Abstract:
The invention provides an interactive, electronic, puzzle for amusing and creatively stimulating children. The interactive puzzle includes a tray that accepts puzzle pieces. Each of the puzzle pieces is shaped or marked to correspond to a concept in a unifying theme, such as a nursery rhyme. The tray includes sensors that cooperate with actuators located on the undersides of the puzzle pieces. When a puzzle piece is oriented properly in the tray, the puzzle piece actuates a predetermined sensor to trigger a predetermined audio response as a reward. The audio response can be a song, a story, a poem, a character, an object or an event referenced in a nursery rhyme.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 60/359,855, filed Feb. 27, 2002, and U.S. traditional patent application Ser. No. 10/334,641, filed Dec. 31, 2002. Both of these applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety and, specifically, for their teachings regarding interactive puzzles. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to educational toys. More specifically, the invention relates to a puzzle for assembly by children and to interactive electronic learning devices.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The importance of a child&#39;s first learning experiences can hardly be overstated. In many cases, a child is initially exposed to poetry, literature and song in the form of nursery rhymes. For centuries, nursery rhymes have been a mainstay of preschool and primary education. Nursery rhymes have traditionally been passed to each new generation by tedious oral repetition, and each new generation has initially learned them by rote. The nursery rhyme provides a unifying theme for various words and concepts, which the child may commit to memory.  
           [0004]    Children love to hear the same story, rhyme or song over and over, and they benefit from serial repetition. Parents and other caregivers tire easily of this repetition, but traditionally have endured the tedium so as to be present at those moments when the child is susceptible to more advanced learning. A need exists for a learning device that assists very young children to learn nursery rhymes and to establish a correspondence between the words of the nursery rhymes and the concepts represented by the words.  
           [0005]    Puzzles with pieces that fit into corresponding trays may be employed to teach themes, such as nursery rhymes, and such puzzles have been previously publicized. However, very young children do not typically possess the motor skills to place each piece in a corresponding tray.  
           [0006]    Electronic jigsaw puzzles may be utilized as learning devices, but jigsaw puzzles do not emphasize the importance of any particular piece or concept in a larger theme. Additionally, the rather complicated process of solving an entire jigsaw puzzle can take longer than the attention span of young children will permit. This shortcoming is exacerbated by electronic jigsaw puzzles that require the child to complete the entire puzzle in order to receive a reward.  
           [0007]    Consequently, a need exists for an interactive educational toy that makes it fun for a child to learn nursery rhymes, songs or other subjects or unifying themes and that helps the child understand their meaning. The new toy should include enough information to challenge the child. The new toy should focus the child&#39;s attention on the nursery rhyme, song or other theme and reward the child immediately when he or she correctly identifies a concept related to the theme. It would be desirable for the new toy to engage the child with simultaneous sight, sound and tactile experiences to stimulate the child&#39;s memory and promote recall of the learned information.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The invention is an interactive, electronic puzzle that makes it fun for a child to learn information by memorization and to understand the meaning of the information. The puzzle includes distinctively-shaped puzzle pieces including actuating elements, a form-fitting puzzle tray equipped with sensors, and a microprocessor for determining which sensors are actuated and for sending appropriate audio responses to a speaker. The puzzle pieces are shaped or colored to represent concepts related to a unifying theme of interest to the child. Placing each puzzle piece in its predetermined position in the tray actuates one of the sensors and triggers a dedicated audio response as a reward for the child. The audio response immediately follows correct placement of each puzzle piece. Additionally, the puzzle includes an actuator for playing a song or a story so that the child may enjoy the song or story and refresh his or her memory at any time.  
           [0009]    The invention can be played with puzzle pieces that are each shaped or marked to symbolize a concept. The sensors may be actuated, for example, by mechanical pressure, magnetism, or electrical induction. The sensors are located on or near the receiving surface. Each of the sensors is positioned for actuation by one of the actuating elements when the piece including that actuating element is placed against the receiving surface in a predetermined relationship with respect to the sensors. The interactive puzzle includes means for identifying each sensor that is actuated, such as a microprocessor that is electrically connected to the sensors. The interactive puzzle also has means for means for playing, upon actuation of each sensor, an audio response dedicated to that actuated sensor.  
           [0010]    The tray may include a raised edge that is sized and shaped to fit around all of the pieces, when each of the pieces is received by one of the receptacles and positioned against the receiving surface in the predetermined relationship. The audio responses may include information that is related to the unifying theme, which may be a song, a story, a poem, a fictional character, or an object or event. Areas may be marked on the receiving surface in the shape of particular puzzle pieces to assist the child in finding the predetermined positions for the puzzle pieces.  
           [0011]    In another form of the invention, the tray has a raised edge that is sized and shaped to fit around all of the puzzle pieces when they are arranged in jigsaw fashion. The puzzle pieces have topsides, and at least some of the topsides are sculptured or colored to communicate a concept related to a unifying theme, such as a song, a story or a nursery rhyme. The sensors are pushbutton switches. The microprocessor includes a microchip that is capable of sensing voltage changes that occur when the sensors are actuated. Various audio responses can be sent by the microprocessor to the speaker, depending on which of the sensors is actuated.  
           [0012]    The invention is also a method for using the interactive puzzle. In the method, a child or other user places one of the puzzle pieces against the receiving surface in its predetermined position with respect to the receptacles. The child may fit the puzzle pieces against the raised edge of the tray as a guide and may compare the shapes of the demarcated areas with the shapes of the puzzle pieces in order to determine where each of the puzzle pieces belongs. Pressing the puzzle piece against the receiving surface while the puzzle piece is in its predetermined position actuates the corresponding sensor and triggers an appropriate audio response, which, where desired, may relate to a unifying theme. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a plan view of an interactive electronic puzzle of the present invention, including puzzle pieces and a tray;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the puzzle depicted in FIG. 1, showing the puzzle pieces and the tray mounted on a base;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tray of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a plan view of two of the puzzle pieces depicted in FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing projections formed by the undersides of the puzzle pieces depicted in FIG. 4;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a perspective view depicting the tray and base unfastened from each other and separated to illustrate internal components;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a close-up, partial perspective view of the base, including several sensors in assembled form and one sensor in disassembled form;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a close-up, partial perspective view of the base, including a microprocessor and a microchip; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a close-up partial perspective view of the base depicting the actuator in disassembled form. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    In a preferred embodiment, the invention is an interactive, electronic puzzle  10  for amusing and creatively stimulating children. As depicted in FIG. 1, puzzle  10  includes puzzle pieces  20  corresponding to particular concepts in a unifying theme or motif that helps the child to associate and understand the concepts. For puzzle  10 , the disclosed unifying theme is a nursery rhyme entitled “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Other nursery rhymes suitable for use in the invention include, for example, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”; “Mary Had a Little Lamb”; “Jack and Jill Went Up the Hill”; “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”; and “Old McDonald Had a Farm,” to name just a few.  
         [0023]    Beginning at the top of puzzle  10  and continuing in a clockwise direction, particular puzzle pieces  20  are shown corresponding to a spider web, the sun, water, flowers, a spider, the fragrance of flowers, a puddle and rain. These are concepts referenced in “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Puzzle  10  also includes an interactive tray  30  and an actuator  60  for playing the nursery rhyme.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 depicts tray  30  with raised edge  34 , which is sized and shaped to fit around all of the puzzle pieces  20  when they are arranged in predetermined positions with respect to each other. Actuator  60  is located on tray  30  and outside of edge  34 . Tray  30  is mounted on base  70 .  
         [0025]    Turning now to FIG. 3, recessed receptacles  40  are positioned at irregular intervals along receiving surface  32 . Receptacles  40  are located at or below receiving surface  32 . Each of the receptacles  40  houses a sensor  50  for actuating by one of the projections  26  (best seen in FIG. 5). Adjacent each of the sensors  50  is a demarcated area  36  having the same shape as one of the puzzle pieces  20 . The child may use the areas  36  as guides for determining which of the puzzle pieces  20  corresponds to the adjacent sensor  50 .  
         [0026]    In other embodiments (not shown) of the present invention, tray projections are positioned along a receiving surface, for cooperating with piece receptacles on each of a plurality of puzzle pieces.  
         [0027]    Comparing FIGS. 1 and 3, puzzle pieces  20  are shaped to mate with each other in a predetermined arrangement having a shape and size appropriate to fit inside raised edge  34 . When one of the puzzle pieces  20  is placed in its predetermined position with respect to receptacles  40  and pressed against receiving surface  34 , projection  26  of that puzzle piece  20  enters the appropriate receptacle  40  and actuates the sensor  50  within the receptacle.  
         [0028]    In other embodiments (not shown), it is contemplated that each of a plurality of puzzle pieces contains an actuating element for cooperation with a sensor located in or on a tray. In those embodiments (not shown), the actuating elements may actuate the sensors by mechanical pressure, magnetism, or electrical voltage or current.  
         [0029]    Preferably, each of the puzzle pieces  20  has a boundary surface that fits against raised edge  34  while its projection  26  is in the corresponding receptacle  40  that can trigger an appropriate audio response. This fit between raised edge  34  and each of puzzle pieces  20  makes puzzle  10  easier to solve and reduces the number of false positive audio responses. Although it may be possible to insert one of the puzzle pieces  20  into more than one of the receptacles  40 , even a very young child soon comes to appreciate that each puzzle piece  20  fits with raised edge  34  in the predetermined position. For the present purposes, puzzle pieces  20  are fitted together in jigsaw fashion when all of the puzzle pieces  20  are placed in their predetermined positions with respect to each other.  
         [0030]    Each piece  20  is shaped or marked to symbolize a concept related to the unifying theme. For example, the puzzle pieces  20  depicted in FIG. 4 symbolize the sun and The Itsy Bitsy Spider, respectively. Each of these puzzle pieces  20  has a top side that is sculptured and colored to reflect the symbolized concept, which relates to the unifying theme. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the puzzle pieces  20  includes an underside that forms a projection  26  for inserting into one of the receptacles  40 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 shows tray  30  separated from base  70  in order to illustrate various internal components. Base  70  includes battery compartment  72 , preferably sized for housing three 1.5-volt AA-size batteries (not shown), and speaker  74 , each electrically connected to microprocessor  90 . Additionally, electrical conductors  80  electrically connect each of the sensors  50  and actuator  60  to microprocessor  90 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 is a close-up view of base  70 , which depicts several of the sensors  50 , inserted in receptacles  40  and electrically connected to an electrical conductor  80 . One of the sensors  50  is disassembled, showing that it includes a mounting board  52 , a pushbutton switch  54  and a pushbutton  56 . When sensor  50  is assembled, depressing pushbutton  56  causes pushbutton switch  54  to close a normally open electrical contact, which produces an identifiable voltage change in one of the electrical conductors  80 . Microprocessor  90  is capable of detecting this change in voltage and determining which one of the sensors  50  has produced the voltage change. Based on the voltage change, microprocessor  90  sends to speaker  74  an audio response appropriate for the particular sensor  50 . As a result, the child is immediately rewarded by this audio response for his or her part in depressing pushbutton  56 .  
         [0033]    Microprocessor  90  is depicted in FIG. 8, which is another close-up perspective view of base  70 . Microprocessor  90  includes microchip  92  seated on a chip carrier and electrically connected to, among other things, electrical conductors  80 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 is another close-up perspective view of base  70 , this time depicting actuator  60  in disassembled form. As can be seen in FIG. 9, actuator  60  includes mounting board  62 , pushbutton switch  64  and pushbutton  60 . A direct current voltage from the batteries (not shown) is impressed on each of the electrical conductors  80 . Each of the sensors  50  include a pushbutton switch  54  having a normally open contact (not shown). One side of the contact is electrically connected to one of the electrical conductors  80 . The other side of the contact is electrically connected to a ground. Microprocessor  90  monitors the voltage between each of the electrical conductors  80  and the ground. At least one of these voltages changes when one of the sensors  50  is activated. Based on this change in voltage, microprocessor  90  sends a recorded message or other audio response to speaker  74 . The audio response is appropriate for the concept associated with the particular sensor  50 .  
         [0035]    In order to use the interactive puzzle of the present invention, a child places one of the puzzle pieces against the receiving surface in its predetermined position with respect to the receptacles. The child may fit the puzzle pieces against the raised edge of the tray as a guide and compare the shapes of the demarcated areas with the shapes of the puzzle pieces in order to determine where each of the puzzle pieces belongs. Pressing the puzzle piece against the receiving surface while the puzzle piece is in its predetermined position actuates the corresponding sensor and triggers an appropriate audio response related to the unifying theme. The child may also press the actuator, which, when a unifying these (such as a nursery rhyme) is employed, causes a synopsis of the unifying theme to be played in its entirety, in order to refresh the child&#39;s memory or to simply enjoy the theme. The theme may be in the form of a song, story, poem or nursery rhyme.  
         [0036]    By solving the interactive puzzle of the invention, children learn words, songs, nursery rhymes, concepts, the relationships between the words and concepts, or other subject matter. The puzzle of this invention may be solved repeatedly, and an audio response immediately rewards each success.  
         [0037]    While only a few, preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that these embodiments may be modified and altered without departing from the central spirit and scope of the invention. The preferred embodiments described above are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.