Patent Publication Number: US-2021170267-A1

Title: Jigsaw puzzle workboard with storage drawers

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a game workboard for jigsaw puzzles and in particular it pertains to a useful game workboard for providing a jigsaw puzzle user with a convenient means of storage drawers to work on a puzzle while using a minimum amount of table space. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that may require the assembly of numerous interlocking pieces. Each piece may include a small part of a picture on it. When completely assembled, a jigsaw puzzle reveals a complete picture. 
     Jigsaw puzzles often include thousands of pieces and assembly of such puzzles may take more than one day. Usually jigsaw puzzles (often referred to as puzzles) are built on a flat surface, such as a kitchen table or a card table having collapsible legs. 
     Several types of tables are already known to provide panels upon which puzzle pieces can be assembled and to provide means for constraining such pieces in predetermined positions for storage before completion of the puzzle. Examples of these types of devices can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,987,496; 3,550,945; 4,302,013; 4,479,651; 4,552,361; 4,142,726; and, 4,111,425. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,745 describes a work panel on which the puzzle pieces are assembled. This panel is made of wood or plastic and covered by a thin layer of tin or steel constituting a ferromagnetic base. A flexible magnetic cover sheet is hinged to one edge of the work panel and adheres to the thin layer of tin or steel all around the puzzle pieces to hold them in a desired relationship and against shifting during horizontal or vertical storage of the panel. 
     Generally, these known tables/holders have proven unsuitable for storage when made of a size to accommodate puzzles containing a great number of pieces. It is too big to be conveniently carried, moreover, it is difficult to move and store a puzzle without being damaged by an accidental bump or fall. 
     What is needed is a portable table having the required size larger than that of the assembled puzzle wherein, such table which has container to store puzzle pieces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is to provide a wooden rectangular game workboard that would allow the jigsaw puzzle to be moved when necessary and would store unassembled pieces in the drawer, thereby preventing loss of the puzzle pieces. 
     The present invention generally comprises a panel having an upper surface and a lower surface. The rectangular panel has a front edge, a back edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. Four drawers are mounted on the bottom surface to extend away from both side edges. 
     Two collapsible H-shaped legs are attached to bottom surface of the panel to provide support to the panel in keeping horizontal orientation of the workboard. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be better understood by following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective top view of a jigsaw puzzle table according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the present invention without collapsible legs; and 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the present invention with collapsible legs. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The term ‘workboard’ refers to tabletop plateau made of quality woods combined with durable fiberboard providing support and surface for work. 
     The term ‘workspace’ refers to the working space available on workboard. 
     The term ‘panel’ refers to a flat wooden board made to form part of a surface. 
     The term  11 -Shaped leg&#39; refers to table bases that include a cross bar between the uprights for added strength and stability. 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1-4  thereof, a game workboard, more particularly, jigsaw puzzle workboard embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  is described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the jigsaw puzzle workboard  10  generally comprises a panel  12  rectangular in shape having an upper surface  14  and a lower surface  16 . The panel  12  has a perimeter edge  18  including a front edge  20 , a first side edge  22 , a back edge  24  and a second side edge  26 . A lip  28  is attached to and extends along the back edge  24  and the second side edge  26 . The lip  28  is mounted on the periphery of the panel  12  and it extends upward to hold a puzzle  2  as it placed on the panel  12 . The lip  28  is perpendicularly adjacent to the workspace of the workboard  10 . The lip  28  defines an interior workspace for the containment of jigsaw puzzle game pieces. The lip  28  is secured to the game workboard by suitable chemical or mechanical methods such as but not limited to glue or wood screws. Although no specific length is required for the lip  28 , good results have been achieved with a lip  28  that extends three-quarters of an inch (2 cm) in length above workboard  10 . 
     Although it is not shown in the illustrated embodiment, it is within the scope of the present invention that a padded material could be substantially superposed on the lip  28  to provide comfort for the users arms while using the workboard  10 . 
     Although it is not shown in the illustrated embodiment, it is within the scope of the present invention that a front edge  20  and second side edge  26  of panel  12  has no lip  28  attached, while, a first side edge  22  and back edge  24  has lip  28  perpendicularly adjacent to the workspace of the workboard  10 . The embodiment provide comfort for the users arm while using the workboard  10  while seated at front edge  20 . 
     Referring in particular to  FIG. 1 , the game workboard  10  as shown in the preferred illustrated embodiment is substantially planar and generally rectangular in shape. The game workboard  10  provides a horizontal support structure for the jigsaw puzzle game pieces during the assembly process of the jigsaw puzzle. Although good results have been shown with a game workboard  10  that is rectangular in shape, it is within the scope of the present invention that numerous other shapes of the game workboard  10  could be used to achieve the desired functionality as described herein. More specifically but not by way of limitation, the game workboard  10  could be circular in shape. 
     In preferred embodiment, the game workboard  10  is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as wood combined with durable fiberboard. In another embodiment, the game workboard  10  could be manufactured from plastic or fiberglass. In yet another embodiment, the workspace is made of non-slip felt surfaces to keep game pieces secure. 
     In a preferred embodiment, good results have been achieved with a game workboard  10  that is jumbo-sized measures 35.5″ in length×26.5″ in width (90×67 cm)×3″ to 4″ (7.5 cm to 9 cm) in height and standard sized measures 30″ in length×22″ in width (76×56 cm)×3″ to 4″ (7.5 cm to 9 cm). 
     The storing capacity of drawers vary as per varying sizes of the puzzle game pieces. In a preferred embodiment, the jumbo size fits most 1500 puzzle pieces and standard size fits most 1000 puzzle pieces. 
     The lip  28  is perpendicularly adjacent to the workspace of the workboard  10 . The workspace of jumbo-sized measures 34″ in length×26″ in width (86×66 cm) and standard sized measures 28.5″ in length×21.5″ in width (72×54 cm). 
     Rim  50 , as shown in  FIG. 4  is attached to bottom surface at lower surface  16  of the panel  12 . 
     A drawer  40  is mounted between panel  12  and rim  50  on the lower surface  16 . The drawer  40  is positioned such that it is extendable outwardly away from the first side edge  22 , and, the second side edge  26 . This allows the drawer  40  to be removed while the workboard is positioned on the ground surface  4  without the drawer  40  striking the ground surface  4 . Also, by being positioned along a side edge  22  and  26  of the panel  12 , the drawer  40  is accessible by a user sitting by the front edge  20  by knob  42  attached. 
     Specific size of drawers are required to fit within the workboard  10 . Good results have been achieved with a Jumbo-sized game workboard  10  that measures 17.25″ in length×11.75″ in width (44×30 cm)×1″ (2.5 cm) in height and standard sized measures 16.5″ in length×11″ in width (42×28 cm)×1″ (2.5 cm) in height. 
     Adjacent to the four corners of panel  12  the rim  50  has holes  32  on lower surface  16 . Two H-shaped legs  30  are attached to rim  50  conventionally by hinges generally in each corner of the lower surface  16  on panel  12  at holes  32 . The H-shaped legs  30  are collapsible. The collapsible legs  30 , when positioned in the holes  32 , support the panel  12  in horizontal orientation with respect to a ground surface  4  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In open position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the legs  30  are substantially perpendicular to the workboard  10  and provide support thereof. The open position is the desired position for use of the jigsaw puzzle workboard  10  during the assembly process. In closed position, the legs  30  are substantially parallel to the workboard  10 . This position is desirable for storage and transportation of the jigsaw puzzle workboard  10 . 
     The legs  30  are manufactured from a suitable durable material such as wood, plastic, fiberglass or metal. Although it is not shown in the illustrated embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous types of configuration of the legs  30  could be used. 
     In another embodiment, more specifically but not by way of limitation, the legs  30  could be manufactured of metal segments to form a telescoping leg. The telescoping legs on each corner could be independently adjusted of each other to achieve a desired length of the workboard  10 . Telescoping legs would also allow the user to place the workboard  10  at an angle similar to that of a common drafting table to for assembly and display of a jigsaw puzzle game. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, legs  30  do not have to be present for the jigsaw puzzle workboard  10  to achieve the desired function of providing a horizontal support structure with a lip  28  for the containment therein of the jigsaw puzzle game pieces. The legs  30  are preferably optional extension to the game workboard. The legs  30  as shown in the illustrated embodiment would be detached from the workboard completely for storage and/or transportation of the jigsaw puzzle workboard  10 . 
     Although the legs  30  are shown in the illustrated embodiment to be generally H-shaped legs, those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different shapes could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with the legs  30  to achieve the desired function as described herein. More specifically but not by way of limitation the legs  30  could be cylindrical in shape. The length for the legs  30  is twenty-eight inches. 
     In use, puzzle pieces  6  are stored in the drawer  40  and the puzzle  2  assembled on the upper surface  14  of the panel  12 . 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different shapes and colours of the jigsaw puzzle workboard  10  could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with the shapes and colours suggested herein to achieve the desired function of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the jigsaw puzzle workboard  10  could be used for numerous other hand games that comprise small pieces where it is desirable to have a support surface with the ability to contain the pieces of the game thereon. 
     The user will transport the game workboard  10  to a desired location. Upon reaching the desired location the user will rest the workboard  10  generally perpendicular with the floor. While supporting the workboard  10  generally perpendicular to the floor, the user will grab the legs  30  one at a time and extend each leg  30  to the open position as described herein. Once all legs  30  are in the open position, the user will then place the workboard  10  so that the workboard  10  is substantially parallel with the floor. The user will then place the desired jigsaw puzzle or other game pieces on the workspace of the workboard  10  and engage in the activity of sorting the game pieces in four drawers  40 . Upon finishing, or when the user is ready to transport or store the jigsaw puzzle workboard, the user will fold the legs  30  in closed position while supporting the workboard. The user will then lift the jigsaw puzzle workboard  10  and transport to the desired storage location such as under the bed, sofa, desk etc.