Patent Application
20210170267
The present invention relates to a game workboard for jigsaw puzzles and in particular it pertains to a useful game workboard for providing a jigsaw puzzle user with a convenient means of storage drawers to work on a puzzle while using a minimum amount of table space.
A jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that may require the assembly of numerous interlocking pieces. Each piece may include a small part of a picture on it. When completely assembled, a jigsaw puzzle reveals a complete picture.
Jigsaw puzzles often include thousands of pieces and assembly of such puzzles may take more than one day. Usually jigsaw puzzles (often referred to as puzzles) are built on a flat surface, such as a kitchen table or a card table having collapsible legs.
Several types of tables are already known to provide panels upon which puzzle pieces can be assembled and to provide means for constraining such pieces in predetermined positions for storage before completion of the puzzle. Examples of these types of devices can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,987,496; 3,550,945; 4,302,013; 4,479,651; 4,552,361; 4,142,726; and, 4,111,425.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,745 describes a work panel on which the puzzle pieces are assembled. This panel is made of wood or plastic and covered by a thin layer of tin or steel constituting a ferromagnetic base. A flexible magnetic cover sheet is hinged to one edge of the work panel and adheres to the thin layer of tin or steel all around the puzzle pieces to hold them in a desired relationship and against shifting during horizontal or vertical storage of the panel.
Generally, these known tables/holders have proven unsuitable for storage when made of a size to accommodate puzzles containing a great number of pieces. It is too big to be conveniently carried, moreover, it is difficult to move and store a puzzle without being damaged by an accidental bump or fall.
What is needed is a portable table having the required size larger than that of the assembled puzzle wherein, such table which has container to store puzzle pieces.
The present invention is to provide a wooden rectangular game workboard that would allow the jigsaw puzzle to be moved when necessary and would store unassembled pieces in the drawer, thereby preventing loss of the puzzle pieces.
The present invention generally comprises a panel having an upper surface and a lower surface. The rectangular panel has a front edge, a back edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. Four drawers are mounted on the bottom surface to extend away from both side edges.
Two collapsible H-shaped legs are attached to bottom surface of the panel to provide support to the panel in keeping horizontal orientation of the workboard.
The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The present invention will be better understood by following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the drawings wherein:
The term ‘workboard’ refers to tabletop plateau made of quality woods combined with durable fiberboard providing support and surface for work.
The term ‘workspace’ refers to the working space available on workboard.
The term ‘panel’ refers to a flat wooden board made to form part of a surface.
The term 11-Shaped leg' refers to table bases that include a cross bar between the uprights for added strength and stability.
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
Although it is not shown in the illustrated embodiment, it is within the scope of the present invention that a padded material could be substantially superposed on the lip 28 to provide comfort for the users arms while using the workboard 10.
Although it is not shown in the illustrated embodiment, it is within the scope of the present invention that a front edge 20 and second side edge 26 of panel 12 has no lip 28 attached, while, a first side edge 22 and back edge 24 has lip 28 perpendicularly adjacent to the workspace of the workboard 10. The embodiment provide comfort for the users arm while using the workboard 10 while seated at front edge 20.
Referring in particular to
In preferred embodiment, the game workboard 10 is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as wood combined with durable fiberboard. In another embodiment, the game workboard 10 could be manufactured from plastic or fiberglass. In yet another embodiment, the workspace is made of non-slip felt surfaces to keep game pieces secure.
In a preferred embodiment, good results have been achieved with a game workboard 10 that is jumbo-sized measures 35.5″ in length×26.5″ in width (90×67 cm)×3″ to 4″ (7.5 cm to 9 cm) in height and standard sized measures 30″ in length×22″ in width (76×56 cm)×3″ to 4″ (7.5 cm to 9 cm).
The storing capacity of drawers vary as per varying sizes of the puzzle game pieces. In a preferred embodiment, the jumbo size fits most 1500 puzzle pieces and standard size fits most 1000 puzzle pieces.
The lip 28 is perpendicularly adjacent to the workspace of the workboard 10. The workspace of jumbo-sized measures 34″ in length×26″ in width (86×66 cm) and standard sized measures 28.5″ in length×21.5″ in width (72×54 cm).
Rim 50, as shown in
A drawer 40 is mounted between panel 12 and rim 50 on the lower surface 16. The drawer 40 is positioned such that it is extendable outwardly away from the first side edge 22, and, the second side edge 26. This allows the drawer 40 to be removed while the workboard is positioned on the ground surface 4 without the drawer 40 striking the ground surface 4. Also, by being positioned along a side edge 22 and 26 of the panel 12, the drawer 40 is accessible by a user sitting by the front edge 20 by knob 42 attached.
Specific size of drawers are required to fit within the workboard 10. Good results have been achieved with a Jumbo-sized game workboard 10 that measures 17.25″ in length×11.75″ in width (44×30 cm)×1″ (2.5 cm) in height and standard sized measures 16.5″ in length×11″ in width (42×28 cm)×1″ (2.5 cm) in height.
Adjacent to the four corners of panel 12 the rim 50 has holes 32 on lower surface 16. Two H-shaped legs 30 are attached to rim 50 conventionally by hinges generally in each corner of the lower surface 16 on panel 12 at holes 32. The H-shaped legs 30 are collapsible. The collapsible legs 30, when positioned in the holes 32, support the panel 12 in horizontal orientation with respect to a ground surface 4 as shown in
The legs 30 are manufactured from a suitable durable material such as wood, plastic, fiberglass or metal. Although it is not shown in the illustrated embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous types of configuration of the legs 30 could be used.
In another embodiment, more specifically but not by way of limitation, the legs 30 could be manufactured of metal segments to form a telescoping leg. The telescoping legs on each corner could be independently adjusted of each other to achieve a desired length of the workboard 10. Telescoping legs would also allow the user to place the workboard 10 at an angle similar to that of a common drafting table to for assembly and display of a jigsaw puzzle game.
In yet another preferred embodiment, legs 30 do not have to be present for the jigsaw puzzle workboard 10 to achieve the desired function of providing a horizontal support structure with a lip 28 for the containment therein of the jigsaw puzzle game pieces. The legs 30 are preferably optional extension to the game workboard. The legs 30 as shown in the illustrated embodiment would be detached from the workboard completely for storage and/or transportation of the jigsaw puzzle workboard 10.
Although the legs 30 are shown in the illustrated embodiment to be generally H-shaped legs, those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different shapes could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with the legs 30 to achieve the desired function as described herein. More specifically but not by way of limitation the legs 30 could be cylindrical in shape. The length for the legs 30 is twenty-eight inches.
In use, puzzle pieces 6 are stored in the drawer 40 and the puzzle 2 assembled on the upper surface 14 of the panel 12.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different shapes and colours of the jigsaw puzzle workboard 10 could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with the shapes and colours suggested herein to achieve the desired function of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the jigsaw puzzle workboard 10 could be used for numerous other hand games that comprise small pieces where it is desirable to have a support surface with the ability to contain the pieces of the game thereon.
The user will transport the game workboard 10 to a desired location. Upon reaching the desired location the user will rest the workboard 10 generally perpendicular with the floor. While supporting the workboard 10 generally perpendicular to the floor, the user will grab the legs 30 one at a time and extend each leg 30 to the open position as described herein. Once all legs 30 are in the open position, the user will then place the workboard 10 so that the workboard 10 is substantially parallel with the floor. The user will then place the desired jigsaw puzzle or other game pieces on the workspace of the workboard 10 and engage in the activity of sorting the game pieces in four drawers 40. Upon finishing, or when the user is ready to transport or store the jigsaw puzzle workboard, the user will fold the legs 30 in closed position while supporting the workboard. The user will then lift the jigsaw puzzle workboard 10 and transport to the desired storage location such as under the bed, sofa, desk etc.
