K'Nex

K'NEX

Type	Construction set
Inventor	Joel Glickman
Country	United States
Availability	1992––ongoing
Slogan	Building Worlds Kids Love/The K'Nex Big Thing
Official website

K'NEX (a pun on connects) is a construction toy system invented by Joel Glickman. Introduced to the U.S. in 1992, K'NEX is currently designed and produced by K'NEX Industries Inc. of Hatfield, Pennsylvania. K'NEX is in the same genre, and in competition with, Lego, Fischertechnik, and Meccano.

Most similar to Tinkertoy, the toy's building system consists of interlocking plastic rods, connectors, gears, wheels, and other components, which can be pieced together to form a wide variety of models, machines, and architectural structures. Unlike Tinkertoy, however, K'NEX is designed for older (5- to 12-year-old) builders, although a larger-sized version, Kid K'NEX, is aimed towards a similar demographic as Tinkertoy.

The toy has been released and marketed in various stores, as well as online websites. K'NEX has released various sets, educational kits, and models consisting of assorted parts, the last of which includes parts and instructions specifically packaged to be assembled into a specific model.

History

Early history

The concept behind K'NEX was originally conceived by Joel Glickman. While he was at a wedding, he started thinking of what he could do with his straw if he could connect it with other straws. He and his brother Bob Glickman discussed the idea and started the K'NEX company.^[1] The original building system kept very closely to the idea that Joel Glickman had: The K'NEX building system is simply Rods and Connectors which can be easily attached together to make different things. Other parts such as wheels and pulleys are also included to allow more flexibility in construction.^[2] The first K'NEX Box was launched in the U.S. market in 1993. Original models with moving parts had a handcrank to make things move, but soon, gears and motors allowed models to move on their own.^[3]

A bridge made from K'NEX.

K'NEX made contacts at the four largest toy companies: Hasbro, Mattel, Lego, and Tyco (then an independent toy company), and all four turned K'NEX down. As a result of that, Joel Glickman made contacts that ultimately led to toy retailing giant Toys R Us, and the purchasing people there encouraged Joel to produce and sell K'NEX directly. The first shipment of K'NEX was made to Toys R Us in early October 1992.

K'NEX is now distributed in over 25 countries, including the United States.^[4]

Today

Until 2001, K’NEX did not make sets containing licensed brands (as Lego had with Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc.), but often based its sets around popular fads (such as mech warriors and RC cars). In 2001, K’NEX broke from this trend and introduced a line of toys using the BattleTech/MechWarrior ^[5] label, and later launched the OCC (Orange County Chopper)^[6] line of toys in 2006 and a line of Sesame Street^[7] building sets in 2008. In 2011, K'NEX released a brand of Mario Kart Wii building sets with buildable karts and tracks as well as items and obstacles such as Mushrooms, Bullet Bills, Chain Chomps, Thwomps, Goombas, Shells and many more. This set came with Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and Yoshi as the racers. Other licensed products that K’NEX has issued in recent years include Lincoln Logs, Tinkertoy, Angry Birds, KISS, The Beatles, and Monster Jam.

K’NEX pieces

For a more complete listing of pieces, see Main Article: K'Nex pieces.

Basic pieces

The basic K’NEX pieces used to make models are Structures. When both of these are used together, they can create countless 3D objects and contraptions. All K’NEX Connectors and Rods are color-coded. Basic K'Nex pieces are made out of Celcon (Polyoxymethylene) plastic.^[8]

• K’NEX Rods come in a range of lengths, each length having a distinct color. When the additional length of connections is taken into account, the ratio between successive lengths of rods is √2/2.^[9] This simplifies the construction of right-angle isosceles triangles, and these triangles provide structural strength in models. Most types of K’NEX rods are only slightly flexible, but there are extra rigid and very flexible versions of some of the longer rods.^[10]
• K’NEX Connectors also come in a range of types, each having a different number of slots. They can link the rods together in different ways. The first way is to insert the end of a rod into a slot on the connector, where it snaps firmly into place. Rods connect at angles which are multiples of 45 degrees. The second method is to snap the rod into one of the connector slots perpendicular to first method. The rods cannot rotate and will not move without deliberate force. The third way is to slip the rod through a round hole in the connector. The rod can slide and rotate freely while in the hole.

Other pieces

There are several other K'NEX pieces, such as Wheels, Pulleys, Panels, Spacers, Gears, Bricks, Roller Coaster Pieces, (SS and Micro Pieces) and "Flexi-Rods" to name some. These give greater variety to what can be built when being creative with K’NEX. There are various Motors that can make the models move.^[11] New K’NEX bricks were added into the K’NEX matrix in 2008 as part of K’NEX's 15th Anniversary celebration.

Use

A rollercoaster made from K'nex.

K'NEX can be used to construct innumerable creations because many different pieces can interlock at different angles and directions. From miniature cows to complete table sets to roller coasters,^[12] many objects and contraptions in various sizes can be constructed. Because K'NEX pieces are made of a strong plastic and interlock, these constructs are usually quite sturdy.
Many hobbyists have included low-power servo motors and wheels other than K'NEX in their constructions. Even real bikes (complete with bicycle wheels) have been constructed with K'NEX.

Educational products

While all K'NEX building sets are educational, the company also carries a line of products that are targeted for use in the classroom. This includes building sets for creating DNA models, simple machines and geometry tools, among many other items.^[13] These sets are presumably designed for preschool to high school -aged students.

Price range

New K'NEX sets can be found in many toy stores as well as online, with prices ranging from under $10 for basic packages ^[14] to $1,000 for a kit to build a full-sized grandfather clock.^[15]

Safety

All K'NEX products conform to ASTM F963-03, a voluntary standard for toy safety set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. This ensures that K'Nex sets do not incorporate designs or materials that may be of harm to children.^[16]

Display models and exhibits

Concordia University's Engineering and Computer Science Association (ECA)^[17] has erected models of a space shuttle, the Sears Tower, the Eiffel Tower, Habitat 67, and mazes out of K'nex.^[18] The U.S. Space and Rocket Center held a Guinness Book of World Records Award for the “World’s Largest K’NEX Sculpture” and also has a huge space shuttle and rocket in their gift shop in Huntsville, Alabama. The Guinness World Record for “World’s Largest K’NEX Sculpture” was broken in 2014 by a team in the UK with a 13.38 meter long K'NEX replica of the BLOODHOUND 1000 mph Supersonic Car. K’NEX also has a traveling exhibit, K’NEX: Build Thrill Rides, that visits school and museums across the country.

Computer game

A computer game K'nex: The Lost Mines was released in 1998 by EAI Interactive for Windows 95.

See also

• Lego
• Fischertechnik
• Meccano

References

1. K'NEX Book of 120+ Building Ideas (2001) inside cover.
2. "K'NEX | About K'NEX | History". Knex.com. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
3. "History of K'NEX". Knex.com. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
4. "K'NEX | About K'NEX". Knex.com. 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
5. "K'Nex signs MechWarrior Toy License". Knex.com. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
6. "Orange County Chopper News Release". Knex.com. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
7. "K'Nex | About K'NEX | News | Sesame". Knex.com. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
8. "Ticona Polymer and Processing Expertise Helps Rodon Deliver Successes, Including K'NEX® Toys". celanese.com. Celanese Corporation. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
9. This holds true when measured from the center of a symmetric connector on either end of the rod. For non-symmetric connectors, measure from the hole on both ends.
10. "Apprentices". Kraftworks.org.au. 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
11. "K'NEX Education: Motor Pack". Knex.com. 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
12. http://www.amazon
13. "K'NEX | Educators | Products". Knex.com. 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
15. "Most Expensive Knex Set Ever!". Sscoasters.net. 2011-08-31. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
16. "K'NEX | About K'NEX | Made In the USA". Knex.com. 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
17. "Concordia Engineering and Computer Science Association". ECA. 2014-06-15. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
18. "Concordia's Women in Engineering chapter construct massive K'NEX shuttle". The Concordian. 2011-03-08. Retrieved 2012-06-03.

External links

• Official K'NEX website
• K'NEX Community
• Official UK K'NEX Distributor
• Calculator made from K'NEX
• K'Nex Roller Coasters
• K'NEX Bi-Monthly Contest