US3402934A - Puzzle game - Google Patents

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US3402934A
US3402934A US573404A US57340466A US3402934A US 3402934 A US3402934 A US 3402934A US 573404 A US573404 A US 573404A US 57340466 A US57340466 A US 57340466A US 3402934 A US3402934 A US 3402934A
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playing
pieces
area
puzzle
length
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Doris E Adams
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HARRIET L FOSTER
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HARRIET L FOSTER
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63FCARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F9/00Games not otherwise provided for
    • A63F9/06Patience; Other games for self-amusement
    • A63F9/10Two-dimensional jig-saw puzzles
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63FCARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F9/00Games not otherwise provided for
    • A63F9/06Patience; Other games for self-amusement
    • A63F9/10Two-dimensional jig-saw puzzles
    • A63F9/1044Display boards therefor

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a puzzle game, and has for an object to provide an improved puzzle game, which may be played by one player, possibly first as a puzzle in determining that one or more solutions are possible, and then as a puzzle game, in a contest with time, and also may be played by two to four players competitively or against time.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a puzzle game wherein there are a number of types of puzzle targets to be achieved, and wherein there may be more than one solution for each solution, and wherein in some certain puzzle targets, there are a great number of possible solutions.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a puzzle game including a rectangular and preferably, but not necessarily, square game board, the game board having four similar playing areas, each area being in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, each trapezoid area having a plurality of playing lanes, preferably eight in number, each lane being successiveively shorter in length from the longer outermost parallel side to the shorter innermost parallel side.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a puzzle game having a number of sets of elongated playing pieces of different shapes and sizes which, when the puzzle is solved for any puzzle target, completely cover all the playing lanes and provide the particular target puzzle intended.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide the different size and shape playing pieces with a multiplicity of colors, preferably four, with a set of playing pieces of each color, and with some of the playing pieces duplicated one or more times, which, in the case of a square gameboard, with fourteen different playing pieces to a set, has a total of one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces.
  • Still a further object of this invention is to provide playing pieces somewhat resembling jig-saw playing pieces, each individual piece being provided at each end with projections or recesses extending at forty-five degrees to the edge from which they extend or recess, some extending from or recessing into the end edges, others extending from or recessing into the side edges at the ends of the piece.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide playing pieces in accordance with the foregoing objects, which playing pieces may be placed on the gameboard to provide prescribed puzzle targets such as, for example, each playing area being covered by one solid color, or by single lines of solid color, each line being different, or by pairs of lines of solid color different from the other pairs of lines in the same area, or by each line being of diiferent colored pieces, or further, with the further target that the same color be not touching in adjacent lines, or by other puzzle targets as will become apparent from the disclosure in the hereinafter specification.
  • puzzle targets such as, for example, each playing area being covered by one solid color, or by single lines of solid color, each line being different, or by pairs of lines of solid color different from the other pairs of lines in the same area, or by each line being of diiferent colored pieces, or further, with the further target that the same color be not touching in adjacent lines, or by other puzzle targets as will become apparent from the disclosure in the hereinafter specification.
  • Still a further object of this invention is to provide a gameboard wherein the playing lanes are in slots provided by spaced apart parallel ledges, each of progressively shorter length progressing inwardly from the outer side, the ledges stopping short of touching each other at their ends, thus providing diagonal alleys, which alleys are imprinted with representations of the particular ends shapes of the playing pieces that must be played in such locations, and wherein the playing pieces are provided with depending projections or feet to extend between the spaced 3,402,934 Patented Sept. 24, 1968 apart ledges and thus keep the pieces from accidentally being slid away from their playing lanes.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a puzzle game, playable by one, two, three or four players, against time or in competition, and which will be enjoyed by players of all ages and both sexes.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide playing pieces which may carry identifying indicia, such as numbers one to fourteen for the fourteen different shapes and sizes, on the bottom of the pieces where the indicia is not visible during play, so that the completed results may be compared with prescribed targets, and also for recording new puzzle targets discovered by the players.
  • identifying indicia such as numbers one to fourteen for the fourteen different shapes and sizes
  • the puzzle game includes a square gameboard of four isosceles trapezoid playing areas meeting each other along their angular sides in diagonal alleys which are imprinted with designs corresponding to the shapes of the ends of the pieces that must be played in such locations, there being eight successively shorter playing lanes in each area provided by slots between parallel spaced apart ledges, each stopping short of touching the ledges in the adjacent areas, thus providing the aforesaid alleys, the innermost and outermost ledges being provided on an inner and an outer frame on the gameboard.
  • the playing pieces consist of fourteen diiferent playing pieces to a complete set, with four different colored sets, thus making a minimum of fifty-six diiferent colored and shaped pieces, with certain pieces further duplicated in groups of four identical shapes each of a different color, to make a complete set of one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces, the total length of the added length of all playing pieces being equal to the total added length of all the playing lanes, and the length of each playing lane is equal to the added length of the particular pieces to be plyaed thereon, thus making it puzzling to select pieces of the right length to cover each playing lane.
  • a further feature is that the colors can form a number of different prescribed patterns, and in some solutions, each area may have the identical number of pieces, and in others the number of pieces in one solution may be different from the number of pieces in the adjacent areas, yet in each case, every one of the pieces are used, with none ever left over.
  • FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the puzzle game, with one of the puzzle patterns fragmentarily illustrated there on.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a typical playing piece No. 5.
  • FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the fourteen shapes and sizes of playing pieces, and a table of the total quantity of each piece.
  • FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are top plan views of corner fragments of four different typical puzzle target patterns.
  • FIG. 9 is a plan view of a two line part of a pattern wherein no two pieces of the same color are in contact with each other.
  • the puzzle game of this invention including a rectangular, and preferably square gameboard 22 having four isosceles trapezoid playing areas 24A, 24B, 24C and 24D. on which preferably one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces, of fourteen different shapes and .four different colors, as illustrated in FIG. 4, are so designed and proportioned that they will exactly cover the eight progressively longer parallel playing lanes 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 50 inclusive, each lane being numbered 1-8, provided by slots between seven spaced apart parallel ledges 42 to 54 inclusive and a spaced outer ledge 56 on an'outer frame 58 and a spaced inner ledge 60 on an inner frame 62.
  • the inner frame '62 provides a non-playing area 64 which may contain-any suitable identifying indicia, such as a trademark, and any desirable instructive data, such as simplified rules of play, etc.
  • a non-playing area 64 which may contain-any suitable identifying indicia, such as a trademark, and any desirable instructive data, such as simplified rules of play, etc.
  • Each of the ledges in each playing area comes close to, but stops short of touching the ledge in the adjacent area and thus provide a diagonal alley 66.
  • On these alleys 66 there is imprinted designs'68 at the end of each playing lane corresponding to the shapes of the ends of the pieces that are to be played at the corresponding ends of the playing lanes.
  • the fourteen individual different playing pieces carry indicating indicia, preferably the numbers 1 to 14 on the bottom side thereof, as shown in F IG. 3. So as to make it possible to better understand the various puzzle solutions satisfying particular puzzle targets hereinafter set forth, these bottom placed numbers are shown as though they were visible on the topside, but preferably, they are not at all visible from the topside, although they may be if particularly desired.
  • a set of pieces thus consists of fourteen individual elongated pieces, no two of which are the same length and shape. All the pieces are of equal width, shaped as shown, preferably of a width to completely cover the playing area when the particular puzzle pattern is solved.
  • Piece 1 is made in four groups of three identically colored pieces, the pieces of each group being different from those of each other group. The number of pieces total one hundred twenty-eight, and each piece has forty-five degree projections or recesses extending either from the end edges, or from the ends of the side edges. Thus, as illustrated, piece 1 has a forty-five degree projection at one end edge and a forty-five degree projection extends at the other end of one side edge. There are twelve of these pieces 1, there thus being three each in blue, three each in red, three each in green and three each in yellow. The shapes and colors of the remaining figures are obvious from the illustration and table in FIG. 4.
  • each piece has a depending foot 70, as illustrated in FIG. 3, which drops down between the ad jacent ledges as shown in FIGURE 2.
  • Piece 5 in FIG. 3 also shows the preferred manner of providing the identifying indicia or number on the bottom thereof, so that the numbers are preferably not visible in making up the puzzle patterns, but must be lifted up and turned over for identification if necessary.
  • the playing pieces and the gameboard are made of any suitable material, such as wood, plastic, etc.
  • each player may take a turn, or may play in a contest against time, to arrive at a particular puzzle target with a pre determined pattern.
  • Four different puzzle targets or patterns are illustrated in part in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8.
  • FIG. 1 The pattern in FIG. 1 is the same as in FIG. 5.
  • the pattern is a different solid color in each of the four playing areas.
  • the numbers in parentheses are the numbers of the lanes. (1) is the shortest lane and is closest to the inner square wall; (8) is the longest lane, nearest to the outer square wall. The remaining numbers indicate What numbered playing pieces make up each lane.
  • Area 24-A-Blue Area 24BYell0w Area 24CGreen Area 24D'-Red Solid color puzzles can be played by one, two, three or four persons. If one person plays, he may use one or more playing areas. He should try to assemble each area making a different solution. A solution is considered different even if there are only two lines changed from any other area. To make the game more interesting, the player or players may time themselves if they wish and in any way they choose. There are at least fifty-seven known different solutions to the solid color group (this includes the five solutions submitted). If two or more people play, it will naturally be more challenging if each one tries to find a different solution. Two people may each work on two different areas and time themselves that way.
  • FIG. 6 shows (7) Blu 1261110 (8) Blu 82-'91011 There are at least seven more patterns in the two color puzzle group, which are workable, but are not being included, as it is impractical to include all possible patterns.
  • FIG. 7 is a solid color line pattern. One, two, three or four persons can play. There is one solution for each area only, as per the following distribution of pieces per area: Area 24-A takes the following pieces:
  • the puzzle must be assembled so that pieces of one color do not touch each other on the same line and also do not touch each other on a line below or above. Colors of end pieces on both ends of all lines in one area must be different from the color of end pieces they meet on corresponding lines of both adjoining areas. The following solution is the same for all four areas, however the sP- quence of colors is different in each area:
  • all solutions provide a similar pattern in each of the four areas.
  • all the areas use the same number of playing pieces; in other solutions, some areas use more playing pieces than others, but in every solution, all the one hundred twenty-eight pieces must be used up, for each playing lane is equal in Blue Red
  • a puzzle game comprising a game board and a plurality of playing pieces to be placed thereon, said gameboard havig four playing areas, each playing area being in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, said areas touching each other along their non-parallel sides and providing a rectangular figure with their longest sides outermost and their shortest sides innermost, each playing area having a plurality of elongated playing piece receiving playing lanes progressively increasing in length from said innermost shortest side to its outermost longest side, said playing pieces being a group of various elongated shapes and lengths with the length of the longest pieces being no longer than the length of the shortest playing lanes, the added length of all said playing pieces being equal to the added length of all said piece receiving lanes.
  • each different color being applied to at least one piece of each different shape and length, each piece having a single color thereon, each piece having forty-five degree angular recesses or projections on its opposite ends, some of said recesses and some of said projections extending from the side edges of some of said piece at their end, the other recesses and projections extending from the end edges, the playing pieces having a plurality of groups of fourteen individual pieces, each piece in one group being of the same color, there being at least four subgroups each with a color different from the colors of the other three groups, and certain pieces being further duplicated in each of the four different colors, there being thirty-two pieces of each color thus making a total of one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces, said playing lanes being provided by slots between upstanding parallel spaced apart intermediate ledges on said gameboard, each playing piece being of a width to extend into substantial contact with a piece in an adjacent lane, and having a depending foot on its under
  • the puzzle game of claim 5 the playing pieces having a plurality of groups of fourteen individual pieces, each piece in one group being of the same color, there being at least four subgroups each With a color different from the colors of the other three groups.
  • each of the fourteen individual pieces having different identifying indicia on the bottom thereof.
  • each playing piece being of a Width to extend into substantial contact with a piece in an adjacent lane, and having a depending foot on its underside to extend into the slot between said ledges.
  • each intermediate ledge stopping short at each end of its lane thereby providing a diagonal alley extending at forty-five degrees thereto, and an identical series of designs in each alley corresponding to the complementary end shapes of the contacting pieces to be used at the ends of said playing lanes.

Description

p 4, 1968 D. E. ADAMS 3,402,934
PUZZLE GAME Filed Aug. 18, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.
Fig. 2 v
20 Q 56' 42 1, 45 4a 50 52 54 so az/ 4 70 Fig. 3
INVENTOR Don's E. Adams ,Sept. 24, 1968 v D. E. ADAMS 3,402,934
PUZZLE GAME Filed Aug. 18, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet a K EACH SET EQUALLY DEVIDED IN FOUR COLORS b 8 m .2 2:3 7 I6 2: 13 F7 4i 4 m w CI 2 33 4 LEE I6 Z2 4 MI 4 a 4 m a To 29.
Fig. 7 64 1% a $4 62 22 5a 22 5a INVENTOR Dar/s 5 Adams ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,402,934 PUZZLE GAME Doris E. Adams, Rye, N .Y., assignor of one-half to Harriet L. Foster, Larchmont, N.Y. Filed Aug. 18, 1966, S'er. No. 573,404 Claims. (Cl. 273-156) This invention relates to a puzzle game, and has for an object to provide an improved puzzle game, which may be played by one player, possibly first as a puzzle in determining that one or more solutions are possible, and then as a puzzle game, in a contest with time, and also may be played by two to four players competitively or against time.
A further object of this invention is to provide a puzzle game wherein there are a number of types of puzzle targets to be achieved, and wherein there may be more than one solution for each solution, and wherein in some certain puzzle targets, there are a great number of possible solutions.
A further object of this invention is to provide a puzzle game including a rectangular and preferably, but not necessarily, square game board, the game board having four similar playing areas, each area being in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, each trapezoid area having a plurality of playing lanes, preferably eight in number, each lane being succesively shorter in length from the longer outermost parallel side to the shorter innermost parallel side.
A further object of this invention is to providea puzzle game having a number of sets of elongated playing pieces of different shapes and sizes which, when the puzzle is solved for any puzzle target, completely cover all the playing lanes and provide the particular target puzzle intended.
A further object of this invention is to provide the different size and shape playing pieces with a multiplicity of colors, preferably four, with a set of playing pieces of each color, and with some of the playing pieces duplicated one or more times, which, in the case of a square gameboard, with fourteen different playing pieces to a set, has a total of one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces.
Still a further object of this invention is to provide playing pieces somewhat resembling jig-saw playing pieces, each individual piece being provided at each end with projections or recesses extending at forty-five degrees to the edge from which they extend or recess, some extending from or recessing into the end edges, others extending from or recessing into the side edges at the ends of the piece.
A further object of this invention is to provide playing pieces in accordance with the foregoing objects, which playing pieces may be placed on the gameboard to provide prescribed puzzle targets such as, for example, each playing area being covered by one solid color, or by single lines of solid color, each line being different, or by pairs of lines of solid color different from the other pairs of lines in the same area, or by each line being of diiferent colored pieces, or further, with the further target that the same color be not touching in adjacent lines, or by other puzzle targets as will become apparent from the disclosure in the hereinafter specification.
Still a further object of this invention is to provide a gameboard wherein the playing lanes are in slots provided by spaced apart parallel ledges, each of progressively shorter length progressing inwardly from the outer side, the ledges stopping short of touching each other at their ends, thus providing diagonal alleys, which alleys are imprinted with representations of the particular ends shapes of the playing pieces that must be played in such locations, and wherein the playing pieces are provided with depending projections or feet to extend between the spaced 3,402,934 Patented Sept. 24, 1968 apart ledges and thus keep the pieces from accidentally being slid away from their playing lanes.
A further object of this invention is to provide a puzzle game, playable by one, two, three or four players, against time or in competition, and which will be enjoyed by players of all ages and both sexes.
A further object of this invention is to provide playing pieces which may carry identifying indicia, such as numbers one to fourteen for the fourteen different shapes and sizes, on the bottom of the pieces where the indicia is not visible during play, so that the completed results may be compared with prescribed targets, and also for recording new puzzle targets discovered by the players.
In brief, the puzzle game includes a square gameboard of four isosceles trapezoid playing areas meeting each other along their angular sides in diagonal alleys which are imprinted with designs corresponding to the shapes of the ends of the pieces that must be played in such locations, there being eight successively shorter playing lanes in each area provided by slots between parallel spaced apart ledges, each stopping short of touching the ledges in the adjacent areas, thus providing the aforesaid alleys, the innermost and outermost ledges being provided on an inner and an outer frame on the gameboard. The playing pieces consist of fourteen diiferent playing pieces to a complete set, with four different colored sets, thus making a minimum of fifty-six diiferent colored and shaped pieces, with certain pieces further duplicated in groups of four identical shapes each of a different color, to make a complete set of one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces, the total length of the added length of all playing pieces being equal to the total added length of all the playing lanes, and the length of each playing lane is equal to the added length of the particular pieces to be plyaed thereon, thus making it puzzling to select pieces of the right length to cover each playing lane.
A further feature is that the colors can form a number of different prescribed patterns, and in some solutions, each area may have the identical number of pieces, and in others the number of pieces in one solution may be different from the number of pieces in the adjacent areas, yet in each case, every one of the pieces are used, with none ever left over.
With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the puzzle game, with one of the puzzle patterns fragmentarily illustrated there on.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a typical playing piece No. 5.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the fourteen shapes and sizes of playing pieces, and a table of the total quantity of each piece.
FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are top plan views of corner fragments of four different typical puzzle target patterns.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a two line part of a pattern wherein no two pieces of the same color are in contact with each other.
There is shown at 20 the puzzle game of this invention including a rectangular, and preferably square gameboard 22 having four isosceles trapezoid playing areas 24A, 24B, 24C and 24D. on which preferably one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces, of fourteen different shapes and .four different colors, as illustrated in FIG. 4, are so designed and proportioned that they will exactly cover the eight progressively longer parallel playing lanes 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 50 inclusive, each lane being numbered 1-8, provided by slots between seven spaced apart parallel ledges 42 to 54 inclusive and a spaced outer ledge 56 on an'outer frame 58 and a spaced inner ledge 60 on an inner frame 62.
The inner frame '62 provides a non-playing area 64 which may contain-any suitable identifying indicia, such as a trademark, and any desirable instructive data, such as simplified rules of play, etc. Each of the ledges in each playing area comes close to, but stops short of touching the ledge in the adjacent area and thus provide a diagonal alley 66. On these alleys 66 there is imprinted designs'68 at the end of each playing lane corresponding to the shapes of the ends of the pieces that are to be played at the corresponding ends of the playing lanes.
The fourteen individual different playing pieces carry indicating indicia, preferably the numbers 1 to 14 on the bottom side thereof, as shown in F IG. 3. So as to make it possible to better understand the various puzzle solutions satisfying particular puzzle targets hereinafter set forth, these bottom placed numbers are shown as though they were visible on the topside, but preferably, they are not at all visible from the topside, although they may be if particularly desired. A set of pieces thus consists of fourteen individual elongated pieces, no two of which are the same length and shape. All the pieces are of equal width, shaped as shown, preferably of a width to completely cover the playing area when the particular puzzle pattern is solved. The four preferred colors are red, yellow, blue and green, and are illustrated as set forth in Symbols for Draftsman in the Patent Office Rules of Practice. Piece 1 is made in four groups of three identically colored pieces, the pieces of each group being different from those of each other group. The number of pieces total one hundred twenty-eight, and each piece has forty-five degree projections or recesses extending either from the end edges, or from the ends of the side edges. Thus, as illustrated, piece 1 has a forty-five degree projection at one end edge and a forty-five degree projection extends at the other end of one side edge. There are twelve of these pieces 1, there thus being three each in blue, three each in red, three each in green and three each in yellow. The shapes and colors of the remaining figures are obvious from the illustration and table in FIG. 4.
. In addition, each piece has a depending foot 70, as illustrated in FIG. 3, which drops down between the ad jacent ledges as shown in FIGURE 2. Piece 5 in FIG. 3 also shows the preferred manner of providing the identifying indicia or number on the bottom thereof, so that the numbers are preferably not visible in making up the puzzle patterns, but must be lifted up and turned over for identification if necessary. The playing pieces and the gameboard are made of any suitable material, such as wood, plastic, etc.
With the structure thus set forth, it is possible to play either solitaire or competitively. When competitively, each player may take a turn, or may play in a contest against time, to arrive at a particular puzzle target with a pre determined pattern. Four different puzzle targets or patterns are illustrated in part in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8.
The pattern in FIG. 1 is the same as in FIG. 5. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the pattern is a different solid color in each of the four playing areas. There are a number of puzzles which can be made, however, they all fall into one of the four following groups:
(1) Solid color puzzle group.-It should again be noted that the shape of each piece played on both ends of every lane in each area should conform to the markings on the alley 66 on the board.
All thirty-two pieces of one color are played in each of the four areas, one color to each area as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. It will be noted that in this solution, all four areas are assembled exactly the same. This is one solution as follows.
4 3 1 s 5 3 4 8-569 5) 1 10 11 s (6) s 11 10 9 7 12-10116 s 13-11 10 4 The numbers in parentheses are the numbers of the lanes. (1) is the shortest lane and is closest to the inner square wall; (8) is the longest lane, nearest to the outer square wall. The remaining numbers indicate What numbered playing pieces make up each lane.
The numbers on each piece identify that piece and show how they were put together (on the one hundred twenty-eight pieces the numbers appear on the underside as shown in FIG. 3). The numbers in all the solutions are merely for identification purposes, and normally are not visible from the top. Following are four more different solutions to the solid color group:
Area 24-A-Blue Area 24BYell0w Area 24CGreen Area 24D'-Red Solid color puzzles can be played by one, two, three or four persons. If one person plays, he may use one or more playing areas. He should try to assemble each area making a different solution. A solution is considered different even if there are only two lines changed from any other area. To make the game more interesting, the player or players may time themselves if they wish and in any way they choose. There are at least fifty-seven known different solutions to the solid color group (this includes the five solutions submitted). If two or more people play, it will naturally be more challenging if each one tries to find a different solution. Two people may each work on two different areas and time themselves that way.
(2) Two color puzzle gr0up.(TWO colors per area.) In FIG. 6, solid color lines alternate, one color every other line. One, two, three or four persons can play. There are five different solutions for each area. FIG. 6 shows (7) Blu 1261110 (8) Blu 82-'91011 There are at least seven more patterns in the two color puzzle group, which are workable, but are not being included, as it is impractical to include all possible patterns.
(3) Three color puzzle group.(Three colors per area): FIG. 7 is a solid color line pattern. One, two, three or four persons can play. There is one solution for each area only, as per the following distribution of pieces per area: Area 24-A takes the following pieces:
Red Blue Yellow 1ofNo.1 1ofNo.1 1ofN0.2 1oiNo.2 1olNo.5 1ol'No.4 2ofNo.3 2ofNo.6 1oiNo.5 lofNoA 1otNo.7 1oiNo.6 20fNo.5 1ofNo.8 1ofN0.9 2 of No. 6 1 of No. 10 3 of No. 10 1 of N0. 9 1 of No. 11 2 of N0. 11 1 of N0. 12 1 oiNo. 12 8 Bule 1 of No. 13 11 Red 1 of No. 14
13 Yellow Total of 32 pieces for Area 24-A.
Area 24-A solution (1) Red 1226 2) Red 453-9 3 Red 13--56 (4) Blu 87611 (5 Blu 1-10-5-6 (6) Yel 13-11-69 (7 Yel 12105-10 (8) Yel 4-2-14-10-11 Area 24-B takes the following pieces:
Red Blue Green 1oiNo.1 2ofN0.1 1ofN0.1 1oiNo.3 lofNo.2 1olN0.2 1oiNo.6 301'No.3 1ofN0.6 1ofNo.7 1efNo.4 1ofNo.7 1ofNo.8 1otNo.5 1oINo.8 1 of No. 1 of No. 9 3 of N0. 10 2 of N0. 11 1 of No. 10 3 o! No. 11 1ofNo.11 1olNo.13 8 Beds 1 of No. 14
11 Blues 13 Greens Total of thirty-two pieces for Area 2-1B Area 24-B Solution (1) Blu 1210 (2) Blu 4-5-3-9 3 Blu 1 3 11 3 (4) Red 81167 (5) Red 131110 (6) Grn 13-71011 (7) Grn 11011-10 (8) Grn 82146-11 Area 24-C takes the following pieces:
Green Yellow Blue 10lNo.1 1ofNo.1 1ofNo.2 1ofNo.2 10fNo.3 1ofNo.5 2ofNo.3 2oiNo.6 2ofNo.6 1oiNo.4 10iNo.8 1oiNo.8 20fNo.5 1oiNo.9 1oiNo.9 2 of No. 6 2 01 No. 11 2 of No. 10 1 of No. 9 2 of No. 11 1 of No. 12 8 Yellow 1 of No. 12
11 Green 1 of N0. 14
13 Blue Total of 32 pieces for Area 24-0 Area 24-C solution 1) Grn 12-2-6 (2) Grn 4539 (3) Grn 1--3-56 (4) Yel 8113-9 (5) Yel 1611-6 6) Blu 13-1465 (7 Blu 12--6-11-10 8 Blu s-2-9 10 11 Area 24-D takes the following pieces:
Yellow Green Red 2ofNo.1 1ofNo.1 1otNo.1 10fNo.2 1ofNo.3 1olNo.2 2oiNo.3 1ofNo.5 10lNo.6 2oiNo.5 1ofNo.6 1olNo.6 1oiNo.6 1oiNo.8 1ofNo.8 10iNo.7 1ofNo.9 1ofNo.9 1 of No. 8 l of No. 10 3 of No. 10 1 of No. 10 1 of No. 11 2 of No. 11
1 or No. 13 11 Yellow 8 Green 1 of No. 14
13 Red Total of 32 pieces for Area 24-D Area 24-D solution (1) Yel 110--2 (2) Yel 8--73-5 (3) Yel 1653 (4) Grn 8113-9 (5) Grn 1-10-5-6 (6) Red 8-14-611 (7) Red 11011-10 (8) Red 1325-109 Another pattern is alternating three colors on each line in each area. Colors of end pieces on both ends of all lines in one area must be different from the color of end pieces they meet on corresponding lines of both adjoining areas. The puzzle must be assembledso that the pieces of one color do not touch each other on the same line and also do not touch each other on a line below or above. The following solution is the same for all four areas. However, the sequence of colors is different in each area.
Solution Solution v Area 24CTotal of 32 pieces (4) Four color puzzle group.--(Four colors per area): In FIG. 8 a pattern is shown of solid color lines altera odoem. o eeeaeee o m NNNNN m w NNNNNNN m ea en a Y manned Y 21131-8 21.11121 9 n w a 13567mHB m. 13456mn n aoeeeede n e ododeeao m NNNNNNNN m B m NNNNNNNN m G MMMMMMMM G f MMMMMMMM B 11111111 8 11111111 8 m n W 3456789H w 3456789n e eee o o o o e e e e m mmN NmNNN m D m NNNNNNNN m Y MMMMMMMM Y L MMMMMMMM R m A n n e daeeaee e aeeeee m NNNNNNN m m NNNNNN m mmmmmmm B a madman a 0 5 M M 2 2 m e T. C a s n w wh a m m a .m w m m 5 mm e a s s r o 4 4 wk 2 v2 n a m e 0 e r nu r 0 8 41 A a 5 5 m s G 73 4F m F 1 .m e H F 1 1 11 am I 0 .0 H .e .e .w 41 1: Z O S 3 24* h Mmmm 81 1 1 1 1 1 ri d l nd nl an e t d u m u m u r u 61 6 1 e e e r. 6 1 s mm RBYGBRGY YGRBGYB Another pattern is provided by alternating four colors on each line in each area.
The puzzle must be assembled so that pieces of one color do not touch each other on the same line and also do not touch each other on a line below or above. Colors of end pieces on both ends of all lines in one area must be different from the color of end pieces they meet on corresponding lines of both adjoining areas. The following solution is the same for all four areas, however the sP- quence of colors is different in each area:
When the ends of two pieces of the same color on adjoining lines meet to form a diagonal break, they are not considered to be touching, as shown in FIG. 9. There are six additional patterns in the four color puzzle group which are workable.
This is a non-competitive puzzle for one person only.
Green Breakdown for FIG. 8:
Area 24-A-total of 31 pieces Red 8 Red 13-2--9611 1 Blu 122-6 2 Yel s s -3-7 3 Grn 13-5-6 4 Yel 4-11-69 5 Red 1-10-5-6 (6) Grn .13--7-1011 7 Red 1-10-11 10 8 Blu s*-2-9-10-11 2 Red s-7 s-s There has thus been disclosed a sufiicient number of different patterns and their solutions to constitute a complete disclosure of the invention, and additional solutions are possible as above set forth, and the player can work out such additional solutions and, using the numbers on the playing pieces, can record such additional solutions,
NNNNNN m Manama o 8 NNNNNNN m Manama B NNNNNNN m Manama R for future use, in the manner above set forth. However, it is obviously impossible to herein set forth all possible solutions, as there well may be many more solutions than known at present, but coming within the invention.
As shown by the above examples, all solutions provide a similar pattern in each of the four areas. In some, all the areas use the same number of playing pieces; in other solutions, some areas use more playing pieces than others, but in every solution, all the one hundred twenty-eight pieces must be used up, for each playing lane is equal in Blue Red
Green Area 24-B-total of 32 pieces Yellow length to the added length of the pieces to be played thereon, and the added length of all the playing lanes in NNNNNNNN MMMMMMMM NNNNNNN m m m m m m m Y the four areas adds up to the same total length of the one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces. In the drawings, like numbers refer to] ike parts, and
for the purposes of explication, marshaled below are the numbered parts of the improved Puzzle Game:
20-puzzle game 22game board 24A--isosceles trapezoid playing area 24B--isosceles trapezoid playing area 24C-isosceles trapezoid playing area 24-D-isosceles trapezoid playing area 26--shortest playing lane numbered 1 28next longer playing lane numbered 2 30-next longer playing lane numbered 3 32next longer playing lane numbered 4 34-next longer playing lane numbered 36--next longer playing lane numbered 6 38-next longer playing lane numbered 7 40-next longer playing lane numbered 8 (longest playing lane) 42longest spaced apart ledge (on outer frame 58) 44next shorter ledge 46next shorter ledge 48next shorter ledge 50-next shorter ledge 52next shorter ledge 54-next shorter ledge 56spaced apart outer ledge 58outer frame 60-shortest ledge (on inner frame 62) 62-inner frame 64non-playing area within 62 66diagonal alleys 68imprinted design of ends of playing pieces to be played thereon Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.
Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:
1. A puzzle game comprising a game board and a plurality of playing pieces to be placed thereon, said gameboard havig four playing areas, each playing area being in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, said areas touching each other along their non-parallel sides and providing a rectangular figure with their longest sides outermost and their shortest sides innermost, each playing area having a plurality of elongated playing piece receiving playing lanes progressively increasing in length from said innermost shortest side to its outermost longest side, said playing pieces being a group of various elongated shapes and lengths with the length of the longest pieces being no longer than the length of the shortest playing lanes, the added length of all said playing pieces being equal to the added length of all said piece receiving lanes.
2. The puzzle game of claim 1, the length of each lane being equal to the added length of a subgroup of selected pieces.
3. The puzzle game of claim 2, the added length of all the subgroups being equal to said added length of all of said lanes.
4. The puzzle game of claim 3, said pieces being depicted in a plurality of colors, each different color being applied to at least one piece of each different shape and length, each piece having a single color thereon, each piece having forty-five degree angular recesses or projections on its opposite ends, some of said recesses and some of said projections extending from the side edges of some of said piece at their end, the other recesses and projections extending from the end edges, the playing pieces having a plurality of groups of fourteen individual pieces, each piece in one group being of the same color, there being at least four subgroups each with a color different from the colors of the other three groups, and certain pieces being further duplicated in each of the four different colors, there being thirty-two pieces of each color thus making a total of one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces, said playing lanes being provided by slots between upstanding parallel spaced apart intermediate ledges on said gameboard, each playing piece being of a width to extend into substantial contact with a piece in an adjacent lane, and having a depending foot on its underside to extend into the slot between said ledges, each intermediate ledge stop ing short at each end of its lane thereby providing a diagonal alley extending at forty-five degrees thereto, and an identical series of designs in each alley corresponding to the complementary end shapes of the contacting pieces to be used at the ends of said playing lanes, each of the fourteen individual pieces having different identifying indicia on the bottom thereof, there being eight playing piece receiving lanes provided by an outer frame ledge, an inner frame ledge, and seven intermediate spaced apart parallel ledges.
5. The puzzle game of claim 1, said piece being depicted in a plurality of colors, each different color being applied to at least one piece of different shape and length.
6. The puzzle game of claim 5, each piece having a single color thereon.
7. The puzzle game of claim 5, the playing pieces having a plurality of groups of fourteen individual pieces, each piece in one group being of the same color, there being at least four subgroups each With a color different from the colors of the other three groups.
8. The puzzle game of claim 7, and certain pieces being further duplicated in each of the four different colors.
9. The puzzle game of claim 8, there being thirty-two pieces of each color thus making a total of one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces.
10. The puzzle game of claim 7, each of the fourteen individual pieces having different identifying indicia on the bottom thereof.
11. The puzzle game of claim 1, each piece having forty-five degree angular recesses or projections on its opposite ends.
12. The puzzle game of claim 11, some of said recesses and some of said projections extending from the side edges of some of said pieces at their ends, the other recesses and projections extending from the end edges.
13. The puzzle game of claim 1, said playing lanes being provided by slots between upstanding parallel Spaced apart intermediate ledges on said gameboard, each playing piece being of a Width to extend into substantial contact with a piece in an adjacent lane, and having a depending foot on its underside to extend into the slot between said ledges.
14. The puzzle game of claim 13, each intermediate ledge stopping short at each end of its lane thereby providing a diagonal alley extending at forty-five degrees thereto, and an identical series of designs in each alley corresponding to the complementary end shapes of the contacting pieces to be used at the ends of said playing lanes.
15. The puzzle game of claim 13, there being eight playing piece receiving lanes provided by an outer frame ledge, an inner frame ledge, and seven intermediate spaced apart parallel ledges.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 713,638 11/1902 Hepfinger. 2,188,480 1/1940 Murray 273- 2,339,074 l/1944 Hogan 273-157 2,453,290 11/1948 Wetzel 273-157 X 3,191,937 6/1965 Kropinski 27313O ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A PUZZLE GAME COMPRISING A GAME BOARD AND A PLURALITY OF PLAYING PIECES TO BE PLACED THEREON, SAID GAMEBOARD HAVING FOUR PLAYING AREAS, EACH PLAYING AREA BEING IN THE SHAPE OF AN ISOSCELES TRAPEZOID, SAID AREAS TOUCHING EACH OTHER ALONG THEIR NON-PARALLEL SIDES AND PROVIDING A RECTANGULAR FIGURE WITH THEIR LONGEST SIDES OUTERMOST AND THEIR SHORTEST SIDES INNERMOST, EACH PLAYING AREA HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED PLAYING PIECE RECEIVING PLAYING LANES PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING IN LENGTH FROM SAID INNERMOST SHORTEST SIDE TO ITS OUTERMOST LONGEST SIDE, SAID PLAYING PIECES BEING A GROUP OF VARIOUS ELONGATED SHAPES AND LENGTHS WITH THE LENGTH OF THE LONGEST PIECES BEING NO LONGER THAN THE LENGTH OF THE SHORTEST PLAYING LANES, THE ADDED LENGTH OF ALL SAID PLAYING PIECES BEING EQUAL TO THE ADDED LENGTH OF ALL SAID PIECE RECEIVING LANES.
US573404A 1966-08-18 1966-08-18 Puzzle game Expired - Lifetime US3402934A (en)

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3964749A (en) * 1970-04-10 1976-06-22 William Kent Wadsworth Pentomino puzzles
US4047720A (en) * 1976-07-08 1977-09-13 Galdal Jon S Game including novel board and play pieces
US4288079A (en) * 1979-08-16 1981-09-08 Belony Jean Claude M J Game apparatus
EP0106770A1 (en) * 1982-10-20 1984-04-25 Jean-Jacques Ducoeurjoly Building blocks, particularly for building-games or puzzles, and games incorporating such blocks
US5558336A (en) * 1995-03-27 1996-09-24 Sapello; Donald Board game and method of playing
US6098981A (en) * 1998-05-29 2000-08-08 Schuetter; Ken End-to-end board game

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US713638A (en) * 1902-05-07 1902-11-18 Thomas Conner Educational puzzle.
US2188480A (en) * 1937-09-17 1940-01-30 Beatrice Creamery Company Game and game board
US2339074A (en) * 1942-09-08 1944-01-11 James H Hogan Game
US2453290A (en) * 1944-04-19 1948-11-09 Roland M Wetzel Racing game and puzzle
US3191937A (en) * 1961-08-15 1965-06-29 John J Kropinski Mosaic making and guessing game

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US713638A (en) * 1902-05-07 1902-11-18 Thomas Conner Educational puzzle.
US2188480A (en) * 1937-09-17 1940-01-30 Beatrice Creamery Company Game and game board
US2339074A (en) * 1942-09-08 1944-01-11 James H Hogan Game
US2453290A (en) * 1944-04-19 1948-11-09 Roland M Wetzel Racing game and puzzle
US3191937A (en) * 1961-08-15 1965-06-29 John J Kropinski Mosaic making and guessing game

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3964749A (en) * 1970-04-10 1976-06-22 William Kent Wadsworth Pentomino puzzles
US4047720A (en) * 1976-07-08 1977-09-13 Galdal Jon S Game including novel board and play pieces
US4288079A (en) * 1979-08-16 1981-09-08 Belony Jean Claude M J Game apparatus
EP0106770A1 (en) * 1982-10-20 1984-04-25 Jean-Jacques Ducoeurjoly Building blocks, particularly for building-games or puzzles, and games incorporating such blocks
FR2534820A1 (en) * 1982-10-20 1984-04-27 Ducoeurjoly Jean Jacques GAMING ELEMENTS, IN PARTICULAR GAMES OF CONSTRUCTION OR PUZZLES AND GAMES COMPRISING SUCH ELEMENTS
US5558336A (en) * 1995-03-27 1996-09-24 Sapello; Donald Board game and method of playing
US6098981A (en) * 1998-05-29 2000-08-08 Schuetter; Ken End-to-end board game

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