PUZZLE

Abstract: Puzzle comprising a number of puzzle elements (1, 2, 3) with an opening or transparent area (4) surrounded by a nontransparent surface (5), on which at least one part of a puzzle figure is depicted, and a base surface (12) on which at least one other part (9, 10, 11) of the puzzle figure is provided, so that the puzzle element (1, 2, 3) can be provided on the base surface (12) in a position whereby the opening or transparent area (4) thereof coincides with another figure part (9, 10, 11) and whereby this other figure part (9, 10, 11) and every figure part (6, 7, 8) of the puzzle element are visible together in the position which is required in order to assemble the puzzle figure. A puzzle element of such a puzzle, as well as such a puzzle element that is a collection element, destined to be provided in a specific position on a base surface provided for the collection. A method and an apparatus comprising a screen and selection means for assembling a puzzle figure according to the principle of such a puzzle.

Description: PUZ ZLE This invention relates to a puzzle comprising a base surface and at least one puzzle element provided with at least one opening or transparent area surrounded by a nontransparent surface on which a part of a figure is provided. Puzzles exist whose puzzle elements are made of wood, cardboard or another nontransparent material . On every puzzle element a part of a figure is represented. In order to assemble the complete figure all puzzle elements must be placed on a base surface in the correct position next to one another. Often when forming a figure the puzzle elements must also be connected to each other, for example because of the fact that lateral projections of each puzzle element must be placed in corresponding notches of neighbouring puzzle elements. With this type of puzzle, puzzle elements are also found with an opening surrounded by the nontransparent material, in which another puzzle element must be placed in order to assemble the figure. For puzzles with a small number of puzzle elements on which well distinguishable figure parts are depicted the various figure parts and their position in the figure are rather easily recognizable. The known puzzles can be made more difficult by increasing the number of puzzle elements. Because of the fact that each puzzle element is smaller and therefore a smaller part of the figure is depicted there on the figure parts and their correct position are less quickly recognizable. As there are limits to the reduction of the dimensions of the puzzle elements in general larger puzzle figures will be provided for these puzzles. Puzzles with a large number of puzzle elements therefore have the disadvantage that the assembled puzzle figure occupies a rather large Surface area. The assembly of the puzzle figure cannot therefore occur just anywhere. Furthermore the production costs of such puzzles are higher than those of puzzles with a smaller number of puzzle elements. The known puzzles are also significantly more difficult if a number of puzzle elements are provided with figure parts that strongly resemble one another. In order to achieve this however the choice of puzzle figure is limited and/or the puzzle elements have to be quite small. A purpose of this invention is to remedy the above mentioned disadvantages by providing a new type of puzzle whose level of difficulty is very much less dependent on the number, the size and the distinguishableness of the figure parts, so that for example puzzles with a small puzzle figure and with a relatively small number of well distinguishable figure parts can also be made as a difficult puzzle. This purpose is achieved by providing a puzzle with a base surface and at least one puzzle element provided with at least one opening or transparent area surrounded by a nontransparent surface on which a part of a figure is provided, whereby on the base surface at least one other part of the figure is provided, and whereby the base surface is provided in order to cover a part of the puzzle element, so that the puzzle element on the base surface can be provided in a position whereby it is partially covered by the base surface, whereby an opening or transparent area coincides with a figure part on the base surface, and whereby this figure part and the figure part on the puzzle element are visible together in a position required for the assembly of the figure. As a part bf the base surface must be covered by one or several nontransparent areas of puzzle elements, on the part of this base surface to be covered, around the figure parts which are necessary for assembling the puzzle figure, other illustrations can also be provided, such as e.g. parts of one or several other figures, which are not usable for assembling the figure. Because of this it can be ensured that the usable figure parts are very difficult to distinguish from the other (unusable) illustrations on the base surface. Parts of different puzzle figures can also be provided on a base surface. On one and the same base surface various puzzle figures can then be formed with different series of puzzle elements. The parts of the puzzle element which are covered by the base surface can be provided with symbols or illustrations which are not usable for assembling the figure. These parts of the puzzle element can for example be provided with unusable figure parts, which also render the usable figure parts on the puzzle element difficult to distinguish. This makes the game more difficult. On these parts of the puzzle element numbers, texts, pictographs, and suchlike can be provided, which e.g. show information for the consumer. Such information must necessarily itself be provided on the puzzle element if the puzzle element is given separately (e.g. as collection element) to the consumer. In particular if both sides of the puzzle element are provided in order to be used in a game it becomes difficult because of this to provide the aforementioned information on the puzzle element without the game data (figures, illustrations, ...) being disrupted because of this. This part of the puzzle element is indeed covered by the base surface. The parts of the base surface that after the formation of the puzzle figure are not covered by a nontransparent area of a puzzle element, and are also not visible through an opening or transparent area of a puzzle element, can also for example be blank or provided with (parts of) a text or with one or several parts of the puzzle figure or with another figure. In this manner the puzz_le can also be made harder or easier. It is furthermore also rather difficult upon looking to judge which parts of the base surface will be covered by the nontransparent surface of a puzzle element. Because of this with small puzzle figures and with a small number of rather large puzzle elements which can easily be distinguished from one another it is nevertheless possible to make a puzzle which is very difficult. Irrespective of size, the number and the distinguishableness of the figure parts and the size of the puzzle figure, the puzzle according to this invention can also always be so made that it is very simple to assemble the puzzle figure. It can thus be indicated on the base surface which parts of this surface must be covered by the nontransparent areas of the puzzle elements when assembling the puzzle figure. The parts of the base surface to be covered can for example be left blank so that only the usable figure parts appear on the rest of the base surface. On the parts of the base surface to be covered an illustration can also be provided of (a part of) the figure parts that are provided on the puzzle element that must be provided on that space on the base surface in order to form the puzzle figure. The whole puzzle figure can also be provided on the base surface, so that the assembly of the puzzle is effected by searching, for every puzzle element, which figure part on the base surface corresponds to the figure part on the puzzle element. A specific puzzle can also be made harder or easier by depicting more or less figure parts on the base surface. With the puzzle according to this invention it is therefore principally the illustrations on the base surface which determine the level of difficulty. The costs for producing such a puzzle are almost not influenced because of this by the level of difficulty of the puzzle. Because of the fact that the level of difficulty of the puzzle is no longer principally determined by the size and the number of the puzzle elements and/or by the size of the puzzle figure the aforementioned characteristics can be determined in function of the space and the circumstances in which the puzzle figure is to be assembled and the desired level of difficulty can also be determined independently there from. With this puzzle the base surface is preferably provided with at least one slit into which a puzzle element can be slid so that this puzzle element is partially covered by the base surface. Because of this a puzzle element can be attached to the base surface. This is possible for example by ensuring that one or several corners or edge sections of the puzzle element must be provided in a slit of the base surface for the assembly of the figure. In a preferred embodiment of the puzzle according to this invention the aforementioned puzzle element has several openings or transparent areas which are separated from one another by a nontransparent surface on which one or several parts of the figure are provided, while on the base surface several figure parts are provided, so that the puzzle element can be provided on the base surface in a position whereby several openings or transparent areas thereof coincide with a respective figure part on the base surface, and whereby every figure part on the puzzle element and every figure part that coincides with an opening or transparent area thereof are visible together in a position required for the assembly of the figure. Because of the fact that the puzzle elements have several openings or transparent areas it becomes still more difficult to judge which parts of the base surface will be covered and which parts will remain uncovered there. The puzzle can because of this be made still more difficult. In another preferred embodiment the puzzle comprises a number of puzzle elements, which can be provided one above the other on the base surface in a position whereby at least one figure part on the base surface and at least one figure part of a puzzle element not located along the top coincide with (a part of) an opening or transparent area of each puzzle element lying above, so that the aforementioned figure parts are visible together with each figure part on the top puzzle element in a position required for the assembly of the figure. Such a puzzle can even with a small number of puzzle elements be made as an especially difficult puzzle. According to yet another preferred embodiment of the puzzle according to this invention parts of several figures are provided on the base surface, while one puzzle element is provided for each figure, with which the figure can be completed. According to yet another embodiment a number of puzzle elements are so made that they can also be used as elements of a game with the purpose of the game being to stack up the elements such that with the (parts of) openings or transparent areas overlapping one another a figure is made visible. Such a game has been described in the Belgian patent application no. 09600679. The fact that the puzzle elements can be used both for forming a puzzle figure and for playing another game makes the puzzle and the puzzle elements in themselves especially attractive. This invention also relates to a puzzle element for a puzzle according to this invention, which is provided with an opening or transparent area surrounded by a nontransparent surface on which at least one part of a figure is provided, and which is destined to be provided on a base surface that is provided for covering a part of the puzzle element, and on which at least one other part of the figure is provided, in a position whereby the puzzle element is partially covered by the base surface, whereby the opening or transparent area coincides with a figure part on the base surface, and whereby this figure part and every figure part that is provided on the puzzle element are visible together in a position required for the assembly of the figure. According to a preferred embodiment this puzzle element comprises several openings or transparent areas, and it is destined to be provided on a base surface on which several other parts of the figure are provided, in a position whereby several openings or transparent areas thereof coincide with a respective other figure part, and whereby every other figure part coinciding with an opening or transparent area and every figure part that is provided on the puzzle element are visible together in a position required for the assembly of the figure. According to a particularly preferred embodiment the puzzle element is provided in order to be used as element of a game with the purpose of the game being to stack up elements such that with the (parts of) openings or transparent areas overlapping one another a figure is made visible. In another very preferred embodiment the puzzle element is a collection element that is destined to be provided in a specific position on a base surface provided for the collection. Such a collection element can for example be obtained free of charge with the purchase of another product, in order to promote the sales of the product in question. In a collection folder given free or to be purchased a sheet can then for example be provided that forms a base surface, on which figure parts are provided so that the base surface and one or several collection elements form a puzzle according to this invention. Since a number of figure parts are already provided on the base surface there will be a great curiosity among the consumers to see the complete figure. In particular if one or several faces of known people, such as for example football players are depicted in the figure, while on the base surface a number of parts of those faces are already to be seen, many will want to complete the figure in order to get to know who is depicted in the figure. Collection will therefore be experienced by the consumer as a very attractive and exciting game. Such a collection element will therefore be terribly efficient for promoting the sales of products . Because of the fact that the level of difficulty of this puzzle can be determined independently from the size of the puzzle figure and from the size and the number of the puzzle elements, this puzzle can be adapted to a great number of situations. Thus the assembly of a puzzle figure for a general public, such as for example on a stage or in a television programme, requires that the puzzle elements are sufficiently large in order to be able to be seen by the public, and that the number of puzzle elements is not very great. From what precedes it appears clear that the puzzle according to this invention can perfectly satisfy these requirements while the level of difficulty of the puzzle can be freely determined. This invention therefore offers the advantage that it is suitable to be utilised with greatly differing levels of difficulty in a great number of different places and circumstances . This invention further also relates to an apparatus comprising a screen and means for selecting at least one puzzle element and a position on a background for every puzzle element, provided in order to show one or several selected puzzle elements in the selected position against a background, and provided for obtaining a figure on the screen through a suitable selection. Another purpose of this invention is to provide such an apparatus, such as for example a computer, with which a puzzle figure can be assembled, moreover without having the above described disadvantages of known puzzles. The apparatus according to this invention is characterised in that at least one selectable puzzle element comprises a first area on which at least one part of the figure is represented, comprises a second area which is shown against the background as a transparent area, and comprises a third area which is shown in a selected position as an area covered by the background while at least one other part of the figure is shown on the background, so that the puzzle element can be selected in a position whereby it is partially covered by the background, whereby the second area coincides with a figure part shown on the background, and whereby this figure part and every figure part that is shown on the element are visible together in a position required for the assembly of the figure. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus according to this invention is so provided that at least one puzzle element comprises several second areas which are separated from one another by the first area on which one or several parts of the figure are provided, while several figure parts are provided on the background, so that the puzzle element can be selected on the background in a position whereby several second areas thereof coincide with a respective figure part on the background, and whereby every figure part on the element and every figure part that coincides with a second area thereof are visible in a position required for the assembly of the figure. In a particular embodiment this apparatus is provided in order to select a number of puzzle elements one after the other in positions whereby they at least partially overlap one another, and whereby at least one figure part on the base surface and at least one figure part that is provided on a puzzle element not selected as last, coincide with (a part of) a second area of every puzzle element selected thereafter, so that the aforementioned figure parts together with every figure part that is provided on the last selected puzzle element are visible in a position required for the assembly of the figure. This invention will now be further explained in the following specification of a number of embodiments of the puzzle according to this invention. This invention is however not restricted because of this to these examples alone. In this specification reference is made to the figures attached hereto, of which Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a top view of a base surface of a puzzle according to this invention, Figures 2, 3 and 4 are a schematic representation of a top view of three different puzzle elements of the puzzle of which the base surface has been represented in figure 1 , Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a top view of a base surface of another puzzle according to this invention, - Figures 6 and 7 are a schematic representation of a top view of two different puzzle elements of the puzzle of which the base surface has been represented in figure 5, Figure 8 shows a schematic cross-section of three puzzle elements which are stacked one on top of the other on a base surface in order together with their figure parts visible from the top to assemble a puzzle figure . In a possible embodiment of the puzzle according to this invention this comprises a game board (12) of a nontransparent material, such as for example paper, cardboard, plastic or wood, on which three puzzle cards must be placed in a well-defined position in order to complete a puzzle figure. The puzzle figure is a continuous diagonally shaded surface, on the left of the vertical line in figure 1, and a diagonally shaded rectangle on a white background on the part of the game board (12) that is on the right of this vertical line in figure 1. The figure parts depicted on the game board (12) have been indicated by reference numbers (9), (10), (11). Each puzzle card (1), (2), (3) is a card of a flexible nontransparent material, such as paper, cardboard or plastic, in which an opening (4) is provided, whose shape corresponds to the shape of a figure part (9), (10), (11) on the game board (12). The material of each puzzle card forms a nontransparent surface ( 5 ) around the opening ( 4 ) , on which a figure part (6), (7), (8) is depicted which is missing on the game board (12). By so placing the puzzle cards from figures 2, 3 and 4 on the game board that their openings (4) leave the figure parts (9), (10), (11) with the same shape uncovered, the puzzle figure can be assembled. We wish nevertheless to emphasise here that the correspondence between the shapes of the figure part (9), (10), (11) on the game board (12) on the one hand and an opening (4) of the puzzle card (1), (2), (3) on the other hand is not necessary for this invention. On the game board (12) figure parts (9), (10), (11) can also be provided with a shape which is totally different from the shape of the opening (4) coinciding there with. The principle of this invention only requires that what is visible through the opening or transparent area (4) is a part of the puzzle figure, and that this part is in a position in relation to the part (6), (7), (8) of the puzzle figure shown on the puzzle card (1), (2), (3) which is required for the assembly of the puzzle figure. In order to simplify the puzzle two blank areas are provided on the game board (12) (on the left of the vertical line in figure 1) in order to indicate which part of this game board must be covered by nontransparent parts ( 5 ) of a puzzle card (1), (2). Thus apart from the shape of the openings (4), which correspond to the shape of the figure parts (9), (10) on the game board (12), the shape of the puzzle cards (1), (2) themselves can be recognised on the game board. For the puzzle cards (2), (3) to be placed left and right on the game board (12) slits (13) are provided in the game board. The puzzle cards (2), (3) can be slid with an edge section into these slits (13), so that the puzzle card is attached to the game board (12). The edge section of these puzzle cards (2), (3) disappears into the slits (13). This edge section, which is indicated by wavy lines in figures 3 and 4, can be either transparent or nontransparent and unusable illustrations can be provided on these edge sections in order to make the usable figure parts less well distinguishable and thereby make the puzzle more difficult. Another embodiment (see figures 5, 6 and 7) of the puzzle according to this invention comprises a game board (12) on which parts (9), (10) of two puzzle figures are depicted, namely a circle (right) and a figure consisting of two concentric circles (left). The circle can be completed with the puzzle card (1) from figure 6. The figure which consist of two concentric circles can be completed with the puzzle card from figure 7. The parts (6), (7) of the respective puzzle figures missing on the game board (12) are depicted on the nontransparent surface (5) of each puzz.le card (1), (2). Each puzzle card (1), (2) has several openings (4) whose shape corresponds to the shape of the figure parts (9), (10) depicted on the game board (12). The parts of the game board surface which must be covered by nontransparent parts (5) of the puzzle cards (1) (2) are not indicated. According to yet another embodiment (see figure 8) the puzzle comprises a game board (12) on which two figure parts (9) are depicted and three puzzle cards (1), (2), (3), with openings (4) surrounded by a nontransparent surface (5), on which respective figure parts (6), (7), (8) are depicted. The puzzle cards (1), (2), (3) can be so laid on top of one another that the figure parts (9) of the game board (12) and the figure parts (6), (7) of the puzzle elements (1), (2), which are not the top puzzle element (3), come to lie under an opening (4) of each puzzle card lying above, and are therefore visible from above the pile of puzzle cards (1), (2), (3) together with the figure parts (8) of the top puzzle card (3). All visible figure parts (9), (6), (7), (8) are moreover in a position whereby the puzzle figure is assembled. The puzzle figure can be a drawing or a photograph, but can for example also be a number or a letter or a text. The figure parts (9), (10), (11) which must be visible through openings (4) of the puzzle cards (1), (2), (3) are preferably slightly larger than the openings (4), in order to avoid a disturbing blank edge or an illustration which is not a figure part from becoming visible through a small displacement of the puzzle card (1), (2), (3).

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Puzzle comprising a base surface (12) and at least one puzzle element (1), (2), (3) provided with an opening or transparent area ( 4 ) surrounded by a nontransparent surface (5) on which at least one part (6)/ (7), (8) of a figure is provided, characterised in that on the base surface (12) at least one other part (9), (10), (11) of the figure is provided and that the base surface is provided in order to cover a part of the puzzle element (1), (2), (3), so that the puzzle element (1), (2), (3) on the base surface (12), can be provided in a position whereby it is partially covered by the base surface (12), whereby the opening or transparent area (4) coincides with a figure part (9), (10), (11) on the base surface (12), and whereby this figure part (9), (10), (11) and every figure part (6), (7), (8) that is provided on the puzzle element (1) are visible together in a position required for the assembly of the figure. 2. Puzzle according to claim 1, characterised in that the base surface (12) is provided with at least one slit (13) into which a puzzle element (1) can be slid so that this puzzle element (1) is partially covered by the base surface (12). 3. Puzzle according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the puzzle element (1), (2), (3) comprises several openings or transparent areas (4) which are separated from one another by a nontransparent surface (5) on which at least one part (6), (7), (8) of the figure is provided, and that on the base surface (12) several other figure parts (9), (10), (11) are provided, so that the puzzle element can be provided on the base surface (12) in a position whereby several openings or transparent areas (4) thereof coincide with a respective other figure part (9), (10), (11) on the base surface, and whereby every figure part (6), (7), (8) that is provided on the puzzle element and every figure part (9), (10), (11) that coincides with an opening or transparent area (4) thereof are visible together in a position required for the assembly of the figure. 4. Puzzle according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that this comprises a number of puzzle elements (1), (2), (3), which can be provided one above the other on the base surface (12) in a position whereby at least one figure part (9), (10), (11) of the base surface (12) and at least one figure part (6), (7) of a puzzle element (1), (2) that is not the top one coincide with (a part of) an opening or transparent area (4) of each puzzle element (3) lying above, so that the aforementioned figure parts (9), (10), (11); (6), (7), are visible together with each figure part (8) that is provided on the top puzzle element (3) in a position required for the assembly of the figure. 5. Puzzle according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a number of parts (9), (10), (11) of several figures are provided on the base surface (12), and that the puzzle comprises one puzzle element (1), (2), (3) for each figure, with which the figure can be completed. 6. Puzzle according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a number of puzzle elements (1), (2), (3) are so made that they can also be used as elements of a game with the purpose of the game being to stack up the elements such that with the (parts of) openings or transparent areas (4) overlapping one another a figure is made visible. 7. A puzzle element (1), (2), (3) provided with an opening or transparent area (4) surrounded by a nontransparent surface (5) on which at least one part (6), (7), (8) of a figure is provided, characterised in that the puzzle element is destined to be provided, on a base surface (12) that is provided for covering a part of the puzzle element, and on which at least one other part (9), (10), (11) of the figure is provided, in a position whereby the puzzle element is partially covered by the base surface (12), whereby the opening or transparent area (4) coincides with a figure part (9), (10), (11) on the base surface (12), and whereby this figure part (9), (10), (11) and every figure part (6), (7), (8) that is provided on the puzzle element are visible together in a position required for the assembly of the figure. 8. A puzzle element (1), (2), (3) according to claim 7 characterised in that the puzzle element comprises several openings or transparent areas, and is destined to be provided on a base surface (12) on which several other parts (9), (10), (11) of the figure are provided, in a position whereby several openings or transparent areas (4) thereof coincide with a respective other figure part (9), (10), (11), and whereby every other figure part (9), (10), (11) coinciding with an opening or transparent area (4) and every figure part (6), (7), (8) that is provided on the puzzle element are visible together in a position required for the assembly of the figure . 9. A puzzle ' element according to claim 7 or 8 characterised in that it is provided in order to be used as element of a game with the purpose of the game being to stack up elements such that with the (parts of) openings or transparent areas (4) overlapping one another a figure is made visible. 10. A puzzle element according to claim 7, 8 or 9 characterised in that it is a collection element that is destined to be provided in a specific position on a base surface provided for the collection. 11. Apparatus, comprising a screen and means for selecting at least one puzzle element (1), (2), (3) and a position on a background (12) for every selected puzzle element, provided in order to show one or several selected puzzle elements on the screen in a selected position against a background, and provided for obtaining a figure on the screen through a suitable selection, characterised in that at least one selectable puzzle element (1), (2), (3) comprises a first area (5) on which at least one part (6), (7), (8) of the figure is represented, comprises a second area (4) which is shown against the background (12) as a transparent area, and comprises a third area which is shown in a selected position as an area covered by the background (12), and that at least one other part (9), (10), (11) of the figure is shown on the background (12), so that the puzzle element (1), (2), (3) can be selected in a position whereby it is partially covered by the background (12), whereby the second area (4) coincides with a figure part (9), (10), (11) shown on the background (12), and whereby this figure part (9), (10), (11) and every figure part (6), (7), (8) that is shown on the element are visible together in a position required for the assembly of the figure. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterised in that at least one selectable puzzle element (1), (2), (3) comprises several second areas (4) which are separated from one another by the first area (5) on which at least one part of the figure is provided, and that several figure parts are provided on the background, so that the puzzle element can be . selected on the background in a position whereby several second areas thereof coincide with a respective other figure part, and whereby every figure part on the puzzle element and every figure part that coincides with a second area thereof are visible in a position required for the assembly of the figure. 13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that it is provided in order to select a number of puzzle elements (1), (2), (3) one after the other in positions whereby they at least partially overlap one another, and whereby at least one figure part (9), (10), (11) on the background and at least one figure part (6), (7), of a puzzle element (1), (2) that has not been selected as last coincide with (a part of) a second area (4) of every puzzle element (3) selected thereafter, so that the aforementioned figure parts (9), (10), (11); (6), (7) together with every figure part (8) that is provided on the last selected puzzle element are visible in a position required for the assembly of the figure.

Inventors: VANHEE CHRIS, VANHEE, CHRIS
Applicants: VANHEE CHRIS, VANHEE, CHRIS
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A63F9
IPC codes: A63F9