This invention relates to a holder on which jigsaw puzzles (hereinafter and in the claims referred to simply as "jigsaws") can be assembled and which permits incomplete jigsaws to be "frozen" in the incomplete or unfinished state and stored away for future use and completion.

It is known to provide a holder for a jigsaw in which there is a friction lined playing surface and a cover or covers hinged to the playing surface. The cover(s) may have a compressible blanket or pad adapted to engage the assembled or partly assembled jigsaw when the cover overlies the playing surface.

One of the problems with such holders is that air can get trapped behind the lining of the playing surface resulting in an uneven playing surface. Furthermore, once the jigsaw is assembled it cannot be removed without dismantling it.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle holder which obviates or mitigates the above drawbacks.

According to the present invention there is provided a holder for a jigsaw comprising a support member having a non-slip playing surface on which a jigsaw can be assembled, a cover means pivoted or hinged to the support member so as to be able to overlie the latter, the surface of the cover means adapted to lie adjacent the support member being of a compressible non-slip nature to lock assembled and/or unassembled jigsaw pieces in position and means for releasably securing the cover means in overlying relationship to the support member, the holder being characterised in that there is provided a passage extending from the support member such that air can be expelled from the support member.

The passage should preferably extend to the cover member such that air can be expelled from the support member to the cover member.

Preferably, the cover member adapted to lie adjacent the support member is covered with non-slip plastics foam material, or flock material and has a layer of compressible material. The air expelled from the support member to the cover member provides an extra cushioning and gripping action when the cover overlies the pieces on the playing surface.

Preferably the non-slip surface of the cover member and the playing surface are sealed to a protective material on the other side of the holder, and air in the playing surface under the non-slip surface is expelled to the cover member via said passage.

Preferably the cover member is separated from the playing surface by means of a hinge which comprises the protective material and non-slip surface being sealed together. The passage comprises a channel through the sealed hinge.

Preferably there are a plurality of passages in each hinge.

In a preferred embodiment there is provided a non-slip mat which may overlie said playing surface and on which the jigsaw pieces can be assembled. This permits an assembled jigsaw to be moved intact from the holder.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a jigsaw holder according to the present invention in the part open position;

Fig. 2 is a top end view of Figure 1; and

Fig. 3 is an inset fragmented view of an air channel of the present invention.

The holder 10 comprises a support member 11 formed with a playing surface 12 formed of, or covered with, for example, flock vinyl 13 on which a jigsaw can be assembled. The playing surface 12 may be made or covered with any other non-slip, preferably compressible material.

The support member 11 has hinged or pivoted as indicated at 14 to each of two opposed sides a cover member 15 which has a layer 16 of compressible, foam material covered by a non-slip material 13, for example, flock vinyl.

The support member 11 and the cover members 15 are of the same construction with the cover members 15 being thicker than the support member 11. Each member 11 or 15 is formed of four layers, namely an outer smooth protective plastics layer 17 such as vinyl, a layer of cardboard or similar in contact with the outer layer, a layer 16 which has compressible characteristics, for example compressible plastics foam or other spongy material, in contact with the cardboard layer,

and an inner, non-slip layer 13 of flock vinyl or similar. The four layers are heat welded together around their outer peripheral edges to form an edge seal 18.

The cover members 15 are spaced apart from the playing surface

12 and are connected thereto by means of a hinge 20 formed from a heat-weld seal between the protective plastics layer 17 and the non- slip surface 13. The hinge seal 20 falls short of the edge seal 18 to form a channel 21 at the top and bottom of each hinge 20, connecting the playing surface to the cover members.

The channel 21 allows the air trapped under the non-slip layer

13 of the playing surface 12 to be expelled and forced into the cover members 15 and the compressible material 16 (see dotted arrows). The air collects under the non-slip surface 13 of the cover members to give each cover 15 a cushioning effect when they cover the jigsaw. The covers 15 are able to give a better grip to the jigsaw with the air trapped within them.

The outer surface of each cover member 15 is provided with a layer 22 of VELCRO (Trade Mark) adjacent each of two opposed edges, and the support member 11 is provided with four hinged securing tabs 23, one for each layer 22, and each with an area 24 of VELCRO fitted thereto. The tabs 23 form fasteners to secure the cover members 15 in closed position (see left hand side of Fig. 1).

A flexible backing sheet 25 may be provided to overlie the playing surface. This backing sheet 25 is formed of or covered with flock vinyl on each of its surfaces. It can be used to support the jigsaw pieces 19 as they are assembled instead of assembling them directly on the playing surface 12. Once the jigsaw 19 is assembled the backing sheet 25 may be lifted from the holder with the assembled jigsaw thereto. This backing sheet 25 may then be incorporated into a framing assembly kit for the assembled jigsaw allowing the jigsaw to be displayed.

A flexible retaining sheet 26 (shown dotted) may be provided, preferably for each cover member 15 but on one may be provided if required. This retaining sheet 26 is formed of or covered with flock vinyl on each of its surfaces. It can be used to support non- assembled jigsaw pieces 27 between the retaining sheet 26 and its

respective cover members 15, the cover members 15 being secured in position against movement by the fastening tabs 23.

The holder permits assembled and unassembled pieces of the jigsaw to be mounted on the playing surface 12 and the inside of each cover 15 respectively. The non-slip surfaces of the playing surface 12 and the inside of each cover 15 allow the user to use the holder in an inclined position e.g. in bed. Furthermore the non-slip surfaces grip the pieces to enable the cover members 15 to be pivoted about the hinges to the closed position without the pieces falling from their place.

The holder 10 may be provided with a handle.