Patent Publication Number: US-2012043717-A1

Title: Puzzle With Washable Pieces

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM/CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/376,135, filed on Aug. 23, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of toys, puzzles, craft items, and educational tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to a puzzle that may be housed in a container where the puzzle pieces can be colored or painted with washable paint, markers, crayons, pencils or other materials and then washed and used again. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Puzzles are both entertaining and educational for children. The inventor of the present invention previously designed a type of puzzle sometimes referred to as “Character Puzzles.” A Character Puzzle is a toy or educational tool comprising a container that is shaped and decorated to portray a certain character or thing and having an internal cavity in which puzzle pieces may be housed. The puzzle pieces housed inside of the character shaped container, when assembled, have some relationship to the container itself. For example, the container may be shaped and decorated like a doll, and the puzzle housed inside of it, when assembled, portrays a similar doll. Another example would be a puzzle that, when assembled, forms a diagram of the chemical formula for ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), which is housed inside an container that resembles an orange. The toys and educational tools described in the inventor&#39;s prior art U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,474,641 and 6,802,509, which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, can be considered “Character Puzzles.” 
     The present invention relates to an improved version of the toys and educational tools disclosed in the aforementioned patents. Like puzzles, crafts such as painting, coloring, or markers are both entertaining and educational. They encourage children to play creatively and develop artistic learning skills. The educational and entertainment value provided by Character Puzzles can be enhanced by providing the additional aspects of art and reusability. The puzzle pieces of the present invention have the ability to be painted, colored, or otherwise marked, but the puzzle pieces are also easily washable and can be painted, colored, markered, penciled, or otherwise decorated again and again. Additionally, the container for the puzzle pieces can be made from a decoratable material that is washable for reuse. 
     It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects can lead to certain other objectives. Other objects, features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in this summary and descriptions of the disclosed embodiment, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such objects, features, benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above as taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An educational toy of the present invention includes a container portraying a character or thing and washable puzzle pieces capable of being assembled into an image. The container has a cavity enclosed by a lid. The washable puzzle pieces can be housed inside the cavity of the container. The washable puzzle pieces are also capable of being assembled into an image, which in some embodiments may relate to the character or thing portrayed by the container. These and other features and advantages in accordance with this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following description and accompanying Figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of one embodiment of a container for an educational toy in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the container of the educational toy shown in  FIG. 1 , along with a bag and washable puzzle pieces. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an image formed by the assembled washable puzzle pieces of the educational toy in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an elevated front view of a bag containing the washable puzzle pieces shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In one embodiment of the invention, which is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , an educational toy comprises a container  1  and washable puzzle pieces  2 . A bag  3 , although not required, may also be provided to house the washable puzzle pieces  2  for washing or storing. The bag  3  could also be housed inside the container  1  with or without the puzzle pieces  2  inside. The bag  3  may be mesh, or have holes or other openings so water or other cleaning agents can permeate the bag to clean the washable puzzle pieces  2 . 
     The container  1  is shaped and decorated to portray a character or other object. In  FIG. 1  for example, the container  1  is shaped like a hippopotamus character. The container  1  may portray an infinite variety of characters or items, ranging from people, animals, fictional characters, foods, objects, or any other item. The container  1 , including washable puzzle pieces  2 , may be packaged and sold for retail sales. Accessories, such as a bag  2 , washable paints  4 , and brush  5 , may also be included in the retail package for the product. 
     The container  1 , has a cavity  6  and a lid  7 . The cavity  6  in the container  1  is large enough to enclose the washable puzzle pieces  2 , but may be formed in any shape. The lid  7  allows a person to access the cavity  6 , and may be capable of being opened and closed, or it may be fully removable. The lid  7  may be hinged, or otherwise partially attached to the container  1 , or it may be a separate piece from the rest of the container  1 . In the embodiment shown, the lid  7  in  FIG. 2  is shaped like a hippopotamus character&#39;s head and is attached to the container  1  with a plastic hinge  8 . The lid  7  may shaped and decorated to portray part of the character, or it may be simple and plain. 
     The washable puzzle pieces  2  can be assembled to create an image  9 . The image  9  may relate somehow to the character or thing portrayed by the container  1 . The washable puzzle pieces  2  could be varied in shape, such as jigsaw puzzle pieces, or they could be similarly shaped, such as squares or rectangles. The washable puzzle pieces  2  could have small pictures on them, or portions of pictures, such that when assembled, the washable puzzles pieces  2  form an image  9  comprised of the small pictures on individual washable puzzle pieces. Washable puzzle pieces  2  alternatively, could be plain, or could have lines or ridged edges, such that when the puzzle pieces are assembled, the image comprises outlined shapes that could be painted or otherwise decorated. The washable puzzle pieces shown in  FIG. 3  form an image  6  of a hippopotamus. Washable puzzle pieces  2  may have raised portions or ridges that form outlines of various shapes that may be painted, marked, colored, or otherwise decorated. The washable puzzle pieces  2  may also have raised edges around the perimeter of each piece, and/or raised edges that surround the perimeter of the image, to help keep paint or other materials contained upon the washable puzzle pieces  2 . 
     The educational toy of the present invention may be manufactured using any suitable processes and materials. For example, plastics, rubber, wood, ceramic, or other materials may be used for the container. Materials for the container  1  may include any suitable material for toys, but preferably would be non-breakable. The washable puzzle pieces  2  may be made from any material that can be painted, marked, colored, penciled, or otherwise decorated, and that is sufficiently durable to withstand repeated use and washing. The washable puzzle pieces  2  are preferably made from materials that are dishwasher-safe, such as plastic, but may be made from other materials as well. The bag  3  may be made from any sufficiently durable material but also would be preferably dishwasher safe. 
     The educational toy of the present invention can be used as follows. A child or student can study or play with the container  1  itself as well as the washable puzzle pieces  2 . The child can remove the washable puzzle pieces  2  from the container  1  and assemble the washable puzzle pieces  2  into the image  9 . The washable puzzle pieces  2  can be disassembled and stored in the container  1 . The washable puzzle pieces  2  can also be painted, colored, marked, penciled, or otherwise decorated, in their assembled or disassembled formats. Washable paints, markers, colors, pencils, or other types of washable art materials may be applied to the washable puzzle pieces  2 . When wet or dry, the painted, colored, marked, or otherwise decorated washable puzzle pieces  2  can washed and reused. A bag  3  may be provided for easy washing, although it is not necessary. The washable puzzle pieces  2  may be washed by hand or using a dishwasher. In a preferred embodiment, the washable puzzle pieces  2  are inserted into the bag  3  for easy washing in a dishwasher. After being washed, the washable puzzle pieces are ready for additional use and play. 
     There are an infinite number of embodiments of the present invention because of the variety of characters or things that could be portrayed and the variety of puzzle pieces and images that could be provided. Additionally, the educational toy of the present invention could be provided as separate components, or as a packaged craft kit, including accessories, art, or decorating supplies, such as markers, colors, paints, and brushes. 
     If desired, a container  1  can be provided from a washable material. In such a configuration, the user could decorate the container  1 , including the lid  7 , using washable paints, markers, or other devices and the container  1  could then be cleaned and reused in a manner similar to the washable puzzle pieces  2 . 
     Although the invention has been herein described in what is perceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth above. Rather, it is recognized that modifications may be made by one of skill in the art of the invention without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention and, therefore, the invention is to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the appended claims and the description of the invention herein.