US1769961A - Crossword-puzzle board - Google Patents

Description

July 8, 1930. H, A, NORRELL 1,769,961

CROS SWORD PUZ ZLE BOARD Filed 00;. 15, 1928 Patented July 8, 1930 PATENT OFFICE HENRY AUGUSTUS NORRELL, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA CROSSWORD-PUZZLE BOARD Application filed October 15, 1928. Serial No. 312,549.

The present invention relates to improvements in amusement devices, and has reference more particularly to a cross Word puzzle board.

' One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned characterwhich will not only afford amusement to the person endeavoring to solve the puzzle, but will also serveas an educationa-l device for increasing the vocabulary of the player.

Still a further object is to provide a cross word puzzle device of the above mentioned character wherein means I is provided for marking off'the limit of the puzzle that is to be solved.

A further object is to provide a cross word puzzle device of the above mentioned character that includes a board provided with a series of individual recesses, each of which is designated by a reference character, individual game pieces being adapted to be removably positioned within the individual pocket or recesses for building up or forming complete words either horizontally or vertically.

A further object is to -proyide a cross word puzzle of the above ineii'tioned character which is simple in'construction, inexpesive, strong and durable and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in connection with the drawing. 2

" In the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the same Figure 1 is a top plan vlew of the board showing the tapes employed for marking off 40 the predetermined number of squares to be used in solving a particular puzzle.

Figure'2is a sectional view taken approxi mately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure .3 is a sectional view taken upon the line 33 of Figure 1 showing one of the removable marking tags inserted in one of the slits.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through one end of the tapes showing the socket, member attafihed thereto.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the playing pieces or blocks.

Figure 6 is a similar view of another one of said playing pieces or blocks, and

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the marking tags.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally the board of the cross word eo puzzle, the same being of substantially rectangular shape. This board which is preferably constructed of metal is formed with a plurality of substantially square shaped pockets or recesses denoted by the reference character 2, said pockets or recesses being ar ranged in parallel spaced vertically and horizontally-disposed rows, and a bottom plate 3 underlies the board 1 to provide a bottom for the respective recesses or pockets in the man- 7 ner as clearly suggested in Figure 2.

The individual recesses or pockets are numbered consecutively, the numbers reading from left to right and from the top toward the bottom. In the present instance sixty four recesses are provided and manifestly there are sixty four numbers printed or otherwise arranged on the base plate 3 to designate the respective recesses or pockets. 1t will also be observed that the player board 1 is formed at the top of each recess or pocket with a slit 4 in which is removably fitted the relatively narrow tongue 5 that is formed on the lower edge of a marking tag 6. In Figure 7 of the drawing there is shown a detail. view of the marking tag and it will .be observed that on one face of the tag there is printed or otherwise arran ed a numeral indicative of one ofthe poc ets or recesses formed'in the board 1.

The marking tags are used only in solving a puzzle that is already prepared. In use, the marking tags are employed as an indicator of the square beginning a word either horizontal or vertical. These removable tags are set in position for each puzzle to be solved.

The board 1 is marked above each pocket or recess with a numeral corresponding to the num ral 0f he respective p 1??? 9! 199 the numerals arranged on the top face of the board 1 being shown at 7.

A plurality of heads 8 that constitute a part of a separable fastener construction are arranged on the upper face of the board 1 adjacent theoutermost pockets or recesses, and the purpose of these heads will be hereinafter more fully described.

The cross word puzzle further includes the provision of a plurality of game pieces, each of which is of rectangular shape, and of such size as to be removably fitted within any one of the recesses or pockets 2 formed in the board 1. Each game piece 9 is furthermore of such thickness as to be greater than the depth of the recesses or pockets formed in the playing board so that said playing pieces may be readily and easily placed in or removed from the pocket during the solving of the puzzle. Furthermore, certain of the game pieces have letters printed or otherwisearranged on the upper face thereof as shown at 10 in Figure 5 while the upper faces of certain other ones of the game pieces may have other indicia arranged thereon whereby such game pieces will be employed as spacing units between the words that are completed during the solving of the puzzle, and in Figure 6 of the drawings there is shown such spacing unit. The spacing units forming blocks are denoted by the reference character 11.

The invention further comprehends the provision of a pair of elongated strips of tape designated by the numerals 12 and 13 respectivelyand attached to each end of each tape is a socket 14 that detachably engages with any one of the heads 8 that project upwardly from the edge portions of the board 1.

One of the tapes is disposed vertically, while the other is disposed. horizontally across the upper face of the board 1, and as is shown in Figure 1 by attaching the sockets 14 carried by the ends of the tapes to certain of the heads 8, the sides of the playing board may be decreased, depending upon the size of the cross word puzzle that is to be built up or solved, and as shown in Figure I, the tapes are so arranged as to provide a playing board wherein the area is such as to be limited to five pockets in each direction.

In solving the cross word puzzle, the blocks or pieces having predetermined letters arranged thereon are placed in the predetermined recesses or pockets by the person solving the puzzle until the completed word or words are formed and in order to distinguish between the words formed, the spacing units 11 are placed in the recesses located between the words formed by the positioning of the proper letter carrying blocks in the recesses or pockets.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, that I have provided a cross word puzzle device that will not only aflord amusement to children as well as grown up persons,

but will also serve as an educational appliance in increasing the vocabulary of the player.

The simplicity in which the present device is constructed enables the parts to be readily and easily handled and furthermore the board as well as the ame pieces may be constructed of any suita le material, and painted or otherwise ornamented to render the same attractive.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is p 1. In a cross word puzzle, a player board divided into vertically and horizontally disposed rows of ockets, each of which is marked, a plurality of player pieces, some of which are lettered, and others being blank, said lettered pieces being adapted to be placed in predetermined ones of the pockets to form complete words either vertically or horizontally, the blank' pieces constituting spacing units between the complete words, means for decreasing the size of the playing board, said means including vertically and horizontally disposed intersecting strips, means for detachably connecting the outer ends of the strips to the respective edge portions of the board, said last mentioned means comprising a series of heads extending upwardly from the upper face of the board adjacent the outermost recesses or pockets, and socket elements carried by the ends of strips for engagement over the heads.

2. In a cross word puzzle, a player board divided into vertically and horizontally disposed rows of pockets, each of which is either horizontally or vertically.

' In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HENRY AUGUSTUS NORRELL.

Images