Abstract:
A puzzle maintenance system. The maintenance system includes a puzzle board with a number of shaped puzzle pieces positioned on a first side thereof and a fitted cover positioned at least about the first side so as to keep the puzzle pieces in place.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/324,335, filed on Sep. 24, 2001. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a removable cover and more particularly relates to a cover for a child&#39;s puzzle board or other article. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A popular activity for children is to play with puzzles. For younger children, the puzzles may include a puzzle board with cutouts of different shapes. One problem with such boards, however, is that the pieces often fall off of the board and may be difficult to find and replace. Further, putting the puzzles away often includes completing a pile of puzzles. Parents may not be inclined to travel with these puzzles because of the fact that the pieces may be easily lost. 
     There are approximately 9 million children&#39;s cardboard and wooden puzzles sold in the U.S. each year, suitable for age 18 months and older. They may range in price from relatively inexpensive (about $1 for thin cardboard) to moderate ($20 for large wooden board puzzles with wooden pieces) or more. An average, small wooden puzzle of about six (6) to eight (8) pieces may cost about $10. 
     Most puzzles generally have flat pieces, raised pieces, and/or pieces with wooden or plastic pegs. There also are some puzzles that have magnetic boards with magnetic pieces or felt boards with felt pieces. Other types of puzzle pieces may be triangular, rectangular, or any other irregular shape. Most of the wooden or thick cardboard puzzles are sold shrink-wrapped, with no storage case. Once opened, the pieces may separate from the boards and become lost. Several puzzle manufacturers acknowledge this problem by providing free replacement pieces. 
     There is a desire therefore, for a lightweight, inexpensive product that can keep puzzles together when children are finished playing with them. This product should be easy to use for either adults or children. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention thus provides a puzzle maintenance system. The puzzle maintenance system may include a puzzle board and an elastic cover. The puzzle board may include a plurality of puzzle pieces positioned on a first side. The elastic cover may be removeably positioned at least about the first side of the puzzle board so as to keep the plurality of puzzle pieces about the first side of the puzzle board. 
     Specific embodiments of the present invention may include an elastic cover made of a fabric, polymer, or elasticized material and be made at a predetermined size. The elastic cover also may include a window. The window may be made of a substantially transparent material. The elastic cover also may include a pocket with an outer rim and an elastic cord positioned within the outer rim. 
     The present invention also provides a device for maintaining a plurality of puzzle pieces about a puzzle board. The device may include a cover made of a predetermined size and an elastic material. The device also may include a securing means associated with the cover so as to conform the cover to the puzzle board. 
     Specific embodiments of the device may include an elastic cover made of a fabric, polymer, or elasticized material. The cover also may include a window. The window may be made of a substantially transparent material. The cover may include a pocket with an outer rim and an elastic cord positioned within the outer rim. 
     The present invention also provides a method for maintaining a plurality of puzzle pieces in predetermined locations on a puzzle board. The method may include the steps of selecting an elastic cover element of a predetermined size, placing each of the plurality of puzzle pieces in a corresponding one of the predetermined locations, and covering the puzzle board with the cover element so as to keep the plurality of puzzle pieces in place. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pre-cut sheet used for the present invention with measurement lines thereon. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sheet of FIG. 1 showing cut line markings on the corners of the sheet. 
     FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the sheet of FIG. 1 with the corners of the sheet cut, gathered, and sewn together. 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the sheet of FIG. 1 with the corners of the sheet cut, gathered, and sewn together. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of a corner of the sheet of FIG. 1 with the edges folded over, sewn, and the elastic cord inserted therein. 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the sheet of FIG. 1 finished into the cover  100 . 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cover  100  of the present invention partially positioned on a puzzle board. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cover  100  of the present invention partially surrounding a puzzle board. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the top of the cover  100  surrounding a puzzle board. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bottom of the cover  100  surrounding a puzzle board. 
     FIG. 11 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the views, FIGS. 1-6 show a puzzle cover  100  of the present invention. The puzzle cover  100  may be used with a puzzle board  10  with a number of puzzle pieces  20 . Any conventional puzzle board  10  may be used. The puzzle pieces  20  may have any shape or size. 
     The cover  100  may fit over the puzzle board  10  with the puzzle pieces  20  thereon. The cover  100  prevents the pieces  20  from moving, dislodging, or detaching from the board  10 . The cover  100  may be made out of one or more pieces of material. The cover  100  may use any type of fabric, material, mesh, polymer, elastic, or a combination of any of these materials or fabrics. In this example, the cover  100  may be a single piece of heavy elasticized material. Specifically, the cover may be a four-way elasticized material. The cover  100  may be made from material in several bright colors (red, blue, and purple) that provide a smooth, flat texture. The cover  100  may be made with multiple colors and patterns. The material may be washable and/or water and stain resistant. 
     The puzzle cover  100  may include a top side  110  and a bottom side  120 . The bottom side  120  may define a pocket  130  with an outer rim  140 . The outer rim  140  may include a cord  150  of elastic material. Alternatively, the outer rim  140  may have one or more elastic bands or cords that fit around any or all of the edges of the board  10  so as to secure the pieces to the board  10 . The cover  100  also may include a web of elastic bands that secures the pieces  20  in place. 
     The cover  100  also may include a non-elastic cord with a securing device to keep the cord taut. The securing device may include a tying mechanism, a locking mechanism, or any other mechanism known in the art to secure a non-elastic cord at a desired position. 
     As is shown in FIG. 1, the cover  100  may be made by measuring the flat dimensions of the typical children&#39;s puzzle board  10  (height and length) and then cutting a sheet  160  of material about two (2″) inches larger on each side. It is understood that the dimensions used herein are for the purpose of example only. Any convenient dimensions may be used. The cover  100  may be made inside out, i.e., the side of the sheet  160  facing up will be the exterior side that is visible once the cover  100  is completed. 
     As is shown in FIG. 2, each of the corners  170  of the sheet may be cropped by measuring about three and one half inches (3½″) horizontally and vertically from each corner  170 . A cut  180  then may be made by connecting these measurements, thus creating a triangular cut that measures about three and one half inches (3½″) on the horizontal edge, about three and one half inches (3½″) on the vertical edge, and about five inches (5″) on the hypotenuse. As described above, these dimensions may vary with the size of the puzzle board  10 . As is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the edges of the crop at each corner  170  may be matched together and sewn to form a seam  190  of about a quarter inch (¼″). The piece  160  now forms a three-dimensional, (developed) open-faced box. The cover  100  may be similar in look to a fitted sheet. 
     As is shown in FIG. 5, the edges of the entire sheet  160  may be folded over backward away from the upward-facing material (towards the interior side of the material) to form a fold  200  of about one inch (1″) in length. A piece of the elastic cord  150  may be secured into the fold  200  by sewing one end of the elastic cord  150  onto the material and running the length of the elastic cord  150  through the fold  200  as the fold  200  is being sewn. The fold  200  creates a pocket for the elastic cord  150 . The second end of the elastic cord  150  may be sewn to the material and the pocket may be sewn shut so as to completely encase the elastic cord  150 . The elastic cord  150  also may be sewn directly onto the material at any plurality of locations along the elastic cord  150 . 
     As is shown in FIGS. 7-10, the sheet  160  may now be turned right-side in and slipped over the front of the puzzle board  10  and secured by slipping it over each of the four corners of the board  10 . The sewn corners  170  of the cover  100  fit snugly over the corners of the board  10  so as to wrap around the flat surface and “hug” the bottom side of the board  10 . The elastic cord  150  pulls on the material slightly and keeps it taut to prevent the pieces  20 —either flat, raised, or with knobs—from slipping or detaching from the base  10 . The entire puzzle  10 ,  20 ,  100  can be carried or stored horizontally or vertically. 
     By way of example, the cover  100  may be approximately 8¾ inches by 11¾ inches so as to fit most small wooden puzzles within an inch of these dimensions. Alternatively, the cover  100  may be about eleven (11) inches by about fourteen (14) so as to fit the larger puzzles on the market or three small puzzles stacked on top of each other. Either size can hold multiple cardboard and wooden puzzles  20  stacked on top of each other, depending upon the thickness of the puzzles. Smaller, non-uniform puzzles can be held in place securely when placed on top of a “standard” size, thin puzzle and secured by a cover  100 . Further designs may include specialty shapes and sizes to fit, for example, triangular puzzles, etc. It is important to note that the dimensions listed herein are for example only. The actual dimensions may vary. 
     The cover  100  also may be used to hold felt boards  10  and their multiple pieces  20 . Felt boards  10  may be similar in size to traditional puzzles and may have similar needs due to the many felt pieces  20  that can be used. The cover  100  also may be used with any other item or product that includes a similar-sized flat board  10  and additional components that the user would like to keep together. 
     FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. A cover  210  may include a window  220  so as to allow the user to identify the puzzle board  10  secured by the cover  210 . The window  220  may be created by removing an area of any size and shape from the cover  210  and by sewing a section of mesh material, clear material, or other substantially transparent material to the cover to fill the area that has been removed. The window  220  may not be used if the cover is sufficiently transparent to allow the user to identify the puzzle or if identification of the puzzle board  10  is not desired. 
     It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to the preferred embodiments of the present invention and that numerous changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.