Bendable Jigsaw Puzzle Piece With Clamping Fixing Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional jigsaw puzzles with bendable pieces often result in unattractive, unrealistic three-dimensional objects due to arching faces and difficulty in fitting the last pieces, caused by restoring forces that distort adjacent puzzle pieces.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a fixing device with recesses and protrusions that engage in a clamping and/or latching manner to neutralize restoring forces and maintain a desired bending angle, ensuring flat faces and smooth integration of puzzle pieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If puzzle pieces are made bendable to create three-dimensional objects, then the ability to form 3D structures is improved, but the flat faces of the object arch and become distorted due to restoring forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful restoring forces that cause arching into a beneficial clamping mechanism. The protrusion and recess are designed so that the restoring force itself pushes the protrusion against the recess wall, creating a clamping action that secures the bending angle. This transforms the problematic elastic recovery into a useful locking mechanism that maintains both the 3D structure and face flatness.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing device segments the bending angle control into discrete positions using multiple recesses at different locations along the groove. Each recess corresponds to a specific bending angle, allowing the puzzle piece to be secured at predetermined angles. This segmentation provides precise control over the 3D shape while preventing unwanted arching.
2Ease of operation
If puzzle pieces are made bendable without fixing devices, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the last pieces cannot be fitted satisfactorily due to restoring forces
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing device uses the restoring force that previously caused fitting problems to create a clamping action. As the last puzzle piece is inserted and bent into position, the restoring force pushes the protrusion against the recess wall, creating a secure clamping connection. This ensures that even the last pieces can be fitted satisfactorily with the same ease as earlier pieces.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fixing devices with clamping and latching mechanisms are added to neutralize restoring forces, then the stability and shape accuracy are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing device is designed to be self-actuating, using the puzzle piece's own restoring force to engage the clamping mechanism. When the puzzle piece is bent to the desired angle, the restoring force automatically pushes the protrusion against the recess wall, creating the clamping action without requiring any additional actuators, springs, or complex mechanisms. This maintains simplicity while achieving stable bending angle fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fixing function with the existing groove structure of the bendable puzzle piece. The recesses are formed directly in the groove walls, and the protrusion is integrated into the puzzle piece body. This integration eliminates the need for separate fixing components and reduces overall device complexity while providing stable bending angle control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution prevents distortions and ensures that the last pieces can be satisfactorily inserted, resulting in a realistic and aesthetically pleasing three-dimensional structure with improved stability and load-bearing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
restoring forces which, in the bent state, each bendable puzzle piece transfers in a resilient manner to adjacent puzzle pieces
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a jigsaw puzzle having at least one puzzle piece that can be bent along at least one predefined bending line, and that has an upper side and a lower side and a puzzle piece thickness extending between the upper side and the lower side which is reduced from an inner side of a bend along each bending line. In order to neutralise the resilient restoring force that acts in the bent state, on each side of each bending line there is a fixing device which releasably fixes a desired bending angle, each fixing device having at least one recess into which a corresponding protrusion engages in a clamping and/or latching manner when the puzzle piece is bent.