US5536009A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pool puzzle, method of play
Assignee: NOMACO WEST Inc A NORTH CAROLINA Corp
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Filing: 1994-04-28
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Granted: 1996-07-16
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Expires: 2014-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A method for playing an outdoor recreational game provided in which puzzle pieces are formed from a flat sheet of foam plastic material having end edges which extend in alternating protrusions and recesses for joining together to interlock the puzzle pieces according to a predetermined arrangement. The puzzle pieces are laminated with a first graphic design disposed on a front side of the puzzle pieces for providing a guide for assembling the puzzle pieces according to the predetermined arrangement. An alternate graphic design is provided on a back side of the puzzle pieces for providing an alternate means to the first graphic design for guiding assembly of the puzzle pieces. The puzzle pieces are adapted for outdoor assembly to provide use as an outdoor recreational game. Further, the interlocking puzzle pieces are together sized to require that a player assembling the puzzle pieces move from a first position to a second position, which is distal to the first position, for fully assembling the puzzle pieces when the jigsaw puzzle is assembled at a stationary reference position.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott D. Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:17
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/10; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/18; A63F2250/183; A63F2250/20; A63F2250/205; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S273/00; Y10S273/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A method for playing a recreational game in a swimming pool, the method comprising the steps of: providing a jigsaw puzzle having a plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces formed from a foam plastic material, the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces having edges which extend in alternating protrusions and recesses for joining together to interlock according a predetermined arrangement defined according to a first graphic design disposed thereon; scattering the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces into a disassembled arrangement within a swimming pool; aligning the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces for matching the protrusions and the recesses to interlock the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces into the predetermined arrangement defined according to the first graphic design disposed thereon; interlocking the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces to insert the protrusions into the recesses to assemble the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces in the predetermined arrangement defined according to the first graphic design disposed thereon; and wherein aligning the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces requires a player to move from a first position to a second position, which is distal from the first position, to fully align the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces for matching the protrusions and the recesses to interlock the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces into the predetermined arrangement defined according to the first graphic design disposed thereon when the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces are assembled at a stationary reference position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
232 words
A method for playing a recreational game in a swimming pool, the method comprising the steps of: providing a jigsaw puzzle having a plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces formed from a foam plastic material, the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces having edges which extend in alternating protrusions and recesses for joining together to interlock according a predetermined arrangement defined according to a first graphic design disposed thereon; scattering the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces into a disassembled arrangement within a swimming pool; aligning the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces for matching the protrusions and the recesses to interlock the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces into the predetermined arrangement defined according to the first graphic design disposed thereon; interlocking the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces to insert the protrusions into the recesses to assemble the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces in the predetermined arrangement defined according to the first graphic design disposed thereon; and wherein aligning the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces requires a player to move from a first position to a second position, which is distal from the first position, to fully align the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces for matching the protrusions and the recesses to interlock the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces into the predetermined arrangement defined according to the first graphic design disposed thereon when the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces are assembled at a stationary reference position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
128 words
The method of claim 1, wherein an alternate graphic design is disposed on a backside of the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces, opposite from a front side of the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces on which the first graphic design is disposed, and the method further comprises the steps of: scattering the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces again into another disassembled arrangement a within the swimming pool; realigning the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces according to the alternate graphic design printed on the backside of the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces; and interlocking the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces to insert the protrusions into the recesses to assemble the jigsaw puzzle according to the alternate graphic design disposed on the backside of the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: two persons competing in performing the steps of aligning the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces and interlocking the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces to determine who can assemble the largest number of the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces over a period of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces are formed from a foam plastic material, and the method further comprises the step of: providing a flat sheet of closed cell polyethylene material; further comprising; and two persons competing in performing the steps of aligning the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces and interlocking the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces to determine who can assemble the largest number of the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces over a period of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a jigsaw puzzle having a plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces formed from a foam plastic material comprises the steps of: providing a flat sheet of closed cell polyethylene material; laminating the graphic design upon a front side of the closed cell polyethylene material; and cutting the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces from the flat sheet of closed cell polyethylene material by separating the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces to define the edges which extend in alternating protrusions and recesses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a jigsaw puzzle having a plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces formed from a foam plastic material comprises the steps of: providing a flat sheet of closed cell polyethylene material; disposing the graphic design upon a front side of the closed cell polyethylene material; disposing an alternate graphic design upon a backside of the closed cell polyethylene material; and cutting the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces from the flat sheet of closed cell polyethylene material by separating the plurality of buoyant puzzle pieces to define the edges which extend in alternating protrusions and recesses.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-16 | 2000-01-15 | 2000-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-16 | 2004-01-15 | 2004-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-16 | 2008-01-15 | 2008-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |