Child's magnetic puzzle

Abstract

A magnetic puzzle for youngsters having puzzle pieces retained on a playing board, wherein said puzzle pieces are readily lifted free from the playing board, is disclosed. The playing board has a raised perimetric frame surrounding and defining an inner top surface onto which the puzzle pieces, having a thickness greater than that of the frame, are placed. The inner top surface bears a magnetically responsive member, such as a metallic plate. The puzzle pieces each have a magnetically responsive member fixed to the bottom surface thereof. When placed on the inner top surface of the playing board, the puzzle pieces adhere by magnetic attraction, the pieces protruding above the surface of the perimetric frame. The outer edges of the pieces may be easily grasped by a fingertip for removal of the piece from the board. Preferably, the puzzle pieces are devoid of mutually interlocking members.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A magnetic puzzle comprising: 
 a non-magnetic playing board having a raised perimetric frame, said frame surrounding an inner top surface;    a magnetically responsive plate disposed within said perimetric frame and affixed to said inner top surface;    a plurality of irregularly shaped puzzle pieces, said pieces configured to fit together into an arrangement such that said arranged pieces fit within said perimetric frame,    each of said pieces further comprising a magnetically responsive retainer affixed to a bottom surface of said piece,    said magnetically responsive retainers adapted to establish magnet attraction with said magnetically responsive plate, thereby retaining said pieces in contact with said magnetically responsive plate;    wherein each of said puzzle pieces is dimensioned to be of a thickness greater than that of said perimetric frame, such that when said pieces are laid flat on said inner top surface, said puzzle pieces project above said perimetric frame, thereby allowing for engagement by a fingertip for removal of said pieces from said frame.    
     
     
         2 . A magnetic puzzle, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said pieces are configured in a non-interlocking manner such that, when all of said pieces are placed together in a unified orientation, each of said pieces may be disengaged from any abutting of said pieces by sliding said piece in a purely horizontal, linear motion away from said abutting piece.  
     
     
         3 . A magnetic puzzle, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said pieces are configured in an interlocking manner such that when all of said pieces are placed together in a unified orientation, each of said pieces may be disengaged from any abutting of said pieces only by a vertical displacement of said piece from said abutting pieces.