Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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The embodiment of the invention for Which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed, are defined as follows:
1. A corner element of a puzzle that constitutes a
three-dimensional pictorial representation of a structure, said
corner element, comprising:
- first and second generally planar backing members;
- a sheet of flexible material bonded to said first
and second backing members in a face-to-face relationship
therewith, said first and second backing members including
respective peripheral edge portions in a spaced apart
relationship defining therebetween a hinge area, whereby
said backing members are capable of acquiring a non-planar
angular relationship by bending movement of said sheet of
flexible material at said hinge area;
- a peripheral edge of said corner element including
at least one joint member capable of interlocking
engagement with a complementary joint member of another
element of the puzzle; and
- said corner element also including an image-bearing
surface that constitutes an individual pictorial entity
contributing to a complete representation of the structure.
2. A corner element as defined in claim 1, wherein the
joint member on the peripheral edge of said corner element
is selected from the group consisting of female joint
member and male joint member.
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3. A corner element as defined in claim 2, wherein the
joint member on the peripheral edge of said corner element
includes either one of a flaring tenon and tapered mortise.
4. A corner element as defined in claim 1, wherein each
said backing members includes a joint member capable of
interlocking engagement in a plane with a complementary
joint member of another element of the puzzle, whereby
allowing to build up a wall of the structure.
5. A corner element as defined in claim 4, wherein the
joint member on each said backing members is selected from
the group consisting of female joint member and male joint
member.
6. A corner element as defined in claim 5, wherein the
joint member on each said backing members includes either
one of a flaring tenon and tapered mortise.
7. A corner element as defined in claim 1, wherein said
first and second backing members are capable of mutual
interlocking engagement upon acquisition of said non-planar
relationship.
8. A corner element as defined in claim 7, wherein said
first and second backing members include complementary
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tenon and mortise joint members at said hinge area, said
tenon and mortise joint members engaging one another when
said first and second backing members acquire said
non-planar relationship.
9. A corner element as defined in claim 1, further
comprising means for locking said first and second backing
members in a non-planar relationship.
10. A corner element as defined in claim 1, further
comprising:
- third and fourth generally planar backing members
bonded in a face-to-face relationship to said sheet of
flexible material, said third and fourth backing members
being hingedly joined to said first and second backing
elements by the intermediary of said sheet of flexible
material, whereby said third and fourth backing members
are capable of acquiring a generally co-planar
relationship when said first and second backing members
are set in a predetermined non-planar angular
relationship.
11. A corner element as defined in claim 10, wherein said
third and fourth backing members are capable of
interlocking engagement upon acquisition of said co-planar
relationship to lock said first and second backing members
in said predetermined non-planar angular relationship.
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12. A corner element as defined in claim 11, wherein said
third and fourth backing members include complementary
joint member; interlocking together when said third and
fourth backing members acquire said co-planar relationship.
13. A corner element as defined in claim 10, wherein
either one of said first and second backing members and
either one of said third and fourth backing members include
complementary tenon and mortise joint members engaging one
another when said third and fourth backing members acquire
said co-planar relationship.
14. A corner element as defined in claim 13, wherein said
sheet of flexible material is a lithographic film.
15. A corner element as defined in claim 13, wherein said
sheet of flexible material is adhesively bonded with to
said backing members.
16. A corner element as defined in claim 1, wherein said
backing members are made of polymeric foam.
17. A blank of a corner element for use in a puzzle that
constitutes a three-dimensional pictorial representation of
a structure, said blank comprising:
- first and second generally planar backing members;
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- an intermediate member between said first and second
backing members;
- a sheet of flexible material bonded to said first
and second backing members in a face-to-face relationship
therewith, said intermediate member being removable from
said blank to form between said first and second backing
members a hinge area, whereby said first and second backing
members are capable of acquiring a non-planar angular
relationship by bending movement of said sheet of flexible
material at said hinge area;
- a peripheral edge of said blank including at least
one joint member capable of interlocking engagement with a
complementary joint member of another element of the
puzzle; and
- said blank also including an image-bearing surface
that constitutes an individual pictorial entity
contributing to a complete representation of the structure.
18. A blank as defined in claim 17, wherein the joint
member on the peripheral edge of said blank is selected
from the group consisting of female joint member and male
joint member.
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19. A blank as defined in claim 18, wherein the joint
member on the peripheral edge of said blank includes either
one of a flaring tenon and tapered mortise.
20. A blank as defined in claim 17, wherein each said
backing members includes a joint member capable of
interlocking engagement in a plane with a complementary
joint member of another element of the puzzle, whereby
allowing to build up a wall of the structure.
21. A blank as defined in claim 20, wherein the joint
member on each said backing members is selected from the
group consisting of female joint member and male joint
member.
22. A blank as defined in claim 21, wherein the joint
member on each said backing member includes either one of
a flaring tenon and tapered mortise.
23. A blank as defined in claim 17, wherein said first and
second backing members are capable of mutual interlocking
engagement upon acquisition of said non-planar
relationship.
24. A blank as defined in claim 23, wherein said first and
second backing members include complementary tenon and
mortise joint members at said hinge area, said tenon and
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mortise joint members engaging one another when said first
and second backing members acquire said non-planar
relationship.
25. A blank as defined in claim 17, further comprising
means for locking said first and second backing members in
a non-planar relationship.
26. A blank as defined in claim 17, further comprising:
- third and fourth generally planar backing members;
- an intermediate element between said third and
fourth backing members, said sheet of flexible material
being bonded in a face-to-face relationship to said third
and fourth backing members and to said intermediate
element, said intermediate element being removable from
said blank to form a hinge zone between said first and
second backing members and said third and fourth backing
members, whereby allowing said third and fourth backing
members to acquire a generally co-planar relationship by
bending movement of said flexible sheet at said hinge zone
when said first and second backing members are set in a
predetermined non-planar angular relationship.
27. A blank as defined in claim 26, wherein said third
and fourth backing members are capable of interlocking
engagement upon acquisition of said co-planar relationship
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to lock said first and second backing members in said
predetermined non-planar angular relationship.
28. A blank as defined in claim 27, wherein said third
and fourth backing members include complementary joint
members interlocking together when said third and fourth
backing members acquire said co-planar relationship.
29. A blank as defined in claim 26, wherein either one of
said first and second backing members and either one of
said third and fourth backing members include
complementary tenon and mortise joint members engaging
one another when said third and fourth backing members
acquire said co-planar relationship.
30. A blank as defined in claim 17, wherein said sheet of
flexible material is a lithographic film.
31. A blank as defined in claim 17, wherein said sheet of
flexible material is adhesively bonded with to said first
and second backing members and to said intermediate
member.
32. A blank as defined in claim 26, wherein said sheet of
flexible material is adhesively bonded with to said third
and fourth backing members and to said intermediate
element.
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33. A blank as defined in claim 17, wherein said third and
fourth backing members and said intermediate element are
made of polymeric foam.
34. A blank as defined in claim 17, wherein said
intermediate member includes a visual queue to assist a
user locating said intermediate member.
35. A puzzle game for assembly into a three-dimensional
structure including:
- a first set of planar wall pieces capable of
interlocking in a plane to form a first wall of the
structure;
- a second set of planar wall pieces capable of
interlocking in a plane to form a second wall of the
structure, each said wall pieces including an image-bearing
surface constituting an individual pictorial entity
contributing to a complete representation of the structure;
- a corner piece for establishing a union between said
first and second walls, said corner piece including:
a) first and second generally planar backing
members;
b) a sheet of flexible material bonded to said
first and second backing members in a face-to-face
relationship therewith, said first and second backing
members including respective peripheral edge portions in
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a spaced apart relationship defining therebetween a hinge
area, whereby said backing members are capable of acquiring
a corner configuration by bending movement of said sheet of
flexible material at said hinge area;
c) a peripheral edge of said corner piece
including a first joint member capable of interlocking
engagement with a complementary joint member of a wall
piece from said first set in order to unite said corner
piece with said first wall, and a second joint member
capable of interlocking engagement with a complementary
joint member of a wall piece from said second set in order
to unite said corner piece with said second wall; and
d) said corner piece including an image-bearing
surface that constitutes an individual pictorial entity
contributing to a complete representation of the structure,
whereby upon assembly of said pieces the image-bearing
surfaces thereof uniting visually to provide image
continuity over said first wall, said second wall and said
corner piece.
36. A puzzle game for assembly into a three-dimensional
structure including:
- a first set of planar wall pieces capable of
interlocking in a plane to form a first wall of the
structure;
- a second set of planar wall pieces capable of
interlocking in a plane to form a second wall of the
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structure, each said wall pieces including an image-bearing
surface constituting an individual pictorial entity
contributing to a complete representation of the structure;
- a blank of corner piece for use in establishing a
union between said first and second walls, said blank
including:
a) first and second generally planar backing
members;
b) an intermediate member between said first and
second backing members;
c) a sheet of flexible material bonded to said
first and second backing members in a face-to-face
relationship therewith, said intermediate member being
removable from said blank to form between said first and
second backing members a hinge area, whereby said first and
second backing members are capable of acquiring a
non-planar angular relationship by bending movement of said
sheet of flexible material at said hinge area in order to
form said corner piece;
d) a peripheral edge of said blank including a
first joint member capable of interlocking engagement with
a complementary joint member of a wall piece from said
first set in order to unite said corner piece with said
first wall, and a second joint member capable of
interlocking engagement with a complementary joint member
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of a wall piece from said second set in order to unite said
corner piece with said second wall; and
d) said blank including an image-bearing surface
that constitutes an individual pictorial entity
contributing to a complete representation of the structure,
whereby upon assembly of said pieces the image-bearing
surfaces thereof uniting visually to provide image
continuity over said first wall, said second wall and said
corner piece.
37. A corner element as defined in claim 1, wherein said
hinge area includes a pair of hinge lines along which said
sheet of flexible material can alternatively fold when said
first and second backing members are brought to a
non-planar configuration.
38. A corner element as defined in claim 37, further
comprising a visual queue specifying to a user a
predetermined fold line along which said sheet of flexible
material is to be folded when said first and second backing
members are brought to a non-planar configuration.
39. A corner element as defined in claim 38, wherein said
visual queue is a mark on said lithographic film.
40. A corner element as defined in claim 1, wherein said
first and second backing members define therebetween an
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elongated channel forming said hinge area, said elongated
channel having generally parallel side walls.
41. A blank as defined in claim 17, comprising a visual
queue indicating to the user to fold said sheet of
flexible material along a predetermined one of at least
two possible fold lines located in said hinge area, in
order to bring said first and second backing members in a
non-planar configuration.
42. A blank as defined in claim 41, wherein said visual
queue is a mark on said sheet of flexible material.
43. A corner element as defined in claim 1, wherein said
sheet of flexible material constitutes said image bearing
surface.
44. A blank as defined in claim 17, wherein said sheet of
flexible material constitutes said image bearing surface.
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45. A corner element of a puzzle that constitutes a
three-dimensional pictorial representation of a structure, said
corner element comprising:
- a first and second generally planar backing members;
- a peripheral edge of said corner element including
at least one joint member capable of interlocking
engagement with a complementary joint member of another
element of the puzzle;
- said corner element also including an image-bearing
surface that constitutes an individual pictorial entity
contributing to a complete representation of the structure,
characterized in that it comprises a single sheet of
flexible material bonded to said first and second backing
members in a face-to-face relationship therewith, said
first and second backing members including respective
opposite peripheral edge portions which, when said backing
members are in coplanar position, are located in parallel
planes spaced apart at a distance that is equal or exceeds
the thickness of the backing material, said sheet of
flexible material thereby defining between said edge
portions a hinge area, whereby said backing members are
capable of acquiring a non-planar angular relationship by
bending movement of said sheet of flexible material at said
hinge area;
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46. A corner element as defined in claim 45, wherein the
joint member on the peripheral edge of said corner element
is selected from the group consisting of female joint
member and male joint member.
47. A corner element as defined in claim 46, wherein the
joint member on the peripheral edge of said corner element
includes either one of a flaring tenon and tapered mortise.
48. A corner element as defined in claim 45, wherein each
said backing members includes a joint member capable of
interlocking engagement in a plane with a complementary
joint member of another element of the puzzle, whereby
allowing to build up a wall of the structure.
49. A corner element as defined in claim 48, wherein the
joint member on each said backing members is selected from
the group consisting of female joint member and male joint
member.
50. A corner element as defined in claim 49, wherein the
joint member on each said backing members includes either
one of a flaring tenon and tapered mortise.
51. A corner element as defined in claim 45, wherein said
first and second backing members are capable of mutual
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interlocking engagement upon acquisition of said non-planar
relationship.
52. A corner element as defined in claim 51, wherein said
first and second backing members include complementary
tenon and mortise joint members at said hinge area, said
tenon and mortise joint members engaging one another when
said first and second backing members acquire said
non-planar relationship.
53. A corner element as defined in claim 45, further
comprising means for locking said first and second backing
members in a non-planar relationship.
54. A corner element as defined in claim 45, further
comprising:
- third and fourth generally planar backing members
bonded in a face-to-face relationship to said sheet of
flexible material, said third and fourth backing members
being hingedly joined to said first and second backing
elements by the intermediary of said sheet of flexible
material, whereby said third and fourth backing members are
capable of acquiring a generally co-planar relationship
when said first and second backing members are set in a
predetermined non-planar angular relationship.
55. A corner element as defined in claim 54, wherein said
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third and fourth backing members are capable of
interlocking engagement upon acquisition of said co-planar
relationship to lock said first and second backing members
in said predetermined non-planar angular relationship.
56. A corner element as defined in claim 55, wherein said
third and fourth backing members include complementary
joint members interlocking together when said third and
fourth backing members acquire said co-planar relationship.
57. A corner element as defined in claim 54, wherein
either one of said first and second backing members and
either one of said third and fourth backing members include
complementary tenon and mortise joint members engaging one
another when said third and fourth backing members acquire
said co-planar relationship.
58. A corner element as defined in claim 57, wherein said
sheet of flexible material is a lithographic film.
59. A corner element as defined in claim 57, wherein said
sheet of flexible material is adhesively bonded with to
said backing members.
60. A corner element as defined in claim 45, wherein said
backing members are made of polymeric foam.
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61. A corner element as defined in claim 45, wherein said
hinge area includes a pair of hinge lines along which said
sheet of flexible material can alternatively fold when said
first and second backing members are brought to a
non-planar configuration.
62. A corner element as defined in claim 61, further
comprising a visual queue specifying to a user a
predetermined fold line along which said sheet of flexible
material is to be folded when said first and second backing
members are brought to a non-planar configuration.
63. A corner element as defined in claim 62, wherein said
visual queue is a mark on said lithographic film.
64. A corner element as defined in claim 45, wherein said
first and second backing members define therebetween an
elongated channel forming said hinge area, said elongated
channel having generally parallel side walls.
65. A blank of a corner element for use in a puzzle that
constitutes a three-dimensional pictorial representation of
a structure, said blank comprising:
- first and second generally planar backing members;
- an intermediate member between said first and second
backing members;
- a sheet of flexible material bonded to said first
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and second backing members in a face-to-face relationship
therewith, said intermediate member being removable from
said blank to form between said first and second backing
members a hinge area, whereby said first and second backing
members are capable of acquiring a non-planar angular
relationship by bending movement of said sheet of flexible
material at said hinge area;
- a peripheral edge of said blank including at least
one joint member capable of interlocking engagement with a
complementary joint member of another element of the
puzzle; and
- said blank also including an image-bearing surface
that constitutes an individual pictorial entity
contributing to a complete representation of the structure.
66. A blank as defined in claim 65, wherein the joint
member on the peripheral edge of said blank is selected
from the group consisting of female joint member and male
joint member.
67. A blank as defined in claim 66, wherein the joint
member on the peripheral edge of said blank includes either
one of a flaring tenon and tapered mortise.
68. A blank as defined in claim 65, wherein each said
backing members includes a joint member capable of
interlocking engagement in a plane with a complementary
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joint member of another element of the puzzle, whereby
allowing to build up a wall of the structure.
69. A blank as defined in claim 68, wherein the joint
member on each said backing members is selected from the
group consisting of female joint member and male joint
member.
70. A blank as defined in claim 69, wherein the joint
member on each said backing members includes either one of
a flaring tenon and tapered mortise.
71. A blank as defined in claim 65, wherein said first and
second backing members are capable of mutual interlocking
engagement upon acquisition of said non-planar
relationship.
72. A blank as defined in claim 67, wherein said first and
second backing members include complementary tenon and
mortise joint members at said hinge area, said tenon and
mortise joint members engaging one another when said first
and second backing members acquire said non-planar
relationship.
73. A blank as defined in claim 65, further comprising
means for locking said first and second backing members in
a non-planar relationship.
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74. A blank as defined in claim 65, further comprising:
- third and fourth generally planar backing members;
- an intermediate element between said third and
fourth backing members, said sheet of flexible material
being bonded in a face-to-face relationship to said third
and fourth backing members and to said intermediate
element, said intermediate element being removable from
said blank to form a hinge zone between said first and
second backing members and said third and fourth backing
members, whereby allowing said third and fourth backing
members to acquire a generally co-planar relationship by
bending movement of said flexible sheet at said hinge zone
when said first and second backing members are set in a
predetermined non-planar angular relationship.
75. A blank as defined in claim 74, wherein said third and
fourth backing members are capable of interlocking
engagement upon acquisition of said co-planar relationship
to lock said first and second backing members in said
predetermined non-planar angular relationship.
76. A blank as defined in claim 75, wherein said third and
fourth backing members include complementary joint members
interlocking together when said third and fourth backing
members acquire said co-planar relationship.
77. A blank as defined in claim 74, wherein either one of
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said first and second backing members and either one of
said third and fourth backing members include complementary
tenon and mortise joint members engaging one another when
said third and fourth backing members acquire said
co-planar relationship.
78. A blank as defined in claim 65, wherein said sheet of
flexible material is a lithographic film.
79. A blank as defined in claim 65, wherein said sheet of
flexible material is adhesively bonded with to said first
and second backing members and to said intermediate member.
80. A blank as defined in claim 78, wherein said sheet of
flexible material is adhesively bonded with to said third
and fourth backing members and to said intermediate
element.
81. A blank as defined in claim 65, wherein said third and
fourth backing members and said intermediate element are
made of polymeric foam.
82. A blank as defined in claim 65, wherein said
intermediate member includes a visual queue to assist a
user locating said intermediate member.
83. A puzzle game for assembly into a three-dimensional
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structure including:
- a first set of planar wall pieces capable of
interlocking in a plane to form a first wall of the
structure;
- a second set of planar wall pieces capable of
interlocking in a plane to form a second wall of the
structure, each said wall pieces including an image-bearing
surface constituting an individual pictorial entity
contributing to a complete representation of the structure;
and
- corner pieces, according to anyone of claims 45 to
64, for establishing a union between said first and second
walls.
84. A puzzle game for assembly into a three-dimensional
structure including:
- a first set of planar wall pieces capable of
interlocking in a plane to form a first wall of the
structure;
- a second set of planar wall pieces capable of
interlocking in a plane to form a second wall of the
structure, each said wall pieces including an image-bearing
surface constituting an individual pictorial entity
contributing to a complete representation of the structure;
and
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- blanks of corner piece, according to anyone of
claims 65 to 82, for use in establishing a union between
said first and second walls.