US3550945A - Jigsaw puzzle and base for retaining same - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent Inventor Charles Resnick Freeport, N.Y.

Appl. No. 760,809

Filed Sept. 19, 1968 Patented Dec. 29, 1970 Assignee Fred Bronner Corporation New York, N.Y.

JIGSAW PUZZLE AND BASE FOR RETAINING SAME 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 273/157, 40/156,156/249,161/406 Int. Cl A63i'9/10 Field ofSearch 273/157; 35/26; 156/247, 249, 289,299,537; 161/406,

copy layout [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,913,850 6/1933 Oberdorfer 273/157 3,002,309 10/1961 Snyder 156/299X 3,433,485 3/1969 Renn etal 273/157 FOREIGN PATENTS 455,557 10/1936 Great Britain 273/157 Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen r p o PATENTEU M5229 ISYC 40 I 36 FIG.

JIGSAW PUZZLE AND BASE FOR RETAINING SAME DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a jigsaw puzzle provided in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line "-11 of FIG. 1 illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to that of FIG. 2, illustrating a further embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 3, illustrating still a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION This invention relates to jigsaw puzzles and more particularly to puzzles involving a plurality of pieces cooperatively engageable to display a picture or the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved jigsaw puzzle construction wherein a multitude ofpieces can be assembled in detachable relationship or in permanently engaged relationship.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved jigsaw puzzle construction which can be readily manufactured with mass production techniques. 7

.Yet another object of the. invention is to provide an im- In achieving the above and other objects of the invention, there is proposed a jigsaw puzzle construction wherein a flat base is provided with a raised peripheral frame cooperatively defining a well therewith. A plurality of puzzle pieces are insertable into the well and means are provided for selectively retaining the pieces in the well.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a pressure-responsive adhesive is provided on the base with a removable sheet covering the same, so that the puzzle pieces can be deposited in the well without permanently adhering to the base. In other words, in such condition the puzzlepieces are detachable. Thereafter it is possible, in accordance with the invention and when desired, to remove the sheet covering the pressure-responsive adhesive, whereupon the jigsaw puzzle pieces can be permanently inserted into the well and fixed in position.

As will be shown hereinafter the peripheral frame on the base can be so formed as to be integral with the base, but as an alternative the frame can be separate from the base and can be adhered to the latter in the same manner as employed for the puzzle pieces.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the pieces will remain permanently detachable except for the fact that a transparent cover is provided which retains the pieces in the well in a manner which will be explained hereinafter.

The objects, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments as illustrated in the drawing, the FIGS. ofwhich have been described above.

In FIG. 1 appears a jigsaw puzzle 10 provided in accordance with the invention. The jigsaw puzzle comprises a plurality or multitude of pieces I2 which fit together in known manner and cooperatively provide a composite picture illustration or the like.

In accordance with the invention the pieces have a peripheral contour or shape 14 conforming with the inner contour of a raised frame 16 the relationship of which in the puzzle construction appears more clearly from FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2 it is seen that the puzzle comprises a generally fiat base 18 on the periphery of which is supported the frame 16, the puzzle pieces being generally indicated byway of example at 12.

In the original condition of the puzzle there is provided, covering the entire upper surface of the base 18, a layer of pressure-responsive adhesive 26), this layer being in turn covered by a sheet 22 of material normally adhering to the adhesive but being remove removable therefrom. The sheet proved jigsaw puzzle which can be permanently assembled to i provide a permanent illustration.

may be of any well-known material such as waxed paper, plastic,foilorthe like. The puzzle pieces I2 and the frame 116 normally rest on top of the sheet 22 and for this reason may be considered detacha- With the puzzle in the form which has been indicated above,

it is possible to insert the pieces 12 into the well cooperatively defined by frame 16 and base I8 and indicated generally at W. I

The puzzle can be assembled, disassembled and reassembled as many times as is desired. When, however, it becomes desirable to permanently assemble the puzzle and retain the same'in assembled form, the frame 16 is detached from the sheet 22 and the sheet 22 is removed from the adhesive layer 20. Thereafter the frame 16 is pressed against the layer 20 in a manner such that the frame 16 is in effect permanently bonded to the base 18 to define a fixed'well W therewith. Thereafter the pieces 12 are assembled in the well W and are permanently affixed to the base 18 through the intermediary of the adhesive 20. The puzzle can no longer be disassembled and a permanent picture, illustration or such is formed thereby.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention as appears in FIG. 3, the base 28 and raised frame 30 are integrally molded of a material such as plastic or the like, the frame and base 28 again cooperatively defining a well W, wherein are inserted the pieces 12. In this case the adhesive layer32 is confined to the bottom of the well, there being provided a cover sheet 34 of material such as has been mentioned above covering the adhesive layer 32 until a permanent assembly of the puzzle is desired.

In the latter embodiment of the invention, the frame 30 and the base 28 can be formed of wood, metal and the like, as well as the plastic referred to hereinabove.

FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention wherein a base 36 is provided with a raisedframe 38, the two elements again cooperatively defining :a well W wherein are assembled the pieces 12. In this embodiment of the invention no adhesive is provided for connecting the pieces 12 permanently to the base 36. Instead there is provided a transparent plastiocover 40 which encapsulates the base, frame and pieces in such a manner that these can be assembled in permanently engaged form when desired.

From the above it will appear that a jigsaw puzzle is provided in accordance with the invention which comprises a relatively flat base with a raised peripheral frame thereon cooperatively defining a well. A plurality of puzzle pieces are insertable into the well and there are provided means for selectively retainingthe pieces in this well. The means may be constituted by a pressure-responsive adhesive covered by a removable sheet and the frame may be integral with the base or separate therefrom and connectable to the base by means of the aforenoted adhesive.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications and variations of the structure set forth hereinabove which will not depart from the scope of the invention.

lclaim:

I. A jigsaw puzzle comprising a flat base, a separate raised peripheral 1 frame on said base cooperatively defining a well therewith, a plurality of puzzle pieces insertable into said well, means for selectively retaining said pieces in said well, said means comprising a pressure-responsive adhesive on said entire base and a removable sheet covering said adhesive, and an adhesive detachably connecting said frame to said sheet.

2. A puzzle as claimed in claim I, wherein said adhesive is limited to a relatively small proportion of the interface area between the frame and sheet.

3. A puzzle as claimed in claim 1. wherein the well and the pieces have substantially corresponding thicknesses. pieces when assembled have corresponding peripheral con- 5. A puzzle as claimed in claim I. wherein the frame and tours. base are of a paper-like material having thicknesses substan- 4. A puzzle as claimed in claim 1. wherein the frame and tially greater than said sheet.

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