Engraved puzzle board

Abstract

An engraved puzzle board includes a board having an erasable surface and a number of d lines formed at least partially through the erasable surface. The engraved lines form a for playing a puzzle. The engraved lines persist on the erasable surface through repeated due to the engraved lines being formed at least partially through the erasable surface.

1 . An engraved puzzle board, comprising:
 a board having an erasable surface; and   a plurality of engraved lines formed at least partially through the erasable surface, the engraved lines forming a pattern for playing a puzzle, the pattern persisting on the erasable surface through repeated erasures.   
   
   
       2 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 1 , wherein the erasable surface comprises a melamine or a porcelain. 
   
   
       3 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 1 , wherein the board further comprises a backing coupled to the erasable surface. 
   
   
       4 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 3 , wherein the engraved lines extend through the erasable surface and into the backing. 
   
   
       5 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 4 , wherein the erasable surface comprises a different color than the backing, such that the engraved lines reveal the color of the backing through the erasable surface. 
   
   
       6 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 1 , wherein the board comprises a dry-erase board. 
   
   
       7 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern is configured for playing the game Sudoku. 
   
   
       8 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the pattern comprises nine boxes arranged in a three-by-three orientation; and   each box comprises nine cells arranged in a three-by-three orientation, such that the pattern comprises eighty-one cells arranged in a nine-by-nine orientation.   
   
   
       9 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 8 , wherein the engraved lines comprise:
 box lines that delineate the boxes of the pattern; and   cell lines that delineate the cells of the pattern, the cell lines being relatively narrower than the box lines.   
   
   
       10 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the board further comprises a backing coupled to the erasable surface, the backing being a different color than the erasable surface; and   the engraved lines extend through the erasable surface and into the backing such that engraved lines reveal the color of the backing through the erasable surface to form the pattern.   
   
   
       11 . An engraved puzzle board, comprising:
 a board that comprises:
 an erasable surface configured to be written on using an erasable marker, 
 a backing coupled to the erasable surface, the backing supporting the erasable surface; and 
   a plurality of engraved lines formed at least partially through the erasable surface, the engraved lines forming a pattern configured for playing a Sudoku puzzle.   
   
   
       12 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 11 , wherein the board comprises a dry-erase board. 
   
   
       13 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 1 , wherein the erasable surface comprises a melamine or a porcelain. 
   
   
       14 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the erasable surface comprises a different color than the backing; and   the engraved lines extend through the erasable surface and into the backing, such that the engraved lines reveal the color of the backing through the erasable surface to form the pattern.   
   
   
       15 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the pattern comprises nine boxes arranged in a three-by-three orientation; and   each box comprises nine cells arranged in a three-by-three orientation, such that the pattern comprises eighty-one cells arranged in a nine-by-nine orientation.   
   
   
       16 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 15 , wherein the engraved lines comprise:
 box lines that delineate the boxes of the pattern; and   cell lines that delineate the cells of the pattern.   
   
   
       17 . The engraved puzzle board of  claim 16 , wherein the box lines are relatively wider than the cell lines. 
   
   
       18 . A system for playing a Sudoku puzzle, the system comprising:
 an engraved puzzle board comprising an erasable surface, and a plurality of engraved lines formed at least partially through the erasable surface, the engraved lines forming a pattern suited for playing a Sudoku puzzle, the pattern comprising a plurality of cells arranged in rows, columns, and boxes; and   a plurality of visual assistance strips, each visual assistance strip being formed from a translucent material and being sized to cover a selected row, column, or box of the pattern.   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the engraved puzzle board comprises a dry-erase board. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 an erasable marker comprising erasable ink configured for writing on the erasable surface; and   an eraser configured for removing the erasable ink from the erasable surface, the pattern persisting on the erasable surface through repeated erasures due to the engraved lines being formed at least partially through the erasable surface.