Amusement devices: games – Puzzles – Jumping movement
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-04
2001-03-20
Wong, Steven (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Puzzles
Jumping movement
C273S15700R, C273S14800B
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203013
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a puzzle toy having a plurality of relatively thin puzzle pieces having an image formed on their edges and a puzzle piece holder.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,726 to Balder discloses a screen photograph puzzle having a number of relatively thin puzzle pieces with edges on which an image is disposed. Each of the puzzle pieces is rectangular in shape. The puzzle pieces are formed by transferring an image, such as a photograph, to a rigid backing, composed of wood or plastic for example, and then cutting the rigid backing with the image formed thereon into a plurality of separate pieces.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,491,296 to Beder discloses a puzzle having a plurality of puzzle sticks which may be disposed within a container having a first box portion
22
and a second box portion
24
. Each of the puzzle sticks has a side portion on which an image is formed, and when the puzzle sticks are positioned adjacent each other in a predetermined sequence, an entire image is formed. As shown in
FIG. 5
of the Beder patent, the puzzle sticks may be disposed in a display position in which the puzzle sticks are positioned within the box portion
22
and in which the box portion
22
is held upright by the box portion
24
, with the box portion
22
being disposed in a slot
27
formed in the box portion
22
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a puzzle toy composed of a plurality of relatively thin puzzle pieces having at least one image formed on their edges and a pair of holder members for holding the puzzle pieces.
In one aspect of the invention, the thickness of the puzzle pieces is no greater than about one-fifth of an inch and the ratio of the width of the puzzle pieces to the thickness of the puzzle pieces is at least about 2:1. Each of the puzzle pieces has an edge with a height no greater than about one-third of an inch. Each of the edges of the puzzle pieces has a different portion of an image disposed thereon so that when the edges are arranged in a predetermined order the image is formed thereon.
The puzzle toy also includes a puzzle piece holder having a first holder member and a second holder member. One of the holder members has an opening formed therein, and the holder members are configurable in a storage position in which the puzzle pieces are retained within the holder members while allowing the image to be viewed through the opening and in which the puzzle pieces are retained within the holder members regardless of the orientation of the puzzle piece holder.
The holder members are also configurable in a puzzle-solving position in which the first holder member is disposed at an acute angle relative to the second holder member and in which the second holder member is disposed in a horizontal position and in which the first holder member is disposed at an angled position. The first holder member is adapted to hold the puzzle pieces so that the lengths of the puzzle pieces are generally parallel to the angled position of the first holder member and so that substantially all portions of the edges of the puzzle pieces are exposed so that one of the puzzle pieces may be removed from the first holder member by tilting the one puzzle piece away from the first holder member.
The first holder member may have a pair of slots formed therein, and the second holder member may have a pair of projecting members which are disposed on the second holder member so that the projecting members may be disposed within the slots of the first holder member to hold the first holder member in the puzzle-solving position. Alternatively, the projecting members may be spaced so that the projecting members can be disposed within the slots when the holder members are disposed in the storage configuration to fasten the first and second holder members together.
In another aspect of the invention, each of the puzzle pieces may have a first edge and a second edge, each of the first edges having a different portion of a first image disposed thereon so that when the first edges of the puzzle pieces are arranged in a predetermined order the first image is formed thereon, and each of the second edges having a different portion of a second image disposed thereon so that when the second edges of the puzzle pieces are arranged in a predetermined order the second image is formed thereon. Each of the holder members is provided with an opening so that when the holder members are configured in a storage position in which the puzzle pieces are retained within the holder members the first image can be viewed through the opening in the first holder member and the second image can be viewed through the opening in the second holder member.
The portions of the images may be disposed on the edges of the puzzle pieces so that the first image is formed when the puzzle pieces are arranged in a first predetermined order and so that the second image is formed when the puzzle pieces are arranged in a second predetermined order, the second predetermined order being different than the first predetermined order.
In a third aspect of the invention, each of the puzzle pieces has a central portion and a tab which extends from the central portion so as to facilitate repositioning of one of the puzzle pieces relative to another of the puzzle pieces.
The features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
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Kelley William J.
Mass Lawrence
Nitsche J. Gregory
Marshall O'Toole Gerstein Murray & Borun
Mass Market Ideas LLC
Wong Steven
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