AN INTERACTIVE PUZZLE GAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to puzzle games in general and to an interactive sudoko-based three-dimensional game, in particular.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART Numerous puzzle games are known in the art for pure entertainment and as brainteasers for enhancing cognitive skills. It is also known to use puzzle games as teaching tools for providing children with various skills in a playful manner.

The present invention is based on a Sudoku puzzle game, also known in the United States as Number Place. According to this game, a player is provided with a grid of typically 9 x 9 cells grouped into nine blocks, each containing nine cells. The blocks are separated by thicker or otherwise marked grid lines to distinguish between blocks and cells. To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every digit from 1 to 9 must appear in each of the nine vertical columns, in each of the nine horizontal rows, and in each of the 3 x 3 blocks. The puzzle is typically provided with some of the cells already filled with digits being a part of a particular solution and the player's aim is to fill all cells while obeying the above rules Playing Sudoku requires applying principles of logic including deduction, induction and reasoning. As such, the game encourages skills that are very important to develop in young children. However, although Sudoku does not require mathematical skills, in its typical form of a 9 x 9 grid, it imposes a difficulty level beyond the skill of young children. A recent Israeli patent application IL 170085, the full content of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a variety of sudoko-based games especially adapted but not limited to young children. The games disclosed in IL 170085 are implemented on a flat surface and may be provided on separate or bound sheets, or

alternatively may be implemented as a programmable computer game to be displayed on an electronic display.

In the present invention the principles of Sudoku are implemented in a three-dimensional game apparatus for facilitating additional play value and exercising different and/or additional skills.

It's therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional sudoku-based game apparatus adapted for, but not limited to, young children.

It is another object of the invention to provide an enhanced sudoku- based game apparatus which adds a further level of interest to the game and which facilitates the acquirement and exercise of various skills in a playful manner.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sudoku-based game which can be used as an educational tool for providing young children in pre- school and first schooling years with specific skills such as identifying colors, shapes, numbers, letters, animals, traffic signs and the like.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus adapted for being installed in a playground environment which involves the players in physical activity as well as in mental activity and is designed to further serve as a colorful decorative element to enhance the aesthetic appearance of its location.

Yet it is a further object of the invention to provide a soduko-based game apparatus which can be played by the blind or visually impaired.

Other advantages and benefits of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is a three-dimensional game structure adapted for playing sudoku-based puzzles. The game structure comprises an array of N x N identical rotatable objects arranged in N rows and N columns and divided by separators into N blocks, each containing N elements. The rotatable elements are having N display faces each characterized by at least one unique attribute selected from a set of N attributes. The rotatable elements are free to rotate about an axis parallel to the display faces so as to expose any of the faces to the player. The set of attributes may be selected from a set of symbols displayed on the display faces, a set of different textures or different shapes or a set of different sounds. The symbols may be selected from geometrical shapes, icons, images either imaginary or of real objects, digits and letters of various alphabets. A set of symbols may include symbols of identical shape but of different color and/or orientation or may be a set of images representing different objects belonging to a common category.

The symbols may be indented or raised tactile symbols such as Braille letters.

The game structure of the invention may be implemented in any size, including large-scale apparatus adapted for outdoor installation, a medium-size apparatus configured as a table-top game and a small-size hand-held apparatus. A further aspect of the invention is a puzzle computer program comprising a set of instructions to be executed with a computing device wherein the instructions provide for displaying on an electronic display at least one grid of N rows x N columns to form N x N cells occupied by identical three-dimensional (3D) rotatable objects wherein a rotatatble object is having ν faces, each provided with a different symbol. The cells are grouped into N blocks, each block includes N cells; Upon execution, the set of instructions enable a user to rotate any of the rotatable objects to display a particular face. Preferably the grid is of 4 x 4, 6 x 6, or 9 x 9 cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Figs. IA and IB are examples of solvable puzzle and its solution, respectively;

Fig. 2 is a frontal view of a game apparatus structured in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the game apparatus of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a rotatable cube and playing object and a locking rod in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 2, with hidden lines shown in phantom;

Fig. 5 depicts a rotatable cube of the game apparatus of Fig. 2 from four different isometric views, illustrating the four display faces of the cube; Fig. 6 shows four isometric views of an example of another embodiment of a rotatable cube, illustrating the four display faces of the cube;

Fig. 7 depicts a table-top embodiment of a game apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 8 depicts yet another embodiment of a game apparatus in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a three-dimensional interactive puzzle game, preferably directed but not limited to young children. The game is preferably distributed under the name SudoCube, but may be distributed under other names.

The game apparatus of the invention provides colorful and/or otherwise sensory stimulating logic riddles, which may provide various degrees of difficulty. Solving the riddles does not require mathematical knowledge but does require logic reasoning. In particular, the puzzles may be designed for pre- school children, providing entertainment and fun while exercising various skills such as concentration and reasoning. The game can be played by a single player or by a group of cooperating players. Moreover, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention the game apparatus is especially designed for players with visual impairments by providing the playing objects with sounds and/or interesting textures or surfaces.

The game apparatus of the invention may assume various sizes, shapes and materials. In particular, but not limited to, the game apparatus of the invention may be a relatively large-size structure adapted for being installed outdoors or indoors, in public parks, schoolyards, daycare centers and the like. However, the game apparatus of the invention may also be implemented as a small-size portable game such as an executive's table-top diversion, or a hand held apparatus small enough to be played within the interior of an automobile and the like.

The game apparatus comprises an array of N x N identical rotatable objects arranged in N rows and N columns and divided into N equal blocks. N may be 4, 6 or 9. Each of the rotatable objects is having N displaying faces and is having a free rotation of 360° about a central axis which passes through the object in parallel to the displaying faces, so as to allow each of the displaying faces to be displayed. The N displaying faces are each having at least one unique attribute selected from a family of N attributes. The attributes may be colors, graphical symbols, alphabet letters, numbers, different surface texture

and the like. In order to solve the a puzzle, the rotatable elements should be arranged so as to display in each column, each row and each block, one instance of each of the N different attributes. Preferably, an initial set of rotatable objects are locked in their positions, displaying an initial set of clues, which defines a specific solvable puzzle. The rest of the rotatable objects, namely those that are not locked, are those that need to be rotated by the player in order to solve the puzzle. The difficulty of a puzzle is determined by the number and distribution of the clues. It will be appreciated that a collection of solvable sudoku puzzles can be provided with the game apparatus. The collection of puzzles may be in the form of separate or bound instructions sheets, which carry illustrations of puzzles in the form of N x N grids having some of their cells filled with symbols. An example of such a solvable puzzle, designated 50, with a grid of 4 x 4 cells and of its solution, designated 55, are given in Figs. IA and IB, respectively. To start a game one solvable puzzle should be chosen. The clues should be copied onto the game and the objects corresponding to the cells that contain clues should be locked so that the visible face reveals the clue. These locked objects, being the "opening position" of the game, should be clearly identified, and are not allowed to be rotated in the course of the solution. Each displaying face can, in effect carry more than one attribute, thus enabling interaction with the game by players, and in particular children, with different levels of knowledge. For example the visible faces can be painted in different colors, thus enabling children who can only identify colors to play. On top of the colored faces the numerals from 1 to N can be painted or attached systematically. Thus enabling children who can already identify numbers, as well as adults, to play. Small protruding objects can be added near the numerals. One object near the numeral 1, two objects near the numeral 2, etc. An alternative arrangement of the small protruding objects can be the standard Braille symbols for the numerals, thus serving as a teaching and exercising means for children with impaired vision.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 2 to 5 depict a first embodiment of a game apparatus of the invention, generally designated 100. Apparatus 100 comprises a rectangular or square frame 10 supported in an upright position on legs 12 and divided into four sections 14 by vertical and horizontal bars 16 and 18, respectively. Sixteen identical rotatable cubes 20 are rotatably mounted on axels 30 (see Fig. 4) passing through openings 35 at the centers of top face 25 and bottom face 26 of each of cubes 20. Each one of the visible faces 21 to 24 of cube 20 carries at least one attribute selected from a set of four attributes. As best seen in Fig. 5, in accordance with embodiment 100, each of the four displaying faces 21 to 24 carries a different symbol selected from the numerals 1 to 4 and a set of a corresponding number of protruding pins. Thus, the face designated 21 carries the digit 1 and one pin 31 , the face designated 22 caries the digit 2 and a set of two pins 32, the face designated 23 carries the digit 3 and a set of three pins 33 and the face designated 24 carries the digit 4 and a set of four pins 34. The sets of protruding pins 31 to 34 allow players with visual impairment to distinguish between the different faces by feeling the cubes. Moreover, the symbols displayed on the faces may be indented or raised tactile symbols or Braille lettering, as shown for example in embodiment 100 where the numerals are raised symbols. Further in order to distinguish between the different faces and to enhance the appearance of the game, each of faces 21 to 24 is preferably painted with a different color. Thus, in accordance with this embodiment, each displaying face of the cube carries more than one unique attribute. It will be realized that the number of attributes that can be imparted to the faces of cubes 20 is inexhaustible. Symbols to be displayed on the faces of the cubes may be selected from geometrical shapes, icons, images, digits and letters. The symbols may be selected so as to teach and exercise various concepts. They may be symbols of identical shape but of different color or orientation, or may belong to a certain group or category, for example farm animals, fruits, holidays and the like.

Additional possible attributes could be the texture or shape of the display faces. For example one face can be very smooth, another can be very rough, another can be covered with fabric, and another can be covered with fur. Thus serving as a teaching and exercising means for children, including children with impaired vision, to identify, compare and remember textures. Figs. 6 is an example of a cube, designated 120, whose four faces are having a different shape as well as a different numeral symbol. Face 121 is having a flat surface, face 122 is convex, face 123 is provided with small protrusions rendering the face a distinct feeling and face 124 is concave. A further set of attributes may be different sounds emitted by each face.

The sound may be generated by electronic components installed in each face and activated by touching or pressing the face or alternatively, may be generated by simple non-electronic sources such as for example a bell, a string, a clicker and a squicker. Yet in accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the rotatable cubes may have blank faces while the game apparatus further comprises a plurality of replaceable sets of attributes and means for attaching and detaching a selected set of attributes to the blank faces. One possibility in accordance with such embodiments may be to install a receiving frame, adapted for receiving a card, on each visible face of the rotatable cubes. To prepare the game for playing, sixteen identical sets of cards, each set containing four cards of four different symbols, are fitted into the receiving frames such that each cube is loaded with four different cards. The four symbols participating in the game can be any four letters, drawings, images, pictures and the like. Other possibilities include the use of flat magnetic symbols with cubes of compatible magnetic faces; the use of "male" Velcro strips on the cubes' faces and any fabric-like elements; and the use of office quality "Post-It" stickers to create symbols which are easily attached and easily removed or the use of prefabricated reusable stickers designed in various shapes and images. Yet another possibility is to cover the cubes' faces with an erasable sheet material, which allows for easily drawing the symbols by a

drawing device such as a felt-tipped markers and easily erase the symbols by for example a wet-wiper. It will be appreciated that in accordance with these embodiments, the game apparatus is particularly suitable as an educational tool that may be reused inexhaustibly and flexibly for teaching new concepts.

The process of solving a puzzle starts with the clues locked. Referring back to the drawings, in accordance with embodiment 100, each of faces 21 to 24 of cube 20 is provided with an opening 42. In order to lock a cube and further in order to identify a specific cube as a "clue" cube, a peg 40 is inserted through opening 42 and into cross-shaped opening 45 in axle 30. This prevents the cube from rotating. Referring to Fig. 3, it can be seen that five cubes, indicated by 2OL, are locked to display the clues corresponding to puzzle 50 of Fig. 1. The rest of the cubes are in arbitrary positions. Alternatively, the game may start with all unlocked cubes oriented in 45 degrees to clearly indicate that these are the cubes that should be rotated in order to solve the puzzle. As the game proceeds, the player decides which face of each of the unlocked cubes should be selected to be displayed, and rotates it accordingly to expose the selected face. The "solved" cubes, those cubes for which the player already selected the face to be displayed, may be locked by pegs which are different from the pegs used to lock the "clue" cubes, for example they may have a different color and/or length. In accordance with this option, two distinct sets of pegs are provided with the game apparatus. The pegs may be tied to the apparatus or may be already partially and unremovably inserted into the cubes such that they cannot be taken out but can be pushed further inwardly or be pulled outwardly to lock/unlock the cube, respectively. In accordance with this embodiment, each face of a cube may be provided with two openings, for example at the top and bottom of the face, each of the openings adapted for receiving a peg of one type. After all the cubes are "solved" it is easy to check the correctness of the solution: each row, each column and each block 14 group of cells should contain one and only one of the four playing symbols.

Embodiment 100 is preferably dimensioned to be installed outdoors in parks, schoolyards, daycares and any other public, neighborhood or private yard as a part of playground equipment or as a stand-alone board. For example, frame 10 may be a square of about 50 to 100 cm side while each cube may be of about 10 to 20 cm side. Apparatus 100 may be fabricated from any durable material that withstands outdoor weather conditions including wood, plastic materials and metal and its outer surfaces may be coated or otherwise treated to enhance its durability. It will be easily realized that the particular structure of embodiment 100 is- given as an example only and that many other structures are possible. For example frame 10 may be positioned in a horizontal position rather than vertical and may be incorporated, in any orientation, into a larger playground structure, which include other games and amusement devices. For example apparatus 100 may serve as a parapet for a slide platform, a hanging bridge and the like. It will be appreciated that apparatus 100 provides a game apparatus of high safety standards, which may comprise of one integral piece with no removable parts.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate other possible embodiments of a game apparatus of the invention. Fig. 7 illustrates a game apparatus, designated 200 particularly especially configured as a table-top or a small-size hand-held game. In accordance with embodiment 200, sixteen rotatable cubes 220, each having four displaying faces 221 to 224 are rotatabaly mounted within a bottom-closed frame 210. Separators 216 and 218 divide the sixteen cubes into four blocks in accordance with Sudoku rules. Embodiment 300 illustrated in Fig. 8 is of an abacus-like structure having a supporting element 360 that allows for positioning frame 310 containing rotatable cubes 310 in a slanted position.

As mentioned above, the game apparatus of the invention is preferably provided with a collection of puzzles (not shown) which should be copied into the apparatus. The collection may be a plurality of sheets bound together to form a book or a booklet. The sheets may have the puzzles printed

on one side and the solutions printed on the other side. This collection may be tied to the game apparatus in a public playground, or included in the box in which the game is sold for individual use. The sheets may be a paper sheet, a plastic sheet, a cardboard sheet and the like. The collection of puzzle games may include instructions for playing the puzzle games depending on the specific mechanical implementation of the game.

It will be appreciated that although the examples given above are all of games comprising arrays of 4 x 4 rotatable elements, other arrays may be employed as well, including 6 * 6 and 9 x 9 arrays. Likewise, the rotatable elements may be objects other than cubes. Thus, a rotatable element may be any object of N-axis symmetry provided with N displaying faces and preferably having flat top and bottom.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the game of the invention may be provided on a graphical display of an electronic device or a hand held device employing a display and input means that allow a user to interact with the device. In accordance with this embodiment, the game of the invention is a computer program comprising a set of instructions to be executed with a computing device wherein the instructions provide for displaying on an electronic display at least one array of N rows x N columns to form N x N cells occupied by identical three- dimensional (3D) rotatable objects and divided into ν blocks. The rotatable objects are each having ν faces wherein each face is provided with a different symbol. Upon execution, the set of instructions enable a user to rotate any of the rotatable objects to display a particular face.

The electronic device may be a personal computing device or a hand held device, comprising a memory device, a central processing device, a screen display, and an input device such as a keyboard or other pointing device such as a moveable joystick or mouse or a miniaturized form thereof allowing the user to make selections so as to solve the puzzle.. The hand held device may be a cellular phone, a Personal Data Assistant, a Pager device, a dedicated game

playing device such as PSP by Sony or the like. Optionally, the electronic device further comprises a telecommunication device enabling the transfer of data and voice through a telecommunications network from and to the device.

In operation the game computer program embodying the rules explained here in above is loaded into the memory of the electronic device. The central processing unit executes the commands of the game computer program and an array of rotatable objects is shown to the user. Some of the rotatable objects, serving as "clues" are locked in their position and cannot be rotated during the game. The rest of the rotatable objects need to be rotated in order to solve the puzzle. Using the input means, the user selects a specific object and rotates the object to choose the face to be displayed. Indicators are provided to distinguish between "clue" locked objects, objects for which the user has already selected a face, and objects that still need to be rotated. The indicators may be different background or frame, or icons such as a key to indicate locked object, arched arrows to indicate rotatable objects, etc. When a user selects what he believes to be the correct face of an object, the program may provide means to "lock" the object or to indicate that this object is already positioned. Hints can also be provided to the user to indicate when his choice is incorrect. The hints may be given in a visual or auditory manner. The electronic device may comprise a telecommunication device such as a modem or a LAN card or other like device enabling communication between computer devices and the puzzle computer program providing the set of instructions or modules to be executed may be located in a computing device remote to the electronic device on which the game is played. The puzzle computer program operating on the remote computer device can be executed such that the puzzle is displayed on the electronic device while the puzzle computer program resides in the remote location. Such remote computing device can be an Internet site or a server device operatively connected to a communication network.

It will be realized that the examples given above demonstrate the versatility of the present invention with respect to the different skills that may be exercised while enjoying the game. The game may be played by children and adults alike, according to the degree of difficulty of the puzzles supplied with the game. Examples for different puzzles that may be supplied with the game apparatus of the present invention are described in detail in Israel patent application No. 170085 filed on 4 August 2005, which is fully incorporated by reference in the present application.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow.