US856196A - Puzzle. - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. LEHMAN, OF LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ULLMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application filed October 3, 1906. Serial No. 337,196.

To all 1072 0777, it lnay concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK H. LEHMAN, a c tizen of the United States, residing at the clty of Lebanon, in the county of Lebanon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to puzzles, and the object thereof is to provide a device of this class which is simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and the solution of which, while difficult, is entertaining and interesting, and may be accomplished with the exercise of ingenuity and manipulation; also to provide a device of this kind adapted for the inscription of messages thereon, and which may be conveniently folded and clasped in such a manner as to hide the writing from general view, and in such condition forwarded through the mails in the form of a postal card. I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a view of the back and outer side of the device, showing the same opened or flattened .out with all the parts thereof lying in the same plane. Fig. 2 is an edge view or elevation of the device lying as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front View showing the positions of the visible parts as they appear when the puzzle is solved and Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the device partly folded and clasped.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A indicates an intermediate plate, to which are revolubly attached the auxiliary plates B C and D D D D, the dotted lines 3 4 5 6 indicating the axes or lines of attachment. Said auxiliary plates may be independent of and separate from plate A, and secured thereto by pivots, hinges, or other suitable means. But I prefer to make the entire device integral, and of flexible material such as leather or card board, and to form the axes by scoring or slightly weakening the material along the dotted lines mentioned. l/Vhile not confining myself to any particular or definite mode of forming either plate A or any of the auxiliary plates, I preferably make plate A of the length, width, and thickness of the postal card in ordinary use for circulation in the mails, plate B of similar width and thickness but some-what shorter length, plate C of similar width and thickness and longer than plate B but shorter than plate A, and plates D D D D of equal thickness and of length slightly less than the width of plate A.

In auxiliary plates B O and D D D D I provide a plurality of openings or perforations indicated by O, and on the rear faces thereof or the faces which lie uppermost when said plates are folded in upon plate A, I provide a plurality of figures or pictorial representations indicated by S, arranging and locating certain of said perforations and figures in such manner with reference to one an other, that when the said plates are folded in upon plate A and superimposed one upon another in a predetermined order, a certain fixed or given number of said figures are visible, and that when said plates are superimposed in any other order a less number of said figures are visible. Although in the drawing the perforations or openings are shown as being circular in shape and the figures as being representations of a star, I do not confine or limit myself to these forms but may use any other forms, and may use any other representations or figures which may be deemed suitable or appropriate for the purpose.

When the device is used as a postal card, I provide a clasp, by forming in plate O a slot or elongated perforation F, and on plate B, a lip E, adapted to enter said slot as shown in Fig. 4. WVith the use of these or other similar means which may be employed for the purpose, the card may be securely closed and sent through the mails without any danger of accidental opening.

In Fig. 4 the auxiliary plates D and D are purposely left out from among the folded parts to show that the inner face of the card, or the face opposite to that represented in Fig. 1, may without detraction from the general usefulness of the device, be left perfectly blank, thus affording space for the inscription of a message. When the card is completely folded and clasped as above described, it is obvious that a message thus written on the inner face thereof, will be hidden from general view.

Having thus fully described. my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A puzzle comprizing an intermediate plate, auxiliary plates attached thereto and adapted to be folded in and superimposed, one upon another, thereon, a plurality of perforations in said auxiliary plates and a plurality of figures or pictorial representations thereon, as and for the purpose described.

2. A puzzle comprising an intermediate plate, auxiliary plates revolubly attached thereto and adapted to be folded in and superimposed, one upon another, thereon, in a variety of Ways, a plurality of perforations in said auxiliary plates and a plurality of figures or pictorial representations on the outside faces thereof, as and for the purpose described.

8. A puzzle comprising an intermediate I plate, auxiliary plates attached thereto and adapted to be folded in-and superimposed, one upon another,,thereon, a plurality of perforations in said auxiliary plates and a plurality of figures orpictorial representations on the faces thereof Which lie uppermost When said auxiliary plates are folded in upon said. intermediate plate, as and for the purpose described.

4. A puzzle comprising an intermediate plate, auxiliary plates attached thereto and adapted to be folded in and superimposed,

' one upon another, in a variety of Ways thereon, a plurality of perforations in said auxiliary plates and a plurality of figures or pictorial representations thereon, said perforations being so located and arranged With respect to said figures that when said auxiliary plates are superimposed in a predetermined order a fixed or given number of said figures appear and When said plates are superimposed in any other order said fixed or given number of said figures do not appear.

5. A puzzle comprising an intermediate plate, a plurality of auxiliary plates revolubly attached to the sides or edges thereof and adapted to be turned or folded in and superimposed, one upon another, in a variety of Ways, thereon, a plurality of perforations in said auxiliary plates and a plurality of figures or pictorial representations thereon, said perforations being so located and arranged with respect to said figures that When-said auxiliary plates are folded in and superimposed one upon another in a predetermined order, a certain given or fixed number of said figures become visible, and When said. plates are superimposed in any other order, a less number of said figures become visible.

6. The herein described puzzle, Which comprises the intermediate plate A, auxiliary plates B C and D D D D revolubly secured to the sides or edges thereof, a plurality of openings or perforations in said aux iliary plates and a plurality of figures or pictorial representations on the outside faces thereof, as and for the purpose described.

7. In a puzzle, the combination of the intermediate plate A, auxiliary plates B C and D D D D attached thereto, a plurality of openings or perforations in said auxiliary plates and a plurality of figures or pictorial representations thereon, said perforations being so located With reference to said figures that When said auxiliary plates are folded in and superimposed one upon another in a predetermined order, a certain tions thereon, and lip E formed on plate B and a slot F for the reception of said lip formed in plateC, substantially as specified.

9. A puzzle adapted to be used as a postal card, comprising an intermediate plate, a plurality of auxiliary plates foldably attached to the edges thereof, a plurality of openings or perforations in said. auxiliary plates and a plurality of figures or pictorial representations thereon, and a blank space .on the inner face of said intermediate plate adapted for the inscription of a message thereon.

10. A puzzle adapted to be used as a postal card, comprising an intermediate plate, a plurality of auxiliary plates foldably attached thereto and adapted to be turned in and superimposed one upon another thereon in a variety of Ways, a plurality of perforations in said auxiliary plates and a plurality of figures or pictorial representations thereon, a blank space on the inner face of said intermediate plate adapted for the inscrip tion of a message thereon and capable of being hidden from general view by the superimposition of said auxiliary plates thereon, and a suitable clasp for holding said auxiliary plates in folded or closed positions.

11. In a puzzle adapted to be used as a postal card, the combination of an intermediate .plate A having an inner blank face adapted for the inscription of a message, auxiliary plates D D D D foldably at tached to the edges thereof, andauxiliary plates B C adapted to be folded in and superimposed upon said inner face of said intermediate plate A and held in position by a clasp formed by a lip E 011 plate B and a slot or elongated perforation F in plate C.

In testimony Whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK H. LEHMAN.

Witnesses:

HARVEY P. DAUGI-IERTY, RICHARD J. BOYER.

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