Word game system

This puzzle game system utilizes a movable base frame 12 which defines within its body a cut-out template 26 which defines a crossed word pattern. The cut-out template 26 defines at least two intersecting word files 28, with each word file 28 being oriented at an angle to each other word file with which it intersects. A plurality of movable elements 14 which are size and shape to be received within the word files 28 are provided. Each element 14 has a display surface 18 for at least one symbol 16. To play the game, one edge of one word file 28 within base frame 12 is oriented cross-wise in front of the player and a plurality of symbol bearing movable elements 14 are provided which are at least sufficient to solve the puzzle. As a next step, base frame 12 is turned to orient one edge of a different word file 28 cross-wise in front of the player, and the puzzle is again solved. This process is continued until the base frame 12 has been solved in each of its edge orientations. Then, where the base frame 12 is three dimensional and two sided and is capable of being turned-over, the base frame 12 can be turned over, and the puzzle again solved for each edge orientation thereby providing twice as many different crossed word puzzles from a single frame 12.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
a) Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to games and puzzles and to accessories for puzzles 
which are in the form of boards defining geometric patterns which are used 
with relatively movable elements. More specifically it relates to a board 
used in a game and to game pieces which are used to form words or 
equations with the board, but in which no predetermined or defined word or 
equation is required. 
b) Discussion of the Prior Art 
Word games are popular with the public. Common crossword puzzles are known 
wherein words are formed in either a defined or random matrix diagram by 
the player by completing definitions to a given vertical (down) column or 
horizontal (across) array of crossed words, hereinafter collectively 
referred to as "word files." Such crossword puzzle games provide a puzzle 
solver with clues in the form of a definition or synonym of each word in a 
specific or approximate "across" or "down" position of the puzzle. The 
puzzle solver must then determine what word corresponds with the given 
definition or synonym and is compatible with the word or words that is 
crosses, and then enter that word in the appropriate "across" word file or 
"down" word file in the puzzle. In order for such crossword puzzles to be 
operative, the player must find the already defined words, and has no 
discretion in forming words of his or her choice, or in playing the game 
in more than one way. 
Another form of prior art word games, are anagrams. In playing anagrams, 
the game player usually reorders or transposes letters from one word or 
phrase to form another word or phrase. In one form of the game, players 
compete by selecting letters to form words of their choice, while in 
another form of the game they add one or more letters in sequence in a 
number of different directions to form words, the popular "Scrabble.RTM." 
word game being one form thereof. In such games the player is not limited 
to defined words, and has substantial discretion in forming words of his 
or her choice, and may play the game in more than one way. 
Other forms of relevant prior art word puzzle games are based on the word 
search or word hunt principle. Such games are currently offered so 
ubiquitously that they are approaching the omnipresence of crossword 
puzzles. In the known patent prior art, Massey, U.S. Pat. No. 1,642,424 
utilizes the word search concept, in which a puzzle is comprised of a 
plurality of continuous rows of letters which are printed on a sheet and 
arranged in a manner which is at first glance meaningless. Intermingled 
among the letters are words. As an aid to finding those words, a stencil 
or template having an opening corresponding in size and form to the spaces 
occupied by the words is provided. In a related invention, DeLano, U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,595,203, provides a puzzle reading device made from a movable 
plate having a number of intersecting windows for use with a word search 
puzzle. The puzzle reading device helps to make words which are hidden in 
the horizontal, vertical or diagonal rows of the word search puzzle more 
readily identifiable. In both of these references, and in word search and 
word hunt games generally, the player must find the already existing 
words, and has no discretion in forming words of his or her choice, or in 
playing the game in more than one way. 
In other prior art patents, Withington, U.S. Pat. No. 1,282,513, teaches a 
puzzle in which a sentence on a sheet is provided, which includes a 
movable partition having a slot formed within it for receipt of the number 
of letters necessary to spell a specific missing word to complete a 
specific quotation or phrase. Similarly, James, U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,830, 
discloses a game apparatus wherein a base is provided with a plurality of 
rows of letters and punctuation at fixed locations and is utilized with a 
template and a number of letter carrying elements to form a predetermined 
sentence or phrase. In both of these references, the player must find only 
specific words or phrases, and has no discretion in forming words of his 
or her choice, or in playing the game in more than one way. 
Mitchell, U.S. Pat. No. 2,050,498, discloses a crossword board divided into 
squares, and in which alphabetical indicators and key numeral indicators 
can be utilized in developing the complete solution for a diagramless 
puzzle, or, in the alternative, for use in developing a new crossword 
puzzle. It is noted, that there is no specific template taught by this 
reference. Kelly, U.S. Pat. No. 2,517,115, discloses a crossword puzzle 
book in which a pad of crossword puzzle solution blank leaves are located 
on a page with the definitions for solving that puzzle, so that more than 
one player can solve the puzzle on a single leaf of the pad without 
receiving any clues from previous players, and without giving clues to 
subsequent players as to the solution. While this allows the game to be 
played by more than one player, or for a single player to play it more 
than once, as with any crossword puzzle, each time that it is played the 
player must find the correct defined words and has no discretion in 
forming words of his or her choice, or in playing the game in more than 
one way. 
Larroca, U.S. Pat. No. 2,782,530, discloses a crossword puzzle structure 
which is comprised of a frame for receiving a sheet of paper and a movable 
masking sheet for location above the sheet which allows a variety of 
puzzle constructions to be produced and developed. Freedman, U.S. Pat. No. 
2,586,017, provides a cover for use with a number of games, including 
crossword puzzles, in which a transparent material having a pressure 
sensitive face is placed over the game to receive indications of game 
pieces or words. 
It is thus seen that it would be desirable to provide a novel word game or 
puzzle wherein no predetermined word is required or defined, and in which 
the player may construct a multitude of puzzle solutions in a 
predetermined yet variable matrix frame, without requiring any directions 
or clues. It would also be desirable to provide such a novel game or 
puzzle, wherein there are many variable modes of play, and in which the 
degree of difficulty of the puzzle may be varied by the player. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to 
provide a novel word game or puzzle wherein no predetermined words are 
required or need be defined. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a novel word 
game or puzzle in which the player may construct a multitude of puzzle 
solutions without requiring any directions or clues as to their solution. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a novel word 
game or puzzle system which uses a base frame which defines a template of 
crossed word files which can be solved by a player using movable letter 
bearing elements. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a system which 
is simple in construction and design, and yet which lends itself to 
numerous modes of play. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a simple, 
inexpensive word game or puzzle system wherein there are many variable 
modes of play, and in which the degree of difficulty may be varied by the 
player. 
The foregoing objects of the present invention are obtained by providing a 
puzzle game apparatus and methods of playing the same which utilize as a 
key element a movable base frame which carries and defines a cut-out 
crossed word pattern template which defines at least two word files, and 
in which the word files overlap one another, having at least one common 
space, and are at an angle to one another. In preferred embodiments the 
base frame is a right angle parallelogram in shape and has four edges, and 
each word file is oriented substantially parallel to at least one of the 
outer edges of the frame. Regardless of whether the base frame is a right 
angle parallelogram, each word file has an upper and a lower edge which 
may be used to orient the game, as described in greater detail below. A 
plurality of uniformly sized movable elements are provided for use within 
the cut-out template of crossed word files. Each movable element has a 
display surface for at least one letter or symbol. As explained below, no 
predetermined words are required or need be defined in order to play the 
game, and no directions or clues as to the solutions are required. 
From another perspective, the system of the present invention may be 
perceived to be comprised of a base which carries a cut-out template which 
defines overlapping word files for receipt of movable uniformly sized 
letter bearing elements, wherein, in preferred embodiments an edge of each 
word file is capable of being oriented viz a viz the player. 
In the preferred play mode of the present invention, the base frame is a 
right angle parallelogram in shape, for example a square or a rectangle 
having four outer edges, and each of the word pattern files defined by the 
frame is a rectangle which is parallel to a pair of opposed parallel outer 
edges of the base. The preferred base frame will carry and define at least 
as many word files as there are outer edges of the base frame, and each 
word file will require a different number of movable elements to fill it, 
thereby substantially assuring that the crossed word pattern will not be 
symmetrical within the base frame. 
For reasons which are explained in greater detail below, in such preferred 
embodiments there are at least as many word files as there are edges of 
the base frame, and each word file requires a different number of movable 
elements to fill and solve it. Also, in preferred embodiments the cut-out 
template is not symmetrical within the base frame, and the base frame is 
three dimensional and two sided, and is capable of being turned-over. As 
detailed below, the use of a movable two sided frame allows for multiple 
orientations of the base frame, and therefore multiple modes of play and 
multiple solutions using a single base frame. 
Where the base frame is not a polygon, or where the word files are not 
parallel to the edges, the edges of the word files within the base frame 
can serve to orient the frame in front of the player. In such systems, the 
movable base frame can be turned to orient different edges of different 
word files cross-wise or vertically in front of a player to allow the 
puzzle to be solved, in various orientations. In any event, no 
predetermined words are required to need be defined in order to play the 
game, and no directions or clues as to the solutions are required. 
To play the game, any outer edge of the base frame or the edge of a word 
file is oriented cross-wise or perpendicular in front of a player, and a 
plurality of letter bearing movable elements are provided. The number of 
letter bearing movable elements which are provided are at least sufficient 
to solve the puzzle in this first orientation, and at least equal to the 
total number of letter spaces defined by all of the word files. "Solving" 
the puzzle consists of completely filling each and every word file with 
letter bearing movable elements which together form any complete valid 
word in that file. "Valid" words may be defined by either table rules or 
by reference to any standard dictionary or reference work. Unlike a 
conventional crossword puzzle, definitions of the words to be placed in 
the word files are not required and need not be provided, although the use 
of definitions for the different word files is within the purview of the 
present invention. 
As a next step, the base frame is turned to orient a different outer edge 
or edge of a word cross-wise or perpendicular in front of a player in a 
"second orientation", and the puzzle is again solved by filling each word 
file with letter bearing movable elements to create a valid word. This 
process can be, and should be, continued until the base frame has been 
solved in each of its edge orientations, i.e. for a quadrilateral frame in 
which the word files are parallel to the edges of the base frame that 
would require four solutions. As a further extension of the process, where 
the base frame is three dimensional and two sided and is capable of being 
turned-over, after all of the solutions on one side are completed, the 
base frame can then be turned over, and the puzzle again solved by filling 
each word file with letter bearing movable elements to create a valid word 
for each edge orientation, thereby providing a total of at least eight 
crossed word puzzles from a single frame. Where the cut-out template is 
not symmetrical within the frame the crossed word file pattern will be 
different for each orientation, and so every solution will, of necessity, 
be different. 
As described in greater detail below, other modes of play are possible in 
which a single base frame and even a minimum number of movable letter 
elements can provide a very large number of playing situations at various 
skill levels. The degree of difficulty of the puzzle may be varied by 
varying the complexity of the cut-out template or by limiting the number 
or type of letters which are available for use in solving the crossed word 
puzzle in its various orientations. The present invention also allows for 
a scenario in which several solvers, using the exact same frame, in the 
exact same orientation, and with the exact same letters on movable 
elements, each construct valid solutions, but with the possibility of 
individual solutions which may differ from solutions made by other 
players. 
While it is clear that the present invention would be attractive to persons 
who enjoy crossword puzzles, it also has appeal for persons who enjoy word 
search or word hunt games. It extends the principle of word search or word 
hunt games, on increment by challenging the solver to engage in a 
"solution hunt," or a "search for solutions," or a "crossword quest," thus 
utilizing many of the skills and techniques, as well as the satisfaction 
of those games. However, it also digresses in an interesting way from 
those games by allowing more creativity than their current formats which 
establish one and only one correct solution. 
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to 
those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, showing 
the contemplated novel construction, combination, and elements as herein 
described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being 
understood that changes in the precise embodiments of the herein disclosed 
invention are meant to be included as coming within the scope of the 
claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Like numbers refer to like parts in the various figures. Referring to FIG. 
1, there is shown a perspective view of the puzzle game system of the 
present invention, generally 10, including a base frame 12 and a plurality 
of uniformly sized movable elements 14, each of which carries a letter or 
symbol 16 on its display surface 18. In FIG. 1, base frame 12 and movable 
elements 14 are shown in relation to an optional support tray 20 having 
borders 22 which hold and retain them, according to one embodiment of the 
system of the present invention. 
The key element of the puzzle game system of the present invention is base 
frame 12. As shown most clearly in FIG. 1, base frame 12 is polygonal, 
having a plurality of outer edges 24, and defines within its body a 
cut-out crossed word file template 26. The cut-out crossed word file 
template 26 defines at least two word files 28. Each word file 28 overlaps 
at least one other word file 28. Wherever word files 28 overlap one 
another they have a space 30 which is common to both word files 28. Each 
overlapping pair word files are at an angle to one another. In the 
embodiments shown, base frame 12 and 112 are right angle parallelograms, a 
rectangle and a square, respectively, having four outer edges 24, and each 
of the word files 28 defined by the cut-out template carried by the frame 
is a rectangle which is parallel to a pair of opposed parallel outer edges 
24 of base 12 or 112. Each word file 28 also has a pair of parallel edges 
32 and 34. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, a plurality of uniformly sized movable elements 
14 are provided for use within the cut-out template 26. Each movable 
element 14 is of a size and shape such that it is adapted to be received 
snugly between edges 32 and 34 of any word file 28 of cut-out template 26. 
Each movable element 14 is also of a size and shape such that some whole 
number of the movable elements 14, when placed linearly within any word 
file 28 are adapted to substantially fill that file. As previously noted, 
each movable element 14 has a display surface 18 which carries at least 
one letter or symbol 16. 
Described from another perspective, cut-out template 26 includes 
overlapping word files 28 for receipt of uniformly sized elements 14, with 
each word file 28 capable of being oriented with one or both of its edges 
32 and 34 substantially parallel to or perpendicular to the position of a 
player, not shown. 
For reasons which are explained below, in the preferred embodiments of the 
present invention base frame 12 is a right angle parallelogram which 
carries at least as many word files 28 as there are outer edges 24, and 
each word file 28 requires a different number of movable elements 14 to 
fill it. This results in a cut-out template which is not symmetrical 
within base frame 12. Also, in preferred embodiments base frame 12 is 
movable, three dimensional and two sided and is capable of being 
turned-over. As indicated, for example in FIGS. 2A-2H and FIGS. 4A-4H, 
base frame 12 and 112 have first sides 36 and 136, and second sides 38 and 
138, respectively. As discussed below, it is also both attractive and 
practical to number or name each orientation so that a player will have no 
difficulty in identifying which orientations he or she has solved or has 
yet to solve. 
In the preferred play mode, for example in FIGS. 2A-2H and FIGS. 4A-4H, 
base frame 12 and 112 are a rectangle and a square, respectively, each 
having four outer edges, and with each of the word files 28 or 128 carried 
and defined by the frame being parallel to one of the pairs of opposed 
parallel outer edges. The preferred base frames 12 and 112 define at least 
as many word files 28 and 128 as there are edges of the base frame, in 
this case at least four, and each specific word file 28 or 128 will 
require a different number of movable elements 14 to fill it. For example, 
the four word files 28 and 128 shown in FIGS. 2A-2H and FIGS. 4A-4H, 
require three, four, five and six moveable elements, respectively to fill 
them. As a result, as frames 12 and 112 are turned to each of their 
respective four orientations "1st", "2nd", "3rd", and "4th" on side 36, 
and four orientations "5th", "6th", "7th" , and "8th" on side 38; and to 
their four orientations "A", "B", "C", and "D" on side 136, and four 
orientations "E", "F", "G", and "H" on side 138, the cut-out template 
pattern presented to the player is different for each orientation. It is 
thus seen that such a mixture of different sized word files 28 and 128 
assure that the cut-out template will not be symmetrical within base 
frames 12 or 112. 
To play the game, any outer edge 24 of base frame 12 is oriented cross-wise 
in front of the player with side 36 on top in what will be referred to as 
the "1st" orientation, for example, that shown by FIG. 2A, and a plurality 
of movable elements 14, each bearing a letter 16 are provided. The number 
of movable elements 14 which are provided are at least sufficient to solve 
the puzzle in this 1st orientation, and therefore at least equal to the 
total number of element spaces defined by all of the word files 28 in 
cut-out template 26. As indicated previously, "solving" the puzzle 
consists of completely filling each and every word file 28 with letter 
bearing movable elements 14, which letter bearing movable elements 14 
together form any complete valid word in that file, including the common 
letters 30 of each overlapping word file 28. To play the game, no 
predetermined words are required or need be defined, and no directions or 
clues as to the solutions are required. 
As a next step, the base frame 12 is turned to orient a different outer 
edge 24 cross-wise in front of the player in a "2nd" orientation, for 
example, that shown by FIG. 2B, and the puzzle is again solved by filling 
each word pattern file 28 with a valid word. This process can be, and 
should be, continued until the base frame 12 has been solved in each of 
its other orientations "3rd" and "4th". It is thus seen that quadrilateral 
frame 12 is possible of having at least four different orientations and 
four different solutions. 
As a further extension of the process, where base frame 12 is three 
dimensional and two sided and is capable of being turned-over, the base 
frame 12 can then be turned over so that second side 38 is on top. Then 
with second side 38 on top, the puzzle can be solved again by filling each 
word file 28 with a valid word for each new outer edge 24 orientation. So, 
for example, for a quadrilateral frame 12 that has been turned over that 
would require an additional four solutions, "5th", "6th", "7th", and "8th" 
on side 38 as illustrated by FIGS. 2E-2H, respectively, thereby providing 
a total of at least eight crossed word puzzles from a single frame 12. As 
noted above, where the cut-out template 26 is not symmetrical within frame 
12 will be different for each of the eight orientations, and so every 
solution will, of necessity, be different. 
In the play of the games taught by the present invention, "valid" words may 
be defined by either table rules or by reference to any specific standard 
dictionary or reference work. However, unlike a conventional crossword 
puzzle, definitions of the words to be placed in word files 28 are not 
required and need not be provided, although the use of definitions for the 
different word files 28 is certainly within the teaching of the present 
invention. 
As suggested above, frame 12 may be supplied to the player with a large 
assortment of movable letter bearing elements 14 available for solving 
each orientation of frame 12. In yet another method of play, frame 12 may 
be supplied with one solution in place, and then only the moveable letter 
bearing elements 14 of that given solution may be used to solve the other 
orientations of frame 12. In one preferred mode of play, as illustrated by 
FIGS. 2A through 2H, each of the eight orientations of the puzzle game are 
solved using the same assortment of fifteen movable elements 14 shown in 
FIG. 1, and without repeating any word. 
In another manner of play, the assortment of movable elements 14 may be 
selected by the player in a manner such that his or her first solution to 
the puzzle in the first orientation from a large assortment of movable 
elements 14 provides the selection of movable letter bearing elements 14 
which are then used with the other orientations of the puzzles. This 
latter method of play causes the player to define his or her own 
"challenge." As already noted, in one mode of play, each of the puzzles 
are solved without repeating any word from one puzzle to another. Of 
course, the foregoing and other modes of play can be combined so that, for 
example, the same assortment of movable elements 14 are used for every 
puzzle in the same frame 12 without repeating the same word in any two 
puzzles. In each of these variations, no predetermined words are required 
or need be defined in order to play the game, and no directions or clues 
as to the solutions are required. 
It will be apparent that a player of even slight skill will be able to 
provide more than one solution for the word files 28 of cut-out template 
26 defined by base frame 12 in each of its orientations. It is therefore 
seen that a single base frame 12 and even a limited number of movable 
letter bearing elements 14 can provide a very large number of playing 
situations. The present game also provides any number of opportunities for 
competition between players, or for use with specific word themes. Tally 
sheets may be provided to keep track of a players puzzle solutions. 
FIG. 3 shows several groups of letter elements 14. One group, for example 
vowels 42 are repeated twice, and are white. A second group, for example 
the most commonly used consonants 44, are shaded to indicate the color 
code yellow. A third group, for example ten less commonly used consonants 
46, are shaded to indicate the color code grey. Another less commonly used 
group of six vowels, "F", "J", "K", "Q", "X", and "Z", are not present at 
all in the groups shown in FIG. 3, but could be present if desired. In the 
use of such color coded or otherwise coded groups of letters, a player 
solving a puzzle having a given number of spaces in cut-out template 26, 
say enough to receive fifteen letter bearing movable elements 14, could 
place the coded element groups 42, 44 and 46 symbol side down, so that 
their letter symbols 16 are not visible. As a form of challenge, in the 
play of the game the player could then select a pro rata distribution of 
elements 14 carrying unknown symbols 16 from each group. For example, 
where there are fifteen spaces in cut-out template 26, five color coded 
elements 14 from each of group 42, 44 and 46 could be selected, and the 
player would then be limited to solving the puzzle in each of its 
orientations using only those randomly selected letters. Because of the 
manner that the symbols 16 have been distributed in FIG. 3, this somewhat 
random selection of letter bearing elements 14 should be sufficient to 
solve virtually any cut-out template 26 in any of its orientations. Of 
course, other coded groupings of letters could be used, or more than the 
bare minimum of coded elements could be selected. 
As already suggested, this coded mode of play can be combined with other 
modes of play, so that, for example, an assortment of color coded movable 
elements 14 exactly equal to the number of elements required to fill the 
cutout template 26, and then, only those selected movable elements 14 are 
used to solve every puzzle orientation in the same frame 12 without 
repeating the same word in any two puzzles. Once again it is noted that no 
predetermined words are required or need be defined in order to play this 
variation of the game, and no directions or clues as to the solutions are 
required. 
Referring to FIGS. 4A-4H, a three dimensional, movable frame 112 is shown 
which has a different cut-out template than frame 12. However its cut-out 
template is also adapted to receive fifteen letter elements 14. Like frame 
112, it also has four orientations "A", "B", "C", and "D" on its first 
side 136, as shown by FIGS. 4A-4D; and four orientations "E", "F", "G", 
and "H" on its second side 138, as shown by FIGS. 4E-4H. It will be seen 
that the cut-out template presented to the player is different for each of 
the four orientations on first side 136, and also for each of the four 
orientations, 4E-4H on its second side 138. It is also noted that in all 
eight orientations of frame 112 shown in FIGS. 4A-4H of this puzzle are 
also solved using the same fifteen letters and without repeating any word. 
As in the other versions, no predetermined words are required or need be 
defined in order to play the game using base 112, and no directions or 
clues as to the solutions are required. 
FIG. 5 shows a solved version of play of the present invention in which 
more than one movable, three dimensional base frame 112B and 112C of the 
present invention are located and played side-by-side and simultaneously. 
As illustrated, frames 112B and 112C are both the same as frame 112 shown 
in FIGS. 4A-4H, and specifically correspond to the orientations of FIGS. 
4B and 4C, respectively. FIG. 5 illustrates a method of play of the puzzle 
game of the present invention, in which two or more frames can be solved 
simultaneously, perhaps using the same thirty letters for all 
orientations. The solution shown happens to use the same fifteen letters 
to solve each frame 112B and 112C. For two three dimensional frames 112B 
and 112C, as shown, this introduces the possibility of sixty four 
different orientation arrangements, and therefore of at least sixty four 
different games, i.e. each eight orientations of frame 112B with each 
eight orientations of frame 112C. Clearly, with this large number of 
variations no predetermined words are required or need be defined in order 
to play the game, and no directions or clues as to the solutions are 
required. 
In a further method of play of the puzzle game of the present invention, 
each frame 12 or 112 can be solved in more than one way in a single 
orientation, and even using the same letters. As a matter of fact, the 
frame in the orientation of FIG. 2A, using the fifteen letters shown, has 
been solved at least sixty-four different ways, and without repeating any 
word. 
Other variations of the game of the present invention include couplable, 
expandable or modifiable base frames. It is also possible to play the game 
using equivalent numbers, and mathematical symbols, for example to form 
equations. Also included are variations in which the base frame has shapes 
other than right angle parallelograms in which each word file is oriented 
substantially parallel to at least one of the edges of the frame. That is, 
the base frame may have other polygonal shapes in which each word file is 
or is not oriented substantially parallel to at least one of the edges of 
the frame. For example, a hexagonal base frame having six word files with 
a single common letter, and in which each word file is oriented 
substantially parallel to at least one of the edges of the hexagonal frame 
provides a game in which the solutions are the equivalent of one form of 
word search or word hunt game. Non-polygonal shaped frames, such as 
circles, ellipses, or random shapes can also be used in the play of the 
game. Regardless of the shape of the base frame or the orientation of the 
word files viz a viz the edges of a polygonal frame, each word file has an 
upper and a lower edge which may be used to orient the frame horizontally 
or vertically to the player for multiple positions of play. 
It is therefore seen that the present invention provides a novel word game 
or puzzle in which a player may construct a multitude of puzzle solutions 
in a predetermined movable three dimensional base frame, carrying a 
cut-out template using movable letter or symbol bearing elements, and 
wherein no predetermined words are required or need be defined in order to 
play the game, and without requiring any directions or clues as to the 
solutions. The system provided is inexpensive, simple in construction and 
design, and yet lends itself to numerous and variable modes of play, in 
which the degree of difficulty may be varied by the player. 
While the invention has been particularly shown, described and illustrated 
in detail with reference to preferred embodiments and modifications 
thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the 
foregoing and other modifications are exemplary only, and that equivalent 
changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the 
true spirit and scope of the invention as claimed, except as precluded by 
the prior art.