Progressive puzzle

• US 20070142106A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Benedict, Bryan, Scott, Wayne, Proch, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US11/303,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20070142106A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0423 Word games, e.g. scrabble electric A63F3/0421; two-dimensional puzzles with rotating rings or discs A63F9/0811, A63F9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0098 Word or number games A63F3/0415, A63F3/0421, A63F3/0423 take precedence

Abstract

A progressive puzzle dispersed throughout a thematic product universe is provided. The thematic product universe includes a plurality of different product genres sharing a common theme. The progressive puzzle includes a plurality of clues, and for each clue, a solution. The clues are progressive, such that the solution to at least one clue leads to a different clue. According to some aspects of the disclosure, at least one clue can be associated with a different product genre than at least one other clue, and/or at least one solution can be derived from a different product genre than at least one other solution.

Claims

1. A progressive puzzle dispersed throughout a thematic product universe that includes a plurality of different product genres sharing a common theme, the progressive puzzle comprising:

a plurality of clues, where at least one clue is associated with a different product genre than at least one other clue;

for each clue, a solution;

where the clues are progressive, such that the solution to at least one clue leads to a different clue.

2. The progressive puzzle of claim 1, where the thematic product universe includes a toys product genre including a plurality of characters existing in the thematic product universe, an audio-visual entertainment product genre including audio-visual representations of the plurality of characters, and a network product genre including network accessible information pertaining to the plurality of characters.

3. The progressive puzzle of claim 2, where characters in the toys product genre include toy cars.

4. The progressive puzzle of claim 1, where at least one solution is derived from a different product genre than at least one other solution.

5. The progressive puzzle of claim 1, where all but a first clue is hidden until a preceding clue is solved.

6. The progressive puzzle of claim 1, where at least one clue is found on an Internet site showcasing a character from the thematic product universe, and where the solution to that clue is derived from printed material sold with a toy embodying the character.

7. The progressive puzzle of claim 1, where at least one clue is associated with a printed material associated with a toy, and where the solution to that clue is derived from an audio visual media including an audio visual representation of the toy.

8. The progressive puzzle of claim 1, where at least one clue includes a toy package including coded writing, and where the solution to that clue is derived from a different toy package including normal writing corresponding to the coded writing.

9. The progressive puzzle of claim 1, further comprising, for at least one solution, a prize.

10. The progressive puzzle of claim 9, where the prize includes access to Internet content within the thematic product universe.

11. The progressive puzzle of claim 9, where the prize includes an item from the thematic product universe.

12. A progressive puzzle dispersed throughout a thematic product universe that includes a plurality of different product genres, the progressive puzzle comprising:

a plurality of clues;

for each clue, a solution, where at least one solution is derived from a different product genre than at least one other solution;

where the clues are progressive, such that the solution to at least one clue leads to a different clue.

13. The progressive puzzle of claim 12, where the thematic product universe includes a toys product genre including a plurality of characters existing in the thematic product universe, an audio-visual entertainment product genre including audio-visual representations of the plurality of characters, and a network product genre including network accessible information pertaining to the plurality of characters.

14. The progressive puzzle of claim 12, where at least one clue is associated with a different product genre than at least one other clue.

15. The progressive puzzle of claim 12, where all but a first clue is hidden until a preceding clue is solved.

16. The progressive puzzle of claim 12, further comprising, for at least one solution, a prize.

17. The progressive puzzle of claim 12, where the prize includes access to Internet content within the thematic product universe.

18. The progressive puzzle of claim 17, where the prize includes an item from the thematic product universe.

19. A thematic product universe, comprising:

a toys product genre including a plurality of characters;

an audio-visual entertainment product genre including audio-visual representations of the plurality of characters;

a network product genre including network accessible information pertaining to the plurality of characters; and

a progressive puzzle, including;

a plurality of clues, where at least one clue is found within the line of toys product genre, the audio-visual entertainment product genre, or the network product genre;

for each clue, a solution, where at least one solution is derived from a product genre other than the product genre where the clue corresponding to the solution is found;

where the clues are progressive, such that the solution to at least one clue leads to a different clue.

20. The thematic product universe of claim 19, wherein the progressive puzzle further includes, for at least one solution, a prize.