US4796891A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Musical puzzle using sliding tiles
Assignee: APPLIED DESIGN LABORATORIES Inc
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Filing: 1987-02-02
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Granted: 1989-01-10
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Expires: 2007-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A puzzle of the type having an array of movable tiles enclosed and supported by a frame structure includes circuitry for producing sound to identify each of the tiles. Each tile is formed with contact terminals formed on a surface that confronts a support surface of the frame. The support surface defines a number of predetermined locations at which the tiles can be positioned, each location being provided with contact terminals connected to the sound-producing circuitry. Each of the tiles is equipped with spring biasing so that when a tile is properly positioned at one of the predetermined locations and depressed, the contact terminals of the tile and the location are brought together. Each tile is provided with some electrical characteristic that causes a tone to be produced, identifying the tile.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald E. Milner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:09
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/32; G10H1/34; A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/0612; A63F9/08; A63F9/0803; A63F9/0807; A63F9/10; A63F2009/1061; A63F2009/1066; A63F9/24; A63F2009/2448; A63F2009/247; A63F2009/2477; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/18; A63F2250/186; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00119
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A puzzle, comprising: a rectangular array of title members enclosed in a frame structure, each of the title members having an electrical property; tone-generating means housed in the frame structure; and means for selectively placing the electrical property of one or more of the title members in circuit with the tone-generating means to produce a sound having a characteristic determined by the electrical property carried by the title member that identifies such tile member and distinguishes it from other of the tile members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A puzzle, comprising: a rectangular array of title members enclosed in a frame structure, each of the title members having an electrical property; tone-generating means housed in the frame structure; and means for selectively placing the electrical property of one or more of the title members in circuit with the tone-generating means to produce a sound having a characteristic determined by the electrical property carried by the title member that identifies such tile member and distinguishes it from other of the tile members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The puzzle of claim 1, each of the tile members being formed and configured to be visually indistinguishable from the other of the tile members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The puzzle of claim 1, wherein the electrical property is resistance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
The puzzle of claim 3, the frame structure including a support surface to support the tile members for movement thereon, the support surface defining a number of predetermined locations at which respective ones of the tile members can be positioned, the placing means including contact terminals formed on the support surface at least one of the predetermined locations and coupled to the tone-generating means, each of the tile members having electrical contacts for removable engagement with the contact terminals and electrically coupled to the electrical property of the tile member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The puzzle of claim 1, each of the tile members being finger-depressible to cause the electrical property associated with such tile member in circuit with the tone-generating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The puzzle of claim 1, wherein the electrical property for each tile member is a plurality of electrical contacts predetermined ones of which being electrically shorted together to form a coded pattern.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The puzzle of claim 6, wherein the tonegenerating means includes means for decoding the coded pattern of each of the tile members when placed in circuit therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
A sound-producing puzzle, comprising: a frame structure; a plurality of movable elements supportable by the frame structure and operable to be placed at a number of predetermined locations relative to the frame structure; sound-generating means operably associated with each of the predetermined locations for producing a sound that identifies selected ones of the plurality of movable elements and distinguishes each selected one from other of the selected ones when located in any one of the predetermined locations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
A sound-producing puzzle, comprising: a frame structure; a plurality of movable elements supportable by the frame structure and operable to be placed at a number of predetermined locations relative to the frame structure; sound-generating means operably associated with each of the predetermined locations for producing a sound that identifies selected ones of the plurality of movable elements and distinguishes each selected one from other of the selected ones when located in any one of the predetermined locations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The puzzle of claim 8, the movable elements being supported by the frame structure for movement in a plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The puzzle of claim 9, wherein each of the movable elements is formed and configured to be substantially visually indistinguishable from one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The puzzle of claim 8, wherein each of the movable elements includes an electrical property different from that of at least certain of the other movable elements and including means for removably placing the electrical property in circuit with the sound-generating means for producing a tone having a pitch determined at least in part by the electrical property.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The puzzle of claim 11, wherein the tonegenerating means includes an astable multivibrator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The puzzle of claim 12, wherein the electrical property is a resistance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
142 words
A puzzle of the type having a plurality of elements locatable on a frame structure along predetermined paths to a number of predetermined positions, the improvement comprising: each of the plurality of elements having first circuit means for providing the element with a predetermined electrical property that identifies the element and distinguishes it from other of the plurality of elements; sound-generating means housed in the frame for producing sound; second circuit means associated with at least certain of the predetermined positions and coupled to the sound-generating means; and each of the plurality of elements having means operable by a user to place the first and second means in electrical communication with one another when any one of the elements is moved to any of the predetermined positions, the sound produced by the sound-generating means having a characteristic determined by the electrical property.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
142 words
A puzzle of the type having a plurality of elements locatable on a frame structure along predetermined paths to a number of predetermined positions, the improvement comprising: each of the plurality of elements having first circuit means for providing the element with a predetermined electrical property that identifies the element and distinguishes it from other of the plurality of elements; sound-generating means housed in the frame for producing sound; second circuit means associated with at least certain of the predetermined positions and coupled to the sound-generating means; and each of the plurality of elements having means operable by a user to place the first and second means in electrical communication with one another when any one of the elements is moved to any of the predetermined positions, the sound produced by the sound-generating means having a characteristic determined by the electrical property.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 14, wherein the sound produced by the sound-generating means is a tone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 14, wherein the sound produced by the sound-generating means is speech.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improvement of claim 14, wherein the sound produced is a duck quack.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
142 words
A puzzle, comprising: a frame structure; a plurality of elements supported by the frame structure, each element being movable along predetermined paths to a number of different predetermined locations relative to the frame structure, each of the plurality of elements having circuit means for providing such element with an electrical characteristic, the electrical characteristic of each of certain of the plurality of elements being different from the other of the certain of the plurality of elements; sound-generating means; and means associated with at least two of the number of locations for coupling the electrical characteristic associated with a one of the elements in circuit with the sound-generating means when the one element is moved to the one location; whereby, the sound-generating means is operable to produce sound having a property determined by the electrical characteristic associated with the one element in circuit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
142 words
A puzzle, comprising: a frame structure; a plurality of elements supported by the frame structure, each element being movable along predetermined paths to a number of different predetermined locations relative to the frame structure, each of the plurality of elements having circuit means for providing such element with an electrical characteristic, the electrical characteristic of each of certain of the plurality of elements being different from the other of the certain of the plurality of elements; sound-generating means; and means associated with at least two of the number of locations for coupling the electrical characteristic associated with a one of the elements in circuit with the sound-generating means when the one element is moved to the one location; whereby, the sound-generating means is operable to produce sound having a property determined by the electrical characteristic associated with the one element in circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-01-10 | 1992-07-11 | 1993-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-10 | 1996-07-11 | 1997-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-10 | 2000-07-11 | 2001-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |