Patent Application
20210001208
The present disclosure relates to sudoku board games. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to a method of playing sudoku using a self-contained magnetic sudoku board with various sized color-coded magnets to assist a player.
sudoku has been around for years. This logic-based number placement puzzle can be found in the hands of the old and the young due to its popularity. sudoku consists of a 9×9 grid where each row, column, and 3×3 grid box must contain the numbers 1-9 without repeating. It can be a challenging and stimulating puzzle that focuses the mind and provides an escape from everyday activity. sudoku can also help the elderly with their memory and help the youth increase their logic skills. sudoku games are usually found in print, which can be a puzzle book, newspaper, or magazine. This form of the game is readily accessible to many age groups.
However, there are many downsides to playing sudoku on a printed form. It is inevitable that constant erasing will occur when using a printed sudoku puzzle. Accordingly, this leads to a messy, smudged playing surface that is hard to read, and can lead a user to frustration. Further, it is difficult for many individuals to hold a pencil and write, due to age, illness, or other disability. Further, the only way to verify accuracy is to tediously review each column and row for numbers. This can make it difficult to know whether you have used a certain number in a row, column, or 3×3 grid box, unless the numbers are continually checked. Once you have solved the sudoku puzzle on a paper form, it cannot be reused.
Other forms of the game can be found on various electronic devices, such as apps on handheld devices (e.g., phones, tablets) or sudoku handheld gaming devices. Electronic devices are convenient due to their availability. They also remove the burden of having to erase pencil marks after a mistake has been made. Even though electronic devices solve a lot of the issues that come from paper versions of the game, there are still downsides to using an electronic device. For example, the elderly may have a difficult time playing due to the limited size of a device screen and difficulty understanding and manipulating touchscreen technology. Additionally, a user must rely on number review alone to ensure correct placement. This leads the player to, again like the paper form, continually check for repeated numbers.
Accordingly, there is a need for a sudoku board that does not have to use a writing instrument, stays clean, can be repeatedly used, that is color-coded to assist the player, and does not require an electronic device. The present disclosure seeks to solve these and other problems.
In one embodiment, a magnetic sudoku board comprises a housing, a closeable lid, and an inner playing surface. The inner playing surface comprises gridlines to form the magnetic sudoku board. A front side comprises the closeable lid that can open and close. In one embodiment, the closeable lid comprises a metal underplate positioned so as to hold and store magnetic playing pieces.
In one embodiment, the magnetic sudoku board comprises an assortment of magnetic playing pieces with a large set and a small set. Each playing piece is coupled to a magnet so that they magnetically couple to the metal underplate and an inner playing surface. The assortment of playing pieces, both the large set and small set, may be in various colors and have certain numbers, from 1-9, associated with a specific color.
In one embodiment, a sudoku puzzle book tells the player where certain numbers are located in the puzzle gridlines to assist the player. As the player finds these predetermined numbers from the sudoku puzzle book, the player places an indicator magnet in the designated number grid square. A large playing piece, with the designated number, is then placed in or over the indicator magnets. However, indicator magnets are not required, and a user may simply arrange the large playing pieces directly on the board when consulting the puzzle book.
In one embodiment, a magnetic sudoku board comprises an outer playing surface. The outer playing surface is recessed on a backside and is exposed. The outer playing surface can be used for many other games, such as checkers, chess, scrabble, etc.
In one embodiment, a magnetic sudoku board comprises two hinged doors, a first front hinge door and an opposite front hinge door. Both doors cover the entirety of the magnetic sudoku board. The two hinged doors comprise two metal door plates, a first metal door plate and a second metal door plate, that can act as a storage area for an assortment of magnetic playing pieces.
In one embodiment, a method of playing sudoku comprises determining the location of a predetermined assisting number from a sudoku puzzle book and placing an indicator magnet in the location. As the user begins the game, the user places the first set of small pieces in a certain row, column, or small 3×3 grid box to signal a possible answer. Only when a correct answer is known does the player place the second set of larger pieces, either by replacing the small piece or placing the large piece directly over the small piece. Then the player goes to the next move.
The following descriptions depict only example embodiments and are not to be considered limiting in scope. Any reference herein to “the invention” is not intended to restrict or limit the invention to exact features or steps of any one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification. References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” and the like, may indicate that the embodiment(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
Reference to the drawings is done throughout the disclosure using various numbers. The numbers used are for the convenience of the drafter only and the absence of numbers in an apparent sequence should not be considered limiting and does not imply that additional parts of that particular embodiment exist. Numbering patterns from one embodiment to the other need not imply that each embodiment has similar parts, although it may.
Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Unless otherwise expressly defined herein, such terms are intended to be given their broad, ordinary, and customary meaning not inconsistent with that applicable in the relevant industry and without restriction to any specific embodiment hereinafter described. As used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. When used herein to join a list of items, the term “or” denotes at least one of the items but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. For exemplary methods or processes, the sequence and/or arrangement of steps described herein are illustrative and not restrictive.
It should be understood that the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence, arrangement, or with any particular graphics or interface. Indeed, the steps of the disclosed processes or methods generally may be carried out in various sequences and arrangements while still falling within the scope of the present invention.
The term “coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous, and are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including, but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to,” etc.).
As previously discussed, there is a need for a sudoku board that does not have to use a writing instrument, stays clean, can be repeatedly used, that is color-coded to assist the player, and does not require an electronic device. The present disclosure seeks to solve these and other problems.
Sudoku is played by many people for entertainment, mental stimulation, and many other reasons. Generally, sudoku puzzles in the art are difficult for the elderly to use. Usually, these difficulties arise from the paper form of the game being small, making them difficult to see. Further, not only does the size of the typical sudoku puzzle pose difficulties for the elderly, but writing and constant erasing can be difficult for not only the elderly, but for other players. Individuals may have physical challenges that will not allow them to hold a writing instrument or even use a digital version of the game, leading to many individuals not being able to play sudoku to pass time or to keep their minds sharp.
In contrast, the magnetic sudoku board described herein comprises an assortment of magnetic playing pieces with a large set and a small set. The large set and small set aid children, elderly, and all other ages in completing a sudoku puzzle. The large set and the small set may be color-coded, or a specific shape/design, and numbered so that the small set will match the large set. To play sudoku using the magnetic sudoku board, a user would place a small piece on a square when the player is unsure of their move. When the user determines that move to be correct, the user would replace the small playing piece with a large playing piece of the same color or design (or couple the large piece to the small piece). The visual indication of the assortment of magnetic playing pieces may help a user more easily determine the position of each number from 1-9 due to the color or design. In fact, a user may not need to use the numbers on the assortment of playing pieces and may just use the nine different colors or shapes to determine each move on the board. Further, the assortment of playing pieces may further comprise beveled edges to assist children or the elderly in removing the pieces from the magnetic board. It will be appreciated that the magnetic sudoku board provides an easy way to play the game of sudoku for children, elderly, or others based on the magnetic playing pieces being visually distinct and having an accessible beveled edge.
In one embodiment, as shown in
It will be appreciated that the magnetic sudoku board 100 is a self-contained game due to the closeable lid 104. The assortment of playing pieces 114 can be magnetically coupled to either the inner playing surface 106 or the metal underplate 112, which creates a secure location for the assortment of playing pieces 114 and can prevent loss.
The inner playing surface 106 is held in a recessed position by the housing 102, which can be made of wood, metal, or any other suitable material. Furthermore, the inner playing surface 106 can be made of a ferromagnetic material, such as iron, nickel, or steel, so that any magnet can be magnetically coupled thereto. However, it will be appreciated that other surface materials may be used for the inner playing surface 106 (e.g., hook and loop or felt), with an assortment of playing pieces 114 that have a coupling device appropriate to the inner playing surface 106. To secure the inner playing surface 106 in a recessed position, many coupling mechanisms may be used, such as grooves cut on the inside of the housing 102 (e.g., tongue and groove coupling), or locking tabs or other protrusions protruding from the housing. The inner playing surface 106 can also comprise gridlines 118 to form the playing surface. Additionally, the gridlines 118 can be painted lines, magnetic strips, indentations in the metal, or any other means of forming gridlines 118. As the gridlines 118 are formed, the assortment of magnetic playing pieces 114 can be attached and detached in an individual grid square 120.
In one embodiment, the magnetic sudoku board comprises a magnetic playing surface without a housing. The magnetic playing surface may be stored in a traditional game board box, if desired. In another embodiment, the magnetic playing surface comprises a recessed underside for storage of the pieces thereon, with no box or housing required.
In one embodiment, the magnetic sudoku board 100 comprises an assortment of magnetic playing pieces 114 (best shown in
Various non-limiting examples of using colors, numbers, and shapes for the large and small sets are shown in the following tables:
Because each number has a corresponding shape or color, a user may very easily determine if the same number has been used more than once in any given row or column by simply looking for repeated shapes or colors, rather than focusing on individual numbers. Because shapes and colors are easier to identify, children and the elderly can more easily find and determine playing mistakes. It also helps individuals play who may otherwise lack the mental cognizance required to play traditional sudoku which requires the player to study numbers. It will be appreciated that the assortment of playing pieces 114, with their different shapes or colors, is a vast improvement over the prior art when it comes to assisting the player in visualizing the correct puzzle formation.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the magnetic sudoku board comprises indicator magnets placed within certain grid squares. The indicator magnets are smaller than the size of the grid square so that they fit properly within a grid square. The indicator magnets are shown as white squares, but they can come in other colors and shapes (e.g., a blue star). In addition, the indicator magnets can have an aperture to receive the bases of the large set. A sudoku puzzle book tells the player where certain numbers are located in the puzzle gridlines to assist the player. As the player finds these predetermined numbers from the sudoku puzzle book, the player places the indicator magnet in the designated number grid square. A large piece 126, with the designated number, is then placed in or over the indicator magnet. In an alternative embodiment, indicator magnets are not required, and user may place a large piece 126 directly on the board.
It will be understood that the magnetic sudoku board 100 is used in conjunction with a sudoku puzzle book, whether in a printed form or digital. It will be appreciated that the magnetic sudoku board 100 solves many issues in the prior art because it can be reused numerous times, while other sudoku boards can only be used once. The magnetic sudoku board 100 can also come in a variety of sizes, including, but not limited to, compact travel sizes or large sizes for the elderly. In addition, there are not messes or smudges when using magnets in a small or large sized game, which are generally found on paper forms of the puzzle. Often, elderly individuals lack the dexterity required for both traditional sudoku and electronic sudoku. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the use of physical pieces reduces the need for dexterity and allows the player to easily move the pieces from location to location. Further, colored pieces allow for users to more easily determine when a piece has been properly placed or not, removing the need to tediously review the numbers in each square.
In one embodiment, a magnetic sudoku board comprises an outer playing surface. The outer playing surface is recessed on a backside and may remain exposed. The outer playing surface can be used for many games, such as checkers, chess, scrabble, etc.
In one embodiment, a method of playing sudoku comprises using a sudoku puzzle book to initiate a game. The player then places a small piece 128 in a certain row, column, or small 3×3 grid box to signal a possible answer. Only when a correct answer is known does the player place a large piece 126. Then the player goes to the next move.
More specifically and as shown in
Exemplary embodiments are described above. No element, act, or instruction used in this description should be construed as important, necessary, critical, or essential unless explicitly described as such. Although only a few of the exemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in these exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages herein. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/871,029, filed on Jul. 5, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62871029 | Jul 2019 | US |
