Puzzle

Abstract

A multi-piece, two-dimensional puzzle whose solution involves the matching of multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia located along each edge of a two-faced puzzle piece with corresponding multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia located along edges of adjacent abutting pieces. The multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia is not shared by adjoining puzzle piece edges. Further, each piece is provided with unique piece-identifying indicia on both of its faces. Together, the matching of multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia of adjacent tile edges, coupled with signaling of solutions as suggested by observation of the unique piece-identifying indicia leads a player to solution of the puzzle.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/609,270, filed Mar. 10, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to amusement devices and in particular to puzzles. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a multi-piece puzzle requiring matching of indicia located along edges of such pieces for its solution.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Multi-piece, two-dimensional puzzles are known on the art. The solution to some involve the mere abutment of the edges of adjacent pieces, whereas others such as jigsaw puzzles require mating engagement of adjacent pieces. The objective of many of these sorts of puzzles is to produce a predetermined design, pattern or image from the several pieces that make up the puzzle. In others, suitable placement of the pieces may result in multiple solutions representing repeated or random designs. The objective of such “image” puzzles, however challenging they may be, is to produce a coherent image.

Still other multi-piece, two-dimensional puzzles have as their objective a solution involving the arrangement of correlating indicia (colors, numbers, letters, etc.) located along the edges of adjacent pieces, which solution does not produce a recognizable image or pattern. Such correlation may be for the purpose of matching identical indicia with each other or to achieve a logical symbolic relationship (alphanumeric or otherwise) in order to produce a desired solution.

However, no presently known multi-piece, two-dimensional puzzles involve the use of (1) pieces having multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia along each of their edges, (2) which multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia is not shared by adjoining puzzle piece edges, (3) and unique piece-identifying indicia on both faces of the pieces, all of which characteristics are necessary for solution of the puzzle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a multi-piece, two-dimensional puzzle whose solution involves the matching of multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia located along each edge of a two-faced puzzle piece (also referred to herein as a “tile”) with corresponding multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia located along edges of abutting pieces. The multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia is not shared by adjacent or adjoining puzzle piece edges. Further, each piece or tile is provided with unique piece-identifying indicia on both of its faces. Together, the matching of multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia of adjacent tile edges, coupled with signaling of solutions suggested by observation of the unique piece-identifying indicia leads a player to solution of the puzzle.

The puzzle pieces or tiles are non-interlocking, rotatable in 360° and reversible/invertible. The piece-matching indicia and piece-identifying indicia may include colors, numbers, letters, shapes, icons, symbols or any combination thereof. The number of different possible multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia located on a particular face of a piece is preferably up to twice the number of the edges of such piece. That is, a three-edged (triangular) piece could possess up to six different piece-matching indicia symbols, whereas a four-edged (square) piece may bear up to eight different piece-matching indicia symbols, and so on. In any event, the puzzle does not present a coherent image as its solution.

Other details, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of the presently preferred embodiments and presently preferred methods of practicing the invention proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is representative view of a 3×3 arrangement of square puzzle pieces or tiles according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a square puzzle piece or tile according to the invention showing an exemplary arrangement of multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia located on a face thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view of a square puzzle piece or tile according to the invention showing an exemplary arrangement of multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia and unique piece-identifying indicia displayed on a face thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view of multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia of abutting puzzle pieces or tiles in matching disposition; and

FIG. 5 is representative view of a completed 3×3 square puzzle according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings wherein like or similar references indicate like or similar elements throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a 3×3 square arrangement of square puzzle pieces or tiles 10 according to the invention. It will be understood that the tiles may assume different shapes (e.g., triangular) and that the overall shape of the completed puzzle may be other than square (e.g., triangular, rectangular, hexagonal or otherwise) depending on the polygonal shape of individual tile pieces used in the puzzle. As seen in FIG. 1, the square tiles are identified by piece-identifying indicia 12 (in the illustrated example, characters ABC in a top row, characters DEF in a center row and characters GHI in a bottom row). Although not limitative, such characters are indicative of the types of unique piece-identifying indicia displayed on a face of the tiles. In this connection, and for reasons described in greater detail below, the opposite faces of the pieces or tiles 10 should bear different unique piece-identifying indicia.

As seen in FIG. 2, in an exemplary “square” embodiment, each tile 10 has four edges and two faces (only one of which is shown). Near each tile edge are piece-matching indicia or symbols 14. According to a preferred embodiment such indicia are arranged in pairs 16 (also known as a “symbol-pair”). Thus, there are four symbol-pairs, totaling eight symbols, on each tile face. This arrangement of piece-matching indicia applies to each side or face of the tile, thereby making a total of eight symbol-pairs, and sixteen symbols, on each tile. Significantly, the piece-matching indicia or symbol-pairs 16 are not located in the corners of the tile face, but are positioned as shown in FIG. 2. That is, by not being located at the corners of the tiles, the symbol-pairs are not shared by adjoining tile edges. Indeed, the first and second symbols 14 of a symbol-pair 16 are preferably respectively located at distances of about one-third and two-thirds of the length of an edge as measured from a tile corner. Disposed as such, a symbol-pair 16 of one tile edge is independent of a symbol-pair of an adjacent or adjoining tile edge, the significance of which is discussed hereinafter. Assuming that there may be up to eight different symbols on a tile face, there may be up to 28 possible symbol-pair combinations that may be presented on a tile face, i.e., eight different symbols taken two at a time. If pair orientation is considered, e.g., orange over green versus green over orange, then the number of symbol-pairs increase to 56. In contrast, when symbol-pairs are disposed at the corners of a square piece or tile 10, i.e., symbol-pairs are “shared” by adjoining edges.

The piece-matching symbols 14 may be spots of color, numbers, letters, or other characters or icons. While one variation of the square puzzle tile 10 has eight distinct piece-matching symbols, e.g., 8 different colors, numbers or any other different characters or symbols, other variations may have a greater or lesser number of distinct symbols. For instance, a single piece or tile 10 may include a green symbol (or other color or character) as part of more than one symbol-pair. Likewise, more than one symbol-pair on a tile face may be the same, e.g., two or more edges of a tile might contain green dot-orange dot symbol-pairs 16. However, the symbols 12 are desirably distributed across the tiles in such a way that no face has more than two of the same symbol-pairs 16. Still further, in order to make the puzzle more challenging, it is preferred that the distribution of symbol-pairs 16 over the several tiles 10 not be evenly distributed. In other words, it is preferred that there be a bias toward some symbol-pairs.

FIG. 3 illustrates one face of a complete square tile 10 marked in accordance with the present invention. As noted in connection with the description of FIG. 1, each piece or tile preferably has unique piece- identifying indicia 12 (in this example, the letter “Q”) located generally in the center of the tile. A different unique piece-identifying indicia 12 would likewise be provided on the opposite face of tile 10. Thus, for a puzzle consisting of nine square tiles, a total of 18 faces would be uniquely identified. The existence of the unique piece-identifying indicia on the opposite surfaces of the tiles enables the solver to keep track of which tiles have been used during previous unsuccessful attempts at solutions. For example, if a tile bearing the letter “Q” as its unique piece-identifying indicia (i.e., with “Q” facing upwardly) was used as the center tile of an attempted 3×3 tile arrangement that failed, then that side of the tile can be avoided as the center tile in later solution attempts.

To solve the puzzle, symbol-pairs from two adjacent/abutting tiles must match, as shown in FIG. 4. For example, a green-pink symbol-pair on one tile must match a corresponding mirror image green-pink symbol-pair of an adjacent tile. The goal is to align edges of adjacent tiles in such a way that all adjacent symbol-pairs are matched. Using FIG. 1 as a reference, the central tile “E” will have its four symbol-pairs match symbol-pairs of on its four adjoining tiles (“B”, “D”, “F” and “H”). Tiles B, D, F and H, in turn, must have three symbol-pairs which match the symbol-pairs of its three adjacent tiles. For instance, the tile “B” must have symbol-pairs which match corresponding symbol-pairs of tiles “A”, “C” and “E” and each of the four corner tiles must have two of its symbol-pairs match symbol- pairs of two of its adjacent tiles (e.g., tile “A” must have symbol-pairs that match corresponding symbol-pairs on tiles “B” and “D”). FIG. 5 shows a completed puzzle wherein all symbol-pairs are properly matched.

Significantly, and in contrast with known puzzles wherein the corners of tiles bear symbols that must be matched in order to solve the puzzle (“corner” puzzles), the present invention represents a significant departure whose solution is considerably more complex. In solving a “corner” puzzle, and using FIG. 1 as an example, one first chooses a tile for center tile E. Assuming that tile E has a white symbol in its northwest corner and a black symbol in its northeast corner, then tile B must have white in its southwest corner and black in its southeast corner. Accordingly, tile C must have a black symbol in its southwest corner and tile F must have a black symbol in its northwest corner. This produces a constraint that the present puzzle does not have. That is, in the instant puzzle, once tile B is placed, with its south symbol-pair matching the north symbol-pair of tile E, the east symbol-pair of tile B is “free-standing”, i.e., it is independent of anything on tile E. Then, in choosing tile C, the only criterion is that of matching its west symbol-pair with the east symbol-pair of tile B. It will be appreciated that the south symbol-pair of tile C is then likewise “free standing”. That is, it is not dependent on any other already-selected tile. In other words, for the same four tiles, tile C is independent of tile E and tile B is independent of tile F, and so on. This layer of independence between alternating tiles of adjacent rows renders the solution to the subject puzzle substantially more difficult than a typical corner puzzle.

There must be assurance that there is at least one solution to the puzzle, although there may be more than one solution. The puzzle has a large number of possible steps toward a solution. In a 3×3 square tile puzzle there are eighteen choices for the first step (nine tiles times two faces per tile). After that choice, there are sixteen remaining faces, although there will be a limited number of possibilities for this second choice since there must be matching edges. Then, after that choice, there are fourteen remaining faces to choose from, and so on.

It is easy to construct a puzzle with a solution. For a 3×3 square puzzle, simply place nine blank tiles in a 3×3 square and apply matching symbol-pairs on adjoining edges of all tiles. Then apply random symbol-pairs on the reverse side of each tile. It is most challenging to construct a puzzle with eighteen faces and with exactly one solution, although more than one solution may be possible depending on how the symbol-pairs are applied to the puzzle pieces.

Although described herein as being a 3×3 square puzzle using square pieces or tiles, it will be understood that the puzzle may assume different configurations. For example, four-square, five-square or even larger square puzzles may be created although the complexity of solution increases accordingly. Likewise, the puzzle need not assume a square arrangement. It may for example, be rectangular such as might be achieved by a 2×4, 2×5, 3×4, 3×5, etc., array of tiles. Similarly, triangular or hexagonal puzzles are achievable using triangular tiles. Other shapes will be readily appreciated based on the chosen polygonal shape of the tiles.

Some of the characteristics and benefits of the tile puzzle according to the invention include:

It is very easy to understand how to go about attempting to solve the puzzle. That is, simply match symbol-pairs.

Either face of a tile can be part of the solution. In contrast, existing puzzles call for piece matching using only one face.

Square tiles have eight distinct symbols; e.g., potentially eight different colors or other symbols. Since the symbols are paired, this provides up to 28 symbol-pairs with different colors. If pair orientation is considered (“white over black” and “black over white” are considered different pairs), then the number of possible symbol-pairs is doubled to 56. Many other matching edge puzzles have a much smaller number of distinct symbols to match.

The symbols of a symbol-pair on one edge are not shared with another symbol-pair on that face. Some puzzles have two symbols on an edge, but each symbol is also part of a symbol-pair of an adjoining edge. Such puzzles are far easier to solve than that of the present invention.

Because the tiles according to the invention contain generally centrally-located unique piece-identifying indicia on both tile faces, attempts at solutions are “trackable”. That is to say, one can fall back to a previous step if a proposed solution fails. For example, assuming a tile identified as “1” is located in the center of the puzzle arrangement, a tile identified as “2” could be in the east position as a match, while tile “3” could be a match in the north position. If it happens that of the remaining twelve tile faces there is no tile that can fit in the northeast position, then a different face of a different tile can be tried in the north position and assembly may continue. However, it is important to keep a record of what tiles have been put in various positions, as well as in what order, so that future attempts will avoid duplication. This feature represents a significant departure from other “matching-type” puzzles that have no means to “fall back” to a previous position. In those puzzles, the only alternative is to start over from the beginning.

It is easy to make the puzzle, as described above. Some puzzles that call for matching are difficult to construct, e.g., those that require coherent images for their solution.

The tiles in the instant puzzle look the same when rotated since there is no identifying up, down, left or right for a tile. In contrast, some puzzles with numbers along their edges will have ‘upside down’ numbers under 180° rotation.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed herein.

Claims

1. A two-dimensional puzzle comprising:

a plurality of polygonal pieces having a plurality of edges, a plurality of corners and opposite faces; and

indicia on each of said pieces, wherein said indicia comprises:

(a) unique piece-identifying indicia provided on each of said opposite faces, and

(b) multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia provided along said edges.

2. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein said multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia is provided along each of said edges.

3. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein said multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia is not shared by adjoining ones of said edges.

4. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein said multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia is not located in said corners.

5. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein said multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia comprise pairs of symbols.

6. The puzzle of claim 5 wherein said pairs of symbols include first and second symbols respectively disposed at about one-third and two-thirds of the length of an edge.

7. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein said unique piece-identifying indicia is located generally centrally on said opposite faces.

8. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein said multiple-symbol, piece-matching indicia is selected from colors, numbers, letters and icons.

9. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein the solution to the puzzle is not a coherent image.

10. The puzzle of claim 5 wherein the same symbol may appear in more than one of said pairs of symbols.

11. The puzzle of claim 5 wherein more than one of said pairs of symbols on a tile face is the same.