Puzzle
Interactive jigsaw puzzles have jigsaw pieces with verbiage thereon, such as letters or words. The pieces are assembled to form verbal expressions such as words, sentences, phrases, quotations, nursery rhymes, poems, stories or books. Puzzles may be designed for toddlers, children, young adults and adults who will assemble jigsaw puzzle pieces to complete a word, sentence or story, etc., pertinent to their age, ability and interest levels. Pieces may be color and shape coded with increasing difficulty as readers advance. Puzzles may have interchangeable pieces, allowing the reader/assembler to also become the author by varying the expression. Simple sentences and stories will be completed in one puzzle assembly. Chapter books will have one puzzle per chapter. Pieces may also include illustrations, tactile components to increase sensory involvement, or Braille printing.
The invention relates to puzzles and methods for uses of puzzles in educational and leisure environments. More specifically, the invention relates to interactive jigsaw puzzles having jigsaw puzzle pieces with verbiage thereon that may be assembled to form verbal expressions such as words, sentences, phrases, quotations, poems, stories and books.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONJigsaw puzzles have long been popular for amusement and entertainment. Traditional jigsaw puzzles have a number of interlocking pieces which may be fitted together to form a complete pictorial reproduction, for example, of a photograph or artistic rendering of a landscape, still life or other image. The number of pieces and the complexity of the pictorial image may be varied to make assembling the puzzle more or less difficult, depending on the age and ability of the intended player. Likewise, the image may be selected to appeal to the age or interests of the player.
In educational settings, especially for young children, it is desirable to add an element of fun and entertainment to engage and retain the student's interest, for example, in connection with learning to read. Games such as puzzles add this element and encourage learning. However, even older children and adults can benefit from and enjoy such puzzles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention provides an entertaining and educational puzzle including a set of puzzle pieces. The pieces of the puzzle have verbiage thereon, such as letters, words, sentences, paragraphs or portions thereof. The pieces are assembled by interlocking them together so that the verbiage forms verbal expressions such as words, sentences, phrases, quotations, poems, stories, chapters or books.
In one embodiment, each puzzle piece of a set has one or more letters of the alphabet thereon. When the pieces are correctly assembled, the letters form a word.
In another embodiment of the invention, each puzzle piece of a set has one or more words thereon. When the pieces are correctly assembled, the words form a sentence.
In still another embodiment of the invention, each puzzle piece of a set has one or more words thereon. When the pieces are correctly assembled, they form a poem, a story or a chapter of a book.
In another aspect of the invention, the puzzle pieces may bear indicia or be color coded to assist in assembly, with increasing difficulty as readers advance.
In yet another aspect, some pieces of a puzzle may be interchangeable, allowing the reader/player to alter the word, sentence, poem or story.
In still another aspect, puzzle piece may include illustrations, pictures, symbols, and/or tactile elements to increase sensory involvement by the player.
In accordance with the invention, toddlers, children, young adults and adults assemble jigsaw pieces bearing verbiage to complete a puzzle displaying a word, sentence, story or book, appropriate to their age, ability and interest levels. Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the figures.
Puzzle pieces 4 may also include one or more printed indicia to assist the player in correctly assembling puzzle 2. For example, as shown in
Although the pieces 4 shown in the exemplary embodiment of
Preferably, puzzle 20 includes multiple pieces 22 that can be assembled in different combinations to form different sentences. In the illustrative example of
For more advanced players and readers,
Preferably, one or more of puzzle sets 42 include extra pieces 44 with different verbiage which are interchangeable with other pieces so as to fit into the puzzle at various places. For example, these extra pieces 44 may provide an alternate ending to the story, or may be mixed into the chapter or story to alter the course of the story. This interactive feature essentially makes the player an author who can create and change the story. This adds another element of interest and helps introduce players to creative writing.
The combination of game play and reading provided is a good way to introduce young readers to longer stories and eventually to multi-chapter books. There is also an added element of mystery and suspense, as the story unfolds as the puzzle is assembled. The subject matter of the book is essentially unlimited, and may include original stories, fairy tales, folk tales, other public domain stories, fiction, non-fiction and picture books.
Each chapter set 42 is preferable packaged in a separate box, pouch, bag or other container. Pieces 44 of each set 42 may be of a unique color or background to avoid intermixing pieces 44 belonging to different sets 42. All of the containers for sets 42 are preferable packaged in turn within a larger box or other container for the entire puzzle book. A frame or backing board for each puzzle may be provided, if desired, as is known for jigsaw puzzles.
Although each set 42 as shown in
Regardless of whether a puzzle forms a word, sentence, poem, story or book, the puzzle pieces may include pictures and illustrations related to the subject matter. Pieces may also include tactile components associated with the subject matter to increase sensory involvement, which is especially good for younger children. For example, a story about a bunny might include a puzzle piece with a small piece of cotton, representing the feel of a bunny's tail, while a story about a fish might include a scaly surface. For the visually challenged, pieces may include Braille symbols or other tactile elements.
The foregoing is intended to represent one embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Additional modifications and variations will be apparent to those of skill in the art.
Claims
1. A puzzle comprising:
- a plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces, each piece having verbiage thereon,
- the puzzle pieces being adapted to interlock together to form a completed puzzle so that the verbiage forms a verbal expression.
2. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein the verbiage comprises at least one letter.
3. The puzzle of claim 2 wherein the verbal expression comprises at least one word.
4. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein the verbiage comprises at least one word.
5. The puzzle of claim 4 wherein the verbal expression comprises a sentence or phrase.
6. The puzzle of claim, 4 wherein the verbal expression comprises a poem.
7. The puzzle of claim 4 wherein the verbal expression comprises a story or chapter.
8. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein each piece comprises indicia adjacent at least one edge of the piece which mates with indicia on another piece when the pieces are correctly interlocked.
9. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pieces comprises more pieces than required to complete the puzzle, the additional pieces being interchangeable with other pieces and having different verbiage thereon and which may be assembled in the puzzle to vary the verbal expression in the completed puzzle.
10. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein at least one piece includes a tactile element.
11. The puzzle of claim 1 wherein at least some of the pieces are color coded to indicate the nature of the verbiage thereon.
12. A puzzle comprising:
- a plurality of puzzle sets, each set comprising a plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces;
- each puzzle piece having verbiage thereon;
- the puzzle pieces of each set being adapted to interlock together to form a completed puzzle so that the verbiage forms a verbal expression.
13. The puzzle of claim 12 wherein the verbiage on each piece comprises at least one word.
14. The puzzle of claim 12 wherein the verbal expression comprises a story.
15. The puzzle of claim 12 wherein each set corresponds to a chapter in a book and the verbal expression of each set comprises the text of the chapter.
16. The puzzle of claim 12 wherein the set comprises more puzzle pieces than required to complete the puzzle, the additional pieces being interchangeable with other pieces and having different verbiage thereon and which may be assembled in the puzzle to vary the verbal expression in the completed puzzle.
17. The puzzle of claim 12 wherein at least some pieces comprise indicia adjacent at least one edge of the piece which mates with indicia on another piece when the pieces are correctly interlocked.
18. A method for playing an educational puzzle game, comprising:
- providing a puzzle comprising a plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces, each piece having verbiage thereon; and
- assembling the puzzle pieces by interlocking them together to form a completed puzzle so that the verbiage forms a verbal expression.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the puzzle comprises a plurality of puzzle sets, each set comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces, and each set corresponding to a chapter in a book, further comprising:
- assembling a first set of puzzle pieces;
- reading the verbal expression formed by the assembled first set corresponding to a first chapter of the book;
- assembling a second set; and
- reading the verbal expression formed by the assembled second set corresponding to a second chapter of the book.
20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:
- providing more pieces than required to complete the puzzle, the additional pieces being interchangeable with other pieces and having different verbiage thereon; and
- assembling the puzzle using the additional pieces to vary the verbal expression in the completed puzzle.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 6, 2006
Publication Date: Jun 12, 2008
Inventor: Alene Frost (Wilmette, IL)
Application Number: 11/634,769
International Classification: A63F 9/10 (20060101);