Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6431544
-
Patent Number
6,431,544
-
Date Filed
Monday, March 27, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 13, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Sewell; Paul T.
- Legesse; Nini F.
Agents
- Rader, Fishman and Grauer PLLC
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 273 153 R
- 273 156
- 273 157 R
- 273 292
- 273 302
- 273 307
- 273 308
- 273 293
- 273 284
- 273 283
- 273 139
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A puzzle in the form of stacks which eliminates troublesome handling, and presents high versatility as amusement. An overall picture as a correct combination is divided into a plurality of segmental pictures which are separately displayed on different cards, each of which is placed in a plurality of cards belonging to one of stacks equal in number to the plurality of segmental pictures. A card displaying one of the segmental pictures is selected from a plurality of cards of each stack for exposure, and selected cards are placed in close proximity to assemble the segmental pictures to reconstruct the overall pictures on the cards.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to puzzles for playing by assembling cards into a complete figure or the like, and items associated therewith.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a jig-saw puzzle is well known, for example, as the type of puzzle mentioned above. The jig-saw puzzle is comprised of a plurality of divided pieces which represent, when completely assembled, a figure or the like. Before use, the pieces are separately contained in a box or the like. When in use, the pieces are assembled one by one on a planar surface such as a table by fitting each salient formed on a side of each piece into a corresponding recess formed on a side of a different piece, thus reconstructing a target predetermined figure or the like.
Due to the nature of the jig-saw puzzle resulting from its form, the jig-saw puzzle has the following difficulties in handling. First, when playing in a vehicle such as a train, for example, joggling and vibrations of the vehicle prevent a player from fitting one piece into another. Second, for replacing pieces after use, a laborious work is required for separating pieces, fitted together, one by one to accommodate separated pieces in the box. Further, since the pieces are separate, the total number of pieces must be counted for confirming whether or not one complete set of pieces is present. In addition, such small pieces are readily missing. Furthermore, since a set of pieces for a jig-saw puzzle is limited to only one figure or the like reconstructed from the pieces, the jig-saw puzzle lacks the versatility as amusement.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing problems, which the present invention has been made to solve, it is an object of the present invention to provide puzzles in the form of stacks which eliminates laborious handling before, after and during use, and exhibits high versatility as amusement.
It is another object of the present invention to provide sheet materials suitable for creating cards constituting a puzzle, a bag suitable for keeping cards and adjusting a positional relationship of the cards, card fixtures suitable for facilitating the display of figures on cards constituting a puzzle, and an intermediate layer which facilitates removable of cards, once fixed to the card fixture, from the card fixture.
To achieve the above objects, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a puzzle for reconstructing an overall picture by assembling a plurality of segmental pictures divided from the overall picture. The puzzle includes a number of stacks equal to the number of segmental pictures, wherein each of the stacks includes a plurality of cards, each of the card displays one of the segmental pictures, and cards displaying associated segmental pictures divided from the same overall picture are selected from each of the plurality of stacks for exposure, and assembled to reconstruct the overall picture.
In this puzzle, each of the card may include reconstruction information for reconstructing an overall picture associated with a segmental picture displayed thereon.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a puzzle for reconstructing an overall picture by assembling a plurality of segmental pictures divided from the overall picture. The puzzle includes a puzzle body having a number of stacks equal to the number of segmental pictures, wherein each of the stacks includes a plurality of cards, each of the card displays one of the segmental pictures, and cards displaying associated segmental pictures divided from the same overall picture are selected from each of the plurality of stacks for exposure, and assembled to reconstruct the overall picture, and a reconstruction information stack including a plurality of cards, each of the cards including reconstruction information for reconstructing an overall picture associated with a segmental picture displayed thereon, and a field for a player to write the reconstruction information.
In the puzzle described above, the stack may further include a holder inserted through a hole formed through each of the cards. Each of the cards may be formed with a plurality of holes, and the stack may include a plurality of holders. Each of the cards may also include a notch formed on at least one side thereof for fitting the holder therein when the holder is rotated about a portion thereof extending through the hole, wherein the notch has a depth equal to or larger than a thickness of the holder.
In a third aspect, the present invention provides a puzzle sheet which includes a continuous sheet surface having an area corresponding to an area of a plurality of cards arranged side by side; cut lines formed on at least one side of the puzzle sheet for cutting the puzzle sheet into cards therealong and for serving as boundaries of the cards; and a plurality of holes formed within areas defined by the cut lines, which correspond to holes formed through the cards for inserting a holder therethrough.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a bag for keeping a puzzle, which includes holes extending through both sides thereof, and corresponding to holes formed through cards constituting the puzzle for inserting a holder therethrough.
In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a card fixture which includes a substrate having a size corresponding to a size of at least one card constituting a puzzle; and protrusions formed on a top surface of the substrate in the same positional relationship with holes formed through the cards.
In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides an intermediate layer interposed between a card fixture and a plurality of cards when the cards are fixed on the card fixture. The intermediate layer, having a size covering a top surface of the card fixture, includes holes formed therethrough for inserting protrusions formed on the card fixture for fixing cards; and at least one salient formed on the periphery for removing the cards from the card fixture.
Those and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of various embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
It should be noted that the “picture” which is represented by the terms, “overall picture” and “segmental picture” herein, is not limited to what is represented by the general semantic concept of a “picture,” but includes everything that is visually recognizable, such as various figures, designs, photographs, patterns, letters, symbols, colors, etc., as the characteristics of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view illustrating a stack forming part of a puzzle according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a top plan view illustrating an overall picture as a correct combination of the puzzle according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 3
is a top plan view illustrating cards forming part of the puzzle according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 4
is a top plan view illustrating two stacks of the first embodiment placed in close proximity;
FIG. 5
is a top plan view illustrating a second embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention;
FIG. 6
is a perspective view illustrating a stack forming part of a puzzle according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7
is a front view illustrating the stack of the third embodiment when it is accommodated in a box;
FIG. 8
is a partial top plan view showing from the above the state illustrated in
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 9
is a top plan view illustrating an overall picture as a correct combination of the puzzle according to the third embodiment;
FIGS. 10A
to
10
C are top plan views illustrating cards used in the puzzle of the third embodiment;
FIG. 11
is a top plan view illustrating a reproduction information stack used in the puzzle of the third embodiment;
FIG. 12
is a top plan view illustrating stacks of the puzzle when a correct combination is reached in the third embodiment;
FIG. 13
is a perspective view illustrating a stack forming part of a puzzle according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14
is a front view illustrating the stack of
FIG. 13
when it is accommodated in a box in the fourth embodiment;
FIG. 15
is a perspective view illustrating a stack forming part of a puzzle according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 16
is a partially cross-sectional front view of a holder in the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 17
is a perspective view illustrating the holder, when in use, of the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 18
is a partially cross-sectional front view illustrating a state in which cards have been moved from one side to the other in the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 19
is a partially cross-sectional front view illustrating another state in which cards have been moved from one side to the other in the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 20
is a top plan view illustrating that a card of a stack is turned over in the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 21
is a top plan view illustrating a holder fitted in a notch in the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 22
is a top plan view illustrating a stack in a used state in the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 23
is a perspective view illustrating a stack of
FIG. 15
when it is accommodated in a box in the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 24
is a top plan view illustrating the stack in another used state in the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 25
is a top plan view illustrating a stack forming part of a puzzle according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 26
is a top plan view illustrating a stack forming part of a puzzle according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 27
is a top plan view illustrating a stack forming part of a puzzle according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 28
is a top plan view illustrating a stack forming part of a puzzle according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 29
is a top plan view illustrating stacks of a puzzle according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention when they are in use;
FIG. 30
is a top plan view illustrating a card used in the tenth embodiment;
FIG. 31
is a top plan view illustrating how the puzzle of the tenth embodiment is used;
FIG. 32
is a top plan view illustrating a card forming part of a puzzle according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 33
is a top plan view illustrating how the puzzle of the eleventh embodiment is used;
FIG. 34
is a top plan view illustrating a card forming part of a puzzle according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 35
is a top plan view illustrating how the puzzle of the twelfth embodiment is used;
FIG. 36
is a top plan view illustrating a card forming part of a puzzle according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 37
is a top plan view illustrating how the puzzle of the thirteenth embodiment is used;
FIG. 38
is a partially cross-sectional front view illustrating a holder forming part of a puzzle according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 39A and 39B
are perspective views each illustrating an inserted shaft constituting the holder of the fourteenth embodiment;
FIG. 40
is a partially cut-away perspective view illustrating a vertical rod constituting the holder of the fourteenth embodiment;
FIG. 41
is a partially cross-sectional front view illustrating the holder of the fourteenth embodiment when it is extended;
FIG. 42
is a perspective view illustrating a holder forming part of a puzzle according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 43
is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a puzzle sheet from which cards are created according to the present invention;
FIG. 44
is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the puzzle sheet from which cards are created according to the present invention;
FIG. 45
is a perspective view illustrating how card pieces are adhered in the second embodiment;
FIG. 46
is a three-dimensional view illustrating a first embodiment of a bag for keeping cards according to the present invention;
FIG. 47
is a three-dimensional view illustrating a second embodiment of the bag for keeping cards according to the present invention;
FIG. 48
is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of a card fixture according to the present invention;
FIG. 49
is a perspective view illustrating another example of a protrusion on the card fixture of the first embodiment;
FIG. 50
is a perspective view illustrating cards fixed on the card fixture of the first embodiment;
FIG. 51
is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the card fixture according to the present invention;
FIG. 52
is a perspective view illustrating how the card fixture of the second embodiment is used;
FIG. 53
is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of the card fixture according to the present invention;
FIG. 54
is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a protrusion on the card fixture of the third embodiment;
FIG. 55
is a perspective view illustrating a fourth embodiment of the card fixture according to the present invention;
FIG. 56
is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a card fixed on the card fixture of the fourth embodiment;
FIG. 57
is a perspective view illustrating a fifth embodiment of the card fixture according to the present invention;
FIG. 58
is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a salient and an undercut of the card fixtures of the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 59
is a perspective view illustrating the card fixtures joined together in the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 60
is a perspective view illustrating an intermediate layer used in combination with a card fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 61
is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the intermediate layer of
FIG. 60
in a used state; and
FIG. 62
is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the intermediate layer of
FIG. 60
in another used state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will hereinafter be described in connection with several embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the same elements are designated the same reference numerals throughout respective embodiments, and repetitive explanation on the same elements is omitted.
A first embodiment of a puzzle according to the present invention will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 1
to
4
. The puzzle of this embodiment is comprised of two stacks which are identical except for representations realized on respective cards to constitute the puzzle, so that only one of the stacks will be described below. A stack
501
includes a plurality of stacked cards
504
, and a plurality of ring-shaped holders
509
extending through a plurality of holes
507
formed through respective cards
504
. The holders
509
may be opened to remove the card(s)
504
from the stack
501
and closed after the removal.
The illustrated puzzle is played in such a manner that the cards
504
of both the stacks
501
are turned over one by one to find matching of cards
504
of the respective stacks
501
to thereby give a correct combination. More specifically, the structure of the puzzle will be described below in connection with an exemplary combination which is, in this particular example, a figure of the whole body of a cat that is reconstructed by matching two cards
504
, as illustrated in FIG.
2
. As the correct combination of the puzzle, an overall picture
515
depicting the whole body of a cat is set. The overall picture
515
is divided along a two-dot chain line drawn in
FIG. 2
into two segmental pictures
515
A and
515
B. The overall picture
515
are divided into two because the puzzle is comprised of two stacks
501
as mentioned above.
Then, as illustrated in
FIG. 3
, the segmental pictures
515
A,
515
B are displayed separately on respective cards
504
of the two stacks
501
. For example, when the segmental picture
515
A is displayed on the front side (on the top side in
FIG. 1
) of a card
504
on one stack
501
, the segmental picture
515
B is displayed on the back side (on the bottom side in
FIG. 1
) of a card
504
on the other stack
501
. Similarly, segmental pictures, divided from respective overall pictures, are displayed on other cards
504
of the respective stacks
501
as other correct combinations.
This puzzle is played in such a manner that a player turns over cards
504
, each displaying a segmental picture, one by one to select and expose a segmental picture required for a correct combination from a plurality of cards
504
belonging to each of the stacks
501
, and combines the selected segmental pictures of the respective stacks
501
in close proximity to reconstruct an overall picture over the two combined cards
504
as the correct combination of the puzzle.
Each of the cards
504
also displays reconstruction information for helping a player reconstruct the aforementioned overall picture. In this embodiment, as the information for helping a player reconstruct the overall picture
515
of the cat, the cards
504
belonging to the respective stacks
501
, respectively displaying the segmental pictures
515
A,
515
B, each display, for example, a letter “C”
517
or
518
, which is the initial letter of “cat.” In this event, the card
504
belonging to one stack
501
may display the letter
517
in a right end region of the segmental picture
515
A, while the card
504
belonging to the other stack
501
may display the letter
518
in a left end region of the segmental picture
515
B. This manner of displaying the letters
517
,
518
on the respective cards
504
helps the player readily reconstruct the overall picture as the correct combination, by approaching both cards with the aid of the letters “C”
517
,
518
and combining the segmental pictures
515
A,
515
B. Similarly, other segmental pictures on the remaining cards
504
are each assigned a letter associated therewith as reconstruction information.
The puzzle having the structure as described above may be played in the following manner. First, the two stacks
501
are placed, for example, on a desk side by side with all cards
504
collected on one side, as illustrated in FIG.
1
. Next, as the player turns over cards
504
of one stack
501
one by one, the player eventually selects a card
504
displaying the segmental picture
515
A of the cat, and exposes the segmental picture
515
A. Further, the player similarly turns over cards
504
of the other stack
501
one by one until the segmental picture
515
B of the cat is encountered, and selects and exposes the segmental picture
515
B when the player thinks that the correct combination will be reached if the segmental picture
515
B is combined with the segmental picture
515
A.
Cards not selected in either of the stacks
501
may be placed on the bottom. Then, as illustrated in
FIG. 4
, when the two cards
504
of the respective stacks
501
are brought into close proximity, the segmental pictures
515
A,
515
B match to reconstruct the overall picture
515
of the cat as the correct combination. Similarly, a different overall picture can be reconstructed from other cards
504
as another correct combination.
If the player experiences difficulties in the reconstruction of the overall picture as the correct combination only by turning over the cards
504
to view segmental pictures thereon, the player may turn over the cards
504
relying on letters serving as reconstruction information, for example, the letters “C”
517
,
518
. The player can eventually reach the overall picture
515
of the cat as the correct combination or goal by placing the letters “C”
517
,
518
in close proximity to each other, as illustrated in FIG.
4
.
As described above, with the puzzle of this embodiment, the player takes pleasure in finding a variety of correct combinations while viewing segmental pictures or reconstruction information from a plurality of the cards
504
. When the player leaves off the puzzle, the stacks of cards
504
may be placed one on top of the other so that the entire puzzle can be reduced in size and therefore provide a good portability.
Also, in this puzzle, since the cards
504
are bound by the holders
509
, the player can readily match two cards
504
even in a joggling vehicle or the like. In addition, the cards
504
bound by the holders
509
eliminate the effort of confirming whether any card is missing. Further, during carrying, using, keeping the puzzle, cards
504
will not be dispersed or lost. Moreover, since a plurality of holders
509
are used, the cards
504
are always stacked with the four sides thereof aligned, when they are turned over, so that the player can smoothly view one segmental picture to another and instantaneously recognize the picture in an attempt of selecting a segmental picture and matching selected segmental pictures to reconstruct an overall picture.
Next, a second embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
5
. The puzzle of this embodiment has a puzzle body
600
comprised of a combination of two stacks
501
such as those of the first embodiment (illustrated in a reduced scale for convenience in FIG.
5
), and a reconstruction information stack
610
for reconstructing an overall picture as a correct combination. As illustrated in
FIG. 5
, the reconstruction information stack
610
is comprised of a plurality of cards that include two types of different cards: information display cards
611
on which reconstruction information has been previously provided, and information registration cards
621
on which the player can write reconstruction information when he himself has found a correct combination. The cards
611
,
621
are stacked and bound by holders
614
extending through holes
613
formed through the respective cards.
More specifically, the information display card
611
displays a title
615
, for example, “CAT” as reconstruction information for an overall picture of the aforementioned cat; and a field
617
for indicating the positions of the letters “C”
517
,
518
on respective cards
504
when they are placed in close proximity to combine segmental pictures
515
A,
515
B for finding a correct combination. Similarly, each of the remaining information display cards
611
displays a similar title and a similar field corresponding to a segmental picture which can be combined into an overall picture as a correct combination. The information registration card
621
displays a title
622
indicative of another overall picture as a correct combination, for example, “HORSE” and a blank field
623
for writing information on how associated segmental pictures should be placed in close proximity.
With the structure described above, if the player cannot find a combination of segmental pictures constituting an overall picture as a correct combination, the player may turn over the information display cards
611
to refer to reproduction information displayed thereon. For example, for obtaining the overall picture
515
of the cat, the player will understand that cards
504
displayed with the letters
517
,
518
should be selected and placed side by side when he views the title
615
and the field
617
on the information display card
611
. Alternatively, when the player himself turns over the cards
504
and eventually obtains an overall picture as a correct combination without relying on the reference to the reconstruction information stack
610
, the player may write in the field
623
of the information registration card
621
, reconstruction information displayed on the cards
504
, i.e., letters displayed on the cards
504
that display segmental pictures of an overall picture, for example, “H” when the overall picture represents a horse. In this way, the overall picture of the horse can be reconstructed at later time by referencing the information registration card
621
.
Next, a third embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 6
to
12
. The puzzle is comprised of a plurality of stacks as illustrated in FIG.
6
. Since the respective stacks are identical in structure except for the contents displayed on cards belonging thereto, only one of them will be described below (the same shall apply to subsequent embodiments). A stack, generally designated by reference numeral
700
, includes a plurality of cards
701
stacked in the vertical direction, and a circular holder
702
. The respective cards
701
are formed with holes
703
extending therethrough, such that the holder
702
can pass through the holes
703
.
The holder
702
has a fulcrum
702
A and arms
702
B,
702
C which are opened when a card
701
is added or removed from the stack and closed after addition or removal. When the holder
702
is inserted through the holes
703
such that the arm
702
B, for example, is placed inside the space defined by the holes
703
of the respective cards
701
, the opposite arm
702
C is positioned laterally to the stack of cards
701
. Each of cards
701
is also formed with a notch
705
on at least one side
701
A thereof for accommodating the opposite arm
702
C when the holder
702
is rotated about the arm
702
B placed within the stack. The notch
705
should be sized to have a width L
1
(see
FIG. 7
) sufficient to accommodate an arcuate portion of the arm
702
C and a depth L
2
(see
FIG. 8
) larger than the diameter of the holder
702
. The depth of the notch is set in a similar manner in subsequent embodiments.
Each of the cards
701
belonging to the plurality of stacks
700
displays one of a plurality of segmental pictures constituting an overall picture as a correct combination, as is the case with the aforementioned embodiments. Here, four stacks
700
are provided, for example, to create a puzzle for reconstructing an overall picture of a dog by assembling four segmental pictures displayed separately on cards
701
in three stacks.
FIG. 9
illustrates an overall picture
715
of the dog which is divided into four segmental pictures
715
A,
715
B,
71
C,
715
D as indicated by two-dot chain lines. Then, the segmental pictures
715
A,
71
B,
71
C,
715
D are distributed to cards
701
of three stacks
700
. For example, as illustrated in
FIG. 10
, the segmental pictures
715
A,
71
B,
715
C,
715
D may be distributively displayed in such a manner that the segmental picture
715
A is displayed on the first one of the cards
701
belonging to a first stack
700
(FIG.
10
A); the segmental picture
715
B on the fifth one of the cards
701
belonging to a second stack
700
; the segmental picture
715
C on the fourth one of the cards
701
belonging to the second stack
700
(see FIG.
10
B); and the segmental picture
715
D on the first one of the cards
701
belonging to a fourth stack
700
(see FIG.
10
C).
Each of the cards
701
, displaying a segmental picture, also indicates numbers
720
of three figures as reconstruction information on an associated overall picture, along the respective sides of the card
701
and with their upper parts directed to the respective sides. Explaining how the numbers serve as the reconstruction information, a value on the most significant figure indicates which of the stacks in the puzzle an associated card belongs to; a value op the middle figure indicates where the associated card is positioned in the stack; and a value on the least significant figure indicates the angle or direction in which the card is oriented on the stack, viewed by the player, when an overall picture is reconstructed as a correct combination. In this event, since the cards
701
can be rotated in increments of 90 degrees at four steps, so that numbers from “1” to “4” are assigned in the clockwise direction.
Thus, with reference to the card illustrated in
FIG. 10A
, by way of example, it is understood from the numbers
111
to
114
written on the card that the card indicates the following state. The values on the most significant figures of the respective numbers
720
set at “1” indicate that the card belongs to the first stack, and the values on the middle figures of the respective numbers
720
set at “1” indicate that the card is positioned on the first page of the stack. Then, the number “113” including the value “1” on the least significant figure is in an upright state because the reconstruction information stack, described below, displays the number “113” as the reconstruction information for a correct combination, so that the card should be oriented such that the dog's face is positioned on the upper side when the overall picture is reconstructed as the correct combination.
The three-digit numbers
720
as mentioned above are displayed along the four sides of each card in an arbitrary manner. For example, in
FIG. 10A
, any of numbers “111,” “112,” and “114” may be displayed along the upper side instead of the shown number “113.” Accordingly, the number thus displayed is written on the reconstruction information stack.
As illustrated in
FIG. 11
, the stack
700
is combined with a reconstruction information stack
730
for displaying reconstruction information on the overall picture
715
of the aforementioned dog and overall pictures as other correct combinations. The reconstruction information stack
730
has a plurality of cards bound by a holder
731
, as is the case with the aforementioned second embodiment. One of reconstruction information display cards
732
displays a title
733
“CORRECT COMBINATION OF DOG” and three-digit numbers
734
displayed on cards depicting segmental pictures, including overall pictures other than the dog, which are assembled into the overall picture. The numbers
734
are displayed from the upper left position in the clockwise direction corresponding to the associated cards that are assembled to reconstruct the overall
FIG. 715
of the dog in an upright state as illustrated in FIG.
9
.
The reconstruction information stack
730
also has information registration cards
740
as illustrated in FIG.
11
. For example, if an overall picture of a cat is included as another correct combination, a card
740
displays a title
741
“CORRECT COMBINATION OF CAT?” and a blank field
742
for filling four three-digit numbers as reconstruction information.
Next, with the puzzle comprised of the four stacks in combination, a procedure of reconstructing the overall picture of the dog as the correct combination will be described with reference again to FIG.
10
. When the holder
702
is removed from the notch
705
as illustrated in
FIG. 6
, the player can turn over cards
701
along the holder
702
as desired.
First, on the first stack, as the segmental picture
715
A showing the face of the dog appears on the first card as illustrated in
FIG. 10A
, the player selects this card. Next, as cards of the second stack are turned over one by one, the segmental picture
715
C showing a rear leg of the dog appears on the fourth card, and is therefore selected. On the next fifth card, the segmental picture
715
B showing the tail of the dog appears and therefore is selected, with the result that the segmental pictures
715
B,
715
C are combined over two cards
701
in the second stack, as illustrated in FIG.
10
B. Next, cards of the third stack, not shown, are turned over without finding any segmental picture leading to the correct combination, so that the fourth stack is taken. As illustrated in
FIG. 10C
, the segmental picture
715
D showing the forelegs of the dog is found on the first card which is therefore selected.
Next, with the four segmental pictures
715
A to
715
D left exposed, the respective stacks
700
are rotated as required and placed in close proximity to reconstruct the overall picture
715
of the dog as the correct combination, as illustrated in FIG.
12
. In this event, the holder
702
exists between adjacent stacks
700
such as that between the stack
700
displaying the segmental picture
715
A and the stack
700
displaying the segmental picture
715
D, in which case, the holder
702
can be retracted into the notch
705
. It is therefore possible to bring adjacent sides of the two stacks
700
into close contact to seamlessly reconstruct the overall picture across the two stacks
700
in a continuous manner.
While a correct combination can be found by turning over cards of each stack
700
and viewing only segmental pictures thereon, the reconstruction information stack may be used in combination, as described below. For example, for finding the overall picture
715
of the dog, the player may refer to a card
732
which displays “CORRECT COMBINATION OF DOG” as the title
733
in the reconstruction information stack. As previously mentioned, since the card
732
indicates the three-digit numbers
734
“113,” “252,” “242,” “414” from the upper left position in the clockwise direction, the player may turn over cards of the respective stacks
700
in accordance with the displayed numbers in the following manner.
First, the first card
701
of the first stack
700
is selected in accordance with the number “113,” followed by placing the stack
700
at an angle so that the number “113” is located on the upper side. Next, the fourth card of the second stack
700
is selected in accordance with the number “242,” followed by placing the stack
700
at an angle so that the number “242” is located on the upper side. Similarly, the fifth card
701
of the same second stack
700
is selected in accordance with the number “252.” Since the segmental picture on the fifth card is continuous to the segmental picture on the preceding fourth card, the fifth card is left as it is. Then, the first card of the fourth stack
700
is selected in accordance with the number “414,” followed by placing the stack
700
at an angle so that the number “414” is located on the upper side. Finally, as the three stacks are placed in close proximity, the overall picture
715
of the dog is completed as the correct combination as illustrated in FIG.
12
.
When cards of the respective stacks are turned over one by one to find segmental pictures which are successfully assembled into an overall picture of a cat, not shown, as another correct combination, three-digit numbers on the cards of the four segmental pictures are filled in the blank field
742
of an information registration card
740
. In this way, even if the player fails to find the correct combination of the cat in the next play with the puzzle, the player can reconstruct the overall picture as the correct combination by referring to the numbers.
With the puzzle constructed as described above, when cards
701
are stacked in group, and the holder
702
is swung about a portion thereof inserted in the cards
701
to introduce the opposite arm into the notch
705
as illustrated in
FIGS. 7 and 8
, the opposite arm of the holder
702
is fitted in the notch
705
so that the sides
701
A of the cards
701
are stopped by the holder
702
. Therefore, even if the cards
701
are flapped by the wind, the cards
701
will not be turned over. In addition, since the portion of the holder
702
fitted in the notch
705
does not protrude from the sides
701
A of the cards
701
, the stack
700
can be conveniently accommodated for keeping or the like in a box which has a width coincident with the width of the cards
701
(the dimension L
3
in FIG.
6
).
Next, a fourth embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 13 and 14
. The puzzle of this embodiment is comprised of a plurality of stacks
800
as illustrated in
FIGS. 13 and 14
in combination. The stack
800
comprises a plurality of cards
801
, each of which displays a segmental picture as described above thereon, and a rectangular holder
802
. Each of the cards
801
is formed with a hole
803
through which the holder
802
can be inserted. The holder
802
includes a fulcrum
802
A and a C-shaped and in inverted C-shaped arms
802
B,
802
C. In addition, each of the cards
801
is formed with a notch
805
on at least one of the sides
801
A, such that when one arm of the holder
802
, for example,
802
B, is inserted through the holes
803
of the cards
801
and left therein, the arm
802
C opposite to the arm
802
B can be introduced into the notch
805
. The width L
4
of the notch
805
may be equal to or larger than the thickness of the holder
802
.
According to the fourth embodiment, since the holder
802
is rectangular in shape and accordingly free from an arcuate bulge as a circular holder, the holder
802
extends in parallel with the surface of the cards
801
as illustrated in FIG.
14
. Thus, when the puzzle is accommodated in a box as previously mentioned in the third embodiment, the box can be reduced in thickness, i.e., the vertical dimension.
Next, a fifth embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 15
to
24
. The puzzle of this embodiment is comprised of a plurality of stacks as illustrated in
FIG. 15
in combination. The stack, generally designated by reference numeral
1
, comprises a plurality of cards
2
stacked in the vertical direction, and a holder
3
in the form of quadrilateral, as illustrated in FIG.
15
. Each card
2
displays a segmental picture as previously described. The holder
3
is formed in a quadrilateral consisting of a pair of vertical rods
4
,
5
and a pair of horizontal rods
7
,
8
.
The pair of vertical rods
4
,
5
are cylinder, and one vertical rod
4
extends through a hole
9
formed vertically through the stack of cards
2
, while the other vertical rod
5
is in parallel with the one vertical rod
4
. At least one of the pair of horizontal rods
7
,
8
, which forms the base, i.e., the horizontal rod
7
is connected at right angle with the lower ends of the respective vertical rods
4
,
5
. While
FIG. 15
illustrates that the one vertical rod
4
extends through the hole
9
of the cards
2
, the other vertical rod
5
may extend through the hole
9
instead.
The structure of the holder
3
will be described below in greater detail. The horizontal rods
7
,
8
are made of thin plate, the width of which does not exceed the diameter of the vertical rods
4
,
5
, and are joined to the vertical rods
4
,
5
such that its thickness direction is in parallel with the lengthwise direction of the vertical rods
4
,
5
. Further, as illustrated in
FIGS. 16 and 17
, the vertical rod
4
is formed at its head with a recess
4
A for rotatably supporting a fulcrum salient
8
A formed at one end of the horizontal rod
8
. The other vertical rod
5
is formed at its head with a recess
5
A for removably holding a salient
88
formed at the other end of the horizontal rod
8
. The salient
8
B comes off from the recess
5
A as the horizontal rod
8
is rotated as illustrated in
FIG. 17
, whereby the quadrilateral holder
3
is opened between the horizontal rod
8
and the vertical rod
5
.
As to the salient
8
B and the recess
5
A, both or one of the rods may be magnetized, or made of a synthetic resin, rubber or woody material, or combined with such a material to provide an appropriate frictional force, such that an appropriate resistance may be given to opening/closing actions of the horizontal rod
8
to prevent the salient
8
B from inadvertently coming off from the recess
5
A. The upper horizontal rod
8
is also formed of a thin plate similar to that used for the lower horizontal rod
7
.
The hole
9
formed through each card
2
for inserting the vertical rod
4
of the holder
3
therethrough may be located at the following position. Referring to
FIGS. 18 and 19
, cards
2
stacked along the vertical rod
4
can be turned over and moved through the horizontal rod
8
of the holder
3
to the other vertical rod
5
. In this event, cards
2
passed through by the vertical rods
4
,
5
have the respective sides
2
A opposite to each other.
FIG. 18
illustrates that both the cards
2
stacked along the vertical rods
4
,
5
are equal in number, while
FIG. 19
illustrates that they are different in number.
The hole
9
may be located such that a segmental picture displayed on one card
2
placed on the one vertical rod
4
side and a segmental picture displayed on a card
2
moved to the other rod
5
appear in one piece, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the card
2
, i.e., from the above of the drawing. In other words, the length of the horizontal rods
7
,
8
are set substantially double the distance D
1
from the hole
9
of the card
2
to the side
2
A. The hole
9
may be formed slightly larger than the outer diameter of the vertical rods
4
,
5
to provide a clearance D
2
, as illustrated in
FIG. 20
, so that the card
2
can be smoothly moved.
The side
2
A of each card
2
is formed with a notch
15
in which the other vertical rod
5
is fitted, as illustrated in FIG.
15
. The notch
15
may be located at a position to which the vertical rod
5
abuts when the holder
3
is rotated about the one vertical rod
4
.
According to the fifth embodiment, the stack
1
before use is such that the cards
2
are stacked along the vertical rod
4
with the vertical rod
5
of the holder
3
fitted in the notch
15
, as illustrated in FIG.
21
. With such a state, the cards
2
are supported by the horizontal rod
8
on the side
2
A, so that the cards would not be flapped and turned over by the wind, if any. When the stack
1
is used, the holder
3
is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in
FIG. 21
to draw out the vertical rod
5
from the notch
15
, such that the horizontal rods
7
,
8
are perpendicular to the sides
2
A of the cards
2
, as indicated by two-dot chain lines in FIG.
21
.
In the state mentioned above, the top card
2
on the vertical rod
4
side is turned over and moved to the vertical rod
5
side. The respective sides
2
A of the cards
2
on both rod sides are brought into contact when the cards on both sides are equal in number, so that segmental pictures displayed on the two cards
2
appear to be one picture as illustrated in FIG.
22
. In addition, even if the top cards
2
on both sides are different in height as illustrated in
FIG. 19
so that they are not directly in contact with each other, segmental pictures on the two cards
2
appear to be continuous when viewed from the above of the drawing. Since the lower horizontal rod
7
is made in a plate-like form, the stack
1
can be placed in close contact with a planar surface of a desk or the like, without causing substantially any difference in level, thereby preventing the stacked cards
2
from rising to damage the continuity between two segmental pictures.
With the stack
1
described above, the horizontal rod
8
of the holder
3
may be rotated to open the holder
3
between the horizontal rod
8
and the vertical rod
5
, as illustrated in
FIG. 17
, to add, remove, and/or exchange the cards. The stack
1
may be accommodated in a box
17
before use or after use as illustrated in
FIG. 23
, in which case, the holder
3
is shaped as mentioned above and the vertical rod
5
is fitted in the notch
15
of the cards
2
, so that the holder
3
will never protrude from the box
17
or catch a human body to cause damages thereto.
Further, when two sets of stacks
1
, for example, are provided as components of the puzzle for use in a side-by-side arrangement as illustrated in
FIG. 24
, the holders
3
of the two stacks may be fitted in the respective notches
15
to prevent interventions of one holder with the other and accordingly an interstice between the sides
2
A of the cards
2
of the two stacks
1
, so that segmental pictures on two cards on the two stacks
1
can be viewed in one piece.
Next, a sixth embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
25
. The puzzle of this embodiment is comprised of a plurality of stacks as illustrated in
FIG. 25
in combination. Each of cards
21
constituting a stack
20
is formed with a hole
9
and a notch
22
as mentioned above, and is further formed with an additional notch
22
at a position of a side
21
A symmetric to the notch
22
with respect to the hole
9
for fitting a vertical rod of a holder
3
. Each card
21
displays a segmental picture as mentioned above.
With the formation of two notches, the vertical rod of the holder
3
may be fitted in either of the two notches
22
, thereby improving the usability of the puzzle.
Next, a seventh embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
26
. The puzzle of this embodiment is comprised of a plurality of stacks as illustrated in
FIG. 26
in combination. Each of cards
31
belonging to the stack
30
is formed with a hole
32
, through which a holder
3
is inserted, at a position at which a vertical rod
5
of the holder
3
can be pivoted to move a card
31
to one of two directions indicated by arrows in FIG.
26
. In either of the two directions, resultant segmental pictures displayed on two opposing cards
31
appear to be one picture. In other words, the hole
32
is located at an equal distance from the two adjacent sides
31
A,
31
B. The sides
31
A,
31
B are additionally formed with notches
33
,
34
, respectively, for fitting the vertical rod
5
of the holder
3
therein.
According to the seventh embodiment, the direction in which the card
31
is turned over can be changed as required in such a manner that the card
31
can be turned over to the left in
FIG. 26
when the holder
3
is positioned perpendicular to the side
31
A of the card
31
, and the card
31
can be turned over downwardly in
FIG. 26
when the holder
3
is positioned perpendicular to the side
31
B of the card
31
. Thus, the stack
30
is particularly suitable for use as a component of a figure matching puzzle. It should be noted that when a plurality of the stacks
30
are provided for use in a side-by-side arrangement, or when they are accommodated in a box, the vertical rod
5
of the holder
3
may be fitted in the notch
33
or
34
as appropriate.
Next, an eighth embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
27
. The puzzle of this embodiment is comprised of a plurality of stacks
40
as illustrated in
FIG. 27
in combination. Cards
41
of the stack
40
is formed in an octagonal shape, and are each formed with a hole
42
, through which a holder
3
is inserted, at a position at which a vertical rod
5
of the holder
3
can be pivoted to move a card
41
to one of five directions as indicated by two-dot chain lines in FIG.
27
. In any of the five directions, resultant segmental pictures displayed on two opposing cards
41
appear to be one picture. In other words, the hole
42
is located at an equal distance from the five adjacent sides
41
A,
41
B,
41
C,
41
D,
41
E in the normal direction (right angle direction). Notches
44
,
45
for fitting the vertical rod
5
of the holder
3
therein are formed at symmetric positions of the sides
41
D,
41
E adjacent to the sides
41
B,
41
C, respectively.
In this way, as the holder
3
is positioned perpendicular to any of the five sides
41
A,
41
B,
41
C,
41
D,
41
E of the card
41
, the card
41
can be turned over in any of the five directions, thereby making it possible to create a wider variety of combinations of segmental pictures as components of the puzzle.
Next, a ninth embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 28 and 29
. The puzzle of this embodiment is comprised of a plurality of stacks as illustrated in
FIG. 28
in combination. Each of quadrilateral cards
51
constituting the stack is formed with two holes
52
,
53
, through which a holder
3
is inserted, at two positions on a diagonal line. These holes
52
,
53
are located at appropriate positions such that when a vertical rod
5
of the holder
3
is pivoted about the other vertical rod
4
extending through the hole
52
or
53
to move a card
51
in any of two or more directions, resultant segmental pictures displayed on two opposing cards
51
appear to be one picture in any of the direction.
More specifically, the hole
52
is located at an equal distance from the adjacent sides
51
A,
51
B, while the hole
53
is located at an equal distance from the adjacent sides
51
C,
51
D, respectively, as has been previously described in the seventh embodiment. In addition, notches
54
,
55
are formed associated with the hole
52
on the sides
51
A,
51
B, respectively, for fitting the vertical rod
5
of the holder
3
therein, while notches
56
,
57
are formed associated with the hole
53
on the side
51
C,
51
D, respectively, for fitting the vertical rod
5
therein.
Thus, as illustrated in
FIG. 29
, when the holder
3
is inserted through, for example, the hole
52
, the card
51
can be turned over in the left direction or in the downward direction in the drawing, and when the holder
3
is inserted through the other hole
53
, the card
51
can be turned over in the right direction or in the upward direction, thereby resulting in a wider variety of combinations of segmental pictures.
Next, a tenth embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 30 and 31
. The puzzle of this embodiment is comprised of a plurality of stacks of cards
61
as illustrated in
FIG. 30
in combination. Each of the cards
61
constituting the stack is shaped in square, and is formed with four holes
62
,
63
,
64
,
65
, through which a holder
3
is inserted, at four positions near the respective corners at an equal distance from the center of the card
61
, as can be seen in FIG.
30
. These holes
62
,
63
,
64
,
65
are located at appropriate positions such that when a vertical rod
5
of the holder
3
is pivoted about the other vertical rod
4
extending through the hole
62
,
63
,
64
or
65
to move a card
61
in any of two directions, resultant segmental pictures displayed on two opposing cards
61
appear to be one picture in any of the directions.
Specifically, as is the case with the aforementioned ninth embodiment, the hole
62
is located at an equal distance from the adjacent sides
61
A,
61
D; the hole
63
is located at an equal distance from the adjacent sides
61
A,
61
B; the hole
64
is located at an equal distance from the adjacent sides
61
B,
61
C; and the hole
65
is located at an equal distance from the adjacent sides
61
C,
61
D, respectively. As to notches in which the vertical rod
5
of the holder
3
is fitted, notches
67
,
68
are formed on the sides
61
A,
61
D, respectively, associated with the hole
62
; notches
69
,
70
on the sides
61
A,
61
B, respectively, associated with the hole
63
; notches
71
,
72
on the sides
61
B,
61
C, respectively, associated with the hole
64
; and notches
73
,
74
on the sides
61
C,
61
D, respectively, associated with the hole
65
.
With the holes thus formed, the holder
3
may be inserted through either of the holes
62
,
63
,
64
,
65
and pivoted as desired in one of two directions, as illustrated in
FIG. 31
, so that the card
61
can be turned over in any of the upward, downward, right and left directions. In addition, since the card
61
can be freely used in a rotated or reversed state, a wider variety of combinations can be created for the segmental pictures.
Next, an eleventh embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 32 and 33
. The puzzle of this embodiment is comprised of a plurality of stacks as illustrated in
FIG. 32
in combination. Each of square cards
81
constituting the stack is formed with four holes
82
,
83
,
84
,
85
, through which a holder
3
is inserted, in the vicinity of the center of all sides
81
A,
81
B,
81
C,
81
D at an equal distance from the center of the card
81
and in symmetric to each other. Also, as notches in which a vertical rod
5
of the holder
3
is fitted, notches
87
,
88
are formed on the side
81
A associated with the hole
82
; notches
89
,
90
are formed on the side
81
B associated with the hole
83
; notches
91
,
92
are formed on the side
81
C for the hole
84
; and notches
93
,
94
are formed on the side
81
D associated with the hole
85
. Each card
81
displays a segmental picture as mentioned above.
With the holes thus formed, the stack is suitable for an application in which the card
81
is turned over in one of upward, downward, right and left directions by inserting the holder
3
through any of the holes
82
,
83
,
84
,
85
as illustrated in FIG.
33
. It should be noted that in the eleventh embodiment, since the four holes
82
,
83
,
84
,
85
are at symmetrical positions, the card
81
can be freely used in a rotated or reversed state.
Next, a twelfth embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 34 and 35
. The puzzle of this embodiment is comprised of a plurality of stacks as illustrated in
FIG. 34
in combination. Each of vertically longer rectangular cards
101
constituting the stack is formed with three holes
102
,
103
,
104
, through which a holder
3
is inserted, along one side
101
A thereof one by one in the vertical direction in the drawing. In this event, the hole
102
is located beside the center of the side
101
A in the longitudinal direction, and the holes
103
,
104
are located symmetrically about the hole
102
. As notches in which a vertical rod
5
of the holder
3
is fitted, notches
106
,
107
are formed on the side
101
A associated with the hole
102
; notches
108
,
109
associated with the hole
103
; and notches
110
,
111
associated with the hole
104
. This embodiment employs three holders
3
which are inserted through the respective holes associated therewith. Each card
101
displays a segmental picture as mentioned above.
As will be appreciated, the puzzle according to the twelfth embodiment is suitable for an elongated configuration just as an agenda.
Next, a thirteenth embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 36 and 37
. The puzzle of this embodiment is comprised of a plurality of stacks as illustrated in
FIG. 36
in combination. Each of vertically longer rectangular cards
121
constituting the stack is formed with two holes
122
,
123
, through which a holder
3
is inserted along one side
121
A asymmetrically in the vertical direction in the figure. In addition, as notches in which a vertical rod of the holder
3
is fitted, notches
124
,
125
are formed in the side
121
A associated with the hole
122
; and notches
126
,
127
associated with the hole
123
. This embodiment employs two holders
3
which are inserted through the respective holes associated therewith. Each card
121
displays a segmental picture as mentioned above.
The holes thus formed through each card
121
advantageously prevent the player from erroneously adding a card
121
to the stack upside down, in case a segmental picture displayed on a card
121
is a complicated picture or figure, so that segmental pictures, when combined, can be made continuous without erroneous orientation, as illustrated in FIG.
37
.
Next, a fourteenth embodiment of the puzzle according to the present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 38
to
41
particularly for a holder
300
which has a different structure from that of the aforementioned first embodiment. Specifically, the holder
300
is quadrilateral and comprises hollow cylindrical vertical rods
301
,
303
in which inserted shafts
304
,
305
are removably fitted along the vertical direction in the figure. Specifically, the inserted shaft
304
is formed with a guide groove
304
A and a stopper guide groove
304
B as illustrated in
FIG. 39A
, while the inserted shaft
305
is formed with a guide groove
305
A and a stopper guide groove
305
B as illustrated in FIG.
39
B.
The guide grooves
304
A,
305
A are engaged with guide salients
301
A,
303
A, respectively, which are formed on the inner wall of the vertical rods
301
,
303
as illustrated in
FIG. 40
, such that the inserted shafts
304
,
305
can be slid into and out of the vertical rods
301
,
303
, as guided by the guide salients
301
A,
303
A, thereby making the vertical length of the holder
300
adjustable.
The stopper guide grooves
304
B,
305
B in turn are stopped by the stopper salients
301
B,
303
B, formed at the upper ends of the vertical rods
301
,
303
, respectively, so that the inserted shafts
304
,
305
are prevented from coming off from the vertical rods
301
,
303
even if they are maximally drawn out of the vertical rods
301
,
303
, as illustrated in FIG.
41
. As is the case with the foregoing embodiments, the vertical rods
301
,
303
are in parallel with each other, and one of the vertical rods is inserted through a hole
9
formed vertically through the respective cards
2
.
A horizontal rod
307
is connected at a right angle with the lower ends of the vertical rods
301
,
303
. Also, a horizontal rod
308
is connected at a right angle with the upper ends of the vertical rods
301
,
303
through the inserted shafts
304
,
305
, respectively.
The structure of the holder
300
will be described below in more detail with reference to FIG.
38
. The inserted shaft
304
is formed with a recess
304
C at the head thereof for rotatably supporting a fulcrum salient
308
A formed at one end of the horizontal rod
308
. The inserted shaft
305
is also formed with a recess
305
C at the head thereof for removably holding a salient
308
B formed at the other end of the horizontal rod
308
, so that the salient
308
B comes off from the recess
305
C as the horizontal rod
308
is rotated, irrespective of where the inserted shafts
304
,
305
are positioned with respect to the vertical rods
301
,
303
, to open the holder
300
between the horizontal rod
308
and the inserted shaft
305
, as is the case with the aforementioned first embodiment.
According to the fourteenth embodiment, since the inserted shafts
304
,
305
can be drawn up from or retracted into the vertical rods
301
,
303
to adjust the length of the vertical rods
301
,
303
, the number of cards bound by the holder
300
can be freely changed.
Next, a further holder
400
having a different structure will be shown below as a fifteenth embodiment with reference to FIG.
42
. Since this holder
400
includes similar elements to those of the holder in the fifth embodiment, description will be only given to different elements. As illustrated in
FIG. 42
, the holder
400
has a horizontal rod
407
connected with the lower ends of cylindrical vertical rods
401
,
403
which constitute a quadrilateral, and plate-like horizontal rods
408
,
409
connected with the upper ends of the vertical rods
401
,
403
, respectively so as to form a gap S larger than the thickness of a card therebetween. With the structure described above, a card can be added to and removed from the vertical rods
401
,
403
as required through the gap S.
Next, a first embodiment of a puzzle sheet for an creating cards constituting the aforementioned puzzle according to the present invention (hereinafter simply called the “sheet”) will be described with reference to FIG.
43
. This embodiment will be described for a specific example in which the cards
61
of the tenth embodiment are created. As illustrated in
FIG. 43
, a single square sheet
1201
having a continuous surface corresponding to the area occupied by a plurality of cards
61
arranged side by side is formed with cut lines
1202
, which may be perforations or grooves, on both front and back sides, as indicated by two-dot chain lines. The cut lines
1202
serve as the boundaries of the respective cards, and accordingly as respective sides of separated cards. Further, the sheet
1201
are formed with a plurality of holes
1203
and notches
1204
corresponding to the holes
62
to
65
, through which a holder is inserted, and the notches
67
to
74
provided in the cards
61
illustrated in
FIG. 30
within respective areas defined by the cut lines
1202
. The cut lines
1202
, holes
1203
, and notches
1204
may be formed in the sheet
1201
before or after pictures for the puzzles are displayed thereon by printing or the like.
The use of the sheet
1201
as described above facilitates the fabrication of the puzzle, because continuous cards on the sheet
1201
can readily display overall pictures, before separation, as compared with segmental pictures displayed on a required number of previously separated cards, and because respective cards can be readily separated by the cut lines
1202
from the sheet
1201
which displays overall pictures.
FIG. 44
illustrates a second embodiment of the sheet which is similar to the sheet
1201
illustrated in FIG.
43
. Segmental pictures for the puzzle are displayed on the front side of the sheet, and a glue
1206
is applied on the back side of the sheet. Further, a non-adhesive strippable paper
1207
is laminated on the glue
1206
to provide a so-called seal structure. The strippable paper
1207
is formed with cut lines
1208
coincident with the cut lines
1202
on the sheet
1201
as mentioned above, so that the sheet
1201
aminated with the strippable paper
1207
can be separated into pieces along the cut lines
1202
,
1208
. The pieces separated from the sheet
1201
, i.e., card pieces
1210
separated by the cut lines
1202
,
1208
are adhered two by two to create cards as described below. It should be noted that
FIG. 44
illustrates a portion of the strippable paper
1207
partially peeled from the sheet
1201
along the cut line
1208
because the glue
1206
(indicated by shading in
FIG. 44
) applied on the back side of the sheet
1201
is indicated for convenience of explanation.
After the sheet
1201
as described above is separated into a plurality of card pieces
1210
by the cut lines
1202
,
1208
, the strippable paper
1207
of each card piece
1210
is removed to readily adhere the back sides of two card pieces
1210
with the glue
1206
, as illustrated in
FIG. 45
, with the result that one card can be created. Since the adhesion can be carried out after the respective card pieces
1210
are rotated in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction, a variety of combinations of positional relationships can be created between the front sides and back sides of the cards. Furthermore, such positional relationships can be previously confirmed without removing the strippable paper
1207
from the card piece
1210
.
FIG. 46
illustrates a first embodiment of a bag for accommodating cards constituting the puzzle according to the present invention. The bag
1301
may be made of transparent vinyl or the like and is open only on the upper side which is formed as an opening
1301
A. The bag
1301
can accommodate, for example, two stacked cards
61
of the tenth embodiment for keeping. In addition, the bag
1301
is formed with holes
1302
and notches
1303
through the two surfaces
1301
B and fourth sides
1301
C corresponding to the holes for inserting a holder therethrough and the notches formed through the cards
61
.
When two stacked cards
61
are put in the bag
1301
with the respective segmental pictures facing outside, and a holder as mentioned above is inserted through any of the holes
1302
to bind the two cards
61
, the cards
61
will not slip out of the bag
1301
or move in the bag
1301
. In addition, since the bag
1301
is transparent, the segmental pictures of the cards
61
can be readily confirmed. Further, since the positional relationship between the two cards can be changed at any time, it is possible to create a wider variety of arrangements of the segmental pictures as a puzzle. A plurality of sets of two cards
61
each accommodated in the bag
1301
may be prepared for constituting a puzzle.
FIG. 47
illustrates a second embodiment of the bag for accommodating the cards. The illustrated bag
1401
is also formed with holes
1402
and notches
1403
similar to those in the first embodiment, and is additionally provided with a cover
1404
made of transparent vinyl for an opening, with the cover
1404
being applied with a lightly tacky adhesive on the back surface so that the cover
1404
can be attached to and removed from a bag body
1401
A.
In this way, the opening is closed by the cover
1404
after cards
61
are put in the bag
1401
, the position is changed, or the like, so that the cards
61
can be kept stationary in the bag
1401
. In addition, even if water or the like is inadvertently dashed on the bag
1401
. The cover
1404
protects the cards
61
from getting wet.
Next, several embodiments of card fixtures according to the present invention, which are conveniently utilized for fixing a plurality of cards constituting a puzzle to display a continuous overall picture, will be described below.
FIG. 48
illustrates a first embodiment of the card fixture. The illustrated card fixture
1501
is designed to fix up to four cards
61
of the aforementioned tenth embodiment (the same shall apply to the subsequent embodiments of the card fixture) The card fixture
1501
comprises a transparent substrate
1502
having the vertical and horizontal dimensions coincident with those of a set of four cards
61
; and cylindrical protrusions
1503
disposed on the top surface of the substrate
1502
in the same positional relationship as the holes formed through the respective cards
61
. The length of the protrusions
1503
may be determined in accordance with the thickness of the cards
61
. Further, the protrusions
1503
may be formed as hollow pipe protrusions as illustrated in FIG.
49
.
According to the card fixture
1501
as described above, as four previously separated cards
61
are push down on the substrate
1502
with the respective holes guided by the protrusions
1503
, the four cards
61
can be readily and correctly aligned and fixed on the card fixture
1501
, as illustrated in FIG.
50
. It is therefore possible to stably display a continuous overall picture on the four cards without causing any cards to move. Also, when the sheet
1201
as previously described in the second embodiment of the sheet is separated into card pieces
1210
and two card pieces
1210
are adhered to each other, the card fixture
1501
may be used to fix the card pieces
1210
with the holes of the cards guided by the protrusions
1503
, the respective holes
1203
of the two card pieces
1210
can be correctly aligned.
FIG. 51
illustrates a second embodiment of the card fixture. While the card fixture
1601
of this embodiment is likewise designed to fix the cards
61
of the tenth embodiment, protrusions
1603
bonded on the top of a substrate
1602
, similar to that in the first embodiment, are positioned diagonally so as to correspond to two holes on a diagonal line of the respective cards
61
.
This embodiment can also fix a plurality of cards
61
at correct positions by use of the two protrusions
1603
for each card. In addition, two card fixtures
1601
may be prepared and used by laying one on the top of the other such that the top surfaces having the protrusions
1603
face each other as illustrated in FIG.
52
. According to this usage, since the respective cards
61
are sandwiched between the two transparent substrates
1602
, both front sides and back sides of the cards
61
can be visually confirmed. Then, the upper fixture
1601
may be removed to freely display an overall picture or segmental pictures on the front sides or back sides of the cards
61
remaining on the lower fixture
1601
. Furthermore, when two card pieces
1210
separated from the sheet
1201
as described in the aforementioned second embodiment are laid one on top of the other and sandwiched between the two substrates
1602
, the positional relationship between the two card pieces
1210
can be readily changed if the upper fixture
1601
is removed.
FIG. 53
illustrates a third embodiment of the card fixture. The illustrated card fixture
1701
comprises a transparent substrate
1702
; and two hollow pipe protrusions
1703
removably arranged and positioned diagonally on the top surface of the substrate
1702
so as to correspond to two holes on a diagonal line of a card
61
. The protrusion
1703
has a lower threaded portion
1703
A for screwing into a screw hole
1702
A formed in the substrate
1702
, as illustrated in FIG.
54
. The protrusion
1703
may be of a cylindrical shape instead of the hollow pipe.
By removably arranging the protrusions
1703
as described above, the protrusions
1703
may be removed from the substrate
1702
when the card fixture
1701
is not in use, so that the card fixture
1701
can be reduced in size to facilitate the accommodation thereof.
FIG. 55
illustrates a fourth embodiment of the card fixture. The illustrated card fixture
1801
comprises a transparent substrate
1802
having the vertical and horizontal dimensions coincident with those of a set of four cards
61
; and hollow pipe protrusions
1803
disposed on the top surface of the substrate
1802
in the same positional relationship as the holes formed through the respective cards
61
. The length H
1
of the protrusions
1803
is set to be identical or slightly smaller than the thickness H
2
of the card
61
which is to be fixed on the substrate
1802
, as illustrated in FIG.
56
.
According to the structure as described above, an upper end
1803
A of the protrusion
1803
will not obstruct when a picture is displayed on a card. In addition, since the protrusion
1803
is made of a hollow pipe, it is possible to prevent a picture from erroneously being displayed on the upper end surface
1803
A of the protrusion
1803
.
FIGS. 57
to
59
illustrate a fifth embodiment of the card fixture. As illustrated in
FIG. 57
, the card fixture
1901
comprises a transparent substrate
1902
having the dimensions coincident with those of a separated card
61
; hollow pipe protrusions
1903
disposed on the top surface of the substrate
1902
; and salients
1902
A and undercuts
1902
B on four sides of the substrate
1902
. When in use, a plurality of card fixtures
1901
are prepared and joined as described below, in which case, the salient
1902
A of one card fixture
1901
is fitted into the undercut
1902
B of the adjacent card fixture
1901
as illustrated in FIG.
58
.
The card fixtures
1901
may be used in the following manner. For example, when there are four previously separated cards
61
, four card fixtures
1901
are prepared, and joined by mutually fitting the salient
1902
A of one card fixture
1901
into the undercut
1902
B of the adjacent card fixture
1901
. With this state maintained, four cards are fixed on the four card fixtures
1901
using the protrusions
1903
, so that required pictures may be displayed on the fixed cards. Thus, since the fifth embodiment only has to prepare a number of card fixtures
1901
required in accordance with the number of cards
61
, and eliminates the need for preparing a variety of card fixtures each comprising an integrally formed substrate beforehand in accordance with the number of cards, as is the case with the first to fourth embodiments, this type of card fixture
1901
is convenient for carrying.
Next, an embodiment of an intermediate layer for use in combination with the card fixture(s) will be described with reference to
FIGS. 60
to
62
. The intermediate layer
2001
may be made of a transparent material, and has a size large enough to cover the entire top surface formed, for example, by joining a plurality of card fixtures
1901
described in the fifth embodiment, as illustrated in FIG.
60
. The intermediate layer
2001
is formed with holes
2001
A passed through by the protrusions
1903
of the card fixtures
1901
, and salients
2001
B on the peripheral sides.
The intermediate layer
2001
as described is aligned to and laid over a plurality of previously joined card fixtures
1901
, while the protrusions
1903
of the card fixtures
1901
are inserted through the holes
2001
A. Next, the same number of cards
61
as that of the card fixtures
1901
are placed on the intermediate layer
2001
, making use of the salients
1903
protruding from the intermediate layer
2001
.
FIG. 61
is a cross-sectional view illustrating that the card fixtures
1901
, the intermediate layer
2001
and the cards
61
are laid one on top of the other in the manner described above. In this case, since the intermediate layer
2001
is transparent, the state of the cards
61
can be observed, when viewed from the lower side of the card fixtures
1901
. Thus, information required for creation may be written on the intermediate layer with an erasable marker or the like and erased therefrom to help the creator create and devise an overall picture or segmental pictures.
For removing the plurality of cards
61
from the card fixtures
1901
by turning the stack of the card fixtures
1901
, the intermediate layer
2001
and the cards
61
upside down, a salient
2001
B of the intermediate layer
2001
may be held and drawn to separate the intermediate layer
2001
from the card fixtures
1901
to readily remove the cards
61
from the card fixtures
1901
.
The card fixtures
1901
and the intermediate layer
2001
may be used in the following manner. As illustrated in
FIG. 62
, two stacked cards
61
are placed on the intermediate layer
2001
laid on top of the card fixture
1901
on the lower side in the drawing, and another intermediate layer
2001
is placed on the cards
61
. Further, on the intermediate layer
2001
, another card fixture
1901
is placed such that its protrusions
1903
face the protrusions
1903
of the lower card fixture
1901
. In this way, since the card fixtures
1901
and the intermediate layer
2001
are both transparent, such an assembly is convenient for confirming the states of the front side and back side of the cards
61
, and for adjusting the position of the cards
61
.
While the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments, and a variety of modifications and alterations may be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, a variety of shapes may be employed for the cards other than those described above as long as the ensured continuity of associated segmental pictures, the ease of accommodation in a box, and so on are satisfied. It is also possible to employ in a variety of forms the meaning, contents, manner, method, and so on of segmental pictures on cards, and the order in which cards are arranged in a stack. It is further possible to provide a card with any appropriate number of holes, through which a holder is inserted, and notches in which a holder is fitted, as well as to modify the shape of the holder which is inserted through the hole, for example, rounding the entirety or part of the holder, and rounding a portion at which a vertical rod is connected with a horizontal rod. Further, as to the second embodiment of the sheet, the glue applied to card pieces need not be applied to all card pieces but only to appropriately selected card pieces, in which case a card may be created by adhering a card piece applied with the glue and a card piece not applied with the glue. The substrate forming part of the card fixture may be made of an opaque material instead of a transparent material. In the second embodiment onward of the card fixtures, the protrusions formed on the substrate are disposed diagonally, but the protrusions may be disposed in parallel along each side of the substrate. The intermediate layer may be made of an opaque material instead of a transparent material.
As described above, the present invention can provide a puzzle in the form of stacks which eliminates troublesome handling, and exhibits high versatility as amusement; sheet materials suitable for creating cards constituting a puzzle; bags suitable for adjusting a positional relationship of cards; card fixtures suitable for facilitating the display of pictures on cards forming part of the puzzle; and an intermediate layer which facilitates removable of cards, once fixed to the card fixture, from the card fixture.
Claims
- 1. A puzzle for reconstructing an overall picture by assembling a plurality of segmental pictures divided from said overall picture, comprising:a number of stacks equal to the number of segmental pictures, each of said stacks including a plurality of cards and a holder inserted through a hole formed through each of said cards, and each of said cards includes a notch formed on at least one side thereof for fitting said holder therein when said holder is rotated about a portion thereof extending through said hole, said notch having a depth equal to or larger than a thickness of said holder, each of said card displaying one of said segmental pictures, wherein cards displaying associated segmental pictures divided from the same overall picture are selected from each of said plurality of stacks for exposure, and assembled to reconstruct said overall picture.
- 2. The puzzle according to claim 1, wherein each of said card includes reconstruction information for reconstructing an overall picture associated with a segmental picture displayed thereon.
- 3. The puzzle according to claim 2, wherein said stack further includes a holder inserted through a hole formed through each of said cards.
- 4. The puzzle according to claim 3, wherein each of said cards is formed with a plurality of holes, and said stack includes a plurality of holders.
- 5. The puzzle according to claim 2, wherein said stack further includes a holder inserted through a hole formed through each of said cards, and each of said cards includes a notch formed on at least one side thereof for fitting said holder therein when said holder is rotated about a portion thereof extending through said hole, said notch having a depth equal to or larger than a thickness of said holder.
- 6. The puzzle according to claim 5, wherein each of said cards is formed with a plurality of holes, and said stack includes a plurality of holders.
- 7. The puzzle according to claim 1, wherein said stack further includes a holder inserted through a hole formed through each of said cards.
- 8. The puzzle according to claim 7, wherein each of said cards is formed with a plurality of holes, and said stack includes a plurality of holders.
- 9. The puzzle according to claim 1, wherein each of said cards is formed with a plurality of holes, and said stack includes a plurality of holders.
- 10. A puzzle for reconstructing an overall picture by assembling a plurality of segmental pictures divided from said overall picture, comprising:a puzzle body including a number of stacks equal to the number of segmental pictures, each of said stacks including a plurality of cards and a holder inserted through a hole formed through each of said cards, and each of said cards includes a notch formed on at least one side thereof for fitting said holder therein when said holder is rotated about a portion thereof extending through said hold, said notch having a depth equal to or larger than a thickness of said holder, each of said card displaying one of said segmental pictures, wherein cards displaying associated segmental pictures divided from the same overall picture are selected from each of said plurality of stacks for exposure, and assembled to reconstruct said overall picture; and a reconstruction information stack including a plurality of cards, each of said cards including reconstruction information for reconstructing an overall picture associated with a segmental picture displayed thereon, and a field for a player to write said reconstruction information.
- 11. The puzzle according to claim 10, wherein said stack further includes a holder inserted through a hole formed through each of said cards.
- 12. The puzzle according to claim 11, wherein each of said cards is formed with a plurality of holes, and said stack includes a plurality of holders.
- 13. The puzzle according to claim 10 wherein each of said cards is formed with a plurality of holes, and said stack includes a plurality of holders.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
11-090093 |
Mar 1999 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (9)