Hidden word game & puzzle system

Abstract

The present invention teaches a hidden word game and/or puzzle capable of being played or solved by one or more people, at one or more than one location. In a more broad context, a puzzle or game “system” is provided in which two or more words or letter groupings are set forth in spaced-apart manner. A plurality of groups of letters which are linked to one another are embedded or hidden within one or more of said words or letter groupings. Either the spelling arrangement, or the pronunciation of said letters within a letter group, has an accepted meaning when viewed in at least one arrangement. The letter groups are related to one another by meaning, theme, or otherwise. The user of the game and/or puzzle is challenged to locate these letter groups.

1 . A puzzle, or the like, comprising, in combination: 
 a plurality of words which are spaced from one another,    a plurality of groups of letters which are linked in some way with one another, said letters being embedded within one or more of said words,    either the spelling arrangement or the pronunciation of said letters within a letter group having an accepted first meaning when viewed in a first arrangement,    the meanings of a plurality of said letter groups having a relationship to one another.    a user of said puzzle being challenged to find said letter groups.    
   
   
       2 . A puzzle, according to  claim 1 , wherein the subject of said meanings of said letter groups is substantially unrelated to the subject of said words.  
   
   
       3 . A puzzle according to  claim 1 , wherein two or more users compete with one another to solve the puzzle.  
   
   
       4 . A puzzle according to  claim 3 , wherein the winner among said users is able to locate more of said letter groups than the other.  
   
   
       5 . A puzzle according to  claim 3 , wherein the winner among said users is able to find a predetermined number of letter groups before the other.  
   
   
       6 . A puzzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the order of letters within a letter group may be arranged in more than one configuration to yield a meaning when spelled or pronounced.  
   
   
       7 . A puzzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the language of said letter groups, on one hand, and said words, on the other, is the same.  
   
   
       8 . A puzzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the language of both said letter groups and said words is different.  
   
   
       9 . A puzzle according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said letter groups comprises a word which has a meaning which is distinct from the meaning of the word within which said letter group is embedded.  
   
   
       10 . A puzzle according to  claim 1 , wherein said puzzle is used as an educational means to improve the development of cognitive skills in the user.  
   
   
       11 . A puzzle according to  claim 9 , wherein said cognitive skills includes one or more of the following: the ability to associate or link related letter groups, the ability to improve one's vocabulary, and the ability to improve reading skills.  
   
   
       12 . A puzzle according to  claim 1 , wherein said meanings are related to a predetermined criteria.  
   
   
       13 . A puzzle according to  claim 1 , wherein a letter group is never identical to a word within which it is embedded.