SHAPE ONLY

Abstract

One aspect of the disclosed puzzle includes a puzzle frame and a plurality of puzzle pieces. The plurality of puzzle pieces may be associated with a particular color scheme. The particular color scheme associated with the plurality of puzzle pieces may be particularly chosen to force an individual to focus on the spatial characteristics of the puzzle frame and each of the plurality of puzzle pieces during puzzle assembly. This method challenges the way an individual has been trained to typically assemble puzzles, e.g., by requiring that an individual must analyze the shape of one or more puzzle pieces with respect to the corresponding space available within the puzzle frame as opposed to focusing primarily upon an attempt to match the images that are displayed on the front face of each puzzle piece. Accordingly, the disclosure may facilitate the development of enhanced spatial organization skills.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/655,298, filed Jun. 4, 2012, titled "ZZUPPLE," the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure

[0003] This disclosure is directed to a puzzle having puzzle pieces of a particular color scheme, and more particularly to a method of using the puzzle to facilitate the development of enhanced spatial organization skills.

[0004] 2. Related Art

[0005] Generally, prior art puzzles may include a plurality of puzzle pieces having various shapes and sizes. A common feature of prior art puzzles is that each puzzle piece typically may have a variety of seemingly random color designs. However, when all of the puzzle pieces are combined, the combination of seemingly random colors may create a recognizable image.

[0006] The practice of adding images onto puzzle pieces has implicitly trained individuals to assemble puzzles, not based upon the shape of the puzzle pieces, but instead, based upon a comparison of aspects of the images that facilitates the identification of a match between a pair of puzzle pieces. As a result, an individual that assembles a plurality of puzzle pieces by relying solely upon a comparison of colors and/or images that may be displayed on the front face of the puzzle pieces fails to enhance the individual's spatial organization skills in the process.

[0007] There is a long felt need in the art for a puzzle that comprises pieces of a single color that may be used to implement an educational process to help an individual develop enhanced spatial organization skills.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Accordingly, one aspect of the present disclosure provides a puzzle that includes puzzle pieces having a particular color scheme that may be used to help an individual develop enhanced spatial organization skills.

[0009] At least one aspect of the disclosure may provide an educational puzzle comprising: a plurality of puzzle pieces, wherein the plurality of puzzle pieces are associated with a color scheme; and, a puzzle frame configured to receive the plurality of puzzle pieces, wherein the puzzle frame is associated with at least one spatial characteristic, wherein the puzzle frame is configured to educationally engage an individual.

[0010] The color scheme may include a plurality of colors.

[0011] The color scheme may include a single color.

[0012] The puzzle frame may include at least one groove.

[0013] The at least one groove may include a plurality of grooves.

[0014] The at least one groove may span a substantial portion of the puzzle frame.

[0015] The at least one groove may be in the shape of an object.

[0016] The one or more puzzle pieces may be configured to fit within the boundaries of the at least one groove when properly arranged.

[0017] The puzzle frame may include a puzzle frame mechanism that may cause the surface of the puzzle frame to move or vibrate.

[0018] At least one of the plurality of puzzle pieces may include a puzzle piece mechanism that is configured to cause at least one of the plurality of puzzle pieces to move or vibrate.

[0019] Another aspect of the present disclosure may provide a method of educating an individual, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of puzzle pieces, wherein the plurality of puzzle pieces are associated with a color scheme; providing a puzzle, wherein the puzzle includes a puzzle frame, wherein the puzzle frame includes a groove; arranging the puzzle pieces on the surface of the puzzle frame within the groove without utilizing aspects of the color scheme.

[0020] The color scheme may include a plurality of colors.

[0021] The color scheme may include a single color.

[0022] The at least one groove may be in the shape of an object.

[0023] A method of educating an individual utilizing a puzzle without a puzzle frame, the method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of puzzle pieces, wherein the plurality of puzzle pieces are associated with an image-less color scheme; providing instructions which request that an individual arrange the puzzle pieces on a surface without utilizing aspects of the color scheme.

[0024] The method may further comprise may further comprise arranging the puzzle pieces on a surface without utilizing aspects of the color scheme.

[0025] The color scheme may include a plurality of colors.

[0026] The color scheme may include a single color.

[0027] The arranged puzzle pieces may form a particular object.

[0028] The object may include a truck, plane, train, boat, castle, butterfly, or animal.

[0029] Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the disclosure may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the detailed description, drawings and attachment. Moreover, it is to be understood that the foregoing summary of the disclosure and the following detailed description, drawings, and attachment are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the disclosure as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects of the present disclosure and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. No attempt is made to show structural details of the present disclosure in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the present disclosure and the various ways in which it may be practiced. In the drawings:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a view of an example of a puzzle including a plurality of puzzle pieces, in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an example of a puzzle including a plurality of puzzle pieces and a plurality of grooves, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows an example of a puzzle including a plurality of puzzle pieces configured to be arranged in the shape of an object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0034] The embodiments of the disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following attached description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the disclosure. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the disclosure may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

[0035] In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a method is provided for educating an individual using a specially configured puzzle. The method may educate an individual by, e.g., challenging the way an individual would traditionally assemble a conventional prior art puzzle.

[0036] A conventional prior art puzzle, when fully assembled, may include an image such as, e.g., a scenic snow-capped mountain that rises above a meadow near a lake. However, when disassembled, each of the plurality of individual puzzle pieces may include a variety of different colors that are representative of the complete picture. For example, a first puzzle piece may include white and gray that is representative of the portion of the image where the snow fades and the mountain is exposed, a second puzzle piece may be gray and green representative of the portion of the image where the mountain meets the meadow, a third puzzle piece may be completely green representative of the portion of the image where there is a meadow, and a fourth puzzle piece may be green and blue representative of the portion of the image where the shore of the lake meets the meadow.

[0037] Traditionally, an individual, when presented with this conventional prior art puzzle, would assemble the puzzle by comparing the colors and/or images printed on the front of the puzzle pieces. For example, the individual may determine that the green portion of the fourth puzzle piece matches the green portion of the completely green third puzzle piece. Similarly, the individual may determine that the green portion of the second puzzle pieces matches another green portion of the completely green third puzzle piece. Such a process would lead to the assembly of the puzzle based on the image and/or colors printed on the front of the puzzle pieces, and would therefore not facilitate the enhanced development of an individual's spatial organization skills.

[0038] In contrast, a specially configured puzzle in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure may educate an individual by facilitating the development of enhanced spatial organization skills. The special configuration of the puzzle may include, e.g., the design of a particular puzzle frame and each of a plurality of puzzle pieces. For example, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a particular puzzle frame may be associated with particular spatial characteristics and each of a plurality of puzzle pieces may be, e.g., associated with the same color scheme. Instead of focusing on the images and/or colors associated with a pair of puzzle pieces, an individual may focus on the spatial characteristics of the puzzle frame and each of the plurality of puzzle pieces. This method dictates that an individual must analyze the shape of one or more puzzle pieces with respect to the corresponding space available within the puzzle frame.

[0039] Accordingly, when an individual is tasked with assembling a specially configured puzzle in accordance with one aspect of the disclosed method set forth herein, the individual's natural instincts, which are built through traditional puzzle solving techniques, may be challenged. Only after this analysis is performed can an individual correctly place and arrange all available puzzle pieces on a surface. When this process is repeated over time, this process may yield enhanced spatial organization skills.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows one aspect of a puzzle 10 that may be used to teach spatial organization skills, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The puzzle 110 may comprise at least a puzzle frame 12 and one or more puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h. Each of the puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may be, e.g., different shapes and different sizes.

[0041] Puzzle frame 10 may be associated with one or more spatial characteristics that describe the parameters of the surface where the puzzle pieces may be placed, arranged, or otherwise assembled. The spatial characteristics may describe, e.g., the surface space of the puzzle suitable for receiving one or more puzzle pieces. The spatial characteristics of puzzle frame 10 may, e.g., indicate that the surface may be completely flat without grooves or walls defining an enclosed space for receiving one or more puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h.

[0042] For example, the puzzle frame 10 may include, e.g., a substantially flat surface whereby if the surface was tilted along an x-axis the puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h would move or slide along the surface. Implementations of the puzzle frame 12 that include a substantially flat surface may, e.g., foster the development of enhanced creativity. This is because an individual utilizing the puzzle 12 may be left to freely arrange the puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h in any way the individual sees fit.

[0043] However, it should be noted that the present disclosure should not be limited to puzzle frames having the spatial characteristics described above. it will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, in light of the instant disclosure, that the puzzle frame 10 may be associated with any spatial characteristics such as, e.g., the spatial characteristics associated with puzzle frame 20 (shown in FIG. 2), or other spatial characteristics described herein or otherwise known in the art, in order to specially configure the puzzle frame 10 in a manner that is capable of educationally engaging an individual within the spirit and scope of the instant disclosure.

[0044] The puzzle frame 1.2 may be made of one or more materials including, e.g., metal, aluminum, plastic, glass, plexiglass, stone, slate, wood, cardboard, paper, any other material, or the like and any variation thereof. The specific material selected to be used to manufacture the puzzle frame 12 may be chosen to accommodate a particular use of the puzzle frame 12. For example, a combination of metal and wood may be used to manufacture a stylish version of the puzzle frame 12. Alternatively, e.g., plastic may be used to manufacture a version of the puzzle frame 12 that may be more suitable for everyday use. However, it will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, in light of the instant disclosure, that any material, or combination thereof, may be used to manufacture puzzle frame 12 to suite any particular need.

[0045] The puzzle 10 may also include one or more puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h that may each be associated with a plurality of attributes including, e.g., a color scheme, shape, material, and mobility.

[0046] Puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may be designed such that all puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h associated with a particular puzzle frame 12 may be associated with a particular color scheme. The color scheme may include puzzles pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h that each may be associated with one or more colors such as, e.g., red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, black, white, or the like and any variation thereof. The color of the puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may also include, e.g., any mixture, of any shade, of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, black, white, or the like and any variation thereof. In addition, color scheme of puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may include, e.g., the natural color of a particular metal, aluminum, plastic, glass, plexiglass, stone, slate, wood, cardboard, paper, or other type of material from which the puzzle piece 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may be derived from. A color scheme wherein each puzzle piece is a different color may challenge an individual's traditional puzzle building skills if, e.g., the color scheme is designed in a way such that the puzzle piece's cannot be assembled together based upon the image that may be formed when, e.g., a pair of two or more puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h are fitted together.

[0047] At least one aspect of the present disclosure may be directed towards implementing an exemplary color scheme for puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h. The exemplary color scheme may be, e.g., a color scheme wherein all puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h associated with a particular puzzle frame 12 may include, e.g., only a single color. Such an exemplary color scheme may require, e.g., that all puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h associated with a particular puzzle frame 12 may include, e.g., only a single color. The single color may include, e.g., only one of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, black, white, or the like and any variation thereof. The single color of this exemplary color scheme may alternatively include, e.g., any mixture, of any shade, of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, black, white, or the like and any variation thereof. Alternatively, the single color of this exemplary color scheme may include, e.g., the natural color of a particular metal, aluminum, plastic, glass, plexiglass, stone, slate, wood, cardboard, paper, or other type of material from which the puzzle piece 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may be derived from. A color scheme wherein each puzzle piece may be a single color may challenge an individual's traditional puzzle building skills since, e.g., the puzzle pieces cannot be assembled together based upon the image that is formed when, e.g., a pair of two or more puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g. 14h are fitted together.

[0048] The puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may include any shape, including but not limited to, e.g., a circle, square, rectangle, triangle, trapezoid, octagon, pentagon, or the like and any variation thereof. In addition, the puzzle pieces may be shaped to represent any particular object such as, e.g., a dog, fire hydrant, humanoid figure, crown, princess, unicorn, flower, cloud, acorn, animal, any other object, or the like and any variation thereof, as shown, e.g., in FIG. 3. The puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may be of any size, e.g., small, medium, large, etc. The puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may be made of one or more materials including, e.g., metal, aluminum, plastic, glass, plexiglass, stone, slate, wood, cardboard, paper or the like and any variation thereof. In addition, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may include a puzzle piece mechanism that causes the puzzle pieces to, e.g., move or vibrate.

[0049] The puzzle piece mechanism (not shown) may cause, e.g., movement or vibration, by utilizing, e.g., a motor. The motor may be powered by e.g., a battery. As a result, it is contemplated that the puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may be designed to be, e.g., of any dimension, including but not limited to, 2-D, 3-D, and 4-D. If the disclosure is implemented in 4-D, the fourth dimension may be, e.g., time. The 4-D implementation of the disclosure may include, e.g., a moving puzzle frame surface and/or one or more moving puzzle pieces.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows one aspect of a puzzle 20 that may be used to teach spatial organization skills, according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The puzzle frame 22 may include, e.g., a surface that includes one or more grooves 24a, 24b, 24f, 24g, 24h designed to receive one or more puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h of a particular shape. When the puzzle frame 22 includes a surface with one or more grooves 24a, 24b, 24f, 24g, 241h, an individual try v tilt the puzzle along an x-axis and the one or more grooves 24a, 24b, 24f, 24g, 24h may prevent the puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h from moving or sliding along the surface of the puzzle frame 22,

[0051] In yet another alternative aspect of the disclosure, puzzle frame 12, 22, grooves 24a, 24b, 24f, 24g, 24h, and puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may be, e.g., covered with a material such as, e.g., velcro, which permits puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h to be attached to, and subsequently removed from, the surface of the puzzle frame 12, 22. Alternatively, or in addition, puzzle frame 12, 22, grooves 24a, 24b, 24f, 24g, 24h, and puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may be, e.g., magnetic. Puzzle frames, such as puzzle frames 12, 22 and puzzle pieces, such as puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h utilized in accordance with the grooved feature, velcro covering, or a magnetic material may be particularly beneficial in designing a travel version of the puzzle 12, 20.

[0052] In accordance with a particular aspect of the disclosure, the puzzle frame 12, 22 may be configured into a customized frame, The customized frame may be implemented by, e.g., utilizing a single groove that may be similar to one of grooves 24a, 24b, 24f, 24g, 24h but may also span a substantial portion, or alternatively all, of the surface area of puzzle frame 12, 22. The single groove may be in the form of, e.g., any shape or object including, but not limited to, e.g., a truck, plane, train, boat, castle, butterfly, humanoid figure, animal, any feature naturally occurring in nature, any object, or the like and any variation thereof. Puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h may be shaped such that all puzzle pieces 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h associated with a particular puzzle frame 12, 22 may be arranged to fit within the boundaries of the customized frame established by, e.g., a single groove,

[0053] FIG. 3 shows an example of a puzzle 30 that may include a plurality of puzzle pieces, including puzzle pieces 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e, that may be configured in the shape of an object without the use of a puzzle frame. The plurality of puzzle pieces, including puzzle pieces 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e, may be shaped such that, e.g., the puzzle pieces can only be properly arranged in the shape of a predetermined object, e.g., as shown in FIG. 3. The predetermined object may be any object including, but not limited to, e.g., a truck, plane, train, boat, castle, butterfly, humanoid figure, animal, any feature naturally occurring in nature, any object, or the like and any variation thereof.

[0054] The plurality of puzzle pieces may include, e.g., one or more puzzle pieces that may be shaped like conventional puzzle pieces 34a, 34b. The puzzle pieces 34a, 34b may each include one or more custom limbs 36a, 36b. Each custom limb may be in the form of any shape including, e.g., heart shaped 36a, star shaped 36b, as shown in FIG. 3. In addition, e.g., it is contemplated that each of the one or more custom limbs 36a, 36b may be customized in the form of any shape including, e.g., a circle, square, rectangle, triangle, trapezoid, octagon, pentagon, or the like and any variation thereof. Each of the one or more custom recesses 38a, 38b may be configured to receive a custom limb associated with another puzzle piece.

[0055] In addition, or alternatively, the plurality of puzzle pieces may include, e.g., puzzle pieces 34c, 34d, 34e that may be shaped to represent any particular object such as, e.g., a dog, fire hydrant, humanoid figure, crown, princess, unicorn, flower, cloud, acorn, animal, any feature naturally occurring in nature, any other object, or the like and any variation thereof. However, while the plurality of puzzle pieces, including puzzle pieces 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e, may be designed to include any shape, in accordance with a particular aspect of the disclosure, a particular subset of puzzle pieces selected for a puzzle 30 may be selected such that, e.g., the subset of puzzle pieces, when arranged in an optimal manner, forms a particular object such as, e.g., a truck, plane, train, boat, castle, butterfly, humanoid figure, animal, any feature naturally occurring in nature, any object, or the like and any variation thereof, as shown, e.g., in FIG. 3.

[0056] Puzzle 30 may provide a distinction from the customized frame described above because, e.g., puzzle 30 may include an arrangement of puzzle pieces 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e that may be assembled, e.g., without a puzzle frame. Accordingly, puzzle 30 may educationally engage an individual to develop enhanced spatial organization skills by, e.g., forcing an individual to arrange puzzle pieces without the assistance of a puzzle frame. To further develop an individual's spatial organization skills a puzzle 30 may include puzzle pieces 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e implementing a color scheme that comprises, e.g., only a single color.

[0057] At least one aspect of the present disclosure contemplates that the puzzle frame 12, 22 may also include a puzzle frame mechanism (not shown) that causes the surface of the puzzle frame 12, 22, e.g., to move, vibrate, or the like. In the event that a puzzle frame, 12, 22 includes one or more grooves 24a, 24b, 24c, 24f, 24g, 24h, one or more of the grooves 24a, 24b, 24c, 24f, 24g, 24h may also be configured to, e.g., move or vibrate. The puzzle frame mechanism (not shown) may cause, e.g., the movement or vibration, by utilizing, e.g., a motor. The motor may be powered by e.g., a battery, a power chord connected to a power source, or a solar panel. The power source may be, e.g., a wall outlet, a cigarette lighter in a vehicle, or the sun.

[0058] The puzzle frame mechanism (not shown) may be, e.g., paired with other features of the puzzle frame 12, as set forth herein, to create challenges that may educationally engage an individual with a particular task. The task may include, e.g., inserting a puzzle piece 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h into a particular groove while the surface of the puzzle frame 12, 22 and/or groove 24a, 24b, 24c, 24f, 24g, 24h may be, e.g., moving, vibrating, or the like. However, it should be noted that this combination of puzzle frame features is merely one example of a puzzle frame that may result from a combination of one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0059] For example, it may also be contemplated that one or more portions of the puzzle frame, such as, e.g., one or more of grooves 24a, 24b, 24c, 24f, 24g, 24h, may be equipped with, e.g., one or more LEDs, and be configured to, e.g., glow. Accordingly, an individual may be prompted to place a puzzle piece in a portion of the puzzle frame that may be glowing. Furthermore, in addition, or alternatively, one or more grooves 24a, 24b, 24c, 24f, 24g, 24h, may be configured to, e.g., rotate. Accordingly, an individual may be forced to develop skills required to place a particular puzzle piece 14a, 14b, 14f, 14g, 14b, in the right configuration, at precisely the right time, when the grooves 24a, 24b, 24f, 24g, 24h are properly aligned with the configuration of a particular puzzle piece 14a, 14b, 14f, 14g, 14h. As such, it be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, in light of the instant disclosure, that the features and spatial characteristics of a particular puzzle frame may be arranged and configured in different ways to create an educationally engaging task within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0060] In light of the foregoing, the method of the instant disclosure may provide a method for educating a user utilizing a puzzle that may be specially configured in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. An individual that is educated. with the specially configured puzzle, may no longer be handicapped when solving puzzles by relying upon colors and/or images that may be printed on the front of puzzle pieces. Instead, an individual may build or develop enhanced spatial organization skills that may benefit the individual by improving the individual's problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, and other areas of everyday life.

[0061] While the disclosure has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure can be practiced with modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the disclosure.

Claims

1. An educational puzzle comprising: a plurality of puzzle pieces, wherein the plurality of puzzle pieces are associated with an image-less color scheme; and, a puzzle frame configured to receive the plurality of puzzle pieces, wherein the puzzle frame is associated with at least one spatial characteristic, wherein the puzzle frame is configured to educationally engage an individual.

2. The educational puzzle of claim 1, wherein the color scheme includes a plurality of colors.

3. The educational puzzle of claim 2, wherein the color scheme includes a single color.

4. The educational puzzle of claim 1, wherein the puzzle frame includes at least one groove.

5. The educational puzzle of claim 4, wherein e at least one groove includes a plurality of grooves.

6. The educational puzzle of claim 4, wherein the at least one groove spans a substantial portion of the puzzle frame.

7. The educational puzzle of claim 6, wherein the at least one groove comprises a shape of an Object.

8. The educational puzzle of claim 7, wherein all of the one or more puzzle pieces are configured to fit within the boundaries of the at least one groove when properly arranged.

9. The educational puzzle of claim 1, wherein the puzzle frame includes a puzzle frame mechanism that causes the surface of the puzzle frame to move or vibrate.

10. The educational puzzle of claim I, wherein at least one of the plurality of puzzle pieces includes a puzzle piece mechanism that is configured to cause at least one of the plurality of puzzle pieces to move or vibrate.

11. A method of educating an individual, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of puzzle pieces, wherein the plurality of puzzle pieces are associated with an image-less color scheme; providing a puzzle, wherein the puzzle includes a puzzle frame, wherein the puzzle frame includes a groove; arranging the puzzle pieces on the surface of the puzzle frame within the groove without utilizing aspects of the color scheme.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the color scheme includes a plurality of colors.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the color scheme includes a single color.

14. The educational puzzle of claim 11, wherein the at least one groove is in the shape of an object.

15. A method of educating an individual utilizing a puzzle without a puzzle frame, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of puzzle pieces, wherein the plurality of puzzle pieces are associated with an image-less color scheme; providing instructions which request that an individual arrange the puzzle pieces on a without utilizing aspects of the color scheme.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises: arranging the puzzle pieces on a surface without utilizing aspects of the color scheme.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the color scheme includes a plurality of colors.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the color scheme includes a single color.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the arranged puzzle pieces form a particular object.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the object includes a truck, plane, train, boat, castle, butterfly, animal.