Puzzle storage and transportation system

A puzzle storage and transport system including a puzzle including one or more puzzle pieces and a puzzle board and a container to store and transport one or more puzzle pieces. The container includes a pouch defining a cavity to contain the one or more puzzle pieces and including a closure to provide access to the cavity and one or more straps coupled to the pouch to bind the container to the puzzle board.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are related generally to a puzzle transportation system and more particularly to a container for transporting puzzle pieces and corresponding puzzle boards.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Children who play with puzzles tend to lose the pieces of the puzzle. This problem can occur more often when children and/or parents transport the puzzles to various locations. Puzzle covers do not provide an effective way to transport or store puzzles because they cover up the puzzle, making it difficult to view the picture associated with the puzzle. Moreover, where a puzzle cover is elastically coupled to a puzzle board, the pieces are likely to fall out when the cover is removed.

These and other drawbacks exist.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the invention may provide a puzzle storage and transport system including a puzzle including one or more puzzle pieces and a puzzle board and a container to store and transport one or more puzzle pieces. The container includes a pouch defining a cavity to contain the one or more puzzle pieces and including a closure to provide access to the cavity and one or more straps coupled to the pouch to bind the container to the puzzle board.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention also provide a method for storing and transporting one or more puzzle pieces. The method may include containing the one or more puzzle pieces within a container, and binding the container to the puzzle board. The container may include a pouch defining a cavity to contain the one or more puzzle pieces and including a closure to provide access to the cavity, and one or more straps coupled to the pouch to bind the container to a puzzle board;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments are discussed in detail below. While specific exemplary embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed inventions.

Various exemplary embodiments provide for a system to store and/or transport pieces of a puzzle. A puzzle may include any set of varied, irregularly shaped pieces that, when properly assembled, may form a picture, map, or the like. For example, a puzzle may include a children's puzzle having a puzzle board with cutouts of different shapes. Pieces of the children's puzzle may have shapes corresponding to the cutouts such that the pieces may be placed into the cut outs to complete the puzzle. The pieces may be flat, raised, and/or have wooden or plastic pegs extending from a top surface of the piece to enable grasping of the piece.

Puzzles may be wooden with wooden pieces. Puzzles may also have magnetic boards with magnetic pieces or felt boards with felt pieces. Puzzles may have thick cardboard boards with cardboard pieces. Puzzle boards may have a rectangular, square, triangular, circular, oval, or other shape.

FIGS. 1A and 1Bdepict an exemplary embodiment of a puzzle storage and transport system100according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Puzzle storage and transport system100may include a puzzle101and a container110to store pieces (not shown) of a puzzle. Puzzle101may include a puzzle board102and cut outs103to receive corresponding pieces (not shown). As noted above, puzzle101may be made of wood, metal, magnetic, plastic, or other like material.

Puzzle board102may have a top side104, a right side105, a left side106, a bottom side107, a front surface108, and a back surface109. Front surface108may contain cut outs103as illustrated inFIG. 1A.

Container110may have a pouch111defining a cavity112, a closure114that may provide access to cavity112and straps113that may bind pouch111to puzzle board102. In various exemplary embodiments, container110may enable storage and/or transportation of puzzle pieces (not shown) in cavity112.

Pouch111may represent any bag or like structure of small or moderate size for storing or transporting goods (e.g., puzzle pieces, pens, pencils, magic markers, and/or any combination of like goods). Pouch111may be made of a pliable materials including without limitation cotton, a synthetic polymer such as nylon, ballistic nylon, Lycra® or Cordura® from Invista of Wichita, Kans., USA, plastic, heavy duty plastic, and/or any other like pliable material.

Pouch111may include a closure114that may provide access to cavity112. In various exemplary embodiments, closure114may include any structure that may close cavity112and/or contain the goods within cavity112during storage and/or transportation of the goods. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B, closure114may be a zipper. Closure114may also include Velcro, buttons, snaps, a flap, a slide fastener similar to the Ziploc Easy Zipper® from S.C. Johnson & Sons, Inc. of Racine, Wis., USA, and/or any like structure, and/or any combination thereof.

As noted above, pouch111may include straps113that may bind container110to puzzle board102. Straps113may be made of an elastomer or like elastic material that may enable container110to be positioned adjacent puzzle board102as shown, for example, inFIG. 1B. Straps113may also include an adjustable strap that may be similar to those found on back packs or luggage and/or may contain Velcro, buttons, or snaps to fasten one piece of the adjustable strap to the other.FIG. 14illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a container having adjustable straps1401.

In an exemplary embodiment, as noted above, puzzle101may be a children's puzzle and may include a puzzle board102. In such an embodiment, puzzle board102may have a length L1of approximately 14 inches and a height H1of approximately 11 inches. Where puzzle board102has a length L1of approximately 14 inches, pouch111may have a length L2of approximately 13-11 inches. Similarly, where puzzle board102has a height H1of 11 inches, pouch may have a height H2of approximately 10-8 inches. Also, a puzzle board may have a length L1of approximately 12 inches and a height H1of approximately 9 inches. Where puzzle board102has a length L1of approximately 12 inches, pouch111may have a length L2of approximately 11-9 inches. Similarly, where puzzle board102has a height H1of approximately 9 inches, pouch111may have a height H2of approximately 8-6 inches. Although the dimensions of a puzzle and container have been described as rectangular, a puzzle and container may form other shapes such as a square, circle, oval, hexagon, triangle, etc. Where the puzzle board is a shape other than rectangular or square, the container may contain any number of straps that may enable to bind the container to the puzzle board.

FIG. 2depicts an exemplary embodiment of a container210for storing and/or transporting puzzle pieces and/or other goods. Container210may be a similar container as container110. Accordingly, container210may have a pouch211defining a cavity212, a closure214that may provide access to cavity212and straps213that may bind pouch211to a puzzle board. In various exemplary embodiments, container210may enable storage and/or transportation of puzzle pieces (not shown) in cavity212.

FIGS. 3A and 3Bdepict an exemplary embodiment of a puzzle storage and transport system300according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Puzzle storage and transport system300may include a puzzle301and a container310to store pieces (not shown) of a puzzle. Puzzle301may include a puzzle board302and cutouts303to receive corresponding pieces (not shown).

Puzzle board302may have a top side304, a right side305, a left side306, a bottom side307, a front surface308, and a back surface309. Front surface308may contain cut outs303as illustrated inFIG. 3A.

Container310may have a pouch311defining a cavity312, a closure314that may provide access to cavity312and straps313that may bind pouch311to puzzle board302. In various exemplary embodiments, container310may enable storage and/or transportation of puzzle pieces (not shown) in cavity312.

As shown inFIG. 3A, pouch311may include two compartments315,316within cavity312that may be separated by a divider317. Each compartment315,316may store pieces (not shown) of a puzzle. Also, although not shown inFIG. 3Aor3B, straps313may bind container to one, two, or more puzzle boards (as shown in, for example,FIGS. 4B and 6B). In such an embodiment, pieces of a first puzzle may be stored and/or transported in one compartment315and pieces of a second puzzle may be stored and/or transported in the other compartment316. Closure314may provide access to each compartment315,316within cavity312.

As shown inFIG. 3Band described above, straps313may bind container310to two puzzle boards302and322such that a back surface309of puzzle board302is adjacent to a front surface328of puzzle board322.

FIGS. 4A and 4Bdepict an exemplary embodiment of a puzzle storage and transport system400according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Puzzle storage and transport system400may include a puzzle401and a container410. Puzzle401may include a puzzle board402and cut outs403to receive corresponding pieces (not shown).

Puzzle board402may have a top side404, a right side405, a left side406, a bottom side407, a front surface408and a back surface409. Front surface408may contain cut outs403as illustrated inFIG. 4A.

Container410may have a first pouch411defining a first cavity412, a second pouch421defining a second cavity422, and straps413that may bind first pouch411and second pouch421to puzzle board402. First pouch411may include a closure414that may provide access to cavity412and second pouch421may also include a closure424that may provide access to cavity422. As shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, second pouch421may be coupled to first pouch411such that a back surface425of second pouch421is adjacent to a front surface415of first pouch411. Also, second pouch421may be coupled to first pouch411such that second pouch421is adjacent to a front surface415of first pouch411and beneath closure414of first pouch411. In an exemplary embodiment, second pouch421may store and/or transport any type of goods including, without limitation, crayons, pens, pencils, markers, puzzle pieces, and/or any like items. Where, for example, second pouch411stores crayons, pencils, pens, markers and/or like items, a coloring book or similar item may be bound by straps413.

FIGS. 5A and 5Bdepict an exemplary embodiment of a puzzle storage and transport system500according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown inFIG. 5A, a container510may have a pouch511defining a cavity512. Pouch511may include two compartments515,516within cavity512that may be separated by a divider517. Each compartment515,516may store pieces (not shown) of a puzzle. Also, although not shown inFIG. 5Aor5B, straps513may bind container to one, two, or more puzzle boards (as shown in, for example,FIGS. 4B and 6B). In such an embodiment, pieces of a first puzzle may be stored and/or transported in one compartment515and pieces of a second puzzle may be stored and/or transported in the other compartment516.

As shown inFIG. 5A, a first closure514may provide access to a first compartment515and a second closure524may provide access to a second compartment516. Each compartment515,516may be separated by a divider517. Each compartment515,516may store pieces (not shown) of a puzzle. Also, although not shown inFIG. 5Aor5B, straps513may bind container to one, two, or more puzzle boards (as shown in, for example,FIGS. 4B and 6B). In such an embodiment, pieces of a first puzzle may be stored and/or transported in one compartment515and pieces of a second puzzle may be stored and/or transported in the other compartment516.

FIGS. 6A and 6Bdepict an exemplary embodiment of a puzzle storage and transport system600according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown inFIG. 6A, a container610may have a pouch611defining a cavity512. Pouch611may include three compartments615,616,617within cavity612that may be separated by dividers618,619. Each compartment615,616,617may store pieces (not shown) of a puzzle. As shown inFIG. 6B, straps613may bind container three puzzle boards601,621,631such that a back surface609of puzzle board may be adjacent to a front surface628of puzzle board621and a back surface629of puzzle board621may be adjacent to a front surface638of puzzle board631. In such an embodiment, pieces of a first puzzle may be stored and/or transported in one compartment615, pieces of a second puzzle may be stored and/or transported in the other compartment616and pieces of a third puzzle may be stored and/or transported in the other compartment617.

As shown inFIG. 6A, a closure614may provide access to the compartments615,616,617.

FIGS. 7A and 7Bdepict an exemplary embodiment of a puzzle storage and transport system700according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown inFIG. 7B, a container710may have a pouch711defining a cavity712. Pouch711may include two compartments715,716within cavity712that may be separated by a divider717. Each compartment715,716may store pieces (not shown) of a puzzle. Also, although not shown inFIG. 7Aor7B, straps713may bind container to one, two, or more puzzle boards (as shown in, for example,FIGS. 4B and 6B). In such an embodiment, pieces of a first puzzle may be stored and/or transported in one compartment715and pieces of a second puzzle may be stored and/or transported in the other compartment716.

A closure714may provide access to cavity712. As shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B, closure714may be located on a top portion of container710. Also, although not shown inFIG. 7Aor7B, straps713may bind container to one, two, or more puzzle boards (as shown in, for example,FIGS. 4B and 6B). In such an embodiment, pieces of a first puzzle may be stored and/or transported in one compartment715and pieces of a second puzzle may be stored and/or transported in the other compartment716.

FIGS. 8A and 8Bdepict an exemplary embodiment of a puzzle storage and transport system800according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown inFIG. 8B, a container810may have a pouch811defining a cavity812. Pouch811may include two compartments815,816within cavity812that may be separated by a divider817. Each compartment815,586may store pieces (not shown) of a puzzle. Also, although not shown inFIG. 8Aor8B, straps813may bind container to one, two, or more puzzle boards (as shown in, for example,FIGS. 4B and 6B). In such an embodiment, pieces of a first puzzle may be stored and/or transported in one compartment815and pieces of a second puzzle may be stored and/or transported in the other compartment816.

As shown inFIGS. 8A and 8B, a first closure814may provide access to a first compartment815and a second closure824may provide access to a second compartment816from the top of container810. Each compartment815,816may be separated by a divider817. Each compartment815,816may store pieces (not shown) of a puzzle. Also, although not shown inFIG. 8Aor8B, straps813may bind container to one, two, or more puzzle boards (as shown in, for example,FIGS. 4Band6B). In such an embodiment, pieces of a first puzzle may be stored and/or transported in one compartment815and pieces of a second puzzle may be stored and/or transported in the other compartment816.

The exemplary embodiments illustrated above all include straps that may bind a container to a puzzle board. While straps shown and described are horizontal relative to the puzzle board, other straps may be considered. For example, as shown inFIG. 9, straps913may be vertical relative to puzzle board901. As shown inFIG. 10, straps1013may wrap around the corners of puzzle board1001. And as shown inFIG. 11, a single wide strap1113may bind container1110to puzzle board1101.

FIG. 12depicts an exemplary embodiment of a puzzle storage and transport system1200according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown inFIG. 12, container1210may include a closure1214that may be placed diagonally on container1210.

FIG. 13depicts an exemplary embodiment of a puzzle storage and transport system1300according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown inFIG. 13, straps1313may wrap around a back surface1309of a puzzle board1301.

FIGS. 15A and 15Bdepict an exemplary embodiment of a puzzle storage and transport system1500according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown inFIG. 15, a container1510may include a closure1514that includes a flap1540and a snap1541for providing access to cavity1512.