Patent Publication Number: US-2023149797-A1

Title: Dual platform puzzle game

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/279,217, filed Nov. 15, 2021, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the technology relate, in general, to systems, apparatuses and methods for puzzles, particularly puzzles involving pegs and boards. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Puzzles provide for enjoyment and mental challenges. Puzzles are often in the form of a board, such as wooden board, having depressions distributed in a pattern in which puzzle pieces, such as pegs, nails, marbles, and the like, can be placed and manipulated. Certain puzzles are solved as puzzle pieces in the form of pegs that are removed from or placed into depressions in the form of holes in the board. Removed pegs can become separated from the game, dropped, lost, or otherwise rendered problematic for continuing or repeated enjoyment of the puzzle. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method of playing a game comprising: establishing a dual-board puzzle, wherein said dual-board puzzle has a first game board portion and a second game board portion, wherein said first game board portion and said second game board portion are mirror images of one another, and wherein each said game board portion includes a top surface having a number ND of depressions therein; setting up a playing field of either said first game board portion or said second game board portion to establish a playing field portion of said game board and a jumped pieces portion, wherein said step of setting up a playing field includes placing a number of playing pieces NP into the depressions of the playing field portion, and wherein the number of playing pieces NP equals the number of depressions ND −1 such that there is one empty depression; beginning gameplay by moving a playing piece over an adjacent playing piece into the one empty depression such that the adjacent playing piece becomes a jumped playing piece; removing the jumped playing piece from the playing field portion to create an additional empty depression on the playing field portion; placing said jumped playing piece into a depression of the jumped pieces portion; and repeating the steps of moving a playing piece over an adjacent playing piece into one of the empty depressions to create additional jumped playing pieces, removing the additional jumped playing pieces to create additional empty depression, and playing the additional jumped playing pieces into depressions of the jumped pieces portion until only one playing piece remains on the playing field portion. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above further comprising the additional step of placing the one remaining playing piece located on the playing field portion onto the jumped pieces portion, such that the jumped pieces portion becomes the playing field portion and the playing field portion becomes the jumped pieces portion, and wherein gameplay may continue. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion are separate pieces secured together through a hinged connection. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion can be folded along the hinged connection such that the first puzzle board portion forms a top portion and second puzzle board portion forms a bottom portion. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein both the first and second puzzle board portions each contain a compartment on a bottom surface thereof. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein when the first and second puzzle board portions are folded along the hinged connection, the compartment of the first puzzle board portion matches up with the compartment of the second puzzle board portion. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion come from a unitary piece of material, and wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion are separated by an imaginary plane. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein at least one of the first or second game board portions contains a compartment on a bottom surface thereof. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a method as above wherein the dual-board puzzle further contains at least one complementary compartment closing piece which is securable to the one or more compartments. 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle comprising: a first game board portion; a second game board portion, wherein said first game board portion and said second game board portion are mirror images of one another, and wherein each said game board portion includes a top surface having a number ND of depressions therein; and a plurality of playing pieces NP wherein the plurality of playing pieces NP equals the number of depressions ND −1. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein the plurality of playing pieces NP are placeable within the depressions ND. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein when the plurality of playing pieces NP are placed within the depressions ND of only one of the game portions, there is one empty depression ND within said one of the game portions. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein the first game board portion and the second game portion are a unitary piece of material. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein at least one of the first or second game board portions contains a compartment on a bottom surface thereof. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above further comprising at least one complementary compartment closing piece which is securable to the one or more compartments. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion are separate pieces secured together through a hinged connection. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein the first game board portion and the second game board portion can be folded along the hinged connection such that the first puzzle board portion forms a top portion and second puzzle board portion forms a bottom portion. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein both the first and second puzzle board portions each contain a compartment on a bottom surface thereof. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein when the first and second puzzle board portions are folded along the hinged connection, and the compartment of the first puzzle board portion matches up with the compartment of the second puzzle board portion. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure teaches a dual-board puzzle as above wherein the first and second puzzle board portions are in the shape of triangles and wherein the plurality of playing pieces NP are golf tees. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will be more readily understood from a detailed description of some example embodiments taken in conjunction with the following figures: 
         FIG.  1    is a plan view of a puzzle having a triangular shape; 
         FIG.  2    is a plan view of a puzzle having a circular shape; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of a puzzle having a double-diamond shape; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a puzzle having a cross shape; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of a puzzle having a triangular shape; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of a puzzle having a triangular shape; 
         FIG.  7    is a plan view of a dual-board puzzle; 
         FIG.  8    is a plan view of a dual-board puzzle; 
         FIG.  9    shows a plan view of the bottom portion of one embodiment of the dual-board puzzle of  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  10    shows a side plane view of the dual-board puzzle of  FIG.  7    wherein the first puzzle board portion is folded against the second puzzle board portion along a hinged connection; and 
         FIG.  11    shows a plan view of a bottom portion of one embodiment of the dual-board puzzle of  FIG.  7   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, and use of the apparatuses, systems, methods, and processes disclosed herein. One or more examples of these non-limiting embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that systems and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting embodiments. The features illustrated or described in connection with one non-limiting embodiment may be combined with the features of other non-limiting embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” “some example embodiments,” “one example embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with any embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” “some example embodiments,” “one example embodiment, or “in an embodiment” in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
     The examples discussed herein are examples only and are provided to assist in the explanation of the apparatuses, devices, systems and methods described herein. None of the features or components shown in the drawings or discussed below should be taken as mandatory for any specific implementation of any of these the apparatuses, devices, systems or methods unless specifically designated as mandatory. For ease of reading and clarity, certain components, modules, or methods may be described solely in connection with a specific figure. Any failure to specifically describe a combination or sub-combination of components should not be understood as an indication that any combination or sub-combination is not possible. Also, for any methods described, regardless of whether the method is described in conjunction with a flow diagram, it should be understood that unless otherwise specified or required by context, any explicit or implicit ordering of steps performed in the execution of a method does not imply that those steps must be performed in the order presented but instead may be performed in a different order or in parallel. 
     Technical solutions to issues related to the enjoyment and efficient play of puzzles can be achieved by the systems, apparatuses and methods of the present disclosure. In general, the components of the apparatuses described herein, unless otherwise described, can be made of plastic materials, wood materials, and/or polymer composite materials including injection-molded plastic materials, or any other suitable materials. The materials, size, shape, weight and other physical characteristics for puzzles and their components can be selected for ease of use when holding in one&#39;s hands, one&#39;s lap, on the floor, or on tabletops, and the like, as well as for cleanability, wear resistance, and/or durability, depending on the puzzle&#39;s use application. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 4   , there is shown examples of board games involving a game board having a plurality of depressions distributed in a pattern and a plurality of puzzle pieces intended to utilize the depressions during the play of the puzzle. For example,  FIG.  1    shows a puzzle  10  having a triangular-shaped pattern of depressions  16  on a triangular-shaped game board  12 . Puzzle pieces in the form of pegs  14  can be inserted and removed from the depressions  16 , which are holes in this embodiment, during the play of the puzzle. Similarly,  FIG.  2    shows a puzzle  20  having a circular-shaped pattern of depressions  26  on a square-shaped game board  22 . Puzzle pieces in the form of pegs  24  can be inserted and removed from the depressions  26 , which are holes in this embodiment, during the play of the puzzle. In the illustrated embodiments of  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the depressions  16  and  26  can be in the form of cylindrical holes formed by, for example, a drill bit, and the pegs are generally shaped to fit into and out of the cylindrical holes. In an embodiment, a puzzle piece in the general shape and form of a golf tee can be used as a peg. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3    there is shown a puzzle  30  having a double diamond-shaped pattern of depressions  36  on a rectangular-shaped game board  32 . Puzzle pieces in the form of cylindrical pieces  34  can be inserted and removed from the depressions  36 , which are holes in this embodiment, during the play of the puzzle. Similarly,  FIG.  4    shows a puzzle  40  in the form of a cross-shaped pattern of depressions  46  on a square-shaped game board  42 . Puzzle pieces in the form of spherical-shaped marbles  44  can be inserted and removed from the depressions  46 , which are hemispherical depressions in this embodiment, during the play of the puzzle. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  5  and  6    there is shown a representative example use of a puzzle, in this case the puzzle  10  as depicted in  FIG.  1   . As shown in  FIG.  5   , during a representative play of the puzzle a first peg  14 A can be removed from its depression  16  and moved to an open depression  16 A. In doing so, first peg  14 A “jumps” second peg  14 B as indicated by the arrow A 1 . Second peg  14 B is removed from the board  12  and set aside, as indicated by the arrow A 2 . Over the course of the play of the puzzle  10 , eventually most, if not all (or, if solved, all but one), of the pieces  14  are removed from the board  12  and set aside as indicated by the group of second pegs  14 B in  FIG.  6   . In one or more embodiments, one or more of the removed second pegs  14 B can be lost, misplaced, be dispersed, or otherwise be the cause of a lack of continued use of the puzzle  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  7    there is shown an example embodiment of a dual-board puzzle  100 . The illustrated embodiment of  FIG.  7    is shown as being an improvement of the puzzle  10  of FIGS.  1 ,  5  and  6 . However, the illustrated embodiment is not to be limited only to the shape and design shown; the description herein can apply to any of the types of puzzle involving a game board and pieces of the types described, such as shown in  FIGS.  2 ,  3 , and  4   , in which certain of the pieces are intended to be removed from the board during play. The dual-board puzzle  100  has a first puzzle board portion  102  and a second puzzle board portion  104 . In an embodiment, the first puzzle board portion  102  and the second puzzle board portion  104  can be identical in size and shape, that is, they can be mirror images. In an embodiment, the first puzzle board portion  102  and the second puzzle board portion  104  can be unitary and distinguished by an imaginary plane  110  dividing the dual-board puzzle  100  into substantially identical or very similar halves. In an embodiment, the first puzzle board portion  102  and the second puzzle board portion  104  can be separate members and can be joined at, hinged about, or otherwise manipulated about the imaginary plane  110 . For example, in an embodiment, the first puzzle board portion  102  and the second puzzle board portion  104  can be joined by a hinge  111  about the imaginary plane  110  and can be folded together, such that, when not in use, first puzzle board portion  102  would form a top portion and second puzzle board portion  104  would form a bottom portion and the two portions can be folded together into a compact unit. 
     In an embodiment, one of or both the first puzzle board portion  102  and the second puzzle board portion  104  can have a compartment  118  on a bottom surface  105  thereof in which to store the puzzle pieces. In an embodiment, wherein the first puzzle board portion  102  and the second puzzle board portion  104  are a unitary piece, only one of the first puzzle board portion  102  and the second puzzle board portion  104  has a compartment  118  on a bottom surface  105 , such as shown in  FIG.  11   . In such an embodiment, the compartment  118  has a complementary piece  119  which is closeably securable to the compartment  118  to allow for safe storage of the puzzle pieces when puzzle pieces are located with said compartment. In an embodiment, wherein the first puzzle board portion  102  and the second puzzle board portion  104  are separate pieces, both the first puzzle board portion  102  and the second puzzle board portion  104  contain compartments  118  on a bottom surface  105 , such as shown in  FIG.  9   . In such an embodiment, when the first puzzle board portion  102  and the second puzzle board portion  104  are folded together such as shown in  FIG.  10   , the compartments  118  of each portion match up to contain the puzzle pieces such that a complementary piece is not needed. 
     The dual-board puzzle  100  has at least twice as many depressions because the first puzzle board  102  has first depressions  112  on a top surface  103  and the second puzzle board  104  has second depressions  116  on a top surface  103 . Therefore, the dual-board puzzle  100  has at least twice as many depressions as needed to play the puzzle on one of the first puzzle board portion  102  or the second puzzle board portion  104 . As shown in  FIG.  7   , for example, the puzzle can be played to completion utilizing only the first depressions  112  of the first puzzle board portion  102 . The second depressions  116  of the second puzzle board portion  104  are not necessary for movement of each of the pieces  114  in an effort to complete the puzzle on the first puzzle board portion  102 . However, the second depressions  116  can be utilized to receive the “jumped” and removed second pieces  114 B during play to avoid the situation in which each of the “jumped” pieces second pieces  114 B must be laid aside outside of the dual-board puzzle  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG.  8    there is shown a method of use of a representative dual-board puzzle  100  in which the “jumped” pieces, such as  114 B are not laid aside outside of the puzzle and subject to loss. Because the dual-board puzzle  100  has at least twice as many depressions as needed to play the puzzle on one of the first puzzle board portion  102  or the second puzzle board portion  104 , the puzzle pieces  114  need not be laid loosely aside during play but rather can be placed in any unused depression on the portion of the dual-board puzzle  100  not currently being used for the puzzle. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  8   , puzzle play on the first game board portion  102  is in progress. Before the start of the play all the game pieces  114  are set up appropriately to the puzzle in the first depressions  112  of the first game board portion  102 . As play progresses “jumped” pieces, rather than laid aside outside of the puzzle, are moved to any one of the open depressions  116  of the second game board portion  104 . For example, as indicated, a first piece  114 A can move from a first depression  112 A to a second depression  112 B of the first game board portion  102  as shown by the arrow A 3 . The jumped piece  114 B is removed and moved to a depression  116 A of the second game board portion  104 , as shown by the arrow A 4 . Likewise, a second piece  114 C can move from a first depression  112 A to a second depression  112 B of the first game board portion  102  as shown by the arrow A 5 . The jumped piece  114 D is removed and moved to a depression  116 A of the second game board  104 , as shown by the arrow A 6 . 
     As can be understood, in the method of use of the dual-board puzzle  100  all of the game pieces  114  removed from a first game board portion  102  of the dual-board puzzle  100  can be placed in a depression of a second game board portion  104  of the dual-board puzzle  100 . In this manner none of the removed game pieces  114  are rendered loose and susceptible to loss. Moreover, once the puzzle is finished on the first game board portion  102  the puzzle pieces  114  are set up for immediate play from the second game board portion  104 . That is, there is no need to gather up loose pieces from the first puzzle play and insert them again for another play. They are, by nature of the structure and method of dual-board puzzle  100 , already set up for play. 
     The foregoing description of embodiments and examples has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. For example, the dual-board puzzle can be utilized in puzzles that start with all the pegs in either of the dual patterns and as each is removed can be placed in the empty pattern, or, alternatively, in puzzles that start with the pattern of the puzzle being worked on empty with the goal to add all the pegs to the duplicate pattern. Thus, it is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the forms described. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above teachings. Some of those modifications have been discussed, and others will be understood by those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best illustrate principles of various embodiments as are suited to particular uses contemplated. The scope is, of course, not limited to the examples set forth herein, but can be employed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art. Rather it is hereby intended the scope of the invention to be defined by the claims appended hereto.