Sound generating puzzle

• US 20050049023A1
• Filed: 08/26/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Inventors: Foster, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 7,585,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00684 One of the conducting layers being flexible so that electrical contact with the other can be established, e.g. by the weight of a playing piece
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/1061 with electric features, e.g. light, wires
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/10 Two-dimensional jig-saw puzzles

Abstract

A puzzle includes a base having a receiving area, a plurality of puzzle pieces sized for placement on the receiving area and adapted to form an assembled image, a sound generator, and an electrical circuit disposed beneath the receiving area and formed by a first substrate and a second substrate. Each of the substrates have conductive patterns, with at least one of the substrates operatively coupled to the sound generator. The conductive patterns are arranged for contact with each other upon depressing a selected portion of the receiving area to thereby activate the sound generator.

Claims

1. A puzzle comprising:

a base having a receiving area;

a plurality of puzzle pieces, the puzzle pieces sized for placement on the receiving area and cooperating to form an assembled image;

a sound generator mounted to the base and arranged for connection to a power source;

a first substrate and a second substrate arranged for placement beneath the receiving area, the first substrate having a conductive pattern operatively coupled to the sound generator, the second substrate having a conductive dot facing the conductive pattern and spaced away from the conductive pattern, the conductive dot and at least a portion of the conductive pattern disposed beneath a selected portion of the image;

the conductive dot and the conductive pattern being relatively displaceable to thereby permit contact between the conductive pattern and the conductive dot upon pressing the selected portion of the image such that the first and second substrates cooperate to form an electrical circuit thereby activating the sound generator.

2. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second substrates comprises a paperboard panel, and wherein the conductive pattern and the conductive dot are formed of a conductive ink.

3. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are separated by third substrate, the third substrate having an aperture disposed adjacent the conductive pattern and the conductive dot.

4. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein the first and second substrates are formed from a single paperboard blank.

5. The puzzle of claim 4, including a third substrate adapted for placement between the first and second substrates and also formed from the same single paperboard blank, the third substrate including an aperture located for placement between the conductive pattern and the conductive dot.

6. The puzzle of claim 4, wherein the paperboard blank is die cut.

7. The puzzle of claim 5, wherein the first substrate is separated from the third substrate by a first fold line, and wherein the second substrate is separated from the third substrate by a second fold line, the fold lines permitting the first and second substrates to shift between unfolded positions and folded positions, the third substrate disposed between the first and second substrates when the first and second substrates are in the folded position.

8. The puzzle of claim 2, wherein the first and second substrates are adapted to permit the conductive ink to be applied in a single printing operation.

9. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein the conductive pattern includes a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the conductive dot is arranged to connect the first portion and the second portion upon pressing the selected portion of the image.

10. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein the first substrate includes a plurality of conductive patterns, the second substrate includes a plurality of conductive dots, and the assembled image includes a plurality of selected portions, and wherein the sound generator is arranged to generate a distinct sound in response to pressing each of the plurality of selected portions.

11. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein the substrates include a plurality of tabs, and wherein the base includes a plurality of slots sized to receive the tabs to thereby retain the substrates in the base.

14. The puzzle of claim 1, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are separated by a third substrate, the conductive pattern on the second substrate comprising a dot, the third substrate having an aperture disposed for alignment with the conductive dot.

15. The puzzle of claim 14, wherein the first, second and third substrates are formed from a single die cut paperboard blank.

16. The puzzle of claim 15, wherein the first substrate is separated from the third substrate by a first fold line, and wherein the second substrate is separated from the third substrate by a second fold line, the fold lines permitting the first and second substrates to shift between unfolded positions and folded positions, the third substrate disposed between the first and second substrates when the first and second substrates are in the folded position.

12. A puzzle comprising:

a base having a receiving area;

a plurality of puzzle pieces, the puzzle pieces sized for placement on the receiving area and adapted to form an assembled image;

a sound generator mounted to the base and arranged for connection to a power source;

an electrical circuit disposed beneath the receiving area and formed by a first substrate and a second substrate, each of the substrates having formed thereon conductive patterns, the conductive pattern of at least one of the of a substrates operatively coupled to the sound generator, the conductive patterns on each of the substrates arranged for contact with each other upon depressing a selected portion of the receiving area to thereby activate the sound generator.

13. The puzzle of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second substrates comprises a paperboard panel, and wherein the conductive patterns are formed of a conductive ink imprinted on the paperboard panel.

17. The puzzle of claim 12, wherein the conductive patterns comprise conductive ink, and wherein the first and second substrates are adapted to permit the conductive ink to be applied to both substrates in a single printing operation.

18. The puzzle of claim 12, wherein the conductive pattern on the first substrate comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the conductive pattern on the second substrate is arranged to connect the first portion of the pattern to the second portion of the pattern upon pressing the selected portion of the image.

19. The puzzle of claim 12, wherein the conductive pattern on the second substrate comprises a plurality of dots and wherein the first substrate includes a plurality of conductive patterns, each of the dots of the second substrate positioned to cooperate with one of the plurality of conductive patterns of the first substrate, the assembled image including a plurality of selected portions, each selected portion overlying a corresponding one of the dots, and wherein the sound generator is arranged to generate a distinct sound in response to pressing each of the selected portions.

20. A puzzle comprising:

a base having a receiving area;

a plurality of puzzle pieces, the puzzle pieces sized for placement on the receiving area and adapted to form an assembled image having a plurality of selected areas;

a sound generator mounted to the base and arranged for connection to a power source;

an electrical circuit disposed beneath the receiving area and formed by a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate having a plurality of conductive ink patterns, the second substrate having a plurality of conductive ink dots, the patterns of the first substrate operatively coupled to the sound generator, each dot aligned with a corresponding one of the selected images and with a corresponding one of the patterns, each dot cooperating with a corresponding one of the patterns to permit activation of the sound generator upon depressing one of the selected areas; and

a third substrate positioned to maintain the dots and the patterns in spaced relation until the selected area is depressed.