Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1897-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
JOSEPH THOMAS SMITH of 11 Harvey Road, Hornsey Middlesex, Secretary to a
Public Company do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A Design or Designs whereby certain mottos or figures of Animals or any other
subject or subjects whatever are so drawn on several sheets of transparent paper or
celluloid or other substance that it forms a very difficult Puzzle.
I, JOSEPH THOMAS SMITH, of 11, Harvey Road, Hornsey, in the County of Middlesex,
Secretary to a Public Company, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
The invention relates to a puzzle.
My improved puzzle is constructed of two three or more sheets of stiff material
such as paper or card, celluloid, horn and the like one two or more of which sheets are
transparent, and preferably all said sheets having designs printed or otherwise
impressed thereon. Said sheets are superposed and secured together in such a
manner as to be capable of being moved relatively with regard to each other. The
designs on the sheets are so arranged that in one position of the sheets relatively to
each other the designs on all the sheets unite to form a word or words or an easily
recognisable device such as a portrait, figure or the like.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now proceed
to describe by way of example one method of carrying out the same in practice.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a view of the undermost sheet, and
Figures 2 and 3 are views of the upper two transparent sheets of a puzzle
constructed in accordance with my invention.
Figure 4 is a view shewing the three sheets secured together, and
Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 Figure 4.
The undermost sheet A, Figure 1, may be made of white card or the like of
suitable thickness, the upper sheets B and C, Figures 2 and 3, being of celluloid,
mica, talc, horn or other suitable transparent material. The three sheets are
secured together at the centre by an eyelet D or by other suitable means, so
that the two transparent sheets can be rotated relatively to the undermost sheet
and to each other. Means such as a projection E for example on each sheet are

page_text: provided for rotating the same. The designs on the sheets are shewn in the first
three figures of the drawing, and are so arranged that in one position of the
three sheets relatively to each other the designs combine to form a complete
device, a motto for example as shewn in Figure 4.
If one or two of the sheets be rotated on the axis the word or picture is
distorted and no longer recognisable. The puzzle consists in taking the device
in this condition and restoring the sheets to their proper relative positions as
shewn in Figure 4.
It will be obvious that the complexity and difficulty of a puzzle of this
description can be varied to a very considerable degree depending upon the nature of
the design on each sheet. For example if a considerable portion of the completed
device is impressed upon one of the sheets, another sheet or both remaining
sheets being nearly plain, a clue is afforded which can be readily followed up.
and the complete device produced.
In place of designs such as the moon and the stars shewn in the drawing
adapted to form words I may so arrange that the complete device forms a picture
or a well known figure, a portrait for example, and in these cases I have generally
found that the puzzle is much more difficult of solution.
The mechanical construction of the puzzle is susceptible of considerable variation.
For example in place of a pivot at the centre circular sheets as shewn may be
arranged to revolve within a rim, the middle sheet being fixed, and the two outer
sheets, namely, the back and front sheets, being rotated by means of suitable handles
secured thereto, or the sheets may be made square or rectangular in shape, adapted
to slide one over the other. More than three sheets may be provided if desired, and
in some cases one or more of said sheets may be quite plain, having no design, and
serving to bewilder the solver.
A puzzle of this description may be used as an advertising medium. For example
the motto or words may form an advertisement which appears when the puzzle is
solved, or advertisements may be printed on the back or in the blank spaces of the
puzzle, or unsuccessful solvers inay be referred to particular parties for the
solution.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A puzzle consisting of two or more sheets one or more of which are transparent,
said sheets being capable of relative movement with regard to each other, and being
provided with designs so arranged that in one particular position of the sheets the
several designs unite to form a word or words, or picture or other recognisable
device.
2. The improved puzzle constructed substantially as described with reference to
the drawing.
.
T11007