A three-dimensional puzzle of a familiar object, the puzzle including a puzzle substrate and a plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces that engage an outer surface of the substrate to form a representation of the familiar object. The edges of the puzzle pieces are beveled to reduce or eliminate bind
A three-dimensional puzzle of a familiar object, the puzzle including a puzzle substrate and a plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces that engage an outer surface of the substrate to form a representation of the familiar object. The edges of the puzzle pieces are beveled to reduce or eliminate binding between interlocked pieces as each piece is positioned in the puzzle. The puzzle may include a release mechanism for separating one or more of the puzzle pieces from the substrate.
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The invention claimed is: 1. A three dimensional puzzle, comprising: a plurality of non-planar interlocking puzzle pieces, each of the plurality of puzzle pieces having: a feature configured to engage a corresponding feature of at least one other of the plurality of puzzle pieces, when correctly co
The invention claimed is: 1. A three dimensional puzzle, comprising: a plurality of non-planar interlocking puzzle pieces, each of the plurality of puzzle pieces having: a feature configured to engage a corresponding feature of at least one other of the plurality of puzzle pieces, when correctly co-positioned therewith; an upper surface; a lower surface; and an edge defining a perimeter of the piece, the edge configured such that, when the piece is correctly co-positioned in all dimensions, relative to all of the plurality of puzzle pieces that are adjacent to the puzzle piece, the puzzle piece makes contact along its entire perimeter with contiguous portions of the adjacent puzzle pieces at their respective upper surfaces without making contact at their respective lower surfaces. 2. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein the edge comprises a bevel angled inward from the upper surface toward the lower surface. 3. The puzzle of claim 1, further comprising a puzzle substrate, and wherein each of the plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces includes a coupling feature configured to interconnect with a corresponding coupling feature of the puzzle substrate. 4. The puzzle of claim 3 wherein the coupling feature of each of the plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces is configured to engage the corresponding coupling feature in an interference fit. 5. The puzzle of claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces is sized to engage adjacent puzzle pieces in an interference fit. 6. The puzzle of claim 3 wherein the coupling feature of each of the plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces is unitary with the respective piece. 7. The puzzle of claim 3 wherein the respective coupling feature on the puzzle substrate corresponding to each of the plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces is unitary with the substrate. 8. The puzzle of claim 3 wherein the coupling feature of each of the plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces has a thickness that is less than a mode thickness of the respective puzzle piece. 9. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein, when fully assembled, the puzzle is in a form selected from among a soda can, a baseball, a beverage container, a piece of fruit, and a vehicle. 10. The puzzle of claim 1, comprising: a plurality of semi-cylindrical sub-segments configured to be coupled together radially around an axis to form a substantially cylindrical segment; a first end segment having a shape substantially similar to a top portion of a soda can and configured to be coupled to a first end of the cylindrical segment; and a second end segment having a shape substantially similar to a bottom portion of a soda can and configured to be coupled to a second end of the cylindrical segment, the cylindrical segment, the first end segment, and the second end segment together forming a puzzle substrate, the plurality of puzzle pieces configured to be removably coupled to the substrate and to interlock with each other to complete a likeness of a soda can. 11. The puzzle of claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of puzzle pieces is non-planar. 12. The puzzle of claim 10 wherein the shape of the edge of each of the plurality of puzzle pieces includes a bevel. 13. The puzzle of claim 10 wherein the outer surface of each of the plurality of puzzle pieces includes markings such that, when assembled on the puzzle substrate, the puzzle resembles the soda can in color and marking. 14. The puzzle of claim 10 wherein the plurality of semi-cylindrical sub-segments are formed as a single component having hinge regions formed between adjacent sub-segments such that the component may be rolled into the substantially cylindrical shape, the hinge regions comprising thinned regions of material. 15. The puzzle of claim 10, further comprising a release mechanism configured to facilitate decoupling of one of the puzzle pieces from the puzzle substrate. 16. The puzzle of claim 15 wherein the release mechanism comprises a release pin slideably coupled to the substrate such that biasing pressure against a first end thereof will cause the release pin to apply decoupling pressure to one of the plurality of puzzle pieces. 17. A puzzle in the shape of a baseball, the puzzle comprising: a plurality of semi-spherical sub-segments configured to be positioned radially around an axis to form a substantially spherical segment having first and second ends lying on the axis; a first semi-spherical end segment configured to be coupled to the plurality of semi-spherical sub-segments at the first end of the spherical segment and including a first plurality of engaging elements, each positioned and configured to engage a first end of a respective one of the plurality of semi-spherical sub-segments; and a second semi-spherical end segment configured to be coupled to the plurality of semi-spherical sub-segments at the second end of the spherical segment and including a second plurality of engaging elements, each positioned and configured to engage a second end of a respective one of the plurality of semi-spherical sub-segments, the first end segment and the second end segment together configured to lock each of the plurality of semi-spherical sub-segments together and to form therewith a substantially spherical puzzle substrate. 18. The puzzle of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of non-planar puzzle pieces configured to be removably coupled to the puzzle substrate and to interlock with each other to complete a likeness of the baseball. 19. The puzzle of claim 18, further comprising a release pin having first and second ends and configured to traverse the puzzle substrate, the first end of the release pin adapted to extend through an aperture in the first end segment and separate one of the plurality of puzzle pieces from the substrate when the release pin is moved toward its first end. 20. The puzzle of claim 19, further comprising a key puzzle piece configured to be permanently coupled to the second end of the release pin such that biasing pressure against an outer surface of the key puzzle piece tends to cause the release pin to move axially toward its first end. 21. The puzzle of claim 20 wherein the substantially spherical substrate includes a depressed region positioned and sized to admit the key puzzle piece.
Ferris Daniel B. (New York NY) Trossman Martin M. (Washington Township ; Washington County NJ) Luchsinger Charles R. (Glen Cove NY), Cylindrical puzzle.
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