Illuminated toy construction kit
A construction kit having various construction elements including truss and joint connectors with each truss connector having a light source associated therewith and each joint connector connectable to a power source so as to energize the various truss connectors directly or indirectly operatively connected thereto. The various construction elements cooperate to be expandable into any of a variety of structural profiles and to provide an attractive illuminated visual display. Additional design/construction flexibility is accomplished via additional connecting elements such as variously shaped panel connectors.
The present disclosure is directed generally to puzzles and toys. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to construction toys for building stable two and three-dimensional structures utilizing various construction elements, at least some of which have luminescent characteristics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIndividuals often find enjoyment in the challenge of building aesthetic structural designs and/or functional structural models. Frequently, the utility associated with constructing such structures is found in the creative and/or problem-solving process required to achieve a desired structural objective. It is customary to provide construction kits having various connecting elements including, for example, a number of node or joint connectors that are cooperative with a complementary number of strut or truss connectors. Examples of such construction kits may be found in, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,709,318; 3,148,539; 3,455,049; 3,458,949; 5,049,105; 5,474,025; 5,938,498, 6,491,563 and Re. 33,785. Other connecting elements may also be provided. For instance, these construction kits may further include a number of panel or sheet connectors. The identified connecting elements, as well as other like elements, may be expanded into any of a variety of structural profiles by appropriate interconnection thereof. Such construction profiles are demonstrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,129,975; 6,004,182 and 6,089,941. Thus, conventional construction kits are appealing to persons of all ages in that they allow for both aesthetic and geometric creativity.
A shortcoming associated with conventional construction kits, such as those disclosed in the above-noted patents, involves inherently restrictive and, at times, penalizing design alternatives provided thereby. For example, it is often the case that these traditional construction kits have only a limited number of component parts, which can be uninteresting with reticent visual appeal. Thus, despite efforts to date, a need remains for a construction kit that provides greater flexibility in both aesthetic and geometric design, and, moreover, that provides an additional degree of design/construction sophistication, by utilizing construction elements having inherent light-emitting properties and enhanced visual appeal. Accordingly, the present invention addresses the above-noted need and others associated with known toy construction kits.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention overcomes disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art devices identified above by providing a new and improved construction kit which includes construction elements having light-reflecting and/or light-emitting attributes.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the construction kit includes both truss connectors and joint connectors with each truss connector being suitable to emit light and each joint connector being connectable to an energy source and suitable to operatively connect two or more truss connectors so as to be expandable into any of a variety of structural profiles by appropriate interconnection of the truss and joint connectors. The truss and joint connectors thus advantageously cooperate to provide an attractive visual display which may be varied with each constructed structural profile.
Another preferred feature of the present invention involves the truss connectors being operatively connectable to various panel or sheet connectors so as to provide further design/construction flexibility. Furthermore, each of the connecting elements associated with the construction kit of the present invention may, in another aspect of the present invention, independently have light-emitting and/or light-reflecting attributes.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFor a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
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Each panel connector 16 preferably has a relatively thin, flat body 18 constructed of a material of adequate strength and integrity for its intended use, as well as an appropriate degree of resiliency and flexibility. As shown schematically is
With reference to
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the teachings herein, additional and/or alternative light sources may also be used. For example, a chemiluminescent liquid material may be utilized wherein such liquid material is disposed within the body 15 of each truss connector 12 so as to be sealed to the ambient atmosphere. Suitable chemiluminescent materials and various components thereof are well known. In application, agitating the chemiluminescent liquid material may increase its effectiveness and enhance the illumination effect provided thereby. The use of chemiluminescent material advantageously eliminates the need for a remote energy source. Other suitable light sources include those based on LED technology, as well as incandescent technology.
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As will be readily apparent to those of skill in the pertinent art from the teachings herein, additional power sources may be provided as needed for larger construction profiles. The brightness or intensity of the emitted light provided by the various construction elements may be varied as desired in a number of ways including, for example, providing such construction elements with additional and/or alternative light sources, modifying the size and/or shape of the construction elements, or manipulating the amount of energy provided to the light source(s) associated with each construction element. The color of the emitted light may also be varied such as, for example, by forming the various construction elements from materials having different optical characteristics, or by using light source materials having varied optical properties.
Having identified and discussed various advantageous features of the construction kit of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the pertinent art based on the present disclosure, that additional and/or alternative features may be provided. For example, in other aspects of the invention, the joint connectors 14 may be suitable to store energy and thereby energize any of the truss connectors 12 operatively connected thereto independent of a separate power source. In further aspects of the invention, the power source 68 may be directly connected to the truss connector 12. In still other aspects, each of the connecting elements associated with the construction module 10 can be independently luminescent and/or translucent. That is, each construction element can be made from materials having emissive or reflective properties or, alternatively, can be associated with a light source that provides the requisite optical effects.
It will be understood that the embodiments, aspects and features described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and/or modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. An illuminating construction kit comprising:
- a first connecting element defining a number of sockets;
- a second connecting element defining an elongated body with ends suitable to engage any one or more of said sockets; and
- a third connecting element defining a panel with substantially rectilinear edges and one or more fasteners associated therewith, said fasteners being suitable to engage said body of said second connecting element,
- wherein at least said second connecting element includes a light source.
2. The illuminating construction kit of claim 1, wherein said first connecting element includes a conductive nucleus with a number of conductive pin elements projecting outwardly therefrom.
3. The illuminating construction kit of claim 2, wherein said conductive nucleus has a first shell thereabout.
4. The illuminating construction kit of claim 3, wherein said pins traverse said first shell via a respective number of first apertures defined in said first shell.
5. The illuminating construction kit of claim 4, wherein said first shell is surrounded by a second shell defining a number of second apertures.
6. The illuminating construction kit of claim 5, wherein each of said second apertures is each axially aligned with a respective first aperture of said first shell.
7. The illuminating construction kit of claim 6, wherein said first and second apertures cooperate with said pins to define said sockets of said first connecting element.
8. The illuminating construction kit of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of connecting collars, each of said connecting collars being operatively associated with a corresponding one of said sockets.
9. The illuminating construction kit of claim 8, wherein each of said ends of said second connecting element includes a conductive connecting element suitable to conductively communicate with said conductive core of said first connecting element via said conductive pins.
10. The illuminating construction kit of claim 9, wherein said conductive connecting element is a prong having a conductive sleeve thereabout, and an insulative sleeve about said conducting sleeve.
11. The illuminating construction kit of claim 10, wherein said insulative sleeve has a connecting sleeve thereabout, said connecting sleeve being suitable for engaging a corresponding one of said connecting collars.
12. The illuminating construction kit of claim 11, wherein said connecting sleeve and said connecting collar cooperate to accomplish a releasable mechanical connection.
13. The illuminating construction kit of claim 12, wherein said mechanical connection is selected from a group consisting of: a friction-fit connection, a snap-fit connection, a thread-fit connection, or any combination of the same.
14. The illuminating construction kit of claim 9, further comprising a power source operatively connected to said first connecting element via at least one of said sockets so as to energize said first connecting element and any second connecting element directly or indirectly connected thereto.
15. The illuminating construction kit of claim 14, wherein each of said energized second connecting elements emits light.
16. The illuminating construction kit of claim 15, wherein a plurality of said first or second connecting elements are operatively connected so as to form an illuminated structural profile.
17. A connecting element for use in a toy construction kit, said connecting element comprising:
- a rigid translucent body defining a hollow shaft; and
- a light source disposed in said hollow shaft so as to provide an illuminating effect upon actuation thereof.
18. The connecting element of claim 17, wherein light source is a luminescent source.
19. The connecting element of claim 18, wherein said connecting element is operatively connectable to one or more other like connecting elements via one or more joint connectors having sockets associated therewith.
20. The connecting element of claim 19, wherein said light source is actuated by a power source operatively connectable to said joint connectors via said sockets.
21. An illuminating construction kit comprising:
- one or more illuminating truss elements;
- one or more illuminating joint elements; and
- one or more illuminating panel elements,
- wherein said truss elements, said joint elements, and said panel elements cooperate to form an illuminating structural profile by appropriate interconnection thereof.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 15, 2004
Publication Date: Apr 20, 2006
Inventors: Lawrence Rosen (Mendham, NJ), Parviz Daftari (Summit, NJ)
Application Number: 10/965,978
International Classification: A63H 33/04 (20060101); A63H 33/08 (20060101);