Patent Application
20230390661
The present invention relates to the field of toy swords and lightsabers.
Toy swords are commercially available to delight people, in particular children, in fictitious swordplay. By mimicking the actual sword fighting of knights, such toys allow children to practice the thrusts and parties of actual duels while having safety in practicing it. Such toys can be based on conventional swords having a hilt or handle from which a long blade extends.
Certain movies have also generated interest in not just conventional swords but lightsabers. For example, the Star Wars® movies have generated extreme interest in this matter. Typically, lightsabers comprise a handle or hilt and a laser tube or a lightsaber blade extending from the handle or hilt.
Further, modular lightsabers exist in the prior art that allows people to build their own customized lightsaber by selecting parts according to their choice. These modular lightsabers comprise a handle or hilt as well as one or more laser tubes or lightsaber blades wherein the handle or hilt could be removably connected to any one of the lightsaber blades using a variety of ways such as but not limited to twist couplings, luer locks, snap-fit couplings and so on. Generally, a conventional lightsaber blade is elongated and cylindrical in nature. Further, the conventional lightsaber blade has a first open end to receive the handle, wherein the opposite second end of the lightsaber blade is closed (sealed).
An example of such lightsaber blades is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,579,587B1 titled “Inflatable toys having interchangeable parts”. The FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 9,579,587B1 illustrates an inflatable toy sword 20 includes an inflatable blade 22 having a proximal end 24 and a distal end 26. In one embodiment, the distal end 26 and the long sides of the inflatable blade 22 are sealed. Another example of such lightsaber blades is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,789A titled “Toy sword having a variable color illuminated blade”.
The conventional lightsaber blade is suited for use for a single purpose as the conventional lightsaber blade can be connected to the handle by using the open end of the conventional lightsaber blade. The present invention seeks to improve upon the conventional lightsaber blade by providing a new and improved lightsaber blade that is open at both ends (sides). The new and improved lightsaber blade has the advantage that both ends of the lightsaber blade could be used for removably connecting the lightsaber blade to a variety of accessories and devices as will described in the description to follow.
While the way that the present disclosure addresses the disadvantages of the prior art will be discussed in greater detail below, in general, the present disclosure provides a lightsaber blade comprising: a first end and a second end disposed on the opposite side; a translucent intermediate portion arranged between the first end and the second end, wherein the translucent intermediate portion is configured to allow light to pass therethrough; a first connection element disposed on the first end; a second connection element disposed on the second end; wherein the first connection element and the second connection element comprise a plurality of screw threads and a plurality of screw threads respectively.
In an embodiment, the plurality of screw threads of the first connection element are disposed on the external surface of the first end.
In an embodiment, the plurality of screw threads of the second connection element are disposed on the internal surface of the second end.
In an embodiment, the first connection element is configured for a removable threaded connection with a light source.
In an embodiment, the connection element is configured for a removable threaded connection with an object selected from a group comprising of a light source, an accessory, an end plug, an inverse coupler, a sparkler coupler, a male coupler and a female coupler.
In an embodiment, the second connection element is configured for a removable threaded connection with an additional lightsaber blade to form a dual lightsaber blade, wherein the overall length of the dual lightsaber blade is equal to the sum of the lightsaber blade and the additional lightsaber blade.
In an embodiment, the lightsaber blade is substantially formed of a material comprising polycarbonate, glass, plastics, and combinations thereof.
Embodiments of the present invention further discloses a modular lightsaber comprising: a plurality of light sources and a plurality of lightsaber blades arranged in a linear pattern; wherein each light source comprises a light emitting end and an opposite second end; wherein each lightsaber blade comprises a first end and a second end disposed on the opposite side; a translucent intermediate portion arranged between the first end and the second end; a first connection element disposed on the first end; a second connection element disposed on the second end; wherein the first connection element of each lightsaber blade is removably connected to the light emitting end of a corresponding distinct light source selected from the plurality of light sources; at least one inverse coupler, wherein each inverse coupler is configured to facilitate removable coupling between the second connection element of a lightsaber blade and the second end of a corresponding distinct light source selected from the plurality of light sources.
In an embodiment, the inverse coupler comprises a ring-like cylindrical portion, a finger actuation portion disposed over the cylindrical portion, and a pair of screw couplings arranged on the opposite sides of the finger actuation portion.
In an embodiment, the light source comprises a handle portion, at least one actuation switch, a light emitting mechanism, and a battery.
In an embodiment, the first connection element and the second connection element comprise a plurality of screw threads and a plurality of screw threads respectively.
In an embodiment, the plurality of screw threads of the first connection element are disposed on the external surface of the first end.
In an embodiment, the plurality of screw threads of the second connection element is disposed on the internal surface of the second end.
Embodiments of the present invention further discloses a modular lightsaber comprising: a pair of light sources and a lightsaber blade; wherein each light source comprises a light emitting end and an opposite second end; wherein the lightsaber blade comprises a first end and a second end disposed on the opposite side; a translucent intermediate portion arranged between the first end and the second end; a first connection element disposed on the first end; a second connection element disposed on the second end; wherein the light emitting end of a light source selected from the pair of light sources is removably connected to the first connection element of the lightsaber blade; wherein the light emitting end of the remaining light source selected from the pair of light sources is removably connected to the second connection element of the lightsaber blade; an inverse coupler configured to facilitate removable coupling between the second connection element of a lightsaber blade and the light emitting end of the remaining light source selected from the pair of light sources.
In an embodiment, the inverse coupler comprises a ring-like cylindrical portion, a finger actuation portion disposed over the cylindrical portion, and a pair of screw couplings arranged on the opposite sides of the finger actuation portion.
In an embodiment, the light source comprises a handle portion, at least one actuation switch, a light emitting mechanism, and a battery.
In an embodiment, the first connection element and the second connection element comprise a plurality of screw threads and a plurality of screw threads respectively.
In an embodiment, the plurality of screw threads of the first connection element are disposed on the external surface of the first end.
In an embodiment, the plurality of screw threads of the second connection element are disposed on the internal surface of the second end.
A more complete understanding of the present disclosure may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar elements throughout the figures, and
The following description is of exemplary embodiments of the invention only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention. Rather, the following description is intended to provide a convenient illustration for implementing various embodiments of the invention. As will become apparent, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described in these embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth herein. It should be appreciated that the description herein may be adapted to be employed with alternatively configured devices having different shapes, components, attachment mechanisms, and the like and still fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not for limitation.
Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” is intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
The lightsaber blade and method of using the lightsaber blade will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, particularly
Reference is initially made to
A first connection element 112 is disposed on the first end 110 and a second connection element 122 is disposed on the second end 120. In an embodiment, the first connection element 112 and the second connection element 122 comprises a plurality of screw threads 113 and a plurality of screw threads 123 (
In an embodiment as seen in
Referring to
By sealing the second end 120 of the lightsaber blade 100 by using the end plug 140, the lightsaber blade 100 could effectively function in a conventional manner. In other words, the first end 110 of the lightsaber blade 100 could be removably connected to a light source 10 (
In another embodiment (not shown in figures), the light source 10 comprises a handle portion 13, and a controller (not shown in figures) to control various operational parameters such as brightness control and strobe speed as well as adjusting preset pattern speeds, sound reactivity, and movement reactivity. The controller (not shown in figures) could include various algorithms/software and the controller (not shown in figures) could take inputs from a remote device such as but not limited to: mobile phone, computer, smartwatch and so on.
As seen in
In another embodiment (not shown in figures), the second connection element 122 is configured for a removable threaded connection with an additional lightsaber blade 100 to form a dual lightsaber blade (not shown in figures), wherein the overall length of the dual lightsaber blade is equal to the sum of the lightsaber blade 100 and the additional lightsaber blade 100. The dual lightsaber blade (not shown in figures) provides the added advantage that the user can combine multiple lightsaber blades 100 by connecting them to provide a longer lightsaber (not shown in figures).
Referring to
As seen in
Referring to
The connection element 122 is configured for removable threaded connection with an object selected from a group comprising of: a light source 10, an additional lightsaber blade 100, an accessory 130, an end plug 140, an inverse coupler 160, a sparkler coupler 170, a male coupler 180 and a female coupler 190 as described earlier. Further, it should be well understood that the first connection element 112 and the second connection element 122 are interchangeable in terms of functionality. For instance, in an embodiment (not shown in figures), the first connection element 112 is configured for removable threaded connection with an object selected from a group comprising of a light source 10, an additional lightsaber blade 100, an accessory 130, an end plug 140, an inverse coupler 160, a sparkler coupler 170, a male coupler 180 and a female coupler 190. Broadly speaking, the various components, and parts of the various embodiments of the lightsaber blade 100 of the present invention are similar and interchangeable.
The lightsaber blade 100 according to various embodiments of the present invention is useful in many applications such as but not limited to: Star Wars® duels, Light painting photography, flow arts, light glow sticks, aesthetic effects, decoration, and so on.
Finally, while the present invention has been described above with reference to various exemplary embodiments, many changes, combinations, and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the various components may be implemented in alternative ways. These alternatives can be suitably selected depending upon the particular application or in consideration of any number of factors associated with the operation of the device. In addition, the techniques described herein may be extended or modified for use with other types of devices. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.
