Slat angle and spacing stabilization for face-printed, tilted-slat puzzle

Abstract

A slat puzzle having segments of a target image printed on the faces of slats, adjacent to at least one edge of each slat. The target image elements are made visible by offsetting each slat against the next. The offset is achieved by tilting the slats in a box or rack. The slats are constrained by interaction between the slats and the assembly box or rack to fall into uniform tilt and spacing.

1 . A slat puzzle comprising a plurality of slats, each slat comprising on at least part of a face adjacent to an edge thereof an image slice of a target image, wherein the slats are offset to reveal the image slices. 
     
     
         2 . The slat puzzle of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a holder for holding the slats, 
 wherein elements of the target image elements are made visible by offsetting each of the slats against an adjacent slat, the offset being achieved by tilting each of the slats in the holder and wherein the slats are constrained by interaction between the slats and the holder, to tend to fall into essentially uniform tilt and spacing. 
 
     
     
         3 . The slat puzzle of  claim 2  wherein the holder comprises at least two parallel rails and at least one track; and wherein each of the slats is suspended on the rails and bears against the track, thereby determining the angle of repose of the slat. 
     
     
         4 . The slat puzzle of  claim 3  wherein the holder is an uncovered box, the top edges of two sides of the box being the rails, and the bottom of the box being the track. 
     
     
         5 . The slat puzzle of  claim 3  wherein each of the slats comprises at least two projections at opposite ends of an upper part of each of the slats; the projections resting upon the rails. 
     
     
         6 . The slat puzzle of  claim 5  wherein the projections are integral with the slat. 
     
     
         7 . The slat puzzle of  claim 5  wherein at least one of the projections extends beyond and at least partially over the rail, thereby defining a slot that is generally perpendicular to the upper edge of the slat. 
     
     
         8 . The slat puzzle of  claim 7  wherein the projections are integral with the slat. 
     
     
         9 . The slat puzzle of  claim 7  comprising at least one slot extending from each of two edges of the slat. 
     
     
         10 . The slat puzzle of  claim 9  comprising at least three slots extending from one edge of the slat. 
     
     
         11 . A slat puzzle wherein each of the slats comprises at least two slots; the slots engaging with at least one rail, to enable each slat to be retained in at least two alternate longitudinal positions. 
     
     
         12 . The puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the image slices are extended generally perpendicular to the edges, along the faces of the slats. 
     
     
         13 . A method of making a slat type picture puzzle, comprising the steps of:
 a) preparing artwork for a target image;   b) dividing the target image into a plurality of slices;   c) extending each of said slices, generally perpendicular to its long axis; and   d) applying each of the extended slices to an edge and onto at least one face of a slat.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the extended slices is applied to the slat by:
 printing the extended slice onto a substrate; and   folding the substrate to form the slat.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the succession of printed, extended image slices is irregular. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein successively printed, extended image slices are oppositely oriented in an irregular order. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein successively printed, extended image slices are irregularly out of sequence. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein substrate material is perforated between adjacent substrates. 
     
     
         19 . A picture puzzle comprising:
 a plurality of slats, each of the slats bearing on at least part of an edge a slice of a target image; wherein a typical slat comprises a substrate that is folded roughly parallel to the long axis of the extended image slice to form the edge of the slat bearing the slice.   
     
     
         20 . The puzzle of  claim 19 , wherein a typical slat comprises a substrate that is folded roughly parallel to the long axis of the extended image slice; and wherein at least two folds form an edge of the slat.