Patent Publication Number: US-7591469-B2

Title: Diagramless crossword puzzle helper

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to crossword puzzles and, more particularly, to a crossword puzzle grid having a reference mark, symmetric coordinates, or both to facilitate solving or composing a word puzzle game. 
     Standard American crossword puzzles include a grid and puzzle clues. The grid may vary in size, usually 9×9 squares up to 25×25 squares. The difficulty of the crossword puzzle typically increases with increasing number of squares. The grid typically includes numbered squares that each designate where the puzzle-solver is to begin entering a particular answer to a puzzle clue and one or more black squares between answers. 
     One challenging crossword puzzle variation utilizes a “diagramless” grid. A “diagramless” grid does not include numbers to indicate to a puzzle-solver where to begin entering each answer, nor does the “diagramless” grid include the black squares. Instead, the puzzle-solver determines the answers, the number of squares required for the answer, the location of the answers, and the location of each separator between answers. A “diagramless” crossword puzzle is considerably more difficult than a standard American puzzle because of the added complexity of determining the locations of the answers and spacer squares in the grid. 
     Accordingly, a grid having a reference mark that visually aids the puzzle-solver in identifying locations in the grid is needed. This invention addresses those needs and provides enhanced capabilities while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A word puzzle game includes a grid of blank answer spaces for entering a first answer to a first puzzle clue in a first space and a second answer to a second puzzle clue in a second space. A reference mark for visually aiding a user of the word puzzle game relates the first space to the second space. 
     In one example, the reference mark includes a colored symmetric pattern that is rotationally symmetric about a midpoint of the grid of blank answer spaces. The symmetric pattern includes colored shapes that are rotationally symmetric with respect to the central axis. 
     In another example, the reference mark includes symmetric coordinates for identifying grid locations within the grid of blank answer spaces. The coordinates of symmetric answer spaces are equal to each other to provide a visual relationship between the symmetrically located answer spaces. 
     One example method of determining a location of symmetrically located space on a crossword puzzle game board includes establishing a location of a first space in a grid of blank answer spaces, associating the location of the first space with a reference mark, and determining a location in the grid of the symmetrically located space based upon the association of the location of the first space with the reference mark. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawing that accompanies the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of an example word puzzle grid having a reference mark. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic view of an example strategy for solving a word puzzle game using a word puzzle grid having a reference mark. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates an example method of determining a location of a symmetrically located space on a word puzzle game. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic view of another embodiment of an example word puzzle grid having a reference mark. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic view of a third embodiment of an example word puzzle grid having symmetric coordinates. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic view of another embodiment of an example word puzzle grid having a reference mark and symmetric coordinates. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example word puzzle game grid  20  displayed on a gaming surface  21 , such as a game board in a newspaper, a puzzle book, an electronic screen, an erasable surface, inlaid surface, or other gaming surface. The example grid  20  is of the “diagramless” variety. The term “diagramless” as used in this disclosure refers to a type of word puzzle and method for playing the word puzzle, as will be described in more detail below. 
     In the illustrated example, the grid  20  size is 15×15 spaces (in this example, squares), although other grid sizes such as, but not limited to, 9×9 to 25×25 spaces or rectangular grids could also be used. A vertical center column  22  and a horizontal row  24  define four quadrants of the grid  20 , quadrant I, quadrant II, quadrant III, and quadrant IV. A color key  26  is included with the grid  20  to distinguish color for a black and white version of the grid  20 , although in full color examples the color key  26  is not needed. 
     In the illustrated example, the grid  20  includes blank answer spaces  28  for solving or composing a “diagramless” crossword puzzle using a set of puzzle clues. In one example, the set of puzzle clues need not be supplied with the grid  20 . One advantage of the grid  20  is that it may be used (and reused if made erasable) with sets of puzzle clues from a variety of different sources, such as newspapers, magazines, or other sources for example. 
     A “diagramless” crossword puzzle is considerably more difficult and complex compared to a standard American crossword puzzle because a puzzle user determines the locations of the answers in the grid  20 . One example strategy includes using a symmetry that is associated with the set of puzzle clues to determine the locations of answer spaces in the grid  20 . Many sets of puzzle clues are known to utilize rotational symmetry for example. Rotational symmetry as used in this description refers to an object (puzzle, pattern, figure, etc.) that, if rotated 180°, looks identical to the object before it was rotated. If the puzzle user knows of this symmetry (e.g. the puzzle user is familiar with rotational symmetry and its use in crossword puzzle games), he can solve a first puzzle clue and enter the answer in a first answer space to determine the symmetric location of a second answer space of an unsolved, second puzzle clue in the grid  20 . 
     The grid  20  includes a reference mark  32  that provides the benefit of helping the user identify rotationally symmetric locations on the grid  20 . In the example shown, the reference mark  32  includes a pattern  34  within the grid  20 . The pattern  34  is formed by coloring, highlighting, shading or accenting groups  36  of blank grid answer spaces  28  into crosses  38 , boxes  40 , and rectangles  42 , for example. In the illustrated example, the pattern  34  is rotationally symmetrical such that the pattern  34  is identical to itself if rotated 180° about a midpoint P of the grid  20 . That is, the groups  36  in quadrant I are identical to the pattern  34  of groups  36  in quadrant IV if quadrant I is rotated 180° with respect to a central axis A, as indicated by a direction of rotation R. Similarly, quadrant II is rotationally symmetric to quadrant III. The symmetry of the pattern  34  visually links locations of the blank grid answer spaces  28  in quadrant I to corresponding symmetric locations of blank grid answer spaces  28  in quadrant IV and locations in quadrant II to corresponding symmetric locations in quadrant III. 
     In one example strategy of solving a “diagramless” puzzle using rotational symmetry, a user encounters a first across puzzle clue (e.g. “Chicago football animal”). As illustrated in the example in  FIG. 2  and by the method  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the user then determines the answer and enters the answer in a first answer space  30  at the top left of the grid  20 , left to right (e.g. the word “BEAR”). In the illustrated example, the first answer space  30  includes four blank answer spaces  28 . The user can be reasonably assured that this is the correct starting location for the first across clue because most sets of puzzle clues are designed to begin in this location. 
     Once the first across answer is entered, the user identifies a spacer Z that separates the first across answer from the next across answer, as is known for common sets of puzzle clues. In the example shown, the spacer Z is a square, however, other example sets of puzzle clues may utilize a vertical line or other type of spacer instead of a square to separate the answers. In the example shown, the user shades the spacer Z to provide visual separation between the answers. 
     The user now uses the pattern  34  to determine the location of a second across puzzle clue. In the illustrated example, the user has entered the answer to the first across answer clue in the first answer space  30  and has identified the spacer Z in quadrant I. The user now desires to identify a symmetric, second answer space  43 . The user knows (e.g. because of his familiarity with rotational symmetry) that the second answer space  43  will be somewhere in quadrant IV. The user establishes the exact location of the spacer Z by visually associating the spacer Z with the pattern  34  in quadrant I. In one example, the user may note that the spacer Z is between a blue rectangle  44   a  and a yellow rectangle  44   b  in quadrant I. The user determines the location of a symmetric spacer Z′ by looking between a blue rectangle  44   a ′ and yellow rectangle  44   b ′ in quadrant IV. The shapes and colors of the groups  36  in the pattern  34  provide a visual relationship between the corresponding symmetric spacers Z and Z′. 
     Once the user has determined the location of the symmetric spacer Z′, he shades the spacer Z′ to provide visual separation between answers. In the illustrated example, the second answer space  43  ends at the bottom right of the grid  20 . The user may be reasonably assured that the second answer space  43  is for a last across puzzle clue of the set of puzzle clues because most crossword puzzles end in the bottom right. The user then solves the last across puzzle clue (e.g. “Jungle king”) and enters the answer (“LION”) in the second answer space  43 . The user then proceeds to complete the puzzle in the above-described manner (i.e., by solving and entering additional puzzle clues, determining the locations of symmetrically located unsolved puzzle clues, and solving and entering the symmetrically located puzzle clues) for example. 
     The pattern  34  of the example reference mark  32  therefore provides the benefit of eliminating at least some confusion and complexity in locating symmetrically located answer spaces and spacers, and thus, the reference mark  32  facilitates solving or composing a word game puzzle. 
       FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the grid  20  having another example reference mark  32  that includes pictures, such as artwork, corporate logos, advertising slogans or other types of reference marks. In the illustrated example, the reference mark  32  includes pictures of a first bear  46  in quadrant I, a second bear  48  in quadrant IV, a first whale  50  in quadrant II, and a second whale  52  in quadrant III. As described above for the example reference mark  32  of  FIG. 1 , the pictures shown in this example are rotationally symmetric with respect to the midpoint P of the grid  20 . Given this description, those of ordinary skill in the art will be able to select appropriate reference marks to meet their particular needs. 
     The symmetry of the bears  46 ,  48  and whales  50 ,  52  visually links locations of the blank answer spaces  28  in quadrant I to corresponding symmetric locations of blank answer spaces  28  in quadrant IV and locations in quadrant II to corresponding symmetric locations in quadrant III. In the illustrated example, a user has already identified several spacers  53  and the corresponding symmetric spacers  53 ′ by entering answers to puzzle clues. The user has identified spacer W in quadrant I after the answer “TUG” and now desires to identify a symmetric spacer W′ in quadrant IV. The user associates the location of the spacer W with a portion of the picture of the first bear  46  (e.g. the right eye of the first bear  46 ). The user then visually determines the location of the symmetric spacer W′ by looking for the right eye of the second bear  48  in quadrant IV. The right eye portions of the bears  46 ,  48  provide a visual relationship between the corresponding symmetric spacers W and W′. 
     In one example, this feature may be beneficial in eliminating at least some confusion and complexity in locating symmetrically located answer spaces and spacers when the user desires to locate answer spaces and spacers near a middle portion  54  of the grid  20  (e.g. not at a perimeter  56  of the grid  20 ) as the user progresses through the set of puzzle clues. Thus, the reference mark  32  facilitates solving or composing a word game puzzle. 
       FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of the grid  20  including a reference mark  32  having a symmetric coordinate system  70  for associating locations of the blank answer spaces  28  in quadrant I to corresponding symmetric locations of blank answer spaces  28  in quadrant IV and locations in quadrant II to corresponding symmetric locations in quadrant III. The example of  FIG. 3  does not include a pattern  34 , however, the coordinate system  70  may be used in combination with a pattern  34  to further facilitate locating symmetric spaces. 
     The coordinate system  70  includes top and bottom horizontal coordinates  72 , 74  and left and right vertical coordinates  76 ,  78 . In the illustrated example, the coordinates include numbers, although letters, symbols, and combinations thereof could also be used. The top and bottom horizontal coordinates  72  and  74  include the number “0” designating the vertical center column  22  and numbers “1” through “7” designating columns of the quadrants. The left and right vertical coordinates  76  and  78  include the number “0” designating the horizontal center row  24  and numbers “1” through “7” designating rows in each quadrant. 
     In one example, the numbers “1” through “7” across the top of quadrant I, down the left side of quadrant I, across the bottom of quadrant IV, up the right side of quadrant IV are colored red. The numbers “1” through “7” across the top of quadrant II, down the right side of quadrant II, across the bottom of quadrant III, up the left side of quadrant III are colored black. This feature provides the benefit of indicating which portions of the coordinate system  70  are to be used in each particular quadrant and provides a visual relationship between quadrants I and IV and quadrants II and III. That is, red and black colors indicate a symmetric relationship between quadrants I and IV and quadrants II and III, respectively. 
     The columns and rows of the grid  20  are numbered such that symmetrically located spaces have equal coordinates. In the illustrated example, a user has identified a spacer Y in quadrant II by entering several answers (“RUMBLE” and “BOX”) and desires to find a symmetric spacer Y′ in quadrant III. The spacer Y has a horizontal coordinate of “3” and a vertical coordinate of “7” using the portions of the coordinate system  70  that are adjacent to outer sides  80  of quadrant II. The symmetrically located spacer Y′ in quadrant III has a horizontal coordinate of “3” and a vertical coordinate of “7” using the portions of the coordinate system  70  that are adjacent to outer sides  82  of quadrant III. The coordinates of spacer Y are therefore “3, 7” and the coordinates of the spacer Y′ are therefore “3, 7,” wherein the first coordinate is the horizontal coordinate. The coordinates of the spacer Y are equal to the coordinates of the symmetrically located spacer Y′. The equal coordinates between the spacers Y and Y′ provide a visual relationship between corresponding symmetric locations in the grid  20 . 
     The symmetric coordinate system  70  therefore provides the benefit of eliminating at least some confusion and complexity in locating symmetrically located answer spaces and spacers. Thus, the reference mark  32  facilitates solving or composing a word puzzle game. 
       FIG. 5  shows another example of the coordinate system  70  including numbered top and bottom horizontal coordinates  72  and  74 , respectively. In the illustrated example, the top horizontal coordinates  72  are numbered “1” through “23” from left to right and the bottom horizontal coordinates  74  are numbered “23” through “1” from left to right. The “12” is circled to designate the vertical center column  22 , although the “12” could alternatively be colored or include other designations to indicate the vertical center column  22 . The left vertical coordinates  76  are lettered “a” through “w” from top to bottom and the right vertical coordinates  78  are lettered “w” through “a” from top to bottom. The letter “l” is circled to designate the horizontal center row  24 . In one example, the symmetric spacers X and X′ have identical coordinates (i.e. “5, d”). 
     In the illustrated example, a blank answer space  84  in the grid  20  includes a number “12” to indicate to a user that the across and down answers associated with “12” are to be entered beginning in that square. In other examples, additional blank answer spaces  28  (but not more than the number of puzzle clues) may also include numbers to further aid the user. 
     In the illustrated example, the spacer  86  located at “17, b” is pre-designated instead of having the user reveal its location by entering answers. The pre-designated spacer  86  corresponds to a particular set of puzzle clues such that knowing the location may provide the benefit of helping the user solve the puzzle. In other examples, additional blank answer spaces  28  (but less than the total number of spacers for the particular set of puzzle clues) may be pre-designated spacers. 
     A grid  20 , such as the 23×23 squares grid  20  shown in  FIG. 5 , provides the benefit of numerous, different-sized puzzles in a single gaming surface  21 . A 23×23 grid  20  can be used to solve or compose 23×23 “diagramless” crossword puzzles. A 23×23 grid  20  can also be used to solve or compose smaller puzzles, for example a 17×17 puzzle or rectangular-shaped grids within the grid  20 . The 23×23 grid  20  includes a 17×17 grid, as illustrated by the outline  88 . In the example shown, the pattern  34  and coordinate system  70  can be used to locate symmetric spaces in the grid  20  for 23×23 puzzles, 17×17 puzzles, and puzzles of all sizes within the 23×23 grid  20 . 
     Given this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize the versatility and applicability of the disclosure for his particular needs. Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.