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Puzzle piece having magnetic connection meansRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Puzzles, Take-aparts And Put-togethersPuzzle piece having magnetic connection means description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050248090, Puzzle piece having magnetic connection means. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a puzzle comprised of a plurality of puzzle pieces. More specifically, the present invention is directed toward two or three dimensional puzzles comprised of more than one rigid plastic puzzle piece having magnetic connection means to connect the puzzle pieces together. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] There have been a number of well known puzzles of all varieties of construction. In some, pieces have to be matched relative to the surface depiction by continued manipulation. This includes both two dimensional puzzles, and three dimensional puzzles comprising shapes such as spheres or globes. [0005] Both two dimensional and three dimensional globe-type puzzles previously disclosed have been generally directed to jigsaw puzzles having interlocking puzzle pieces. For three dimensional globe puzzles, puzzle pieces have included mechanical fasteners for removably securing the pieces to a globe surface. [0006] Some spherical puzzles utilize magnet connection means in place of fastener devices to hold the puzzle pieces together, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,625,967, 3,618,955 and 3,865,382. These devices employ permanent magnets attached to the puzzle piece or otherwise permanently magnetize the puzzle piece for attraction to a spherical base. In the alternative, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,967, a magnetic core is used to retain the puzzle pieces in a globe configuration. [0007] Still other three-dimensional puzzles have utilized solid shapes for forming a sphere having magnetic means attachment at the core of the sphere. An example of one such device is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,652. In this device, a combination breakable toy and puzzle is shown having eight identical wedge-shaped elements made of a resilient deformable foam core with a soft, smooth outer skin. Still other puzzle devices have included solid puzzle pieces, such as blocks, connected by magnetic means to be assembled together as a unit to form a larger geometric shape. One such device is disclosed in the patent to Dimitriou, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,358. In yet another device, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,921,548 and 6,207,117 to Goldberg, an encryption game is disclosed utilizing magnetic means to connect game pieces together. However, the Goldberg teachings require that each game piece is able to be connected to only selected other game pieces. [0008] The above prior art has a number of disadvantages however. No art, singularly or in combination, teaches an essentially two dimensional rigid plastic puzzle piece that may be arcuate in configuration and has an edge member for inlaid, or recess mounted, magnetic means having a north/south polarity on each edge. As a result, the prior art does not teach a globe or sphere puzzle whose pieces are magnetically connected to any other piece without utilizing a core metal or magnetic member. Further, the art of record does not show or teach a substantially hollow globe puzzle comprising substantially rigid plastic puzzle pieces whose edge members connect by magnet means with the edge members of other puzzle pieces. Moreover, the stated art fails to provide a substantially two dimensional puzzle piece whose edge members are connected by magnetic means where the polarity of the magnet is or magnets are irrelevant to the coupling of successive puzzle pieces due to the orientation of the magnet or magnets. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] A puzzle having more than one puzzle piece is made of a rigid plastic material. Each puzzle piece is essentially substantially two dimensional, having top and bottom surfaces, and sides. Each side is relatively short compared to the top and bottom. Each side is comprised of an essentially flat outer edge or surface. At least one recess is formed within the outer edge for housing a magnet having both a north and south polarity on one face, or at least two separate magnets where one has an exposed north polarity and the other has an exposed south polarity. When the magnet is, or magnets are, secured within the recess(es), the magnet(s) are preferably flush with the outer edge providing for an essentially gapless seam when two puzzle pieces are magnetically connected to one another. [0010] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide for an essentially two dimensional puzzle piece having a flat edge that is capable of mating with another similar puzzle piece having a flat edge. [0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide for a rigid plastic puzzle piece that is essentially two dimensional with magnetic connection means. [0012] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide for a plastic puzzle piece having an edge comprising a flat surface with a recess for housing or at least partially retaining a magnet. [0013] It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide for a puzzle comprised of at least two or more puzzle pieces wherein each puzzle piece is essentially two dimensional and made of a rigid plastic where each piece is releaseably secured to another of the puzzle pieces by edge mounted magnetic means. [0014] It is but another object of the present invention to provide for a three dimensional hollow puzzle comprised of puzzle pieces that are essentially two dimensional and made of a rigid plastic where each piece is releaseably secured to another of the puzzle pieces by edge mounted magnetic means. [0015] It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a puzzle piece that has a radius or curvature with a geometry or geometries that when connected together with other puzzle pieces forms a three dimensional spheroid. [0016] These and other features of the present invention will become more clear when the drawings as well as the detailed description are read together. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] For a more complete understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: [0018] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a puzzle piece having an essentially arcuate triangular shape of the present invention; [0019] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a puzzle piece having an essentially arcuate triangular shape of the present invention, shown with magnets; [0020] FIG. 3 is a side view of the puzzle piece of FIG. 1, shown with and without magnets FIG. 4 is a partial sectional and perspective view of the puzzle piece of FIG. 1; [0021] FIG. 4A is a fragmented cross section view taken along line A-A of FIG. 4; Continue reading about Puzzle piece having magnetic connection means... 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