Puzzle piece, and slide puzzle tool

Abstract

To provide a slide puzzle tool that is started readily and can expand a ring of communication with a sighted person through a game, and further allows a learning effect of being capable of reading and writing Braille to be expected.SOLUTION: In a slide puzzle tool 1, nine puzzle pieces 10 are disposed in a puzzle area R1. The puzzle pieces 10 can travel vertically and laterally in the puzzle area R1. The puzzle area R1 has nine small sections R11 that are square each. The puzzle pieces 10 have a Braille display projection 20 for displaying Braille, a character display section 30 for displaying a character or a figure corresponding to the braille, and a linear projection 60. The Braille display projection 20 can confirm a direction by a cutout 40 provided in a corner. When the puzzle pieces 10 are slid vertically and horizontally and are disposed in a previously assumed pattern, the linear projection 60 forms a continuous line.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to puzzle pieces having Braille marks thereon, and to a sliding puzzle tool using the puzzle pieces. [Background technology]

[0002] It is said that visually impaired people, like able-bodied people, have a strong desire to play games, and for this reason, various gaming tools for the visually impaired have been proposed.

[0003] Patent document 1 proposes a Go game set for the visually impaired that allows the white and black stones on the Go board to be easily distinguished and will never move to another location even if touched by the hand or if the hand moves parallel to the board.

[0004] Patent Document 2 proposes a shogi game set for the visually impaired that allows the players to easily distinguish the type of pieces laid out on the shogi board, whether they are friend or foe, and whether they are front or back, and that will never move or move to another location even if they are touched with the hand or if the hand moves parallel to the board.

[0005] Patent Document 3 proposes a game board in which the board body on which the game pieces are placed has multiple holes into which the pieces can be inserted, making it possible to use the game board on board while traveling on public transport or by visually impaired people. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-253498 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2005-253499 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2004-358185 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the above-mentioned game equipment requires players to check the game position by touching it with their fingers every time the opponent changes the position. Also, players must learn the rules of the game beforehand, which makes it difficult to play casually. Furthermore, since the equipment is not designed for playing against able-bodied players, the number of participants is limited, and it is difficult for visually impaired people, who tend to be isolated from society, to expand their circle of communication through games.

[0008] Visually impaired people tend to think that they can read Braille, but the reality is that only about 10% of visually impaired people can read Braille. Many people develop visual impairments after reaching a certain age, and this is likely due in part to the fact that it takes time for such people to master Braille, which can be sensed with their fingertips. However, the game equipment mentioned above is intended solely for the enjoyment of games. Therefore, it is not possible to expect any learning effect that will enable people to read Braille.

[0009] The present invention has been made with a focus on these problems, and aims to provide a slide puzzle tool that is easy to start playing, enables players to expand their circle of communication through the game, and is also expected to have the effect of teaching players how to read Braille. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The invention for solving the above problem is a puzzle piece for use in a slide puzzle, which comprises a plate portion that can be accommodated in one of a puzzle area composed of a plurality of small sections and can be moved vertically and horizontally within the puzzle area by sliding, a braille display protrusion for displaying braille, and a character display portion that displays letters or numbers corresponding to the braille, wherein the braille display portion protrudes from the plate portion and has a direction confirmation portion for confirming the direction in which the braille is displayed, and the character display portion is represented by a convex shape raised from the plate portion.

[0011] According to this configuration, the Braille unit has a direction confirmation unit for confirming the direction in which the Braille is displayed, so visually impaired people can easily confirm the direction in which the Braille is displayed. Also, because the character display unit displays characters or numbers corresponding to the Braille, visually impaired people who cannot read Braille can naturally learn to read Braille while having fun through the game.

[0012] Preferably, the orientation confirmation portion is a notch provided in the Braille display convex portion.

[0013] According to this configuration, the direction confirmation portion is a notch provided in the Braille display convex portion, so that a visually impaired person can easily confirm the direction in which the Braille is displayed by touching the Braille display convex portion with his / her finger.

[0014] Preferably, the Braille display portion has a plurality of corners, and the cutout is a portion obtained by cutting out one of the plurality of corners.

[0015] According to this configuration, the cutout is a portion where one of the multiple corners is cut out, so that a visually impaired person can more easily confirm the direction in which the Braille characters are displayed.

[0016] Preferably, the Braille characters consist of solid dots represented by convex circles and imaginary dots represented by concave circles.

[0017] According to this configuration, Braille characters are composed of real dots represented by convex circles and imaginary dots represented by concave circles, so that the positional relationship between the real dots and the imaginary dots becomes clear.

[0018] Preferably, the Braille characters consist of solid dots represented by convex circles and imaginary dots represented by convex rectangles.

[0019] According to this configuration, Braille characters are composed of real dots represented by convex circles and imaginary dots represented by convex rectangles, so that the positional relationship between the real dots and the imaginary dots becomes clear.

[0020] Preferably, the puzzle device further includes a true / false determination unit that can recognize that an arrangement of puzzle pieces, the number of which is equal to the number of small sections arranged in the puzzle area, is the predetermined pattern when the arrangement is the predetermined pattern.

[0021] According to this configuration, by checking (tracing with a finger) the correctness determining section, it is possible to easily check whether or not the puzzle pieces are arranged in a predetermined pattern.

[0022] Preferably, the correct / incorrect judgment section has a linear protrusion protruding from the plate section, and when the same number of puzzle pieces as the small sections arranged in the puzzle area are arranged in a predetermined pattern, the linear protrusion forms a continuous line.

[0023] With this configuration, when the same number of puzzle pieces as the small sections placed in the puzzle area are arranged in a predetermined pattern, the linear convex portions form a continuous line, so that a visually impaired person can easily recognize that the game is over by touching the linear convex portions with their finger and confirming that a continuous line has been formed.

[0024] Another aspect of the invention for solving the above problem is a sliding puzzle tool comprising a puzzle area consisting of a plurality of small compartments, the same number of puzzle pieces as the plurality of small compartments, and a waiting area connected to the puzzle area in which at least two puzzle pieces can be kept waiting, and which is characterized in that the puzzle pieces can be arranged in a pre-determined pattern by repeating the procedure of sliding the puzzle pieces vertically and horizontally, utilizing the empty spaces in the small compartments that are created when the puzzle pieces are kept waiting in the waiting area.

[0025] According to this configuration, the puzzle pieces used in the slide puzzle have Braille and letters or numbers corresponding to the Braille displayed on the plate, so that both visually impaired and able-bodied people can enjoy the slide puzzle. For example, visually impaired and able-bodied people can compete with each other to complete the game the fastest, which can promote communication between the visually impaired and able-bodied people through the game.

[0026] Preferably, the waiting area has a direction changing section that allows puzzle pieces arranged in random directions to be rotated so that they can be arranged in a predetermined direction.

[0027] With this configuration, the waiting area has a direction change section that allows randomly oriented puzzle pieces to be rotated to arrange them in a pre-determined direction, so the slide puzzle game can be started without aligning the directions of the puzzle pieces. Since the puzzle pieces can be arranged easily, there is no hesitation in playing the slide puzzle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a puzzle piece. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a puzzle piece of modified example 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a puzzle piece of modified example 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 1A is a plan view of the sliding puzzle tool according to the first embodiment, showing a state before the game starts; FIG. 1B is a plan view of the same tool during the game; and FIG. 1C is a plan view of the same tool at the end of the game. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1(a) is a plan view illustrating the state of the sliding puzzle tool in the second embodiment before the game starts, FIG. 1(b) is a plan view illustrating the state during the game, and FIG. 1(c) is a plan view illustrating the state at the end of the game. [Figure 6] 13 is a plan view illustrating the posture of the puzzle pieces when they move through the passage. FIG. [Figure 7] 13(a) to 13(d) are perspective views illustrating a process from a state before the start of a game to a state after the game ends in a first modified example of the sliding puzzle tool in the second embodiment. [Figure 8] 13(a) to 13(c) are plan views illustrating a process from a state before the start of a game to a state after the game ends in a second modified example of the sliding puzzle tool in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating misrecognition of Braille. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The puzzle piece 10 and the sliding puzzle tool 1 using this puzzle piece 10 will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0030] 1, the puzzle piece 10 includes a plate portion 15, a Braille display protrusion 20, a character display portion 30, and a linear protrusion 60. The plate portion 15 is a plate having substantially the same shape as a small section R11 (see FIG. 4) described later.

[0031] The Braille display convex portion 20 is a substantially rectangular plate-like portion that protrudes from the plate portion 15. A notch 40 (orientation confirmation portion) is provided at one of the four corners of the rectangle. Also, Braille characters 50 corresponding to the numbers 1 to 9 are displayed on the surface. In this embodiment, when the notch 40 is located at the lower right corner, the Braille characters 50 can be confirmed in a normal viewing state, but this is not limited to this. The position of the notch 40 may be the lower left, upper right, or upper left corner. However, the notch 40 needs to be provided at the same position for all puzzle pieces 10. A visually impaired person can recognize the direction in which the Braille characters 50 are displayed by touching and checking the position of the notch 40 with a finger.

[0032] Braille 50 is a character for visually impaired people that is basically composed of a combination of dots in 3 rows and 2 columns. Visually impaired people can recognize characters, etc. by the position of solid dots 51, which are represented by convex circles. Specifically, it is represented by a combination of areas where dots are placed (solid dots 51) and areas where dots are not placed (imaginary dots 52).

[0033] In Fig. 9, solid points are represented by black circles CB and imaginary points are represented by white circles CW. If the positional reference is not clear, visually impaired people may misidentify the position of the solid point (black circle CB) shown in Fig. 9(a) as the position of the solid point (black circle CB) in Fig. 9(b) or Fig. 9(c).

[0034] In the puzzle piece 10 of this embodiment 1, the Braille 50 is based on the Braille display convex portion 20 protruding from the plate portion 15, and the position of the actual point 51 can be grasped, so that the possibility of misidentifying the position of the actual point 51 is extremely low.

[0035] The linear protrusion 60 is a linear portion protruding from the plate portion 15, and is in contact with at least one side of the rectangular plate portion 15. When the puzzle pieces 10 are arranged in a pre-designated pattern, the linear protrusion 60 is arranged to form a continuous line. In other words, it corresponds to a true / false judgment unit for recognizing whether the puzzle pieces 10 have been arranged in the pre-designated pattern. In addition, a guide groove 61 is provided in the center of the linear protrusion 60. The guide groove 61 is a portion that serves as a so-called guide, guiding the tracing direction when tracing the linear protrusion 60 with a finger.

[0036] On the character display section 30, letters or numbers corresponding to the Braille 50 are displayed in a protruding shape from the plate section 15. This allows sighted people to understand the meaning of the Braille 50. As a result, visually impaired people and sighted people can enjoy playing a game using this puzzle piece 10 at the same time.

[0037] Most visually impaired people tend to think that they can read Braille, but in fact the Braille literacy rate is only about 10% of visually impaired people. In many cases, visual impairments are acquired due to some cause, and as people reach a certain age, it takes time to learn Braille, which is sensed with the fingertips. However, people who have acquired visual impairments can at least imagine the shape of letters, etc. In other words, it is highly likely that they can recognize letters, etc. by tracing them with their fingers. By displaying Braille and the corresponding letters, etc. side by side, people who have acquired visual impairments can learn Braille efficiently while having fun.

[0038] The puzzle piece 10 of this embodiment is merely an example, and can of course be modified without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Modifications 1 and 2 of the puzzle piece will be described below.

[0039] <Variation 1> 2 shows a puzzle piece 110 of the first modified example. The Braille 50 displayed on the Braille display convex portion 20 is composed of real dots 51a represented by convex circles and imaginary dots 52a represented by concave circles. Compared to when the imaginary dots are simply flat surfaces with no changes, the positions of the real dots are easier to recognize.

[0040] The correctness determining section for determining whether or not the puzzle pieces 110 have been arranged in the predetermined pattern is made up of the continuous Braille display convex section 120 and the continuous number display section 123.

[0041] The continuous Braille display convex portion 120 is a substantially rectangular plate-like portion that protrudes from the plate portion 15. As with the Braille display convex portion 20, a notch 140 is provided at one of the four corners. Braille characters 150, which are a combination of a real dot 121 represented by a convex circle and an imaginary dot 122 represented by a concave circle, represent numbers.

[0042] In the consecutive number display section 123, numbers corresponding to the consecutive Braille display convex section 120 are displayed by protruding from the plate section 15. The numbers displayed in the consecutive Braille display convex section 120 and the consecutive number display section 123 become consecutive numbers when the puzzle pieces 110 have been arranged in a predetermined pattern. In other words, the consecutive number display section 123 and the consecutive Braille display convex section 120 constitute a correct / incorrect judgment section.

[0043] <Variation 2> Puzzle piece 210 of modified example 2 shown in Fig. 3 has almost the same configuration as puzzle piece 110 of modified example 1, so differences will be described below. In puzzle piece 210, imaginary point 52b and imaginary point 222 are convex rectangles. In addition, continuous Braille display convex portion 220 and continuous numeral display portion 223 form a true / false judgment portion. Other portions are almost the same as modified example 1.

[0044] A first embodiment of the sliding puzzle tool 1 using the puzzle pieces 10 described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4(a) to (c).

[0045] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the sliding puzzle tool 1 includes a frame 70 that defines a puzzle area R1 and a waiting area R2, and nine puzzle pieces 10. The puzzle area R1 and the waiting area R2 are provided on the same plane that is lower than the external area R3. That is, each area is defined by being recessed from the external area R3. The puzzle area R1 has nine small sections R11, each of which is a square, and the small sections R11 are arranged in three rows and three columns. The nine puzzle pieces 10 are arranged in each of the small sections R11. In the first embodiment, the small sections R11 are arranged in three rows and three columns, but the number of rows and the number of columns may be more than one. That is, the number of rows and the number of columns may be two rows and two columns, or three rows and three columns or more. The number of rows and the number of columns do not have to be the same.

[0046] The waiting area R2 is an area where the puzzle pieces 10 can be temporarily placed, and in this embodiment, it is composed of two small sections R11, but is not limited to this. As long as there is a sufficient number of small sections R11 to slide the puzzle pieces 10 and arrange them in a pre-designed pattern, it may be composed of three small sections R11, or four or more small sections R11. The installation position of the waiting area R2 is not limited to this embodiment. The installation position may be any position as long as it is adjacent to the puzzle area R1.

[0047] The procedure for rearranging randomly arranged puzzle pieces 10 into a pre-designed pattern, that is, the procedure for playing a slide puzzle game using the slide puzzle tool 1, will now be described.

[0048] The puzzle pieces 10 aligned in the normal viewing state are randomly placed in the puzzle area R1. Visually impaired people can check the normal viewing state by using the notch 40 as a clue. The normal viewing state is when the notch 40 is located in the lower right corner of the puzzle.

[0049] The puzzle pieces 10 are moved and placed in waiting area R2. Using the empty spaces EP created by the movement of the puzzle pieces 10, the puzzle pieces 10 are moved one by one and other puzzle pieces 10 are placed in their designated positions (see FIG. 4(b)). After that, the puzzle pieces 10 that were waiting in waiting area R2 are moved to puzzle area R1. By repeating this process, the designs work together to reproduce the intended pattern.

[0050] Whether or not the linear protrusions 60 have been arranged in the expected pattern can be confirmed by the linear protrusions 60. When the linear protrusions 60 are traced and confirmed to be one continuous line, the expected pattern has been arranged. As shown in FIG. 4(c) in this embodiment, the pattern in which the numbers are arranged in ascending order starting from 1, starting from the upper left toward the right and then turning back, is the pattern that has been expected in advance.

[0051] A description will be given of the second embodiment of the sliding puzzle. Since the first and second embodiments have some common configurations, the different configurations will be mainly described. In addition, the same reference numerals will be used for the same configurations as the first embodiment, and reference numerals in the 200s will be used for the different configurations.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 5(a), the sliding puzzle tool 201 comprises a frame 270 that defines a puzzle area R1 and a waiting area R202, and nine puzzle pieces 10.

[0053] The waiting area R202 has a passage R221 and a direction change section R222. The passage R221 is a passage for moving the puzzle pieces 10 out of the puzzle area R1 and for waiting the puzzle pieces 10, and has one end connected to the small section R11 located in the first row, first column and the other end connected to the small section R11 located in the first row, third column.

[0054] 6, the passage portion R221 is a circular passage defined by an outer periphery boundary 225 and an inner periphery boundary 226. By moving the puzzle piece 10 along the passage portion R221 while in contact with the outer periphery boundary 225 and the inner periphery boundary 226, the puzzle piece 10 can be moved while maintaining a unique posture.

[0055] A direction change portion R222 is provided near the apex of the passage portion R221. The direction change portion R222 is an area where the direction of the puzzle piece 10 can be changed by rotating the puzzle piece 10. The direction change portion R222 is shaped so that the puzzle piece 10 can be accommodated and another puzzle piece 10 can pass through the passage portion R221 while the puzzle piece 10 is accommodated therein.

[0056] The procedure for rearranging the puzzle pieces 10 to recreate the expected pattern will now be described.

[0057] The puzzle pieces 10 are randomly arranged in the puzzle area R1. At this time, it is not necessary to align each puzzle piece 10 in the normal viewing direction. In other words, the puzzle pieces 10 are arranged in the normal viewing direction, the direction rotated 90 degrees clockwise from the normal viewing direction, the direction rotated 180 degrees, and the direction rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the normal viewing direction.

[0058] If it is desired to rotate the puzzle piece 10 90 degrees clockwise, the puzzle piece 10 may be moved to the direction change section R222 via the passage section R221, rotated 90 degrees clockwise at the direction change section R222, and then moved back to the small section R11 before the movement. Alternatively, the puzzle piece 10 moved to the direction change section R222 may be rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise, and then moved to a small section R11 different from the original position via the passage section 221.

[0059] When it is desired to rotate the puzzle piece 10 counterclockwise by 90 degrees, the procedure is almost the same as that described above, and therefore the explanation thereof will be omitted.

[0060] If it is desired to rotate the puzzle piece 10 by 180 degrees, the puzzle piece 10 may be moved through the passage R221 to a small section R11 different from the original position (see FIG. 6), or moved to the direction change section R222, rotated 180 degrees at the direction change section R222, and then moved back to the small section R11 before the movement.

[0061] After all puzzle pieces 10 are aligned in the normal viewing direction, at least two puzzle pieces 10 are placed in the waiting area R202. The puzzle pieces 10 are moved in sequence using the voids EP created by the movement of the puzzle pieces 10, and other puzzle pieces 10 are placed in their designated positions. After that, the puzzle pieces 10 that were waiting in the waiting area R202 are moved to the puzzle area R1.

[0062] Whether or not the linear protrusions 60 have been arranged in the expected pattern can be confirmed by the linear protrusions 60. When the linear protrusions 60 are traced and confirmed to be one continuous line, the expected pattern has been arranged. As shown in Fig. 5(c) in this embodiment, the pattern in which the numbers are arranged in ascending order starting from 1, starting from the upper left toward the right and then turning back, is the pattern that has been expected in advance.

[0063] This embodiment is merely an example, and can be modified within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention. For example, the sliding puzzle tool 301 shown in Fig. 7(a)-(d) has a pre-prepared pattern based on a verse from Hyakunin Isshu. Also, instead of the puzzle pieces 10, puzzle pieces 110 of the first modified example are used. In this case, whether or not the puzzle pieces 110 have been arranged in the pre-prepared pattern is determined by whether or not the numbers displayed in the continuous braille display convex portion 120 and the continuous number display portion 123 are consecutive numbers. That is, the continuous number display portion 123 and the continuous braille display convex portion 120 constitute a correct / incorrect judgment portion.

[0064] 8(a) to 8(c), a hint section 390 that provides a hint to an anticipated pattern may be provided. The hint section 390 is represented in both Braille and characters that correspond to Braille. [Industrial Applicability]

[0065] The slide puzzle tool of the present invention can be enjoyed by not only the visually impaired but also the sighted. This puzzle game allows the visually impaired and the sighted to communicate with each other, and therefore has great industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1, 201, 301, 302: Slide puzzle equipment 10, 110, 210: puzzle pieces 15: Plate section 20: Braille display raised area 30:Character display area 40:Notch 50, 150: Braille 51, 51a, 51b: Actual points 52,52a, 52b: Imaginary point 60: Linear convex part EP: Blank space R1: Puzzle area R11: Small parcel R2, R202: Standby area R221: Passage section R222: Turning section

Claims

1. A puzzle piece for use in a slide puzzle, A plate portion that can be accommodated in one of a plurality of small sections of a puzzle area and can be moved vertically and horizontally in the puzzle area by sliding; a braille display convex portion for displaying braille; a character display unit that displays characters or numbers corresponding to the Braille characters; the Braille display unit is provided to protrude from the plate unit and has a direction confirmation unit for confirming a direction in which the Braille is displayed, The puzzle piece is characterized in that the character display portion is represented by a protruding shape from the plate portion.

2. 2. The puzzle piece according to claim 1, wherein the orientation confirmation portion is a notch provided in the Braille display convex portion.

3. The Braille display unit has a plurality of corners, 3. The puzzle piece according to claim 2, wherein the cutout is a cutout portion of one of the plurality of corners.

4. 2. The puzzle piece according to claim 1, wherein the Braille characters are composed of solid dots represented by convex circles and imaginary dots represented by concave circles.

5. 2. The puzzle piece according to claim 1, wherein the Braille characters are composed of real dots represented by convex circles and imaginary dots represented by convex rectangles.

6. The puzzle piece according to claim 1, further comprising a true / false judgment unit that, when the puzzle pieces are arranged in a predetermined pattern, the arrangement of the puzzle pieces is the predetermined pattern, when the puzzle pieces have the same number as the small sections arranged in the puzzle area.

7. The puzzle piece according to claim 6, characterized in that the correct / incorrect judgment unit has a linear protrusion that protrudes linearly from the plate unit, and when the puzzle pieces, the number of which is the same as the small sections arranged in the puzzle area, are arranged in a predetermined pattern, the linear protrusion forms a continuous line.

8. A puzzle area consisting of a plurality of small sections; A puzzle piece according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the number of which is equal to the number of the small sections; a waiting area connected to the puzzle area and capable of waiting at least two puzzle pieces; This sliding puzzle tool is characterized in that the puzzle pieces can be arranged in a pre-determined pattern by repeating the procedure of sliding the puzzle pieces vertically and horizontally, utilizing the vacant spaces in the small sections that are generated when the puzzle pieces are placed on standby in the standby area.

9. The sliding puzzle tool according to claim 8, characterized in that the waiting area has a direction changing section that allows the puzzle pieces arranged in random directions to be rotated so that they can be arranged in a predetermined direction.

Images