Abstract:
According to an embodiment, there is provided herein a word search-type puzzle in which the hidden words are arranged in such a way as to form a shape or image within the matrix that contains the hidden words. In an embodiment, after the words have been located and circled or otherwise visually identified, the image will be apparent. According to an embodiment, a theme or theme word will be selected that describes or relates in some way to the image that is revealed when the puzzle is solved by highlighting the hidden words.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention pertains to games and puzzles and, more particularly, to word search-type puzzles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A word search puzzle, often referred to as a “word find,” “word seek,” “word sleuth,” or “mystery word puzzle” is a task or game that consists of an arrangement of letters, termed a “matrix” for purposes of this application, in which some number of words are hidden. Conventionally, the words may occur within the matrix either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The goal of the user is to find all of the hidden words. When this task is undertaken with a printed matrix of letters, the user would typically signify that a word has been found by circling the letters that form that word. There are many variations of this game, including those in which the separate list of the hidden words, sometimes called a “word bank”, is provided (or not), where the matrix is rectangular (or not), etc. According to Wikipedia, the first word seek game may actually have been published in about 1968, so this game does not have a very long history. 
         [0003]    There are innumerable variations of the hidden word search puzzle, as a quick search of the Internet or perusal of a published collection of such puzzles will quickly reveal. In fact, the instant inventor, who was nine years old at the time the invention was conceived and reduced to practice, had played a number of such word puzzle games and felt that they could be improved in such a way as to make them ore interesting, challenging, and educational. 
         [0004]    Although many millions of these puzzles are sold every year or accessed via the Internet, there is room for innovation in this field. For example, the word search remains underutilized as an educational tool and, if a variation of this game could be adapted to be used in that regard, it would be a fun and familiar way to expedite the learning process. 
         [0005]    Further, because of its wide availability, the conventional word search-type puzzle has lost its challenge and/or attractiveness for some users. Thus, an innovation in this field would have the potential to draw users back into this game genre who might have abandoned it for alternative and less familiar word games. 
         [0006]    As is well known in the game and puzzle arts, there has been a need for some time for a system and method that provides a fresh approach to the presentation of word search-type puzzles. Accordingly, it should now be recognized, as was recognized by the present inventor, that there exists, and has existed for some time, a very real need for a method of further improving the classic word search puzzle that would address and solve the above-described problems. 
         [0007]    Before proceeding to a description of the present invention, however, it should be noted and remembered that the description of the invention which follows, together with the accompanying drawings, should not be construed as limiting the invention to the examples (or embodiments) shown and described. This is so because those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be able to devise other forms of this invention within the ambit of the appended claims. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    According to an embodiment, there is provided a word search-type puzzle in which the hidden words are arranged in such a way as to form an identifiable shape or image within the matrix, where the shape or image is comprised of the words that have been located and circled or otherwise visually identified by a user. According to an embodiment, a theme or theme word may be selected by the developer of the word search that describes or relates in some way to the shape or image that is revealed when the puzzle is solved by highlighting the hidden words. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, this theme or theme word will be revealed to the user in advance of attempting a solution. In other embodiments, the theme or theme word will be part of the solution, e.g., after the puzzle is solved, the user will be asked to identify the subject that has been revealed through his or her efforts. In some embodiments, the words that are hidden within the matrix will be presented to the user in tabular form outside of the matrix so as to give the user some help in identifying them. In other embodiments, the solution words will not be provided and the user will be required to find them without such assistance. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, where the theme or theme word is amenable to it, some or all of the hidden words that form the theme shape or image will be situated within a part of the matrix that roughly corresponds to that placement of that word within the shape (e.g., if the hidden image is a “house,” the hidden word “roof” will appear in the matrix in a position that roughly corresponds to the roof of the hidden shapes of the house). 
         [0011]    Other embodiments and variations are certainly possible within the scope of the instant invention and can readily be formulated by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the disclosure herein. 
         [0012]    The foregoing has outlined in broad terms the more important features of the invention disclosed herein so that the detailed description that follows may be more clearly understood, and so that the contribution of the instant inventor to the art may be better appreciated. The instant invention is not to be limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various other ways not specifically enumerated herein. Finally, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting, unless the specification specifically so limits the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    These and further aspects of the invention are described in detail in the following examples and accompanying drawings. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  contains an embodiment of the invention in which the solution of the matrix reveals that the theme is a “house”. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  contains a prior art example of a solved conventional word search puzzle showing random placement of the same words as used in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  contains results of a recall test using an embodiment of the inventive puzzle as compared with a traditional random word search puzzle. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  contains test results of time-to-completion for an embodiment of the inventive puzzle versus a traditional random word search. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , there is provided an embodiment of a word search game or puzzle wherein completion of the puzzle reveals pattern or image that is related to or associated with a predetermined theme or theme word. As can be seen in this example, an embodiment utilizes a rectangular matrix  100  of letters in which certain words have been hidden. In the example of  FIG. 1  the solution has been completed for purpose of illustration but, of course, in practice it would be the user&#39;s task to find and highlight the hidden words. Note in this particular case, solution of the puzzle has revealed the image of a “house” which was the designated theme. 
         [0019]    As can be seen in the example of  FIG. 1 , in this particular case the user has been provided with a listing of the hidden words  110  in a word bank to assist him or her locating them within the matrix  100 . Clearly, some variations of the instant invention might not provide assistance in this regard but instead require the user to search out and highlight the hidden words themselves. 
         [0020]    Examining  FIG. 1  in greater detail, note that, in this embodiment, the word “sun” is located in the upper right hand corner above the image of the house, which might correspond graphically in a general way to where the image of the sun might appear in drawing of a house. In addition, on the left margin of the matrix, the word “cloud” appears in a vertical orientation, which is another element that would typically appear above the image of the house in an actual image. Note that this configuration, i.e., where the hidden words are to the extent possible spatially arranged within the letter matrix in a location that is proximate to where that element might be found in an actual drawing of the themed item, is one possible variation of the invention. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the user might be provided with the theme (e.g., “house” in  FIG. 1 ) in advance of beginning the solution. Obviously, providing the theme or the theme word to the user would assist them in locating the hidden words. If the theme is generally known, finding one part or edge of the hidden shape would make it easier to identify the other hidden words: in some cases tracing out the remaining edges of the shape or image could be used to find words rather than brute force search. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, and as is generally indicated in  FIG. 1 , some or all of the words that are imbedded in the matrix might be presented to the user in the form of a list  110  outside of the matrix. Obviously, this would be optional and under the control of the game designer. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the matrix that contains the hidden words might be a shape other than rectangular. For example, it might be cast in the shape of a circle, a pentagon, or any arbitrary shape. In other embodiments, letters in certain areas of the matrix might be arranged differently than the letters in other areas to facilitate the use of more complex shapes or images as the puzzle solution. For example, rather than simple horizontal and vertical placement, letters in the matrix or in certain areas of the matrix might be presented in an arcuate, circular or other non-linear form. 
         [0024]    For purposes of comparison,  FIG. 2  contains a conventional word search that has the target words configured in random orientations within the matrix  200  as is typically done with such puzzles. It should be clear that a word search of the sort taught herein would enhance the playability and motivate the user to discover the hidden shape or image in the matrix, thereby resulting in more of such puzzles being attempted and completed. As is sometimes provided, in  FIG. 2  the user has been provided with a listing of the hidden words  210 . As used in the claims, the term “pattern” is used to generally refer to any shape or image representing, reflecting or otherwise related to or associated with the theme or theme word of the puzzle. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the user will be asked to determine the theme or theme word as part of the puzzle solution. In such an embodiment, the user might be provided with a response area that has the number of letters that are associated with the theme word or words. As an example, in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , a response area  120  that comprises five dashes in which the user would be expected to write the word “house” has been provided. 
         [0026]    According to an embodiment, the inventive word search could be used to help teach students a foreign language or English as a second language. In such a case, the words that are searched for could be words that the instructor desires the students to learn which relate in some manner to a pattern embedded in the matrix. Additionally, the theme or theme word could be a word or phrase in the language being taught, thereby further enhancing the learning experience. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments the matrix will be presented to the user in the form of a display screen of the sort that might be found on a desk top computer, laptop computer, table computer, smart phone, book reader, etc. For purposes of the instant disclosure, the term “computer display” will be broadly be interpreted to include any and all of the foregoing and variations thereof. The selection process might utilize a mouse, a track ball, a stylus, or the user&#39;s finger if the display is touch sensitive. 
         [0028]    Note that the word searches formed according to the methods taught herein can be shown to be superior to prior art puzzles in that users are able to complete themed searches quicker and have improved recall as compared with conventional word searches.  FIGS. 3 and 4  support these conclusions. These figures contain the test results obtained from groups of users older and younger than 12 years of age who were asked to complete the exercises of  FIGS. 1 and/or 2 . In  FIG. 3 , each subject was asked to recall the hidden words after a period of rest. The value that is reported corresponds to the number of words that were correctly recalled.  FIG. 4  contains a bar chart that illustrates the number of seconds required to complete a themed search and a randomly oriented (prior art) search of the sorts presented in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0029]    As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the number words that could be recalled after completing a word search according to an embodiment was higher than could be recalled where the words presented were not from a themed matrix. This suggests that if the goal is to teach a collection of words (e.g., in a language class) a themed word search could prove to be useful. 
         [0030]    Additionally, and as expected, the time to complete the randomly oriented word search was longer than average time to complete the word search created according to an embodiment ( FIG. 4 ). Clearly, having the advantage of searching for a recognizable shape or image within the matrix confers a clear benefit in terms of completion time and recall. 
         [0031]    Although word searches are typically configured with words along vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines, in some embodiments, other shapes might be used (e.g., arcuate, piece-wise linear/stair step, etc.). Use of words arranged in this these sorts of configurations would be helpful where the hidden image corresponding to them cannot readily be illustrated using only straight lines. 
         [0032]    Finally, note that the word “matrix” as used herein should be broadly construed to include rectangular arrangements of letters in which the theme words are embedded as well as non-rectangular arrangements (e.g., where the letters that hide the theme words are arranged in the shape of an animal, a familiar object, etc.). 
         [0033]    It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers. 
         [0034]    If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. 
         [0035]    It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a” or “an” element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element. 
         [0036]    It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. 
         [0037]    Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described. 
         [0038]    Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks. 
         [0039]    The term “method” may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs. 
         [0040]    The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. Terms of approximation (e.g., “about”, “substantially”, “approximately”, etc.) should be interpreted according to their ordinary and customary meanings as used in the associated art unless indicated otherwise. Absent a specific definition and absent ordinary and customary usage in the associated art, such terms should be interpreted to be ±10% of the base value. 
         [0041]    Where a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number)”, this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 should be interpreted to mean a range whose lower limit is 25 and whose upper limit is 100. Additionally, it should be noted that where a range is given, every possible subrange or interval within that range is also specifically intended unless the context indicates to the contrary. For example, if the specification indicates a range of 25 to 100 such range is also intended to include subranges such as 26-100, 27-100, etc., 25-99, 25-98, etc., as well as any other possible combination of lower and upper values within the stated range, e.g., 33-47, 60-97, 41-45, 28-96, etc. Note that integer range values have been used in this paragraph for purposes of illustration only and decimal and fractional values (e.g., 46.7-91.3) should also be understood to be intended as possible subrange endpoints unless specifically excluded. 
         [0042]    It should be noted that where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where context excludes that possibility), and the method can also include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all of the defined steps (except where context excludes that possibility). 
         [0043]    Further, it should be noted that terms of approximation (e.g., “about”, “substantially”, “approximately”, etc.) are to be interpreted according to their ordinary and customary meanings as used in the associated art unless indicated otherwise herein. Absent a specific definition within this disclosure, and absent ordinary and customary usage in the associated art, such terms should be interpreted to be plus or minus 10% of the base value. 
         [0044]    Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While the inventive device has been described and illustrated herein by reference to certain preferred embodiments in relation to the drawings attached thereto, various changes and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made therein by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit of the inventive concept the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.