Multiple jigsaw puzzle

June 26, 1934.

1,964,007

W. A. PARKS

MULTIPLE JIGSAW PUZZLE

Filed April 20, 1933

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INVENTOR.

Patented June 26, 1934

1,964,007

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

1,964,007

MULTIPLE JIGSAW PUZZLE Walther A. Parks, Washington, D. C. Application April 20, 1933, Serial No. 667,085 2 Claims. (Cl. 273—157)

My invention relates broadly to educational devices and more particularly to a multiple jigsaw puzzle arranged to provide both beneficial instruction and amusement.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a multiple jigsaw puzzle which is capable of providing a third dimensional pictorial representation as well as a two dimensional pictorial representation as the assembly of the puzzle 10 proceeds.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of jigsaw puzzle wherein a multiplicity of parallel layers of heterogeneous parts which contain on the edge portions thereof parts 15 of a pictorial representation which are built up on the sides of the assembled object formed by the multiple layers of heterogeneous parts for producing pictorial representations upon the face of the layers as well as upon the sides of 20 the layers.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of multiple jigsaw puzzle in which a multiplicity of layers of heterogeneous parts each having differing thicknesses may be 25 assembled in superimposed relation wherein each of the layers is provided with a characteristic marking for designating the order of superposition required for reproducing pictorial representations on the sides of the solid which is thus 30 assembled.

A further object of my invention is to provide a multiple jigsaw puzzle constituted by a plurality of layers of heterogeneous parts in which the several layers each have differing thick35 nesses and wherein certain of the heterogeneous parts contain portions of pictorial representations upon the faces and certain of the edges of certain of the parts.

A still further object of my invention is to 40 provide a construction of multiple jigsaw puzzle constituted by layers of heterogeneous parts arranged to fit together to form a geometrical solid having edge portions which serve to display a pictorial representation when properly matched 45 at the sides of the figure in addition to the pictorial representation displayed by the assembly of the heterogeneous parts in a plane.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved construction of jigsaw puzzle con50 stituted by a multiplicity of layers of heterogeneous parts which may be fitted into various shapes of geometrical solids for displaying pictorial representations on the sides of the solids in addition to the pictorial representations ap55 pearing on the faces of the individual layers of the heterogeneous parts which serve to build up the solid.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in a construction of a multiple jigsaw puzzle having a high degree of instruction, entertain- 6® ment and amusement qualities as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the as- 65 sembled relation of the multiplicity of layers of heterogeneous parts which form the puzzle of my invention; Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken through the assembled puzzle of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the multiple 70 jigsaw puzzle of my invention constructed as a triangular prism; Fig. 4 shows the multiple jigsaw puzzle of my invention applied to a geometrical solid in the shape of a pyramid; Fig. 5 illustrates a multiple jigsaw puzzle constructed in ac- 75 cordance with my invention and applied to a cylindrical solid; Fig. 6 shows a modified form of multiple jigsaw puzzle embodying my invention wherein the several layers of heterogeneous parts each have the same thicknesses; Fig. 7 illustrates 80 the disassembled superimposed relation of the several layers of the geometrical solid of Fig. 6 where the individual layers are distinguished by different colors on the backs of each of the layers opposite the pictorial face of the layers; Fig. 85 8 is a perspective view showing the assembled heterogeneous parts employed in the multiple jigsaw puzzle of my invention fitted to form a solid of substantial cubical shape; Fig. 9 illustrates a disassembled superimposed representa- 90 tion of the several layers of heterogeneous parts constituting the multiple jigsaw puzzle of my invention and showing the manner of designating the distinct layers by suitable ornamental markings on the backs of the parts constituting 95 the different layers; and Fig. 10 shows the disassembled superimposed relation of a multiplicity of layers of heterogeneous parts adapted to be assembled to form a cylindrical solid and where the different layers are provided with numbers 100 on the back of each of the heterogeneous parts constituting each layer for facilitating the assembly of the parts into a geometrical solid for producing the desired pictorial representation on the sides of the solid in addition to the individual 105 pictorial representations provided by each of the heterogeneous layers.

My invention is directed to an entertainment device in which a jigsaw puzzle forms on its edge an element of a pictorial representation which is no

1,864,007 tation shown generally at 12. The other faces of the geometrical solid are provided with other pictorial representations which are built up as the several coacting layers of the puzzle are assembled one with relation to another. 80

Fig. 2 provides a clearer representation of the manner in which the heterogeneous parts of the several layers coact to form edge portions which are so interfitted as to provide a pictorial representation on the vertical surface which is 85 different from the pictorial representation shown on the horizontal face of the puzzle. It will be observed that the parts which form the pictorial representations on the sides of the geometrical solid are not uniform in their lateral 90 dimensions. That is, the pictorial representation 14 for example Is made up of heterogeneous parts which are inter-related on their side edges, the edges being of varying dimensions and not in any sense uniform in their respective lateral 95 dimensions.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a form of my invention in which the heterogeneous parts in the several layers of different thicknesses are interrelated to form a triangular prism. The pic- p» torial representation which appears on the three vertical faces of the geometrical solid in this form of my invention are constituted by the inter-relation of the heterogeneous parts in the positions shown at lb, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b 795 and 8b.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the arrangement of the heterogeneous parts in the form of a pyramid where the pictorial representations are formed on the inclined faces of the pyramid. In the positions occupied by the word “picture” in Fig. 4 the heterogeneous parts have varying lateral dimensions and are interfitted to form the pictorial representation which is on the several sides of the geometrical solid. ,,In Fig. 5 I have illustrated the manner In which the multiple jigsaw puzzle of my invention may be formed into a geometrical solid of cylindrical shape where the pictorial representation is displayed on the cylindrical surface of the geometrical solid extending around the circumference thereof.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of my invention where the several heterogeneous layers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 have the same thickness and where the lateral dimensions of the ¹several interfitting parts of the puzzle are unequal as shown at lb, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b and 6b. The parts as assembled in Fig. 6 constitute a solid triangular prism. „

Fig. 7 illustrates the manner in which the several coacting layers of heterogeneous parts are inter-related to display the pictorial representations on the side face of the solid. In order to distinguish one layer of heterogeneous parts from an adjacent layer of heterogeneous parts ^13eit will be seen that in Figs. 6 and 7 where the layers are each of equal thickness that provision must be made for identifying the layers of suitable colored markings on the rear of each layer such as represented at 1c designating the color ¹⁴⁰red, 2c designating blue, 3c designating green, 4c designating yellow, 5c designating black and 6c designating brown or purple.

In Fig. 8 the assembled parts form a solid cube having pictorial representations both on the plane surfaces and on the side faces of the solid.

Fig. 9 illustrates another method of distinguishing the several layers of heterogeneous parts by ornamental markings or patterns on 150 adapted to be built up on the sides of a geometrical solid when and if several layers of different jigsaw puzzles are assembled in proper superimposed relation. The side edges of the several lay15 ers of heterogeneous parts for each layer fit in a heterogeneous manner, but these edges are so marked that if the layers are properly superimposed, a pictorial representation is built up on the sides of the geometrical solid in addition to 10 the individual pictorial representations which are displayed by the faces of the layers of heterogeneous parts. In order that the assembly of the several layers of heterogeneous parts may be proceeded with in a manner which will aid in the 15 assembly of each of the superimposed layers, I designate the proper relation of the layers in. a variety of ways. One method which I employ is to build up the geometrical solid constituting the multiple jigsaw puzzle of my invention by layers 20 of heterogeneous parts which are graduated in thickness from a maximum size at one end of the solid to a minimum size at the other end of the solid. It will be realized that the assembly of the multiple jigsaw puzzle is somewhat confusing as 25 in some geometrical forms the two dimensional sides of the several superimposed layers varies as the thickness of the layers varies. In other forms of my invention in which the layers of heterogeneous parts each have the same thick30 ness I mark the backs of the parts constituting one layer by a color distinctive from the color of the backs of the heterogeneous parts constituting another layer. In lieu of colors, I may employ distinctive ornamental patterns on the 35 backs of the heterogeneous parts constituting the individual layers. I may also stamp or print minute numbers or designating symbols on the backs of the heterogeneous parts constituting one layer so that the person assembling the puzzle 40 is informed as to the particular layer to which the heterogeneous parts belong.

My invention will be more clearly understood by a detailed reference to the drawing wherein I have shown in Fig. 1 a multiple jigsaw puzzle 45 constituted by a multiplicity of superimposed layers of heterogeneous parts designated as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. It will be seen that layer #1 has a rather shallow depth while layer #8 has a greater depth. The intermediate layers gradu50 ate in thickness from the minimum size at layer #1 to a maximum size at layer #8. It will of course be understood that the thicker layer may be located at the top of the puzzle and be gradually reduced in thickness to a position adjacent 55 the base of the puzzle. Layer #1 is divided into a multiplicity of heterogeneous parts which I have represented generally by the irregular lines shown at la. The heterogeneous parts which form the marginal portions of the puzzle have 60 their edges coacting as represented at lb for forming a pictorial representation. The coacting edges lb are of miscellaneous lengths and are not uniform in length but contain fragments of a pictorial design which is adapted to be inte₀₅ grated into a complete picture when the several coacting elements are in place. The heterogeneous parts of the jigsaw puzzle 1 are assembled along lines la, forming a pictorial representation shown generally at 10. The coacting edges of the marginal portions lb, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b and 8b of the several heterogeneous parts coact to form the pictorial representation shown generally at 14 on one face of the geometrical solid. On another face of the geometrical solid the co75 acting edges unite to form the pictorial represen1,964,007 the back of each layer such as designated at Id, 2d, 3d, 4d, 5d and 6d.

Fig. 10 shows a still further method of distinguishing the heterogeneous parts constituting 5 each of the several layers wherein the backs of the parts forming each layer are provided with a designating character indicating the layer to which the heterogeneous parts therein belong. For example, the several heterogeneous parts in 10 layer #1 each bear a number 1 on the back thereof. Similarly the heterogeneous parts in layer #2 each have a number 2 on the back thereof. Designating numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6 appear on the backs of the heterogeneous parts in 15 the respective layers constituting the multiple jigsaw puzzle. In the several views I have designated the irregular lines of cut along which each of the several layers are divided as at la, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a and 6a.

SO It will be appreciated that the assembly of the several heterogeneous layers or parts to form a multiple jigsaw puzzle for illustrating pictorial representations not only upon the plane surfaces of each layer but also on the side faces S5 built up by the coacting layers, affords considerable amusement and offers a high degree of instruction. I have found the multiple jigsaw puzzle of my invention entertaining, attractive and educational in its effect.

o While I have described my invention in certain of its preferred embodiments I realize that many modifications may be made by those skilled in the art and I intend no limitations upon my invention other than are imposed by the scope of 33 the appended claims.