US20100289215A1

US20100289215A1 - Stacking means enabling improved formation of illustrations

Info

Publication number: US20100289215A1
Application number: US12/747,055
Authority: US
Inventors: Chin Leong Tan; Chin Kong Tan
Original assignee: UNIQFLEX Sdn Bhd
Current assignee: UNIQFLEX Sdn Bhd
Priority date: 2007-12-10
Filing date: 2009-02-10
Publication date: 2010-11-18
Also published as: WO2009075563A2; WO2009075563A3; MY144421A

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to an improved and enhanced means enabling formation of illustrations wherein the overall illustration formed may comprise differing desired heights to show depth or three dimensional effect of illustrations formed by employing a plurality of stacker units in combination with puzzle units to enhance the height desired, said stacker unit comprising a holed head configured to have a central inwardly burrow and a leg for lodgment onto a substrate member having a plurality of holes of compatible dimension for complementary and snug abutment leaving the holed head of the stacker unit above the substrate member [now acting as an elevated substrate member] for accommodating the leg of a puzzle unit thus enhancing the height of the puzzle unit.

Description

1. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an improved and enhanced means enabling formation of illustrations wherein the overall illustration formed may comprise differing desired heights to show depth or three dimensional effect of illustrations formed by employing a plurality of stacker units in combination with puzzle units to enhance the height desired, said stacker unit comprising a holed head configured to have a central downward burrow or depression and a leg for lodgment onto a substrate member having a plurality of holes of compatible dimension for complementary and snug abutment leaving the holed head of the stacker unit above the substrate member (now acting as an elevated substrate member) for accommodating the leg of a puzzle unit thus enhancing the height of the puzzle unit.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is currently in the market a means for formation of illustrations using puzzle units that promote stimulation of one's creativity besides having a purposeful usage subsequent to being assembled and formed as disclosed in Malaysian Patent PI 20064463. The said invention involves attaching a plurality of puzzle units comprising a hexagonal head and a leg located at the bottom side of the head configured to have a shape and dimension which substantially fits into the receiving holes of a substrate member (which acts as a base) to create a desired picture instead of merely mechanically inter-fitting pieces of jigsaw together which provides a more stimulating, creative and independent act. The said invention also minimises the inherent limitation in formation of a smooth contour or a curve which tends to restrict or compromise the aesthetical details of designs or creations as found in conventional puzzles or building blocks wherein the colours of the building blocks are limited to primary colours and the stereotype shapes such as rectangular, square, triangular or diamond. The said invention therefore combines the merits of the conventional models by allowing a colour expressive effect as provided by jigsaw puzzles and the stimulating, imaginative, creative and independent act of the user as provided by the building blocks mentioned above.
However there is a disadvantage in that in the event the formation is to be created to have depth or three-dimensional effect by employing puzzle units of differing head-thickness, the puzzle units would have to be fabricated having differing head-thickness for instance 3 millimetre, 6 millimetre, 9 millimetre, 12 millimetre and etcetera. This would mean many different dimensions of puzzle units would have to be fabricated to cater for the differing heights required which entails use of differing moulds thus escalating cost whilst limiting versatility.
Therefore to solve or at least significantly alleviate the above setbacks, an improved means for formation of illustrations wherein a stacker unit is employed to enhance the head-thickness of the puzzle unit by having the said stacker unit comprising a holed head configured to have a central downward burrow or depression and a leg; said leg of the stacker unit fits onto a substrate member having a plurality of holes of compatible dimension for complementary and snug abutment (as in the case of a known puzzle unit disclosed in Malaysian Patent PI 20064463) leaving said holed head of the stacker unit above the substrate member (which then acts as an elevated substrate member) for accommodating the leg of a puzzle unit thus enhancing the height of the puzzle unit.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is the primary aim of the present invention to provide a means for enhancing the height of puzzle units that are employed to form illustrations by mounting a puzzle unit onto the head of a stacker unit configured to receive the leg of a puzzle unit.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a means for enhancing the height of puzzle units that are employed to form illustrations which is simple and easy to install and uninstall.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a means for enhancing the height of puzzle units that are employed to form illustrations which is capable of allowing differing heights to be achieved thus creating illustrations with depth and having three-dimensional protrusion-depression effect.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a means for enhancing the height of puzzle units that are employed to form illustrations which is cost effective as there is no necessity to provide puzzle units having differing head thickness to achieve differing heights.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a means for enhancing the height of puzzle units that are employed to form illustrations wherein there is no usage of adhesives to maintain the said puzzle units intact in the holed head of the stacker unit.
Other further objects of the invention will become apparent with an understanding of the following detailed description of the invention or upon employment of the invention in practice.
These and other objects are achieved by the present invention, which in its preferred embodiment provides,
A means for enhancing the height of puzzle units (12) that are employed to form illustrations comprising a stacker unit (2) provided with a head (4) configured to have a central inwardly burrow (5) and an outwardly protruding leg (6); said leg (6) being lodged into a plurality of receiving holes (8) of compatible dimension provided on a substantially planar substrate member (10) for complementary and snug abutment leaving the holed head (4) of the stacker unit (2) above the substrate member (10) for accommodating the leg of a puzzle unit (12).

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspect of the present invention and their advantages will be discerned after studying the Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stacker unit disclosed in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view from the top of the said stacker unit.

FIG. 3 is a side view of said stacker unit.

FIG. 4-A is a vertical cross sectional view of a stacker unit lodged onto a substrate member having a plurality of receiving holes.

FIG. 4-B is a vertical cross sectional view of a puzzle unit being mounted onto the said stacker unit to enhance height of the puzzle unit.

FIG. 4-C is a vertical cross sectional view of a puzzle unit being mounted onto the outer stacker unit of two stacked-up stacker units to enhance height.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a substrate member showing the mounting of puzzle units of two differing head-thickness and the stacker units adjacent to one edge of the substrate member and the differing heights produced by the combination of the said stacker units and the puzzle units on a substrate member

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of the embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings which are not drawn to scale.
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a perspective, top and vertical cross sectional view respectively of a preferred embodiment of a stacker unit (2) disclosed in the present invention. Basically the said stacker unit (2) comprises a head (4) and a leg (6). The head (4) of the said stacker unit is preferably hexagonal in shape and configured to have a substantially central inwardly extending burrow or depression (5) to form a holed head (4). The burrow or depression (5) is further provided with at least a groove (7) to facilitate receipt of the leg (6) of a puzzle unit (12). The said leg (6) is located centrally and extends outwardly from the bottom side (4A) of the head (4) and is configured to have a shape and dimension that substantially fits into the receiving holes (8) of a substrate member (10) which acts as a base [See FIG. 4-A]. The receiving hole (8) that is configured to be of the same configuration as the said leg (6) also has a dimension capable of complementarily and snugly accommodating the leg (6) of the said stacker unit (2).
Referring now to FIGS. 4-A, 4-B and 4-C, there are respectively shown a vertical cross sectional view of a stacker unit (2) lodged onto a substrate member (10) having a plurality of receiving holes (8); a vertical cross sectional view of a puzzle unit (12) being mounted onto the said stacker unit (2) to enhance height of the puzzle unit (12) and a vertical cross sectional view of a puzzle unit (12) being mounted onto the outer stacker unit (2) of two stacked-up stacker units (2) to enhance height. As is illustrated in FIG. 4-A, the leg (6) of the stacker unit (2) is lodged into a substrate member (10) having a plurality of holes (8) of compatible dimension for complementary and snug abutment (as in the case of known puzzle units disclosed in Malaysian Patent PI 20064463 described above) leaving the holed head (4) of the stacker unit (2) above the substrate member (10). The holed head (4) now serves as an elevated substrate member for accommodating the leg of a puzzle unit (12) thus enhancing the height of the puzzle unit (12) [Refer to FIG. 4-B]. The configuration and dimension of the holed head (4) of the stacker units (2) and the head of the puzzle units (12) are compatible so that when the leg of the puzzle unit (12) is complementarily lodged or plugged into the burrow (5) of the stacker unit (2) the assembly is flush. To achieve an even greater height two stacker units (2) are stacked one on top of the other as shown in FIG. 4-C before a puzzle unit (12) is lodged or plugged into the holed head (4) of the outer stacker unit (2). It is to be understood that more than two stacker units (2) may be utilized to further enhance height. The size and configuration of the holed head (4) of the stacker unit (2) is substantially the same as the head of the puzzle unit (12) so that when stacked together they will be flushed. By using a combination of stacker units (2) and puzzle units (12) different heights are achieved to allow illustrations with depth or to have a three-dimensional protrusion depression effect. This has to a certain extent solved problems and cost associated with having to provide puzzle units of differing head thickness in the event one desires to form illustrations having differing heights to achieve depth or have a three-dimensional protrusion depression effect. The drawback of being bogged down with making calculated estimates to avoid purchasing insufficient or excessive puzzle units of a certain head-thickness to achieve the effect of depth in an illustration is also alleviated as the stacker units (2) allows the versatility of achieving the desired height by merely stacking the required numbers of stacker units (2) to suit the situation. In this manner provision of puzzle units of various head-thickness is also minimized.
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a substrate member (10) showing the mounting of puzzle units (12) of two differing head thickness and the stacker units (2) adjacent to one edge of the substrate member (10) and the differing heights produced by the said stacker units (2) used in combination with the puzzle units (12) lodged on a substrate member (10) provided with plurality of evenly spaced apart receiving holes (8) which receiving holes (8) are substantially uniform in size and shape. The receiving holes (8) takes a configuration which will enable the leg (6) of the said stacker unit (2) to be snugly plugged-into the said receiving holes (8) leaving only the holed head (4) of the said stacker unit (2) above the substrate member (10) thus sealing up the said receiving holes (8) whilst providing a secondary elevated substrate member in the form of the head of the stacker unit (2) to accommodate the leg of the puzzle unit (12) or alternatively the leg (6) of another stacker unit (2). The inwardly extending burrow (5) of the holed head (4) acts as the receiving hole of the original substrate member (10) so as to enable the leg of a puzzle unit (12) or another stacker unit (2) to be plugged into it.
When the hexagonal stacker units (2) are plugged and pressed into its respective receiving holes (8) of the substrate member (10) they not only plug up the receiving holes (8) of the substrate member (10) but also substantially covers up all gaps. Further as the hexagonal stacker units (2) are also made of resilient or rubbery material and the resilient nature also helps to ensure that the sides (4B) of the head (4) is capable of adapting to some uneven contours when two heads (4) are arranged side by side in contact with each other so that gaps between the contacting sides of the heads (4) will be minimised or eliminated. The use of materials of a resilient or rubbery nature in the manufacture of the substrate member (10) and the stacker unit (2) has afforded good surface contact and grip between the contacting sides (4B) of said stacker unit (2); the contacting surfaces of the leg (6) of the said stacker unit (2) and the receiving holes (8) of the substrate member (10); and the inwardly burrow (5) and the leg of the puzzle unit (12) hence preventing the said stacker unit (2) from being easily dislodged even without any application of adhesive agent or fastener. In fact the grip is so effective that the individual stacker unit (2) of a completed assembly as the puzzle unit (12) disclosed in Malaysian Patent PI 20064463 will not be easily dislodged even if the substrate member (10) is positioned in a vertical orientation. In such vertical orientation only the substrate member (10) is required to be adhered or fastened to the vertical surface.
Non-use of adhesive agents or known fasteners to secure the hexagonal stacker units (2) [as in the puzzle units of Malaysian Patent PI 20064463] to the receiving holes (8) of the substrate member (10) is advantageous as its non-permanent fixation enables the learner to unplug the wrongly fixed hexagonal stacker units (2). As the hexagonal stacker units (2) are also not permanently fixed and are easily attachable to or detachable from the said receiving holes (8) of the substrate member (10) or another stacker unit (2) via its holed had (4), it provides great versatility to the user. The user will also have the opportunity to cultivate his or her creativity and be self organized and independent by having the chance to try out various combinations of hexagonal stacker units (2) with hexagonal stud puzzle units (12) to produce his or her desired picture, design or pattern having differing heights, depth and three dimensional effect. The non-permanent feature has also allowed the user to easily and conveniently change the impact of a picture, design or pattern from time to time by merely rearranging the hexagonal stacker units (2) in combination with another stacker unit (2) or puzzle units (12) of various colours. In this manner there is versatility and non-wastage as the installed hexagonal stacker units (2) and puzzle units (12) can be easily uninstalled and re-used.
While the preferred embodiment of the present invention and their advantages have been disclosed in the above Detailed Description, the invention is not limited thereto but only by the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Claims

1. A means for enhancing the height of puzzle units (12) that are employed to form illustrations comprising a stacker unit (2) provided with a head (4) configured to have a central inwardly burrow (5) and an outwardly protruding leg (6); said leg (6) being lodged into a plurality of receiving holes (8) of compatible dimension provided on a substantially planar substrate member (10) for complementary and snug abutment leaving the holed head (4) of the stacker unit (2) above the substrate member (10) for accommodating the leg of a puzzle unit (12).