GB2220578A

GB2220578A - Puzzle game apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2220578A
Application number: GB8906847A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Roy Edward Foden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-06-06
Filing date: 1989-03-23
Publication date: 1990-01-17
Also published as: GB8906847D0; GB8813332D0

Abstract

Puzzle game apparatus comprises a plurality of game pieces which can be assembled into an overall geometrical shape, and which bear pattern elements which when the pieces are correctly arranged form an overall pattern in said overall geometrical shape. In the preferred embodiments the game pieces are all square, and the overall shape square or rectangular. The pieces are provided in a number which may represent a square of an integral number, four, nine, twenty five and sixty four piece puzzles being described. The pieces can be arranged in ranks and files of said integral number, e.g. two, three, five and eight. Each piece has a plurality of pattern elements, some pieces having more than others, e.g. up to eight on one piece being described. <IMAGE>

Description

Puzzle Game Apparatus This invention is concerned with apparatus for playing a game. In particular it is concerned with apparatus comprising a plurality of rectilinear game pieces, having coloured patterns thereon, which can be formed into a display or array according to a solution of the puzzle.

The invention, broadly stated, provides puzzle game apparatus comprising a plurality of geometrically shaped game pieces which can be assembled to form a larger overall geometrical shape, the pieces each bearing one or more pattern elements which when the pieces are arranged in a particular manner form an overall pattern covering the overall geometrical shape, representing a solution to the puzzle game.

Preferrably the game pieces are all of the same shape and dimensions, preferrably square or rectangular to form a square or rectangular overall shape.

Each game piece may have three or more pattern elements thereon,visually distinguished from each other for example by colour, and some of the game pieces may be adapted to form an edge or border of the overall geometrical shape.

The number of game pieces may be a number which is the square of an integral number, so that the pieces are capable of being assembled in ranks and files each containing said integral number of pieces, to form the overall geometrical shape.

The game apparatus may comprise four or more recilinear game pieces, all of substantially identical outliae, shape and size, each game piece provided with two or more discrete pattern elements provided that at least two of said discrete pattern elements on each game piece are of different colour and each said pattern element is bounded by straight and/or curved lines, the number of game pieces and their outline shape permitting formation of a rectilinear array of two or more horizontal rows (or ranks) and two or more vertical rows (or files) of individual game pieces according to a predetermined overall pattern representing a solution to the puzzle game.

The game apparatus may comprise nine or more game pieces, permitting formation of a rectilinear array of three or more horizontal rows and three or more vertical rows.

It is preferred that each game piece is substantially square in outline shape and that the overall pattern is rectangular, i.e. square or oblong.

A plurality of game pieces within the apparatus may have identical patterns and/or colours. One or more game pieces may have three or more discrete pattern elements, each or at least said three being of different colour and of the same or different shape.

The discrete pattern elements on the game pieces may be rectilinear and/or curvilinear. A portion of the game pieces may include pattern elements which are bounded by curved line(s). In the case of a game piece or game pieces having a pattern element whose outline shape is not wholly rectilinear, one or more of the pattern elements thereon may be partly or wholly bounded by a curved line.

A number of game pieces may have four discrete pattern elements thereon, being of the same or different shape and/or dimension, the pattern elements being visually distinct by arrangement of colour.

For any game piece having three, four or even more discrete pattern elements thereon, there should be at least two different colours on that piece identifying or defining said pattern elements.

The discrete pattern elements upon each game piece may comprise various shapes, e.g. squares, triangles, rectangles, trapezia, crosses, parallelograms, arcs, chords, sectors segments and the like. Two or more of the same pattern element in terms of dimension may be employed on any one or more of the game pieces, in which case they may be of different colours or alternatively the same 'type' of pattern element may be repeated once or more on any one or more of the game pieces in which case they are preferrably of different dimensions.

A number of game pieces within the apparatus, intended for use at the outer periphery of a rectilinear array, may form a continuous border comprising straight lines, which straight lines may be the same or a different colour provided that the game pieces, or parts thereof, which define those straight lines, are substantially in one colour. This is to assist initial identification and subsequent orientation of the border pieces when solving the puzzle.

Game pieces may have more or less than four edges, e.g.

hexagonal or triangular, and be arranged with interlocked apices to form straight edged strips; in the case of six sided pieces, particular distinctively shaped edge pieces may be required to acheive a straight edge to-the completed pattern.

In order that the invention may be better understood, and readily carried into effect, a number of embodiments thereof will now be illustrated in and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only.

In the drawings: Fig.s 1 to 8 each represent a different embodiment of puzzle game apparatus according to the invention, showing the pieces comprising each apparatus arranged according to a solution of the respective puzzle; and Fig. 9 is a composite of four different embodiments of apparatus according to the invention, each quadrant of the Figure representng a different embodiment.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, the puzzle game apparatus comprises four individual square game pieces which have been positioned mutually adjacent one another in the solution to a very basic puzzle game. In all embodiments the game pieces can be conveniently provided in a package or stack, one above the other, and there may be brief instructions with regard to solving the puzzle and an illustrated diagram of the solution if required.

In each embodiment illustrated, the spaces on the various pieces are coloured in accordance with the following numerical key.

Number Colour 1 Orange 2 Dark Green 3 Red 4 Pink 5 Blue 6 Black 7 Brown 8 Purple 9 Yellow 10 Light Green 11 Light Blue In Fig. 1, the four game pieces are arranged as a square and each game piece has three discrete pattern elements marked thereon. the individual pattern elements comprise a small red triangle 3, a larger orange triangle 1, green 2,pink 4,and blue 5.

Although such an arrangement as illustrated in Fig, 1 represents a theoretically possible game apparatus according to the invention, it is more preferred to use at least nine game pieces to form an overall array in square shape which comprises three horizontal columns or ranks, and three vertical columns or files. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 2.

It will be noted that in this arrangement the straight lines representing the borders are immediately adjacent only one colour per side.

Fig. 2 thus comprises nine game pieces, each of which is marked with at least two discrete pattern elements, at least two of the colours in each game piece being different.

This arrangement includes four game pieces each of which has a total of two discrete pattern elements and two different colours, a total of four game pieces having three discrete pattern elements, three different colours (per game piece) some of the pattern elements (triangles being of similar basic shape but different dimensions.

The arrangement of Fig. 2 also has one game piece, the centre piece, which has eight discrete pattern elements, four of which are of identical shape, size and colour, the remaining four being of identical shape and size but all of different colours. In the arrangement dipicted the same reference numbers, 1 - 5, to indicate the same colours as in Fig. 1, and according to the colour key above. Pattern elements marked 6 are black, 7 are brown, 8 are purple and 9 yellow.

It will be appreciated that there is a potentially infinite progression beyond three by three rows, and furthermore that the rectilinear array need not be square, but may for example be oblong. The number of pieces may be a square of an integral number, the pieces being arrangeable in ranks and files of said integral number; or the multiple of two integral numbers, with ranks of one such integral number of pieces and files of the other such integral number of pieces.

Fig. 3 shows a partially completed arrangement wherein there are provided five vertical rows each of five game pieces and five horizontal rows each of five game pieces.

There are many possible colour variations beyond those shown providing the colour and pattern requirements conform to the minimum standard defined above.

The intermediate array of nine game pieces, which has not been coloured, is to show how the border may be established within an overall array.

Figure 4 illustrates a still further progression to sixty four game pieces, arranged into an overall pattern or solution of eight horizontal rows (ranks: of eight pieces, and eight vertical rows (files) of eight pieces. The border is fully coloured and represents a suitable border arrangement.

The next section which is shown only partly coloured indicates the gradual building up of an appropriate arrangement and the internal array of sixteen game pieces is again not coloured for purpose of illustration only. It will be apparent from Fig.s 5-8 described subsequently that it is most preferred for the periphery of the puzzle solution to have a straight line which is all one colour even though adjacent and/or opposite borders may not necessarily be that same colour.

In these larger arrangements of game pieces it will be observed that the number of game pieces having just two discrete pattern elements and correspondingly two different colours increases.

Fig. 5 shows a solved puzzle comprising eight ranks and eight files each having eight game pieces in a row. This example serves to illustrate that a discrete pattern element on one game piece may be repeated in the same colour. Thus there will be observed game pieces having eight pattern elements in a row, and game pieces which comprise four discrete squares, two of the squares being of different colours, e.g. green and blue, the other two squares being black. Because these coloured patteren elements are mutually opposite the effect is of four discrete pattern elements even though they are of substantially identical shape and size within the game piece. Similar comments apply in respect of such pieces which comprise two oppositely disposed pink squares and an oppositely disposed pair of squares which are respectively orange and yellow.

Fig. 6 shows an arrangement having a complete overlying pattern. This is acheived by appropriate use of coloured sections which are triangular shaped.

A further overlying design is shown in the arrangement according to Fig. 7. Such an unusual visual effect is acheived by using a plurality of game pieces which have eight discrete pattern elements marked thereon, all of which are the same basic shape and dimension, with repeating colours where required.

A further visual effect is obtained by having an overlying circle design as shown in Fig. 8. Here it will be seen that certain of the game pieces have discrete pattern elements which are bounded by both curved and straight lines.

Fig. 9 represents in each of its quadrants, a section of one of four differently coloured puzzle games, all having the same arrangement of pattern elements in the sixty four pieces of their eight by eight piece arrays. These serve as examples of the manifold possibilities not only of shape, but also of colour combinations which exist within the scope of the invention.

Overall the puzzle game apparatus may usefully comprise square pieces which have to be fitted together to form a geometric or pictorial design using only the colours of the pieces to act as a guide. The number of game pieces and thus the size of the puzzle is variable, and may depend only upon the number of colours used. It is preferred that the shape of the puzzle is variable, but it should be symmetric. The difficulty of solving the puzzle can also be varied depending upon the number of game pieces provided and the number of discrete pattern elements upon said pieces.

Other rectilinear shapes such as triangular or hexa gonal may be used for the game pieces. Some of the pieces in such an embodiment may be of different shapes, to make possible the formation of a rectilinear border. With the same proviso as to border pieces, the overall shape may be circular, eliptical, or a polygon with more than four sides.

Claims

1. Puzzle game apparatus comprising a plurality of geometrically shaped game pieces which can be assembled to form a larger overall geometrical shape, the pieces each bearing one or more pattern elements which when the pieces are arranged in a particular manner form an overall pattern covering the overall geometrical shape, representing a solution to the puzzle game.

2. Puzzle game apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the game pieces are all of the same geometrical shape.

3. Puzzle game apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the game pieces are also all of the same dimensions.

4. Puzzle game apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein. the game pieces and the overall geometrical shape are square or rectangular.

5. Puzzle game apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein one or more of the game pieces has three or more pattern elements thereon, distinguished from each other by shape and/or colour.

6. Puzzle game apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein some of the game pieces are adapted to form an edge or border of the overall geometrical shape and pattern.

7. Puzzle game apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the game pieces are provided in a number which is a multiple of two integral mumbers, the pieces being capable of being arranged in ranks of one such number, and files of the other such number.

8. Puzzle game apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in any one of Figs..l to 8, or as partly shown in any quadrant of Fig.

9.

8. Puzzle game apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein said numbers are identical, i.e. the number of pieces is the square of an integral number, each rank and file of pieces containing said integral number of pieces.

9. Puzzle game apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in any one of Figs. 1 to 8, or as partly shown in any quadrant of Fig. 9.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. Puzzle game apparatus comprising a plurality of game pieces which can be assembled into an overall geometrical shape, and which each have an upper surface marked with two or more pattern elements, which when the pieces are correctly arranged form an over-all pattern extending over said over all geometrical shape, wherein the pieces and the over all shape are square or rectangular, and that the pattern elements are primarily distinguished from each other by colour 2. Puzzle game apparatus according to'Claim 1, wherein the pattern elements comprise subdivisional areas of the upper surfaces of the respective pieces.

3. Puzzle game apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the game pieces are all of the same size and shape.

4. Puzzle game apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein one or more of the game pieces has three or more pattern elements thereon, distinguished from each other by shape andor colour.

5. Puzzle game apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein some of the game pieces are adapted by shape or by arrangement of pattern elements to form an edge or border of the over all geometrical shape and pattern.

6. Puzzle game apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the game pieces are provided in a number which is a multiple of two integral- numbers, the pieces being capable of being arranged in ranks of one such number, and files of the other such number.

7. Puzzle game apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said numbers are identical, i.e. the number of pieces is the square of an integral number, each rank and file of pieces containing said integral number of pieces.