Universal puzzle piece with customizable surface
A universally shaped puzzle piece is provided that may mate with any side of a puzzle piece having the same universal shape. Instead of placing a portion of an overall puzzle image on the universally shaped puzzle piece, indicia related to a theme are placed on one side. The other side of the puzzle piece may be customizable to a user such that an infinite number of the universally shaped puzzle pieces may be customized and fit together to form a puzzle with a unique image. Thus, puzzle pieces may be distributed to individuals at a public event so that a puzzle is created that represents the overall theme of the event.
This invention relates to a customizable puzzle piece. More particularly, this invention relates to a puzzle piece that provides utility to a user even when the puzzle piece is packaged by itself and does not include a portion of an overall puzzle image.
Puzzle pieces are well known in the art. Traditional puzzle pieces provide utility by way of a game. More particularly, a traditional puzzle is made up of puzzle pieces that each have, on one surface, one portion of an overall puzzle image. In this manner, a user is challenged to put the pieces of the puzzle (i.e., the individual portions of the overall puzzle image) together in order to form the overall puzzle image. To increase the complexity of the challenge, the pieces of a puzzle may be made to have smaller sizes and/or less recognizable differences in shape. However, such traditional puzzle pieces are deficient because they do not provide a stand-alone utility to a user. In other words, a traditional puzzle piece only provides functionality by way of an overall puzzle constructing game. It is therefore desirable to provide a puzzle piece with a stand-alone utility.
Traditional puzzles have been around for hundreds of years. Yet, the media in which puzzles have been embodied have generally remained the same. More particularly, traditional puzzle pieces are commonly embodied in a type of cardboard or wood. It is therefore desirable to provide puzzle pieces that are realized in a variety of different media in order to increase the utility provided to a user.
Traditional puzzle pieces are also inherently small (e.g., 1 square-inch). As noted above, puzzle pieces are fabricated in small sizes in order to increase the difficulty in completing the overall puzzle game. Once the size of a traditional puzzle piece increases beyond a particular size (e.g., to the size of a traditional puzzle), the traditional puzzle piece loses utility with respect to a single user. It is therefore desirable to provide a puzzle piece configuration that is larger than a traditional puzzle, but that still maintains a useful function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a puzzle piece that does not include a portion of an overall puzzle image, but that still provides utility to a user. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a puzzle piece with at least one surface that may be customized by a user.
The puzzle piece may also include indicia that are representative of a theme or themes. In this manner, the puzzle piece may be packaged and distributed individually to a user so that the user may, for example, draw an image related to the theme on the customizable surface. If multiple puzzle pieces are customized, then these puzzle pieces may be fit together to form a unique overall puzzle image that is representative of the theme.
Puzzle pieces are also therefore provided that have a universal shape. A puzzle piece with a universal shape may mate with an identically shaped puzzle piece on each side. Thus, an infinite number of identically shaped universal puzzle pieces may be interlocked to form an infinitely large puzzle.
The puzzle pieces of the present invention may be useful at an event having a theme. For example, universal and customizable puzzle pieces of the present invention may be distributed to participants of a rally or other public event. One surface of the puzzle piece may be operable to be customized by a user while the reverse side may include indicia representative of the theme of the rally or other public event. In order to allow a user to customize thoroughly the puzzle piece, the size of the puzzle piece may have a large dimension (e.g., one square-foot). Accordingly, each participant of the rally or other public event may configure a puzzle piece and, at some point, put his or her puzzle piece together with others to form a unique puzzle representative of the theme. Due to the universal shape of the puzzle pieces, the puzzle would not have any defined borders and would, at any side, be operable to accept additional universal puzzle pieces having the same universal shape. Therefore, at any time, a new user may customize a puzzle piece and easily attach the customized puzzle piece to the already existing puzzle.
Puzzle pieces are also provided in a virtual medium. Such virtual puzzle pieces may be accessible and customizable through the internet. A graphical user interface (GUI) may be provided to allow a user to customize a virtual puzzle piece. Such virtual puzzle pieces may also have a universal shape. In so doing, the user may place a customized virtual puzzle piece in an existing virtual puzzle regardless of the number of virtual puzzle pieces already included in the puzzle. An option that allows a user to upload a puzzle piece image and “paste” that uploaded image onto a virtual puzzle piece is also provided.
An electronic puzzle piece is also provided that allows a user to play back a previously recorded audio segment. An option may be included that allows a user to record an audio segment.
The puzzle pieces of the present invention are also provided in a variety of embodiments and media. Such embodiments include, by way of example, stickers, punch-out cards, trading cards and pads. Additionally, the customizable area of a puzzle piece may be configured to accept a variety of types of user customizations. For example, the customizable area may be fabricated out of canvas so that a user may paint an image onto the puzzle piece.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGSThe above and other features of the present invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
Puzzle piece 161 is non-symmetrical and may be included in a puzzle of similarly shaped puzzle pieces. Puzzle piece 170 includes puzzle pieces 171-174 and 176-179 that have the same universal shape as puzzle piece 161. Due to the universal nature of puzzle pieces 171-174 and 176-179, additional puzzle pieces 161 may be added to puzzle 170.
Turning now to
One embodiment of a possible reverse (i.e., rear) surface of puzzle piece 201 is shown in puzzle piece 300 of
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that, depending upon the material used for surfaces 301 and 302, a variety of customizations may be made to puzzle piece 300. Descriptive text may be included on a particular side of a puzzle piece to denote the type of customization for which the material is intended. For example, if a canvas is used, then descriptive text may be included that notes that acrylic paints are the intended customization tool for the canvas. This descriptive text is preferably included on the non-customizable side or area of puzzle piece 301.
However, as mentioned above, a puzzle piece constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention may be operable to allow a user to customize all surfaces. Materials employed as surface 301 (or as puzzle 300) may be, for example, cardboard, metal (e.g., bronze), stone, wood, aluminum, plastics (e.g., recycled plastics), plexiglass, acrylics, glass, whiteboard, canvas, felt or a fabric. For example, a watercolor paper may be utilized in order to best receive watercolors. As per another example, Braille paper may be used such that a blind user may create Braille holes in puzzle piece 301. Alternatively still, a Braille painting paper may be used such that a blind user may employ Braille paint to form paint blots having the configuration of a Braille letter.
Each puzzle piece 300 may be packaged individually. Such packaging may also include a card or pamphlet associated with a theme or the operation of puzzle piece 300. The package may include one or more customization instruments (e.g., a pen, box of crayons, markers, paint brush and paint or Braille hole-maker). In this manner, multiple puzzle pieces may be distributed to different users (e.g., a second grade class) such that each user may customize a puzzle piece that may ultimately be utilized in a puzzle.
Puzzle piece 401 may be constructed differently from puzzle pieces 402. For example, puzzle piece 401 may have construction 430 in order to increase the stiffness of, and thereby provide support to, pad 400. Construction 430 may include inner cardboard layers 433 and 434, outer non-customizable layer 432 and customizable layer 431. Outer non-customizable layer 432 may be, for example, similar to surface 201 of
A shorted layer 436 may be fixed (e.g., glued) to a non-customizable layer to create a customizable portion on construction 430. Alternatively, non-customizable layer 435 may be fixed to customizable layer 431 such that only a portion of customizable layer 431 is provided to a user. One embodiment in which layers 435 and 436 may be utilized will be discussed further in connection with the trading cards of
Puzzle piece 401 is preferably constructed with multiple layers. Puzzle pieces 402, however, may each be constructed with a single layer. In one embodiment, puzzle pieces 402 may be fabricated from drawing paper in order to decrease the thickness of pad 400 and increase the number of puzzle pieces 402 that may be employed in pad 400. Such pages may include one or more surfaces with a watermark or other indicia related to a theme. One surface of puzzle piece 401 (e.g., the exterior surface) may also include indicia related to that same theme.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that pad 400 may provide a useful way to distribute puzzle pieces at an event or a promotion. For example, the organizers of an event may construct pad 400 to include indicia representative of a theme of the event. During the event, organizers may remove puzzle pieces 402 from pad 400 one-by-one and distribute puzzle pieces 402 to the participants of the event. Such participants may then customize the customizable surface of his or her puzzle piece 402. Customized puzzle pieces 402 may ultimately be interlocked to form a universal puzzle, which will have a unique look due to the wide-variety of individual puzzle piece customizations.
Pad 400 may be manufactured and distributed as kit 420. Kit 420 may contain packaging 421, preferably constructed from a transparent polymer so that its contents may be easily viewed, and puzzle pad 422. Puzzle pad 422 may alternatively be a single puzzle piece. A card or pamphlet may also be included in kit 420. Moreover, one or more customization instruments (e.g., crayon boxes) may be included in kit 420. The number of customization instruments in kit 420 may be equal to the number of puzzle pieces 402 or the total number of puzzle pieces 401 and 402.
A user of GUI 500 may be recognized by any associated login/password so that at least a portion (e.g., portion 504) may be customized to a user after login. Puzzle piece 511 is provided to a user. Tools 530 and color palette 520 may be included so that a user may customize puzzle piece 511 through GUI 500 and form customized indicia 550. The color pallet may include multiple colors 521-524 that, when selected by a user, change the color of the instrument being used to customize puzzle piece 511. Tools 530 may be selectable by the user and may include, for example, cut, paste, copy, large brush, small brush, erase, spray paint, insert picture and zoom functionalities to a user.
Each virtual puzzle piece may be assigned a number or code and the number or code may be presented to a user via portion 505. This number or code may be utilized as the title for puzzle piece 511 and may be changed by the user to a descriptive title. The user may store additional information with puzzle piece 511. For example, a user may store his or her name, city, state and comments on the overall theme that may be intended for puzzle piece 511. This information may be added through a GUI (not shown) that is accessed by clicking on portion 505. Link 506 may be included so that, when selected by a user, it activates a GUI that includes an birds-eye view of the virtual puzzle already completed or, if too large, a portion of the already completed virtual puzzle. Link 507 may be included and may allow a user to save and/or be provided a final review of puzzle piece 511. Link 508 may be included and, when selected, will save the puzzle piece 511 (or the image created on puzzle piece 511) to a remote database (not shown).
After the image is saved, link 508 may “call” a GUI in which a user may add puzzle piece 511 to the already existing puzzle, or link 508 may automatically add puzzle piece 511 to the puzzle and provide the user with a view of the puzzle or a portion of the puzzle that contains puzzle piece 511. Users may also be provided with the option of uploading one or more pictures that may be formatted and applied to the virtual surface of puzzle piece 511. Furthermore, users may be provided with the option to print any customized puzzle piece or the completed puzzle on a designated printer.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that puzzle piece 511 does not have to have a universal shape. Additionally, puzzle piece 511 may not be customizable and may contain a portion of an overall puzzle piece image so that GUI 500 and GUI 600 of
A virtual puzzle may lead to a useful product promotion 602. For example, a user may receive a personal identification number (PIN) or code for each bar of candy that he or she buys. This PIN is associated with a puzzle piece. For example, after a PIN is entered, a transparent call may be made to a remote database to retrieve the puzzle piece, or characteristics of the puzzle piece, associated to that PIN. Accordingly, the puzzle piece's identification may be that of a PIN or a sweepstakes identification code. As per one embodiment of a product promotion, specific PIN may be associated with puzzle pieces having specific prizes, so that if PIN “2” is entered and puzzle piece “2” corresponds with a prize of a “BMW Roadster,” then a puzzle piece may be presented to a user that depicts a “BMW Roadster.” In such an instance, descriptive text may be presented to the user that explains to him or her the prize that was just won and may provide instructions on how to redeem or claim that prize. If no prize is won, a blank puzzle piece may be presented to a user. If the user customizes and submits this puzzle piece, the user may then be entered into a random drawing for a runner-up prize.
A puzzle piece may provide a unique medium in which trading cards may be sold, distributed or bundled together in trading card packs.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that punch-out puzzle piece 900 may also be used to sell a traditional puzzle in a puzzle pad where the puzzle pieces are of varying shapes. Doing so would remove the need for traditional puzzle boxes that take up valuable shelf space in stores. Thus, different non-universal puzzle pieces may be packaged in one pad (e.g., in package 420 of
Turning now to
From the foregoing description, persons skilled in the art will recognize that this invention generally relates to universal and customizable puzzle pieces. It should be recognized that the invention may take many forms other than those disclosed in this specification. For example, electronic puzzle piece 1000 of
Claims
1. A puzzle piece comprising:
- a perimeter having a universal shape such that a second one of said puzzle piece may interlock with said puzzle piece;
- a first surface; and
- a second surface, wherein neither said first nor second surfaces include a portion of an overall puzzle image.
2. The puzzle piece of claim 1 wherein said first surface is customizable.
3. The puzzle piece of claim 1 wherein said first and second surfaces are customizable.
4. The puzzle piece of claim 1 wherein said first surface is customizable and said second surface is non-customizable.
5. The puzzle piece of claim 1 further comprising one or more indicia located on said first surface.
6. The puzzle piece of claim 5 wherein said first surface is non-customizable and said second surface is customizable.
7. The puzzle piece of claim 5 wherein said one or more indicia includes a logo.
8. The puzzle piece of claim 1, further comprising:
- an electronic output device;
- memory for storing media; and
- circuitry for playing said media on said electronic output device.
9. The puzzle piece of claim 8 wherein said electronic output device is a speaker and said media is an audio segment.
10. The puzzle piece of claim 8 wherein said electronic output device is a display.
11. The puzzle piece of claim 8 further comprising an electronic input device.
12. The puzzle piece of claim 8 further comprising circuitry for recording audio data.
13. The puzzle piece of claim 1 wherein said universal shape is symmetrical.
14. The puzzle piece of claim 1 wherein said universal shape has an even number of sides.
15. The puzzle piece of claim 14 wherein said universal shape has four sides.
16. The puzzle piece of claim 1 wherein said universal shape has an odd number of sides.
17. The puzzle piece of claim 16 where said universal shape has three sides.
18. The puzzle piece of claim 1 further comprising at least one male connector, wherein one or more indicia are printed on at least one of said at least one male connector.
19. The puzzle piece of claim 1 wherein said puzzle piece is virtual.
20. The puzzle piece of claim 1 wherein said puzzle piece is virtual and storable in a remote database.
21. The puzzle piece of claim 1 wherein said puzzle piece is virtual and customizable.
22. The puzzle piece of claim 1 wherein said first and second surfaces are located on a single layer of material.
23. The puzzle piece of claim 1 further comprising:
- a first layer of material, wherein said first surface is located on said first layer; and
- a second layer of material, wherein said second surface is located on said second layer.
24. The puzzle piece of claim 23 wherein said first and second layers form a sticker.
25. The puzzle piece of claim 23 wherein said first layer of material is customizable and said second layer of material is non-customizable.
26. The puzzle piece of claim 23 wherein said first and second layers are fixed together and non-removable from each other.
27. The puzzle piece of claim 1 further comprising:
- a first layer of material, wherein said first and second surfaces are located on said first layer; and
- a plurality of layers of material.
28. The puzzle piece of claim 27 wherein said plurality of layers are partially bound to and removable from said first layer.
29. The puzzle piece of claim 28 wherein the material of said plurality of layers is paper.
30. The puzzle piece of claim 29 wherein the material of said first layer is cardboard.
31. The puzzle piece of claim 1 further comprising an envelope, wherein said puzzle piece is provided in or with said envelope.
32. The puzzle piece of claim 31 wherein said envelope is transparent.
33. The puzzle piece of claim 31 further comprising at least one customization tool.
34. A puzzle piece pad comprising:
- a first universally shaped puzzle piece; and
- at least one second universally shaped puzzle piece having the same shape as said first universally shaped puzzle piece, wherein said at least one second puzzle piece is aligned with said first puzzle piece and said first and at least one second puzzle pieces are attached together on one side.
35. The puzzle piece pad of claim 34 wherein said puzzle piece provided in or with a packaging.
36. The puzzle piece pad of claim 35 further comprising at least one customization tool provided in or with said packaging.
37. The puzzle piece pad of claim 36 wherein said at least one customization tool comprises one or more crayons, markers, pens, paint sets, or pencils.
38. A customizable puzzle piece sticker comprising:
- a first layer having a universal shape;
- one ore more indicia on said first layer, wherein said one or more indicia is not a portion of an overall puzzle image; and
- a second layer having the same shape as said first layer, wherein said second layer is removable from said first layer, said second layer is substantially devoid of one or more indicia, and said second layer is customizable.
39. The puzzle piece sticker of claim 38 wherein said second layer includes static cling properties after said second layer is removed from said first layer such that said second layer may adhere to a surface.
40. The puzzle piece sticker of claim 38 wherein said second layer includes a sticker adhesive on one side such that, after said second layer is removed from said first layer, said second layer may adhere to a different surface.
41. A punch-out puzzle piece consisting of:
- a layer of material, wherein a single universal puzzle piece is defined in said layer of material and the perimeter of said puzzle piece is perforated such that said universal puzzle piece may be punched out by a user.
42. The punch-out puzzle piece of claim 41 wherein one or more indicia are located only on the portion of said layer of material where said universal puzzle piece is not defined.
43. A trading card puzzle piece comprising:
- male and female connectors defined by a perimeter of said puzzle piece; and
- a first surface, wherein said first surface includes a representation of an identifiable personality; and
- a customizable portion located on said puzzle piece.
44. The trading card puzzle piece of claim 43 wherein an autograph of said sports figure is provided on said customizable portion.
45. The trading card puzzle piece of claim 43 wherein said perimeter has a universal shape.
46. The trading card puzzle piece of claim 43 further comprising:
- a second surface; and
- one or more indicia located on said second surface, wherein said one or more indicia is a portion of an overall puzzle image.
47. The trading card puzzle piece of claim 43 wherein said trading card puzzle piece is provided with a plurality of trading cards in a trading card pack.
48. A system for creating a virtual puzzle comprising:
- a webserver configured to publish a virtual puzzle piece to a webpage; and
- tools to customize said virtual puzzle piece.
49. The system of claim 48 wherein said virtual puzzle piece has a universal shape.
50. The system of claim 48 wherein said virtual puzzle piece has an identification number.
51. The system of claim 48 further comprising a user profile, wherein said virtual puzzle piece is associated to said user profile.
52. The system of claim 51 further comprising a login feature for accessing said user profile.
53. The system of claim 48 wherein said customization tools comprises one or more color palettes, cut functions, paste functions, copy functions, brush size functions, erase functions, paint functions, or zoom functions.
54. The system of claim 48 further comprising tools to place said virtual puzzle piece in a virtual puzzle.
55. The system of claim 48 further comprising a remote database configured to store said virtual puzzle piece.
56. The system of claim 48 wherein said customization tools includes an import tool, wherein said input tool allows an image to be imported onto said virtual puzzle piece.
57. The system of claim 55 wherein said database is configured to store the placement of said virtual puzzle piece in a puzzle.
58. The system of claim 57 wherein said webserver is configured to publish said puzzle to said webpage.
59. A machine readable medium having program logic imprinted thereon for:
- providing a virtual puzzle piece; and
- providing tools to customize said virtual puzzle piece.
60. The machine readable medium of claim 59 further comprising machine readable program logic imprinted thereon for publishing said virtual puzzle piece on the internet.
61. The machine readable medium of claim 59 wherein said virtual puzzle piece has a universal shape.
62. The machine readable medium of claim 59 further comprising machine readable program logic imprinted thereon for placing said virtual puzzle piece in a virtual puzzle.
63. The machine readable medium of claim 62 further comprising machine readable program logic imprinted thereon for printing said puzzle.
64. The machine readable medium of claim 59 further comprising machine readable program logic imprinted thereon for printing said virtual puzzle piece.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 29, 2003
Publication Date: May 5, 2005
Inventor: Wendy Stout (New York, NY)
Application Number: 10/697,753