United States Patent 3647218
Abstract:
A small child's picture puzzle having a picture on a planar member which is made into pieces shaped in the form of a piece of pie, with straight edges, a center, and which do not interlock. The puzzle pieces fit together to form a substantially circular outer periphery and a plurality of puzzles nest together in a container in the shape of a pie pan. Alternately the pieces may be stored in a pie piece shaped container.
Inventors:
Foley, Charles F. (Minnetonka, MN)
Mccarthy, Charles D. (Wayzata, MN)
Rabens, Neil W. (Burnsville, MN)
Application Number:
05/014265
Publication Date:
03/07/1972
Other Classes:
206/315.1, 206/457, 206/499
International Classes:
A63F9/12; A63F9/06; (IPC1-7): A63F9/10
Field of Search:
273/156,157R 35
US Patent References:
| 1359646 | Toy | November 1920 | Zion | |
Primary Examiner:
Oechsle, Anton O.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A multipiece picture puzzle assembly comprising a puzzle set including a plurality of substantially planar puzzle members, each being divided into a plurality of individual separable pieces, each of said pieces in a puzzle member meeting at a substantially common centerpoint, and each having substantially straight edge surfaces extending from said centerpoint radially outwardly to the periphery of the member, each of said plurality of substantially planar puzzle members in a set having a different outer peripheral dimension in assembled condition from the others, a frustoconical container member for said puzzle members wherein each of said puzzle members will nest inside said frustoconical container member in a preselected order of stacking.
2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein the outer peripheral edges of said puzzle members are circular.
3. The combination as specified in claim 1 and wherein the outer peripheral edges of at least some of said puzzle members are scalloped.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to multiple-piece child's picture puzzles.
2. Prior Art
Jigsaw puzzles traditionally have interlocking pieces so that they will tend not to slip past each other. The young child has problems in assembly and also the piece's periphery does not usually represent anything. The present invention relates to a puzzle that has pieces with straight sides, cut into the shape of a piece of pie, and which can be assembled in and stored in a pie-shaped tin. Straight sides do not need to be interlocking to enjoy the simple pictures that are on the front thereof, and the use of a pie tin permits them to be assembled inside the pie tin. The creative young child can assemble and make "pies" like mother without having interlocking pieces to assemble, and also can play with each piece as a "piece of pie".
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A picture puzzle having pieces with straight mating edges which are shaped like pieces of pie, and start at a common center point which is generally the axis of a substantially circular periphery of the puzzle when assembled. Further, container means for assembling the complete puzzles and stacking them (each puzzle being of a different size) and which looks like a pie plate or pie pan is utilized with the invention and is a combination therewith.
As a modification, the containers for the puzzles can be shaped as a piece of pie to closely fit the periphery of the individual puzzle pieces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a puzzle shown in a pie pan container with the cover of the pan removed;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken as in line 2--2 in FIG. 1, with a cover in place and in section; and
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a different type of container for the pie-shaped puzzle pieces which closely fits the puzzle pieces and can be used for storage.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In FIG. 1, there are shown a planar, flat puzzle member illustrated generally at 10 that is divided into a number of individual pieces 11, each having a pair of straight border edges 12 that diverge from a center to an outer peripheral edge surface 13. As shown, the puzzle is placed inside a pan member 14 which is a frustoconical member having a bottom wall 15, a frustoconical sidewall 16, and if desired, a releasable snap on cover 17. The puzzle pieces 11 are thus shaped in a form of a piece of pie, and originate at a common point illustrated at 20 in the center of the puzzle. The border edges 12 extend radially outwardly from the center at preselected angles. As shown, the pieces are all made with the edges 12 at equal included angles, but the pieces could be different circle segment sizes if desired. However, the pieces 11 all have straight edges 12 where they join adjacent pieces so that the pieces are not interlocking in the ordinary puzzle sense.
If desired, however, the outer peripheral edges of the pieces 11 can be scalloped as shown at 21 in dotted lines, rather than perfectly circular, but they should be generally of the shape of a circle preferably in order to approximate the shape of a piece of pie.
A plurality of puzzles are arranged in the pan 14 so that there is a series of puzzles shown at 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and then of course the puzzle 10 at the top which is shown at FIG. 1. It can be seen that the outer peripheral edges of the puzzles decrease in size in direction toward the bottom 15 of the pan because of the frustoconical wall 16. This means that the puzzles will nest securely in the pie pan, and can be assembled in place just like a complete pie, or can be used merely for storage inside the pan. The cover 17 will securely hold the pieces together and prevent them from falling out.
The pieces do not have any interlocking edges where they mate with adjacent pieces and mate along substantially straight lines between the center point 20 and the outer peripheral edge. The outer periphery is generally circular. A young child can easily assemble the picture puzzle and also the "pie" pieces make the assembly like play pie baking.
In FIG. 3, there is a transparent preferably plastic container 30 shown and this container 30 is shaped, as shown, like a piece of pie. The individual puzzle pieces shown through the transparent walls at 31 will fit closely inside this container. A suitable cover member 32 is provided which will snap or fasten in place and hold the puzzle pieces. Here again, the straight sides of the pieces permit the use of a very compact box or container 30 for holding the puzzle pieces, thereby making storage very easy and safe. The puzzle pieces have the straight edges 12 which meet at a center to form a picture.
As shown at 18, the pattern or design can be of any desired nursery rhyme significance. The pie plate 14 is usually made of plastic as well.