Multi-skill level puzzle

Abstract

A puzzle that utilizes three mechanisms of puzzle construction for supporting user skill heterogeneity, demarcation into subdivisions and enhancement of excitement in assembling a puzzle. The three mechanisms involve the use of shaped protrusions/recesses, object pieces and puzzle frame pieces.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A puzzle comprising puzzle pieces wherein each of said puzzle pieces has a periphery and comprises at least one protrusion or at least one recess along said periphery, said at least one protrusion and said at least one recess each forming a recognizable shape.  
     
     
         2 . The puzzle of  claim 1  wherein said at least one protrusion and said at least one recess each form respective recognizable shapes.  
     
     
         3 . The puzzle of  claim 1  wherein said at least one protrusion and said at least one recess each form a similar recognizable shape.  
     
     
         4 . The puzzle of  claim 1  wherein said puzzle pieces comprise a plurality of recesses having a similar recognizable shape but of different sizes.  
     
     
         5 . The puzzle of  claim 1  wherein said puzzle pieces comprise a plurality of protrusions having a similar recognizable shape but of different sizes.  
     
     
         6 . The puzzle of  claim 1  having a recognizable image appear when said puzzle pieces are assembled, said recognizable shape and said recognizable image having a common theme.  
     
     
         7 . A puzzle having a plurality of puzzle pieces and having a plurality of zones defined by protrusions and recesses forming recognizable shapes along the periphery of each puzzle piece in said plurality of puzzle pieces.  
     
     
         8 . The puzzle of  claim 7  wherein a first set of puzzle pieces comprises a first set of protrusions and recesses and wherein a second set of puzzle pieces comprises a second set of protrusions and recesses, said second set of protrusions and recesses being different from said first set of protrusions and recesses, said first set of puzzle pieces connecting with each other and defining a first zone and said second set of puzzle pieces connecting with each other and defining a second zone.  
     
     
         9 . The puzzle of  claim 8  further comprising a third set of puzzle pieces comprising protrusions and recesses of said first set and protrusions and recesses of said second set, said third set of puzzle pieces connecting with each other, with said first set of puzzle pieces and with said second set of puzzle pieces.  
     
     
         10 . The puzzle of  claim 8  wherein said second set of protrusions and recesses are the same as said first set of protrusions but are different in size.  
     
     
         11 . A puzzle comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces wherein each of said puzzle pieces comprises a first recognizable shape and wherein said plurality of puzzle pieces connect with each other.  
     
     
         12 . The puzzle of  claim 11  wherein said puzzle pieces comprise varying sizes of said first recognizable shape.  
     
     
         13 . The puzzle of  claim 12  having a first zone defined by interconnecting puzzle pieces of said first recognizable shape of a first size and a second zone defined by interconnecting puzzle pieces of said first recognizable shape of a second size, said second size being different than said first size.  
     
     
         14 . The puzzle of  claim 11  having a recognizable image appear when said puzzle pieces are assembled, said first recognizable shape and said recognizable image having a common theme.  
     
     
         15 . The puzzle of  claim 11  further comprising a another plurality of puzzle pieces wherein each of said pieces of said another plurality of puzzle pieces comprises a second recognizable shape, different from said first recognizable shape, and wherein said another plurality of puzzle pieces connect with each other.  
     
     
         16 . The puzzle of  claim 15  having a first zone defined by interconnecting puzzle pieces of said first recognizable shape and a second zone defined by interconnecting puzzle pieces of said second recognizable shape.  
     
     
         17 . The puzzle of  claim 15  having a recognizable image appear when said plurality of puzzle pieces and said another plurality of puzzle pieces are assembled, said first recognizable shape, said second recognizable shape and said recognizable image having a common theme.  
     
     
         18 . A puzzle comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces wherein said puzzle pieces comprise sub-pieces, said sub-pieces being contained within said puzzle pieces.  
     
     
         19 . The puzzle of  claim 18  wherein said plurality of puzzle pieces demarcates said puzzle into large subdivisions.  
     
     
         20 . The puzzle of  claim 19  wherein each of said puzzle pieces comprises a periphery and wherein said periphery comprises at least one protrusion or at least one recess forming a recognizable shape.  
     
     
         21 . The puzzle of  claim 18  wherein said sub-pieces forming recognizable shapes.  
     
     
         22 . The puzzle of  claim 21  wherein said sub-pieces form recognizable shapes that interconnect with each other.  
     
     
         23 . The puzzle of  claim 21  wherein said sub-pieces have peripheries and comprise at least one protrusion or at least one recess along their peripheries that forms a recognizable shape.  
     
     
         24 . The puzzle of  claim 21  wherein said sub-pieces have peripheries and comprise traditional jigsaw puzzle piece peripheries.  
     
     
         25 . The puzzle of  claim 21  having a recognizable image appear when said puzzle pieces and said sub-pieces are assembled, said recognizable shapes and said recognizable image having a common theme.  
     
     
         26 . The puzzle of  claim 21  wherein said at least one of said sub-pieces comprises an inner piece contained within said sub-piece and wherein said inner piece comprises a recognizable shape.  
     
     
         27 . The puzzle of  claim 26  having a recognizable image appear when said puzzle pieces, said sub-pieces and said inner pieces are assembled, said recognizable shapes and said recognizable image having a common theme.  
     
     
         28 . A method for assembling a puzzle comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of puzzle pieces having protrusions and recesses of recognizable shapes along the periphery of said puzzle pieces; and    joining said puzzle pieces by matching protrusions of recognizable shapes with corresponding recesses of said recognizable shapes.    
     
     
         29 . A method for assembling a puzzle comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of puzzle pieces having protrusions and recesses of recognizable shapes and of different sizes along the peripheries of the puzzle pieces; and    joining said puzzle pieces according to said size of said protrusions and recesses to form different puzzle piece zones within said puzzle.    
     
     
         30 . A method for assembling a puzzle comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of puzzle pieces of a single recognizable shape; and    interconnecting said plurality of puzzle pieces of a single recognizable shape.    
     
     
         31 . A method for assembling a puzzle comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of puzzle pieces of a single recognizable shape but of different sizes; and    joining said puzzle pieces according to said size of said puzzle pieces to form different puzzle zones within said puzzle.    
     
     
         32 . A method of assembling a puzzle comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of puzzle pieces each containing at least one removable element and wherein said plurality of puzzle pieces demarcates said puzzle into large subdivisions; and    interconnecting said plurality of puzzle pieces and installing said at least one removable element into a corresponding puzzle piece.    
     
     
         33 . A method for assembling a puzzle by a plurality of users of different skill levels and wherein the puzzle comprises puzzle pieces having shaped protrusions and recesses of varying kinds along the peripheries of said puzzle pieces, said method comprising the steps of: 
 assigning the assembly of said puzzle pieces having protrusions and recesses of a first kind to users having a first skill level; and    assigning the assembly of said puzzle pieces having protrusions and recesses of a second kind, different from said first kind, to users having a second skill level.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising the step of having said of users of said first skill level compete against said users of said second skill level by having said first skill level users assemble all of said puzzle pieces having protrusions of said first kind and by having said second skill level users assemble all of said puzzle pieces having protrusions of said second kind in the least amount of time.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said puzzle pieces having shaped protrusions and recesses of various kinds also comprise various sizes of said shaped protrusions and recesses of said various kinds, said method further comprising the steps of: 
 directing users of said first skill level to assemble said puzzle pieces having shaped protrusions and recesses of a first size; and  
 directing users of said second skill level to assemble said puzzle pieces having shaped protrusions and recesses of a second size, different from said first size.  
 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising the step of having said of users of said first skill level compete against said users of said second skill level by having said first skill level users assemble all of said puzzle pieces having protrusions of said first size and by having said second skill level users assemble all of said puzzle pieces having protrusions of said second size in the least amount of time.  
     
     
         37 . A method of assembling a puzzle by users having different skill levels and wherein the puzzle comprises a plurality of puzzle pieces, said plurality of puzzle pieces having a first set of pieces of a first recognizable shape which interconnect with each other and a second set of puzzle pieces having a second set of pieces of a second recognizable shape, different from said first recognizable shape, that interconnect with each other, said method comprising the steps of: 
 directing users of a first skill level to find puzzle pieces having a first or second recognizable shape;    directing users of a second skill level to place such found puzzle pieces of said first recognizable shape in assembling said puzzle; and    directing users of a third skill level to place such found puzzle pieces of said second recognizable shape in assembling said puzzle.    
     
     
         38 . A method of assembling a puzzle by users having different skill levels and wherein the puzzle comprises a plurality of puzzle pieces, said plurality of puzzle pieces having a first set of pieces of a recognizable shape of a first size which interconnect with each other and a second set of puzzle pieces having a second set of pieces of a second size of said recognizable shape which interconnect with each other, said second size being different from said first size, said method comprising the steps of: 
 directing users of a first skill level to find puzzle pieces having the recognizable shape;    directing users of a second skill level to place such found puzzle pieces of said first size in assembling said puzzle; and    directing users of a third skill level to place such found puzzle pieces of said second size in assembling said puzzle.