Patent Publication Number: US-5158295-A

Title: Picture puzzle assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to puzzles in which multiple planar pieces, each presenting a portion of a picture, are adapted to be interfitted to form a sheet presenting the picture. Such puzzles are commonly referred to as &#34;jigsaw&#34; puzzles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Commonly, the pictures on a jigsaw puzzle are of high quality. However, heretofore, there has been not been a convenient way to wall-mount the assembled puzzle and yet leave it in a form suitable for reuse. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides the standard jigsaw puzzle with a magnetic back whereby the pieces of the puzzle will adhere by magnetic attraction to a ferrous backing plate. This plate may be provided with a picture frame. Trim strips with magnetic backing may be used to fill any space existing between the border of the assembled puzzle and the picture frame. The magnetic backing on the puzzle is applied as a back layer before the puzzle is divided into multiple pieces during manufacture. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front plan view showing a puzzle sheet made in accordance with the present invention before being divided into puzzle pieces; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation view of an assembled puzzle and frame assembly in accordance with the invention; and 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken as indicated by lines 3--3 in FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the practice of the present invention, a laminated sheet 10 is formed having a stiff planar core layer 122, a front picture presenting layer 14, and a back magnetic layer 16. 
     The core layer 12 may be stiff cardboard or any other suitable material presently commonly used for jigsaw puzzles; and the picture-presenting layer 14 may, for example, be a paper sheet upon which a picture (not shown) has been printed. The layers 12, 14 are bonded together by a suitable adhesive. It is intended that standard practices in the puzzle industry be used in forming the core layer faced with a picture. 
     The present invention involves providing the back magnetic layer 16. This layer comprises a flexible magnetic sheeting which may be 0.030 inch thick and be like that sold under the trademark ZIP-GRIP™ by Master Magnetics, Inc., Castle Rock, Colo. A suitable adhesive bonds the magnetic layer 16 to the core layer 12. The back side of the magnetic layer 16 may have a vinyl coating. 
     After the layers 12, 14, and 16 are bonded together to form the sheet 10, the sheet is cut into multiple puzzle pieces 10a in the standard manner. Each resulting puzzle piece has a magnetic backing and presents part of a picture on its front side. 
     As part of the invention, a ferrous backing plate 18 is provided of a size to receive the puzzle when it is assembled. The backing plate 18 may be a piece of galvanized sheet metal. 
     Preferably, a suitable border frame 20 is provided to receive the backing plate 18. It is intended that this frame 20 be any of a variety of standard picture frames of the type adapted to receive a glass picture-covering sheet; hence details of the frame are not critical. Standard picture-hanging elements can be mounted on the back of the frame 20 or backing plate 18. 
     A single size of border frame and backing plate unit 18, 20 can be used with several smaller sizes of puzzles by use of trim strips 22 having magnetic backings like the magnetic backing 16 on the puzzle. The trim strips 22 are cut to fit between the periphery of the puzzle sheet 10 and the border frame 20. 
     The puzzle may be assembled on the backing plate 18, or on another surface, and then moved onto the backing plate. The frame 20 and backing plate 18 can be preassembled as a unit before the puzzle is placed on the backing plate or can be assembled later. After the assembled puzzle is positioned on the backing plate 18, trim strips 22 may be applied to the backing plate to fill the gaps, if any, between the periphery of the puzzle sheet 10 and the frame 20. The resulting assembly results in a framed picture suitable for wall hanging and puzzle storage while leaving the puzzle ready to be reused. 
     From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.