Interactive audio-visual puzzle

• US 5,087,043 A
• Filed: 02/09/1990
• Issued: 02/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Golden Books Publishing Company, Inc. (Golden Books Family Entertainment, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sight And Sound Inc.
• Inventors: Kusina, Patrick E., Kish, Conrad W., Pierce, Harold D., Billings, Zeb
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pierce, William M.
• Application Number:
  US07/478,086
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 273/138 A, 273/153 R, 273/156, 273/157 R, 273/1 E, 273/237, 434/327, 434/333, 434/339, 434/340, 434/346, 434/348, 434/317, 434/356
• US Class Current: 273/157.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/1066 completing a circuit if solved correctly
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/10 Two-dimensional jig-saw puzzles
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/063 with hand-placed probe or plug

Abstract

An audio-visual interactive puzzle includes a rigid puzzle form defining a predetermined number of form cutouts, an upper graphic disposed on the form upper surface, and a plurality of respective removable puzzle pieces, each having a peripheral configuration conforming to that of an associated form cutout and bearing a piece graphic. A flexible membrane bears on the underside thereof a plurality of conductors in predetermined relative disposition, and a plurality of respective lower graphics overlie the flexible membrane and underlie the form cutouts. A spacer includes respective spacer cutouts generally corresponding to and disposed to underlie the form cutouts, and a conductive ground plane underlies the spacer cutouts. An electronic sound generator generates respective predetermined associated sounds in response to the input signals applied thereto. The flexible membrane conductors, spacer and ground plane cooperate to form a touchpad including a touchpoint corresponding to each of the lower graphics electrically connected to the sound generator, thereby to selectively effect generation of the input signals to the sound generator.

Claims

1. An audio-visual interactive puzzle comprising:

a rigid puzzle form defining an upper surface, including a predetermined number of form cutouts;

an upper graphic disposed on said upper surface of said form;

a plurality of respective removable puzzle pieces, each having a peripheral configuration conforming to that of an associated form cutout and bearing a piece graphic;

a flexible membrane having an underside and bearing, on said underside thereof, a plurality of conductors in predetermined relative disposition;

a plurality of respective lower graphics disposed to overlie said flexible membrane and to underlie said form cutouts;

a spacer including respective spacer cutouts generally corresponding to and disposed to underlie said form cutouts;

a conductive ground plane disposed to underlie said spacer cutouts;

means for maintaining said form, said lower graphics, said flexible membrane, said spacer and said ground plane in predetermined relative dispositions; and

an electronic sound generator, responsive to input signals applied thereto, for generating respective predetermined associated sounds in response to the input signals;

said flexible membrane conductors, said spacer and said ground plane corresponding to form a touchpad including a touchpoint corresponding to each of said lower graphics electrically connected to said electronic sound generator, to selectively effect generation of said the input signals to said electronic sound generator.

2. The audio-visual interactive puzzle of claim 1, wherein said lower graphics are disposed on a flexible sheet underlying said frame.

3. The audio-visual interactive puzzle of claim 1, further comprising a start button and wherein:

said spacer includes a spacer cutout generally corresponding to and disposed to underlie said start button; and

a touchpad includes a touchpoint corresponding to said start button to selectively effect generation of an input signal to said electronic sound generator.

4. The audio-visual interactive puzzle of claim 1, further comprising means for generating audible prompts indicative of individual ones of said puzzle pieces.

5. The audio-visual interactive puzzle of claim 1, wherein the subject matter of said piece graphic is logically related as a clue to the subject matter of said upper graphic.

6. The audio-visual interactive puzzle of claim 1, wherein the subject matter of said upper graphic, piece graphic and lower graphic are logically related as a clue.

7. An audio-visual interactive learning aid comprising:

a rigid puzzle form defining an upper surface, including a predetermined number of form cutouts;

an upper graphic disposed on said upper surface of said form;

a plurality of respective removable puzzle pieces, each having a peripheral configuration conforming to that of an associated form cutout and bearing a piece graphic;

a flexible membrane having an underside and bearing, on said underside thereof, a plurality of conductors in predetermined relative disposition;

a plurality of respective lower graphic disposed to overlie said flexible membrane and to underlie said form cutouts;

a spacer including respective spacer cutouts generally corresponding to and disposed to underlie said form cutouts;

a conductive ground plane disposed to underlie said spacer cutouts;

said flexible membrane conductors, said spacer and said ground plane cooperating to form a touchpad including a touchpoint corresponding to each of said lower graphics, actuation of one of said touchpoints selectively effecting generation of a response signal indicative of the corresponding lower graphic;

means for generating audible prompts indicative of a respective designated one of said lower graphics, and, responsive to a subsequent response signal, generating respective predetermined sounds associated with the corresponding lower graphic if said response signal is indicative of said designated lower graphic.

8. The learning aid of claim 7, further including means for, responsive to a response signal indicative of a lower graphic other than said designated lower graphic, selectively generating a further audible prompt indicative of a said same designated lower graphic, and, responsive to a response signal indicative of said designated lower graphic, selectively generating a further audible prompt indicative of a new designated lower graphic.