K'Nex
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K'Nex Template:IPAc-en is a construction toy system created by Joel Glickman of The Rodon Group.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> It was first introduced in America in 1992.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> K'Nex is designed and produced by K'Nex Industries Inc. of Hatfield, Pennsylvania. K'Nex was purchased by Florida-based company Basic Fun! in 2018.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>
The toy's building system consists of interlocking plastic rods, connectors, blocks, gears, wheels, and other components, which can be assembled to form a wide variety of models, machines, and architectural structures. While K'Nex is designed for children ages 5–12, a bigger version, Kid K'Nex, is aimed towards children 5 and younger.
History
K'Nex was created by Joel Glickman,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> son of the Rodon Group co-founder Irving Glickman.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> Joel came up with the idea of K'Nex when playing with drinking straws.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> By 1992, Joel already spent time on perfecting the building system before founding the K'Nex Brand with his brother Bob.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":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.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>
The company's products were sold at Toys "R" Us, starting in early October 1992.<ref name=":1" /> Toys "R" Us' Charles Lazarus praised the K'Nex system at the 1993 Industry Toy Fair.<ref name=":2" /> By 2011, K'Nex was distributed in over 25 countries, including the United States.Template:Citation needed
In 2018, all of K'Nex's assets were purchased by Basic Fun!, a Florida-based toy company.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The acquisition was valued at around $21 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2024, Basic Fun filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company will use bankruptcy proceedings to repay its creditors while remaining in operation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Basic Fun emerged from bankruptcy on November 1, 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Pieces
The basic K'Nex pieces used to make models include rods, connectors, and bricks. Basic K'Nex pieces are made out of polyoxymethylene plastic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Display models and exhibits
Concordia University's Engineering and Computer Science Association (ECA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> has constructed models of a Space Shuttle, the Sears Tower, the Eiffel Tower, Habitat 67, and mazes from K'Nex.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama held a Guinness World Record for "World's Largest K'Nex Sculpture" for a model space shuttle and rocket displayed in their gift shop. The record was broken in 2014 by the BLOODHOUND SSC RBLI K'NEX Build Team in the UK with a 13.38-meter-long K'Nex replica of the Bloodhound SSC supersonic car.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
K'Nex has a traveling exhibit, K'Nex: Build Thrill Rides, that visits schools and museums across the US.
Licensed product lines
- Angry Birds<ref name=":6">Template:Cite news</ref>
- Family Guy<ref name=":6" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- My Little Pony, under Tinkertoy (2017 - 2018)<ref name=":5" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventures (2013 - 2014)<ref name=":6" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Plants Vs Zombies franchise (2014 - 2018)<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Sesame Street<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Super Mario franchise including Super Mario and Mario Kart (2011 - 2018)<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- WWE (2013 - 2018)<ref name=":5" />
Computer games
K'NEX The Lost Mines: Adventure Begins, was released in 1998 by EAI Interactive for Windows 95.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Virtual K'Nex was released in 1998 by Fox Interactive for Windows 3.x.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>