Puzzle game

Abstract

A puzzle game includes a Playing Grid and a plurality of Playing Pieces. The Playing Grid contains an array of Nodes, and a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors. Also included in the Playing Grid are a network of Branches interconnecting said nodes. A Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes. The object of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid without intersecting each other, the Anchors, or the edge of the Playing Grid, in such a way as to create a connected path from one Anchor to any other.

1 . A puzzle game comprising a Playing Grid and a plurality of Playing Pieces, said Playing Grid comprising:
 an array of Nodes wherein a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors;   a network of Branches interconnecting said nodes;   wherein a Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes;   wherein the object or goal of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid by laying each of said Playing Pieces directly over a Contiguous Path of Nodes and Branches in order to connect all of the Anchors with a single connected Contiguous Path.   
   
   
       2 . The puzzle game of  claim 1 , wherein the Playing Grid takes the form of an array of cells designating Nodes, a Branch is an edge common to two Nodes, and the Playing Pieces are geometrical arrangements of one or more cells. 
   
   
       3 . The puzzle game of  claim 2 , wherein the Playing Pieces are further restricted to being superimposed over the Nodes of the Playing Grid without crossing over any Anchors or other Playing Pieces. 
   
   
       4 . The puzzle game of  claim 3 , wherein the Playing Pieces are still further restricted to staying within the edges and pattern of the Playing Grid, so that each Node contained in the Playing Piece is directly superimposed on a Node of the Playing Grid. 
   
   
       5 . The puzzle game of  claim 4 , wherein a subset of those Nodes that are not Anchors are further designated as Barrier Nodes and further wherein the Playing Pieces are prohibited from crossing over any such Barrier Nodes. 
   
   
       6 . The puzzle game of  claim 5 , wherein a subset of Branches of the Playing Grid are further designated as Barrier Branches and further wherein the Playing Pieces are prohibited from crossing over any such Barrier Branches. 
   
   
       7 . The puzzle Game of  claim 1  wherein the Playing Grid takes the form of an array of circular Nodes, a Branch is a point common to two Nodes, and the Playing Pieces are geometrical arrangements of circular cells. 
   
   
       8 . The puzzle game of  claim 7 , wherein the Playing Pieces are further restricted to being superimposed over the circular Nodes of the Playing Grid without crossing over any Anchors or other Playing Pieces. 
   
   
       9 . The puzzle game of  claim 8 , wherein the Playing Pieces are still further restricted to staying within the edges and pattern of the Playing Grid, so that each semicircular end of each Playing Piece aligns with a semicircular portion of a circular Node and each Node contained in the Playing Piece is directly superimposed on a Node of the Playing Grid. 
   
   
       10 . The puzzle game of  claim 9 , wherein a subset of those Nodes that are not Anchors are further designated as Barrier Nodes and further wherein the Playing Pieces are prohibited from crossing over any such Barrier Nodes. 
   
   
       11 . The puzzle game of  claim 10 , wherein a subset of Branches of the Playing Grid are further designated as Barrier Branches and further wherein the Playing Pieces are prohibited from crossing over any such Barrier Branches. 
   
   
       12 . The puzzle Game of  claim 1  wherein the Playing Grid takes the form of an array of indicia representing Nodes, a Branch is a line joining two Nodes, and the Playing Pieces are a geometrically arranged set of said indicia. 
   
   
       13 . The puzzle game of  claim 12 , wherein the Playing Pieces are further restricted to being vertically or horizontally superimposed over the circular Nodes of the Playing Grid without crossing over any Anchors or other Playing Pieces. 
   
   
       14 . The puzzle game of  claim 13 , wherein the Playing Pieces are still further restricted to staying within the edges and pattern of the Playing Grid, so that each semicircular end of each Playing Piece aligns with a semicircular portion of a circular Node and each Node contained in the Playing Piece is directly superimposed on a Node of the Playing Grid. 
   
   
       15 . The puzzle game of  claim 14 , wherein a subset of those Nodes that are not Anchors are further designated as Barrier Nodes and further wherein the Playing Pieces are prohibited from crossing over any such Barrier Nodes. 
   
   
       16 . The puzzle game of  claim 15 , wherein a subset of Branches of the Playing Grid are further designated as Barrier Branches and further wherein the Playing Pieces are prohibited from crossing over any such Barrier Branches. 
   
   
       17 . A method for playing a puzzle game comprising the steps of: providing a Playing Grid, said Playing Grid comprising an array of Nodes wherein a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors and comprising a network of Branches interconnecting said Nodes;
 providing a plurality of Playing Pieces;   placing a Playing Piece on the Playing Grid;   creating a Contiguous Path that contains all of the said Anchors;   wherein a Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes;   wherein the object or goal of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid by laying each of said Playing Pieces directly over a Contiguous Path of Nodes and Branches in order to connect all of the Anchors with a single connected Contiguous Path.   
   
   
       18 . A method for creating a puzzle game comprising the steps of:
 providing a Playing Grid, said Playing Grid comprising an array of Nodes wherein a subset of said Nodes are designated as Anchors and comprising a network of Branches interconnecting said Nodes;   providing a plurality of Playing Pieces;   designating a subset of Nodes on the Playing Grid as Anchors;   wherein a Playing Piece is a single geometric arrangement that corresponds to a contiguous pattern of Nodes;   wherein the object or goal of the game is to place the Playing Pieces upon the Playing Grid by laying each of said Playing Pieces directly over a Contiguous Path of Nodes and Branches in order to connect all of the Anchors with a single connected Contiguous Path.