Puzzle reading device

A puzzle reading device is made from a plate having a number of intersecting diametrical elongated windows. When the puzzle reading device is placed over a word search puzzle, words hidden in horizontal, vertical or diagonal rows of the puzzle can be more readily identified. In a preferred embodiment, the puzzle reading device comprises a plurality of stacked discs each defining one or more of the windows, whereby the windows can be adjusted by relative rotation of the discs.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a puzzle reading device adapted for reading 
well-known word search puzzles wherein a plurality of words or other 
expressions are hidden in an otherwise meaningless array of letters. The 
present invention particularly provides a puzzle reading device having 
window means specifically designed for finding hidden words disposed 
vertically, horizontally or diagonally within the word search puzzle. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Word search puzzles have been known for many years and are currently very 
popular. A typical variety of this puzzle comprises a sheet of paper 
having a square or rectangular matrix (array) of letters printed thereon. 
At first glance, the matrix appears to comprise a meaningless random 
arrangement of letters. However, within the matrix are a number of 
identifiable expressions, usually words, which can be identified if the 
puzzle is read carefully. These words are usually defined by a series of 
consecutive letters which appear within a horizontal, vertical or diagonal 
row of the matrix. The words may appear in an unusual order, such as from 
top to bottom, bottom to top and/or right to left, in addition to the 
normal left to right. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,642,424 discloses an early version of a word search puzzle 
wherein a stencil having a rectangular window therein is used to aid in 
reading the puzzle. The present invention pertains to an improved puzzle 
reading device for solving a word search puzzle wherein the window is 
specifically designed for isolating portions of at least two different 
rows of the array of letters in order to allow the reader to more readily 
view those rows, and in certain embodiments, to provide a stencil which 
aids the reader in circling any words found. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved word 
search puzzle wherein a specially designed puzzle reading device is used 
to view the matrix of letters having expressions hidden therein. 
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable 
puzzle reading device wherein the shape of the window can be changed to 
accommodate different spacing of commercially available word search puzzle 
arrays. 
Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent from the 
following specification and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the foregoing objects, the invention provides a puzzle 
reading device adapted for aiding in the solution of a word search puzzle. 
The puzzle reading device of the present invention is applied to a sheet 
having a matrix or array of letters thereon, the letters being arranged so 
that, as an entirety, the matrix of letters appears meaningless. However, 
the matrix contains therein a limited number of identifiable expressions 
which correspond to a predetermined meaningful definition, such as English 
words. Each of the expressions is defined by a series of consecutive 
letters in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row of letters within the 
matrix. As referred to herein, "horizontal row" refers to rows of letters 
extending from left to right on a puzzle sheet, and "vertical row" refers 
to rows of letters extending from top-to-bottom on the puzzle sheet. 
The puzzle reading device according to the invention comprises a plate 
having means defining a plurality of intersecting diametrically extending, 
elongated windows in said plate. Each of these windows corresponds 
generally in size and shape to the expressions within the matrix of 
letters such that the expressions can be viewed through the windows 
distinctly from letters in adjacent rows of the matrix. 
The present invention further provides a puzzle which comprises a sheet 
having a matrix of letters thereon, as described above, in combination 
with a puzzle reading device having means defining a window therein, as 
described above. In addition, the invention embraces a method of solving a 
word search puzzle which comprises moving a puzzle reading device or 
stencil over the matrix of letters so that the letters appear through the 
windows, and then marking or selecting the expressions as each of the 
expressions appear in the window. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
FIG. 1 illustrates a sheet 1 having a matrix or array of letters thereon 
wherein words 2 such as "puzzle", "flag" and "card" are hidden in the 
array. When found using the stencil according to the present invention, 
the words 2 above are circled, typically in pencil, to mark the words as 
shown in FIG. 1. The matrix of letters shown in FIG. 1 is for illustrative 
purposes only and is smaller than those conventionally used in word search 
puzzles. 
FIG. 2 illustrates a basic embodiment of a nonadjustable puzzle reading 
stencil 3 according to the invention having an opening 4 therein. The 
opening 4 includes a central, essentially square or rectangular opening 
portion 5. Four diametrically extending, elongated slots 6, 7, 8 and 9, 
defining the windows of the present invention, intersect at the center of 
the opening 4, and the intersection thereof defines the central opening 
portion 5. The slots 6 and 8 are disposed at right angles to each other to 
facilitate reading of the horizontal and vertical rows of the matrix of 
letters. The slots 7 and 9 are formed at a selected angle relative to the 
slots 6 and 8 so that the slots 7 and 9 can be used to read diagonal rows 
of letters of the matrix while the slots 6 and 8 can be used to read a row 
running from top to bottom and a row running from side to side, 
respectively. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the slots 7 and 9 are 
mutually perpendicular to each other, and each of the slots 7 and 9 
defines a 45.degree. radial angle relative to the adjoining slots 6 and 8. 
The overall size of the stencil 3 corresponds to the size of the matrix of 
letters. Typically, the central opening portion 5 will be essentially 
square, and each dimension thereof will be three times greater than the 
width of the slots 6, 7, 8 and 9. In such a case, a 3.times.3 array of 
letters is viewed through the opening portion 5, and a single horizontal, 
vertical or diagonal row of letters is visible through each of the 
corresponding slots 6, 7, 8 and 9. The slots 6, 7, 8 and 9 preferably have 
an essentially uniform width in the range of 0.1 to 1 inches, more 
preferably 0.15 to 0.25 inches. 
FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate a further embodiment of the 
invention wherein the stencil is adjustable to accommodate arrays of 
letters of different sizes. The adjustable stencil 10 shown in FIG. 3A 
comprises a series of stacked discs 11, 12 and 13, which are individually 
shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, respectively. The first disc 11 comprises an 
outer ring-shaped portion 14 having eight radially inwardly extending 
projections 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 formed thereon. Each of the 
projections 15 through 22 is essentially sectorial in shape, but the 
radially innermost ends thereof are trimmed appropriately to form the 
central opening portion 5. In the preferred embodiment shown, the pairs of 
projections 15, 16 and 19, 20 define the slot 6, and the pairs of 
projections 17, 18 and 21, 22 define the slot 8 therebetween. In addition, 
the projections define therebetween two enlarged diametrical slots 23 and 
24 which are greater in width than the slots 6 and 8. In the assembled 
stencil as shown in FIG. 3A, the enlarged radially extending slots 23 and 
24 define the limits of the angular range through which the slots 7 and 9 
can be adjusted, as will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, 
four fasteners 28, such as rivets, are used to hold the discs 11, 12 and 
13 in a coaxially stacked, face-to-face relationship. The fasteners extend 
through holes 27 in the ring-shaped portion 14 of the first disc 11. 
As shown in FIG. 4B, the second disc 12 comprises an outer ring-shaped 
portion 30 having four radially inwardly extending projections 31, 32, 33 
and 34 formed thereon. The projections 31-34 are essentially sectorial in 
shape, like the projections shown in FIG. 4A. The pairs of projections 31, 
32 and 33, 34, respectively, define the end portions of the slot 9 
therebetween. The pairs of projections 31, 34 and 32, 33 each additionally 
define a large slot 35 therebetween. Unlike the slots 23 and 24 of the 
disc 11, the radially extending edges of which define radial acute angles, 
the radially extending edges of the slot 35 define an obtuse radial angle 
relative to the center C of the disc 12. In the embodiment shown, each of 
the slots 35 defines a central radial angle A of about 110.degree.. The 
outer ring-shaped portion 30 of the second disc 12 additionally has a 
radially outwardly extending tab 37 by which the user can rotate the disc 
12 relative to the discs 11 and 13. The outer ring-shaped portion 30 
further has a series of four elongated slots 38 within which the fasteners 
28 slide in the circumferential direction of the disc 12 when the disc 12 
is rotated relative to the discs 11 and 13. 
The third disc 13, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4C, is identical to the 
second disc 12, but defines the slot 7 instead of the slot 9. A tab 40 
formed on the outer periphery of the third disc 13 performs the same 
function as the tab 37 on the second disc 12. 
When the discs 11, 12 and 13 are stacked coaxially and face-to-face as 
shown in FIG. 3A, the stencil 10 can be adjusted by means of the tabs 37 
and 40. When the tab 40 is moved in the circumferential direction of the 
substantially circular stencil 10, the position of the slot 7 can be 
adjusted such that the slot 7 can be moved between either edge of the 
larger slot 23. Similarly, the tab 37 can be used to adjust the position 
of the slot 9 within the range allowed by the width of the slot 24. In 
this way, the user can adjust the angles of the slots 7 and 9 relative to 
the slots 6 and 8 to match the dimensions and arrangement of the array of 
letters. Frequently, the letters in the array are not spaced apart the 
same distance side to side as from top to bottom. Thus, the embodiment of 
FIG. 2 is not always suitable to read diagonal words, since the diagonal 
words are not always disposed at 45.degree. angles relative to commonly 
centered top to bottom and side-to-side rows of letters. The embodiment of 
FIG. 3A thus allows the slots 7 and 9 to be adjusted for arrays wherein 
diagonal words are not disposed at 45.degree. relative to the top to 
bottom and side to side rows of the matrix. 
FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B illustrate a second embodiment of an adjustable 
puzzle reading device according to the present invention. The puzzle 
reading device 50 shown in FIG. 5 comprises a pair of coaxially stacked 
transparent discs 51 and 52, shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, respectively. The 
disc 51 has a transparent, diametrically elongated window 53 defined 
thereon by suitable means, such as a heavy black line or colored rim. The 
interior of the window 53 can be cut away, providing an elongated slot, or 
can be left in place, since the window is defined by the dark line. 
Alternately, if the windows 53, 57 are cut away, the windows 53, 57 can be 
defined by forming the discs 51, 52 of essentially transparent colored 
plastic. The disc 51 further has a plurality of holes 54 therein, through 
which fasteners 55 extend, for joining the discs 51 and 52 together in a 
face-to-face, coaxial relationship. A tab 56 formed on the outer periphery 
of the disc 51 facilitates relative rotation of the disc 51 with respect 
to the disc 52. 
The second transparent disc 52 is of the same diameter as the disc 51 and 
has a diametrical, elongated window 57 therein substantially identical to 
the window 53. The disc 52 further has a plurality of slots 58 formed near 
the outer periphery thereof which are elongated in the circumferential 
direction of the disc 52 and aligned with the holes 54, whereby the 
fasteners 55 travel within the respective elongated slots 58 when the 
transparent discs 51 and 52 are rotated relative to each other. The puzzle 
reading device 50 is not a stencil, and thus must be removed from the page 
in order for the word located in one of the windows to be circled. The 
disc 52 has a tab 59 formed on the outer periphery thereof. The user 
grasps the tabs 56 and 59 in order to rotate the discs 51, 52 relative to 
each other. 
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of 
the foregoing embodiments could be constructed. For example, the central 
opening portion 5 can be increased or reduced in size. In addition, the 
number of slots in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A could be reduced from 
four to two, using only two stacked discs in a manner similar to the 
embodiment of FIG. 5A. 
The puzzle reader of FIG. 5A is adjustable such that the radial angle 
defined between the lengthwise axes of the diametrical windows 53, 57 
varies in the range of from 0.degree. to 90.degree., preferably 20.degree. 
to 90.degree.. When the foregoing axes are at right angles, the puzzle 
reader can be used to read the horizontal and vertical rows of the array 
of letters. An adjustment to a radial angle between the foregoing axes of 
less than 90.degree. may then be made to read the diagonal rows of the 
array of letters, if necessary. Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A 
does not allow the user to simultaneously view a horizontal, vertical and 
pair of corresponding diagonal rows, it can still be used for the purposes 
of the present invention and is simpler in structure than the device shown 
in FIG. 3A. 
In embodiments of the present invention wherein a plurality of coaxial 
discs are stacked together, any suitable means may be used to keep the 
discs in a coaxial, face-to-face relationship. As an alternative to the 
fasteners shown in the described embodiments, the stacked discs comprising 
the puzzle reader or stencil can be inserted into a suitably sized 
envelope or frame having enlarged openings in the front and back thereof 
corresponding to the window portions of the puzzle reader or stencil. 
The puzzle reader or stencil of the present invention can be made of any 
suitable inexpensive, lightweight material such as cardboard or plastic. 
For the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the discs 51 and 52 are typically made 
of transparent plastic. 
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications of 
the disclosed invention, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within 
the scope of the present invention.