Studded Jigsaw Puzzle

Abstract

The jigsaw puzzle includes a baseplate used with attachable puzzle pieces. The baseplate has multiple upward-facing engagement mechanisms that are engaged with corresponding and complementary puzzle piece rear-facing engagement mechanisms. The rear-facing engagement mechanisms and the complementary puzzle piece rear-facing engagement mechanisms are designed so as to leave an access space between the bottom of the puzzle piece and the top surface of the baseplate to facilitate removal of the puzzle pieces. A prying object (pry tool, user's fingertip, toy, or the like) can be inserted in to the access space to easily remove the puzzle pieces after play, storage, or display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a toy comprising:
 obtaining a first baseplate comprising a front surface and male studs protruding from said front surface;   obtaining multiple coordinating puzzle pieces; wherein each of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces comprises shaped outer edges and a back portion configured with multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms; wherein each of said multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanism is frictionally engaged with at least one of said upwardly-protruding male studs;   fastening a first one of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces onto said first baseplate by engaging at least one of said multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms with at least one of said upwardly-protruding male studs; wherein said fastening creates a first access gap between at least a portion of said puzzle piece back portion and at least a portion of said first baseplate; and   inserting a pry object into said first access gap with a portion of said pry object positioned below a portion of said puzzle piece back portion and acting as a lever on said puzzle piece back portion to pry said at least one downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms off said at least one upwardly-protruding male stud.   
     
     
         2 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising fastening a second one of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces onto said first baseplate by engaging at least one of said multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms with at least one of said upwardly-protruding male studs and by engaging said at least one shaped outer edge of said second one of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces with a complementary one of said shaped outer edges of said first puzzle piece; wherein said fastening creates a second access gap between said puzzle piece back portion and said first baseplate front surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising storing said first baseplate in a vertical orientation with said first one of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces and said second one of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces attached onto said first baseplate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said pry object comprises a pry tool. 
     
     
         5 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said pry tool comprises a handle with a proximal and distal end and comprises a wedge disposed at said distal end; wherein said wedge ends in a narrowed tip that is sized and configured to be manually engaged within said first access gap. 
     
     
         6 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said pry object comprises a user's fingertip. 
     
     
         7 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said pry object comprises a portion of a toy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining a joiner;   obtaining a second baseplate; and   joining said first baseplate to said second baseplate by engagement of said joiner between said first baseplate and said second baseplate.   
     
     
         9 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first baseplate further comprises a back portion and rear connecting members disposed on said back portion; the method further comprising:
 obtaining a second baseplate comprising a front surface, male studs protruding from said front surface, a back portion, and rear connecting members disposed on said back portion;   obtaining a joiner comprising multiple complementary joiner connecting members that are complementary to said multiple rear connecting members of said first baseplate and are complementary to said multiple rear connecting members of said second baseplate; and   manually engaging said multiple complementary joiner connecting members to at least one of said multiple rear connecting members of said first baseplate and to at least one of said multiple rear connecting members of said second baseplate.   
     
     
         10 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first baseplate further comprises a back portion; the method further comprising:
 obtaining a hanger;   engaging said hanger onto said back portion of said first baseplate; and   hanging said first baseplate vertically by use of said hanger.   
     
     
         11 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first baseplate further comprises a back portion and rear connecting members disposed on said back portion; the method further comprising:
 obtaining a hanger comprising a back wall having interior edges defining a hanging hole and comprising multiple complementary hanger connecting members that are complementary to said multiple rear connecting members of said first baseplate;   manually engaging said multiple complementary hanger connecting members to at least two of said multiple rear connecting members of said first baseplate; and   hanging said first baseplate vertically by use of said hanging hole.   
     
     
         12 . A method of using a toy comprising:
 obtaining a first baseplate comprising a front surface, male studs protruding from said front surface, a back portion, and rear connecting members disposed on said back portion;   obtaining multiple coordinating puzzle pieces; wherein each of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces comprises shaped outer edges and a back portion configured with multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms; wherein each of said multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanism is configured to frictionally engage with at least one of said upwardly-protruding male studs;   pressing downwardly on a first one of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces onto said first baseplate to engage at least one of said multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms with at least one of said upwardly-protruding male studs; wherein said engaging leaves a first access gap remaining between at least a portion of said puzzle piece back portion and at least a portion of said first baseplate front surface; and   inserting a pry object into said first access gap with a portion of said pry object positioned below a portion of said puzzle piece back portion and acting as a lever on said puzzle piece back portion to pry said downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanism off said upwardly-protruding male stud.   
     
     
         13 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising storing said first baseplate in a vertical orientation with said first one of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces attached onto said first baseplate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said pry object comprises a pry tool comprising a handle and a narrow tip that is sized and configured to be manually engaged within said first access gap. 
     
     
         15 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said pry object comprises a user's fingertip. 
     
     
         16 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 obtaining a joiner;   obtaining a second baseplate; and   joining said first baseplate to said second baseplate by engagement of said joiner between said first baseplate and said second baseplate.   
     
     
         17 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said first baseplate further comprises a back portion and rear connecting members disposed on said back portion; the method further comprising:
 obtaining a second baseplate comprising a front surface, male studs protruding from said front surface, a back portion, and rear connecting members disposed on said back portion;   obtaining a joiner comprising multiple complementary joiner connecting members that are complementary to said multiple rear connecting members of said first baseplate and are complementary to said multiple rear connecting members of said second baseplate; and   manually engaging said multiple complementary joiner connecting members to at least one of said multiple rear connecting members of said first baseplate and to at least one of said multiple rear connecting members of said second baseplate.   
     
     
         18 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said first baseplate further comprises a back portion; the method further comprising:
 obtaining a hanger;   engaging said hanger onto said back portion of said first baseplate; and   hanging said first baseplate vertically by use of said hanger.   
     
     
         19 . The method of using a toy, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said first baseplate further comprises a back portion and rear connecting members disposed on said back portion; the method further comprising:
 obtaining a hanger comprising a back wall having interior edges defining a hanging hole and comprising multiple complementary hanger connecting members that are complementary to said multiple rear connecting members of said first baseplate;   manually engaging said multiple complementary hanger connecting members to at least two of said multiple rear connecting members of said first baseplate; and   hanging said first baseplate vertically by use of said hanging hole.   
     
     
         20 . A method of using a toy comprising:
 obtaining a baseplate comprising a front surface, male studs protruding from said front surface, a back portion, and rear connecting members disposed on said back portion;   obtaining multiple coordinating puzzle pieces; wherein each of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces comprises shaped outer edges and a back portion configured with multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms; wherein each of said multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanism is configured to frictionally engage with at least one of said upwardly-protruding male studs;   fastening a first one of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces onto said baseplate by frictionally engaging at least two of said multiple downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms with at least two of said upwardly-protruding male studs; wherein said fastening creates a first small access gap between said puzzle piece back portion and said baseplate front surface;   inserting a pry object into said first small access gap with a portion of said pry object positioned below a portion of said puzzle piece back portion and acting as a lever on said puzzle piece back portion to pry said at least two downwardly-protruding puzzle piece engagement mechanisms off said at least two upwardly-protruding male studs;   storing said baseplate in a vertical orientation with said first one of said multiple coordinating puzzle pieces attached onto said baseplate;   obtaining a hanger comprising a back wall having interior edges defining a hanging hole and comprising multiple complementary hanger connecting members that are complementary to said multiple rear connecting members of said first baseplate;   manually engaging said multiple complementary hanger connecting members to at least two of said multiple rear connecting members of said first baseplate; and   hanging said first baseplate vertically by use of said hanging hole.