GB2354718A

GB2354718A - A doubled sided puzzle board with doubled sided pieces

Info

Publication number: GB2354718A
Application number: GB0020537A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Bromage
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-09-15
Filing date: 2000-08-22
Publication date: 2001-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-22
Also published as: GB2354718B; GB9921689D0; GB0020537D0

Abstract

A jigsaw-type puzzle comprises a board 10 with two faces having a plurality of openings 13-18 formed in each of its faces wherein the shapes of the openings on one face are the mirror images of those on the second face, and a plurality of pieces 13A-18A with different images on each side for insertion into the openings. Preferably the board is formed from laminate having upper and lower layers with openings bonded to a central layer and the board and pieces may be formed from wood. Optionally the openings may be non-symmetrical and the parts of the central layer which are visible through the openings may have images corresponding to those on the pieces. The pieces can show images of animal, zoo, wildlife or travel scenes.

Description

2354718 JIGSAW PUZZLES

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to jigsaw puzzles and is particularly concerned with that kind of jigsaw puzzle which includes a board formed with a number of openings and a corresponding number of pieces for insertion in the openings. Such pieces are normally so shaped that each piece can only be inserted in one of the openings, and the board normally carries a picture which is completed when all the pieces are placed in the openings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of jigsaw puzzle of the above kind.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a jigsaw puzzle comprising a board having first and second opposed substantially flat surfaces, said board being formed with a plurality of openings in each of said surfaces with the openings in the second surface of such configuration that they are mirror images of the openings in the first surface, and a plurality of pieces for insertion in said openings, said pieces each having two opposed substantially flat surfaces and different images on the two surfaces.

2 The board is preferably formed as a laminate, with upper and lower layers bonded to a central layer and with the openings formed in the upper and lower layers.

Said upper and lower layers are preferably of wood, as are the pieces for insertion in the openings.

The openings are preferably of non-symmetrical configuration such that each piece can only be inserted in the appropriate opening when correctly oriented.

The parts of the central layer which are visible through the openings may carry images corresponding to the images on the pieces for insertion in the respective openings.

The parts of the central layer which are visible through the openings may alternatively carry images related to the images on the pieces for insertion in the respective openings. The jigsaw puzzle may thus carry, on one surface thereof, a picture of a farmyard scene with some of the pieces carrying pictures of adult farmyard animals while the parts of the central layer visible through the openings carry pictures of baby animals. For example, one of the pieces may carry a picture of a cow while a picture of a calf is visible through the respective opening.

Brief Description of the Drawings

3 Figure 1 is a plan view of a first form of jigsaw puzzle, Figure 2 is a sectional view of the jigsaw puzzle along the line 2 - 2 of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a plan view of a second form of jigsaw puzzle.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Each of the jigsaw puzzles shown in the drawings is formed from three layers of wood, namely an upper layer 10, an intermediate layer 11 and a lower layer 12.

The upper layer 10 of the jigsaw puzzle shown in Figures 1 and 2 is formed with six openings 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, while the lower layer 12 is a mirror image of the upper layer 10, i.e. it is formed with six openings which are mirror images of the six openings 13 to 18 in the upper layer 10. The intermediate layer 11 is a continuous layer without any openings.

The puzzle shown in Figures I and 2 includes six pieces 13A, 14A, 15A, 16A, 17A and 18A which are close fits in the corresponding openings 13 to 18 in the upper layer 10. When the pieces 13A to 18A are inverted they will accordingly be close fits in the corresponding openings in the lower layer 12 of the jigsaw. As can be seen from Figure 1, each of the openings 13 to 18 is of nonsymmetrical configuration. Each of the pieces 13A to 18A is also of non-symmetrical configuration. Each piece 13A to 18A will thus only 4 fit correctly in the respective opening 13 to 18 when it is the right way up.

The presented surface of the upper layer 10 carries a picture and the upper surfaces of the pieces 13A to 18A carry illustrations of objects which form part of the overall picture. The presented surface of the lower layer 12 carries a different picture and the lower surfaces of the pieces 13A to 18A carry illustrations of objects which form part of this different picture.

The pictures may, for example, be travel scenes with the objects different vehicles. Thus, on one side there may be pictures of a fire engine, police car, ambulance, helicopter, etc., while the other side of the picture carries a contrasting scene with other types of vehicles such as a tractor, van, lorry, etc.

The parts of the central layer 11 which are visible through the openings 13 to 18 carry pictures which are the same as those on the pieces 13A to 18A to assist a child in identifying the opening into which a particular piece is to be placed.

A slightly more difficult jigsaw puzzle is shown in Figure 3. It is again formed from three layers 10, 11 and 12 but, in this case, there are nine non-symmetrical openings 20 to 28 in the upper layer 10, and mirror image openings in the lower layer 12. There are nine pieces 20A to 28A which fit in the openings 20 to 28 and, when inverted, fit in the openings in the lower layer 12.

Another typical example of a jigsaw puzzle for young children comprises animal scenes on the two sides of the jigsaw puzzle, with one scene being of a zoo and the objects being different animals or birds within the zoo, with the other scene being of a farm and the objects being different animals, birds or other items which one would find on a farm.

For the farmyard scene, the parts of the central layer 11 which are visible through the openings 20 to 28 carry pictures of objects which are not the same as the objects shown in the pieces 20A and 28A but are related thereto. Thus, some of the pieces 20A to 28A can carry pictures of adult farmyard animals, while the parts of the central layer 11 visible through the openings 20 to 28 carry pictures of baby animals. For example, one of the pieces 20A to 28A may carry a picture of a cow while a picture of a calf is visible through the corresponding opening. Another of the pieces 20 to 28 carries a picture of a hen while a picture of a day-old chick is visible through the corresponding opening. The jigsaw puzzle thus has a substantial educational function.

6

Claims

Claims:-

1. A jigsaw puzzle comprising a board having first and second opposed substantially flat surfaces, said board being formed with a plurality of openings in each of said surfaces with the openings in the second surface of such configuration that they are mirror images of the openings in the first surface, and a plurality of pieces for insertion in said openings, said pieces each having two opposed substantially flat surfaces and different images on the two surfaces.

2. A jigsaw puzzle as claimed in Claim 1, in which the board is formed as a laminate, with upper and lower layers bonded to a central layer and with the openings formed in the upper and lower layers.

3. A jigsaw puzzle as claimed in Claim 2, in which the upper and lower layers are of wood, as are the pieces for insertion in the openings.

4. A jigsaw puzzle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the openings in the upper and lower layers are of non-symmetrical configuration such that each piece can only be inserted in the appropriate opening when correctly oriented.

5. A jigsaw puzzle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the parts of the central layer which are visible 7 through the openings carry images corresponding to the images on the pieces for insertion in the respective openings.

6. A jigsaw puzzle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the parts of the central layer which are visible through the openings carry images related to the images on the pieces for insertion in the respective openings.

7. A jigsaw puzzle substantially as hereinbefore, described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.