Two-dimensional jigsaw puzzle with interlocking aids

Abstract

Two-dimensional puzzles are proposed, characterized in that the puzzle pieces are provided with letters and numbers in a defined manner on their backs, with the help of which it is possible to assign the pieces their correct positions using a coordinate system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is in the field of parlor games and relates to a puzzle that facilitates finding the position of individual puzzle pieces.

Background Art

[0002] A puzzle is a mechanical game of patience and, more precisely, a tile game aimed at reassembling individual puzzle pieces into a whole. The English word for this is "jigsaw puzzle" because the first games were made of jigsaw. More precisely, the first jigsaw puzzle was made in the UK in 1766 by the engraver and map merchant John Spilsbury (1739 - 1769). He made this by pasting a map of the country of Great Britain onto a small wooden board and cutting it with a saw along the boundaries of the various counties. Players then had to try to complete the map again.

[0003] Today, puzzles are one of the most popular game formats as they can be played alone, in pairs, or in small groups and can be interrupted at any time. The COVID - 19 pandemic and related lockdowns have further boosted the toy industry. Market leader Ravensburger reported selling over 32 million puzzles in 2020 alone, an increase of over 10% compared to the previous year.

[0004] The more popular a puzzle is and the higher its difficulty level, the more likely players are to give up because it seems difficult or impossible to fit more puzzle pieces into an existing motif. This is typically the case when the edges and perhaps some protruding parts of the motif are joined together and the colors or the background of the motif of the remaining puzzle pieces are very similar, so each additional assignment requires a laborious process of trial and error. (Related Art)

[0005] German Patent Application Publication No. 20 2013 009963 (FEHRENTZ) relates to a puzzle having a number of individual pieces (2) cut from a carrier material (4) and assembled to form a picture, characterized in that the carrier material (4) has a wood grain (5) on at least one surface (1', 1") formed by the use of natural materials. However, the relevant content of the puzzle is that it has a frame.

[0006] French Patent Application Publication No. 2385420 (BOHBOT) relates, according to the claims, to an “entertainment device” based on a surface carrying a pattern or image divided into interlocking pieces like a puzzle. On the other side is another image. These pieces can be turned over so that they can be reassembled into different patterns or images. The backs of the images may be different colors and may have markings or letters corresponding to their positions. After assembly by one player, a second player creates an image from the given information using a transparent frame divided by a numbered grid. The document is irrelevant.

[0007] U.S. Patent No. 2005 0167913 (MUCCI) relates to a puzzle having both a color code and numbers on the back. Puzzle pieces of the same color belong to the same area of ​​the puzzle, and if not, the pieces are numbered sequentially, but no coordinate system is used.

[0008] European Patent Application Publication No. 12 93 236 (HAUSEMANN) relates to a puzzle having several puzzle elements (2, 4), each of which is placed in a specific position within a configuration (1), and at least some of the puzzle elements (2, 4) have markings (3, 5), the markings (3, 5) containing a code related to the position of the puzzle elements (2, 4) within the configuration (1), the code being hidden within the markings (2, 4) so ​​that it is only recognizable when a specific action is performed. No coordinate system exists.

[0009] In Japanese Patent Publication No. 6755232 (KOYO), a QR code (registered trademark) is printed on the back of each puzzle piece. If a player wants to know where to place a particular puzzle piece, they must scan the QR code (registered trademark) and then receive positional information, which is not described in more detail. However, this method is very cumbersome in terms of both manufacturing and application. In addition, since the puzzle does not have a coordinate division, alternatives lack clear positioning.

[0010] Japanese Patent Publication No. 09299610 relates to a puzzle in which all pieces have coordinates on their backs, so that each piece can be positioned in a coordinate system. It is not disclosed that the puzzle has edges that also include coordinates. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] It should be noted that, based on Japanese Patent Publication No. 09299610, applying a precise target of one letter as the Y-coordinate and a precise target of one number as the X-coordinate is actually very difficult from a manufacturing standpoint, as deviations of several millimeters in the horizontal and vertical directions can occur during front and back printing, as well as during subsequent punching of puzzle pieces. Therefore, it is not possible to easily replace a missing puzzle piece in a puzzle with the "same" puzzle piece from a puzzle of the same motif. The puzzle pieces may fit together in shape, but are unlikely to correctly fit the overall motif. The same applies to the motif on the back. The coordinates of the puzzle piece in question may be missing, incomplete, or even ambiguous. Therefore, it is impossible for all puzzle pieces in the manufacturing process to have the precise coordinates on the back necessary to accurately classify each puzzle piece in the coordinate system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] Therefore, the object of the present invention was to provide a solution that makes it easier to find and assign puzzle pieces in such a laying game without reducing the enjoyment of the game, while also being simple and reliable to implement with respect to production technology, and thus eliminating the shortcomings of the prior art. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This shows the back view of the puzzle piece pattern. [Figure 2] This shows the back view of the puzzle piece pattern. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The object of the present invention is a two-dimensional jigsaw puzzle with an assignment aid comprising a plurality of irregularly shaped puzzle pieces, each having at least one recess and / or at least one protrusion, which can be arranged together in rows and columns to generate a predetermined motif such as a picture, photograph or geometric pattern. The puzzle has a coordinate division along the X and Y axes of a rectangle formed by the puzzle pieces, thereby forming rows and columns. The puzzle pieces have markings on their backs that assign their respective positions in a coordinate system encompassing the X and Y axes. This relates to a two-dimensional jigsaw puzzle where the X-coordinate is displayed several times across the entire row, and the Y-coordinate is displayed several times across the entire column.

[0015] The objective of the game is to arrange and fit together puzzle pieces to create a given image. To do this, the puzzle pieces are placed in rows parallel to the X-axis and columns parallel to the Y-axis. A "complete row" refers to all puzzle pieces that have the same Y-coordinate but consecutively different X-coordinates (e.g., Y1 when combined with A1, A2, A3...A40). Therefore, a "complete column" refers to all puzzle pieces that have the same X-coordinate but consecutively different Y-coordinates (e.g., X1 when combined with A1, B1, C1...Y1).

[0016] In a first preferred embodiment, either the X-coordinate of each complete row or the Y-coordinate of each complete column is indicated in font size such that the corresponding indication is present on the back of each puzzle piece approximately 10 to 50 times, thereby filling the entire available area.

[0017] In a more preferred embodiment, each complementary coordinate is represented in its respective complete row or column, such that the corresponding information is present on the back of each puzzle piece about 2 to 8 times, and particularly about 3 to 5 times, filling only a portion of the available area.

[0018] Furthermore, it is preferable that the font size and / or font weight of one coordinate differ from that of the other coordinate by 1.5 to 5 times. For example, the same or different fonts can be used for font sizes 10 and 16.

[0019] Furthermore, it is advantageous to combine two or all three of the above embodiments.

[0020] The proposed embodiment solves the problem in a simple yet comprehensive way. Compared with the prior art, printing coordinates on the back of the puzzle pieces is much easier, especially when there are more than 1000 pieces, than, for example, assigning QR codes (registered trademarks). Also, it is possible to quickly find the puzzle without further technical assistance. The puzzle pieces are usually pre-sorted with the motif side facing up, and since the player only needs to turn over the individual puzzle pieces when they really don't know what to do, the enjoyment of the play is not reduced. Furthermore, with the specification of the coordinate system, the pieces can be quickly and accurately positioned. At the same time, the method of printing the back with letters and numbers is simpler and safer from a manufacturing perspective.

[0021] The embodiments according to the present invention do not distract the player from normal play. When pre-sorting, the player unconsciously perceives the pattern that fills the back of the individual puzzle pieces. Only when consciously turning the puzzle pieces from the motif side to the back side during the game can the player immediately recognize the coordinate information as soon as they look at this back side.

[0022] Jigsaw puzzles usually consist of puzzle pieces of the same size but irregular shapes. They have at least one recess and / or at least one protrusion that fit together so that the puzzle pieces can be combined to form a pattern according to a template or usually a motif. The puzzle includes different puzzle pieces, namely, those with one or two flat edges forming the edge and those with one, two, three or four recesses and one, two, three or four protrusions, whereby the total number of recesses and protrusions for puzzle pieces not belonging to the edge is usually four, thereby ensuring an optimal connection between the puzzle pieces.

[0023] In the proposed solution, it is essential for the puzzle to have a coordinate system since it is the only way to ensure that the puzzle pieces are reliably assigned. Various embodiments are possible here. One possibility is that the puzzle has to be inserted into a pre-defined frame that is supplied or provided separately. This is a common variant since it is easy and safe to discard the started puzzle without the previously assembled puzzle pieces falling apart again and continue playing it later. In this case, the coordinate system can simply be printed on the frame.

[0024] In the case of puzzles with a larger number of pieces, the variant with a fixed frame is quite rare. In this case, the solution could be to print the coordinates on strips of separate paper, cardboard, plastic, metal or other materials, and the player can then place these along the edges of the puzzle to create a coordinate system.

[0025] This solution is preferably in a rectangular shape and is thus suitable for all two-dimensional puzzles that allow the specification of coordinates. A two-dimensional puzzle is a puzzle where the puzzle pieces only need to be arranged two-dimensionally. This also includes puzzles where the puzzle pieces themselves not only have a length and width corresponding to the X and Y axes, but also have a significant height and have reliefs so that the completed puzzle appears three-dimensional. [[ID=IO]]

[0026] Typically, the puzzle has 100 to 5,000 pieces. However, in principle, the present invention can also be applied to larger puzzles with up to 48,000 pieces. The applicability of Variant 1 (frame) decreases with the number of puzzle pieces, while the applicability of Variant 2 (strip) increases with the number of puzzle pieces. In principle, this solution can also be applied to three-dimensional puzzles, but the specification in the corresponding coordinate system will of course be much more complicated.

[0027] It is particularly simple, and therefore it has proven advantageous to specify the coordinates on the X-axis with numbers and the coordinates on the Y-axis with letters, or vice versa. Thus, each puzzle piece has corresponding coordinates on its back in the form of letters and numbers.

[0028] Figures 1 and 2 show the pattern of a 1000-piece puzzle, as seen in X-rays, with coordinates printed on the back of each puzzle piece. Each row of puzzle pieces is printed with several sequences of letters that position these pieces along the X-axis, spanning the entire available area. The same applies to the columns, with each piece also having multiple numbers that position the puzzle pieces along the Y-coordinate. The letters and numbers are distinguishable by their different sizes and thicknesses. Of course, the reverse is also possible.

Claims

1. A two-dimensional jigsaw puzzle with an assignment aid comprising a plurality of irregularly shaped puzzle pieces, each having at least one recess and / or at least one protrusion, wherein the pieces can be arranged together in rows and columns to generate a predetermined motif. These puzzle pieces form a rectangle, and the puzzle has a coordinate division along the X and Y axes of the rectangle, thereby forming rows and columns. The puzzle pieces have markings on their backs that assign to them their respective positions in the coordinate system encompassing the X and Y axes. The representation of the X coordinate in the aforementioned coordinate system occurs several times when viewed across a complete row, and the representation of the Y coordinate in the aforementioned coordinate system occurs several times when viewed across a complete column. A two-dimensional jigsaw puzzle in which either the X-coordinate of each complete row or the Y-coordinate of each complete column is indicated in a font size such that the indication of the X-coordinate or the indication of the Y-coordinate is present on the back of each puzzle piece approximately 10 to 50 times, thereby filling the entire available area on the back of each puzzle piece.

2. The X coordinate and the Y coordinate are shown in such a way that they fill the available area. The puzzle according to claim 1, wherein the complementary coordinates, which are the other of the X and Y coordinates, are shown in their respective complete rows or columns, with the corresponding information present approximately 2 to 8 times on the back of each puzzle piece, filling only a portion of the available area.

3. The puzzle according to claim 1, wherein the font size and / or font weight of one of the coordinate entries differs from the font size and / or font weight of the other coordinate entry by 1.5 to 5 times.

4. The puzzle according to claim 1, wherein each of the puzzle pieces has its associated coordinates on its back in the form of letters and numbers.

5. The puzzle according to claim 1, wherein the X coordinate and the Y coordinate are printed on a frame on which the puzzle pieces must be placed.

6. The puzzle according to claim 1, wherein the X and Y coordinates are printed on separate strips arranged on the sides of the entire puzzle to form a coordinate system.

7. The puzzle according to claim 1, comprising 100 to 5000 puzzle pieces.

8. The puzzle according to claim 1, having a rectangular shape.

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