US1987496A - Puzzle box - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 8, 193,5.

PUZZLE BOX Filed Feb. 24, 1933 Patented Jan. 8, 1935 V,Uur-FED STATES PATENT oFFi-CE r 1,987,496 .t l

PUZZLE Box y Bruno Springborn, New York, N. Y. Application February 24, 1933, Serial No. 658,300

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in puzzle boxes.

The primary object of the invention resides -in a puzzle box or case in which puzzles of the jigsaw and other piece together styles may be worked and kept in assembled or partially assembled condition while carried from place to place.

It is the present practice in the solving of jigsaw and other like puzzles to spread the puzzle pieces upon a flat surface and gradually assemble the pieces to form the picture or design to be solved. This requires a relativelylarge working area such as a table, and when such an article of furniture is used, the same is unavailable for other uses until the puzzle is completed and disassembled. This invention aims toA provide a compact case for the puzzle pieces; and a work surface for the assembling of the puzzle, the same serving when closed to prevent the shifting and separation of the assembled puzzle pieces when partially completed, and it is desired to transport the puzzle from place to place; Such a puzzle box when constructed in a small size will appeal to travelers, commuters, and other like persons engaged in moving from place to place as the box -is portable and may be conveniently carried in the pocket or purse of the owner.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a puzzle box embodying a pair of vinteriitting box sections provided with inner layers of friction material which serve to house vthe puzzle during assembling when not being worked to preserve the order and arrangement of the assembled parts, there'being means in one of the sections to house the loose unassembled parts and keep them separate from those assembled.

A further object of the invention is the provision of apuzzle box having the aboveV features which is simple of construction, inexpensive of manufacture, compact when not in use, and which when in use may be extended to provide ample working surface for the laying out or grouping of the puzzle parts.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the puzzle box opened for use.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View through the puzzle box in closed position.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the box in closed position.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral 10 designates my improved puzzle box in its entirety which includes a pair of separable complementary coacting sections in the form of a base or body section 11, and a closure section 12 hinged to the back wall of the body section as at 13 to permit of the swinging of the same to an open position as shown in Figure 1,

or to a closed position as indicated in Figures 2 `and 3 of the drawing. The top fiatr wall of the y closure section 12 is provided on the inside there- Iof with a layer ofy friction lining material 14, the

`bo'dy section v11 and disposed below the top edge thereof is a false bottom or partition 16 which is parallel to the true bottom wall 1'7 of the box body. The upper flat-surface of the partition 16 is covered by a layer of friction liningy material 18 similar to the material 14 provided on the inside of the cover section 12. The friction material 14 and 18 may be felt, blotting paper, or other like'friction surface material for a purpose to be readily explained.

Slidably mountedl in the space `between the partition wall 16 and the bottom 17 of the box body Yis aftray or drawer 19, the same being extendable beyond the open end 15 as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. The outer end ofthe drawer being provided with a flexible finger tab 20 to enable the sliding of the tray or drawer in and out of the box body.

This puzzle box is especially adapted for use in connection rwith jig-saw or other piece together puzzles, and the flatbottom of the tray or drawer 19 may rcontain a picture 21 of the puzzle to besolved in order to guide a person in the assembling of the pieces. Normally the puzzle pieces22 are stored or housed within the drawer .19 and when the said drawer is closed and the closure member 12 is -swung to a position over thebody section 11,. the said drawer. is held `against outwardsliding by reason ofone of side walls vof the closure section overlying. the outer end wall of the drawer, this being clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. Thus whenthe closure member 12 is in closed position, the drawer 'I the cover section is swung to an open position substantially horizontal and on the same plane as the body section 11, the said cover section being limited in its movement to an open position by reason of the adjacent walls of the cover section and body section engaging. The drawer 19 is next pulled to an open position to expose the puzzle pieces 22 which may be picked up andgrouped within the cover section 12, the surface 14 acting as a working surface to enable the grouping of the parts, after which the puzzle pieces are placed on the friction surface 18 in their proper assembled relation. The said friction surface preventing accidental shifting of the puzzle pieces during assembling. Assume that part of the puzzle has been pieced together as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing and it is desired to preserve that portion of the puzzle which has been assembled. The user places the unassembled puzzle pieces 22 back into the drawer or tray 19 and closes the said drawer after which the cover section 12 is swung to a closed position and the elastic member 22 passed over the cover and body section. The space between the friction surfaces 14 and 18 when the cover section is in closed position is approximately the same or slightly less .than the thickness of the puzzle pieces in order that the two friction surfaces `14 and 18 serve to yieldingly clamp the partially assembled puzzle against accidental shifting or separation. Thus a box constructed in accordance with `the invention on a relatively small scale can vbe carried in the pocket of a person and worked upon during spare moments, or when it is desired to pass away the time. Puzzles put up in boxes of this construction will appeal to commuters and travelers as it is possible to transport a partially cornpleted puzzle from place to place without disturbing the arrangement of the assembled pieces. The device if' constructed in accordance with the invention on. a larger scale will enable the working of puzzles within the confines of the box and dispense with the monopolizing of tables or other like articles of furniture.

When breaking up the assembled puzzle, the puzzle pieces 22 may be slid over the open side of the surface 18, with the drawer 19 in an open position, whereupon the pieces will drop into the drawer. This eliminates the individual picking up of the puzzle pieces andthe placing of the same into the drawer.

While I have shown and described what I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that certain changes that come Within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, isz- 1. A puzzle box comprising a pair of complementary box sections having parallel fiat inner surfaces when positioned one over the other in closed position and between which the assembled pieces of a pieced together puzzle are adapted to be arranged, and cooperating friction means on the opposed inner flat surfaces of said box sections for preventing the shifting or separation of the assembled puzzle pieces when disposed therebetween.

2. A puzzle box comprising a pair of separable box sections fitting one against the other when closed and having flat inner sides, the inner sides of said box sections being disposed in spaced parallel relation when closed andprovided with linings of friction material, the inner flat lined side of one of the box sections constituting a working surface on which puzzle pieces may be assembled and held against accidental movement, the linings of friction materials serving to secure the assembled piecesagainst shifting when the box secticnsare closed one against the other.

3. A puzzle box comprising a base section having a flat inner surface on which puzzle pieces are adapted to be assembled, a closure section having a'flat inner surface, and means on the inner flat surfaces of the base section and the closure section coacting when the closure section is in closed position over the base section with the flat inner surfaces in parallel relation for clamping assembled puzzle pieces therebetween.

4. A puzzle box comprising a base section having a nat inner surface on which puzzle pieces are adapted to be assembled, a closure section having a iiat inner surface, yieldable friction means on the inner flat surfaces ofthe base section and the closure section coacting when the closure section is in closed position over base section with the flat inner surfaces in parallel relation for clamping assembled puzzle. pieces therebetween.

5. A puzzle box comprising a pair of box'sections having inner flat surfaces and adapted to t one over the other to dispose the inner 'flat surfaces in parallel relation, and linings of friction material provided on the inner flat surfaces of the box sections, one of the lined inner surfaces of said box sections constituting a working surface on which puzzle pieces are adapted to be assembled, the space between the linings of the bofx sections being the same or less height than the thickness of the assembled puzzle pieces.

6. A puzzle box comprising a pair of box secltions having inner lat'surfaces and adapted to nt one over the other to dispose the inner flat surfaces in parallel relation,"and linings of friction material provided on the inner at surfaces of the box sections, one of the lined inner surfaces of said box sections constituting a working surface on which puzzle pieces are adapted to be assembled, the space between the linings of the box sections being the same or less height than the thickness of the assembled puzzle pieces, and releasable means for securing the sections in closed position.

'7. A puzzle box comprising a box body having a nat bottom, a lining of friction material on the inside of the at bottom, a iiat cover hinged to said box body, and a lining of friction material on the inside of the cover, the linings of friction material adapted to coact when the cover is in closed position for securing assembled puzzle pieces together when arranged on the lined bottom of the box body and when said cover is in closed position.

BRUNO SPRINGBORN.

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