Puzzle

Abstract

Interactive jigsaw puzzles have jigsaw pieces with verbiage thereon, such as letters or words. The pieces are assembled to form verbal expressions such as words, sentences, phrases, quotations, nursery rhymes, poems, stories or books. Puzzles may be designed for toddlers, children, young adults and adults who will assemble jigsaw puzzle pieces to complete a word, sentence or story, etc., pertinent to their age, ability and interest levels. Pieces may be color and shape coded with increasing difficulty as readers advance. Puzzles may have interchangeable pieces, allowing the reader/assembler to also become the author by varying the expression. Simple sentences and stories will be completed in one puzzle assembly. Chapter books will have one puzzle per chapter. Pieces may also include illustrations, tactile components to increase sensory involvement, or Braille printing.

1 . A puzzle comprising:
 a plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces, each piece having verbiage thereon,   the puzzle pieces being adapted to interlock together to form a completed puzzle so that the verbiage forms a verbal expression.   
   
   
       2 . The puzzle of  claim 1  wherein the verbiage comprises at least one letter. 
   
   
       3 . The puzzle of  claim 2  wherein the verbal expression comprises at least one word. 
   
   
       4 . The puzzle of  claim 1  wherein the verbiage comprises at least one word. 
   
   
       5 . The puzzle of  claim 4  wherein the verbal expression comprises a sentence or phrase. 
   
   
       6 . The puzzle of claim,  4  wherein the verbal expression comprises a poem. 
   
   
       7 . The puzzle of  claim 4  wherein the verbal expression comprises a story or chapter. 
   
   
       8 . The puzzle of  claim 1  wherein each piece comprises indicia adjacent at least one edge of the piece which mates with indicia on another piece when the pieces are correctly interlocked. 
   
   
       9 . The puzzle of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of pieces comprises more pieces than required to complete the puzzle, the additional pieces being interchangeable with other pieces and having different verbiage thereon and which may be assembled in the puzzle to vary the verbal expression in the completed puzzle. 
   
   
       10 . The puzzle of  claim 1  wherein at least one piece includes a tactile element. 
   
   
       11 . The puzzle of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the pieces are color coded to indicate the nature of the verbiage thereon. 
   
   
       12 . A puzzle comprising:
 a plurality of puzzle sets, each set comprising a plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces;   each puzzle piece having verbiage thereon;   the puzzle pieces of each set being adapted to interlock together to form a completed puzzle so that the verbiage forms a verbal expression.   
   
   
       13 . The puzzle of  claim 12  wherein the verbiage on each piece comprises at least one word. 
   
   
       14 . The puzzle of  claim 12  wherein the verbal expression comprises a story. 
   
   
       15 . The puzzle of  claim 12  wherein each set corresponds to a chapter in a book and the verbal expression of each set comprises the text of the chapter. 
   
   
       16 . The puzzle of  claim 12  wherein the set comprises more puzzle pieces than required to complete the puzzle, the additional pieces being interchangeable with other pieces and having different verbiage thereon and which may be assembled in the puzzle to vary the verbal expression in the completed puzzle. 
   
   
       17 . The puzzle of  claim 12  wherein at least some pieces comprise indicia adjacent at least one edge of the piece which mates with indicia on another piece when the pieces are correctly interlocked. 
   
   
       18 . A method for playing an educational puzzle game, comprising:
 providing a puzzle comprising a plurality of interlocking puzzle pieces, each piece having verbiage thereon; and   assembling the puzzle pieces by interlocking them together to form a completed puzzle so that the verbiage forms a verbal expression.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the puzzle comprises a plurality of puzzle sets, each set comprising a plurality of puzzle pieces, and each set corresponding to a chapter in a book, further comprising:
 assembling a first set of puzzle pieces;   reading the verbal expression formed by the assembled first set corresponding to a first chapter of the book;   assembling a second set; and   reading the verbal expression formed by the assembled second set corresponding to a second chapter of the book.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 providing more pieces than required to complete the puzzle, the additional pieces being interchangeable with other pieces and having different verbiage thereon; and   assembling the puzzle using the additional pieces to vary the verbal expression in the completed puzzle.