US4863172A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Front and back grids comprising puzzle with movable squares
Assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
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Filing: 1988-02-05
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Granted: 1989-09-05
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Expires: 2008-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A puzzle in which alphabet letters or other graphics are displayed in movable squares forming a grid on a front side of the puzzle. On the back side of the puzzle is another grid of movable squares containing alphabet letters or other graphics. Each square is a part of each of two mutually transverse, continuous bands. One band comprises aligned front side and back side rows while the other transverse band comprises aligned front side and back side columns. The relationship of each square in the puzzle may be changed with respect to every other square. As squares are moved out of the front side grid, they wrap around, out of sight, and change the grid of squares on the back side while bringing an out of sight square into the front side grid. In one electronic version of the puzzle, movement of a square is effected by touching the front side square to be moved and then touching the position on the front side row or column to which the square is to be moved. Grids in a mechanical version have moveable pieces carried in transverse intersecting slots formed by parts mounted on posts and spaced from a core.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald A. Rosenwinkel
- 👤 John V. Zaruba
- 👤 Wayne A. Kuna
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:16
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/08; A63F9/0826; A63F9/0857; A63F9/0098; A63F9/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A puzzle comprising: a front side; a back side; a total number of movable squares; a grid on the front side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; a grid on the back side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; each square being part of each of two mutually transverse, continuous bands of squares; aligned rows on the front side and on the back side formed by one of the two bands; aligned columns on the front side and on the back side formed by the other transverse band; means for changing the relationship of each square in either the front side grid or the back side grid with respect to every other square in the front side and back side grids; means for distinguishing the movable squares initially forming the front side grid from the movable squares initially forming the back side grid; and means for electronically displaying one of the grids and selectively displaying the other of the grids to the exclusion of the one grid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A puzzle comprising: a front side; a back side; a total number of movable squares; a grid on the front side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; a grid on the back side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; each square being part of each of two mutually transverse, continuous bands of squares; aligned rows on the front side and on the back side formed by one of the two bands; aligned columns on the front side and on the back side formed by the other transverse band; means for changing the relationship of each square in either the front side grid or the back side grid with respect to every other square in the front side and back side grids; means for distinguishing the movable squares initially forming the front side grid from the movable squares initially forming the back side grid; and means for electronically displaying one of the grids and selectively displaying the other of the grids to the exclusion of the one grid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
181 words
A puzzle comprising: a front side; a back side; a total number of movable squares; a grid on the front side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; a grid on the back side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; each square being part of each of two mutually transverse, continuous bands of squares; aligned rows on the front side and on the back side formed by one of the two bands; aligned columns on the front side and on the back side formed by the other transverse band; means for changing the relationship of each square in either the front side grid or the back side grid with respect to every other square in the front side and back side grids; means for distinguishing the movable squares initially forming the front side grid from the movable squares initially forming the back side grid; means for electronically displaying one of the grids, and means for effecting movement of a square by touching the electronically displayed grid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
181 words
A puzzle comprising: a front side; a back side; a total number of movable squares; a grid on the front side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; a grid on the back side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; each square being part of each of two mutually transverse, continuous bands of squares; aligned rows on the front side and on the back side formed by one of the two bands; aligned columns on the front side and on the back side formed by the other transverse band; means for changing the relationship of each square in either the front side grid or the back side grid with respect to every other square in the front side and back side grids; means for distinguishing the movable squares initially forming the front side grid from the movable squares initially forming the back side grid; means for electronically displaying one of the grids, and means for effecting movement of a square by touching the electronically displayed grid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The puzzle of claim 2 including means for selectively displaying the other of the grids to the exclusion of the one grid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The puzzle of claim 3 including means precluding the use of the means for effecting movement of a square during the selective display of the other of the grids.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
193 words
A puzzle comprising: a front side; a back side; a total number of movable squares; a grid on the front side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; a grid on the back side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; each square being part of each of two mutually transverse, continuous bands of squares; aligned rows on the front side and on the back side formed by one of the two bands; aligned columns on the front side and on the back side formed by the other transverse band; means for changing the relationship of each square in either the front side grid or the back side grid with respect to every other square in the front side and back side grids; means for distinguishing the movable squares initially forming the front side grid from the movable squares initially forming the back side grid; means for electronically displaying one of the grids; means for storing solutions to the puzzle in memory; and means for selecting a solution for display by the means for electronically displaying the one grid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
193 words
A puzzle comprising: a front side; a back side; a total number of movable squares; a grid on the front side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; a grid on the back side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; each square being part of each of two mutually transverse, continuous bands of squares; aligned rows on the front side and on the back side formed by one of the two bands; aligned columns on the front side and on the back side formed by the other transverse band; means for changing the relationship of each square in either the front side grid or the back side grid with respect to every other square in the front side and back side grids; means for distinguishing the movable squares initially forming the front side grid from the movable squares initially forming the back side grid; means for electronically displaying one of the grids; means for storing solutions to the puzzle in memory; and means for selecting a solution for display by the means for electronically displaying the one grid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
317 words
A puzzle comprising: a front side; a back side; a total number of movable squares; a grid on the front side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; a grid on the back side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; each square being part of each of two mutually transverse, continuous bands of squares; aligned rows on the front side and on the back side formed by one of the two bands; aligned columns on the front side and on the back side formed by the other transverse band; means for changing the relationship of each square in either the front side grid or the back side grid with respect to every other square in the front side and back side grids; means for distinguishing the movable squares initially forming the front side grid from the movable squares initially forming the back side grid; a central core; a plurality of posts extending from the central core; a part supported on each post spaced from the core and spaced from every other part an equal distance to define a first set of spaced part, generally parallel continuous bands of slots and a second set of spaced apart, generally parallel continuous bands of slots that are generally transverse to the first set; means for mounting each of the squares forming the grids on the front side and the back for movement along either of two mutually transverse intersecting continuous bands of slots; curved ends between the front side and the back side; one set of continuous bands of slots extending through each of the curved ends; the squares having depending stems that extend through the slots; means carried adjacent the end of the stem spaced from the square for engaging the underside of the parts; and the underside of each square being cross vaulted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
317 words
A puzzle comprising: a front side; a back side; a total number of movable squares; a grid on the front side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; a grid on the back side of the puzzle initially formed by some of the total number of movable squares; each square being part of each of two mutually transverse, continuous bands of squares; aligned rows on the front side and on the back side formed by one of the two bands; aligned columns on the front side and on the back side formed by the other transverse band; means for changing the relationship of each square in either the front side grid or the back side grid with respect to every other square in the front side and back side grids; means for distinguishing the movable squares initially forming the front side grid from the movable squares initially forming the back side grid; a central core; a plurality of posts extending from the central core; a part supported on each post spaced from the core and spaced from every other part an equal distance to define a first set of spaced part, generally parallel continuous bands of slots and a second set of spaced apart, generally parallel continuous bands of slots that are generally transverse to the first set; means for mounting each of the squares forming the grids on the front side and the back for movement along either of two mutually transverse intersecting continuous bands of slots; curved ends between the front side and the back side; one set of continuous bands of slots extending through each of the curved ends; the squares having depending stems that extend through the slots; means carried adjacent the end of the stem spaced from the square for engaging the underside of the parts; and the underside of each square being cross vaulted.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of generating an electronic game display and controlling the play of the game on an electronic display in response to player operation comprising the steps of: generating an electronic display of a front side grid of squares each lying in one of two mutually transverse, continuous bands; maintaining in memory a view of a back side grid of squares lying in the same continuous bands; and adjusting the electronic display in response to player operation to reposition the squares.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of generating an electronic game display and controlling the play of the game on an electronic display in response to player operation comprising the steps of: generating an electronic display of a front side grid of squares each lying in one of two mutually transverse, continuous bands; maintaining in memory a view of a back side grid of squares lying in the same continuous bands; and adjusting the electronic display in response to player operation to reposition the squares.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 including the step of distinguishing the squares initially forming the front side grid from the squares initially forming the back side grid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of storing the puzzle solutions in memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of selectively generating an electronic display of the back side grid to the exclusion of the electronic display of the front side grid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-04 | 1993-03-06 | 1993-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-04 | 1997-03-06 | 1997-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-04 | 2001-03-06 | 2001-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |