Puzzle with tactile clues
A puzzle with tactile clues that includes a tactile image that can be felt by a visually impaired person includes orientation indicia for the puzzle, as well as orientation indicia for individual pieces. The puzzle orientation indicia are raised, distinguishable clues. The piece orientation indicia are indicated by the shape of the tabs and blanks. The puzzle is waterjet cut to ensure a tight tolerance, and constructed of a washable material so it can be disinfected. Optionally, a guide puzzle of less difficulty may be included with the primary puzzle to instruct the assembler on assembly and the final image.
The present invention relates to a puzzle with tactile clues that is able to be enjoyed by both the sighted and the visually impaired. The puzzle with tactile clues has particular utility in connection with the teaching of and leisure and enjoyment available to, those with limited or no vision.
Description of the Prior ArtPuzzles have long been used for leisure and entertainment, and are also an important part of the educational formation of young people. The first puzzles were based on maps, called dissections, and used to teach geography. Puzzles later became a source of entertainment and leisure. Puzzles created from wood and cut by fretsaw soared in popularity during the Great Depression; modern die-cut cardboard puzzles first became popular around WWII.
Recognition of shapes and how pieces connect are important to visual and spatial awareness, and completion rewards assemblers with a sense of accomplishment. Unfortunately, visually impaired people are often omitted from the pleasure and benefit of puzzles. This is to the detriment of both the visually impaired, and of parents who might enjoy sharing such activities with visually impaired children. Prior art has previously attempted to address this deficiency.
United States Patent Number 941,680 to Houghton discloses a raised puzzle for the blind. However, the Houghton '680 patent is not readily printed like other puzzles, and has further drawbacks of requiring a receiving tray.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,074,989 to Bassett discloses a puzzle with pieces with raised indicums that provide clues as to the position of the piece within a physical frame. In the Bassett '989 patent, the piece indicums provide the specific location of the piece within the puzzle, rather than challenging the visually-impaired user to assemble the puzzle in a method similar to a sighted assembler, but using touch, rather than sight, to orient and interlock the pieces.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 9,836,981 B2 to Skeete and Fields discloses a puzzle teaching system that uses magnets and electronic sensors to assist in assembly. Although the Skeete '981 patent includes three-dimensional indicia for additional assistance, such indicia are used to convey information about the puzzle image, which is a map, and not used to provide general orientation without revealing a specific position.
U.S. Pat. No. 11,198,056 to Greenawalt et al. discloses a multiple level jigsaw puzzle that could provide tactile feedback. The Greenawalt '056 patent uses a raised-relief 3D effect to display its image. However, the multilevel jigsaw puzzle of the Greenawalt '056 patent is not easily printed.
US Patent Application Publication 2021/0060410 to Sakdinan describes a three-dimensional puzzle with tactile response. Although the publication states the various textures of the puzzle would add an additional sensory element that could aid the visually impaired, this is based on the image having a raised image, and the tactile response is when the pieces are depressed: the publication does not disclose systematic clues for orientation of individual pieces and assembly of the puzzle. The publication also discloses an upper-layer puzzle material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane leather, or leather for a premium feel, however, the puzzle of the '410 publication also has a paper-backing layer, which is not durable for sanitation and washing.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved puzzle with tactile clues that can be used for the teaching, enjoyment and leisure of the visually impaired. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the puzzle with tactile clues according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides a kit that can be readily printed, disinfected between users, simultaneously enjoyed by the sighted and the visually impaired, and provides an image that can be felt by the visually impaired, as well as tactile clues that reveal puzzle and individual piece orientation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of puzzles now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved puzzle with tactile clues, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved puzzle with tactile clues which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a puzzle with tactile clues which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a puzzle printed with raised print technology that allows a visually impaired assembler to “feel” the image. The puzzle also incorporates indicia for the orientation of the puzzle on either, or optionally both, a vertical and a horizontal axis. Additionally, many pieces further incorporate tactile indicia to convey the orientation of the individual piece.
The puzzle is cut using a non-abrasive waterjet to ensure a tight tolerance between the pieces; the method results in a cut that allows the pieces to have an interlocking fit with about 0.004″ between the pieces, providing positive feedback for both sighted and visually-impaired assemblers, and allowing an assembled, or partially assembled, puzzle to be moved without accidental or incidental disassembly. The puzzle is constructed of a washable material that may be disinfected, and printed with water-resistant ink, allowing it to be used in a group setting, including, without limitation, child care, senior, and health provider care centers, where it may be enjoyed by both sighted and visually impaired assemblers. Puzzles have universal appeal, and the puzzle with tactile clues may be assembled by two people, such as a parent and child, regardless of the visual acuity of both individuals, as the tactile clues appeal to by the sighted and visually impaired. A parent could assemble a puzzle of the present invention with a young child that is visually impaired, a child could assemble a puzzle of the present invention with a senior parent suffering from macular degeneration, or everyone involved could be either sighted or visually impaired, either related or unrelated, and of similar or disparate ages. A guide puzzle consisting of two to four pieces, may be included with the primary puzzle to instruct the assembler on the method of assembly and to provide a reference for the final image.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved puzzle with tactile clues that has all of the advantages of the prior art puzzles for the visually impaired and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved puzzle with tactile clues that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved puzzle with tactile clues that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making the puzzle with tactile clues economically available to the buying public.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new puzzle with tactile clues that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description refers to the annexed drawings wherein:
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTReferring now to the drawings, and particularly to
Each image 16 within each section 14 is also printed with a raised print that offers tactile feedback. The present invention is printed using a method similar to giclée printing of fine art prints, and uses a water-resistant ink that allows the puzzle to be cleaned without damaging the image. In the embodiment shown, the images 16 of each section 14 constitute recurring symbols 16. This embodiment is geared towards beginners or novices, but one can readily appreciate that more complex images and patterns may be used. The images 16 may be raised, or the images 16 could constitute voids in surrounding raised print. Either is within the spirit and scope of the invention.
In
Turning now to
Turning now to
Now viewing
In use, it can now be understood that the puzzle with tactile clues comprises a kit of pieces for assembly. The assembled version of the pieces comprises distinguishable vertical and horizonal indicia. The picture displayed by the assembled puzzle define the pieces as having a top and bottom defining a vertical axis, and a left and right defining a horizontal axis. The individual pieces have tactile clues that allow an assembler to orient each piece vertically and horizontally. In the current embodiment, the tactile clues are incorporated into the tabs and blanks used for assembling the pieces.
Another inventive aspect of the puzzle is that it is cut using a waterjet. As opposed to fretsaw or die-cut pieces, the waterjet process allows for much tighter tolerances between pieces. This allows a tighter fit between the pieces, allowing the assembler better feedback on correct assembly even if vision impairment makes the image of the assembled photo difficult for the assembler to view.
Another inventive aspect of the puzzle is that it is manufactured of a washable material, such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which is used in the current embodiment. The printing process also ensures the image on the puzzle is water resistant, so it is also washable. The use of a washable material allows the puzzle to be cleaned and disinfected, allowing it to be used by different assemblers in environments, such as nurseries, day care centers, or hospitals, where there are concerns of fomite transmission.
While a preferred embodiment of the puzzle with tactile clues has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For example, any suitable sturdy material that can be water cut and disinfected may be used instead of the PVC described. The tactile puzzle orientation clues are straight and squiggly lines, but other distinguishable shapes, such as dotted or dashed lines, may be used.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A puzzle with tactile clues comprising a kit of interlocking pieces, said assembled puzzle having a front, a top and bottom defining a vertical puzzle axis, and left and right sides defining a horizontal puzzle axis, wherein one of said puzzle axes comprises a first puzzle indicia oriented with a puzzle axis.
2. The puzzle of claim 1 further comprises a second puzzle indicia oriented with the second puzzle axis.
3. The puzzle of claim 2 wherein said first and second puzzle indicia comprise raised print.
4. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein each interlocking piece has a left and right sides defining a first piece axis and a top and bottom defining a second piece axis, wherein a plurality of said pieces comprise a first piece indicia indicating a first piece axis.
5. The puzzle of claim 4, further comprising an image printed with raised print on said front.
6. The puzzle of claim 5 manufactured of a washable material.
7. A puzzle with tactile clues comprising a kit of interlocking pieces for assembly into a unique configuration, wherein each interlocking piece has a left and right side defining a first piece axis and a top and bottom defining a second piece axis, wherein a plurality of said pieces have a first piece indicia indicating a first piece axis.
8. The puzzle of claim 7 wherein said interlocking pieces interlock via tabs on a first piece and a shape defining a blank for receipt of said tab on a second piece, said tab and said blank incorporating said piece indicia.
9. The puzzle of claim 8, said puzzle cut by non-abrasive waterjet to ensure said interlocking pieces interlock with one another with a tolerance of less than 0.005″.
10. The puzzle of claim 9, said assembled configuration having a front, a top and bottom defining a vertical puzzle axis, and left and right sides defining a horizontal puzzle axis, wherein said front has an image printed with raised print.
11. The puzzle of claim 10, wherein one of said puzzle axes has a first puzzle indicia oriented with said axis.
12. A puzzle with tactile clues comprising a kit of interlocking pieces for assembly into a unique configuration, said assembled puzzle having a front, a top and bottom defining a vertical puzzle axis, and left and right sides defining a horizontal puzzle axis; said interlocking pieces having a top and bottom defining a vertical piece axis and left and right sides defining a horizontal axis, at least one said piece has at least one tab, and at least one said piece defining a blank for receiving and interlocking said tab, comprising a tactile image on said front printed with raised print.
13. The puzzle of claim 12 further comprising a first puzzle indicia oriented with a puzzle axis.
14. The puzzle of claim 12 further comprising a first piece orientation indicia encoded in said tab.
15. The puzzle of claim 12 wherein interlocking pieces that define corners of said puzzle further incorporate a distinct whimsey piece.
16. The puzzle with tactile clues of claim 12 wherein said kit includes no more than four interlocking pieces for assembly into a second puzzle that conveys the image and format of the puzzle with tactile clues.
17. The puzzle of claim 12 wherein said pieces are cut by non-abrasive waterjet with a tolerance of less than 0.005″.
18. The puzzle of claim 17 comprised of a washable material.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 24, 2023
Publication Date: Feb 1, 2024
Inventor: Philip Raymond Einshon (Dallas, TX)
Application Number: 17/803,997