Title:

Global jigsaw puzzle

United States Patent Application 20020135125

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

A global jigsaw puzzle including a global body composed of two semispherical bodies and a number of pieces. The number of the pieces is such that the pieces can be assembled to form at least one complete spherical face. The pieces have complementary shapes and a curvature equal to that of the surface of the global body. A magnet is inlaid in each piece. By means of the magnetic attraction of the magnet, the pieces are attracted by and easily detachably attached to the surface of the global body.

Inventors:

Wu, Yu Feng (Taichung, TW)

Application Number:

09/813848

Publication Date:

09/26/2002

Filing Date:

03/22/2001

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Primary Class:

273/156

International Classes:

(IPC1-7): A63F009/08

Attorney, Agent or Firm:

ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE (3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101, ELLICOTT CITY, MD, 21043, US)

Claims:

What is claimed is:

1. A global jigsaw puzzle comprising: a global body composed of two semispherical bodies and made of magnetic conductive material; and a number of pieces each of which is provided with a magnet and which can be put together to form at least one complete global face, the surfaces of the pieces being printed with a predetermined picture, the pieces having complementary shapes a curvature equal to that of the surface of the global body, whereby by means of the magnetic attraction of the magnet, the pieces are attracted by and attached to the surface of the global body.

2. A global jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnet is inlaid in a central portion of each piece and spaced from the periphery of the piece by a certain distance.

3. A global jigsaw puzzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mating edges of the two semispherical bodies are respectively inward curled to form flanges, a fastening ring being disposed in the global body, an outer circumference of the fastening ring being formed with an annular groove, an annular stop rib being formed at the middle of the annular groove to divide the annular groove into two insertion sections corresponding to the flanges of the two semispherical bodies, whereby the two flanges can be inserted and located in the insertion sections to assemble the two semispherical bodies with each other.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is related to a global jigsaw puzzle. By means of magnetic attraction of the magnet inlaid in each piece, a number of pieces are attracted by and easily detachably attached to the surface of the global body.

[0002] FIG. 8 shows a conventional plane jigsaw puzzle including a number of pieces 9 formed with predetermined shapes and printed with predetermined parts of a picture. After the pieces 9 are completely put together, a complete picture is presented.

[0003] When played, a player only needs to judge the conjunction between parts of the picture for completing the assembly. Therefore, the player can only have fun in putting the parts of the picture together. Furthermore, the pieces 9 are assembled with each other only by means of the minor insertion force between the pieces 9 . The completed jigsaw puzzle must be framed and mounted. Otherwise, the pieces 9 is very likely to drop or miss. This leads to incomplete picture.

[0004] FIGS. 9 and 10 show a conventional global jigsaw puzzle including a global body 8 and a number of pieces 82 . The global body 8 is formed with a plurality of holes 81 . The pieces 82 have concave shape in accordance with the profile of the global body 8 . In addition, each piece 82 has a downward projecting tenon 821 which is inserted into the hole 81 to fix the piece 82 onto the global body 8 .

[0005] According to the above arrangement, the pieces 82 are snugly attached to the surface of the global body 8 and fixed thereon by means of the retaining force of the tenons 821 . Therefore, the pieces 82 are not so easy to drop from the global body 8 . However, the tenon 821 is inserted in the hole 81 by considerably great force. Moreover, after assembled, there is no gap between two adjacent pieces 82 . Accordingly, a player is hard to extract the piece 82 from the global body 8 . Furthermore, such global jigsaw puzzle is only different from the plane jigsaw puzzle in that the plane face is changed into a spherical face. Therefore, the player still can have fun only in putting the parts of the picture together.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a global jigsaw puzzle including a global body made of magnetic conductive material and a number of pieces. The pieces have complementary shapes and a curvature equal to that of the surface of the global body. A magnet is inlaid in each piece. By means of the magnetic attraction of the magnet, the pieces are attracted by and easily detachably attached to the surface of the global body.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above global jigsaw puzzle in which the number of the pieces is such that the pieces can be assembled to form at least one complete spherical face. Therefore, a player not only can have fun in putting the pieces together, but also can enjoy selection of picture.

[0008] The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective assembled view of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing that the flanges of the two semispherical bodies are fastened by the fastening ring of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a sectional taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 1 ;

[0013] FIG. 5 shows the pieces of the present invention in an exploded state;

[0014] FIG. 6 shows the assembly of the pieces of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 8 shows a conventional plane jigsaw puzzle;

[0017] FIG. 9 shows a piece of a conventional global jigsaw puzzle; and

[0018] FIG. 10 is a sectional showing the connection between the piece and the global body of the conventional global jigsaw puzzle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 6 . The global jigsaw puzzle of the present invention includes a global body 1 and a number of pieces 2 .

[0020] The global body 1 is composed of two semispherical bodies 11 , 12 made of magnetic conductive material. In this embodiment, the global body 1 is made of iron material. The mating edges of the two semispherical bodies 11 , 12 are inward curled to form flanges 111 , 121 . A fastening ring 13 is disposed in the global body 1 . The outer circumference of the fastening ring 13 is formed with an annular groove 131 . An annular stop rib 132 is formed at the middle of the annular groove 131 to divide the annular groove 131 into two insertion sections 131 A, 131 B corresponding to the flanges 111 , 121 . Accordingly, the two flanges 111 , 121 can be inserted and located in the insertion sections 131 A, 131 B to assemble the two semispherical bodies 11 , 12 with each other to form the global body 1 as shown in FIG. 3 .

[0021] A magnet 21 is inlaid in each piece 2 , whereby the piece 2 is attracted by and attached to the global body 1 . In this embodiment, the number of the pieces is such that the pieces 2 can be assembled to just form a complete spherical face. Such design is for a beginner. The pieces 2 are printed with predetermined picture and formed with complementary shapes and can be put together. The pieces 2 have curvature equal to that of the surface of the global body 1 . Referring to FIG. 5 , in this embodiment, a globe is cut in a direction normal to the axis thereof and divided into five parts, that is, top part A, upper annular part B, middle annular part C, lower annular part D and bottom part E. The upper, middle and lower annular parts B, C, D are respectively cut into a plurality of pieces 2 . The upper and lower annular parts B, D have symmetrical curvature so that they can be divided into same number and same shape of pieces 2 , whereby the manufacturing is facilitated. The top and bottom parts A, E are designed as substantially circular pieces 2 .

[0022] When putting the pieces 2 together, a player only needs to place the respective pieces 2 onto a desired position. By means of the magnetic attraction of the magnet 21 inlaid in each piece 2 , the pieces 2 are attracted by and attached to the global body 1 made of magnetic conductive material as shown in FIG. 6 . After the assembly is completed and when the player desires to show the work, the pieces 2 will firmly attach to the global body 1 by means of the magnetic attraction and not subject to dropping. After shown, in the case that the player desires to take off the pieces 2 for next assembly, with only the nail of one finger, the player can easily pry up one piece 2 from the gap between any two adjacent pieces 2 . Thereafter, the player can further pry up all other pieces 2 one by one. Accordingly, the pieces 2 can be easily taken off without trouble.

[0023] Alternatively, the number of the pieces 2 can be more than that necessary for assembling a complete globe. That is, after a globe is completed, some pieces 2 will remain. This design is for an advanced player. Therefore, the player not only can have fun in putting the pieces together, but also can enjoy selection of picture.

[0024] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the pieces 4 can be pentagonal, hexagonal or otherwise irregularly shaped for assembly of a complete global shape. The pieces 4 are attracted by and attached to the spherical surface of the global body 3 as the first embodiment.

[0025] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.