GB2210276A - Puzzle game - Google Patents

Abstract

A card comprises a word-type puzzle which is selectively revealed until a player solves the puzzle. The puzzle is divided into distinct puzzle segments each of which is covered by a coating that can be scratched to reveal the associated puzzle segment. A category clue indicating the general nature of the puzzle is concealed beneath a similar coating to be revealed at the commencement of play. The answer to the puzzle is concealed with a coating which can be scratched away when a player guesses at the solution to the puzzle. The answer is placed on a card portion which can be separated along a perforated line of weakness so that the answer is revealed. A multiplicity of cards having different puzzles are packaged as a game set which can be conveniently used by travellers or the like. <IMAGE>

Description

PUZZLE GAME The invention relates generally to games, and more specifically, to puzzle-type games in which individuals can compete to guess the solution to a puzzle.

A wide variety of word-type games are known. One such game, popular as a television show, involves solving a puzzle identifying a celebrity, a historic figure, a well known quotation or the like. A contestant guesses at his turn whether a letter is present in the puzzle, and all occurrences of the letter in the puzzle are then revealed. The contestant then has an opportunity to guess at additional letters or the solution to the puzzle. Once the contestant has erred in guessing a letter or in guessing the answer his turn ends. The game is quite popular, but does not lend itself to inexpensive reproduction as a game appropriate for home use or for use during travel where such a game made provide the traveller with some diversion.

It would be desirable to provide a word-type puzzle game which is portable, which does not involve playing pieces that might be lost during travel, which is comparatively inexpensive and essentially disposable, and which lends itself to play by two or more individuals at a time.

In one aspect, the invention provides a game in which a puzzle can be progressively revealed. The game comprises a backing member and indicia on the backing member defining the puzzle, the indicia being arranged to define distinct puzzle segments. The puzzle segments are covered with coatings, each coating concealing a different one of the puzzle segments. The coatings are formed of a material which can be conveniently removed by scratching to reveal the associated puzzle segment.

In another aspect, the invention provides a game card on which a puzzle can be progressively revealed to players. The card has at least one line of weakness permitting separation by hand of a predetermined card portion. Indicia on the card define the puzzle, a clue indicative of the nature of the puzzle, and an answer to the puzzle. Coatings cover the puzzle segments, each coating concealing a different one of the puzzle segments and being formed of a material which can be removed by scratching. The answer is located separate from the puzzle segments on the predetermined card portion and covered with a coating which can also be removed by scratching to reveal the answer.

In a still further aspect, the invention provides a game set comprising a multiplicity of such game cards conveniently packaged for use by travellers or the like.

Other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from a description of a preferred embodiment below and will be more specifically defined in the appended claims.

The invention will be better understood with reference to drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment in which: fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game set comprising a multiplicity of game cards; fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the game cards; fig. 3 is a plan view of the game card during play with various segments of a puzzle revealed; and, fig. 4 shows the card with the puzzle and the answer completely revealed.

Reference is made to fig. 1 which illustrates a game set 10.

The game set 10 includes a multiplicity of rectangular game cards generally indicated by the reference numeral 12. Each of the cards 12 bears a unique word-type puzzle requiring a player to identify a celebrity, a historical figure, a quotation, a colloquial expression or the like.

The cards 12 are stored in packaging 14 formed of die-cut cardboard. The cardboard is bent to define a rectangular pocket 16 dimensioned to receive the game cards 12. The pocket 16 includes a wall 18 hinged for movement relative to the rest of the pocket 16 to facilitate access to the cards 12. A flap 20 associated with the wall 18 can be located in the pocket 16 over the contained game cards 12. A flap 21 hinged to the pocket 16 is formed with a tab 22 which inserts into a slit 24 formed in the wall 18 thereby securing the game set 10.

A typical game card 26 formed of cardboard is illustrated in figs. 2-4. When initially removed from the packaging 14, the puzzle and other matter associated with the card 26 is normally concealed (as in fig. 1).

In fig. 4, all such matter has been disclosed, and it will be apparent from fig.

4 that the card 26 carries printed indicia defining a puzzle 28, in this instance a famous quotation of Julius Ceasar; a category clue 30 indicating the nature of the puzzle, namely, a quotation; and an answer 32 to the puzzle, which in this particular form of the invention is simply the quotation embodied in the puzzle 28.

The puzzle 28 is divided into distinct segments. There are basically 33 such segments arranged in three rows and eleven columns. Each letter of the words constituting the quotation fall in a separate puzzle segment contained within a printed square. Other puzzle segments intended to add interest to play, according to rules outlined below, include blank spaces, stop squares, and bonus squares.

In fig. 1, each distinct puzzle segment is covered with a coating which can be removed by scratching with a fingernail, coin or the like to reveal the concealed matter. For example, a puzzle segment coating 34 in fig. 1 conceals the letter "P'. In fig. 3, the coating 34 has been partially scratched away to reveal the letter "I". The answer 32 is concealed beneath a separate coating 36 and that the category clue 30 is similarly concealed beneath a coating 38, when the game card 26 is initially removed from the packaging 14 (as in fig. 1). Such coatings are of a type conventionally used with certain lottery tickets fo conceal prizes until purchase of a ticket Their application to various backing members is conventional and will not be discussed in further detail.

The card 26 has a predetermined edge portion 40 which carries the answer 32 and the associated answer coating 36 quite separate from the puzzle 28 itself. A perforated line of weakness 42 permits the answer section to be separated by hand from the rest of the game card. An initial stage of removal of the card portion 40 along the line of weakness 42 has been indicated in fig. 1. This arrangement is particularly advantageous according to the rules of play intended for such game cards, as will become more apparent from the description below.

Two or more players may compete to solve the puzzles on the various cards in the game set 10. Each game card essentially constitutes one round of play. It will be assumed that the card 26 has in this instance been drawn from the packaging 14 for such purposes.

First, the coating 38 associated with the category clue 30 is scratched to indicate the nature of the puzzle, namely, a quotation. The card portion 40 may then be separated before play commences; however, it may alternatively be left attached until one player attempts to solve the puzzle 28.

Each player in turn scratches one puzzle segment coating. If removal of the segment coating reveals a stop square, such as the stop square 44, the player forfeits his turn immediately. If the player reveals a bonus square, such as the square 46, he can then scratch one or more additional puzzle segment coatings to further reveal the puzzle 28. If a blank square, such as the square 48, is revealed, then the player continues his turn but obtains no additional information, apart from whatever indication of word separation the blank square provides. Once the player has scratched a particular segment coating, or such additional segment coatings as may thereafter be allowed, he is permitted to attempt to solve the puzzle with the information then revealed. If the player elects not to venture an answer to the puzzle, the next player takes his turn.

If the player elects to solve the puzzle at his turn, he is then given the answer-bearing card portion 40 and he scratches the answer coating 36 to reveal the correct answer. If the player has guessed correctly, the answer 32 is then shown to the other players. If the player has guessed incorrectly he then forfeits his right to further play and the remaining players continue. Such play will continue until the answer 32 is correctly guessed or until the puzzle 28 is completely revealed. It will be appreciated that it is singularly advantageous to have the answer 32 on a separable card portion, as otherwise play would in effect be terminated when a player has incorrectly guessed an answer and revealed the answer 32.

In competitive play, a goal might be set to solve a predetermined number of puzzles. It is convenient in such circumstances to conceal the category clues associated with the cards 12, as a particular player cannot select cards from the packaging 14 which relate to a category where he has a particular strength. Also, other players cannot select cards knowing that their opponents have a weakness in given categories.

A number of advantages associated with the game set 10 should be noted. In particular, each game card contains all elements necessary for play. No additional answer card, category classification material or distinct playing pieces characteristic of many prior games are required. The rules of the game can be conveniently printed on the back of each card, if necessary. This is singularly advantageous for travellers in aircraft, trains or cars where space may be limited and jostling might upset more conventional games. Also, the game set 10 can be very inexpensively manufactured and consequently is readily disposable.

It will be appreciated that a particular embodiment of the invention has been described for purposes of illustrating the principles inherent in the invention, and that modifications may be made therein without necessarily departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. For example, the invention should not be regarded as being restricted to word-type games where letters of words are progressively revealed. It is fully within the ambit of the invention to provide puzzle segments identifying objects or the like such that the answer section does not at all resemble the puzzle segments provided. Additionally, even in a word-type puzzle, there is no need for the answer to correspond to precisely the puzzle itself. For example, the answer might be the name of a celebrity and each puzzle segment might be a series of words identifying the celebrity's birth date, place of birth, profession, and various events in his life.

Claims (20)

1. A game in which a puzzle can be progressively revealed, comprising: a backing member; indicia on the back member defining the puzzle, the indicia being arranged to define distinct puzzle segments; and, coatings covering the puzzle segments, each coating concealing a different one of the puzzle segments and being formed of a material which can be removed by scratching to reveal the associated puzzle segment.

2. A game as claimed in claim 1 in which the puzzle comprises a plurality of words, each letter of the words being covered by a different one of the coatings.

3. A game as claimed in claim 1 comprising indicia on the backing member defining a clue indicative of the nature of the puzzle.

4. A game as claimed in claim 3 comprising a coating covering the clue and formed of a material which can be removed by scratching to reveal the clue.

5. A game as claimed in claim 1 comprising indicia defining the answer to the puzzle, and a coating covering the answer and formed of a material which can be removed by scratching to reveal the answer.

6. A game as claimed in claimS in which the backing member comprises at least one line of weakness permitting separation by hand of a predetermined portion of the backing member, the answer being located on the predetermined portion of the backing member.

7. A game as claimed in claim 1 for use by two or more players who take turns revealing one of the puzzle segments and have an opportunity at each turn to provide the answer to the puzzle, in which the puzzle comprises at least one puzzle segment indicating that a player is to forfeit his turn.

8. A game as claimed in claim 1 for use by two or more players who take turns revealing one of the puzzle segments and have an opportunity at each turn to provide the answer to the puzzle, in which the puzzle comprises at least one puzzle segment indicating that a player is entitled to scratch the coating covering at least one other puzzle segment.

9. A game in which a puzzle can be progressively revealed, comprising: a card having at least one line of weakness permitting separation by hand of a predetermined card portion; indicia on the card defining the puzzle, the indicia being arranged to define distinct puzzle segments; indicia on the card defining a clue indicative of the nature of the puzzle; indicia defining an answer to the puzzle, the indicia being separate from the puzzle segments and located on the predetermined card portion; coatings covering the puzzle segments, each of the coatings concealing a different one of the puzzle segments and being formed of a material which can be removed by scratching to reveal the associated puzzle segment; and, a coating covering the answer and formed of a material which can be removed by scratching to reveal the answer.

10. A game as claimed in claim 9 in which the puzzle comprises a plurality of words, each letter of the words being covered by a different one of the puzzle segment coatings.

11. A game as claimed in claim 9 for use by two or more players who take turns revealing one of the puzzle segments and have an opportunity at each turn to provide the answer to the puzzle, in which the puzzle comprises at least one puzzle segment indicating that a player is to forfeit his turn.

12. A game as claimed in claim 9 for use by two or more players who take turns revealing one of the puzzle segments and who have an opportunity at each turn to provide the answer to the puzzle, in which the puzzle comprises at least one puzzle segment indicating that a player is entitled to scratch the coating covering at least one other puzzle segment

13. A game as claimed in claim 8 comprising a coating covering the clue and formed of a material which can be removed by scratching to reveal the clue.

14. A game set permitting two or more players to compete at solving puzzles, comprising: a multiplicity of cards, each card having a. at least one line of weakness permitting separation by hand of a predetermined card portion, b. indicia defining a unique puzzle, the indicia being arranged to define distinct puzzle segments; c. indicia defining a clue indicative of the nature of the puzzle; d. indicia defining an answer to the puzzle, the indicia being separate from the puzzle segments and located on the predetermined card portion, e. coatings covering the puzzle segments, each coating concealing a different one of the puzzle segments and being formed of a material which can be removed by scratching to reveal the associated puzzle segment, and f. a coating covering the answer and formed of a material which can be removed by scratching to reveal the answer; packaging means for storing the multiplicity of cards.

15. A game set as claimed in claim 13 in which each of the puzzles comprises a plurality of words, each letter of the words being covered by a different one of the puzzle segment coatings associated with the puzzle.

16. A game set as claimed in claim 13 for play in which for each puzzle the two or more players take turns revealing one of the puzzle segments and have an opportunity at each turn to provide the answer to the puzzle, in which each puzzle comprises at least one puzzle segment indicating that a player is to forfeit his turn.

17. A game set as claimed in claim 13 for play in which for each puzzle the two or more players take turns revealing one of the puzzle segments and have an opportunity at each turn to provide the answer to the puzzle in which each puzzle comprises at least one puzzle segment indicating that a player is entitled to scratch the coating covering at least one other puzzle segment.

18. A game set as claimed in claim 13 in which each card comprises a coating covering the clue associated with the card and formed of a material which can be removed by scratching to reveal the clue.

19. A game set as claimed in claim 13 in which the packaging means comprise a unitary cardboard member folded to define a pocket for containing the multiplicity of cards, a flap hinged to the pocket for closing the pocket, a slit formed in the pocket, and a tab attached to the flap and insertable into the slit.

20. A game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.