Claims
- 1. An interactive puzzle, which comprises:
a plurality of distinctively shaped pieces, each of the pieces including an actuating element and being shaped or marked to symbolize a concept; a tray having a receiving surface; a plurality of sensors, each of the sensors located adjacent the receiving surface and 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; means for identifying each sensor that is actuated; and means for playing, upon actuation of each sensor, an audio response dedicated to the actuated sensor.
- 2. The puzzle of claim 1 in which the tray includes a raised edge that is sized and shaped to fit around all of the pieces, when each of the pieces is positioned against the receiving surface in the predetermined relationship.
- 3. The puzzle of claim 1 in which the audio responses include information and are selected from the group consisting of a song, a story, a poem, a character, and an object or event referenced in a nursery rhyme.
- 4. The puzzle of claim 3 in which a nursery rhyme and the audio responses include information relating to the nursery rhyme.
- 5. The puzzle of claim 1 in which a nursery rhyme and the puzzle includes an actuator for playing the nursery rhyme.
- 6. The puzzle of claim 1 in which dedicated areas of the receiving surface are demarcated adjacent each of the sensors, and each of the areas is shaped or marked to symbolize a concept.
- 7. The puzzle of claim 6 in which the pieces fit together in jigsaw fashion.
- 8. The puzzle of claim 7 in which the sensors are located at or below the receiving surface.
- 9. The puzzle of claim 8 in which the actuating elements are projections, each of the projections extending from the underside of one of the pieces respectively.
- 10. An interactive puzzle having a unifying theme, which comprises:
a plurality of distinctively shaped pieces, each of the pieces having an underside that forms a projection or a receptacle, and each of the pieces shaped or marked to symbolize a concept related to a unifying theme; a tray having a receiving surface that includes projections or receptacles, each of the tray projections or tray receptacles positioned to cooperate with one of the piece projections or piece receptacles when the piece that forms the piece projection or the piece receptacle is placed against the receiving surface in a predetermined relationship with respect to the receptacles; a plurality of sensors, each of the sensors located in or on the tray for actuating by the piece projections or the piece receptacles; means for determining whether and which one of the sensors is actuated; and means for playing, upon actuation of each of the sensors, an audio response dedicated to the actuated sensor and related to the unifying theme.
- 11. The puzzle of claim 10 in which the tray includes a raised edge sized and shaped to fit around all of the pieces, when each of the pieces is positioned against the receiving surface in the predetermined relationship.
- 12. The puzzle of claim 10 in which the audio responses include information selected from the group consisting of a song, a story, a poem, a character, and an object or event referenced in a nursery rhyme.
- 13. The puzzle of claim 12 in which the unifying theme is a nursery rhyme, and the audio responses include information relating to the nursery rhyme.
- 14. The puzzle of claim 10 in which the unifying theme is a nursery rhyme and the puzzle includes an actuator for playing the nursery rhyme.
- 15. The puzzle of claim 10 in which dedicated areas of the receiving surface are demarcated adjacent each of the tray projections or the tray receptacles, and each of the areas is shaped or marked to symbolize a concept related to the unifying theme.
- 16. The puzzle of claim 10 in which the pieces fit in jigsaw fashion.
- 17. The puzzle of claim 10 in which each of the sensors is located at or below the receiving surface in one of the tray receptacles.
- 18. An interactive puzzle, which comprises:
a plurality of distinctively shaped pieces, each of the pieces having an underside that forms a projection, each of the pieces adapted to symbolize a concept and shaped to fit with the other pieces in jigsaw fashion; one and only one undivided tray having a receiving surface and an edge sized and shaped to fit around all of the pieces when they are arranged in jigsaw fashion, the receiving surface forming a plurality of recessed receptacles, each of the receptacles positioned to receive one of the projections when the pieces are arranged in jigsaw fashion on the receiving surface; a plurality of sensors for actuation by the projections, each of the sensors located in one of the receptacles; means for determining whether and which one of the sensors is actuated; and means for playing, upon actuation of each of the sensors, an audio response dedicated to the actuated sensor and including information relating to the unifying theme.
- 19. The puzzle of claim 18 in which the information is selected from the group consisting of a song, a story, a poem, a character, and an object or event referenced in a nursery rhyme.
- 20. The puzzle of claim 18 including an actuator for playing a nursery rhyme.
- 21. The puzzle of claim 20 in which the actuator is a pushbutton switch.
- 22. The puzzle of claim 18 in which dedicated areas of the receiving surface are demarcated adjacent at least some of the receptacles, and each of the areas is shaped or marked to symbolize a concept.
- 23. The puzzle of claim 22 in which the information is selected from the group consisting of a song, a story, a poem, a character, and an or event object referenced in a nursery rhyme.
- 24. The puzzle of claim 18 in which the pieces have topsides, and at least some of the topsides are sculptured or colored to communicate the concept symbolized by the piece.
- 25. The puzzle of claim 18 in which the sensors are pushbutton switches.
- 26. The puzzle of claim 18 in which actuating one of the sensors completes an electrical circuit that is associated with that sensor.
- 27. The puzzle of claim 18 including a speaker for playing the audio responses and a microprocessor; and in which actuating each one of the sensors causes an identifiable voltage change in one of a plurality of electrical conductors and the microprocessor is capable of detecting the voltage change, determining which one of the sensors is associated with the voltage change and sending to the speaker the audio response dedicated to the associated sensor.
- 28. A method of using an interactive puzzle, which method comprises:
providing an interactive puzzle that includes
a plurality of distinctively shaped pieces, each of the pieces having an underside that forms a projection, and each of the pieces shaped or marked to symbolize a concept; a tray having a receiving surface that includes receptacles, each of the receptacles positioned to receive one of the projections when the piece that forms the projection is placed against the receiving surface in a predetermined relationship with respect to the receptacles; a plurality of sensors, each of the sensors located in one of the receptacles for actuating by the projections; and means for determining whether and which one of the sensors is actuated; and means for playing, upon actuation of each of the sensors, an audio response dedicated to the actuated sensor; and placing one of the puzzle pieces against the receiving surface in a predetermined relationship with respect to the receptacles so as to actuate the dedicated audio response.
- 29. The method of claim 28, which also comprises pressing one of the pieces against the receiving surface so as to actuate the sensor.
- 30. The method of claim 28, which also comprises fitting one of the pieces against the raised edge.
- 31. The method of claim 28, which also comprises depressing an actuator located on the puzzle to play the nursery rhyme.
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.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60359855 |
Feb 2002 |
US |