Puzzle box with hand tool

• US 5,419,558 A
• Filed: 03/10/1994
• Issued: 05/30/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jones, Timothy M.
• Original Assignee: Jones, Timothy M.
• Inventors: Jones, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Steven B.
• Application Number:
  US08/209,445
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 273/153 S, 273/153 R, 273/160, 273/156, 206/1.5, 70/287-289
• US Class Current: 273/153.00S
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/1216 using locking or binding pins
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/124 with a final configuration being a sphere
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/24 with a lock, e.g. for a puzzle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/08 Puzzles provided with elements movable in relation, i.e. movably connected, to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/12 Three-dimensional jig-saw puzzles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/20 Puzzle locks , e.g. of labyrinth type; Fasteners with hidden or secret actuating mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7169 Complex movement or puzzle type

Abstract

A puzzle box device (1) having a top lid (2) and a bottom (4) with sides (21) attached thereto, said sides connected by fixed corner pieces (5). The sides (21) contain a plurality of sliding panels (8), some with locking pins (10, 12) and some being spring-mounted panels (16). Depressing and sliding these various panels in the proper sequence enables the top lid (2) to be unlocked and removed. The sides (21) of the puzzle box device may have inner surface (22) and outer surface (23) leaving a hollow inner-cavity (11) for the placement of valuables or gifts if desired. The puzzle box device (1) may also have just a top lid (2) with a spring-mounted panel (35) and sliding panels (34a and 34b). Also, any of the sliding panels could take the form of a hand tool (28) with an underlying extension (30). The hand tool (28) may be utilized to make it easier to depress the spring-mounted panels and sliding panels necessary to open the box.

Claims

1. An improved puzzle box device having a plurality of faces, one of the faces being a lid, at least one of said faces having a plurality of sliding panels defining a plane and at least one depressible panel mounted on a spring urging said at least one depressible panel into said plane over which selected sliding panels can be moved when said at least one depressible panel is depressed, wherein depressing the at least one depressible panel and moving the sliding panels in a pre-determined sequence permits unlocking and removal of the lid to open the puzzle box.

2. The puzzle box device of claim 1 wherein each side has an outer and inner wall to form a hollow cavity inside the puzzle box to hold desired items.

3. The puzzle box device of claim 1 or 2 wherein some sliding panels on the sides of the puzzle box have locking pins which fit into notches in adjoining panels to secure the panels to each other.

4. The puzzle box device of claim 3 wherein the top lid has a spring-mounted panel in the center thereof with sliding panels each having notches in the bottom into which fit interlocking pins on the sliding panels or the sides of the puzzle box.

5. The puzzle box device of claim 4 wherein depressing the spring-mounted panels and moving the sliding panels in the correct sequence on the top lid enables it to be unlocked and removed from the puzzle box.

6. The puzzle box of claim 1 or 2 wherein one of the sliding panels is removable from the puzzle box, said removable sliding panel containing an elongated extension on the back therefore which serves as a hand tool to aid in depressing the spring-mounted panels and moving the sliding panels.