U.S. patent application number 09/760381 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-18 for die-cutting system for a jigsaw puzzle.
Invention is credited to Enko, Frederick A..
Application Number | 20020093137 09/760381 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25058936 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020093137 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Enko, Frederick A. |
July 18, 2002 |
Die-cutting system for a jigsaw puzzle
Abstract
A two-dimensional puzzle using a backboard is made by leaving a
first side of the backboard uncovered, placing an image on a second
side of the backboard. A die is pressed to the first side of the
backboard such that the die presses through the backboard and cuts
the image to form two or more pieces that, when properly assembled,
form the image.
Inventors: |
Enko, Frederick A.;
(Westfield, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN F. HAYDEN
Fish & Richardson P.C.
601 Thirteenth Street, NW
Washington
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
25058936 |
Appl. No.: |
09/760381 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/150 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 9/10 20130101; A63F
2009/1072 20130101; B26F 1/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/150 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for making a two-dimensional puzzle using a backboard,
the method comprising: leaving a first side of the backboard
uncovered; placing an image on a second side of the backboard; and
pressing a die to the first side of the backboard such that the die
presses through the backboard and cuts the image to form two or
more pieces that, when properly assembled, form the image.
2. The method of claim 1 in which the backboard comprises
cardboard.
3. The method of claim 1 in which placing the image on the second
side of the backboard comprises gluing a sheet of material
including the image to the second side of the backboard.
4. The method of claim 1 in which a first puzzle piece comprises a
projecting portion and a second puzzle piece adjacent to the first
puzzle piece comprises a recessed portion.
5. The method of claim 4 in which the projecting portion of the
first puzzle piece is cooperative with the recessed portion of the
second puzzle piece such that the first and second puzzle pieces
interfit and releasably interlock.
6. The method of claim 1 in which placing the image on the second
side of the backboard comprises rendering the image directly onto
the backboard.
7. A two-dimensional jigsaw puzzle formed by a process comprising:
leaving a first side of the backboard uncovered; placing the image
on a second side of the backboard; and pressing a die to the first
side of the backboard such that the die presses through the
backboard and cuts the image to form two or more pieces that, when
properly assembled, form the image.
8. The puzzle of claim 7 in which the backboard comprises
cardboard.
9. The puzzle of claim 7 in which placing the image on the second
side of the backboard comprises gluing a sheet of material
including the image to the second side of the backboard.
10. The puzzle of claim 7 in which a first puzzle piece comprises a
projecting portion and a second puzzle piece adjacent to the first
puzzle piece comprises a recessed portion.
11. The puzzle of claim 10 in which the projecting portion of the
first puzzle piece is cooperative with the recessed portion of the
second puzzle piece such that the first and second puzzle pieces
interfit and releasably interlock.
12. The puzzle of claim 7 in which placing the image on the second
side of the backboard comprises rendering the image directly onto
the backboard.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a die-cutting system for a jigsaw
puzzle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Jigsaw puzzles are popular forms of entertainment. In
general, a jigsaw puzzle is a set of irregularly shaped pieces
that, when properly assembled, form a picture. A level of
difficulty associated with a jigsaw puzzle may be varied with the
number of pieces, the number of different cuts used to make the
pieces, and the dimensionality of the puzzle.
SUMMARY
[0003] In one general aspect, a two-dimensional puzzle is made from
a backboard by leaving a first side of the backboard uncovered and
placing an image on a second side of the backboard. Then, a die is
pressed to the first side of the backboard such that the die
presses through the backboard and cuts the image to form two or
more pieces that, when properly assembled, form the image.
[0004] Implementations may include one or more of the following
features. For example, the backboard may include cardboard. The
image may be placed on the second side of the backboard by gluing a
sheet of material including the image to the second side of the
backboard. The image may be placed on the second side of the
backboard by rendering the image directly onto the backboard.
[0005] A first puzzle piece may include a projecting portion and a
second puzzle piece adjacent to the first puzzle piece may include
a recessed portion. The projecting portion of the first puzzle
piece may be cooperative with the recessed portion of the second
puzzle piece such that the first and second puzzle pieces interfit
and releasably interlock.
[0006] The die-cutting system of making the two-dimensional puzzle
produces assembled puzzles in which the boundaries of individual
pieces are less noticeable. This results in improved image quality
in the assembled puzzle, which is beneficial, for example, when the
puzzle is to be displayed.
[0007] Other features and advantages will be apparent from the
description, the drawings, and the claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a die-cutting system for
manufacturing jigsaw puzzles.
[0009] FIGS. 2A-2D are cross-sectional views of the die-cutting
system of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a jigsaw puzzle manufactured
using the die-cutting system of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an improved die-cutting
system for manufacturing jigsaw puzzles.
[0012] FIGS. 5A-5D are cross-sectional views of the die-cutting
system of FIG. 4.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a jigsaw puzzle manufactured
using the die-cutting system of FIG. 4.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a top view of a die that may be used in the
die-cutting systems of FIGS. 1 and 4.
[0015] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a prior die-cutting system 100 for
forming two-dimensional puzzles includes a die 105 and a base 107.
Once formed, the two-dimensional puzzle includes two or more
irregularly-shaped pieces that, when properly assembled, form a
visual rendering such as a picture. The base 107 includes a
backboard 110 and an image 115 formed on, or adhered to, one side
of the backboard 110. The die 105 is positioned on the print side
of the base 107 such that the die 105 is first pressed into the
image 115, and then pressed into the backboard 110.
[0017] The die 105 is made of thin strips of material (such as,
metal) shaped into intricate patterns and fastened to a base (not
shown). The edges of the die material on the exposed side of the
die 105 are sharpened to cut the print 115 and the backboard 110
when pressed into the image 115 and backboard 110, so as to form
the puzzle.
[0018] The backboard 110 is made of any well-known material that
permits die cutting. For example, the backboard 110 may be made of
cardboard, sponge, or any soft board. The image 115 may be a visual
rendering on a pliable material, such as, for example, paper or
plastic, or may be rendered directly on the backboard 110. When
formed on paper, plastic, or some other material, the image 115 may
be applied to the backboard 110 using, for example, glue or any
suitable adhesive.
[0019] FIGS. 2A-2D show an enlarged cross-section of the
die-cutting system 100 is shown in various stages in which the die
105 is pressed into the base 107 to form adjacent pieces of a
two-dimensional puzzle. Adjacent pieces 200, 205 are formed from a
cut due to a segment 210 of the die 105 pressing into the base 107.
However, as the die 105 is pressed into the base 107, the pressure
of the die 105 crushes the image 115. Because of this, the puzzle
pieces are accentuated relative to the image 115, as shown in FIG.
3. After the die 105 has cut the base 107, the two-dimensional
puzzle is complete.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 4, an improved die-cutting system 400 for
forming two-dimensional puzzles includes a die 405 and a base 407.
The base 407 includes a backboard 410 and an image 415 adhered to,
or printed on, one side of the backboard 410. The die 405 and base
407 have attributes comparable to those described with respect to
die 105 and base 107 of FIGS. 1, 2A-2D, and 3.
[0021] Referring also to FIGS. 5A-5D, adjacent pieces 500, 505 are
formed from a cut due to a segment 510 of the die 405 pressing into
the base 407. The die 405 is positioned on the backboard side of
the base 407 such that the die 405 is first pressed into the
backboard 410, and then pressed into a backside of the image 415.
In this way, the image 415 is not crushed by the pressure of the
die 405 during die cutting. Thus, the puzzle pieces are less
noticeable when assembled into the puzzle, as shown in FIG. 6.
[0022] Referring also to FIG. 7, the pattern of the die 405 may be
a jigsaw pattern 700. In such a jigsaw pattern, the boundaries of
the pieces each have one or more projecting portions and/or one or
more recessed portions. The portions of the puzzle piece are
cooperative with the complementarily shaped portions of adjacent
puzzle pieces such that the pieces interfit and releasably
interlock.
[0023] Other embodiments are within the scope of the following
claims.
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