US 6,425,581 B1Granted

Map puzzle game

OwnerPatricia E. Barrettinventor

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Abstract

An educational map puzzle game teaches children and adults to locate political entities of the world on a map. Puzzle pieces comprised of postage stamp reproductions or simulated postage stamp reproductions correspond to specific sites on large-format continental and regional outline maps. Players earn points for matching puzzle pieces with correct map sites within a predetermined time period. Learning value is enhanced by reference material relating the significance of each postage stamp image to the country or territory it represents. Self-adhesive hook-and-loop members removably attach game pieces to the base. The game can be played on a vertical or horizontal surface. The base is attractive enough to be framed and vertically suspended, or pasted directly to a wall and used interactively with the puzzle pieces. In an alternate embodiment, the map base serves as an ornamental display device for stamp and coin exhibitors and collectors.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A map puzzle game, comprising:

(a) a puzzle game base including a lightweight, durable, flexible, material,
(b) said puzzle game base having indicia on a front surface thereof, comprising:
(i) a world continental or world regional outline map;
(ii) border indicia;
and
(iii) outline map indicia circumscribing a plurality of numbered location marker indicia;
(c) a plurality of playing pieces having a front face comprising reproductions of postage stamp indicia present on front surfaces of official postage stamps, said postage stamp indicia being related to said puzzle game base indicia;
(d) attachment means for removably attaching said playing pieces to said base, said attachment means comprising a two-part, self-adhesive hook-and-loop fastener system including a hook member that attaches to a back face of each of said playing pieces, and a loop member that attaches to said base at each of said marker indicia and said numbered location marker indicia;
(e) a map puzzle key comprising:
(i) miniature replica of all base indicia;
(ii) an alphabetical list of all political entities represented on said base indicia;
(iii) each of said political entity names being juxtaposed with a number indicating the correct position of each of said game pieces on said base;
(iv) each of said numbers juxtaposed with a one-line description of the corresponding correct stamp image;
and
(v) an ascending numeric list of each of said political entity names, juxtaposed with the same indicia as in “(f) (ii), (iii), and (iv)”;
(f) an expanded reference that relates the stamp image for each playing piece to the political entity it represents.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.