Abstract:
A multi-skill jigsaw puzzle intended for the entertainment of two or more people and having at least two puzzle piece sizes in a pre-determined spacial relationship, the larger size puzzle pieces for those less skilled in working jigsaw puzzles, and the smaller puzzle pieces requiring a higher degree of puzzle working skill. Intermediate puzzle pieces occupy an area that separates and joins the at least two puzzle sections. The intermediate puzzle pieces are larger than the at least two (2) puzzle piece sizes and includes a first side of protrusions and recesses sized to mate with puzzle pieces in the first section, and a second side, opposite the first side, of protrusions and recesses sized to mate with puzzle pieces in the second section.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    U.S. Provisional Application for Patent No. 64/459,160, filed Dec. 8, 2011, with title “Multi-Skill Jigsaw Puzzle” which is hereby incorporated by reference. Applicant claim priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Par. 119(e)(i). 
     
    
       [0002]    Statement as to rights to inventions made under Federally sponsored research and development: Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The invention relates generally to a puzzle comprised of irregularly shaped pieces commonly referred to as a jigsaw puzzle and more particularly to a new type of jigsaw puzzle with different skill levels. 
         [0005]    2. Brief Description of Prior Art 
         [0006]    Traditional jigsaw puzzles include a two dimensional image, design, picture, etc., displayed on cardboard that are cut into random shapes having protrusions and recesses. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many individuals, both children and adults alike enjoy working a good jigsaw puzzle. However, the prior art jigsaw puzzles available and found by the Inventor, are restrictive when for example, a parent wishes to work a jigsaw puzzle with a child, where the child is able to contribute to the project. What is not available is a jigsaw puzzle that both the parent and child can enjoy and be challenged. Instead, it is common to purchase a puzzle having larger size puzzle pieces for a child to work and, a puzzle having smaller size puzzle pieces for an adult. 
         [0007]    What is needed, then, is a jigsaw puzzle that has the features and complexities of a traditional jigsaw puzzle but is able to be enjoyed, challenged and completed simultaneously by multiple users with different skill levels. 
         [0008]    As will be seen from the subsequent description, the preferred embodiments of the present invention overcome shortcomings of the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is embodied within a jigsaw puzzle intended for the entertainment of two or more people and having at least two puzzle piece sizes in a pre-determined spacial relationship. As a result, the larger size puzzle pieces for those less skilled in working jigsaw puzzles, and the smaller puzzle pieces requiring a higher degree of puzzle working skill. 
         [0010]    The jigsaw puzzle defines at least two (2) sections or zones that comprise the puzzle. A first set of relatively large puzzle pieces define the first section and a second set of relatively small puzzle pieces define the second section. It is important that the puzzle pieces defining the at least two (2) sections have an obvious size variance and are located in a spaced apart manner such that the multiple sections are easily distinguishable. Thus, by using clearly distinct size disparity with the puzzle pieces, a user can distinctly place a puzzle piece in a particular section with clear demarcation between the sections of similar-shaped, but dissimilarly-sized puzzle pieces. At least one intermediate puzzle piece occupies an area that separates and joins the at least two (2) sections. The at least one intermediate puzzle piece is clearly larger than the puzzle pieces of the at least two sections and includes a first side of protrusions and recesses sized to mate with puzzle pieces in the first section, and a second side, opposite the first side, of protrusions and recesses sized to mate with puzzle pieces in the second section. 
         [0011]    In the preferred embodiment, the section of the puzzle having the larger puzzle pieces may be successfully worked by a child while the section with smaller pieces may simultaneously be worked by an adult. The joint effort and completion of such a puzzle contributes importantly towards both the adult and child being challenged and towards a joint sense of accomplishment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the present invention, a multi-skilled jigsaw puzzle.  FIG. 1  illustrates a jigsaw puzzle having two (2) sections. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a plan view illustrating the multi-skilled jigsaw puzzle of the present invention having three (3) sections. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a modified puzzle of the present invention having a visual display. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    In accordance with the present invention, a multi-skill jigsaw puzzle is disclosed. The jigsaw puzzle is primarily directed to a jigsaw puzzle to be simultaneously worked by and entertaining to individuals having a wide variance of jigsaw puzzle solving skills. As a result, the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention may be entertaining to both child and adult to provide a challenge to both and a joint sense of accomplishment upon their completion of the puzzle. In the broadest context, the multi-skill jigsaw puzzle of the present invention consists of components configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1-3  illustrate a preferred embodiment of a multi-skill jigsaw puzzle made in accordance with the present invention. The jigsaw puzzle of the present invention designated as numeral  10  indicates generally an assembled, rectangular shaped jigsaw puzzle. However as will be understood, the shaped jigsaw puzzle may vary beyond the shape illustrated without departing from the present invention. 
         [0017]    As illustrated, the jigsaw puzzle  10  defines at least two (2) sections or zones that comprise the puzzle  10 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , a jigsaw puzzle having two (2) such sections is disclosed. A first set of relatively large puzzle pieces designated as numeral  15  define a first section marked “A” and a second set of relatively small puzzle pieces designated as numeral  20  define a second section marked “B.” It is important that the puzzle pieces defining the at least two (2) sections or zones have an obvious size variance and as illustrated, are located in a spaced apart manner such that the multiple sections or zones are easily distinguishable visually. It should be understood that not all puzzle pieces in the defined sections are identified by a reference numeral. 
         [0018]    It should be understood that all the puzzle pieces  15  in the first section are substantially the same size. Likewise, the puzzle pieces  20  in the second section are substantially the same size. Further, the size differences between the puzzle pieces in section A and the puzzle pieces in section B are a clear distinct size disparity such that a user can easily identify and place a puzzle piece in the appropriate section with clear demarcation between the sections. As a result, the puzzle pieces in the present invention can readily be identified as belonging to one or the other section. Thus, by using clearly distinct size disparity with the puzzle pieces of the present invention  10 , this allows a user to distinctly place a puzzle piece in a particular section with clear demarcation between the sections of similar-shaped, but dissimilarly-sized puzzle pieces. 
         [0019]    The larger puzzle pieces  15  in section A are connected or bridged with the smaller puzzle pieces in section B with at least one intermediate puzzle pieces  25 . As illustrated, it is critical that the intermediate piece(s)  25  are substantially the same size and are larger than the puzzle pieces  15 . As a result, the intermediate puzzle pieces  25  have an obvious size variance to puzzle pieces  15 ,  20  such that the puzzle pieces  25  are easily distinguishable visually. 
         [0020]    The intermediate puzzle pieces  25  occupy an area that separates and joins the sections A and B. The jigsaw puzzle  10  preferably includes a single row and/or column of intermediate puzzle pieces  25  that again, have a larger size than the larger puzzle pieces  15  in section A. Each intermediate puzzle piece  25  includes a first side of protrusions and recesses sized to mate with puzzle pieces  15  in section A, and a second side, opposite the first side, of protrusions and recesses sized to mate with puzzle pieces  20  in section B. Accordingly, the puzzle pieces of the first and second sections will be spaced apart by the intermediate puzzle pieces and will be distinguishable in size with the section A, the simplest area of the puzzle, and section B the most difficult portion of the puzzle being the area having the smaller sized pieces. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the jigsaw puzzle  10  is disclosed having three (3) sections or zones. A first set of larger puzzle pieces designated as numeral  15  define a first section marked “A”; a second set of puzzle pieces designated as numeral  20  that are smaller than puzzle pieces  15  define a second section marked “B”; and a third set of puzzle pieces designated as numeral  22  that are smaller than puzzle pieces  20  define a third section marked “C.” It is important that the puzzle pieces that define each of the three (3) sections or zones shown in  FIG. 2  have an obvious size variance and as illustrated, are located in a spaced apart manner such that the multiple sections or zones are easily distinguishable visually. 
         [0022]    It should be understood that all the puzzle pieces  15  in the first section are substantially the same size, all the puzzle pieces  20  in the second section are substantially the same size, and, all the puzzle pieces  22  in the third section are substantially the same size. Further, the size differences between the puzzle pieces in section A, section B, and section C are a clear distinct size disparity such that a user can easily identify and place a puzzle piece in the appropriate section with clear demarcations between the sections. As a result, the puzzle pieces can be readily identified as belonging to the correct section. Thus, by using clearly distinct size disparity with the puzzle pieces of the present invention  10 , this allows the user to distinctly place the puzzle piece in a particular section with clear demarcation between the sections of similar-shaped, but dissimilar-sized puzzle pieces. 
         [0023]    The puzzle pieces in sections A, B and C are connected or bridged to one another with at least one intermediate puzzle piece  25 . As illustrated, it is critical that the intermediate piece(s)  25  are substantially the same size, and larger than the puzzle pieces  15 . As a result, the intermediate puzzle pieces  25  have an obvious size variance to puzzle pieces  15 ,  20 ,  22  such that the puzzle pieces  25  are easily distinguishable visually. 
         [0024]    As illustrated, the intermediate puzzle pieces  25  occupy an area that separates and joins the sections A, B and C. The jigsaw puzzle  10  perferrably includes a single row and/or column of intermediate puzzle pieces  25  that again, have a larger size than the plurality of puzzle pieces in the at least two (2) sections or zones defined. Each intermediate puzzle piece  25  includes a first side of protrusions and recesses designated in  FIG. 2  as numeral  25 A, and a second side of protrusions and recesses designated as numeral  25 B. The protrusions and recesses  25 A,  25 B sized to mate with the puzzle pieces in section A, B or C, such that the puzzle pieces will be spaced apart by the intermediate puzzle pieces. 
         [0025]    In application the intermediate puzzle pieces  25  are first separated and then assembled on the puzzle  10 . The assembled intermediate pieces  25  will define for the users the number of sections or zones for that particular puzzle. Once the zones are identified, the remaining plurality of puzzle pieces can be separated by size and then assembled in the appropriate section of the puzzle  10 . 
         [0026]    As is typical with prior art jigsaw puzzles, a composite visual display imprinted on the puzzle pieces may facilitate puzzle working. When all the puzzle pieces are assembled, a recognizable image is formed (See  FIG. 3 ). Any number of visual displays and colors may be imprinted on the pieces to aid in puzzle solution. 
         [0027]    As earlier noted, the provision of having an arrangement of a first section with larger size puzzle pieces and a second section with smaller size puzzle pieces renders the puzzle challenging and entertaining for two or more individuals having different degrees of puzzle working experience such as an adult and child. The first and second sections may be assembled by individual effort as well as a certain amount of joint participation, when needed, in order to complete the puzzle. 
         [0028]    Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, while a rectangular shaped puzzle is shown, it is understood that the overall puzzle configuration may vary beyond the shape shown without departing from the present invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims in the formal application and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.