Patent Application
20110084446
This invention relates to word puzzle and word search game.
Word search and scrabble are common board games in the prior art. In the word search, alphabets are set and arranged, whereas in scrabble players draw alphabet tiles at random to form words. There are variations to these games in the way the alphabet tiles are drawn or rules to make up words. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,945 to Porcheddu; U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,065 to Mokskin; U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,854 to McCarey; U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,468 to Challice; U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,467 to Dimming. In most cases, the game setting is static. In others, the outcome of such games depends on luck as well as on skills.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,267,341
A method of playing a game. More than one tableau spaces are provided, and a group of letters are provided arranged in a random sequence corresponding to each tableau space, wherein the letters available for play are the endmost letters. Words or beginning of words are formed by rearranging the endmost letters of the sequences, wherein the words or beginning of words are formed by the endmost letters of each sequence such that the last letter of the sequence is the last letter of the word or the last letter of the beginning of the word, and wherein the endmost letter of a sequence may be moved onto the endmost letter of another sequence if a word or the beginning of a word is formed on the other sequence, or more than one of the endmost letters may be moved onto the endmost letter of another sequence if the endmost letters are the beginning of a word or if a word or the beginning of a word is formed on the other sequence. Words formed from the endmost letters of the sequences are removed.
Word Forming Board Game with Lettered Tiles
U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,868
A method of playing a word forming game for two to four players utilizing a game board marked off in a grid pattern. There are a plurality of tiles, equally distributed between the players, having various letters imprinted thereon. Such game board having the word CHANGIT reading left to right disposed on tiles in a center of the game board to begin the game. The goal of the game being to get rid of a persons tiles before the other players get rid of theirs by changing words and forming new words.
Word Search Based Board Game with Directional Tiles
U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,561
A word search based game including a playing surface divided into individual playing cells and a plurality of both alphanumeric playing and directional instruction tiles. The alphanumeric tiles are placed on the playing surface in a manner to form word following a word search format, that is to say words may be forwards or backwards, vertically, horizontally or diagonally and do not necessarily have to form words with every alphanumeric playing tile that happens to be adjacent on the board to the played alphanumeric playing tiles. Directional instruction tiles are of the same size, shape and color as the alphanumeric playing tiles so that they may be drawn at random with alphanumeric playing tiles, but indicate a desired direction in which to form a word and a bonus multiplier if a word follows said direction. Also provided are a plurality of category cards, one drawn at the start of a game, to provide a scoring bonus to words formed which meet the category. The game is adaptable to both a traditional board game format and a computerized format.
Word Forming Board Game with Rotatable Two Level Board and Chance Device
U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,150
A word game assembly for play by two or more players includes for each player a play grid of horizontal and vertical rows of adjacent areas and a supply of alphabetical letter designating play pieces receivable on the grid areas in a competitive attempt to form words. A player operated random selector and indicator device, such as a spinnable top having side facets marked with different symbols, is used to determine the nature and procedure of play for effecting a series of plays. For instance, each player may select play pieces and place them on an associated play grid to form words in dependence upon the indicated random selection resulting from the spin of the top. In one embodiment of the word game assembly, a portion of the play grid is rotatable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,394
A game for forming words upon a board to entertain and educate players. The inventive device and method includes a board for stimulating various crossword puzzle configurations upon which a plurality of tiles can be positioned to form words. The method of playing includes forming original and altered words upon the board. Score is kept during the game with the player having the highest score or the player covering the last one of a predetermined number and configuration of spaces on the board being declared the winner.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages discussed in the commonly known word games, this invention provides players with thinking challenges and dynamic variations of settings in the game. Players have to study and monitor combined effect of changing locations of alphabet and background alphabets. There is a high degree of interactivity and dynamic change of settings in the game. Word clues would dictate and challenge players for an absolute solution for each puzzle. The level of complexity of a puzzle could be easily raised geometrically by increasing dimensions of the surface grid. This game is also highly educational for building vocabulary of specific topics. It is also highly entertaining for group activities in area of interests such as movies, celebrities, poems or quotes.
A distinct advantage of this game is that the alphabets in the game could be of any country, and therefore could be played anywhere in the world in the language of the players.
It is inexpensive to put the invention on paper or on board. The game could also be played with 3 dimensional geometric models. These models are robust and simple to construct. They are ideal for children and travellers.
The rules of the game are simple and systematic to be programmed by computer. With technology today, the game is easily simulated on computer and conveniently downloaded to popular electronic and telecommunicating devices.
Reference will now be made to
According to other embodiments of the invention as shown in
The game could be simulated by computer.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.
