Abstract:
A multiple dimensional puzzle configuration having interlocking puzzle components defining a fixed geometric shape upon proper assembly. Each of the multiple puzzle elements has multiple surfaces that engage corresponding interlocking surfaces of adjacent puzzle component elements within a display formation for commercial indicia or other so designated messages when assembled.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/188,179 filed Aug. 7, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    This invention relates to puzzle art, specifically to three dimensional puzzles that require the user to disassemble and reassemble a puzzle configuration in which the corresponding puzzle parts are interlocked by their interengaging relative physical dimensional aspects. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0005]    Prior art devices of this type are of a wide variety of different shapes and dimensions; see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,829,101, 5,826,873, 6,293,547, 6,601,849, 6,648,330 and U.S. Publication 2006/0001212 A1. 
         [0006]    In U.S. Pat. No. 3,829,101 a puzzle assembly with intersecting pieces is disclosed wherein a block is formed from contoured interengaging puzzle pieces that form two intersecting cylinders within the block. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,873 is directed to a three dimensional puzzle having interlocking components, each of which has at least one engageable surface that when so assembled define a known shape. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,849 claims a spherical puzzle having contoured interfacing elements to form a representation of a golf ball. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,547 discloses a multi-dimensional puzzle wherein a cylindrical base has lateral slots and longitudinal slots so as to define multiple tubular assembled members by joining interengagement surfaces. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,330 illustrates a 3D puzzle having a plurality of geometrically different components that have right angular orientations to achieve when so assembled a cube configuration. 
         [0011]    U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0001212 A1 defines a block puzzle having a series of puzzle pieces capable of forming a variety of so defined independent dimensional shapes when assembled in a specific way. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    A dimensional puzzle of an assembled geometric shape formed from a plurality of interlocking contoured surface components. Each puzzle component defines both an exterior geometric surface and multiple access interior curvilinear surfaces for inner dimensional registration with one another along corresponding surface interfaces. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention in pre-construction form. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front exploded perspective view of the invention in assembled user form in a display base and top. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded rear perspective view with one of the puzzle pieces removed. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a reconfigured puzzle configuration defining a sculptural shape. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a reconfigured side perspective view thereon in a display base bottom and top assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a perspective view of a rectangular puzzle cube  10  from which the basic puzzle  11  of the dimension is derived. The puzzle cube  10  is shown to illustrate the direction and orientation of cuts C which are made therein to achieve the multiple faceted puzzle  11 . It will be seen in this example that a first horizontal cut as  12  has been made longitudinally within the cube  10  along the longitudinal axis thereof. The cut  12  extends through the cube  10  in a contoured continuous pattern defining in vertical orientation an identical end entrance and exit points  13 A and  13 B. A saw blade  14  representation is illustrated as beginning the second longitudinal cut at  15  at right angles to the first cut with a continuous cut along a puzzle piece pattern line  16  indicated by broken lines thereon. The cuts form multiple contoured puzzle pieces  17 ,  18 ,  19 , and  20 . It will be evident from the above description that the so formed puzzle pieces  17 - 20  can only be removed from the puzzle cube  11  by sliding the part corresponding puzzle pieces pairs along the adjoining contoured axis cut surfaces  17 A,  18 A,  19 B and  20 B respectively. 
         [0019]    Once separated, as described, the so defined puzzle pieces pairs then can be separated along the corresponding second cut line  16  of their respective adjoining contoured cut surfaces  17 B and  20 B and  18 B and  19 B to define the four independent puzzle pieces  17 ,  18 ,  19  and  20  hereinbefore described as best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. 
         [0020]    The critical aspect of the puzzle pieces is that each of the puzzle pieces has multiple contoured surfaces generally referred to at  21  and multiple adjacent opposing flat planar surfaces  22 . This unique surface configuration allows for a variety of assemblies beyond that of the basic rectangular puzzle cube  10  when solved as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5  of the drawings in which the orientation of the contoured and planar surfaces result in a sculptural shape with the sculptural elements that may extend beyond the original dimensional footprint of the cube  10 . Such divergent decorative assembly as a static design or as a puzzle solving starting point is supported by an interchangeable base  23  and top  24 , best seen in  FIG. 2  of the drawings which have square puzzle piece receiving recessed configurations defined by multiple upstanding sidewalls  25  with an integral platform  26  for a corresponding multiple puzzle piece receiving and retainment area  27  therewithin as hereinbefore referred. 
         [0021]    Referring back to  FIG. 3  of the drawings, the multiple contoured surfaces  21  of the component puzzle piece  18  can be seen with a puzzle piece not assembled and not able to be assembled to the remaining assembled is puzzle pieces indicated at  28 . It illustrates that only by preassembling along the original cut paths before the assembled original puzzle piece pairs are then in turn slidably engaged can the original multiple outer co-planar surfaces of the assembled puzzle cube  10  be achieved. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, a 3D puzzle art sculpture is achieved by simply maintaining the longitudinal orientation of the puzzle pieces reassembled so that the so formed outer elongated edge corners will be inverted to define a center while still being engaged within the hereinbefore described retainment base and top  23  and  24  of a preferred square configuration. This orientation will assure that a unique contoured sculptural configuration can be achieved by a variety of different inverted orientations of the respective puzzle pieces  17 ,  18 ,  19  and  20  in relation to one another and that, as noted, by definition the so defined contoured surfaces of the respective puzzle pieces thus assembled may extend beyond the original puzzle cube  10  dimensional footprint thus achieving a unique and diverse artistic expression. It will also be evident that the sculptural configuration can be reconfigured as defined by the puzzle solving interengaging contoured surfaces and respective pairs as hereinbefore described to achieve the original solved puzzle cube  10 . 
         [0023]    It will thus be seen that a new and novel three dimensional puzzle configuration has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.