Patent Publication Number: US-8113518-B2

Title: Multi-dimensional puzzle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/105,022 filed Oct. 13, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to puzzles, and, more particularly, to multi-dimensional jigsaw puzzles and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Jigsaw puzzles have long been used to challenge, entertain, educate, and/or occupy players of all ages. For example, there exists two-dimensional jigsaw puzzles in which players are assisted in the assembly of the interlocking puzzle pieces by the juxtaposition of the outlines of the pieces that predetermine their desired orientation. Each of the individual puzzle pieces contains a portion of a scene or object which becomes complete as a two-dimensional depiction upon proper assembly of all of the interlocking puzzle pieces. 
     Three-dimensional variants have also been proposed in the past. Examples of three-dimensional patents are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,469,331, 4,257,606, and 3,107,918. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a novel multi-dimensional puzzle that comprises a first jigsaw puzzle which, when assembled, can be combined with a second jigsaw puzzle and/or three-dimensional objects or puzzles, whose positioning is determined by visual indicia displayed on the first jigsaw puzzle. To achieve a three-dimensional look, the two jigsaw puzzles can be mounted in a spaced-apart relationship one above the other, with the upper puzzle representing part (i.e., one or more specific objects, scenes, etc.) of the lower puzzle, but not the entire lower puzzle. 
     The assembly of the multi-dimensional puzzle constructed in accordance with the present invention can challenge the players to add visual reliefs to conventional two-dimensional jigsaw puzzles. For instance, after completing a jigsaw puzzle that depicts a house located on a landscaped residential lot, the players may construct a smaller puzzle that depicts just the house itself. This smaller puzzle is then placed on a platform that is adapted to mount it on, as well as elevate it from, the scene of the house on the larger jigsaw puzzle. Visual excitement is thereby added to an otherwise ordinary two-dimensional jigsaw puzzle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a multi-dimensional puzzle constructed in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the multi-dimensional puzzle being defined by a base layer puzzle which is shown separated from a smaller dimensional layer puzzle by a platform and mounting blocks; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the base layer puzzle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the dimensional layer puzzle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a top plan view of the platform shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4B  is a top plan view of a platform that is similar to the platform shown in  FIG. 4A , except that it is made from two pieces; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of another two-piece platform; 
         FIG. 6  is perspective view of the dimensional layer puzzle and the platform shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively, the platform being shown positioned with its front side facing up; 
         FIG. 7  is perspective view of the dimensional layer puzzle and the platform shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively, the platform being shown positioned with its back side facing up; 
         FIG. 8  is perspective view of the back side of the dimensional layer platform shown in  FIG. 7  during the addition of the mounting blocks; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the puzzle of  FIG. 3  as it is being positioned on the front side of the platform; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the multi-dimensional puzzle shown in  FIG. 1 , the multi-dimensional puzzle being fully assembled; and 
         FIG. 11  a cross-sectional view, taken along section line  11 - 11  and looking in the direction of the arrows, of the multi-dimensional puzzle shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a multi-dimensional puzzle  10  having four basic component parts which provide puzzle players challenging, satisfying and artistic experiences in assembling the multi-dimensional puzzle  10 . More particularly, the component parts include a base layer puzzle  12 , which is assembled from a plurality of base layer puzzle pieces  14 ; a dimensional layer puzzle  16 , which is assembled from a plurality of dimensional layer puzzle pieces  18 ; a platform  20 , which supports the dimensional layer puzzle  16 ; and a plurality of mounting blocks  22 , which support the platform  20  in an elevated position above the base layer puzzle  12 . Each of the component parts is described in greater detail hereinbelow. 
       FIG. 2  depicts the base layer puzzle  12 , which is in the form of a assembled conventional two-dimensional jigsaw puzzle. As is the case with conventional jigsaw puzzles, the base layer puzzle pieces  14  are interconnected with each other by the juxtaposition of mating corresponding outlines of the pieces  14 . Typically, to form the base layer puzzle  12 , the puzzle pieces  14  are assembled on a flat surface (not shown) such as a board, plate, or table top, which is suitable for supporting the base layer puzzle  12 , as well as for resisting any inadvertent disassembly of same. The base layer puzzle  12  has flat upper and lower surfaces  24 ,  26 , respectively. In this example, the upper surface  24  depicts a residential scene  28 , which includes a house scene  30  and a tree scene  32 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the dimensional layer puzzle  16  is in the form of a assembled conventional two-dimensional jigsaw puzzle. The puzzle  16  is assembled from the dimensional layer puzzle pieces  18 , which are interconnected with each other by the juxtaposition of mating corresponding outlines of the pieces  18 . Typically, as in the case of the base layer puzzle  12 , the dimensional layer puzzle  16  is assembled on a flat surface S such as a table top (see  FIG. 9 ). The dimensional layer puzzle  16  has flat upper and lower surfaces  34 ,  36 , respectively, and an outline  38 . In this example, the upper surface  34  contains a scene H which is substantially identical to the house scene  30  of the base layer puzzle  12 . More particularly, the size, shape, and pictorial content of the scene H of the dimensional layer puzzle  16  are substantially the same as the size, shape, and pictorial content of the house scene  30  of the base layer puzzle  12 . The outlines of the dimensional layer puzzle pieces  18  need not correspond with the outlines of those base layer puzzle pieces  14  that depict the house scene  30 , even though they could. In many, if not all, instances, the dimensional layer puzzle pieces  18  have shapes and sizes (i.e., outlines) different than the shapes and sizes (i.e., outlines) of the base layer puzzle pieces  14  that depict the house scene  30 . For example, thirty puzzle pieces could comprise the portion of the base layer puzzle pieces  14  that depict the house scene  30 , while twenty differently shaped and sized puzzle pieces could comprise the dimensional layer puzzle pieces  18 . 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates the platform  20 , which has an outline  40  that is shaped to conform with the outline  38  of the dimensional layer puzzle  16 . The platform  20  may be fabricated from a single piece of cardboard, plastic or other suitable material. Alternatively, the platform  20  could be made from a plurality of interfitting pieces (see  FIG. 4B  which depicts a two-piece platform  20 ′ constructed from pieces  20   a  and  20   b ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a second platform  42  is assembled from a plurality of pieces  44 ,  46  that cooperate to form an outline  48 . The platform  42  is sized and shaped to conform with another dimensional layer puzzle  50  (see  FIG. 10 ), which is made from a plurality of dimensional layer puzzle pieces  51 . Continuing to refer to  FIG. 10 , the dimensional layer puzzle  50  has an outline  52 , which conforms to the outline  48  of the platform  42 . The dimensional layer puzzle  50  also includes upper and lower surfaces  54 ,  56 , respectively. The upper surface  54  contains a scene T, which is substantially identical to the tree scene  32  of the base layer puzzle  12 . More particularly, the size, shape, and pictorial content of the scene T of the dimensional layer puzzle  50  are substantially the same as the size, shape, and pictorial content of the tree scene  32  of the base layer puzzle  12 . Like the puzzle pieces  18 , the puzzle pieces  51  can have outlines that do not necessarily correspond with the outlines of those base layer puzzle pieces  14  that depict the tree scene  32 , even though they could. In many, if not, all, instances, the dimensional layer puzzle pieces  51  have shapes and sizes (i.e., outlines) different than the shapes and sizes (i.e., outlines) of the base layer puzzle pieces  14  that depict the tree scene  32 . For example, fifteen puzzle pieces could comprise the portion of the base layer puzzle pieces  14  that depict the tree scene  32 , while five differently shaped and sized puzzle pieces could comprise the dimensional layer puzzle pieces  51 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate the positioning used for determining and marking front and back sides  58 ,  60 , respectively, of the platform  20 , for purposes that are discussed hereinbelow. Although the outline  40  of the platform  20  is symmetrical, and either side of platform  20  may be designated the front side or the back side, it should be understood that it would be necessary to designate and mark the front and back sides of platforms that have non-symmetrical outlines, such as the platform  42 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 6 , the platform  20  is placed on the upper surface  34  of the dimensional layer puzzle  16 , with its outline  40  aligned with outline  38  of the dimensional layer puzzle  16 . The front side  58  of the platform  20  may then be marked, for example, with the word “front”. Likewise, referring to  FIG. 7 , the platform  20  is flipped over and the back side  60  may then be marked, for instance, with the word “back”. Also, front and back sides  62 ,  64 , respectively, of the platform  42  (see  FIG. 5 ) may also be determined and marked in a similar manner. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the positioning used for the placement and assembly of the mounting blocks  22  on the back side  60  of the platform  20 , for a purpose that will be described hereinbelow. More particularly, each of the mounting blocks  22  has a height D, and top and bottom surfaces  66 ,  68 . The mounting blocks  22  have adhesive (not shown) on the top and bottom surfaces  66 ,  68 , the adhesive being covered with removable tape (not shown). In order to assemble the mounting blocks  22  to the platform  20 , the user removes the tape from the bottom surfaces  68  of the of the mounting blocks  22  to thereby expose the adhesive. The bottom surfaces  68  are then positioned and the pressed against the back side  60  of the platform  20 . The positioning of the mounting blocks  22  on the back side  60  of the platform  20  may be facilitated by a block placement diagram (not shown). While four blocks are shown, any number may be employed depending on the size of the dimensional layer puzzle  16  being supported to by the platform  20 . There would be enough of the mounting blocks  22  so that some of them could be applied, in a similar fashion, to the back side  64  of the platform  42  (see  FIGS. 10 and 11 ). 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the positioning used for the placement of the dimensional layer puzzle  16  on the platform  20 . The platform  20  is first positioned adjacent to the flat surface S on which the dimensional layer puzzle  16  is resting, with its front side  58  facing upward and oriented in the same plane as the flat surface S. The puzzle  16  is then slid off the flat surface S onto the front side  58  of the platform  20 . A similar process would be employed for the placement of the dimensional layer puzzle  50  on the platform  42 . 
     In use, a player would first assemble the base layer puzzle  12 . The dimensional layer puzzles  16 ,  50  and the platforms  20 ,  42  would then be assembled as described above. The mounting blocks  22  would be attached to the back sides  60 ,  64  of the platforms  16 ,  42 , respectively, as described above. The dimensional layer puzzles  16 ,  50  would then be positioned on the platforms  20 ,  42 , respectively, as described above. Finally, with reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , without removing the tape from the top surfaces  66  of the mounting blocks  22  (i.e., so as to avoid exposing the adhesive thereon), the platforms  20 ,  42  would be placed on the upper surface  24  of the of the base layer puzzle  12 . More particularly, the platform  20  (which supports the dimensional layer puzzle  16  having the scene H) would be placed over the house scene  30 , and the platform  42  (which supports the dimensional layer puzzle  50  having the tree scene T) would be placed over the tree scene  32 , thereby movably (e.g., slidably) supporting the dimensional layer puzzles  16 ,  50  above and spaced apart from the base layer puzzle  12  by the height D of the blocks  22  (see  FIG. 11 ). Of course, the dimensional layer puzzles  16 ,  50  could be immovably, but not necessarily irremovably, mounted to the base layer puzzle  12  by removing the tape from the top surface  66  of the mounting blocks  22 . Also, the height D of each mounting block  22  could vary, thereby allowing the dimensional layer puzzle  16  to have a different height and/or angle of inclination compared to the dimensional layer puzzle  50 . 
     Upon completion of the assembly of the multi-dimensional puzzle  10 , it may be desired to prepare it for transportation and/or display in various positions (e.g., as wall-hanging art) without becoming disassembled. To accomplish this, the user may take the following steps: a) remove the dimensional layer puzzle  16 /platform  20  unit and the dimensional layer puzzle  50 /platform  42  unit from the base layer puzzle  12 ; b) carefully flip these units upside down on a work surface—this may be accomplished by placing thin pieces of cardboard over the puzzles  16 ,  50  to facilitate keeping the pieces  14 ,  18 , respectively, in place while flipping same; c) lift the platforms  20 ,  42  off the dimensional layer sides puzzles  16 ,  50 , respectively; d) spread an even layer of puzzle glue covering the entire front sides  58 ,  62  of the platforms  20 ,  42 , respectively; (e) place the front sides  58 ,  62  of the platforms  20 ,  42 , respectively, on the lower surfaces  36 ,  56  of the puzzles  16 ,  50 , respectively, thereby gluing the pieces together; (f) apply an even layer of puzzle glue over the entire upper surface  24  of the base layer puzzle  12 ; (g) wait for the puzzle glue on the base layer puzzle  12  to dry; (h) remove the tape from the adhesive on the top surfaces  66  of the blocks  22 ; (i) place the dimensional layer puzzle  16 /platform  20  unit and the dimensional layer puzzle  50 /platform  42  unit directly over the corresponding house and tree scenes  30 ,  32 , respectively, of the base layer puzzle  12  and press together to adhere. 
     It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, a plurality of three-dimensional layer puzzle pieces (not shown) may replace all of some of the two-dimensional puzzle pieces  14 ,  18 , and/or  51 . The three-dimensional layer puzzle pieces may have flat lower surfaces and contoured upper surfaces so that when assembled, the three dimensional layer puzzle would have a three-dimensional upper surface, thereby providing enhanced visual excitement to the multi-layer puzzle  10 . The mounting blocks  22  may be rigid or they may be made from a flexible material (i.e., cellular foam). If made from a very flexible material, the mounting blocks  22  would allow some limited in and out and back and fourth movement of the dimensional layer puzzles  16 ,  50 , relative to the base layer puzzle  12 , thereby adding another visual feature (i.e., a “jiggling” and/or oscillating effect) to the novel multi-dimensional puzzle  10 . Accordingly, all such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.