K'NEX is a brand name of a construction toy system invented by Joel Glickman, designed and produced by K'NEX Industries, Inc. of Hatfield, Pennsylvania, USA. Currently Michael Araten is the president of the organization. The name is, presumably, a phonetic variation of connects, and is pronounced the same way. The toys building system consists of interconnecting plastic rods and connectors, which can connect together to form all kinds of contraptions. K'NEX is a construction toy, and therefore in the same genre as LEGO, Fischertechnik and Meccano.
History
Early years
The concept behind K'NEX was originally conceived by Joel Glickman. While he was at a party, 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. The original building system kept very closely to the idea that Joel Glickman had: The K'NEX building system was simply Rods and Connectors which could be easily attached together to make different things. Other parts such as wheels and pulleys were also included to allow more flexibility in construction. The first K'NEX Box was launched in the U.S. market in 1993. Original models with moving parts would have a handcrank to make things move. But soon gears and motors allowed models to move on their own.
When K'NEX went to the big toy companies, such as Hasbro, and others, their idea was turned down, but they were referred to giant construction toy producer LEGO. However LEGO refused to even see their new toy. K'NEX is now distributed in Europe by TOMY
Today
Until 2001, K'NEX did not make sets containing brand constructions (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 label, and later launched the OCC (Orange County Chopper) line of toys in 2006 and a line of Sesame Street building sets in 2008.
K'NEX Pieces
Basic Pieces
The basic K'NEX pieces used to make models are Rods and Connectors. When both of these are used together, they can create a wide variety of 3D objects and contraptions. All K'NEX Connectors and Rods are color coded.
- K'NEX Rods come in a range of lengths, each length being a distinct color. When the additional length of connections is taken into account, the ratio between successive lengths of rods is 1/√2. This makes the construction of right-angle isosceles triangles simple, and these triangles provide the structural strength in models. Most types of K'NEX rods are only very slightly flexible, but there are extra rigid and very flexible versions of some of the longer rods.
- K'NEX Connectors also come in a range of types, each having a different amount 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 many other K'NEX pieces, such as Wheels, Pulleys, Panels, and "Flexi-Rods" to name a few. These give greater variety to what can be realized when being creative with K'NEX. There are various Motors that can make the models move. New K'NEX bricks were added into the K'NEX matrix last year as part of K'NEX's 15th Anniversary celebration.
