GB2197214A - Puzzles - Google Patents

Abstract

A puzzle comprises a plurality of pieces 120, each of the same size and shape and each carrying a unique design. e.g. a section of a map. and having various design elements in the form of geographical terrain features, for example, an island 130 rivers 134, 136, mountains 132 and a lake 138, such that an edge of a first piece will have matching design elements with at least one edge of at least two other pieces whereby a continuous design is produced. Preferably, five different edge designs provided from which fifteen different square piece combinations are made. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Puzzle This invention relates to a puzzle especially one comprising a plurality of tiles each having a map section thereon and whose edges cooperate with other tiles' edges to enable the construction of a larger map from a plurality of such tiles.

In the known types of jigsaw or similar puzzle it is common to provide a plurality of pieces or tiles which interlink to form a larger picture. In this type of puzzle the pieces interlink to produce only one such picture and there is only one possible correct result. In order to provide a puzzle which has a number of possible solutions it is necessary to ensure that the pieces' edges have common elements thus enabling a single piece to be matched with a number of other pieces. It would be an advantage for such a puzzle to ensure that each piece matched with a maximum number of other pieces provided thus giving a large number of combinations. Such a puzzle would be of special use where each piece or tile has a section of a geographical map. The combination of a number of such tiles would produce a larger map of aesthetic appeal or for use in playing a game or for educational purposes.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a plurality of tiles or pieces which can be combined together in a variety of ways to produce a larger design.

With this object in view the present invention provides a puzzle comprising a plurality of pieces, each piece being of equal size and shape and carrying a design thereon, said design being unique to a particular piece and having design element such that an edge of a first piece will have matching design elements with at least one edge of at least two other pieces when disposed adjacent to the first piece, a number of such adjacent pieces cooperating to produce a continuous design.

Preferably the pieces are triangular, square or hexagonal in shape.

Advantageously the tiles are square and the design carried thereon is formed from a selction of five unique edge designs thereby producing fifteen tiles each having a unique combination of edge designs.

Preferably the design carried on each of the tiles is a section of a map, the co-operating design elements being geographical terrain features such as rivers, woods mountain ranges, coastlines, forests and plains.

The invention further includes a set of pieces comprising a plurality of unique pieces and a number of additional pieces each corresponding to one of the unique pieces.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 illustrate five edge designs from which a plurality of puzzle pieces according to a preferred embodiment of the invention may be constructed.

Figure 6 illustrates diagrammatically a plurality of puzzle pieces according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 illustrates a single piece according to the preferred embodiment; and Figure 8 illustrates a single piece generally similar to Fig. 7 showing an alternative arrangement of the terrain features.

A preferred embodiment of the puzzle pieces or tiles according to the invention comprises fifteen tiles each carrying a unique design formed from a combination of five edge designs. Each edge design is formed from a combination of three basic design elements being sea, land and mountain ranges. In the preferred embodiment the sea areas are coloured blue, the land areas green and the mountain ranges brown. Areas and portions of the edges having the same characteristics and design elements will be allocated the same reference numberals.

Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 illustrate the five edge types in detail from each tile is constructed.

Fig. 1 illustrates a nominally 'all sea' edge 10 having a substantial portion 12 of the edge as sea and two equally short land portions 14, 16 in each corner. The two land portions 14, 16 can produce islands or peninsula formations as required.

Fig. 2 illustrates a half sea edge 18 having a sea portion 20 and a small land portion 22 in one half 24 of the edge. The other half 26 is land 28 having a wide river 30 disposed centrally thereof. The wide river 30 can form the end of a lake or an estuary or sea channel or can narrow to provide a river or estuary feature. Fig. 3 illustrates a half sea edge 32 that is a mirror image of that illustrated in Fig..2.

Fig. 4 is an all land edge 34 having a mountain 36 disposed centrally thereof and two wide river sections 38, 40 disposed respectively equidistantly on either side of the mountain 36. Fig. 5 illustrates a nominal 'all land' edge 42 having a single wide river section 44 disposed centrally.

Combining the five edge types 10, 18, 32, 34, 42 produces fifteen unique square tiles and these are illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 6 and are referred to by the numerals 50 to 78. The tiles depicted are not precisely as they would appear in use and the central areas of each tile may contain any arrangement of the basic design elements or of other design elements as this will not affect the positioning of the basic design elements at the tiles' edges. The fifteen tiles will now be described in more detail with particular reference to their edges. Areas which are identical in characteristics will be allocated the same reference numerals. A first tile 50 is substantially all sea area. Second tile 52 has a sea area 80 and a small land area 82 in one corner thereof. Third tile 54 has a sea area 84 and two land areas 86, 88 in opposite corners thereof.Fourth tile 56 has a sea area 90 and a land area 92 each covering substantially half of the tile Fifth tile 58 is generally similar to tile 56 having sea area 90, land area 92 and additionally a mountain range 94 disposed centrally of the land area 92. Sixth tile 60 has a land area 98 and a sea area 96 in one corner thereon. Tiles 62, 64, 66 are similar to the sixth tile 60 having land area 98, sea area 96 and additionally two mountain ranges 100, 102, one range 100 or 102 respectively being disposed centrally of one all land edge as in tiles 62, 64 or both mountain ranges 100, 102 being present as in the ninth tile 66.

Tenth tile 68 is substantially all land. Eleventh tile 70 has a land area 104 and a mountain range 106 disposed centrally along one edge.

Twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth tiles 72, 74, 76, 78 are substantially similar having a land area 104 and one or more mountain ranges 106, 108, 110, 112 disposed centrally along one or more of their respective edges.

Referring now to Fig. 7 a sample tile 120 is illustrated constructed from four edges 122, 124, 126 128. Edge 122 is that illustrated in Fig. 5, edge 104 is illustrated in Fig. 4, edge 106 in Fig. 2 and edge 108 in Fig. 5. In this tile 120 the edges are combined to produce a coastal section having an island 130 offshore a mountain range 132, two rivers 134, 136 and a lake 138. In a similar manner the other fourteen tiles may be produced from the selection of only five edges and each tile individually varied to give a great variety of terrain configurations.

Fig. 8 illustrates a sample tile 140 formed from the same four edges 122, 124, 126, 128 as used in Fig. 7. For this tile 140 the terrain features have been interpreted differently to form a peninsula 142 between two sea areas 144, 148. The first sea area 144 leads to a narrowing river 146 thus providing an estuary. The second sea area 148 has a wide channel 150 thus possibly forming a part of an island 152. A lake 154, a mountain range 156 and minor river 158 are also provided. The provision of wide river sections at the tile edges prevents the need for rivers on every tile, instead allowing the formation of lakes etc. or for land or mountain ranges with no rivers which would otherwise increase the number of different types of edges required.

The invention is not confined to the foregoing details and variations are possible. For example, the tiles could be triangular or hexagonally shaped or could be cubic blocks having a design on each face thereof. The design need not be in the form of a map but could be an abstract colour design to produce artwork or murals etc. An alternative to having all the mountain ranges disposed centrally flanked by two rivers as in Fig. 5 would be to provide two mountain ranges with a centrally located river. With this variation corresponding adjustments would have to be made to the other tile edge designs provided. Other geographical features may be added to the pieces for examples, towns, roads, boundaries, woods etc. within the central area of each piece so that they do not interfere with the edge designs. In respect of roads as an additional feature it is advantageous to have these leaving a piece through a corner so as not to affect the permutations. Other variations may also be possible.

Claims (6)

1. A puzzle comprising a plurality of pieces, each piece being of equal size and shape and carrying a design thereon, said design being unique to a particular piece and having design elements such that an edge of a first piece will have matching design elements with at least one edge of at least two other pieces when disposed adjacent to the first piece, a number of such adjacent pieces cooperating to produce a continuous design.

2. A puzzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pieces are square in shape and the design carried thereon is formed from a selection of five unique edge designs.

3. A puzzle as claimed in claim 2 comprising fifteen pieces.

4. A puzzle as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the design carried on each of the pieces is a section of a map and the cooperating design elements are geographical terrain features.

5. A puzzle as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of unique pieces and a number of additional pieces each corresponding to one of the unique pieces.

6. A puzzle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.