Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to the field of puzzles, and more particularly to the field of three dimensional puzzles used as training or learning tools for children and adults with cognitive disabilities. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It has been known for quite some time that “brain teaser” and “put together” types puzzles are superb learning tools for children and adults with learning or cognitive disabilities. Not only such puzzles sharpen focus and increase problem solving ability, they also improve fine motor skills, cognitive matching skills and enable simple compliance tasks. Most such puzzles of the prior art do not amount to practical or useful items upon completion of the puzzle. Rather, most puzzles of the prior art are viewed and treated as toys. It is, however, useful to have a puzzle that rewards a child or an adult with cognitive disabilities with a tangible result of their effort of putting the puzzle together. What is needed, therefore, is a puzzle that would encourage participation in the puzzle put together activities and even develop attachment to the puzzle by virtue of being a practical and useful item upon completion of the puzzle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention satisfies this need. The bottle puzzle according to this invention comprises a plurality of puzzle pieces each comprising uniquely shaped concave and convex walls with only one wall in one puzzle piece matching another wall in a different puzzle piece. Each puzzle piece comprises a fully contained compartment capable of holding and dispensing beverages. When the puzzle pieces are put together, they form a normal bottle that can be filled with one or more beverages and carried by a child or an adult with a cognitive disability after the completion of the puzzle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a bottle puzzle according to the preferred embodiment of this invention with the puzzle pieces put together. 
         FIG. 2  shows three cross sectional views of the bottle puzzle according to the preferred embodiment of this invention with one cross sectional view having the puzzle pieces put together and two cross sectional views with the puzzle pieces spread apart. 
         FIG. 3  shows isometric views of the same first puzzle piece from two perspectives. 
         FIG. 4  shows isometric views of the same second puzzle piece from two perspectives. 
         FIG. 5  shows isometric views of the same third puzzle piece from two perspectives. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     This invention will be better understood with the reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 5 . The same numerals indicate the same elements in all drawing figures. 
     Viewing, simultaneously,  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 5 , numeral  10  indicates a bottle. Bottle  10  comprises a plurality of puzzle pieces. In the preferred embodiment shown in reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 5 , only three puzzle pieces indicated by numerals  20 ,  30  and  40  are shown. However, a larger number of puzzle pieces can be used. 
     Puzzle piece  20  comprises an exterior wall indicated by numeral  20   a , a first inner wall indicated by numeral  20   b , a second inner wall indicated by numeral  20   c , a bottom wall indicted by numeral  10   a - 1  and a partial neck portion indicated by numeral  10   b - 1 . 
     Puzzle piece  30  comprises an exterior wall indicated by numeral  30   a , a first inner wall indicated by numeral  30   b , a second inner wall indicated by numeral  30   c , a bottom wall indicted by numeral  10   a - 2  and a partial neck portion indicated by numeral  10   b - 2 . 
     Puzzle piece  40  comprises an exterior wall indicated by numeral  40   a , a first inner wall indicated by numeral  40   b , a second inner wall indicated by numeral  40   c , a bottom wall indicted by numeral  10   a - 3  and a partial neck portion indicated by numeral  10   b - 3 . 
     Puzzle pieces  20 ,  30  and  40  detachably assemble to one another to form bottle  10 . Bottle  10  comprises a closed bottom indicated by numeral  10   a , a substantially cylindrical body formed by exterior walls  20   a ,  30   a  and  40   a , extending from closed bottom  10   a  and terminating in a threaded neck indicated by numeral  10   b . Threaded neck  10   b  receives a cap indicated by numeral  10   c.    
     Puzzle pieces  20 ,  30  and  40  form fully enclosed compartments capable of holding beverages and dispensing them through threaded neck  10   b.    
     First inner wall  20   b  comprises a uniquely shaped convex surface with a helical twist. Second inner wall  20   c  comprises a uniquely shaped concave surface with a helical twist. First inner wall  30   b  comprises a uniquely shaped convex surface with a helical twist. Second inner wall  30   c  comprises a uniquely shaped concave surface with a helical twist. First inner wall  40   b  comprises a uniquely shaped convex surface with a helical twist. Second inner wall  40   c  comprises a uniquely shaped concave surface with a helical twist. 
     First inner walls  20   b ,  30   b  and  30   b  of each puzzle piece  20 ,  30  and  40  coincides and engages with only one second inner wall  20   c ,  30   c  and  40   c  of another puzzle piece. Specifically, first inner wall  20   b  coincides and engages with only second inner wall  40   c . First inner wall  30   b  coincides and engages with only second inner wall  20   c . First inner wall  40   b  coincides and engages with only second inner wall  30   c . Attempting to match any other combination of first inner walls  20   b ,  30   b  and  30   b  with second inner walls  20   c ,  30   c  and  40   c  will not work. Accordingly, putting together bottle  10  out of puzzle pieces  20 ,  30  and  40  requires matching the correct combinations of first inner walls  20   b ,  30   b  and  30   b  with second inner walls  20   c ,  30   c  and  40   c.    
     Bottle  10  further comprises attachment means disposed in the coinciding first inner walls  20   b ,  30   b  and  30   b  and second inner walls  20   c ,  30   c  and  40   c . A variety of attachment means can be used to latch puzzle pieces  20 ,  30  and  40  together, including Velcro, double sided sticky tape, rubber bands, magnets. 
     In the preferred embodiment shown with reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 5 , the attachment means comprises at least one raised male interlock portion indicated by numeral  50  and at least one recessed mating female interlock portion indicated by numeral  60 . First inner walls  20   b ,  30   b  and  30   b  and second inner walls  20   c ,  30   c  and  40   c  are shown to have two such attachment means. Viewing specifically  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the cross section C-C cuts through and shows the following: Recessed mating female interlock portion  60  disposed in first inner wall  30   b  engages and latches with raised male interlock portion  50  disposed in second inner wall  20   c . Recessed mating female interlock portion  60  disposed in first inner wall  40   b  engages and latches with raised male interlock portion  50  disposed in second inner wall  30   c . Recessed mating female interlock portion  60  disposed in first inner wall  20   b  engages and latches with raised male interlock portion  50  disposed in second inner wall  40   c.    
     The cross section B-B cuts through and shows the following: Recessed mating female interlock portion  60  disposed in second inner wall  20   c  engages and latches with raised male interlock portion  50  disposed in first inner wall  30   b . Recessed mating female interlock portion  60  disposed in second inner wall  30   c  engages and latches with raised male interlock portion  50  disposed in first inner wall  40   b . Recessed mating female interlock portion  60  disposed in second inner wall  40   c  engages and latches with raised male interlock portion  50  disposed in first inner wall  20   b.    
     While the present invention has been described and defined by reference to the preferred embodiment of the invention, such reference does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those ordinarily skilled and knowledgeable in the pertinent arts. The depicted and described preferred embodiment of the invention is exemplary only, and is not exhaustive of the scope of the invention. Consequently, the invention is intended to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects.

Technology Category: 3