Patent Application
20070085269
This invention relates generally to toys and particularly to puzzles which are intended to be played with by children. More particularly, it relates to children's “peg puzzles”, which may be customized by the user to incorporate images selected by the user.
Children's puzzles have been known in the art for some time. One popular type of children's puzzle is known in the art as a “peg puzzle”. A peg puzzle generally consists of a first flat, substantially rectangular backing board, which in one embodiment comprises a sheet of plywood or particleboard. Bonded to the backing board is a second substantially rectangular planar board, corresponding roughly in dimension to the first backing board and which has various shapes cut out of it (cutouts), which second planar board is further bonded to the first backing board to provide a construct which is adapted to receive shapes corresponding to the cutouts. Shapes of board material corresponding to the cutouts (puzzle pieces) are equipped with a peg on their top surface, which renders the puzzle pieces to be readily grasped by a child of age in the general range of between about 1 year old and 10 years old. By providing a plurality of differently-shaped puzzle pieces and correspondingly-shaped cutouts in the second planar board, a challenging game is provided to youngsters and toddlers in which the child may pick up the puzzle pieces and insert them into the cutouts in order to complete the puzzle. Such puzzles are well-known and are available from Lights, Camera, Interaction!, Inc. under the tradename of “Doug & Melissa”, who are now relatively famous among the younger set and parents alike for their marketing and distributing of a wide range of peg puzzles.
Numerous workers have previously sought to provide new puzzles for children, a few of which are now recited to illustrate the popularity of the art to which the present invention pertains. U.S. Pat. No. 1,714,127 provides a puzzle toy, comprising a top open chamber having a flat bottom surface with an affixed picture, and a plurality of blocks to be inserted into the top open chamber and supported upon the flat bottom surface. As the blocks are removed, the picture is revealed. Thus, the removal of blocks to reveal a picture beneath is known in the art and broad coverage for the process of doing this is probably not available. U.S. Pat. No. 2,954,616 discloses an underlay for puzzles having a holder having a groove in which a slide can be inserted. After the slide is inserted in the holder, the pieces are laid upon it. The slide is removed and the holder is held to enable the pieces to fall down into the holder portion. U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,017 sets forth a multi-layered ornamental system; however, no photographs or the like are involved. U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,361 shows a display frame for photographs which comprises two separable panels, each of which have magnetic means sufficiently attached to retain the panels in a closed position. The photos 17a and 17b are shown to be slid into position. U.S. Pat. 4,111,425 teaches a jigsaw puzzle apparatus comprising: a) a work area for the assembly of component puzzle pieces, with the work area being configured and arranged so as to hold a completed puzzle substantially in place; and b) a cover overlying the work area in a manner to impart a compressive force upon the puzzle pieces in further holding the completed puzzle in substantially aligned relationship. The work area includes a construction platform, a raised border surrounding the construction platform, and a resilient pad atop the platform to receive the puzzle pieces and to permit the puzzle pieces to be compressed inwardly thereof when the cover is placed in overlying relationship therewith. The resilient pad is selected of sufficient roughness to provide a sideways frictional force to hold the puzzle pieces in place during the construction of the jigsaw puzzle, and the construction platform and the surrounding raised border are dimensioned for the particular accommodation of the given puzzle to be held. There is also included a tray fixedly circumscribing the surrounding raised border and construction platform for the containment, assortment and organization of individual puzzle pieces during the construction of the jigsaw puzzle. U.S. Pat. No. 4,142,726 describes a jigsaw type picture puzzle and retainer frame combination which permits the picture puzzle to be stored in the frame and viewed therein in assembled form. The device comprises a set of picture puzzle pieces of predetermined thickness that in assembly together form a picture of predetermined outer dimensions and thickness, The retainer frame comprises three laminated layers: a) a backing member; b) an intermediate spacing member substantially the thickness of the puzzle pieces; and c) an upper member comprising a border member. The spacing member defines an aperture larger than the viewing aperture to thereby form a ledge between the border member and backing member. The border member is affixed in place to the frame and defines a picture viewing aperture of smaller dimensions than that of the assembled picture with the ledge thereunder substantially registering with the assembled picture dimensions. The backing member is affixed in the frame, and the ledge has a depth to the backing member substantially registering with the picture puzzle pieces thickness. At least those of the puzzle pieces that fit around the outer edge of the picture have a resiliency and shape that permit bending for fitting into and removing from under the ledge so that the picture may be assembled and disassembled into the retainer frame. U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,013 discloses an apparatus useful for assembling and displaying at least one jig-saw puzzle comprising; a) a storage tray means capable of storing unfitted pieces of the jig-saw puzzle; and b) an assembly tray means located in spaced relation to the storage tray means and having a surface on which the jig-saw puzzle is assembled. The surface has a plurality of perforations so that a stop means may be inserted therein to prevent the assembled puzzle from moving along the surface. The display tray means is at least partially transparent to allow the assembled puzzle to be displayed and is located in spaced relation to the assembly tray means so as to be capable of cooperating with the stop means in the perforations to effectively immobilize the assembled puzzle. There is also a fastening means to hold the storage tray means, the assembly tray means, and the display tray means together. U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,018 provides a puzzle assembly having a plurality of pieces which are identical and which interfit without interlocking which are assembled in a recess of the base of a container. The container is closed by a cover hinged to the base. When the cover is closed, the puzzle pieces are disposed between top and bottom walls formed respectively on the cover and the base. The pieces are made of a resiliently yieldable material and their normal thickness is greater than the spacing between the walls when the cover is closed so that the pieces are clamped between the walls and are held against sliding even though only some of the pieces have been assembled. The puzzle has a design on both sides and the top and bottom walls are transparent so that both designs may be viewed with the cover closed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,680 describes a child's puzzle comprising: a) a plurality of puzzle pieces formed from a transparent plastic material substantially free of any puzzle indicia permanently disposed thereon; b) a base defining a puzzle recess dimensioned to receive the transparent puzzle pieces, with the base being defined by a bottom wall formed from a transparent plastic material substantially free of any puzzle indicia permanently disposed thereon, and a frame connected to and extending from the bottom wall; and c) a means for removably placing indicia on the puzzle pieces and on the bottom wall of the base, whereby the child can place the puzzle in proximity to an illustration within the child's cognitive repertoire, and trace a puzzle therefrom using the means for removably placing indicia thereon. U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,184 shows a transparent prize presenting game having a puzzle or challenge to be solved or completed. The game is capable of presentation of a paper prize, thereby motivating a player to solve and complete the puzzle or challenge. The game comprises a hand held manipulable, transparent container wherein the paper prize is viewable. The paper prize is removably disposed in the container, so that access thereto without successfully completing the puzzle or challenge is prevented. The puzzle or a challenge to be solved and completed being disposed in the container, and means for providing access to the paper prize only upon the successful completion of the puzzle or challenge wherein the player gains access to the container to retrieve the paper prize. U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,246 sets forth a building block-jigsaw puzzle comprising a case, a first layer of building blocks, a second layer of building blocks and a third layer of building blocks, each the layer of building blocks having a plurality of divided building blocks and placed inside the case. The building blocks of each layer can be combined to form a picture. Each the layer of building blocks have respectively a circular building, block, between each the circular building blocks and the other building blocks. Situated around the circular building block are some gaps so that each the layer of building blocks can be taken out easily from the gaps. The first layer of building blocks show the title of the picture, as the first layer of building blocks are taken out, and the player can combine the second layer of building blocks to form a picture the same with the first layer picture. The second layer picture shows a brief explanation concerning every part of the title, as the second layer of building blocks are taken out, the player can combine the third layer of building blocks. The player can find the detailed explanation and function to every part of the title in the third layer picture. U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,728 teaches a jigsaw puzzle, comprising: a) a substrate having first and second sides, and having a painting provided on the first side thereof, and cut into a multiple of irregular and interlocking pieces defined by cutting lines; and b) a transparent member provided thereon a second painting having close relationship with the painting of the substrate, and adapted to be laid on the first side of the substrate in such a manner that a part of the painting of the substrate is concealed by the second painting, thereby the second painting of the transparent member can be seen emphatically in relation to the painting of the substrate with the cutting lines concealed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,418 provides a slide puzzle comprising: a) a frame having a top image plane and a bottom image plane beneath the top image plane; b) a set of regularly shaped tiles slidably held in a top image plane in the frame and having at least one free space such that the tiles may be slidably moved relative to each other in the top image plane to any position within the frame, with each of the tiles providing at least a portion of a top image formable in the top image plane by the proper positioning of the tiles. The bottom image plane has a bottom image therein that is associated with the formable top image in the top image plane. The set of tiles is transparent such that the bottom image plane can be seen through the first set of tiles and such that a desired composite image constituting a desired solution to the puzzle is formed by the formable top image and the bottom image only upon proper manipulation of the set of tiles within the frame. U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,980 describes a puzzle connected with a story, the puzzle comprising: a) a story board having a front side and an opposing back side; b) a puzzle assembly area formed on a portion on the front side; c) a story printed within the puzzle assembly area providing information prior to assembly of the puzzle; and d) multiple puzzle pieces forming a pictorial representation of the story when assembled in the puzzle assembly area and covering the story printed within the puzzle assembly area on the story board. U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,732 specifies a method of forming a picture puzzle collage from a plurality of separate individual photographs, each having a picture displaying front surface and a rear surface, the method comprising: a) providing a board having a plurality of removable separate mating contiguous puzzle pieces that fit together to cover at least a substantial portion of the board, each separate puzzle piece having a circumferential edge; b) removing each of the separate individual puzzle pieces from the board; c) removing a film covering from a front surface of each of the separate individual puzzle pieces to expose an adhesive covered front surface of each the separate individual puzzle piece; d) affixing a rearward surface of each the separate individual photograph to the adhesive covered front surface of the puzzle piece; e) trimming away portions of each of the separate individual photograph photographs extending beyond each of the separate individual puzzle piece's circumferential edge; and f) replacing the separate individual puzzle pieces each having a trimmed separate individual photograph adhered thereto to the board in a mating contiguous relationship. U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,022 shows a tool for determining pinion adjustment, the tool comprising: a) a first portion having a plurality of temperature gradient reference marks including a first mark and a second mark; b) a second portion having a gradient grid representing pinion adjustment distances; and c) a third portion having at least one first reference point and a second reference point fixed relative to the at least one first reference point. The third portion is movable relative to the first portion and the second portion to reposition the at least one first reference point from a first location proximate the first mark to a second location proximate the second mark and to reposition the second reference point from a third location proximate the grid to the fourth location proximate the grid, wherein a distance between the third location and the fourth location corresponds to a determined pinion adjustment distance. U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,678
describes a combination puzzle toy comprising a case. The case has a top open chamber and the top open chamber has a flat bottom surface. There are a plurality of blocks capable of being inserted into the top open chamber and supported on the flat bottom surface of the top open chamber and coupled to one another in a flush manner to form any one of a number of combinations. The blocks each comprise a flat rectangular first block member and a flat rectangular second block member asymmetrically fixedly arranged in a stack.
Thus, although the prior art is replete with puzzles of various sorts, none thus far has provided a peg puzzle which is customizable, as provided by the present invention.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a puzzle construction, which is intended to be enjoyed primarily by children and young adults. A puzzle according to one form of the invention comprises: a substantially planar, rigid bottom panel having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a substantially planar, rigid top panel having a top surface and a bottom surface. The top panel comprising at least one cutout hole through its surface, wherein the at least one cutout hole exists in the form of a geometric shape. The top panel is disposed atop the bottom panel, so that the bottom surface of the top panel is facing the top surface of the bottom panel, and the top panel is attached to the bottom panel, and the bottom surface of the top panel is removably attached to said top surface of the bottom panel. There is also optionally at least one image disposed on the top surface of the bottom panel, in a location which corresponds substantially to the position of the at least one cutout hole in the top panel, so as to render the image viewable through the cutout hole. The puzzle further comprises at least one puzzle piece, wherein the puzzle piece is shaped sufficiently to be insertable into the at least one cutout hole of the top panel, sufficient to substantially block the ability of a person to view the at least one image when the puzzle piece is in place in the cutout hole.
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As mentioned, the cutout holes 9 of the top panel 5 of the present invention exist in the form of a geometric shape. These would include known regular geometric shapes, such as squares, triangles, circles, ovals, trapezoids, triangles, pentagons, hexagons, octagons, etc. In addition, the use of irregular geometric shapes for the contours of the cutout holes 9 are within the scope of the invention, with the main requirement being that each cutout hole 9 has a corresponding puzzle piece 15 which is capable of fitting into it, in a reasonably locking or nested manner, as is commensurate with known peg puzzles.
The top panel 5 is preferably removably attached to the bottom panel 3. This connection may be made, as aforesaid, by means of hinges, strips of fabric, VELCRO® connective means, and adhesives. In some embodiments the connective attachment is permanent, as in the case where a permanently-curing adhesive is employed, such as in the embodiment shown in
Consideration must be given to the fact that although this invention has been described and disclosed in relation to certain preferred embodiments, obvious equivalent modifications and alterations thereof will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in this art upon reading and understanding this specification and the claims appended hereto. This includes subject matter defined by any combination of any one of the various claims appended hereto with any one or more of the remaining claims, including the incorporation of the features and/or limitations of any dependent claim, singly or in combination with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the other dependent claims, with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the independent claims, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claims so modified. This also includes combination of the features and/or limitations of one or more of the independent claims with features and/or limitations of another independent claims to arrive at a modified independent claim, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claim so modified. Accordingly, the presently disclosed invention is intended to cover all such modifications and alterations, and is limited only by the scope of the claims which follow.
