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  Apparatus and method for constructing number puzzlesUSPTO Application #: 20070108701Title: Apparatus and method for constructing number puzzles Abstract: An apparatus and method for constructing the two-dimensional five-number puzzle is provided wherein the twenty-five cubes, each with numbered indicia from “1” to “5”, are positionable in a five-times-five relationship grid that forms twenty-five square recesses arranged in five horizontal and five vertical rows intersecting each other, and a plurality of pattern cards can be chosen and positioned as the puzzle's background pattern that divides the five-times-five grid into five sections with three color indicia. The object of the game is to arrange the cubes so that the numerical indicia whereon are unique from “1” to “5” horizontally, vertically, as well as in each section, and the color indicia match those indicia of each section on the pattern card. (end of abstract) Agent: Keren Gu - Gaithersburg, MD, US Inventors: Keren Gu, Forrest Zitong Zhang USPTO Applicaton #: 20070108701 - Class: 27315300R (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070108701. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS [0001] TABLE-US-00001 6378866 April 2002 Graham-Ward 273/153 5649703 July, 1997 Kanbar 273/157 4583742 April 1986 Slinn 273/260. 4568082 February 1986 Musolino 273/157. 4548410 October 1985 Morrone 273/153 4494756 January 1985 Winer 273/156 4418915 December 1983 Calebs 273/159 4257609 March 1981 Squibbs 273/241 4216964 August 1980 Gans 273/153 4040630 August 1977 Brattain 273/157 3966209 June 1976 Gambardellla 273/153 3633913 January 1972 Solimene 273/153 FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to game and puzzles devices. Specifically, the present invention relates to a device for number puzzle and associated methods of using this device to construct number puzzles. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] There are many inventions on number puzzle games, but most of them are either too complicated to play, or too inconvenient to reset, such as having to lookup the some references or instructions. Also, the sizes of the prior arts are either too big to carry around in travel or the like, or have too many pieces to play with. The well-known SuDoKu number puzzle, which became world-wide popular, shows such shortages, wherein the puzzle setting-up has to refer to a complex-computed puzzle from a booklet, meanwhile a player has to either use pencil and paper, or operate eighty-nine pieces elements on a large game board. [0004] A wide variety of puzzles devices is currently available on the commercial market and an even larger number of these types of devices are known in the art of puzzle devices, for example, the puzzle disclosed by Thurston in U.S. Pat. No. 490,689; the puzzle disclosed by Brown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,532,875; the puzzle disclosed by Haswell in U.S. Pat. No. 1,558,165; the puzzle disclosed by Clark in U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,180; the color match board game disclosed by Rowbal in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,952; the matching puzzle with multiple solutions disclosed by Vogeler in U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,749; the twelve-sided polygon tile game and method of playing in U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,151; and the combined puzzle and container therefore in U.S. Pat. No. D353,167. [0005] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,445, an educational game for playing a game of skill and judgment, the game comprising, at least one game board divided into a plurality of rows and columns of four in number, a plurality of numbered tokens for placing at each of the sixteen spaces defined on the game board by the rows and columns, each of said game boards having a numerical solution, the solution being as obtained by addition of the numbered tokens on the board after all spaces are filled, the addition being in any desired direction of any four of the tokens in abutting relationship or in squares. In playing the game, numerical tokens are selected and placed on the game board until all spaces on each player's board are filled, the object of the game being to obtain the correct solution indicated for that particular game. Optionally, random number selector means may be used to select the order of playing the numbered tokens. [0006] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,964, a number puzzle comprises a playing board having a planar surface with an odd number of squares arranged horizontally and vertically intersecting each other on the playing board, and a plurality of playing elements with each element having a different numbered indicia thereon. The elements being arrangeable on the squares of the playing board to satisfy a predetermined value which is defined by the arithmetical equations so that when the plurality of elements are properly positioned on the squares, the sum of the numbered indicia on the elements on each of the horizontal and vertical rows is equal to the predetermined value in accordance with the arithmetical equations. [0007] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,410, a number puzzle comprises a series of nine tiles, number from "1" to "9" in seriatim are arrangeable in a three-times-three relationship and slidably disposed one recess of a housing, with the housing having an auxiliary recess to accommodate one of the tiles so as to slidably move the other tiles. The object of the game is to arrange the tiles so that when the numbers are added horizontally, vertically or diagonally, the sum is "15". [0008] In U.S. Pat. No. 490,689, another two dimensional type puzzle is shown which discloses a two dimensional puzzle played with a playing board or box and individual tablets each of which contain a plurality of numerical indicia and a plurality of color indicia thereon. The various tablets are assembled within the box so that the number and color indicia appearing along each edge or quadrant of the tablets will match a corresponding set of indicia on the adjacent tablet. Thus, this reference simply teaches a matching type game in which no arithmetic solutions are provided, the numbers and colors simply serving as objects to be matched. A somewhat similar puzzle that also teaches a matching type solution is shown in British Patent Specification No. 173,588. [0009] In summary, many conventional number puzzles, being either too difficult or too easy to solve for the average person, do not provide the personal reward or satisfaction that a person seeks in such puzzles. The present invention is designed for player's convenience. A two-dimensional five-times-five relationship square grid, which forms twenty-five square recesses arranged in five horizontal and five vertical rows intersecting each other, developed as an apparatus primarily for the purpose of providing a means for holding, laying, placing, positioning, and scattering number-indicia cubes, and a means for laying, inserting, swapping and matching the pattern cards that is set as background pattern of the puzzle playing surface, so that numerical indicia on each five cubes in the grid are unique horizontally, vertically and within each section of the background pattern, and the color indicia of the cubes match the background pattern's color indicia. This game also provides different levels of challenge, so that players at different ages can choose their own levels from the easiest to the most challenging. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The principal object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and methods for players' easily constructing number puzzles themselves in accordance with three simply rules specified in this invention, without referring to any complex formulas, equations, or booklets. [0011] Another object is to provide a number puzzle that is in hand-held mode and simple to play, readily to be carried and operated by a player during travel or the like, and economical in cost to manufacture. [0012] Another object is to provide a number puzzle that can be reset without requiring complex and numerous rules and instructions. [0013] Another object is to provide a number puzzle that is amusing and fascinating for either adults or young kids with different levels of challenge. The Methods of Constructing the Puzzle [0014] Firstly, select the five startup cubes in such a way that [0015] a) Each cube has a unique number; [0016] b) Only one cube is with central background color indicia; [0017] c) Two cubes are with the first background color indicia and the other two cubes with the second background color indicia, or four cubes are with the same color indicia; [0018] Secondly, place the cube with central color indicia into the center square recess of grid, and randomly place the rest of four cubes into the recesses in such a way that each pair of cubes with the same color indicia having 180-degree rotational symmetry about a central point of said grid center; [0019] Thirdly, select one pattern card that can match the color indicia of the startup cubes in the grid and insert it into the pattern card slot as the puzzle background pattern, and arrange rest of twenty cubes to match the playing background color pattern, and flip the blank side of each of twenty cubes at the surface of the grid. The Rules of Playing the Game [0020] The five cubes with startup color indicia are initially scattered and positioned into the puzzle's playing surface, the five-times-five grid, in accordance with the methods described in the present invention, and they can not be moved, replaced, nor flipped over during the game. [0021] In order to achieve the game's object, the rest of twenty cubes are rearranged and flipped over in the playing grid, displaying the numerical indicia so that each can remain unique horizontally, vertically and within the section with its background color indicia. These cubes can be moved, replaced and flipped over during the game, and the pattern cards can also be rotated, replaced and flipped over during the game in order to solve the puzzle. Continue reading... Full patent description for Apparatus and method for constructing number puzzles Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus and method for constructing number puzzles patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Apparatus and method for constructing number puzzles or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Playing a game of chance in space Next Patent Application: Card and selection device games Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Apparatus and method for constructing number puzzles patent info. 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