WO2003022379A1

WO2003022379A1 - Jigsaw puzzle

Info

Publication number: WO2003022379A1
Application number: PCT/NO2002/000293
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Watkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-09-07
Filing date: 2002-08-23
Publication date: 2003-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2004-03-07
Also published as: NO315262B1; NO20014350D0; NO20014350L

Abstract

A jigsaw puzzle that differs substantially from traditional jigsaw puzzles comprises a plurality of held-together, individually movable cube shaped jigsaw pieces (10A, 10B) that are elastically rotatable relative to adjacent cube shaped jigsaw pieces, distinguish themselves by said cube shaped jigsaw pieces (10A, 10B) in the form of geometrical cubes, each of which is connected to a rope-like flexible line element (14) firmly attached to end cubes (10A) at its outer ends, so that all the cubes (10A, 10B) are kept in abutment against each other in the various positions of the jigsaw puzzle, but where the centred rope-like flexible line element (14) under elastic deformation will have such an extensibility as to allow each intermediate cube (10B) to be rotated relative to adjacent cubes (10A, 10B) about a first axis coinciding with the most proximal portion of the linking element and about a second axis oriented so as to be perpendicular on the first axis, the flexible rope-like element (14) passing through the centre of each cube (10A, 10B).

Description

JIGSAW PUZZLE

The present invention regards a jigsaw puzzle comprising a plurality of jigsaw pieces that constitute a set belonging to one and the same jigsaw puzzle, and which upon successful completion of the puzzle form a picture, a pattern, a geometrical figure or similar on one of two opposite side faces.

There may also be another picture, pattern etc. on the other side face, and the arrangement may be such that the set of jigsaw pieces in one position form a three dimensional geometrical figure, normally a parallelepiped/prism.

The jigsaw puzzle according to the invention is very different from traditional and other known jigsaw puzzles, and the novelty value should make the jigsaw puzzle interesting and a valuable supplement to the jigsaw puzzles that already exist in the market. From Norwegian patent application no 820024 there is known a toy that appears to have few similarities with a jigsaw puzzle. This known toy consists of at least two non-removable toy elements that are interconnected in a flexible, movable manner through a connecting element. Each of the two adjacent toy elements is equipped with at least one guideway. At least one of the toy elements is formed in such a way as to allow angular displacement of this around at least two theoretical axes of rotation, which preferably pass through the centre of one of the toy elements; regardless of the other toy elements .

US patent publication no. 5 110 130 describes a jigsaw-like toy or educational aid comprising a number of mutually identical elements joined in a closed ring, which elements may be individually rotated about their own axis of symmetry, which extends in the direction of the ring of elements.

US patent publication no. 4 875 681 likewise describes a toy comprising a number of prismatic elements, each swivellably connected to an adjacent prismatic element by means of flexible connecting means. The parallelepiped shaped toy elements of this three dimensional toy has a rather complex construction.

EP publication number 0 045 526 Al describes a toy comprising triangular prismatic elements connected in a chain-like fashion so as to allow them to be rotated in relation to adjacent elements. These known toy elements are of a hollow construction, and the means of keeping them together and fixed in their position are arranged in the inside cavity of each element. US patent publication no. 6 129 356 comprises a so-called intelligent cube including six sides, each divided vertically and horizontally into five smaller movable surfaces, so that each of the former sides comprises 25 smaller movable surfaces. Rotating the surfaces results in different patterns, colours etc.

The object of the present invention is to provide a jigsaw puzzle of the type described in greater detail in the preamble of Claim 1, which has a significantly simpler construction than jigsaw puzzles and jigsaw-like toys of the type in question, and where the conditions are simultaneously right for both a relatively simple and an advanced jigsaw puzzle.

The aim is to achieve this by means of simple and inexpensive means. Moreover, the aim hereunder is to realise these objects by using particularly simple components, which after the simple assembly of the jigsaw puzzle are kept together in their various positions relative to each other, so as to eliminate the possibility of components becoming lost, while the various jigsaw puzzle components in the form of a plurality of cubes and a long rope-like element for keeping these together, e.g. in the form of a fishing line, retain their desired properties for a very long period of use.

According to the present invention, the above object is realised through a jigsaw puzzle designed in accordance with the preamble of Claim 1 also being designed as indicated in the characterising part of Claim 1. In its most general form, jigsaw puzzles according to the invention comprise a plurality of parallelepiped shaped/prismatic single jigsaw pieces that in the various rotational positions exhibited by the individual single prismatic pieces relative to each other, are kept together along at least one straight line by means of a rope-like flexible element, which between two end pieces to which the flexible element is attached by its respective ends, passes through the centre of each of the jigsaw pieces in between, which singly and independently of each other and of the end pieces may be rotated about their central axis of symmetry, which coincides with the portion of the rope-like flexible element that passes through the respective jigsaw piece.

Each cube shaped jigsaw piece between the end pieces is constructed with deep grooves, each of which extends through the respective (solid) cube from one side face to the opposite side face, i.e. the full width of the cube. Another groove formed in each of the intermediate cubes extends at right angles to the first-mentioned deep grove, which in the heightwise direction extend across a little more than the lower half of the cube. The intermediate cubes will at all times show two deep groves that intersect at right angles in a through transverse plane, and also overlap in the central area of the path of the passing of the flexible connecting element through each cube.

Obviously, the deep grooves that intersect at right angles in each intermediate cube (jigsaw piece) can not be formed in one and the same plane of section, as such a positioning/orientation of the grooves would lead to a cleaving of each cube along a central vertical dividing plane.

In the following, the subject of the invention is explained in the form of exemplary constructions and embodiments, and where the various components of the jigsaw puzzle assume a number of different positions relative to each other, and where:

Figure 1 illustrates in a perspective exploded view a jigsaw puzzle according to the invention during the assembly of its individual components, a plurality of cube shaped jigsaw pieces and a flexible rope-like element that keeps these together in a flexible manner in the assembled state, which element extends centrically relative to the cube shaped jigsaw pieces, for instance 16 intermediate cubes and two end cubes, one at each end of the opposite ends of the flexible element, as it will be appreciated that the cubes in the assembled state of the jigsaw puzzle will abut adjacent cubes or slightly differently designed end pieces/cubes, to which the opposite ends of the flexible rope-like central element are fixed;

Figures 2a-2d is a perspective view of different three dimensional shapes into which a single-row jigsaw puzzle according to figure 1 is angled;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a ten part jigsaw puzzle in its (possibly one) finished position, in which a figurative picture of a stylised house and a conifer has appeared on one of its side faces, where the opposite side face, may be brought to show another picture, indicating clearly that the jigsaw puzzle has been solved satisfactorily; and

Figure 4 shows an initial or final position for a similar jigsaw puzzle consisting of a total of sixteen cube-like jigsaw elements held together to form a whole by means of a central flexible rope-like element that extends from its attachment points at two end pieces through fourteen intermediate adjoining elements.

Referring to figure 1, which shows a jigsaw puzzle according to the invention in the process of assembly and joining, figure 1 illustrating only five cube shaped jigsaw pieces, while in reality, there may be a total of e.g. fourteen of said cubes in this embodiment, two end cubes 10A and fourteen intermediate cubes 10B.

Each end cube 10A has two deep grooves 12A and 12B that are perpendicular to each other and extend from the upper and lower face of the respective end cubes 10A up to a level that corresponds approximately to half the height of that end cube, preferably half the height + half the diameter of a rope-like linking element 14.

Moreover, each cube 10A, 10B has a central, according to figure 1 vertical hole for the flexible rope-like element 14, which, as is visible at the upper end in figure 1, at the right hand end of the jigsaw puzzle of figure 2a, at the upper end in figure 2c and at the upper and left hand end in 2d, has been thickened at either end 16. In each of the intermediate cubes, two corresponding deep grooves 18A and 18B extend from opposite (upper and lower) faces and at right angles to each other, so as together to form a passage for lead-through of the central flexible ropelike element 14 which allows rotation of adjacent intermediate cubes 10B relative to each other, as well as bending for angling of adjacent cubes 10B.

Figure 2a is a perspective view of a jigsaw puzzle with the initial shape that will result from the assembly according to figure 1. This figure clearly shows which deep grooves are aligned with each other.

In figure 2b, the rectilinear course of the cubes has gone through a ninety degree angling, so that one linearly running branch comprises twelve cubes, while the other linearly running branch includes four cubes. The end cubes 10A are clearly evident from figures 2a-2d, as the deep groves here originate from one and the same side face. At the intermediate cubes, the grooves originate from two opposite side faces, so as to leave them facing each other; at the end cubes, the two grooves face the same way.

The central flexible rope-like linking element 14 that is to allow angling of adjacent cubes relative to each other but in a ready-formed jigsaw puzzle ensure the unmoving abutment of adjacent cube faces, may consist of a flexible line of the leader type or of another resilient deformable line made of Nylon or plastic, having similar properties of elasticity. It is generally required that when subjected to tensile forces, the flexible rope-like linking element should be able to stretch sufficiently to allow one or more interconnected cubes to rotate relative to adjacent cube(s).

Figure 3 shows a jigsaw puzzle comprising sixteen cubes held together (linked), where the actual puzzle is finished, as the upward facing side face shows a stylised picture of a house and a conifer, in general denoted by reference number 20. The flexible rope-like element 14 holding the cubes 10A, 10B together is hidden, and is therefore not in evidence in this figure.

Figure 4 shows a jigsaw puzzle in a parallelepiped shaped position with eight right-angled corners. This position of the jigsaw puzzle may represent a final position, an intermediate position or an initial position. The flexible rope-like element 14 holding the cubes rotatably together is not visible in this figure either.

A jigsaw puzzle in accordance with the invention is characteristic in function but may be produced in a simple and quick manner from simple and inexpensive components.

Claims

C l a i s

1. A jigsaw puzzle comprising a plurality of held-together, individually movable cube shaped jigsaw pieces (10A, 10B) that are elastically rotatable relative to adjacent cube shaped jigsaw piece, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that each jigsaw piece (10A, 10B) has the shape of a cube, which cubes are held together by means of a continuous rope-like flexible linking element in the form of a line element (14), either outer end of which is firmly attached to an end cube (10A), this rope-like flexible linking element (14) exhibiting an extensibility in its longitudinal direction which is such that the cubes (10A, 10B) will abut the side face(s) of adjacent cube(s) when the jigsaw puzzle is not subjected to external tensile forces, while at the same time, the linking element (14) will upon the application of a tensile force under elastic deformation conditions, allow relative rotation of adjacent cubes (10A, 10B), partly about a first axis coinciding with the most proximal portion of the linking element, partly about a second axis oriented so as to be perpendicular on the first axis.

2. A jigsaw puzzle according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that each of the intermediate cubes (10B) has two deep groves (18A, 18B) that originate from opposite sides and intersect at right angles, each deep groove (18A, 18B) having a depth that in total is equivalent to half the lateral edge of a cube (10A, 10B) plus half the diameter/thickness of the line element (14), and each of the end cubes (10A) having corresponding deep grooves (12A, 12B) that originate from the same side and intersect at right angles, and have a depth that is equivalent to the depth of groove in the intermediate cubes (10B).

3. A jigsaw puzzle according to Claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the outermost ends of the rope-like flexible line element (14) have been thickened (16).

4. A jigsaw puzzle according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that said deep grooves (18A, 18B, 12A, 12B) have a longitudinal extent that covers the distance between two opposite cube side faces, and that in the side face of each end cube facing the adjacent intermediate cube side face, there is a symmetrical cross formed by the perpendicularly intersecting deep grooves (12A, 12B), each of which faces the opposite way.