Amusement devices: games – Puzzles – Take-aparts and put-togethers
Patent
1995-04-17
1996-07-23
Layno, Benjamin H.
Amusement devices: games
Puzzles
Take-aparts and put-togethers
273148R, A63F 910
Patent
active
055382487
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a holder on which jigsaw puzzles (hereinafter and in the claims referred to simply as "jigsaws") can be assembled and which permits incomplete jigsaws to be "frozen" in the incomplete or unfinished state and stored away for future use and completion.
It is known to provide a holder for a jigsaw in which there is a friction lined playing surface and a cover or covers hinged to the playing surface. The cover(s) may have a compressible blanket or pad adapted to engage the assembled or partly assembled jigsaw when the cover overlies the playing surface.
One of the problems with such holders is that air can get trapped behind the lining of the playing surface resulting in an uneven playing surface. Furthermore, once the jigsaw is assembled it cannot be removed without dismantling it.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle holder which obviates or mitigates the above drawbacks.
According to the present invention there is provided a holder for a jigsaw comprising a support member having a non-slip playing surface on which a jigsaw can be assembled, a cover member pivoted or hinged to the support member so as to be moveable between an open position in which said playing surface is exposed and a closed position in which the cover member overlies the support member and playing surface the surface of the cover member adapted to lie adjacent the support member being of a compressible non-slip nature to lock assembled and/or unassembled jigsaw pieces in position and means for releasably securing the cover member to the support member in overlying relationship to the support member, wherein each of said members is formed of at least a protective layer and a non-slip layer whereby said layers are sealed around their outer peripheral edges, the holder being characterised in that there is provided a passage extending between the support member and the cover member so that in said open position air from under the non-slip surface of the support member can be expelled to under the non-slip surface of said cover member via said passage.
The passage should preferably extend to the cover member such that air can be expelled from the support member to the cover member.
Preferably, the cover member adapted to lie adjacent the support member is covered with non-slip plastics foam material, or flock material and has a layer of compressible material. The air expelled from the support member to the cover member provides an extra cushioning and gripping action when the cover overlies the pieces on the playing surface.
Preferably the non-slip surface of the cover member and the playing surface are sealed to a protective material on the other side of the holder, and air in the playing surface under the non-slip surface is expelled to the cover member via said passage.
Preferably the cover member is separated from the playing surface by means of a hinge which comprises the protective material and non-slip surface being sealed together. The passage comprises a channel through the sealed hinge.
Preferably there are a plurality of passages in each hinge.
In a preferred embodiment there is provided a non-slip mat which may overlie said playing surface and on which the jigsaw pieces can be assembled. This permits an assembled jigsaw to be moved intact from the holder.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a jigsaw holder according to the present invention in the part open position;
FIG. 2 is a top end view of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is an inset fragmented view of an air channel of the present invention.
The holder 10 comprises a support member 11 formed with a playing surface 12 formed of, or covered with, for example, flock vinyl 13 on which a jigsaw can be assembled. The playing surface 12 may be made or covered with any other non-slip, preferably compressible material.
The support member 11 has hinged or pivoted as indicated at 14 to each of two opposed sides a cover mem
REFERENCES:
patent: 3504915 (1970-04-01), Walker
patent: 3889743 (1975-06-01), Presnick
patent: 4436307 (1984-03-01), Caldwell
patent: 4441626 (1984-04-01), Hall
patent: 4479651 (1984-10-01), LaFleur
Parkinson Denis T.
Shillito David D.
Layno Benjamin H.
Parker Hilton Limited
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