Physiognomically based puzzle toy

A kit for a puzzle toy having a plurality of layers, each layer having substantially the same generally ovoid peripheral contour, each of said layers consisting of a plurality of elements combinable to fill the entire area within said peripheral contour, said kit comprising:

• a plurality of element portions, said element portions being combinable in pairs to form said elements in a manner that said elements present first and second oppositely facing contrasting surfaces with the elements of each layer being reversible to fit in corresponding portions of said area to provide contrast in the appearance of said layer when said area is filled by said combined elements;
• said elements within a layer being capable of filling said area while forming a contrasting nose, mouth, and eyes of a stylized face, there being a sufficient multiplicity of elements in the region of said nose, mouth, and eyes to allow at least one of the nose, mouth, and eyes to be changed with respect to the position or surface of the elements forming them that is presented to the viewer to permit variations in facial expression within said filled area;
• there being a sufficient multiplicity of elements within a given layer to permit the rearrangement and reversal of elements within said layer to form, while filling said area, an abstract asymmetrical configuration reminiscent but not directly representative of a stylized face;
• a predetermined portion of the area filled by a first group of said elements of a first of said layers being of a shape adapted to be filled by a second group of said elements of a second of said layers with the individual elements of said second group being of different periphery than the individual elements of said first group to provide additional variety in the range of possible facial expressions and the level of abstraction;
• at least a first element and a second element of at least one of said layers having sufficient symmetry with respect to each other that the element portions that form said first and second elements may be alternately assembled to provide two new elements, each of which has non-contrasting oppositely facing surfaces.

A puzzle toy comprising:

• a plurality of elements combinable in a layer to fill the entire area within a generally ovoid peripheral contour without extending beyond said contour;
• said elements having first and second oppositely facing contrasting surfaces with the elements being reversible to fit in corresponding portions of said area to provide contrast in the appearance of said area when said area is filled by said combined elements;
• said elements being capable of filling said area while forming a contrasting nose, mouth, and eyes of a stylized face, the shape of said nose, mouth, and eyes being determined by the shapes of the elements forming them;
• there being a sufficient multiplicity of elements in the region of said nose, mouth, and eyes to allow at least one of the nose, mouth, and eyes to be changed with respect to the position or surface of the elements forming them that is presented to the viewer to permit variations in facial expression within said filled area;
• there being a multiplicity of elements to permit the rearrangement and reversal of elements to form, while filling said area, an abstract asymmetrical configuration reminiscent but not directly representative of a stylized face;
• a predetermined portion of the area filled by a first group of said elements being of a shape adapted to be filled by a second group of said elements with the individual elements of said second group being of different periphery than the individual elements of said first group to provide additional variety in the range of possible facial expressions and the level of abstraction.

A puzzle toy comprising:

• a plurality of elements combinable in a layer to fill the entire area within a generally ovoid peripheral contour;
• said elements having first and second oppositely facing contrasting surfaces with the elements being reversible to fit in corresponding portions of said area to provide contrast in the appearance of said layer when said area is filled by said combined elements;
• said elements being capable of filling said area while forming a contrasting nose, mouth, and eyes of a stylized face, there being a sufficient multiplicity of elements in the region of said nose, mouth, and eyes to allow at least one of the nose, mouth, and eyes to be changed with respect to the position or surface of the elements forming them that is presented to the viewer to permit variations in facial expression within said filled area;
• there being a sufficient multiplicity of elements to permit the rearrangement and reversal of elements to form, while filling said area, an abstract asymmetrical configuration reminiscent but not directly representative of a stylized face;
• a predetermined portion of the area filled by a first group of said elements being of a shape adapted to be filled by a second group of said elements with the individual elements of said second group being of different periphery than the individual elements of said first group to provide additional variety in the range of possible facial expressions and the level of abstraction;
• and
• each of said elements being of composite construction including separably fastened oppositely facing contrasting portions to provide said contrasting surfaces, at least a first element and a second element having sufficient symmetry with respect to each other that said first and second elements may be disassembled and their portions reassembled to provide two new elements, each of which has non-contrasting oppositely facing surfaces.

A kit for a puzzle toy having a plurality of elements combinable in a layer to fill the entire area within a generally ovoid peripheral contour, said kit comprising:

• a plurality of element portions, said element portions being detachably attachable in pairs to form said elements in a manner that said elements present first and second oppositely facing contrasting surfaces with the elements being reversible to fit in corresponding portions of said area to provide contrast in the appearance of said layer when said area is filled by said combined elements;
• said elements being capable of filling said area while forming a contrasting nose, mouth, and eyes of a stylized face, there being a sufficient multiplicity of elements in the region of said nose, mouth, and eyes to allow at least one of the nose, mouth, and eyes to be changed with respect to the position or surface of the elements forming them that is presented to the viewer to permit variations in facial expression within said filled area;
• there being a sufficient multiplicity of elements to permit the rearrangement and reversal of elements to form, while filling said area, an abstract symmetrical configuration reminiscent but not directly representative of a stylized face;
• a predetermined portion of the area filled by a first group of said elements being of a shape adapted to be filled by a second group of said elements with the individual elements of said second group being of different periphery than the individual elements of said first group to provide additional variety in the range of possible facial expressions and the level of abstraction;
• at least a first element and a second element having sufficient symmetry with respect to each other that the element portions detachably attachable to form said first and second elements may be alternately assembled to provide two new elements having non-contrasting oppositely facing surfaces.