US2506189A

US2506189A - Adjustable jigsaw puzzle frame

Info

Publication number: US2506189A
Application number: US673531A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard B Attridge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-05-31
Filing date: 1946-05-31
Publication date: 1950-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 1967-05-02

Description

May 2, 1950 R. B. ATTRIDGE ADJUSTABLE JIGSAW PUZZLE FRAME Filed May 51, 1946 FIG, 2.

Rule/4E0 5.577%005 //vvENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE JIGSAW PUZZLE FRAME Richard B. Attridge, Los Angeles, Calif. Application May 31, 1946, Serial N0. 673,531

' 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an adjustable jig saw puzzle frame and support therefor; 7

Solving of jig saw puzzles affords a wholesome pastime for invalids and convalescents, for example, for disabled veterans.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved frame structure for. jig saw puzzles wherein the frame which contains the assembly of cut-out fragments may be varied. in size as to height and/or length, to accord. with the size of the assembly of cut-out fragments to be contained therein.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete device showing a partly assembled group of jig saw puzzle fragments contained in the frame provided for them, this view being on a smaller scale than the remaining views.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a corner portion of the frame which contains the assembled puzzle fragments.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the long frame extension pieces.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of the short frame extension pieces.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of a panel hinge typical of all the hinges of the device.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a leaf spring clip to hold the easel portion of the support adjusted to the desired inclination.

Referring in detail to the drawing, a rectangular, sectional jig saw puzzle frame 1 is shown made of cardboard or of denser, more substantial strap-like material. The assembled frame 1 of Fig. 1 comprises four identically shaped, right angular corner strips 8, the two limbs of each of these strips being of equal length, but differing in that one of them terminates in a male dovetail 9 and the other in a female dovetail [0. In order to provide the frame 1 of Fig. 1 with a longer horizontal then vertical dimension a short upper insert strip H and like lower insert strap l2 are provided, these insert strips having dovetail end formations mating with the end portions of the corner strips 8 with which they cooperate to complete the frame 1. But if it is desired to use a square frame instead of the elongated frame I, said strips H and I2 may be removed and the adjacent limb ends of the angular strips 8 directly dovetailed together.

In Fig. 3 is shown a longer fill-in strip l4 having at one end a male dovetail I 5 and at its opposite end a female dovetail I 6, it being understood that at least two strips of this size and shape will be provided, so that, when it is desired to lengthen the frame I, one of them may be substituted for the strip l l and the other of them for the strip l2. The frame I may be left with the same horizontal dimension and its height increased by inserting the strips M at the junctures 841 at the right and left side of the frame of the upwardly and downwardly extending limbs of the angular corner strips 8. Still other combinations of the fill-in strips ll, l2 and M with, the frame 1 are possible, but are not deemed to require a detailed description. It is evident that the size required for the frame to contain the assembled cut-outs l8 will be de pendent upon the number and size of the cutouts used to construct the entire assembly of fitted together cut-outs.

The frame I is shown supported upon an easel plate 20 havinga foot board or supporting ledge plate 2|. Said easel or work plate 20 has its upper edge hingedly connected at 22 to the upper edge of the back or stabilizer plate 23, the latter plate having its lower edge hinged at 24 to the rear edge of the base plate or lap board 25. In order to adjustably maintain the easel plate 20 at the desired inclination said plate has hinged to its lower edge a backwardly directed foot flap 26, and a clamp spring 21 is provided for application to each end portion of said flap 26 to clamp it down against the upper surface of the lap board 25, as shown in Fig. I. Said spring 21 desirably consists of a strap of resilient sheet metal bent down upon itself at its midlength, except that a rounded part 28 is preferably provided at the bend.

The hinge structure detailed in Fig. 5 is typical of the (all alike) hinge structures at the top and bottom of the easel plate 20 and at the back side of the device as shown in Fig. 1. In said typical structure two plate fragments A and B are shown exteriorly hinged together by an outer strip of tape 30 which is adhered to the edge surfaces of said plates and also a strip of the adjacent outer side portion of each plate. Also a tape strip 3| is pasted interiorly along the marginal portions of the closely approximated strips A and B, as shown.

Preparatory to working out the puzzle the user will set up the easel plate 20 at the preferred inclination and will then apply the clamping springs 27 to the end portions of the foot flap 26 as illustrated in Fig. 1 at one side of the device. Thereupon he will position two of the angle strips 8 upon the foot-piece 2! in an overlying relation to the easel plate with the ends of their lower limbs somewhat spaced apart preparatory to inserting between them the short extension strip l2. Then he will dovetail into place, in relation to the already mounted strips 8, the two upper corner angle strips 8 and these strips will maintain themselves with their horizontal limbs spaced apart about the right distance for having inserted between them the upper short strip H, which will complete the jig saw puzzle frame I. It will be obvious from the foregoing description how a frame having greater vertical or right to left dimensions may be provided by substituting the longer strips Mfor the shorter ones H and H2; or by inserting an additional strip into the joint 8a at each (right or left) side of the frame.

The user may next proceed to select from the group of jig saw cut-outs used pieces having angular corner portions fittable into the lower corners ofthe frame I, or he may start with pieces having straight side portions and try placing their straight sides on the lower internal edge of the frame. After completing bottom and side borders of the assembled puzzle he will work on from the bottom up tov complete the assembly.

It will be found more natural and restful to assemble a picture puzzle in such a way as to form the picture in an upright position, as an artist would in painting it, by drawing out from the supply of cut-outs one piece after another until the picture-forming assembly has been constructed, an effort being made to work from below upwards.

When the jig saw puzzle support is assembled as shown in Fig. 1 there is an apron forward of the work panel on which the invalid can select and/or compose certain of the jig saw pieces anticipatory to assembling them in their proper relation in the frame. Owing to the fact that each of the frame pieces has a male dovetail at one end and a female dovetail at its opposite end, all the parts are interchangeable and the various parts are assemblable no matter how they are arranged, provided the frame is equally lengthened or shortened at opposite sides. Thus the frame 1 provides for supporting the jig saw pieces whether or not the center pieces are filled in as the puzzle is built upwardly or later after the outer pieces are grouped as shown in Fig. 1.

Furthermore, a one-armed veteran, or other person so handicapped as to have but one useful hand, can readily assemble the cardboard sections of the frame simply by laying one section after another upon a fiat surface, matching the tongues with the grooves as he does so.

I claim:

In a frame within which jig saw puzzles are to be assembled, a plurality of right angular corner strips, a plurality of straight intermediate strips, said angular and straight strips comprising fiat stifi members having parallel faces and straight inner and outer side edges, one end edge of each of said strips having straight end lengths extending transversely of the strip and an intermediate tenon of dovetail contour projecting outwardly of said end edge, the opposite end edge of each strip having straight end lengths extending transversely of the strip and provided with a center recess of dove tail shape slidably receiving therein the dove tail tenon of an adjacent strip so as to provide a frame assembly the size of which can be selectively adjusted to define an inner rectangular opening for receiving therein the component parts of varying jig saw puzzles of rectangular exterior contour.

RICHARD B. ATTRIDGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 15, 1934