From the legendary (now defunct) Synergistics Research Corporation: a series of packing/packaging puzzles. “Packing” puzzles because they pose a “packing problem”—
Packing problems are one area where mathematics meets puzzles (recreational mathematics). Many of these problems stem from real-life problems with packing items.
In a packing problem, you are given:
- one or more (usually two- or three-dimensional) containers
- several ‘goods’, some or all of which must be packed into this container
—and “packaging” puzzles because they put this recreational mathematical game into a faux retail package. Below is Synergistics Research Corp’s 1983 patent for the cylindrical can-puzzle design.
(More packaging puzzles, after the fold...)
Top left: Chicklet Puzzle by Synergistics Research (photo from Puzzlemist.com); on right another photo of the Miller beer can puzzle (on eBay); second row left: Diet Coke puzzle (photo from Puzzlemist.com); to the right: 3 Paint can puzzles by Synergistics Research—solid color jigsaw puzzles in red, yellow and blue (frustratingly tiny photos from Rob’s Puzzle Page)
to the right: another company’s version of the paint can puzzle; and to the right of that: a similar all-white jigsaw puzzle packaged in a milk carton (Synergistics Research also did this first); bottom left: a Folger’s Coffee can jigsaw puzzle (for sale at Ruby Lane); on right: a Synergistics Research LifeSavers puzzle (photo from Puzzlemist.com); below that: a Sardine can packing puzzle (photo from Puzzlemist.com); bottom right: Chinese Takeout jigsaw puzzle packed in a takeout contain (assembled puzzle is a photo of a plate of Chinese food)
Some of these puzzles are bona-fide “packing puzzles” and some are jigsaw puzzles packaged in cross-referential packaging (like the Spam Puzzle can: here) Also: since most of these puzzles use faux trade dress with genuine, trademarked brand names, one supposes that there must have been some licensing deals struck.
Some other packaging puzzles by Synergistic Research Corp, including a Cracker Jacks puzzle and a couple of cereal box puzzles, can be seen on Rob’s Puzzle Page: here.
Randy Ludacer
Beach Packaging Design
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