U.S. patent application number 11/098847 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-06 for crossword puzzle/word search combination.
Invention is credited to Petry, Scott.
Application Number | 20050218593 11/098847 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35053413 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050218593 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Petry, Scott |
October 6, 2005 |
Crossword puzzle/word search combination
Abstract
A crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination includes first
and second puzzle sections. The first puzzle section includes an
interlocking crossword region having spaces for letters allowing
the formation of down and across words and the second puzzle
section includes a word search region including random letters and
a plurality of words generally hidden therewithin. A crossword clue
section provides clues to fill in correct down and across answers,
and the plurality of words in the word search region of the second
puzzle section include substantially all of the correct down and
across answers of the interlocking crossword region. The word
search region and the interlocking crossword region cooperate to
provide the correct down and across answers for the interlocking
crossword region by enabling the puzzle solver to alternatively
deduce the correct answer from the clues or find the correct answer
in the word search region.
Inventors: |
Petry, Scott; (Council
Bluffs, IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICES OF ADAM H. JACOBS
PATENT ATTORNEY
SUITE 726
1904 FARNAM STREET
OMAHA
NE
68102
US
|
Family ID: |
35053413 |
Appl. No.: |
11/098847 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60559552 |
Apr 5, 2004 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/272 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/04 20130101; A63F
9/0098 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/272 |
International
Class: |
A63F 003/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination comprising:
first and second puzzle sections, said first puzzle section
including an interlocking crossword region having spaces for
letters allowing the formation of down and across words within said
first puzzle section; said second puzzle section including a word
search region including random letters and a plurality of words
generally hidden within said second puzzle section and said random
letters; a crossword clue section for providing clues to fill in
correct down and across answers within said interlocking crossword
region; said plurality of words in said word search region of said
second puzzle section including at least some of said correct down
and across answers of said interlocking crossword region of said
first puzzle section; said word search region of said second puzzle
section and said interlocking crossword region of said first puzzle
section cooperating to provide said correct down and across answers
for said interlocking crossword region by alternatively deducing
the correct down and across answer from the clues in said crossword
clue section and finding the correct down and across answer in said
word search region of said second puzzle section.
2. The crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination of claim 1
wherein said plurality of words in said word search region of said
second puzzle section includes all and only all of said correct
down and across answers of said interlocking crossword region of
said first puzzle section.
3. The crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination of claim 1
wherein said first puzzle section further includes a plurality of
filled-in squares operative to divide and separate portions of said
interlocking crossword region according to the spaces for letters
required for the correct down and across answers.
4. The crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination of claim 1
wherein said plurality of words hidden within said word search
region of said second puzzle section are alternatively positioned
forwards, backwards, vertically up and down and diagonally within
said word search region.
5. A crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination comprising:
first and second puzzle sections, said first puzzle section
including an interlocking crossword region having spaces for
letters allowing the formation of down and across words within said
first puzzle section; said second puzzle section including a word
search region including random letters and a plurality of words
generally hidden within said second puzzle section and said random
letters; a crossword clue section for providing clues to fill in
correct down and across answers within said interlocking crossword
region; said plurality of words in said word search region of said
second puzzle section including all and only all of said correct
down and across answers of said interlocking crossword region of
said first puzzle section; said word search region of said second
puzzle section and said interlocking crossword region of said first
puzzle section cooperating to provide said correct down and across
answers for said interlocking crossword region by alternatively
deducing the correct down and across answer from the clues in said
crossword clue section and finding the correct down and across
answer in said word search region of said second puzzle
section.
6. The crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination of claim 5
wherein said first puzzle section further includes a plurality of
filled-in squares operative to divide and separate portions of said
interlocking crossword region according to the spaces for letters
required for the correct down and across answers.
7. The crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination of claim 5
wherein said plurality of words hidden within said word search
region of said second puzzle section are alternatively positioned
forwards, backwards, vertically up and down and diagonally within
said word search region.
8. A crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination comprising:
first and second puzzle sections, said first puzzle section
including an interlocking crossword region having spaces for
letters allowing the formation of down and across words within said
first puzzle section; said second puzzle section including a word
search region including random letters and a plurality of words
generally hidden within said second puzzle section and said random
letters; said first and second puzzle sections spaced apart and
independent from one another such that said first and second puzzle
sections do not physically interact; a crossword clue section for
providing clues to fill in correct down and across answers within
said interlocking crossword region; said plurality of words in said
word search region of said second puzzle section including all and
only all of said correct down and across answers of said
interlocking crossword region of said first puzzle section; said
word search region of said second puzzle section and said
interlocking crossword region of said first puzzle section
cooperating to provide said correct down and across answers for
said interlocking crossword region by alternatively deducing the
correct down and across answer from the clues in said crossword
clue section and finding the correct down and across answer in said
word search region of said second puzzle section.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PROVISIONAL PATENT
[0001] This application claims priority based on a provisional
patent, specifically on the Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
60/559,552 filed Apr. 5, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention is directed to word-type games and,
more particularly, to a crossword puzzle/word search combination
which includes a crossword puzzle having a series of clues and
answers which fit within the crossword puzzle grid and a word
search puzzle associated with the crossword puzzle, the word search
puzzle including each of the correct answers for the crossword
puzzle thus permitting the player to alternatively solve the
crossword puzzle clues and/or find the answers within the word
search puzzle to complete the crossword puzzle and word search
puzzle by the interaction between the two puzzles.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Word puzzles continue to be a perennial favorite of puzzle
solvers the world over. There have been many different types of
word puzzles which have been proposed, including such well-known
types of puzzles as crossword puzzles, jumbles, word search puzzles
and the like. By far the most popular type of word puzzle, however,
is the crossword puzzle, due to its virtually unlimited subject
matter and almost universal familiarity. One of the significant
disadvantages of crossword puzzles, however, is that the puzzle may
be difficult to complete if the specific knowledge required by the
various clues is not possessed by the puzzle solver. Due to the
nature of crossword puzzles, this can then result in a large
portion of the crossword puzzle being unable to be completed, as
the solution of one clue can directly affect the remainder of the
puzzle. An unsatisfying solution to this dilemma is to access the
puzzle answers found in the back of many puzzle books, but as this
removes much of the enjoyment from completion of the puzzle, this
solution is not acceptable. There is therefore a need for a way to
solve the crossword puzzle which can be determined independently of
the various clues given in connection with the crossword puzzle
without requiring one to resort to the answers given to the
puzzle.
[0006] Numerous types of puzzles have been proposed in the prior
art which have attempted to address this issue, including such
puzzles as those found in Harrison, U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,210,
Coefield, U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,773, and Breeler, U.S. Pat. No.
6,308,954. Of these patents, the only one which makes a true
attempt at facilitating solution of the crossword puzzle is the
Breeler patent, but the combination of the word search and the
crossword puzzle disclosed in Breeler actually can render solving
the puzzle more difficult. This is because one must solve the
combined puzzle using the clues provided, instead of being able to
use separate word search and crossword puzzles to uncover the
correct answers in either puzzle, thus using the two separate
puzzles to complement one another instead of them being "mashed"
together. There is therefore a need for a crossword puzzle/word
search puzzle combination which will assist the puzzle solver in
completing the puzzles with the correct answers while still
remaining challenging and entertaining.
[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
an improved crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination which includes
first and second puzzle sections, the first puzzle section
including an interlocking crossword region having spaces for
letters allowing the formation of down and across words within the
first puzzle section and the second puzzle section including a word
search region including random letters and a plurality of words
generally hidden within the second puzzle section and the random
letters.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination which will
provide a greater opportunity to completely solve the puzzle than
that afforded by standard crossword puzzles.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination which
offers the puzzle solver the opportunity to simultaneously solve
two different kinds of puzzles which cooperate to provide the
correct answers.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination which
reduces frustration and increases enjoyment.
[0012] Finally, an object of the present invention is to provide an
improved crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination which is
relatively simple to understand, is challenging and enjoyable to
play, and can be adjusted to different difficulty levels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention provides a crossword puzzle/word
search puzzle combination including first and second puzzle
sections. The first puzzle section includes an interlocking
crossword region having spaces for letters allowing the formation
of down and across words within the first puzzle section and the
second puzzle section includes a word search region including
random letters and a plurality of words generally hidden within the
second puzzle section and the random letters. A crossword clue
section for providing clues to fill in correct down and across
answers within the interlocking crossword region is also provided,
and the plurality of words in the word search region of the second
puzzle section include substantially all of the correct down and
across answers of the interlocking crossword region of the first
puzzle section. The word search region of the second puzzle section
and the interlocking crossword region of the first puzzle section
cooperate to provide the correct down and across answers for the
interlocking crossword region by enabling the puzzle solver to
alternatively deduce the correct down and across answer from the
clues in the crossword clue section or find the correct down and
across answer in the word search region of the second puzzle
section. The crossword puzzle can thus be solved even if one or
more of the clues are unable to be solved by finding the correct
answer hidden within the word search puzzle.
[0014] The present invention thus provides a substantial
improvement over the crossword puzzle/word search puzzle
combinations and methods found in the game industry. For example,
because the crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination
virtually ensures that the puzzle solver will be able to complete
the puzzle, frustration is decreased and enjoyment is increased.
Furthermore, because the puzzle solver can alternate back and forth
between the two puzzle sections, it is unlikely that the person
will become bored with the puzzle of the present invention, and
thus will be more likely to enjoy solving the puzzle. Also, one of
the common problems encountered by crossword puzzle enthusiasts is
that some of the clues require specialized or specific knowledge to
obtain the correct answer. If the puzzle solver does not have that
specialized or specific knowledge, that particular answer will be
left unsolved and thus the completion of the puzzle is jeopardized.
With the present invention, the puzzle solver is able to overcome
that lack of knowledge and continue solving the puzzle after he or
she finds the answer hidden within the word search portion of the
puzzle. No other prior art puzzle offers this alternative solution
process, and it is this feature which provide just one of the many
improvements over the prior art that the present invention
provides. Finally, because the crossword puzzle/word search puzzle
combination of the present invention can be made more or less
difficult by either making the crossword puzzle section harder or
making the word search section harder, the authors of the various
versions of the crossword puzzle/word search puzzle combination
have increased flexibility to create their puzzles. It is thus seen
that the present invention provides a substantial improvement over
those games, devices and methods found in the prior art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the crossword puzzle/word search
combination of the present invention prior to playing; and
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the present invention showing a
partially completed puzzle combination.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] The crossword puzzle/word search combination of the present
invention is shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2 as including a common type
of crossword puzzle which includes a crossword puzzle grid and a
set of clues for the across and down puzzle answers. Positioned
adjacent the crossword puzzle is a word search puzzle which
functions in the standard fashion associated with word search
puzzles in that the words are hidden within the block of letters
and may positioned forwards, backwards, vertically up and down or
even diagonally within the word search puzzle. To this point, the
crossword puzzle and word search puzzle each function as the
standard type of puzzle with which they are associated, however,
the significant and important inventive elements of the present
invention will become apparent as the playing of the puzzle
combination is begun.
[0018] Specifically, the crossword puzzle section and word search
puzzle section are designed to work in conjunction with one another
in that the correct answers to the crossword puzzle section can be
found in the word search puzzle section. This permits the puzzle
solver to play both puzzles simultaneously to correctly complete
the crossword puzzle and word search puzzle each and every time.
This is best shown in FIG. 2, in which the crossword puzzle and
word search puzzle sections are each partially completed with the
words being filled into the crossword puzzle grid and also being
circled on the word search puzzle section. The duality of this
innovative puzzle permits the puzzle solver to play to his or her
puzzle-solving strengths, as each puzzle solver may feel that they
are stronger in solving one or the other of the two types of
puzzles (i.e. the crossword puzzle section or the word search
puzzle section). As an example of the superiority of the present
invention over the separate puzzles of the prior art, one can look
at the partially completed puzzles of FIG. 2, particularly at the
individual words which complete the crossword puzzle section.
Specifically, for example, the clue for 8 Down is "annoying", and
the correct answer is given as "irksome". Experienced crossword
puzzle solvers would likely have little identifying the correct
answer to the clue given in 8 Down, but those persons with little
crossword puzzle experience or without extended vocabularies may
not know that a synonym for "annoying" is the word "irksome".
[0019] With standard crossword puzzles, the puzzle solver would be
at a loss as to how to complete the puzzle unless he or she were
able to fill in other answers to eventually figure out that the
answer to 8 Down is "irksome". With the present invention, however,
the puzzle solver would be able to refer to the word search puzzle
section and attempt to find a word hidden within the word search
puzzle section which would have a similar meaning to the word
"annoying". As shown in FIG. 2, hidden in the top row of the word
search puzzle section is the word "irksome", shown as circled in
the word search puzzle section, and once the word "irksome" is
identified within the word search puzzle section, the puzzle solver
may return to the crossword puzzle section, review the various
clues presented to assist in the solving of the crossword puzzle
section and match the word "irksome" to the word "annoying", thus
providing the solution for 8 Down.
[0020] In fact, an additional feature of the present invention is
that the puzzle solver need not even have a particular clue in mind
when solving the word search section of the present invention, but
rather can search the word search section for various words. Once
found, the words can be matched with the clues given in connection
with the crossword puzzle section to determine if the found words
can be entered into the crossword puzzle in connection with the
related clue. In this manner, the puzzle solver may play both
sections of the crossword puzzle/word search combination of the
present invention simultaneously, for example, first solving a clue
in the crossword puzzle section and then finding another word in
the word search section to match to a specific clue in the
crossword puzzle section. The puzzle solver may thus obtain maximum
enjoyment from the solving of the combination puzzle.
[0021] Alternatively, the puzzle solver might be unsure of a
particular answer which he or she has given in connection with a
clue for the crossword puzzle section, such as the answer given in
connection with 18 Across, namely "pipsqueak". If the puzzle solver
is unsure if the word "pipsqueak" is the correct answer in
connection with the clue "snips", he or she may attempt to find the
word "pipsqueak" within the word search puzzle section and, if the
word is found within the word search puzzle section, he or she will
then know that the word "pipsqueak" is the correct answer. As the
word "pipsqueak" does show up in the word search puzzle section
(shown as a reverse diagonal word in the approximate center of the
word search puzzle, see FIG. 2), he or she then is assured that the
answer is a correct one and the solving of the puzzle can
continue.
[0022] The procedure as described above will be implemented for
each of the clues given in connection with the crossword puzzle
section, and as each of the correct answers are given within the
word search puzzle section, the puzzle solver may utilize many of
his or her puzzle solving skills to obtain the correct answers,
either in connection with the specific clue given in the crossword
puzzle section or by finding the correct word within the word
search puzzle section. The crossword puzzle/word search combination
of the present invention thus can be used for relatively simple
puzzles on up to very difficult puzzles, as the degree of
difficulty demanded by the puzzle solver dictates. The frustrations
experienced by crossword puzzle solvers are thus greatly reduced
and the enjoyment of completing the puzzle is enhanced as a far
greater range of puzzle solving skills are required to correctly
complete the crossword puzzle/word search combination of the
present invention.
[0023] It is to be understood that numerous additions,
modifications and substitutions may be made to the crossword
puzzle/word search combination of the present invention which fall
within the intended broad scope of the above description. For
example, the specific size, shape and number of clues and words
used in connection with the crossword puzzle section and/or word
search puzzle section of the present invention may be modified or
changed depending on the intended complexity and difficulty level
desired in connection with the puzzle. Also, the level of
difficulty of the puzzle may be modified by making the clues for
the crossword puzzle harder and/or making the word search puzzle
more difficult, any of which would be understood by one skilled in
the art of puzzles. Finally, it should be noted that it is not
critical to the present invention as to what degree the solution of
the puzzle is performed by either the crossword puzzle section or
the word search puzzle section so long as the challenge and
enjoyment of completing the puzzle is maximized.
[0024] There has therefore been shown and described a crossword
puzzle/word search combination which accomplishes at least all of
its intended objectives.
* * * * *