Abstract: A puzzle including a puzzle board having a backing, a plurality of cavities, and a plurality of puzzle pieces, each puzzle piece having a frame, or outer periphery shaped and sized to conform to the inner walls or inner periphery of a corresponding cavity in the puzzle board, and each of the puzzle pieces including a frame with an open, central area or window and having a clear film, preferably an acetate, extending thereacross, the bottom surface of each cavity having an image formed thereon, and the clear film also having an image formed thereon, whereby placement of a puzzle piece into a cavity provides for completion of the puzzle and the super-imposition of the puzzle piece insert image upon the background image at the bottom of the cavity.

Abstract: A puzzle has a transparent top layer and a bottom layer which can be seen through the top layer. The top layer of the puzzle is provided with a top image and the bottom layer with a bottom image which is associated with this top image. When viewed through the transparent top layer both top and bottom images are seen as a composite image. At least one of the top and bottom layers include a plurality of image elements moveable relative to each other to produce at least one desired composite image which is the solution to the puzzle. For added complexity, both top and bottom layers may include moveable image elements which are manipulated from opposite sides of the puzzle. The puzzle is particularly adapted to slide puzzles having two layers of slide tiles.

Abstract: A method of encrypting and decrypting images comprising the steps of creation of an encrypted image by alteration of the original image and decrypting the image by means of a decrypting optic.

Abstract: An occult device that includes an open-top hollow rectangular box, a light source, a first light transmitting sheet, a second light transmitting sheet, and an indicator. The open-top hollow rectangular box has a pair of long sides, a pair of short sides, a closed bottom, and an open top. The light source is disposed in the open-top hollow rectangular box. The first light transmitting sheet is disposed on the open top of the open-top hollow rectangular box, so that light from the light source can be transmitted therethrough. The second light transmitting sheet is disposed on the open top of the open-top hollow rectangular box and supported by the first light transmitting sheet, so that light from the light source can be transmitted therethrough. The first light transmitting sheet and the second light transmitting sheet close the open top of the open-top hollow rectangular box. And, the indicator is movable on the second light transmitting sheet by the hands of a user.

Abstract: The jigsaw puzzle according to the present invention comprises a substrate and transparent member. The substrate has a painting, photograph or pattern provided on at least the first side thereof and is cut into a multiple of irregular, interlocking pieces. The transparent member has marked thereon a figure which is to conceal at least a part of the cut lines in the substrate, and is to be disposed on the first side of the substrate. Since the zigzag cut lines in the substrate are concealed by the figure marked on the transparent member, the jigsaw puzzle having the picture thus reproduced can be an improved interior decoration.

Abstract: A multilayer puzzle having a plurality of superposable card units in the form of polygons of identical shape and size consisting of a transparent material. Surfaces of the card units carry a plurality of distinct markings in the form of layers of various, opaque colors disposed on at least portions of at least one of the surfaces of each of the card units, leaving transparent other surface portions thereof. Through which transparent surface portions there can be perceived surface portions of at least the next-lower card unit of the plurality of card units when superposed, whereby by rotation and/or face reversal of at least one of the card units in the superposed plurality, a large number of pattern-forming combinations of the markings can be obtained, differing in colors, shapes and relative positions. At least one of the combinations on at least one face of the superposed plurality of card units may be defined as target combination to be achieved by the handler of the puzzle.

Abstract: A plurality of three-dimensional puzzle pieces will create model atmospheres for model globes and flat puzzles, having a thickness suitable to comprise of all types of subject matter to be embedded within the pieces displaying the subject matter in three-dimensional forms. The subject matter will include the geography of a world, all elements of an atmosphere such as cloud formations and storm systems, and make possible to represent events that were and are being effected by nature and man, such as objects in flight, volcanic eruptions, nuclear explosions, and events of historical importance. Descriptive indicia may appear at any level of the atmosphere adding many areas whereon a great many more listings of significant information can be included, compared to standard globes and maps that have one surface of indicia where crowded confusion can exist when heavily referenced.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a puzzle post card comprising providing a first backing, adhering a picture to one surface of said backing, adhering said first backing to a second backing containing an address means whereby only the perimeter of said first backing is adhered to said second backing, cutting said first backing in the non-adhered to portion to form a puzzle, adhering a plastic cover over said puzzle to hold said puzzle in place during mailing.

Abstract: A deck of playing cards and a card game to be played therewith comprises a plurality of transparent cards each having the same outer shape and size. Each card carries a colored area which may correspond to a primary shape, a secondary shape, a tertiary shape or a large master shape. Primary, secondary and tertiary shapes are selected so that they can be combined in various ways to make the master shape. The colors which may also be transparent are selected so that overlapping master shapes of secondary colors can be combined to form primary colors. The game using the cards is similar to the card game known as casino where cards are retrieved by matching shapes rather than card values and where building and doubling can be practiced.

Abstract: A puzzle apparatus utilizing a curved member having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface. A plurality of interlocking pieces are employed, each possessing a concave surface conforming to the convex outer surface of the curved member. Each of the multiplicity of pieces includes a convex surface displaying indicia. The plurality of interlocking pieces are held to the curved outer surface to form a rendition.

Abstract: A multi-layered puzzle having a plurality of generally transparent layers with each layer having different designs thereon. The puzzle is solved by matching the shape design of each piece and identifying the appropriate layer in the puzzle. The overlaying pieces provide for a three dimensional puzzle especially adapted for puzzles having nature scenes inscribed thereon. The difficulty of the puzzle may further be increased by having one or more layers in contoured relation to each other.

Abstract: A puzzle is provided comprising a base formed from a transparent material and including a generally planar bottom wall and a frame extending upwardly from the bottom wall to define a puzzle recess. The puzzle further comprises a plurality of transparent puzzle pieces dimensioned to be received within the puzzle recess of the base. The transparent puzzle pieces are formed from a material that removably accepts markings thereon. The puzzle can be used by placing the base and the assembled puzzle pieces over a selected image which can be traced with a suitable marker. The puzzle pieces with the traced image thereon can be removed from the base and subsequently reassembled. The image created on the puzzle pieces can further be removed therefrom to enable the creation of a new puzzle.

Abstract: The three-dimensional puzzle consists of a plurality of transparent sheets on which code bits of information are arranged. When viewed in the correct direction, the code bits of information define a two-dimensional picture or object. When viewed from any other direction, the code bits appear as a jumbled image, and the hidden object is not apparent.

Abstract: A puzzle game having at least one solution comprising at least 2 superposable light permeable portions. These portions are disposed in such a way that at least one superposition of light permeable portions in individually light continuous disposition will provide one solution. Light permeable portions may be oriented by means of a holder. In some embodiments, light permeable portions are translucent, transparent, polarizing or fiber optic.

Abstract: A puzzle characterized by a number of stackable components each provided with an activated area consisting of a plurality of polarized zones. Each zone is polarized along one of two mutually perpendicular axes. The stackable components appear to be identical when separated, but when stacked together the appearance of the resultant solid will be dependent upon the alignment of the polarized zones of adjacent component. The object of the puzzle is to make the resultant solid totally transparent, totally opaque, or some other predetermined pattern of transparency and opacity.

Abstract: A kit for children's playing, fortune-telling, learning or the like use, including at least one pair of block pieces each carrying a figure thereon and at least one of which is of transparent material. The block pieces, of planar or cubic form, are laid one on the other to form a composite picture of the figures carried by the respective pieces, which is visible viewed from the transparent block side and changeable by changing the relative angular position of the block pieces. The cubic block pieces can each have three different figures respectively applied to its three faces forming a vertex so that the number of composite pictures obtainable therewith is multiplied. The wide variety of composite pictures obtainable with the play kit of the invention makes it highly attractive to children and also to grown-up people, despite of its extremely simple construction.

Abstract: A puzzle toy is provided in which a game may be played to achieve a desired combination of colors by shifting several puzzle elements arranged checkerwise in the lengthwise and the breadthwise directions. The puzzle toy includes a plurality of polarizing plates fixed to a case and individual polarizing plates fixed to the individual puzzle elements. Color indication of the puzzle elements is varied with the change of the relative relationship of the polarizing axis of the individual polarizing plates to that of the first polarizing plates, due to the transparency indication action and the polarizing color indication action which result from the principle of double refraction polarization.

Abstract: A puzzle is produced by a method which codifies a number of images onto an equal number of partial image sheets so that by the proper arrangement and registry of the sheets any of the individual images can be reproduced. The individual images are first reproduced on transparent image sheets, preferably using different colors of transparent ink. The partial image sheets are made of a transparent material and have various portions of the images formed on one or both of their sides using opaque black ink for the dark areas of the images and opaque white ink for the background areas. Codification of each image onto the partial image sheets is accomplished by selectively overlaying the corresponding image sheet with one or more of the other image sheets or previously codified partial image sheets, or both.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in performance of a game or puzzle comprises a base and a set of playpieces in the form of cubes or pieces notionally composed of cubes. The base defines a number of recesses each of which is arranged to seat playpieces such that an internal diagonal of each cube is vertical. The base recesses are so ordered with respect to each other that when each seats a playpiece, further playpieces can be seated on the pieces already seated to build up a structure. In one form of the apparatus, the playpieces are cubes carrying parts of a number of pictures on their faces so that when the cubes are correctly stacked the pictures are severally recomposed from their parts.