[001] The present invention relates generally to packaging of detachable pieces onto a base. More specifically, the packaging incorporates a uniquely designed holding mechanism of detachable pieces onto a base.
BACKGROUND
[002] Two or three dimensional (2D or 3D) objects have long been used to entertain and/or educate people of all ages. Several toys, games, models or puzzles are available to build 2D or 3D objects by assembling /interlocking multiple pieces to one another. Generally, multiple pieces depicting a 2D or 3D object are packaged onto a base. The base provides a means to secure the multiple pieces. The securing means may be temporary in nature and hold/retain the pieces within the base till the pieces are removed from the base for actual assembly. However, the dispensing/removal of pieces from the securing means of base is not an effortless process. For example, sometimes users apply considerable force while in some cases users are required to use sharp objects to disengage the pieces from the base. The application of excessive force or sharp object may lead to a permanent damage of the pieces either because of material getting removed from the piece or material being added to the piece. These damages in turn make the 2D or 3D objects useless for entertainment or education purposes.
SUMMARY
[003] The invention discloses a holding mechanism for temporary attachment of a detachable piece onto a base. The base used is a polygonal base and may be made up of a semi-rigid/rigid material. The detachable piece is cut into the polygonal base using laser cutting. Multiple such detachable pieces are arranged together on the

polygonal base within the opening formed on it due to the cutting of the detachable piece. The detachable piece and the polygonal base are held together by one or more slots on the outer edge of the detachable piece. The one or more slots is formed during laser cutting of one or more detachable piece from the polygonal base. In an embodiment the one or more slots may have at least two separate lines of cut up to a predefined depth of the detachable piece. The number, placement, orientation and dimension of one or more slots may vary as per the requirement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[004] While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example, in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
[005] FIG. la illustrates a front view of a polygonal base in assembled condition in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[006] FIG. lb illustrates the exemplary embodiment of the detachable piece 10 after its detachment from the frame 30 of the polygonal base 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[007] FIG. lc depicts an exploded view of slot 16 of FIG. lb in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[008] FIG. Id illustrates an exemplary representation of the opening 50 after its detachment from the frame 30 of the polygonal base 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[009] The following description should be read with reference to the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views. The detailed description and drawings are intended to illustrate but not limit the claimed invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the various elements described and/or shown may be arranged in various combinations and configurations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The detailed description and drawings illustrate example embodiments of the claimed invention.
[0010] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "or" is generally employed in its sense, including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
[0011] It is noted that references in the specification to "an embodiment", "some embodiments", "other embodiments", etc., indicate that the embodiment(s) described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it would be within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments, whether or not explicitly described, unless clearly stated to the contrary. That is, the various individual elements described below, even if not explicitly shown in a particular combination, are nevertheless contemplated as being

combinable or arrangable with each other to form other additional embodiments or to complement and/or enrich the described embodiment(s), as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
[0012] FIG. la depicts a two-dimensional representation of a polygonal base 100. The polygonal base 100 includes at least one detachable piece 10, a frame 30 with at least one opening 50 (as indicated in FIG. Id). Multiple such detachable pieces 10 may be secured to the corresponding opening 50 provided in the frame of the polygonal base 100. The frame 30 refers to the portion of the polygonal base 100 surrounding the opening 50. The polygonal base 100 may be made of but not limited to a single piece of any rigid or semi rigid material like wood, cardboard, hardboard (MDF), wood-paper, cardstock, plastic (e.g., polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), teslin, polyactide (PLA) and acrylic), or other suitable material. In one embodiment, the polygonal base 100 may be formed by injection molded plastic or cut from sheet-stock plastic material. The polygonal base 100 can be formed in any suitable planar or non-planar configuration. The polygonal base 100 may be made of any polygonal shape known in the art. As represented in FIG. la, the polygonal base 100 is a rectangle.
[0013] As illustrated in FIG. la, polygonal base 100 in assembled condition appears as a single body with the detachable pieces 10 temporarily affixed to the openings 50 of the frame 30. The temporary fixation of the detachable pieces 10 on the frame 30 in openings 50 is even and smooth. The attachment between the detachable piece 10 and the frame 30 via a material (described below) appears as a dot. The subsequent figures (FIG. lb and Id) illustrate the detachable piece 10 and opening 50 after the detachable piece 10 is detached from the frame 30 of the polygonal base 100.

[0014] FIG 1b depicts an exemplary detachable piece 10. The detachable piece 10
is a piece that can be removed/disengaged from the polygonal base 100. The
detachable piece 10 may be formed by cutting the polygonal base 100 as per a
predefined shape, for example circular, rectangular, haphazard, etc. In an exemplary
5 embodiment, laser beam may be used for cutting.
[0015] The detachable piece 10 has an upper surface 12, a lower surface (not
shown), an outer edge 14 and at least one set of one or more slots 16 (exploded
view is represented in FIG. 1c) provided in the outer edge 14. In an embodiment, the
outer edge 14 is shaped to correspond to the outline of an object that the
10 detachable piece 10 represents. The object depicted by way of the detachable piece
10 may be selected from any category, including but not limited to animals, humans, plants, objects and organisms etc.
[0016] The at least one set of one or more slots 16 temporarily holds the detachable piece 10 to the polygonal base 100. The one or more slots 16 may be in the form of
15 elongated cuts extending inwards, of predefined depth provided at the outer edge
14 of the detachable piece 10. The depth of the cut can be customized based upon factors like the size of the detachable piece 10 etc. In an embodiment, the one or more slots 16 may be two lines cut at the outer edge 14 spaced by 0.5mm and having a depth of 0.65mm. In another embodiment the length of the two lines of cut
20 may vary, to optimize holding of the detachable pieces 10 into the polygonal base
100. In an embodiment, the one or more slots 16 extends through the entire thickness of the detachable pieces 10, namely from the upper surface 12 to the lower surface. Alternatively, the one or more slots 16 may extend up to a predefined thickness of the detachable piece 10.
6

[0017] The one or more slots enclose a material 16a between them. At the time of
assembly of the detachable piece 10 and the polygonal base 100, the material 16a
extends from the polygonal base 100 to the detachable piece 10. The placement of
the one or more slots 16 may be optimized as per the shape of the detachable
5 pieces 10. For example, one or more slots 16 may be placed perpendicular to the
outer edge of the detachable piece 10.
[0018] The one or more slots 16 may have varying shapes including but not limited to a V- shaped, a U-shaped, or a straight line shape. Further, the number of sets of one or more slots 16 provided on the detachable pieces 10 may be varied upon
10 factors without limitation size of the detachable piece 10, etc. However, it may be
possible that the number of sets of the one or more slots are minimized to ensure least effort requirement for separating the detachable piece from the polygonal base. For example, smaller detachable pieces 10 may contain only one set of two closely spaced lines 16 while bigger detachable pieces 10 may have three or more
15 sets of two closely spaced lines 16 cut at the outer edge to prevent disengagement
of the detachable piece 10 from the polygonal base 100. In an embodiment, if only two sets of two or more slots 16 are provided on the detachable piece 10, the two sets are placed such that they are not diametrically opposite to each other. This is to avoid the detachable piece 10 from spinning around the two sets.
20 [0019] FIG 1c depicts an exemplary representation of the opening 50. The opening
50 on polygonal base 100 may be formed due to the cutting of detachable piece 10. The opening 50 has a periphery 52, and an empty space 54. The periphery 52 marks the empty space 54 enclosed by it. The empty shape 54 is shaped to correspond to the outer edge 14 of the detachable pieces 10.
7

[0020] In an embodiment at the time of packaging of the polygonal base 100, each detachable piece 10 is attached to the polygonal base 100 due to continuity of material 16a between the two. In order to disengage a detachable piece 10 from the polygonal base 100, a user is required to push the detachable pieces 10 slightly from the polygonal base 100. Slight force is sufficient for disengaging the detachable piece 10 from the polygonal base 100. Further, the force ruptures the material 16a held between the one or more slots 16 and leaves a hairline like structure on the periphery 52 rather than a lump of the material. Further, a corresponding hairline may be formed on the outer edge 14 of the detachable piece 10. The precise placement, and design of one or more slots ensures that no excess material is removed from the base or that no excess material protrudes out from the periphery of the base.
[0021] It should be noted that numerous variations to the above are possible and are within the scope of the teachings of the present disclosure. For example, the polygonal base may contain the one or more slots. Alternately, the detachable piece and polygonal base may contain a combination of slots.
[0022] It should be noted that the detachable piece, the opening, the slots of the present invention can be made of any industrial or traditional cutting technique known in the art. For example, the detachable piece can be cut out of the polygonal base by using cutter, blade, knife etc.

We claim

A polygonal base comprising:
a.a detachable piece having an outer edge and at least one set of closely spaced one or more slots at the outer edge, the one or more slots run into at least a portion of the thickness of the polygonal base; and
b. a frame with an opening, the opening corresponds to shape and dimensions of the outer edge of the detachable piece, the frame and the detachable piece are coupled to each other via material enclosed between the one or more slots.
2. The polygonal base of claim 1, wherein the one or more slots of the detachable piece extends to entire thickness of the detachable piece.
3. The polygonal base of claim 1, wherein the one or more slots are perpendicular to the outer edge of the detachable piece.
4. The polygonal base of claim 1, wherein the one or more slots of the detachable piece comprises at least two lines of cuts.
5. The polygonal base of claim 1, wherein number, placement and dimension of the one or more slots is dependent upon the dimensions of the detachable piece.
, Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(Section 10 and Rule 13)

1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
POLYGONAL BASE WITH HOLDING MECHANISM

2. APPLICANT:
Smartivity Labs Private Limited, an Indian company of the address, 1st Floor, 258, Kuldeep House, Lane No. 3, Westend Marg, Saidulajab, New Delhi – 110030

The following specification particularly describes the invention:
TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present invention relates generally to packaging of detachable pieces onto a base. More specifically, the packaging incorporates a uniquely designed holding mechanism of detachable pieces onto a base.
BACKGROUND
[002] Two or three dimensional (2D or 3D) objects have long been used to entertain and/or educate people of all ages. Several toys, games, models or puzzles are available to build 2D or 3D objects by assembling /interlocking multiple pieces to one another. Generally, multiple pieces depicting a 2D or 3D object are packaged onto a base. The base provides a means to secure the multiple pieces. The securing means may be temporary in nature and hold/retain the pieces within the base till the pieces are removed from the base for actual assembly. However, the dispensing/removal of pieces from the securing means of base is not an effortless process. For example, sometimes users apply considerable force while in some cases users are required to use sharp objects to disengage the pieces from the base. The application of excessive force or sharp object may lead to a permanent damage of the pieces either because of material getting removed from the piece or material being added to the piece. These damages in turn make the 2D or 3D objects useless for entertainment or education purposes.
SUMMARY
[003] The invention discloses a holding mechanism for temporary attachment of a detachable piece onto a base. The base used is a polygonal base and may be made up of a semi-rigid/rigid material. The detachable piece is cut into the polygonal base using laser cutting. Multiple such detachable pieces are arranged together on the polygonal base within the opening formed on it due to the cutting of the detachable piece. The detachable piece and the polygonal base are held together by one or more slots on the outer edge of the detachable piece. The one or more slots is formed during laser cutting of one or more detachable piece from the polygonal base. In an embodiment the one or more slots may have at least two separate lines of cut up to a predefined depth of the detachable piece. The number, placement, orientation and dimension of one or more slots may vary as per the requirement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[004] While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example, in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
[005] FIG. 1a illustrates a front view of a polygonal base in assembled condition in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[006] FIG. 1b illustrates the exemplary embodiment of the detachable piece 10 after its detachment from the frame 30 of the polygonal base 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[007] FIG. 1c depicts an exploded view of slot 16 of FIG. 1b in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[008] FIG. 1d illustrates an exemplary representation of the opening 50 after its detachment from the frame 30 of the polygonal base 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[009] The following description should be read with reference to the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views. The detailed description and drawings are intended to illustrate but not limit the claimed invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the various elements described and/or shown may be arranged in various combinations and configurations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The detailed description and drawings illustrate example embodiments of the claimed invention.
[0010] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense, including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
[0011] It is noted that references in the specification to “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “other embodiments”, etc., indicate that the embodiment(s) described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it would be within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments, whether or not explicitly described, unless clearly stated to the contrary. That is, the various individual elements described below, even if not explicitly shown in a particular combination, are nevertheless contemplated as being combinable or arrangable with each other to form other additional embodiments or to complement and/or enrich the described embodiment(s), as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
[0012] FIG. 1a depicts a two-dimensional representation of a polygonal base 100. The polygonal base 100 includes at least one detachable piece 10, a frame 30 with at least one opening 50 (as indicated in FIG. 1d). Multiple such detachable pieces 10 may be secured to the corresponding opening 50 provided in the frame of the polygonal base 100. The frame 30 refers to the portion of the polygonal base 100 surrounding the opening 50. The polygonal base 100 may be made of but not limited to a single piece of any rigid or semi rigid material like wood, cardboard, hardboard (MDF), wood-paper, cardstock, plastic (e.g., polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), teslin, polyactide (PLA) and acrylic), or other suitable material. In one embodiment, the polygonal base 100 may be formed by injection molded plastic or cut from sheet-stock plastic material. The polygonal base 100 can be formed in any suitable planar or non-planar configuration. The polygonal base 100 may be made of any polygonal shape known in the art. As represented in FIG. 1a, the polygonal base 100 is a rectangle.
[0013] As illustrated in FIG. 1a, polygonal base 100 in assembled condition appears as a single body with the detachable pieces 10 temporarily affixed to the openings 50 of the frame 30. The temporary fixation of the detachable pieces 10 on the frame 30 in openings 50 is even and smooth. The attachment between the detachable piece 10 and the frame 30 via a material (described below) appears as a dot. The subsequent figures (FIG. 1b and 1d) illustrate the detachable piece 10 and opening 50 after the detachable piece 10 is detached from the frame 30 of the polygonal base 100.
[0014] FIG 1b depicts an exemplary detachable piece 10. The detachable piece 10 is a piece that can be removed/disengaged from the polygonal base 100. The detachable piece 10 may be formed by cutting the polygonal base 100 as per a predefined shape, for example circular, rectangular, haphazard, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, laser beam may be used for cutting.
[0015] The detachable piece 10 has an upper surface 12, a lower surface (not shown), an outer edge 14 and at least one set of one or more slots 16 (exploded view is represented in FIG. 1c) provided in the outer edge 14. In an embodiment, the outer edge 14 is shaped to correspond to the outline of an object that the detachable piece 10 represents. The object depicted by way of the detachable piece 10 may be selected from any category, including but not limited to animals, humans, plants, objects and organisms etc.
[0016] The at least one set of one or more slots 16 temporarily holds the detachable piece 10 to the polygonal base 100. The one or more slots 16 may be in the form of elongated cuts extending inwards, of predefined depth provided at the outer edge 14 of the detachable piece 10. The depth of the cut can be customized based upon factors like the size of the detachable piece 10 etc. In an embodiment, the one or more slots 16 may be two lines cut at the outer edge 14 spaced by 0.5mm and having a depth of 0.65mm. In another embodiment the length of the two lines of cut may vary, to optimize holding of the detachable pieces 10 into the polygonal base 100. In an embodiment, the one or more slots 16 extends through the entire thickness of the detachable pieces 10, namely from the upper surface 12 to the lower surface. Alternatively, the one or more slots 16 may extend up to a predefined thickness of the detachable piece 10.
[0017] The one or more slots enclose a material 16a between them. At the time of assembly of the detachable piece 10 and the polygonal base 100, the material 16a extends from the polygonal base 100 to the detachable piece 10. The placement of the one or more slots 16 may be optimized as per the shape of the detachable pieces 10. For example, one or more slots 16 may be placed perpendicular to the outer edge of the detachable piece 10.
[0018] The one or more slots 16 may have varying shapes including but not limited to a V- shaped, a U-shaped, or a straight line shape. Further, the number of sets of one or more slots 16 provided on the detachable pieces 10 may be varied upon factors without limitation size of the detachable piece 10, etc. However, it may be possible that the number of sets of the one or more slots are minimized to ensure least effort requirement for separating the detachable piece from the polygonal base. For example, smaller detachable pieces 10 may contain only one set of two closely spaced lines 16 while bigger detachable pieces 10 may have three or more sets of two closely spaced lines 16 cut at the outer edge to prevent disengagement of the detachable piece 10 from the polygonal base 100. In an embodiment, if only two sets of two or more slots 16 are provided on the detachable piece 10, the two sets are placed such that they are not diametrically opposite to each other. This is to avoid the detachable piece 10 from spinning around the two sets.
[0019] FIG 1c depicts an exemplary representation of the opening 50. The opening 50 on polygonal base 100 may be formed due to the cutting of detachable piece 10. The opening 50 has a periphery 52, and an empty space 54. The periphery 52 marks the empty space 54 enclosed by it. The empty shape 54 is shaped to correspond to the outer edge 14 of the detachable pieces 10.
[0020] In an embodiment at the time of packaging of the polygonal base 100, each detachable piece 10 is attached to the polygonal base 100 due to continuity of material 16a between the two. In order to disengage a detachable piece 10 from the polygonal base 100, a user is required to push the detachable pieces 10 slightly from the polygonal base 100. Slight force is sufficient for disengaging the detachable piece 10 from the polygonal base 100. Further, the force ruptures the material 16a held between the one or more slots 16 and leaves a hairline like structure on the periphery 52 rather than a lump of the material. Further, a corresponding hairline may be formed on the outer edge 14 of the detachable piece 10. The precise placement, and design of one or more slots ensures that no excess material is removed from the base or that no excess material protrudes out from the periphery of the base.
[0021] It should be noted that numerous variations to the above are possible and are within the scope of the teachings of the present disclosure. For example, the polygonal base may contain the one or more slots. Alternately, the detachable piece and polygonal base may contain a combination of slots.
[0022] It should be noted that the detachable piece, the opening, the slots of the present invention can be made of any industrial or traditional cutting technique known in the art. For example, the detachable piece can be cut out of the polygonal base by using cutter, blade, knife etc.