PatentGuessr
Rate itName the invention from a real US patent drawing in six guesses.
on patentguessr.com
PatentGuessr shows one real US patent drawing a day with its title and number blacked out, and gives you six guesses to name the invention. Each miss unseals a clue from the file: the decade and place it was filed, its scale, its class, a line from the claim and part of the title.
About PatentGuessr
PatentGuessr is styled like a sealed file from the United States Patent Office. Each day's puzzle is a numbered case with one patent drawing, the figures intact with their reference numerals but the title and the patent number blacked out, and a box where you name the invention.
A wrong guess reveals the next line of the file: the decade and place of filing, the scale of the object, its patent class, a line from the claim, and finally part of the title. A guess that is right but too general, such as machine, is stamped Too Broad and still costs a turn, while typos and other names for the same invention are accepted.
A new puzzle appears at midnight in your own time zone, the archive keeps every past filing playable, and you can share your result without giving away the answer or follow a link to read the original patent once you are done. The first puzzle unsealed on 22 July 2026.
It suits players who like old engineering drawings and working out what a strange mechanism was for.
How to play PatentGuessr
- Study the day's patent drawing; tap it to enlarge.
- Type the name of the invention and press Stamp.
- Each wrong guess unseals a clue: filing decade and place, scale, class, a line of the claim, then part of the title.
- Be specific: a correct but too general answer is marked Too Broad and uses a turn.
- Name it within six guesses, share your result and read the original patent.
Screenshots
Tips
- Look for scale and moving parts in the figures before guessing.
- The class clue narrows the field a lot; a broad first guess can still help unseal it.
- Old patents often describe everyday things in unfamiliar ways, so think of common objects first.
Questions
When does a new PatentGuessr puzzle appear?
At midnight in your own time zone, according to the rules.
Can I play past puzzles?
Yes, past days stay playable in the archive.
What does Too Broad mean?
Your answer is right but too general; it still uses a guess, so name the specific invention.
Ratings and reviews
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