Three Dimensional Puzzle

Abstract

A three-dimensional puzzle. The puzzle includes a topmost puzzle layer having a marking disposed on an upper side thereof, a lowermost puzzle layer having a marking disposed on a lower side thereof, and a middle puzzle layer with a marking disposed on a sidewall thereof, wherein the layers are stacked to form a three-dimensional shape. Each layer has a plurality of puzzle pieces that are connectable to adjacent puzzle pieces via a magnetic retaining element. The markings are only disposed on surfaces of the layers that form an exterior of the assembled three-dimensional shape, wherein each side of the puzzle includes a completed pictorial display. In some embodiments, each puzzle piece includes a same shape and dimension as one another, wherein the markings and magnetic retaining element configuration provide the only guidance for assembling the puzzle.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A three-dimensional puzzle, comprising:
 a topmost puzzle layer comprising a first marking on a top surface thereof;   a lowermost puzzle layer comprising a second marking on a lower surface thereof;   a plurality of middle puzzle layers, wherein each middle puzzle layer comprises a third marking on a sidewall surface thereof;   wherein the topmost, lowermost, and middle puzzle layer form a three-dimensional object having a lower side, an upper side, and a sidewall extending therebetween;   wherein each puzzle layer comprises a plurality of puzzle pieces disposed on a same plane;   a retaining element embedded within each puzzle piece, wherein the retaining element allows a first puzzle piece to secure to a second puzzle piece;   wherein each of the plurality of puzzle pieces of the topmost puzzle layer and the lowermost puzzle layer comprise a segment of the first and second markings, respectively, wherein the topmost and lowermost puzzle layers each form a completed pictorial display on the upper side and the lower side of the of the three-dimensional object.   
     
     
         2 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein each puzzle piece of a middle puzzle layer comprises a segment of the third marking, wherein the plurality of middle puzzle layers form a third completed pictorial display on the sidewall of the three-dimensional object. 
     
     
         3 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the first marking is identical to the second marking. 
     
     
         4 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 2 , wherein the sidewall of the three-dimensional shape comprises a plurality of sidewalls each forming an identical completed pictorial display. 
     
     
         5 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining element is composed of magnetically positive pole and magnetically negative pole in two adjacent puzzle pieces so that attraction between the positive pole and the negative pole is able to combine two adjacent puzzle pieces. 
     
     
         6 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining element is disposed in a corner of each puzzle piece and the corner corresponds to an exterior of the three-dimensional shape, wherein the retaining element allows the first puzzle piece to secure to the second puzzle piece disposed on a same horizontal plane and a third puzzle piece disposed on a same vertical plane. 
     
     
         7 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein each puzzle piece is symmetrical along a central horizontal axis thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein each puzzle piece comprises a same shape and dimension. 
     
     
         9 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 7 , wherein each puzzle piece is die-cut from an upper side and a lower side thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the topmost puzzle layer is void of a marking on any sidewall surface and lowermost surface, the lowermost puzzle layer is void of a marking on any sidewall surface and topmost surface, and the middle puzzle layer is void of a marking on any topmost surface and lowermost surface. 
     
     
         11 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein each puzzle piece is void of interlocking joints. 
     
     
         12 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional object forms a cube and the completed pictorial display of the first marking, the second marking, and the third marking each correspond to a side of a six-sided die. 
     
     
         13 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein topmost puzzle layer and lowermost puzzle layer each comprise four puzzle pieces, wherein each segment of the four puzzle pieces corresponds to a different paying card suit. 
     
     
         14 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of puzzle pieces are rigid. 
     
     
         15 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein each puzzle layer is stacked to form the three-dimensional object. 
     
     
         16 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 1 , wherein each puzzle layer is stacked in an offset configuration to form the three-dimensional object such that a gap is disposed between nonconsecutive layers. 
     
     
         17 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 16 , further comprising a stand configured to suspend the three-dimensional shape from a first end thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 17 , wherein the three-dimensional shape forms a flag, and the stand comprises a second three-dimensional puzzle. 
     
     
         19 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 18 , further comprising a base configured to receive a second end of the stand and retain the stand in an upright configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The three-dimensional puzzle of  claim 18 , wherein each puzzle piece is non-planar such that the flag comprises a wavy structure.