SYSTEM FOR STORAGE OF PUZZLE PIECES, SALES UNIT OF A PUZZLE AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A PUZZLE

Abstract

A sales unit of a puzzle with a puzzle which comprises a plurality of puzzle pieces which together form a picture with one or more motifs, as well as a storage container for the puzzle pieces, wherein the puzzle pieces of one picture are assembled into at least two or more groups with two or more puzzle pieces respectively, irrespective of the motif or motifs, wherein the groups of puzzle pieces are arranged separately from one another in the storage container. A method for manufacturing the puzzle as well as a system for storage of a puzzle with a storage container and two or more dimensionally stable sub-storage containers can include each sub-storage container receiving a group of puzzle pieces with two or more puzzle pieces.

Claims

1. Sales unit comprising a puzzle comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces which together form a picture, as well as a storage container for the puzzle pieces, wherein the puzzle pieces of the picture can be assembled into two or more groups with two or more of the puzzle pieces respectively, wherein the groups of puzzle pieces are arranged in the storage container separately from one another, and two or more sub-storage containers which are arranged in the storage container, wherein each of the sub-storage containers receives one of the groups of the puzzle pieces, wherein each of the sub-storage containers is designed in such a manner that through a design of the sub-storage containers and the puzzle pieces completeness of the puzzle pieces of each of the group of puzzle pieces can be ascertained through interaction of the puzzle pieces and of the sub-storage container.

2. The sales unit according to claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the puzzle pieces of a group and the dimensions of the related sub-storage container are matched to one another in such a manner that exactly a certain number of the puzzle pieces, corresponding to a number of puzzle pieces of the group of puzzle pieces, fits into a related one of the sub-storage containers, and/or that the related one of the sub-storage containers has a visible marking which shows the number or completeness of the puzzle pieces in the related one of the sub-storage containers when the related one of the sub-storage containers is filled with the puzzle pieces till visible marking.

3. The sales unit according to claim 1, wherein the number of puzzle pieces is identical in each of the groups of puzzle pieces.

4. The sales unit according to claim 1, wherein the number of puzzle pieces per groups of puzzle pieces is lesser than or equal to 250 puzzle pieces.

5. The sales unit according to claim 1, wherein the puzzle pieces of each of the groups of puzzle pieces represent a clearly defined partial segment of a complete puzzle.

6. The sales unit according to claim 5, wherein the partial segment is defined by at least one characteristic of the puzzle pieces selected from a number of characteristics comprising the relation to one or more rows of the puzzle, the relation to a part of one or more rows of the puzzle, the relation to one or more columns of the puzzle, the relation to a part of one or more columns of the puzzle, the relation to any local area of the puzzle, one or more basic colors or color elements of the puzzle pieces, boundary pieces of the puzzle, number of recesses or protrusions of the puzzle pieces and combinations thereof.

7. The sales unit according to claim 1, wherein the puzzle pieces are sorted into one of the groups of puzzle pieces and/or are stacked.

8. The sales unit according to claim 7, wherein each of the sub-storage containers are designed in such a manner that each of the sub-storage containers define a storage space which has the exact dimensions so that a stack of a certain number of the puzzle pieces are wedged in the storage space or closes flush with an upper edge of the storage space and/or that the storage space has a marking which functions as a measure for the number of the puzzle pieces received in one of the sub-storage containers.

9. A system for storage of a puzzle comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces, which together form a picture, and a storage container for storage of the puzzle pieces, wherein the system comprises two or more sub-storage containers, wherein each of the sub-storage containers can receive a group of puzzle pieces of the picture with two or more puzzle pieces, wherein each of the sub-storage containers has a measure so that completeness of the puzzle pieces of each of the groups of puzzle pieces in each of the sub-storage containers can be ascertained by using the measure when the puzzle pieces are arranged in each of the sub-storage containers.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of the sub-storage containers is designed to be dimensionally stable in at least one dimension in such a manner that the dimensionally stable dimension of each of the sub-storage containers forms the measure, and/or each of the sub-storage containers has a marking which functions as the measure.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of the sub-storage containers are separate individual containers and/or trays or sections of a common container for several groups.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of the sub-storage containers are designed in such a manner that exactly one stack of puzzle pieces can be received in each of the sub-storage containers and/or that each of the sub-storage containers comprises opening or removal aids.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of the sub-storage containers is designed as closable tubes or tubs or cuboidal containers and has a circular or rectangular cross-section whose diameter or dimension are selected in such a manner that one of the puzzle pieces with the largest dimension, among the puzzle pieces to be received, can be received with some gap.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the storage container is formed by a two-piece, cube-shaped carton with a cover and a lower part.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of the sub-storage containers are formed by a one-piece insert for the storage container with a plurality of pockets for storing the groups of the puzzle pieces or that the storage container has an insert element with a plurality of pockets for keeping the sub-storage containers.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the insert and/or the insert element are imprinted with the representation of the motif of the puzzle.

17. The system according to claim 9, wherein the system furthermore comprises of an intermediate layer element which is arranged between the storage container and the sub-storage containers in order to securely hold and/or to close the sub-storage containers, wherein the intermediate layer element is elastically deformable or the storage container comprises a closure foil which is firmly connected to the storage container in order to securely hold and/or close the sub-storage containers.

18. A method for manufacturing a puzzle for a sales unit according to claim 1, wherein the picture is separated into the plurality of puzzle pieces and the separated puzzle pieces of the picture are assembled in the two or more groups of puzzle pieces and are separated from one another in the groups, wherein the separated groups of puzzle pieces are stored in one of the sub-storage containers.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the puzzle pieces of each of the groups of separated puzzle pieces represents a clearly defined partial segment of the puzzle, wherein each partial segment is defined by at least one characteristic of the puzzle pieces of a group selected from a number of characteristics comprising the relation to one or more rows of the puzzle, the relation to a part of one or more rows of the puzzle, the relation to one or more columns of the puzzle, the relation to a part of one or more columns of the puzzle, the relation to any local area of the puzzle, one or more basic colors or color elements of the puzzle pieces, boundary pieces of the puzzle, number of recesses or protrusions of the puzzle pieces, and combinations thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] The attached drawings show in purely schematic manner in

[0031] FIG. 1 a representation of a puzzle according to the most recent background art,

[0032] FIG. 2 a representation of a system for storage of puzzles according to the invention,

[0033] FIG. 3 a representation of a stack of puzzle pieces which are stored in a sub-storage container according to the invention,

[0034] FIG. 4 a top view of a separate sub-storage container containing a stack of puzzle pieces,

[0035] FIG. 5 a perspective view of the sub-storage container from FIG. 4,

[0036] FIG. 6 a perspective view of another sub-storage container with a cap,

[0037] FIG. 7 a perspective exploded view of a storage container with an intermediate layer element and an insert element with a plurality of separate sub-storage containers,

[0038] FIG. 8 a sectional view through the bottom part of the storage container from FIG. 7 with a sub-storage container wedged into the insert part,

[0039] FIG. 9 a sectional view through the bottom part of the storage container of FIG. 7 with a sub-storage container clamped in the insertion part, which is closed by a sealing foil on the bottom part,

[0040] FIG. 10 a perspective view of a further sub-storage container and in

[0041] FIG. 11 a side view of the sub-storage container from FIG. 10.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Further advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention will be evident from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. However, the invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a standard puzzle 1, which represents a picture 2 in the assembled state, which is represented using a carrier, for example, a cardboard carton, and a representation of a motif printed on it. The picture 2, as is standard for puzzle 1, can be separated into a plurality of individual pieces, the so-called puzzle pieces 3, wherein a sales unit of puzzle 1 comprises of the separated puzzle pieces 3 usually in a storage container and the user assembles the puzzles pieces 3 into the picture 2.

[0044] The puzzle pieces 3 have these protrusions 4 and recesses 5 for assembling them, which can be designed in various ways, wherein at least one protrusion 4 matches a recess 5, so that the corresponding puzzle pieces 3 can be assembled. The protrusions 4 and recesses 5 of a plurality of puzzle pieces 3 can be designed differently from all or at least a large part of these puzzle pieces, so that a unique arrangement of the puzzle pieces 3 to one another can be produced at least in conjunction with the edges of the puzzle pieces 3 to one another which can similarly vary between the various puzzle pieces.

[0045] Often, the puzzle pieces 3 are arranged in 16 to 20 rows and 10 to 15 columns, so that the unique position of each of the puzzle pieces 3 can be defined by specifying the corresponding row 16 to 20 and the column 10 to 15. For example, the puzzle piece 3 located in the upper left corner of puzzle 1 in FIG. 1 can be defined by row 16 and column 10, so that the specification of the row and column, e.g. (16; 10), uniquely defines the position of the puzzle piece 3. However, there are also puzzles whose puzzle pieces 3 can be designed and arranged in a completely random manner. Such puzzles are known as so-called randomcutpuzzles.

[0046] In case of puzzles constructed in rows and columns as well as randomcutpuzzles, clearly defined partial segments of the puzzle 1 can be specified depending on or irrespective of a motif. According to the present invention, these partial segments can be assembled into groups in the manufacturing process and the groups can be separated. For example, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the puzzle pieces 3 from the individual rows 16 to 20 or in the individual columns 10 to 15 can be defined into one group respectively. Or groups can be formed from a certain number of puzzle pieces 3, for example, groups of 6 puzzle pieces respectively, like for example the puzzle pieces 3 of the rows 16, 17 and 18 as well as of the columns 10 and 11, the puzzle pieces 3 of the rows 19 and 20 and of the columns 10, 11 and 12, the puzzle pieces 3 of the rows 16, 17 and 18 and of the columns 12 and 13 as well as the puzzle pieces 3 of the rows 16, 17 and 18 as well as of the columns 14 and 15 and the puzzle pieces 3 of the rows 19 and 20 and of the columns 13, 14 and 15. Thus, irrespective of the motif of the picture 2, groups of puzzle pieces 3 can be formed which can be assembled individually from one another and separated if, in the manufacturing process of the puzzle, they have been detached and separated from one another after the picture 2 has been cut into the individual puzzle pieces 3.

[0047] The respective groups of puzzle pieces 3 can be stored in the corresponding sub-storage containers 9, as shown as an example in FIG. 2, so that the corresponding groups of puzzle pieces 3 are received in different sub-storage containers in a sales unit of a puzzle 1 and a user can assemble parts of the puzzle according to the groups of puzzle pieces 3. Naturally, a user can disassemble a completed puzzle 1 again into groups of puzzle pieces 3 depending on how he wants to separate them, wherein the individual groups can be stored in the sub-storage containers 9 separately from one another.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows an example for a system for storage of puzzle pieces 3 separated according to groups of puzzle pieces 3, as described above. FIG. 2 shows a storage container with a bottom part 6 and a cover part 7, which together form a cube-shaped carton in which the puzzle pieces 3 can be stored. For separate storage of individual groups of puzzle pieces 3, an insert 8 is provided in the storage container 6, 7 or in the bottom part 6. Similar to the bottom part 6, the insert is formed by an open-top, cube-shaped box or tub, which however has multiple separating walls 21 parallel to the outer sides, so that this form multiple sub-storage containers 9 with an open top in which the individual groups of puzzle pieces 3 can be kept. For example, if the number of puzzle pieces 3 in each group is the same and/or have the same size, which can be easily seen, then this makes it easy to check whether the puzzle pieces 3 of the puzzle 1 received in the storage container 6, 7 or in the sub-storage containers 9 are complete.

[0049] This can be easy especially in case of a larger number of puzzle pieces 3 per group, if the puzzle pieces 3 can be stacked in a sub-storage container 9, so that a single or multiple stacks of puzzle pieces 3 can be received in the sub-storage container 9. This is shown for example in FIG. 3 for a stack of puzzle pieces 3, wherein FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of one of the several sub-storage containers arranged adjacent to one another and several puzzle pieces 3 are stacked in one of the sub-storage containers 9. However, the stack of puzzle pieces in the shown exemplary embodiment are not arranged standing on the lowest puzzle piece but horizontally, so that the stack of puzzle pieces 3 in the storage state is horizontal to the bottom of the sub-storage container 9. As shown in FIG. 3, the stack of puzzle pieces 3 has a height equal to the length of the sub-storage container 9 or a bordering separating wall 21, so that the upper- and lower side of the stack lies flat on the separating walls 21 running parallel to the upper- or lower side of the stack and the stack is wedged in between the separating walls 21. If the sub-storage container 9 contains the correct number of puzzle pieces 3, then the stack is wedged in tightly in the sub-storage container 9, whereas the stack cannot be held in the sub-storage container 9 if puzzle pieces 3 are missing.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows this for one of the multiple sub-storage containers 9 of the insert 8. The FIGS. 4 and 5 show the same storage principle for a sub-storage container 9, which is designed separately. Multiple open-top, cube-shaped sub-storage containers 9, as shown in top view with puzzle pieces 3 wedged therein in FIG. 4 and in perspective view in FIG. 5, can be arranged in a storage container for the puzzle, for example in a cube-shaped box.

[0051] Another embodiment of a sub-storage container 9 is shown in FIG. 6. The sub-storage container 9 of the FIG. 6 is formed by a tub or a one-sided or double-sided closable tube with a circular cross-section, wherein the diameter of the circular cross-section is somewhat larger than the largest dimension of the puzzle pieces 3 to be stored in it, so that a stack of puzzle pieces 3 can be received in the sub-storage container, wherein in this case the puzzle pieces 3 will be received loosely. However, the maximum diameter of the circular cross-section of the tubor tube-shaped sub-storage container is dimensioned so that individual puzzle pieces 3 of the stack cannot slip out of the stack and, for example, fall in a gap between the stack and the sub-storage container 9.

[0052] Moreover, the embodiment of a sub-storage container 9 from the FIG. 6 shows that a corresponding sub-storage container 9 can have a cap 22 in order to prevent the puzzle pieces 3 from falling out.

[0053] Furthermore, a marking 26 is provided in FIG. 6 on the upper edge of the sub-storage container 9, using which the correct number of puzzle pieces 3 in the sub-storage container 9 can be easily ascertained. Thus, in this case, the stack of puzzle pieces 3 need not close flush with the upper side of the sub-storage container 9, rather the upper side of the stack must match the marking 26 of the sub-storage container.

[0054] However, it is also possible to consider the height of the sub-storage container 9 as a measure for the number and completeness of the puzzle pieces 3 instead of the marking 26. In this case, the puzzle pieces 3 or the upper side of the stack closes flush with the upper boundary of the tub- or tube-shaped sub-storage container 9, if the correct number of puzzle pieces 3 are to be contained in the sub-storage container 9. If the sub-storage container 9 closes its upper side of the edge flush with the puzzle pieces 3, then it contains the correct number of puzzle pieces 3, while this is not the case if a puzzle piece 3 is missing and the shortage of the puzzle piece/s 3 can be easily and quickly identified.

[0055] The individual sub-storage containers 9 can be received according to the exemplary embodiments of FIG. 7 into a cube-shaped storage container 6, 7 in the form of a 2-piece box. As shown in FIG. 7, an insert element 23 with a plurality of pockets 24 is arranged in the bottom part 6, wherein the sub-storage containers 9 can be inserted in the pockets 24. Here, the diameter of the pockets 24 can be somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the sub-storage containers 9, so that a sub-storage container 9 fits tightly in the pocket 24 of the insert element 23.

[0056] The sub-storage containers 9 can be unclosed on the top, since an intermediate layer element 25 is inserted between the sub-storage containers 9 and the cover part 7, so that this closes the upper sides of the sub-storage containers 9. Preferably the intermediate layer element 25 can be elastically deformable, so that it can be pressed against the sub-storage containers 9 with the cover part 7, so that the sub-storage containers 9 are closed securely.

[0057] In this exemplary embodiment, the user can at will remove and separately empty the individual sub-storage containers 9 after opening the storage container 6, 7 by removing the cover part 7 and removing the intermediate layer element 25. However, the user can at least partly leave the sub-storage containers 9 in the insert element 23 and jointly empty the sub-storage containers 9 kept in the insert element 23 by simply turning over the bottom part 6. Accordingly, the user can himself ascertain the difficulty level of the puzzle 1 by either only assembling individual or multiple partial segments of the puzzle 1 according to the groups in the sub-storage containers 9 or assembling the entire puzzle 1 with all partial segments by tipping together all the puzzle pieces from the sub-storage containers 9. Moreover, the user can identify if the respective sub-storage containers 9 contain the correct number of puzzle pieces 3 at a glance, since the puzzle pieces 3 stacked in the sub-storage container 9 must be arranged flush either with a marking or with a specified limit of the sub-storage container 9.

[0058] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view through the bottom part 6 of the storage container 6, 7 of the FIG. 7. FIG. 8 shows a sub-storage container 9 which is wedged in the insert element 23. The sub-storage container 9 has a strengthened edge 27 in order to make it easier for the user to easily grip the sub-storage container 9 and remove it from the insert element 23.

[0059] FIG. 9 shows a further sectional view through the bottom part 6 of the storage container 6, 7 of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 shows a sub-storage container 29 which is clamped in the insertion element 23. The sub-storage container 29 is designed so that its open upper side, when it is inserted in the bottom part 6 of the storage container 6, 7 and the insertion element 23, is aligned with the upper container edge 30 of the bottom part 6. A sealing foil 28 is attached to the edge 30 of the container, for example by gluing or welding, to close the sub-storage container 29 and the bottom part 6.

[0060] The sub-storage container 29 is a cuboid container made of cardboard or carton, which has opening or removal aids in the form of perforations 32 and bending edges 31, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the rectangular sub-storage container 29, while FIG. 11 shows a side view of the same sub-storage container 29. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 11, two perforations 32 running parallel to the edge 33 of the sub-storage container 29 are formed on a side wall, which enable the side wall to be torn open along the perforations 32. In the lower area of the side wall, a bending or kinked edge 31 is formed at the end of the perforations 32, which enables the side wall to be bent along the bending edge 31. A user can thus remove the sub-storage container 29 from the storage container 6, 7, tear open the side wall along the perforations 32 and fold it over along the bending edge 31 in such a way that there is easy and simple access to the puzzle pieces 3 arranged in the sub-storage container 29. In the embodiment example shown in FIG. 11, the perforations 32 within the side wall are shown slightly offset from the edges 33 of the sub-storage container 29, but the perforations can also be formed directly on the edge 33.

[0061] Although the present invention is described in detail using the exemplary embodiments, it is evident to the expert that the invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Rather variations are possible in that individual characteristics are left out or other combinations of characteristics can be achieved without leaving the scope of protection of the enclosed claims. The present disclosure especially includes all combinations of the individual characteristics shown in the various exemplary embodiments, so that individual characteristics described only in relation to one exemplary embodiment can also be used in other exemplary embodiments or in combinations of individual characteristics not shown explicitly.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0062] 1 Puzzle [0063] 2 Picture [0064] 3 Puzzle piece [0065] 4 Protrusion [0066] 5 Recess [0067] 6 Bottom part [0068] 7 Cover part [0069] 8 Insert [0070] 9 Sub-storage container [0071] 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Columns [0072] 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 Rows [0073] 21 Separating wall [0074] 22 Cap [0075] 23 Insert element [0076] 24 Pocket [0077] 25 Intermediate layer element [0078] 26 Marking [0079] 27 Strengthened edge [0080] 28 Closure foil [0081] 29 Sub-storage container [0082] 30 Container rim [0083] 31 Kinked edge [0084] 32 Perforation