STORAGE CONTAINER FOR PUZZLES

Abstract

A container to store a reinforced puzzle therein, the container including a top surface, a plurality of walls extending perpendicularly away from the top surface, an inner surface formed by the plurality of walls, such that the inner surface is a surface on a side of the container opposite from the top surface, and a lip disposed around an edge of the plurality of walls to extend perpendicularly therefrom and inwardly toward a center of the container.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

[0001] The present general inventive concept relates generally to a storage container, and specifically, to a storage container for puzzles.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] Jigsaw puzzles and children's puzzles that have backboards are great sources of fun for people of all ages, but ironically, what can make puzzles so magical can also be their biggest point of annoyance: the myriad of tiny pieces to keep track of and put together. While an entertaining challenge, these pieces can all too easily become lost or fall apart, and while there are still methods to keep them together, such as glue, these don't allow for the puzzle to be taken apart and redone whenever the user wishes to do so.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for a device that conveniently and effectively stores a puzzle.

SUMMARY

[0004] The present general inventive concept provides a storage container for puzzles.

[0005] Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

[0006] The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a container to store a reinforced puzzle therein, the container including a top surface, a plurality of walls extending perpendicularly away from the top surface, an inner surface formed by the plurality of walls, such that the inner surface is a surface on a side of the container opposite from the top surface, and a lip disposed around an edge of the plurality of walls to extend perpendicularly therefrom and inwardly toward a center of the container.

[0007] The container may be constructed from at least one of rubber, silicone, latex, and a flexible material that provides elasticity.

[0008] The container may be flexible and deformable to allow the completed reinforced puzzle to enter between the plurality of walls.

[0009] The container may further include a plurality of corners each disposed between a meeting point of two of the plurality of walls and the top surface.

[0010] The plurality of corners may be rounded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] These and/or other features and utilities of the present generally inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a container, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a container and a reinforced puzzle, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Various example embodiments (a.k.a., exemplary embodiments) will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thicknesses of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

[0015] Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description.

[0016] It is understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., "between" versus "directly between," "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.).

[0017] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

[0018] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein.

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a container 10, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a container 10 and a reinforced puzzle 20, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the container 10 may include a top surface 11, a plurality of walls 12, an inner surface 13, a plurality of corners 14, and a lip 15.

[0022] The plurality of walls 12 may extend perpendicularly away from the top surface 11, in order to form the inner surface 13 that acts as a storage area for the reinforced puzzle 20. In other words, the inner surface 13 may be surrounded by the plurality of walls 12 on every side thereof, such that the combination of the plurality of walls 12 and the inner surface 13 form a storage unit that allows items to be stored therewithin.

[0023] Specifically, the inner surface 13 may be formed by the plurality of walls 12, such that the inner surface 13 is a surface on a side of the container 10 opposite from the top surface 11.

[0024] The plurality of corners 14 may each be disposed between a meeting point of two of the plurality of walls 12 and the top surface 11. As such, there may be four corners 14 if there are four walls 12.

[0025] The plurality of corners 14 may each be rounded in order to snugly hold the reinforced puzzle 20 within the inner surface 13 and against the plurality of walls 12.

[0026] The lip 15 may be disposed around an entire outer edge of the container 10. Specifically, the lip 15 may protrude inward perpendicularly from an edge portion of each of the plurality of walls 12. In other words, the lip may be disposed around the edge of the plurality of walls 12 to extend perpendicularly therefrom and inwardly toward a center of the container 10. As such, the container 10 may be used to wrap around a puzzle.

[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the reinforced puzzle 20 may include a plurality of puzzle pieces 21, which form a completed puzzle when they are properly put together, and a backing 22 including a puzzle holding portion 23 to hold the plurality of puzzle pieces therein. The puzzle holding portion 23 may be a set-in (i.e., cut in) portion on a front surface of the backing 22, which is specifically set-in in order to hold the plurality of puzzle pieces 21 therein. As such, the reinforced puzzle 20 may be a jigsaw puzzle, a children's puzzle, or any other type of puzzle known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0028] As such, when the plurality of puzzle pieces 21 are combined properly to form the reinforced puzzle 20 within the puzzle holding portion 23 of the backing 22, the container 10 may be placed overtop the completed reinforced puzzle 20 such that the plurality of puzzle pieces 21 contact the inner surface 13 of the container 10, and side walls of the backing 22 contact the plurality of walls 12 of the container 10.

[0029] The plurality of puzzle pieces 21 may each optionally include a peg 24 to allow a user to easily and individually lift each of the plurality of puzzle pieces 21.

[0030] The container 10 may be constructed from rubber, silicone, latex, or any other flexible material that provides elasticity, so that the container 10 may deform slightly to allow the completed reinforced puzzle 20 to enter through the lip 15 and between the plurality of walls 12, thus, causing the completed reinforced puzzle 20 to be stored inside the container 10 without the plurality of puzzle pieces 21 falling out and/or becoming lost.

[0031] Most importantly, the container 10 may be constructed to fit perfectly and snugly over the reinforced puzzle 20, so that the reinforced puzzle 20 may be stored on its side while stored in the container 10.

[0032] Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A container to store a reinforced puzzle therein, the container comprising: a top surface; a plurality of walls extending perpendicularly away from the top surface, such that at least one of the plurality of walls has a first height at a first end and a second height at a second end, such that the first height is greater than the second height; an inner surface formed by the plurality of walls, such that the inner surface is a surface on a side of the container opposite from the top surface; and a lip disposed around an edge of the plurality of walls to extend perpendicularly therefrom and inwardly toward a center of the container.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is constructed from at least one of rubber, silicone, latex, and a flexible material that provides elasticity.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is flexible and deformable to allow the completed reinforced puzzle to enter between the plurality of walls.

4. The container of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of corners each disposed between a meeting point of two of the plurality of walls and the top surface.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the plurality of corners are rounded.