Abstract:
A toy includes an at least partially translucent member. The member includes a flexible, elongate portion, and a first peg portion and a second peg portion on opposite ends of the elongate portion.  
     A toy includes a toy assembly and a flexible peg. The toy assembly includes a peg board having a plurality of spaced apertures extending therethrough and a light source positioned adjacent to the peg board. The flexible peg has at least one end dimensioned to be inserted into one of the apertures.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a toy and particularly one in which flexible loops may be assembled in various patterns or pictures on a board or other surface.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    LITE BRITE®, a well-known toy, includes a board that defines an array of apertures, each capable of receiving a peg. Light from a source behind the board is transmitted through received pegs so as to enhance the appearance of designs or pictures formed using the pegs. This toy has been popular for many years.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0003]    In one general aspect, a toy includes a member that is at least partially translucent. The member includes a flexible, elongate portion with two ends, having a first peg portion extending from a first end and a second peg portion extending from a second end.  
           [0004]    Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the first peg portion and the second peg portion each may include an insertion stop configured to stop insertion of the peg portion through an aperture while allowing at least partial insertion of the peg portion into the aperture. The insertion stop may include a protrusion extending from the peg portion. The protrusion may have a dimension greater than {fraction (3/16)} of an inch. In particular, the protrusion may include an annular ring extending radially outward from a radially symmetric peg portion, and the ring may have a diameter greater than {fraction (3/16)} of an inch.  
           [0005]    The first peg portion and the second peg portion each may terminate in a tip. The tip may include a portion of a sphere with a radius of less than ⅛ of an inch.  
           [0006]    The elongate portion may be a rod. The elongate portion may be made from a polymer.  
           [0007]    The member may be of unitary construction. The member also may be transparent.  
           [0008]    In another general aspect, a toy includes a flexible member having a first end and a second end. The first end includes an insertion stop configured to stop insertion of the first end into an aperture while allowing at least partial insertion of the first end into the aperture. The member is at least partially translucent.  
           [0009]    Implementations may include one or more of the features noted above and one or more of the following features. For example, the second end may include a second insertion stop configured to stop insertion of the second end into an aperture while allowing at least partial insertion of the second end into the aperture.  
           [0010]    In another general aspect, a toy includes a toy assembly and a flexible peg. The toy assembly includes a peg board having spaced apertures extending therethrough and a light source positioned adjacent to the peg board. The flexible peg has at least one end dimensioned to be inserted into one of the apertures. Implementations may include one or more of the features noted above.  
           [0011]    The toy allows a child or other user to creatively interconnect apertures using peg elements with a pliable three-dimensional structure. This increases both the intellectual challenge to the child or other user and the types of images or patterns that may be formed.  
           [0012]    The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a flexible lite loop.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 illustrates an end-on view of a peg portion of the lite loop of FIG. 1A.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 illustrates a kit including a toy assembly and two lite loops.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the toy assembly and light loop taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 illustrates a kit including alternate implementations of light loops. 
     
    
       [0018]    Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a light loop  100  includes an elongate central member  110  joining a pair of peg portions  120 ,  120 ′. Central member  110  is a flexible rod, allowing a child or other user to move peg portion  120  from a first position P 1  to a second position P 2  without breakage of light loop  100  or movement of peg portion  120 ′. As discussed further below, a user may insert peg portions  120 ,  120 ′ into, for example, a selected pair of apertures in a board placed in front of a light source (not shown) to form a design or image. Typically, light loop  100  is at least partially translucent such that at least a portion of any light entering peg portions  120 ,  120 ′ is transmitted along a portion of central member  110 . Light loop  100  also can be transparent.  
         [0020]    For the sake of brevity, both peg portions  120 ,  120 ′ will be discussed in terms of peg portion  120 . Referring also to FIG. 2, peg portion  120  includes an annular lip  130 , a truncated conical shaft  140 , and a terminal cone  150 . Terminal cone  150  has a vertex  152  and a base  154 . Vertex  152  forms a terminus of central member  110  and is a sufficiently stiff to allow a child to puncture a piece of construction paper covering an aperture with a diameter substantially the same as the median diameter of shaft  140 . Terminal cone  150  joins to shaft  140  at base  154 . Shaft  140  extends toward the center of central member  110 . The diameter of shaft  140  increases in a direction toward the center of central member  110 . Shaft  140  is joined to central member  110  by annular lip  130 , which has a diameter greater than the largest diameter of shaft  140  and the diameter of central member  110 .  
         [0021]    Light loop  100  may be of unitary construction, made, for example, by injection molding PVC. The diameter of central member  110  may be, for example, between ½ and ⅛ of an inch. The diameter of annular lip  130  may be, for example, between ½ and {fraction (3/16)} of an inch. The diameter of shaft  140  may, for example, vary linearly, between about ⅛ of an inch and about {fraction (5/32)} of an inch over a length of about ⅛ of an inch. The diameter of terminal cone  150  may, for example, vary linearly, between about {fraction (1/16)} of an inch and about ⅛ of an inch over a length of about ⅜ of an inch. Vertex  152  may be a half-sphere with a diameter, for example, less than ⅛ of an inch.  
         [0022]    In one implementation, central member  110  has a diameter of {fraction (3/16)} of an inch, annular lip  130  has a diameter of ¼ of an inch, and vertex  152  is a half-sphere with a diameter of {fraction (1/16)} of an inch.  
         [0023]    Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a toy kit  1000  including a toy assembly  40  and light loops  100  is shown in the assembled state. Toy assembly  40  includes a cover  16  mounted on top of a board  13  in front of a light source  42 . One or more pegs  48  may also be included in toy kit  1000 . Board  13  defines an array of substantially circular apertures  14 . Peg portions  120 ,  120 ′ are dimensioned to be received in substantially circular apertures  14 . Apertures  14  have diameters slightly larger than the largest diameter of shaft  140 . Annular lip  130  thus limits the depth of insertion of light loop  100 . Light source  42  may be, for example, a mirror as shown in FIG. 3 or a filament bulb as shown in FIG. 4. Planar board  13  may be entirely covered by cover  16 , which may be a piece of black construction paper. A child or other user can select a first aperture  14  from the array, puncture cover  16  using vertex  152  of terminal cone  150  and insert peg portion  120  into the first aperture  14  by pushing light loop  100 . The child or other user can then select a second aperture  14 , flex central member  110  to align peg portion  120 ′ with the second aperture  14 , puncture cover  16  using vertex  152 ′ of terminal cone  150 ′, and insert peg portion  120 ′ into second aperture  14  by pushing light loop  100 . By flexing central member  110 , a number of apertures  14  are available to act as a second aperture. Thus, a light loop  100  allows a child or other user to creatively interconnect apertures using a pliable three-dimensional structure. Individual pegs  48  may also be inserted into other apertures  14 . This increases both the intellectual challenge to the child or other user and the types of images or patterns that may be formed.  
         [0024]    Referring to FIG. 5, a toy kit  2000  includes light loops  200 ,  300 , and  400 . Light loops  200 ,  300 , and  400  may be made having different colors, for example, by addition of an appropriate dye prior to injection molding. The dyes may be biocompatible. Dyeing is represented in FIG. 5 by the pixel density in each of light loops  200 ,  300 ,  400 . Light loops  200 ,  300 ,  400  may be made red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, or violet or shades and combinations thereof by selection of appropriate dyes and dye concentrations. Light loops  200 ,  300 ,  400  may also be made to sparkle by adding reflective particles during molding. Light loops  200 ,  300 ,  400  may also have different dyes and dye concentrations at different positions along their lengths.  
         [0025]    Furthermore, light loops  200 ,  300 ,  400  may be made having different lengths. For example, the length of light loops  200 ,  300 ,  400  may be greater than about 3 inches and less than about 9 inches. The length of light loops  200 ,  300 ,  400  may be, for example, about 5 inches and about 7 inches.  
         [0026]    As noted, light loop  100  typically is at least partially translucent such that at least a portion of any light entering peg portions  120 ,  120 ′ is transmitted along a portion of central member  110 . Light loop  100  may be transparent. Light transmission along central member  110  is a function of several factors, including the geometry of the junction between peg portions  120 ,  120 ′ and central member  110 , the transmission spectra of peg portions  120 ,  120 ′ and central member  110 , the emission spectrum of source  42 , the refractive indices of peg portions  120 ,  120 ′ and central member  110 , and the flexion of central member  110 . The influence of these and other factors is well understood and they may be tuned as desired. However, in general, at least a portion of the light entering peg portions  120 ,  120 ′ is transmitted along central member  110  so as to enhance the appearance of designs or pictures formed using light loops.  
         [0027]    Light loops may be packaged individually as shown in FIG. 1A, as toy kit  2000  including several different light loops  200 ,  300 ,  400  as shown in FIG. 5, or as toy kit  1000  including several light loops  100  and toy assembly  40 , as shown in FIG. 3. Toy kits  1000 ,  2000  may include any of the light loops  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400  described herein. By providing light loops  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400  together, toy kit  2000  allows a consumer who already owns toy assembly  40  to form many types of designs or pictures using light loops. By providing light loops  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400  simultaneously with toy assembly  40 , toy kit  1000  allows any consumer to make a single purchase and commence forming many types of designs or pictures using light loops.  
         [0028]    A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, annular lip  130  need not circumscribe the entire circumference of peg portion  120 , and light loop  100  need not be of unitary construction. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.