US 7,677,564 B2 · Sudoku-type puzzle board game and method of play

Abstract

A game apparatus is provided for one or more players having a first game member that includes a puzzle or a game area having indicia forming a grid having sub-grids including a plurality of cells. Each cell is assigned indicia in a solution pattern of the puzzle such that a distinct indicia appears once in each row, column, and sub-grid. The first game member displays the solution indicia for some of the cells and the remaining cells are divided into a number of sub-cells bearing the possible solution indicia for the corresponding cell such that each sub-cell includes a distinct indicia. A player speculates which sub-cell bears the correct solution indicia for the respective cell. The apparatus further includes at least one game piece adapted to randomly display an indicia when manipulated, the indicia modifying a game parameter such as a player's score or number of possible speculations the player can make in one turn.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for playing a board game, comprising:

a playing game member having a master grid with a plurality of cells arranged in columns and rows, wherein the master grid is subdivided into sub-grids, each sub-grid having a number of cells equal to the number of columns in the master grid, each cell divided into a number of sub-cells equal to the number of columns in the master grid, and each sub-cell assigned a distinct indicia;
a solution game member having indicia corresponding to respective cells of the playing game member, the solution game member positioned with respect to the playing game member to substantially align the indicia with corresponding cells of the playing game member, the indicia providing an indication of correctness of a user-proposed solution;
and
an intermediate game member having a plurality of apertures respectively aligned with the sub-cells of the playing game member, the intermediate game member positioned between the playing game member and the solution game member, the playing, solution, and intermediate game members removably secured to each other.

1 more element

A game apparatus comprising:

a playing plane having a master grid with a plurality of cells arranged in columns and rows, wherein the master grid is subdivided into sub-grids, each sub-grid having a number of cells equal to the number of columns in the master grid, each cell divided into a number of sub-cells equal to the number of columns in the master grid, and each sub-cell assigned a distinct indicia;
a solution plane having a plurality of cells corresponding to the respective cells of the playing plane, the solution plane configured to provide an indication of correctness of a user-proposed solution for a respective cell of the playing plane, each cell of the solution plane divided into a plurality of sub-cells corresponding to respective sub-cells of the playing plane, each sub-cell associated with an electric circuit to generate a selection signal comprising one of a first and a second signal, the first signal indicating a correct selection and the second signal indicating an incorrect selection;
a display device associated with the playing plane and configured to display indicia on the playing plane;
and
at least one data storage device electrically coupled to the game apparatus.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sudoku-type puzzle board game and method of play

Life of this patent

Sudoku-type puzzle board game and method of play

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17