a base having a puzzle surface and a frame peripheral to the puzzle surface defining a well configured to hold a plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces; and

a transparent sheet configured to overlie the plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces within the well, wherein the frame comprises a detachable rail having a cantilevered segment overlying a peripheral portion of the transparent sheet.

2. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 1, wherein the base and the frame comprise a water-resistant polymer.

3. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 1, wherein a depth of the well is substantially equal to a combined thickness of the transparent sheet and one of the plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces.

4. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 1, wherein the transparent sheet overlies a completed jigsaw puzzle.

5. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces are unobscured by the detachable rail when the detachable rail is connected to the frame.

6. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 1, wherein the detachable rail is connected to the frame through a tongue and groove fitting.

7. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 1, wherein the detachable rail comprises one or more integral posts.

8. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 1, wherein the detachable rail is connected to the frame through a post and cavity fitting.

9. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a pair of detachable rails.

10. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 9, wherein each detachable rail comprises a cantilevered segment overlying a respective peripheral portion of the transparent sheet.

11. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces are unobscured by the detachable rails.

12. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 1, wherein the transparent sheet overlies a ledge formed in the frame.

13. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 12, wherein a height of the ledge above the puzzle surface is substantially equal to a thickness of one of the plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces.

14. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism reversibly connected to the frame, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to rotatably engage and disengage a portion of a top surface of the transparent sheet.

15. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of jigsaw puzzle pieces are free of a backside adhesive.

16. A jigsaw puzzle display assembly, comprising:

a base having a puzzle surface and a frame peripheral to the puzzle surface; and

a transparent sheet overlying the puzzle surface, wherein the frame comprises a detachable rail having a cantilevered segment overlying a peripheral portion of the transparent sheet.

17. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 16, wherein the frame comprises a pair of detachable rails, each detachable rail comprising a cantilevered segment overlying a respective peripheral portion of the transparent sheet.

18. The jigsaw puzzle display assembly of claim 16, further comprising a locking mechanism reversibly connected to the frame, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to rotatably engage and disengage a portion of a top surface of the transparent sheet.

19. A jigsaw puzzle assembly tray comprising:

a primary tray having a primary puzzle surface and a primary frame peripheral to the primary puzzle surface; and

a secondary tray having a secondary puzzle surface and a secondary frame peripheral to the secondary puzzle surface, wherein outer areal dimensions of the secondary frame are less than respective inner areal dimensions of the primary frame, and the secondary tray is slidably disposed over the primary puzzle surface.

20. The jigsaw puzzle assembly tray of claim 19, wherein the secondary frame comprises an opening through which puzzle pieces located on the secondary puzzle surface are movable to the primary puzzle surface.