Illuminated Construction Toy

Abstract

An illuminated, three-dimensional, design construction toy comprising a housing having a light source and an opaque cover having a number of openings therethrough adapted to receive the ends of a plurality of plastic rods which are capable of transmitting light along their lengths. Coupling elements are provided for joining two or more rods so that the design may extend in an upwardly direction. Each of the coupled rods receive light from the base. A multicolored, rotatable, light-transmitting wheel may be provided intermediate the light source and the rods to produce a variegated illumination of the design.

Description

This invention relates in general to construction toys. In particular, this invention relates to construction toys for creating three dimensional illuminated designs.

Construction toys suitable for encouraging and exercising the latent and overt creative desires of children, are quite popular. In addition to providing children with a source of amusement and entertainment for long periods of time, construction toys are also generally educational in nature.

The construction toy of the invention provides a light box and a plurality of construction elements which may be assembled to form a three-dimensional design. The design may be colorfully illuminated by a light source in the box projecting through a rotatable member having a number of differently colored transparent areas.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a construction toy for creating three dimensional illuminated designs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction toy wherein construction elements may be inserted into a perforated opaque panel overlying a light source and assembled generally vertically to form an illuminated three-dimensional design, and wherein a multicolored light-transmitting member may be disposed intermediate the light source and the panel.

Additional objects of this invention will become apparent to those versed in the toy art upon an understanding of the following detailed description of the apparatus of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the construction toy apparatus is shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the construction toy of the invention, with portions thereof broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, elevational cross-sectional view of the construction toy of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the color wheel for use with the construction toy of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the perforated covering panel; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a representative construction element of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a coupling element of the invention.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the selected embodiment of the invention comprises a light box 10 having a generally concave housing 11 defining an enlarged top opening 14 lying in a horizontal plane. A light source 16, in the form of a lamp, is provided in the housing and a perforated panel 18 is disposed in covering relation to top opening 14.

The construction toy further comprises a plurality of construction elements 20 adapted for insertion into perforations in panel 18 and suitable for being coupled together in a horizontal design. Light is projected to the element portions inserted into the panel and is transmitted through the coupled elements to illuminate the three-dimensional design. A transparent color wheel 22 may be rotatably carried in the housing and disposed intermediate the light source and the panel for causing light to be projected to the design.

More particularly, housing 11 of the light box is generally square shaped and is formed by four outwardly sloping walls 24, and a bottom wall 26. The bottom wall is formed to provide a support leg 27 at each corner of the light box. The housing carries a conventional lamp socket 28 on its bottom wall, and an electric cord 30 is provided for energizing the lamp socket by connecting it to a suitable source of current. Lamp 16 is received by socket 28 and is located generally centrally of the housing for providing a generally uniform light source for light box 10.

Panel 18 is fabricated of a sheet of opaque material and is suitably dimensioned to form a closure for top opening 14. The underside of the panel is supported on horizontal ledges 29 formed outwardly from the top edges of sidewalls 24, and the periphery of the panel includes a depending fascia 30 which extends outwardly of the housing to reduce the escapement of light. It is unnecessary to secure the panel to the housing, although during normal usage of the apparatus it is unnecessary to remove the panel therefrom except for replacement of the lamp.

As best seen in FIG. 4 the opaque panel 18 is perforated with two different groups of perforations or openings 32 and 34, which are characterized by their shapes. The group of perforations referred to by reference numeral 32 are quincunicially arranged and are suitably shaped for receiving the ends of construction elements 20.

The second group of perforations, referred to by reference numeral 34, comprise diagonally oriented elongated cooling slots for allowing escapement of heat from lamp 16. The openings formed by the cooling slots also enhance the illumination of the assembled three-dimensional design, as will be noted in greater detail hereinafter.

Panel 18 may include an integrally formed, depending, centrally located boss 40. The boss is cylindrically shaped and may comprise a number of fingers 46 having outwardly formed peripheral projections 48. The fingers are capable of flexing to allow a slight collapse and resultant reduction of the diameter defined by projections 48 to facilitate mounting the color wheel.

Referring now to FIG. 3, color wheel 22 which may be used with the invention is formed of four identically shaped, differently colored quadrants 50 which may be joined together to form a circular wheel. The identicalness of the quadrant shapes facilitates manufacture thereof and a greater or lesser number of elements 50 may be used without departing from the invention. The quadrants may be fabricated of any light transmitting colored material which may be joined together and is capable of withstanding the heat from lamp 16. While to colors red, green, blue, and yellow are used in the described embodiment, other color combinations may also be employed.

Each quadrant 50 of the color wheel comprises a light transmitting colored sheet portion 51 defining a number of ventilating apertures 52 and having a plain edge 54 and a tab carrying edge 56. Edge 56 includes alternating upper and lower tabs 57 and 58, respectively, which cooperate with the plain edge 54 of an adjacent quadrant 50. The quadrants may be cemented together with any suitable adhesive to form the color wheel and the tabs assist in strengthening the resultant joint. Alternatively, the color wheel may be manufactured by a sophisticated molding process capable of molding the entire wheel in one operation.

Each quadrant 50 includes an externally knurled circumferential rim 60 for assisting in manually rotating the wheel. The quadrants also include arcuate members 64 formed at generally right angles to sheet portion 51 so that when joined together, members 64 form a cylindrically shaped bearing having a vertical axis. The wheel is supported on the panel and guided for rotation relative thereto by fingers 46 and projections 48, respectively, of boss 40, cooperating with bearing 64. The wheel is assembled to the panel by slightly collapsing the boss and passing bearing member 64 thereover.

Each wall 24 of housing 11 is relieved at the center of its upper edge by a rectangularly shaped opening 70. Openings 70 allow the color wheel, as assembled beneath the panel, to be placed in the housing with arc segments of knurled rim 60 extending therethrough for allowing access thereto.

While cooperation between cylindrical member 64 and the bearing fingers 46 afford lateral stabilization of the color wheel, additional stabilization is afforded by horizontal ledges 72 formed at the lower edge of opening 70 which cooperate with the underside of rim 60.

Finally, in accordance with the invention, a plurality of the construction elements 20 are provided, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6. While the construction elements may assume different longitudinal shapes, they are preferably fabricated of light transmitting, translucent material such as plastic, and generally include rodlike building elements 80 and nonrigid tubular connecting elements 82. While elements 80 and 82 employ circular cross sections, other cross-sectional shapes may also be utilized.

Rods 80 include end portions 83 having a diameter suitable for being firmly received in any one of the panel perforations 32 and for telescopic engagement with coupling elements 82. The depth to which the rods may be inserted into the perforations is limited by a circular flange 84 inwardly adjacent each end. The different longitudinal shapes which the rods may assume include straight sections, such as representatively shown in FIG. 5, generally right angle sections 92 and curved sections 93 (FIGS. 1--2). Obviously other shapes of rods may be utilized in the construction toy.

The rods are fabricated of light-transmitting material such as plastic, which has a critical angle such that most of the transmitted light which strikes the inner wall surfaces is internally reflected through the rod. The internal reflections may be enhanced by polishing the outer surfaces of the rods. Each of the rods may include externally protruding rings 86 spaced along its length. Rings 86 intercept a portion of the internally reflected light at an angle greater than the critical angle of the material and transmits the intercepted light to the ring exterior surface. Thus, under low ambient light level conditions the rings appear brightly illuminated. Couplings 82 which are fabricated of a translucent material are only slightly illuminated. Since most of the light is internally reflected through the rod, rod ends 100 are brightly illuminated and function to illuminate any overlying structure.

In addition to the longitudinal construction elements, other decorative pieces such as discs 94, squares 96, and simulated solid pieces 98, each defining perforations for receipt of ends 83, may be provided.

Any of the rods 80 may be connected together by coupling members 82 which as noted above, are fabricated of a pliable material and have an internal diameter suitable for comfortably receiving rod ends 82.

Upon assembly of a three-dimensional design, it may be illuminated by source 16 or it may be illuminated in a colorful and attractive manner by light from source 16 projecting through color wheel 22. Rotation of the wheel produces a variegated effect in the created design. In addition, while light from lamp 16 is projected through openings 52 in the color wheel and when these openings are sequentially aligned with the perforations of panel 18, the white light impinges on various parts of the overlying three-dimensional design in an extremely attractive manner.

What has been described is a construction toy suitable for creating a three-dimensional design which may be illuminated by different colored light to produce a variegated effect.

It is obvious that upon study of those skilled in the art, the disclosed invention may be altered or modified without departing from its inventive concept.

Claims

What we claim is:

1. An illuminated construction toy comprising: a generally enclosed housing having a light source and defining an enlarged opening opposite said light source; a perforated opaque panel positioned in covering relation to said opening; and a plurality of light-transmitting construction elements adapted to be inserted into said perforations including means for interconnecting said elements to form a three-dimensional design, whereby light from said source is transmitted through said construction elements causing illumination of said design.

2. The illuminated construction toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said design in constructed in overlying relation to said panel perforations and wherein light from said source may pass through those perforations not occupied by said construction elements and impinge portions of said three-dimensional design for varying the intensity of its illumination.

3. The illuminated construction toy as set forth in claim 1, including additionally: means disposed intermediate said light source and said panel for causing transmission of colored light through said construction elements.

4. The illuminated construction toy as set forth in claim 1 including additionally: a plurality of differently colored translucent members disposed intermediate said light source and said panel and mounted for rotation relative thereto for causing a moving variegate effect.

5. The illuminated construction toy as set forth in claim 4, wherein said perforated panel is disposed generally horizontally and wherein said design elements transmit light by internal reflection and include a plurality of spaced-apart deformities through which said light passes and which are brightly illuminated.

6. The illuminated construction toy as set forth in claim 2 including additionally: a wheel comprising a plurality of differently colored transparent areas disposed intermediate said light source and said panel mounted for rotation relative thereto, said wheel defining a plurality of openings therethrough sequentially alignable with said panel perforations for transmitting an animated display of light to said three-dimensional design.

7. An illuminated construction toy comprising: a generally enclosed housing having a light source and defining an opening opposite said light source; a perforated opaque panel positioned in covering relation to said opening; a plurality of light-transmitting construction elements adapted to be inserted into said perforations including means for interconnecting said elements to form a three-dimensional design; a wheel comprising a plurality of differently colored transparent areas disposed intermediate said light source and said panel and means supporting said wheel for rotation relative to said panel for variegated illumination of said design.