Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02717980 2010-09-09
1 A PICTURE MOSAIC'S FOLDABLE PIECE AND FRAME
2
3 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
4 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a jigsaw puzzle, and more particularly to
6 a foldable jigsaw piece and a foldable jigsaw frame assembly that are
capable of
7 folding.
8 2. Description of Related Art
9 Conventional jigsaw puzzles, including three-dimensional (3D) jigsaw
puzzles and plane jigsaw puzzles, are greatly mature products. Besides
drawings,
11 configurations and difficulty of basic characteristics determining whether
jigsaw
12 puzzles are attractive to consumers, various strange jigsaw puzzles become
new
13 focuses. However, configurations of conventional jigsaw pieces greatly
limit
14 designing jigsaw puzzles.
Conventional jigsaw pieces include 3D jigsaw pieces and plane jigsaw
16 pieces. A conventional 3D jigsaw piece may fold at a single rotational
direction
17 for a specific angle. Generally, a folding angle of the conventional 3D
jigsaw
18 piece is not larger than 90 degrees. Because a 3D jigsaw piece is assembled
into
19 a predetermined configuration, the folding angle thereof is constant. The
folding
structure of the jigsaw piece is only used for a single-sided 3D jigsaw puzzle
21 with a predetermined configuration and therefore limits design variation of
22 jigsaw puzzles.
23 Conventional jigsaw frames are used to hold and decorate jigsaw
24 puzzles and at most demonstrate the obverse and reverse sides of jigsaw
puzzles.
CA 02717980 2010-09-09
2
1 Showing the reverse side of a jigsaw puzzle needs to disassemble, detach,
flip
2 over and re-assemble the jigsaw puzzles to the jigsaw frame, which
3 disadvantages use and demonstration of jigsaw puzzles.
4 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main objective of the invention is to retrieve the defective
6 conventional technologies and provide a foldable jigsaw piece that is
capable of
7 folding and reversely folding and a foldable jigsaw frame assembly being
8 capable of demonstrating both obverse and reverse sides of a jigsaw puzzle
is
9 provided based on the foldable jigsaw piece.
The present invention achieves the aforementioned objective through
11 the following technologies.
12 A foldable jigsaw piece in accordance with the present invention
13 comprises: a first piecing member, a second piecing member and a connecting
14 member that is longitudinal, wherein the first piecing member and second
piecing member are connected to each other through the connecting member;
16 each of the first and second piecing members is capable of pivoting
relative to
17 the other for an angle from 0 to 180 degrees to fold the foldable jigsaw
piece into
18 an obversely or reversely folded configuration; and each of the first and
second
19 piecing members has edges and at least one of the edges has a protruding or
notched f'-shaped engaging member for connection with another jigsaw piece.
21 The present invention is capable of folding into the obverse or reverse
22 configuration so that designing three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles is more
23 limitless. The present invention allows obverse and reverse illustrations
or
24 configurations so improves development of three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles.
CA 02717980 2010-09-09 ~.~
3
I Various three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles may be designed for high market
2 competitiveness.
3 A foldable jigsaw frame assembly based on the aforementioned foldable
4 jigsaw piece comprises at least two jigsaw frames and adjacent jigsaw frames
are
connected through a frame boundary that is assembled from multiple foldable
6 jigsaw pieces; each jigsaw frame is capable of pivoting relative to an
adjacent
7 jigsaw frame for an angle from 0 to 180 degrees to fold the jigsaw frame
8 assembly into an obversely or reversely folded configuration; and each
jigsaw
9 frame has an inside annular edge and multiple protruding or notched 0 -
shaped
engaging members formed on or defined in the inside annular edge for
11 connection with jigsaw pieces. Such jigsaw frame assembly allows to embed
12 multiple jigsaws therein simultaneously, may show both obverse and reverse
13 illustrations of the jigsaws and may be folded for storage and carrying.
The
14 foldable jigsaw frame assembly may comprise at least three the jigsaw
frames
and is capable of folding into a Z-shaped folded configuration for compact
16 volume.
17 The connecting member of each foldable jigsaw piece is a column and
18 has two opposite side edges connected respectively to and corresponding to
the
19 first and second piecing members and each side edge has a narrowed neck
formed thereon and connected to a corresponding one of the first and second
21 piecing members.
22 Each of the first and second piecing members of each foldable jigsaw
23 piece has an obverse surface, a reverse surface and two inclined surfaces;
and the
24 inclined surfaces are formed respectively on the obverse and reverse
surfaces
CA 02717980 2010-09-09
4
I and are defined adjacent to one side edge of the connecting member.
2 A thickness of the connecting member is smaller than a thickness of each
3 of the first and second piecing members of each foldable jigsaw piece; and
when
4 the first and second piecing members pivot for 180 degrees and fold the
foldable
jigsaw piece, the connecting member at least partially presses against and
6 supports one inclined surface of each of the first and second piecing
members.
7 The foldable jigsaw piece of the present invention may be used in both
8 plane and three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles so improves designing jigsaw
9 puzzles and increases market competitiveness. The foldable jigsaw frame
assembly demonstrates multiple jigsaws in one of or both the obverse and
11 reverse surfaces and is foldable for storage and carrying.
12 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
13 Fig. I is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a foldable jigsaw
14 piece in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the foldable jigsaw piece in Fig. 1;
16 Fig. 3 is an operational perspective view of the foldable jigsaw piece in
17 Fig, 1 that is folded;
18 Fig. 4 is a side view of the foldable jigsaw piece in Fig. 2;
19 Fig. 5 is an operational side view of the foldable jigsaw piece in Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged side view of the foldable jigsaw piece according
21 section A in Fig. 4;
22 Fig. 7 is an enlarged side view of the foldable jigsaw piece according
23 section b in Fig. 5;
24 Fig. 8 is a series of continuously operational perspective views of the
CA 02717980 2010-09-09
I foldable jigsaw in Fig. 1;
2 Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the foldable
3 jigsaw in accordance with the present invention;
4 Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the foldable
5 jigsaw in accordance with the present invention;
6 Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the foldable
7 jigsaw in accordance with the present invention;
8 Fig. 12 is a partially exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of
9 a foldable jigsaw frame assembly in accordance with the present invention
assembled with jigsaws to form a jigsaw puzzle;
11 Fig. 13 is a top view of a frame boundary of the foldable jigsaw frame
12 assembly in Fig. 12;
13 Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the frame boundary of the foldable
14 jigsaw frame assembly in Fig. 13;
Fig. 15 is a side view of the frame boundary of the foldable jigsaw frame
16 assembly in Fig. 13;
17 Fig. 16 is an operational view of a second embodiment of a foldable
18 jigsaw frame in accordance with the present invention assembled with
jigsaws to
19 form another jigsaw puzzle;
Fig. 17 is a top view of the second embodiment of the jigsaw puzzle
21 folding completely;
22 Fig. 18 is a side view of the folded jigsaw puzzle in Fig. 17; and
23 Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the folded jigsaw puzzle in Fig. IT
24 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
CA 02717980 2010-09-09
6
1 The following descriptions are accompanied with the aforementioned
2 attached drawings to explain the present invention.
3 With reference to Fig. 1, a foldable jigsaw piece 1 comprises a first
4 piecing member 11 and a second piecing member 12. The first piecing member
11 and second piecing member 12 are connected to each other through a
6 connecting member 13 that is longitudinal. The connecting member 13 may be a
7 column. The first piecing member 11 and second piecing member 12 are capable
8 of pivoting along the connecting member 13 to fold and change the foldable
9 jigsaw piece 1 into a folded configuration. The folded configuration of the
foldable jigsaw piece 1 is shown in Fig. 3. With further reference to Figs. 4
and 5,
11 each of the first and second piecing members 11, 12 is capable of pivoting
12 relative to the other for an angle from 0 to 180 degrees. With further
reference to
13 Fig. 8, the first and second piecing members 11, 12 are capable of pivoting
14 obversely or reversely to fold the foldable jigsaw piece 1 into an
obversely or
reversely folded configuration.
16 Enlarged and detailed structures of the first and second piecing members
17 11, 12 and connecting member 13 are shown in Fig. 6, the connecting member
18 13 has two opposite side edges connected respectively to and corresponding
to
19 the first and second piecing members 11, 12. Each side edge has a narrowed
neck
14 formed thereon and connected to a corresponding one of the first and second
21 piecing members 11, 12. Each of the first and second piecing members 11, 12
has
22 an obverse surface, a reverse surface and two inclined surfaces 111. The
inclined
23 surfaces 111 are formed respectively on the obverse and reverse surfaces
and are
24 defined adjacent to one side edge of the connecting member 13. Furthermore,
a
CA 02717980 2010-09-09
7
1 thickness of the connecting member 13 is smaller than a thickness of each of
the
2 first and second piecing members 11, 12. Such structural design allows one
of
3 the first and second piecing members 11, 12 to pivot relative to the other
4 clockwise or counterclockwise for 180 degrees to fold the jigsaw piece 1
into the
obversely or reversely folded configuration. For example, the second piecing
6 member 12 pivots to stack over and parallel the second piecing member 11.
7 When the first and second piecing members 11, 12 pivot for 180 degrees and
fold
8 the foldable jigsaw piece 1, the connecting member 13 at least partially
presses
9 against and supports one inclined surface of each of the first and second
piecing
members 11, 12, as shown in Fig. 7. At this time the connecting member 13
11 controls and holds the first and second piecing members 11, 12 so that the
first
12 and second piecing members 11, 12 in the folded configuration are aligned
with
13 each other without relative movement, as shown in Fig. 3.
14 As shown in Fig. 1, each of the first and second piecing members 11, 12
of the foldable jigsaw piece 1 of the first embodiment has two opposite edges
16 and an outer side. The edges are defined adjacent to the connecting member
13.
17 One of the edges is straight and the other edge has a notched 1-shaped
engaging
18 member defined in the edge for connection with another foldable jigsaw
piece 1
19 or conventional jigsaw piece. The outer side is defined between the edges
and
opposite to the connecting member 13 and has a protruding U-shaped engaging
21 member formed on the outer side for connection with another foldable jigsaw
22 piece 1 or conventional jigsaw piece.
23 The present invention may modify the foldable jigsaw piece 1 to have
24 different (2-shaped engaging member arrangement. With further reference to
Fig.
CA 02717980 2010-09-09
8
1 9, a second embodiment of the foldable jigsaw piece 2 has two notched
2 0-shaped engaging member defined respectively in the edges of each of the
first
3 and second piecing members 11, 12. A protruding Sl -shaped engaging member
is
4 formed on the outer side of each of the first and second piecing members 11,
12.
With further reference to Fig. 10, a third embodiment of the foldable jigsaw
6 piece 3 has two protruding (i-shaped engaging member formed respectively on
7 the edges of each of the first and second piecing members 11, 12. A notched
8 1l-shaped engaging members is formed on the outer side of each of the first
and
9 second piecing members 11, 12. With further reference to Fig. 11, a fourth
embodiment of the foldable jigsaw piece 4 has one edge of each of the first
and
11 second piecing members 11, 12 being straight. The other edge has a
protruding
12 U-shaped engaging member formed on the edge. A notched U-shaped engaging
13 member is defined in the outer side.
14 With further reference to Fig 12, a first embodiment of a jigsaw frame
assembly in accordance with the present invention is formed based on the
16 aforementioned foldable jigsaw piece and has three jigsaw frames 51, 52, 53
17 connected through the connecting members 13. The jigsaw frame 53 on the
right
18 side is illustrated partially. Each jigsaw frame 51, 52, 53 is capable of
pivoting
19 clockwise or counterclockwise relative to an adjacent jigsaw frame 51, 52,
53
along the connecting members 13 for an angle from 0 to 180 degrees to fold the
21 jigsaw frame assembly into an obversely or reversely folded configuration.
Each
22 jigsaw frame 51, 52, 53 has an inside annular edge and multiple protruding
or
23 notched U-shaped engaging members formed on or defined in the inside
annular
24 edge to respectively engage multiple protruding or notched U-shaped
engaging
CA 02717980 2010-09-09
9
1 members on an outer edge of each jigsaw 61, 62, 63. The way to piece up a
2 jigsaw puzzle may be piecing a jigsaw 51 then assembling the complete jigsaw
3 51 into the jigsaw frame 51. Alternatively, the jigsaw 63 and jigsaw frame
53 are
4 pieced simultaneously. A complete jigsaw puzzle is shown as the combination
of
the jigsaw frame 52 and jigsaw 62 on the intermediate section in Fig. 12.
6 With further reference to Fig. 13, a frame boundary connected between
7 adjacent jigsaw frames 51, 52, 53 is assembled from the aforementioned
foldable
8 jigsaw pieces 1, 2, 3, 4 that are connected and arranged in a column. Each
9 foldable jigsaw piece 1, 2, 3, 4 has the connecting member 13, the first
piecing
member 11 and the second piecing member 12. According to the descriptions of
11 the foldable jigsaw piece I in Fig. 1, each of the first and second piecing
12 members 11, 12 is capable of pivoting relative to the other for an angle
from 0 to
13 180 degrees for the obversely or reversely folded configuration, as shown
in Figs.
14 14 and 15.
With further reference to Fig. 16, a second embodiment of the foldable
16 jigsaw frame assembly in accordance with the present invention has five
jigsaw
17 frames 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 that are assembled and embedded respectively with
the
18 jigsaws 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 to form a jigsaw puzzle. Three adjacent jigsaw
frames
19 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 are pivoting relative to one another into Z-shaped
folded
configuration so that the jigsaw puzzle is changed into a compact folded
21 configuration, as shown in Figs. 17 to 19. The jigsaw puzzle may
demonstrate
22 drawings on both obverse and reverse surfaces, may be folded to facilitate
23 storage and carrying and is structurally unique and attractive.
CA 02717980 2010-09-09 -- -
two opposite parts 15a, 15b in the foldable piece. The furrow 14 makes it
possible to fold the piece in a first direction, bringing the layers 12 of
foam
together, and in a second direction, separating the layers 12 of foam of the
two
parts 15a, 15b.
2
