Abstract: A plurality of jigsaw puzzles each composed of interlocking puzzle pieces and each assembled as a complete puzzle but designed such that they can be laid on top of each other to form a three-dimensional composite relief image. Where the layers are transparent or staggered opaque or both such that underlying layers can be seen through or behind the upper layers and where the layers can be aligned and locked by locking pieces.

Abstract: A substrate is printed with areas of magnetizable ink. The magnetizable ink is compressed into the surface of the substrate, and overprinted to hide it. Suitable inks for the purpose are disclosed. The ink may be permanently magnetized in any of a variety of patterns.

Abstract: A substrate is printed with areas of magnetizable ink. The magnetizable ink is compressed into the surface of the substrate, and overprinted to hide it. Suitable inks for the purpose are disclosed. The ink may be permanently magnetized in any of a variety of patterns.

Abstract: A magnetically interactive substrate is provided for a book. The book includes a plurality of interactive substrates in the form of a sheet or a panel of material. Each of the interactive substrates includes magnetizable areas or portions printed thereon. The magnetizable areas are printed using a magnetic ink formulated by magnetizable particles added to an ink formulated for a preselected printing process. The magnetizable particles are shaped and sized to be compatible with the preselected printing process. A plurality of removable play pieces are adapted to be attracted to the magnetizable areas on the substrate. Each of the removable play pieces includes a substrate or support member on which magnetic material is applied. The magnetic material allows the play piece to be selectively positioned on the magnetizable areas.

Abstract: A three-dimensional surface treatment which can be applied to or supported by a substrate is provided for covering a book. The surface treatment comprises at least one three-dimensional member made from plastic having an outer surface, an inner surface and a border. The outer surface is sculpturally molded into a three-dimensional sculpture-in-the-round, having peaks, impressions, relieved areas and undercuts in all axes to increase the overall dimensionality and detail of the surface treatment. In the preferred embodiment, multiple three-dimensional members may be used, wherein each three-dimensional member serves as a separate layer that forms part of the overall three-dimensional appearance of the surface treatment. In addition, interactive devices may be embedded in the three-dimensional members in order to make the surface treatment interactive.

Abstract: A magnetically interactive substrate is provided for a book. The book includes a plurality of interactive substrates in the form of a sheet or a panel of material. Each of the interactive substrates includes magnetizable areas or portions printed thereon. The magnetizable areas are printed using a magnetic ink formulated by magnetizable particles added to an ink formulated for a preselected printing process. The magnetizable particles are shaped and sized to be compatible with the preselected printing process. A plurality of removable play pieces are adapted to be attracted to the magnetizable areas on the substrate. Each of the removable play pieces includes a substrate or support member on which magnetic material is applied. The magnetic material allows the play piece to be selectively positioned on the magnetizable areas.

Abstract: An interactive book or device having a mechanism for generating a plurality of sensory outputs in manner that maximizes the interaction between the user and the book or device. The interactive book includes function initiators for initiating a unique sensory output that corresponds to a visual indicia on a page of the book. A function level selector is coupled to the function initiators that selectively changes a function level and thereby selectively changes the sensory output corresponding to each function initiator. Consequently, the number of sensory outputs is increased and thereby enables greater interaction between the user and the book. It also encourages the user to creatively combine the sensory outputs to obtain a cognizable aggregate output.

Abstract: A printed substrate has areas printed in a screen of carbon black ink dots and other areas printed in a corresponding screen of infrared transparent ink dots, whereby, the presence of the carbon black ink dots is made visually undetectable but can readily be detected by an infrared emitter and detector.