Abstract:
A puzzle game includes a Playing Grid and a plurality of Playing Pieces. The Playing Grid contains an array of Nodes, and a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors. Also included in the Playing Grid are a network of Branches interconnecting said nodes. A Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes. The object of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid without intersecting each other, the Anchors, or the edge of the Playing Grid, in such a way as to create a connected path from one Anchor to any other.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field 
         [0002]    The invention is directed to games, and more specifically to games of skill used by one or more players for enjoyment as well as for exercising the mind through progressive and continual challenges. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    There exist a large variety of game categories including card games, board games, multi-player games, single-player games, arcade games, computer games, and the like. Popular game categories include puzzles and “mind-games” where the player must strategize or think through various levels of challenges that are presented. The games can be played alone or with others. In addition to enjoyment, the games develop valued attributes such as planning, critical thinking and strategic decision-making. 
         [0005]    Some puzzles and mind-games are geared towards a novice audience, while others are directed at an expert audience. It is difficult to create a game that combines straight-forward rules with various levels of complexity that would appeal to young and old alike. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for puzzles and games that are fun to play and that can increase in challenge for a wide range of users. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The object of the present invention is to provide a game that is fun to play and has straight-forward rules, while developing critical thinking attributes. Another object of the present invention is to create a puzzle game and method of playing in which the user is continually challenged using starting scenarios having different levels of complexity. Yet another object of the present invention is to create a puzzle game and method of playing that can be used and enjoyed by a wide variety of users, both in age and skill level. 
         [0008]    In one example, the puzzle game comprises a Playing Grid and a plurality of Playing Pieces, said Playing Grid comprising an array of Nodes wherein a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors and a network of Branches interconnecting said nodes, 
         [0009]    wherein a Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes, and wherein the object or goal of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid by laying each of said Playing Pieces directly over a Contiguous Path of Nodes and Branches in order to connect all of the Anchors with a single connected Contiguous Path. 
         [0010]    In another example, a method for playing a puzzle game comprises the steps of providing a Playing Grid, said Playing Grid comprising an array of Nodes wherein a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors and comprising a network of Branches interconnecting said Nodes, providing a plurality of Playing Pieces, placing a Playing Piece on the Playing Grid and creating a Contiguous Path that contains all of the said Anchors, wherein a Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes, and wherein the object or goal of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid by laying each of said Playing Pieces directly over a Contiguous Path of Nodes and Branches in order to connect all of the Anchors with a single connected Contiguous Path. 
         [0011]    In another example, a method for creating a puzzle game comprises the steps of providing a Playing Grid, said Playing Grid comprising an array of Nodes wherein a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors and comprising a network of Branches interconnecting said Nodes, providing a plurality of Playing Pieces, wherein a Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes, and wherein the object or goal of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid by laying each of said Playing Pieces directly over a Contiguous Path of Nodes and Branches in order to connect all of the Anchors with a single connected Contiguous Path. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The followings drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, serve to explain the principles of the present invention when they are taken together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below. Moreover, the aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description which should be read in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a Game Sheet depicting a Playing Grid comprising a rectangular array of square cell Nodes and an associated group of Playing Pieces in the form of linear strings of adjacent square cells. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the Playing Grid of  FIG. 1  with five Anchor Points illustrating the concept of Path Connectors and two of the Playing Pieces forming a connected Contiguous Path. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3   a  shows a portion of the Playing Grid of  FIG. 2 , with a Playing Piece positioned upon the Playing Grid without forming a connected Contiguous Path. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3   b  shows a portion of the Playing Grid of  FIG. 2 , with a Playing Piece positioned upon the Playing Grid so as to form a connected Contiguous Path between some Anchors. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3   c  shows a portion of the Playing Grid of  FIG. 2 , with a Playing Piece positioned upon the Playing Grid so as to form a connected Contiguous Path between some Anchors in a way distinct from  FIG. 3   b.    
           [0018]      FIG. 4   a  shows the placement of two Playing Pieces intersecting each other. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4   b  shows the placement of a Playing Piece intersecting an Anchor. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4   c  shows the placement of a Playing Piece which is not aligned with the boundaries of the Playing Grid. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4   d  shows the placement of a Playing Piece extending beyond the exterior boundaries of the Playing Grid. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5   a  shows another example of a Game Sheet containing a Playing Grid which contains circular Nodes instead of rectangular Nodes and Playing Pieces which have circular ends. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5   b  shows the Playing Grid of  FIG. 5   a  with a Playing Piece placed connecting some Anchors. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6   a  shows another example of a Game Sheet containing a Playing Grid which contains dots for Nodes and line segments for Branches instead of rectangular Nodes and Playing Pieces which are geometrical arrangements of the Dots. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6   b  shows the Playing Grid of  FIG. 6   a  with a Playing Piece placed connecting some Anchors. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  shows a Playing Grid containing a Barrier Node. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  shows a Playing Grid containing a Barrier Branch. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  shows a set of Playing Pieces which are not linear. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10   a  shows a variant of the Playing Grid of  FIG. 1  with a hexagonal structure instead of a rectangular one. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10   b  shows a variant of the Playing Grid of  FIG. 5   a  with a hexagonal structure instead of a rectangular one. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10   c  shows a variant of the Playing Grid of  FIG. 5   b  with a hexagonal structure instead of a rectangular one. 
           [0032]      FIG. 10   d  shows a variant of the playing grid of  FIG. 1  with an octagonal structure instead of a rectangular one 
           [0033]      FIG. 10   e  shows a variant of the Playing Grid of  FIG. 5   a  with the Nodes having no points of contact. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    An embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , comprises a Game Sheet  100 , a Playing Grid  200  which is represented by a rectangular array of square cell Nodes  300  printed upon the Game Sheet, wherein two or more of the Nodes are marked by indicia  301  to indicate that they are Anchors  302 , and further comprises a group of three Playing Pieces PP 1 , PP 2 , PP 3 , wherein the Playing Pieces are graphically depicted upon the Game Sheet as linear strings of adjacent square cells. Contained in the Playing Grid  200  are a set of Branches  400 , representing the boundaries between the nodes  300 . Branches link two Nodes together, allowing them to form Path Connectors. 
         [0035]    It should be appreciated, that while the Game Sheet of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  may be an ordinary sheet of paper, it may also be one leaf in a pad of paper, a part of a newspaper or magazine page, a rigid board, a computer screen or any other suitable surface upon which a Playing Grid may be superimposed or otherwise graphically represented. It should also be appreciated, that although the embodiment of  FIG. 1  has a Playing Grid comprising six rows and seven columns of square cell Nodes, the Playing Grid may comprise any number of rows and columns of Nodes so that the Playing Grid fills just a small portion of the Game Sheet or even the entire Game Sheet. Furthermore, while  FIG. 1  shows exactly three Playing Pieces which are two, three, and four cells in length, it should be appreciated, that there may be any number of Playing Pieces and that the Playing Pieces may be of any equal or unequal lengths. Additionally, while the Playing Pieces of this embodiment of the present invention are shown as graphical representations on the surface of the Game Sheet, they may in other cases be physical items which the player may manually manipulate and place over the Playing Grid to aid in visualizing a solution to the puzzle. 
         [0036]    The object or goal of the solitaire game of the present invention is for a Player to align the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid in such a manner as to link all of the Anchors into one connected Contiguous Path comprising the Anchors, the Playing Pieces, and Path Connectors linking the Anchors and Playing Pieces to each other, where a Path Connector is a Branch common to two Anchors, a Branch common to two Playing Pieces, or a Branch common to an Anchor and Playing Piece, and a Contiguous Path is a set of Nodes and Path Connectors which are connected to each other. 
         [0037]    This concept is illustrated in  FIG. 2  which depicts the Playing Grid and one possible placement upon the Playing Grid of two of the Playing Pieces PP 2  and PP 3  of  FIG. 1 . To further aid in the following description,  FIG. 2  shows the Playing Grid with its columns labeled with the capital letters A, B, C, . . . and its rows labeled with the numerals  1 ,  2 ,  3 , . . . so that the individual Nodes of the Playing Grid may be identified by their row and column labels (i.e. Node F 4  refers to the square cell Node located at the intersection of column f and row  4 ). In the example of  FIG. 2  it can be seen that Playing Piece PP 2  is vertically aligned with Nodes C 3 , C 4 , and C 5 , and Playing Piece PP 3  is horizontally aligned with Nodes D 5 , E 5 , F 5 , and G 5 . 
         [0038]    Now, looking at the Playing Grid of  FIG. 2  five Path Connectors can be seen; the first Path Connector PC 1  being the common edge between the adjacent Anchors D 2  and D 3 , the second Path Connector PC 2  being the common boundary length between Anchor D 3  and Playing Piece PP 2 , the third Path Connector PC 3  being the common edge between Playing Piece PP 2  and Playing Piece PP 3 , the fourth Path Connector PC 4  being the common edge between Anchor C 6  and Playing Piece PP 2 , and the fifth Path Connector PC 5  being the common boundary length between Anchor C 6  and Playing Piece PP 3 . 
         [0039]    In this case it can be seen that there is a connected Contiguous Path linking the four Anchors D 2 , D 3 , C 6 , and G 6 , said path comprising five Path Connectors PC 1  (linking Anchor D 2  to Anchor D 3 , PC 2  (linking Anchor D 3  to Playing Piece PP 2 ), PC 3  (linking Playing Piece PP 2  to Anchor C 6 ), PC 4  (linking Playing Piece PP 2  to Playing Piece PP 3 ), and PC 5  (linking Playing Piece PP 3  to Anchor G 6 ). 
         [0040]    The connected Contiguous Path shown in  FIG. 2  traces along and across Anchor D 2 , Path Connector PC 1 , Anchor D 3 , Path Connector PC 2 , Playing Piece PP 2 , Path Connector PC 3 , Anchor C 6 , Path Connector PC 4 , Playing Piece PP 3 , Path Connector PC 5 , and Anchor G 6 . However, this path does not link to the fifth Anchor F 1  shown on the Playing Grid and is therefore not a complete solution to the game. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b , and  3   c , various attempts to form a complete solution to the game illustrated in  FIG. 2  are shown by appropriately placing the last Playing Piece PP 1  upon the Playing Grid. Specifically, it can be seen in  FIG. 3   a  which shows a portion of the Playing Grid of  FIG. 2 , that Playing Piece PP 1  has been located to align vertically with Nodes E 2  and E 3 . In this case there is still not a valid solution to the puzzle game of  FIG. 2  because Anchor F 1  is still not part of a connected contiguous path linked to the other four Anchor Points. The reason is that there is no common edge or boundary between the Playing Piece PP 1  and the Anchor F 1  (i.e. they only make contact or touch at a corner point CP) and therefore there is no Path Connector linking Playing Piece PP 1  to Anchor G 6 . 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 3   b  Playing Piece PP 1  is placed horizontally in alignment with Nodes D 1  and E 1 . In this case, Anchor F 1  is now part of a connected contiguous path linked to the other four Anchor Points via the Path Connectors PC 6  and PC 7  as shown and the game is solved. 
         [0043]    In  FIG. 3   c  there is another solution to the present game wherein Playing Piece PP 1  has been placed horizontally to align with Nodes E 2  and F 2 . In this case, Anchor F 1  is again part of a connected contiguous path linked to the other four Anchor Points, this time via the Path Connectors PC 8  and PC 9  as shown and therefore another solution to this game has been found. 
         [0044]    In general a game of the present invention may have a single unique solution or multiple solutions as shown in  FIGS. 3   b  and  3   c  for the embodiment of  FIG. 2  above. 
         [0045]    As described, the rules of play for the solitaire game of the present invention involve strategically placing some or all of the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid so as to form a single connected contiguous path that links all of the Anchors together via Playing Pieces and Path Connectors. However, for more challenging play, in the preferred embodiments of this invention, the positioning of the Playing Pieces is generally subject to certain restrictions and limitations. 
         [0046]    A preferred restriction is that Playing Pieces may not intersect each other. This is shown in  FIG. 4   a  where the Playing Pieces PP 2  and PP 3  invalidly intersect each other on Node E 6 . 
         [0047]    Another preferred restriction is that Playing Pieces may not intersect Anchors. This is shown in  FIG. 4   b  where the Playing Piece PP 2  invalidly intersects Node D 3 . 
         [0048]    Another preferred restriction is that Playing Pieces must align with the Branches. This is shown in  FIG. 4   c  where the Playing Piece PP 1  does not properly align with Nodes E 1  and E 3 . 
         [0049]    Another preferred restriction is that Playing Pieces may not intersect the edge of the Playing Grid. This is shown in  FIG. 4   d  where the Playing Piece PP 3  invalidly intersects the edge of the Playing Grid PGE. 
         [0050]    It will of course be appreciated that while the aforementioned restrictions on the placement of the Playing Pieces are preferred, they may, in other embodiments, be augmented with additional restrictions, relaxed, or eliminated in order to make the game more or less challenging. 
         [0051]    In  FIG. 5   a  there is another embodiment of the present invention similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  except that in the Game Sheet  110  the Playing Grid  210  comprises a rectangular array of circular cells rather than square cells wherein each Node  310  is represented by a circle and the Playing Pieces PP 4 , PP 5 , and PP 6  are rectangles of various lengths with semicircles at the end of each rectangle length, and are meant to represent the set of circular Nodes that would be contained in said shape. In this case, Anchors  312  are indicated by indicia  311  as usual, but the Branches  410  are the points of contact between two Nodes. For example, in  FIG. 5   b  it can be seen that Playing Piece PP 5  has been placed on the Playing Grid of  FIG. 5   a , having ends on Nodes C 3  and C 5 . Playing Piece PP 5  forms Path Connectors PC 10  and PC 11 , creating a Contiguous Path between Anchors C 6 , D 3 , and D 2 . 
         [0052]    In  FIG. 6   a  there is yet another embodiment of the present invention similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  except that in the Game Sheet  120  the Playing Grid  220  comprises a rectangular array of dots rather than square cells where in each Node  320  is represented by a dot and the Playing Pieces PP 7 , PP 8 , and PP 9  are geometrical arrangements of varying numbers of dots. In this case, Anchors  322  are indicated by indicia  321  as usual, but the Branches  412  are the line segments joining two Nodes. For example, in  FIG. 6   b  Playing Piece PP 8  has been placed in the Playing Grid of  FIG. 6   a , having ends on Nodes C 3  and C 5 . Playing Piece PP 8  forms Path Connectors PC 12  and PC 13 , creating a Contiguous Path between Anchors C 6 , D 3 , and  92 . 
         [0053]    Another embodiment of the invention which is shown in  FIG. 7 , is similar to the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1  except that there are one or more Nodes are marked by some new indicia  700  to indicate that they are Barrier Nodes. The object of this game is the same as in the game of  FIG. 1 , but in the case of this embodiment the four edges of the Barrier Nodes may not act as Path Connectors and the Playing Pieces may not overlap any Barrier Nodes. 
         [0054]    Another embodiment of the invention which is shown in  FIG. 8 , is similar to the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1  except that there are one or more edges of the square cell Nodes that are missing or marked by yet different indicia  800  to indicate that they are Barrier Branches. The object of this game is the same as in the game of  FIG. 1 , but in the case of this embodiment a Barrier Branch cannot form a Path Connector and no Playing Piece may be placed across a Barrier Branch. 
         [0055]      FIG. 9  shows still another embodiment of the invention wherein the Playing Pieces are not linear sets of Nodes of different lengths but have other shapes comprising different numbers of Nodes. 
         [0056]    In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the Playing Grid may take the form of an array of hexagonal cells as shown in  FIG. 10   a , an array of circular cells arranged hexagonally as shown in  FIG. 10   b , or even an array of indicia interconnected by branches arranged hexagonally as shown in  FIG. 10   c . It should be appreciated that, while the Playing Grids of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 5   a ,  FIG. 6   a ,  FIG. 10   a ,  FIG. 10   b , and  FIG. 10   c  are the preferred varieties, the pattern and arrangement of a Playing Grid is not bounded by these examples and may take on a variety of asymmetric and other exotic forms. In  FIG. 10   d , the Playing Grid does not contain a single repeating shape, but both octagonal and square cells. In  FIG. 10   e , the Playing Grid resembles that of  FIG. 5   a  but there is no point of contact between Nodes. Here Branches are assumed to link Nodes that are horizontally and vertically adjacent. The Playing Pieces associated will also adopt the forms of these Playing Grids, and possibly others as seen in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0057]    While the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood to those skilled in the art that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.