Jigsaw puzzle organized by colors and numbers
A jigsaw puzzle includes various organizational or coordinating methods or schemes located on the back of the jigsaw puzzle that facilitates the sorting of the individual puzzle pieces into grids, sections or bands for easy assemblage so that areas or sections of the puzzle can be first assembled before the entire puzzle is assembled. The organizational or coordinating methods include having numbers, letters or a combination of both placed on the rear surface of each individual puzzle piece, dividing the jigsaw puzzle into grids or sections wherein the rear surfaces of the puzzle pieces of each section are uniquely numbered or colored, or separating the jigsaw puzzle into bands with the puzzle pieces of each band being uniquely colored or marked.
The present invention pertains to jigsaw puzzles, and more particularly pertains to jigsaw puzzles having puzzle pieces coordinated, organized and grouped by colors and numbers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBoard games are among the most popular types of games devised and played by children and adults as an enjoyable social amusement and pleasurable group activity. From perennially popular board games such as Monopoly, Clue, and Risk, to more recent entrants such as Trivial Pursuit, board games are a generally inexpensive means of enjoyment and entertainment. In addition to board games, puzzles have enjoyed a perennial popularity as a means of entertainment and enjoyment both as a family and social activity as well as a solitary pastime. Puzzles range from simple children's puzzles of a few dozen pieces to complex, intricately configured puzzles having thousands individual pieces that must be closely and carefully examined in order to achieve their proper interfitting arrangement. Moreover, puzzles have grown in sophistication to include three-dimensional puzzles that are built up in three-dimensional levels or tiers that form replicas or models of well known structures such as the Empire State building or the Eiffel Tower.
The prior art discloses a number of jigsaw-type puzzles representative of a variety of configurations and designs.
For example, the Smith patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,242,594) discloses a picture puzzle having a rubber backing sheet divided into adjacent areas, and each area includes a raised number for mating with the corresponding recesses of tile pieces so that the tile pieces can be disposed on the corresponding areas thereby forming a given picture element.
The McFarland patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,136) discloses a double jigsaw puzzle game that includes a game board comprised of mirror image puzzle pieces that form duplicate scenes on each half portion of the game board, with the duplicate scenes differing in color and a scoring means to determine which player or players completes their half section of the game board first.
The Moreau patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,558) discloses a puzzle system wherein the puzzle pieces have both edge and planar surfaces so that puzzle pieces can be interconnected to form a two-dimensional planar puzzle or a three-dimensional figure.
The Bianchi patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,062,637 and 5,149,098) disclose a pair of jigsaw puzzle game boards wherein the boards and the puzzle pieces have corresponding indicia identifications, and wherein one puzzle piece for each game board includes a special designation that results in the shifting of the game boards to different players during play of the game.
The Chang patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,701) discloses a jigsaw puzzle that includes a board having apertures with buttons extending upwardly therethrough for contact by the individual puzzle pieces whereupon a sound is emitted when all of the puzzle pieces are brought into contact with the buttons.
Nonetheless, despite the ingenuity of the above devices, there remains a need for a jigsaw puzzle wherein the puzzle pieces can be easily sorted and arranged by visual indicia such as colors or numbers thereby allowing individuals or groups to each assemble sections of the puzzle thereby shortening the time period for completing the entire puzzle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention comprehends a jigsaw puzzle organizational or coordination scheme wherein the rear or back surfaces of the individual puzzle pieces include indicia, such as numbers, letters, or a combination of both numbers and letters, that facilitate the assembly of the jigsaw puzzle in an organized manner. In addition, the entire rear or back surface of the jigsaw puzzle can be divided into grids, sections, or bands with each grid, section or band designated by specific indicia or colors. The division or separation of the puzzle pieces by specific indicia or colors facilitates the sorting of the puzzle pieces into separate puzzle piece sections. Individuals or groups can then assemble their assigned section, and then the puzzle sections can be assembled to form the complete jigsaw puzzle.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle coordination and arrangement scheme whereby the individual puzzle pieces are organized by having indicia such as numbers, letters, or a combination of both numbers and letters placed on the rear surfaces of the individual puzzle pieces.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle coordination and arrangement scheme whereby the jigsaw puzzle is divided into specific grids, sections, or bands that can be assembled individually and then interconnected to form the complete jigsaw puzzle.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle coordination and arrangement scheme wherein each specific grid, section, or band is denoted by a unique number, letter, color or design.
Still yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a jigsaw puzzle coordination and arrangement scheme wherein the indicia for each jigsaw puzzle grid, section, or band facilitates their sorting for assemblage by grid, section, or band prior to their interconnection for creating the complete jigsaw puzzle.
A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a jigsaw puzzle coordination and arrangement scheme wherein each section or area of the jigsaw puzzle can be sorted and then assembled by individuals or playing groups thereby shortening the time period for assembling the entire jigsaw puzzle.
These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following detailed description read in conjunction with the following drawing figures and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications, alterations, and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, and all such modifications, alterations, variations, and equivalents are intended to be covered.
Claims
1-7. (canceled)
8. A jigsaw puzzle having a numerical organizational scheme, comprising:
- a plurality of puzzle pieces with each puzzle piece capable of interconnecting with at least one adjacent puzzle piece;
- each puzzle piece having a front side and an opposite rear side;
- each puzzle piece having an Arabic numeral placed on the rear side;
- the puzzle pieces forming rows with each row starting and ending with a unique Arabic numeral; and
- the placement of Arabic numerals on the rear sides of the puzzle pieces creating a numerical organizational scheme with the puzzle piece in the upper right hand corner having the Arabic numeral 1 on its rear side and the sequential placement of Arabic numerals on the rear sides of the puzzle pieces continuing in an ascending sequence from right to left and left to right for each row until the last puzzle piece located at the lowermost left hand corner with the highest Arabic numeral is reached so that a puzzle solver can sequentially and numerically construct the puzzle commencing with the puzzle piece at the upper right hand corner proceeding row by row from right to left and left to right by sequentially following the Arabic numerals placed on the rear sides of the puzzle pieces.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 30, 2004
Publication Date: Aug 4, 2005
Inventors: Arthur Mucci (Ocala, FL), Anthony Mucci (Clearwater, FL)
Application Number: 10/770,253