Puzzle assembly and display apparatus

An assembly and display apparatus for jig-saw puzzles comprises; a storage tray for storing unfitted puzzle pieces; an assembly tray located in spaced relation to the storage tray and having a surface on which the puzzle is assembled, the surface having a plurality of perforations in which stops can be inserted to prevent the assembled puzzle from moving along the surface; and a transparent display tray located in spaced relation to the assembly tray and being capable of co-operating with the stops in the perforations to hold the assembled puzzle in place. The storage tray, assembly tray and display tray are designed so as to be capable of being held together to form one unit.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to the assembling and displaying of jig-saw 
puzzles. More particularly, the invention relates to a compact and 
portable apparatus useful to both assemble and display at least one 
jig-saw puzzle. 
The piecing together of jig-saw puzzles can be a very interesting hobby. 
Working on assembling such puzzles is a pleasant way to while away one's 
leisure time. In addition, the assembled puzzle often depicts a scene 
which is worthy of display. Complex jig-saw puzzles often cannot be 
completely assembled at one sitting. The work area used to assemble such 
puzzles may be required for other purposes. Also, the person or persons 
working on the puzzle may want to assemble different portions of the 
puzzle at different locations. For example, he or she may start the puzzle 
at home and, because of time constraints, want to finish the puzzle in a 
different environment, i.e., on vacation. 
Once the puzzle is completed, it may be desired to display the finished 
product. Prior art methods of assembling puzzles for display, e.g., gluing 
the puzzle to a back-up board to hold it together and flat, often cause 
damage to the puzzle. 
Therefore, one object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus 
for assembling jig-saw puzzles. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for 
displaying assembled jig-saw puzzles. 
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus to 
both assemble and display jig-saw puzzles. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus 
on which more than one jig-saw puzzle can be assembled. These and other 
objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent 
hereinafter. 
An improved jig-saw puzzle assembly display device has now been discovered. 
The apparatus comprises a combination of three tray elements; a storage 
tray; an assembly tray; and a display tray, all of which are configured to 
be capable of being held together, e.g., to form a single unit. The 
storage tray is capable of storing unfitted pieces of the jig-saw puzzle. 
The assembly tray is located in spaced relation to the storage tray and 
has a surface on which the jig-saw puzzle is assembled, i.e., on which the 
puzzle pieces are properly fitted together. This surface has a plurality 
of perforations so that a plurality of individual stops may be inserted 
therein to prevent the assembled puzzle from moving along the surface. The 
display tray is at least partially transparent to allow the assembled 
puzzle, e.g., on the surface of the assembly tray, to be displayed. This 
display tray is located in spaced relation to the assembly tray so as to 
be capable of co-operating with the stops in the perforations to 
effectively immobilize the assembled puzzle, e.g., for display purposes. 
The apparatus of the present invention provides for convenient storing, 
assembling and displaying of jig-saw puzzles. The unit may be hand carried 
and, therefore, is portable from one location to another. Thus, a complex 
puzzle may be assembled over a prolonged period of time without tying up a 
large work area for all that time. Further, the present system allows the 
assembled puzzle to be effectively secured in place, even though the 
puzzle is moved from location to location and displayed. 
In a more preferred embodiment, the storage tray and display tray are 
interchangeable. That is, the configuration of the storage tray is 
substantially identical to that of the display tray. Of course, in this 
embodiment, the storage tray (and preferably also the display tray) which 
are at least partially transparent are made of a material which is 
resistant to scratches from unfitted puzzle pieces sliding on the storage 
tray. 
This interchangeability feature is particularly advantageous, although not 
necessary, in another embodiment of the present system in which the 
assembly tray includes a second surface opposite the surface described 
above. This second surface, on which a different jig-saw puzzle is 
assembled, includes a plurality of perforations so that second stop 
elements may be inserted therein to present the different assembled puzzle 
pieces from moving along the second surface. In this embodiment, the 
storage tray, preferably at least partially transparent, is located in 
spaced relation to the assembly tray so as to be capable of co-operating 
with the second stop elements to effectively immobilize the different 
assembled puzzle. The storage tray is preferably at least partially 
transparent to allow the different assembled puzzle pieces to be 
displayed. In this embodiment, two different jig-saw puzzles may be in 
assembled form at the same time. The user of the unit can choose which 
puzzle to display or, e.g., by hanging the unit in the middle of a room 
from the ceiling, can display both puzzles. In any event, this feature 
provides added flexibility. 
The surface and second surface of the assembly tray are preferably opaque, 
for example, having a color or colors to highlight the color or colors of 
the assembled puzzle. 
The storage tray, assembly tray and display tray are preferably each 
capable of pivotable movement with respect to the other trays. This allows 
for easy access to both the assembly tray and the storage tray. In one 
particularly preferred embodiment in which each of the trays is 
substantially rectangular in configuration, such pivotable movement is 
achieved by employing two pivot rods which are capable of being inserted 
near opposing corners of the rectangular configuration defining the 
assembly tray. 
Preferably, the present apparatus further comprises a fastening mechanism 
to hold the storage tray, assembly tray and display tray together, e.g., 
as a unit. One particularly preferred fastening mechanism involves a 
plurality of pivot rods, more preferably four pivot rods, each of which is 
inserted through one or more portions of each of the trays. If, as 
preferred, the trays are substantially rectangular, the fastening 
mechanism, for example, includes four pivot rods capable of being located 
near each of the corners of the rectangle defining the assembly tray. 
Using such a fastening mechanism, the present unit is effectively held 
together.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the present display assembly 
apparatus illustrated, shown generally at 10, includes a top tray 12, 
middle tray 14 and lower tray 16. Top tray 12 is rectangular in 
configuration and includes top rim 18, which may be opaque, which 
surrounds top window 20, which is made of a transparent material, e.g., 
glass, durable transparent plastic and the like. Similarly, lower tray 16 
is rectangular in configuration and includes lower rim 22, which may be 
opaque, which surrounds lower window 24, which is made of a transparent 
material, e.g., glass, durable transparent plastic and the like. In fact, 
top tray 12 and lower tray 16 are interchangeable. That is, top tray 12 
may be used in place of lower tray 16 and lower tray 16 may be used in 
place of top tray 12. 
Middle tray 14 includes rectangular shaped middle rim 26, which may be 
opaque, which surrounds assembly element 28, which is preferably opaque. 
Assembly element 28 includes assembly surface 30 which includes numerous 
perforations 32, which preferably do not extend through assembly element 
28. Assembly element 28 also includes a second assembly surface with 
numerous perforations which, again, preferably do not extend completely 
through assembly element 28. The size, shape and function of second 
assembly surface and its perforations are completely analogous to that of 
assembly surface 30 and perforations 32 so that what is said relative to 
assembly surface 30 and perforations 32 applies equally to the second 
assembly surface and its perforations. 
As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 3, middle rim 26 includes a series of 
cut-outs 34 in the opposing length wise portions of middle rim 26. Top rim 
18 includes a series of top hollow projections 36 which are designed to 
fit into one-half of cut-outs 34. Similarly, lower rim 22 includes a 
series of lower hollow projections 38 which are designed to fit into the 
other half of cut-outs 34. The portions of middle rim 26 located adjacent 
to cut-outs 34 are also hollowed out, with the portions 40 nearest each of 
the corners of middle rim 26 being hollowed out with a threaded hole. 
Display assembly apparatus 10 is configured so that when top hollow 
projections 36 and lower hollow projections 38 are fitted into cut-outs 
34, threaded pivot rods 42 can be passed through corner portions 40, top 
hollow projections 36 and lower hollow projections 38. Each of threaded 
pivot rods 42 includes a threaded segment 44 which can be matingly 
received by the threads with each of the corner portions 40. With top 
hollow projections 36 and lower hollow projections 38 fitted into cut-outs 
34 and threaded segments 44 of threaded pivot rods 42 matingly received 
into corner portions 40, top tray 12, middle tray 14 and lower tray 16 are 
effectively locked together. 
Assembly display apparatus 10 may be used as follows. Assembly display 
apparatus 10 is laid flat on a table, desk, bench or the like and two 
threaded pivot rods 42 which were inserted along the same length wise 
portion of middle rim 26 are removed, as shown best in FIG. 2. The two 
threaded pivot rods 42 which remain in place, as shown in FIG. 2, provide 
that top tray 12, middle tray 14 and lower tray 16 are pivotally moveable 
relative to each other along a line formed by the longitudinal axes of the 
two threaded pivot rods 42 which remain in place. (Of course, if desired, 
trays 12, 14 and 16 can be completely separated from each other, by 
removing all four threaded pivot rods 42 from their inserted positions). 
Such pivotal movement allows the user of assembly display apparatus 10 to 
move display tray 12 to an upright position, relative to the other trays, 
thereby exposing assembly surface 30, as shown in FIG. 2. Middle tray 14 
is pivoted up thereby exposing lower window 24. The unfitted pieces of 
jig-saw puzzle to be assembled on assembly surface 30 are placed on lower 
window 24. The user commences assembling the jig-saw puzzle by selecting 
unfitted pieces from lower window 24 and placing them in their proper 
fitted position on assembly surface 30. The user must exercise care in 
pivoting up middle tray 14 (in taking additional unfitted pieces from 
lower window 24) to avoid disturbing the already fitted portion of the 
puzzle on assembly surface 30. 
This puzzle assembly procedure is continued until the puzzle is completely 
assembled. At this point, the assembled puzzle may be moved along assembly 
surface 30 to a position, e.g., a substantially central position, on 
assembly surface 30 as desired by the user. In any event, once the 
assembled puzzle is properly located on assembly surface 30, a plurality 
of button pins 44' are inserted into perforations 32 in assembly surface 
30 directly adjacent the perimeter of the assembled puzzle, as shown in 
FIG. 1. Button pins 44', act to prevent the assembled puzzle from moving 
along assembly surface 30. 
With button pins 44' in place, top tray 12 is moved down from the upright 
position shown in FIG. 2 toward middle tray 14 so that the two threaded 
pivot rods 42 which had been removed can be reinserted into corner 
portions 40 and projections 36 to lock trays 12, 14 and 16 together. With 
trays 12, 14 and 16 in such locked position, button pins 44', assembly 
surface 30, and top tray 12 co-operate to effectively inhibit the movement 
of the assembled puzzle regardless of the position of assembly display 
apparatus 10. Thus, the assembled puzzle may be displayed through top 
window 20. 
An alternate use of assembly display apparatus 10 involves the situation 
where the complete puzzle is not assembled at one time and the partially 
assembled puzzle must be stored. In this instance, button pins 44' are 
placed in perforations 32 in assembly surface 30 directly adjacent the 
perimeter of the assembled portion of the puzzle, as shown in FIG. 2. 
Trays 12, 14 and 16 are locked together, thus effectively preserving the 
assembled portion of the puzzle for further assembly at a future time. 
An additional alternate involves assembling a different puzzle on the 
surface of assembly element 28 directly opposite, i.e., on the reverse 
side of assembly surface 32. In this situation, and assuming that there is 
already a puzzle assembled on assembly surface 30, assembly display 
apparatus 10 is laid flat, two threaded pivot rods 42 are removed (as 
indicated previously) and lower tray 16 is pivoted up to an upright 
position thereby exposing the underside of assembly surface 30. Middle 
tray 14 must not be moved relative to top tray 12 to avoid disturbing the 
assembled puzzle on or near assembly surface 30. Therefore, the unfitted 
puzzle piece storage feature of assembly display apparatus 10 can not be 
used in this situation. 
The user commences to assemble the different puzzle on the underside of 
assembly element 28. After assembly is complete the different puzzle is 
properly placed and fixed on the underside surface of assembly element 28 
using button pins 44' in perforations in the underside surface directly 
adjacent to the perimeter of the assembled puzzle. Trays 12, 14 and 16 are 
locked together thereby providing for display of the assembled different 
puzzles through lower window 24. Thus, two separate jig-saw puzzles can be 
available for display at the same time using assembly display apparatus 
10. 
While this invention has been described with respect to various specific 
embodiments and example, it is to be understood that the invention is not 
limited thereto and that it can be variously practiced within the scope of 
the following claims.