ES2230071T3 - PUZZLES DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A puzzle apparatus comprises a base board and jigsaw puzzle pieces characterised in that the base board has a network of conductive tracks and the pieces have an electrically conductive base which on correct assembly bridges the tracks to permit passage of electric current and activation of a sound or light display.

Description

Puzzles apparatus.

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the apparatus of puzzles

Ambit

Conventionally, the puzzles are formed of a plurality of individual pieces of different shapes that, a Once placed in their correct position, they form a complete drawing. He number of pieces of a puzzle and the sizes of the pieces Individuals may vary to provide different degrees of difficulty completing the puzzle.

The particular interest of the person making the puzzle can be based on one or more of the different aspects of same, as the shape, the nature of the puzzle drawing finished, the time it takes to do it or other aspects Similar.

However, once finished, it is not strange that a conventional puzzle dismantle and never ever be again done by that person, mainly due to lack of interest.

Although children tend to redo a given puzzle more often than adults, there is still a tendency towards lack of interest after a relatively short time. US-A-4893817 shows an example of puzzle that generates a sound when it is finished.

Summary of the Invention

It would be desirable to be able to provide an interest additional when making puzzles with the help of an original puzzle apparatus.

According to the present invention, a puzzle apparatus according to Claim 1.

In a preferred configuration of the invention, the sound emitted by the sonogen device is related to the Puzzle piece that creates the signal.

Preferably, the sonogen apparatus is provides in a printed circuit placed in the base, in its inside or around it.

Conveniently, the sonogen device is formed of a microchip programmed to generate a specific sound for a predetermined period of time in response to a signal determined from a particular sensor device.

The sensor device and the sonogen device are preferably interconnected by an electrical circuit in the base or inside it.

The apparatus may also include a device photo transmitter for its performance in response to a signal from sensor device, and said photo transmitter device can be incorporated into each puzzle piece including an element driver.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the puzzle apparatus, according to the invention, it provides considerable added interest to the user, in the sense that a sound can be created during Assembling the puzzle and after it. Ideally, the sounds created are associated with that section of the global drawing of the The relevant piece of the puzzle is part.

For example, the complete drawing may be formed from a series of characters from different songs children, and the sound emitted by the correct placement of a given piece of the puzzle at the base can be the children's song associated with the characters of which said piece is part of puzzle.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partially cropped, of a first puzzle apparatus according to the invention with the partially assembled puzzle;

Fig. 2 is a front view of a part of the puzzle of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows the electrical circuit in the base of the apparatus of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the part of the second apparatus according to the invention with the puzzle partially mounted.

Detailed description of the recommended materializations

According to the plans, the illustrated puzzle device it is formed of a base, usually indicated in number 2, of sandwich construction, including a bottom layer (4) and a upper layer (6) between which the electrical circuit of the apparatus.

The circuit is formed of a plurality of pairs of electrical contacts, each of which includes a negative terminal or ground contact (8) and a positive contact (10, 12, 14 or 16). Negative contacts (8) are interconnected with each other and with the contact (18) of the circuit board printed (20), while each of the positive contacts (10 to 16) is connected to an associated contact (22 to 28), respectively, of the printed circuit board (20). In the configurations of figures 1 and 3, the card (20) is located between the layers (4, 6) of the base (2).

The contacts (8 to 16) are projected by the corresponding holes in the top layer (6) of the base (2), as illustrated in Fig. 1, the global electrical circuit being Powered by batteries.

The puzzle device also includes a plurality of interconnected pieces (30), some of which are shown in their position in Fig. 1. Four of the pieces are organized to be placed on the four pairs of contacts electrical (8, 10 to 8, 16), showing one of these pieces (32) in Fig. 2.

The pieces (32) form a conventional puzzle with Appendices (34) and gaps (36) to interlock with the pieces adjacent (30), the lower part of the piece (32) being formed with a layer (38) of electrically conductive material. When a piece (32) is placed correctly on the base (2), the layer (38) corresponding activates the associated pair of electrical contacts (8, 10 to 8, 16) thus forming an associated electrical circuit between the contact (18) and one of the contacts (22 to 28) of the card printed circuit (20).

This card (20) has a resonator (40) associated, with an arrangement such that a given sound is created depending on which pair of contacts (8, 10 to 8, 16) is activated, the sound being emitted for a given period of time.

The relationship between the puzzle pieces (32) and the contact (8, 10 to 8, 16) is such that, after the initial issuance of the sound when the contact is made, the sound can be played as and when required by pressing the puzzle piece (32) on the corresponding contacts.

Thus, it will be appreciated that a sound given during the assembly of the puzzle when a piece is placed (32) correctly for the first time on the basis (2), and then as required, for example at the end of the puzzle.

The sound can be musical or verbal, for example according to the portion of the puzzle from which the pieces in question (32) are part, or by way of instruction.

Conveniently, the printed circuit board (20) incorporates a microchip adapted to create the selection of sounds, card (20) that can be placed between the layers upper and lower (4, 6) of the base (2), as illustrated in the Figures 1 and 3, or as an extension of the base (2) as illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 4 shows a finger (42) applying a press down on a puzzle piece (32) to recreate a associated sound

The device can also incorporate a device photo transmitter that will be activated each time a circuit is closed by middle of a puzzle piece (32) to complement the sound corresponding that is created. Each photo transmitter device, for For example, an LED can be incorporated into some of the parts (32) by which the piece itself (32) lights up when pressed to close the corresponding circuit.

The various components of the puzzle apparatus, in particular the layers (4, 6) of the base (2) and the pieces (30, 32), it can be made of any appropriate material, such as wood, cardboard, plastic, metal and the like, while the layer (38) can be formed of any appropriate conductive material, such as copper.

The electrical circuits of the device can be different from those illustrated, while the number and arrangement of the contact pairs (8, 10 and 8, 16), and the number corresponding of the conductive parts (32), may vary for accommodate the particular requirements.

In a non-illustrated configuration of the invention, according to claim 1, the base has a construction of sandwich and is formed of a top component, whose surface bottom is formed of a layer of conductive material, and a lower component on which a whole plurality of conductive tracks of electricity, each associated with another of a plurality of pieces adapted to create sounds. The layer of conductive material and the tracks are interconnected with a printed circuit board in the base, inside or around of it, including a microchip and a resonator.

The upper and lower components are separated by a thin layer of electrically insulated material, such as paper or cardboard, in which an opening is formed, immediately by under each activator piece and immediately above part of the corresponding track.

Under normal conditions, the insulating material separates the conductive material from the top board component of the tracks of the bottom board component. However, at correct placement of an activator part in the component of the top board and when pressing said piece on the component of the bottom board, the conductive material of the board component upper comes into contact with the corresponding track of the bottom board component through the opening corresponding in the insulating layer to complete a circuit electric and create the relevant sounds.

A subsequent press and release of the piece it will recreate the sound as and when required.

Puzzle pieces (30, 32) can be formed to complete a drawing, and it can be one of a variety of final shapes, such as rectangular or circular, or one of a whole variety of models or combination of sub-models

Claims (7)

1. The puzzle apparatus is formed of a plurality of individual pieces (30,32), capable of engaging together to form a complete design, and of a base (2) on which said individual pieces are placed (30, 32) ; the base (2) includes one or more sensor devices (8.10 to 8.16) and sound devices (40) interconnected with the sensor device (8.10 to 8.16) to emit sounds in response to a signal of sensor devices (8.10 to 8.16), characterized by, or, a) The sensor devices are formed each of them from a pair of electrical contacts (8.10 to 8.16), the pieces (32) of the puzzle, each of them including an element conductor (38) to form an electrical circuit when placed correctly position one piece (32) and press against the base (2) to create said signal, O well b) The base includes an upper layer and a layer bottom, the sensor devices being formed of material electricity conductor on the bottom surface of the layer superior, and a plurality of conductive tracks of electricity, each associated with said plurality of puzzle pieces in the bottom layer, and usually spaced from the conductive material of the top layer, the arrangement being such that, to the placement correct of an associated piece of the puzzle in the top layer, and when pressing said piece down forms a circuit between the Conductive material of the top layer and track associated from the lower layer to create said signal. 2. Any device, as specified in the Claim 1, wherein the sound emitted by the device sonogen (40) represent the puzzle piece that creates the signal. 3. Any device, as specified in any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the device sonogen (40) provided on a printed circuit board (20) is placed on the base (2), inside or around the same. 4. Any device, as specified in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the device sonogen is formed from a microchip program to generate a specific sound for a predetermined period of time in response to a particular signal from a sensor device determined (8.10 to 8, 16). 5. Any device, as specified in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the device sensor (8, 10 to 8, 16) and the sonogen device (40) are interconnected by electrical circuits at the base or inside of it (2). 6. Any device, as specified in any one of Claims 1 to 5, and including a photo transmitter device for action in response to a signal of the sensor device (8,10 to 8, 16). 7. Any device, as specified in the Claim 6, wherein the photo transmitter device is incorporated into each associated piece (32) of the puzzle.