Sword device with retractable, internally illuminated blade

A special effects device, comprising:

• a hilt body;
• a drive assembly;
• an end cap;
• a pair of blade body members each attached to the end cap;
• and
• a plurality of light sources,
• wherein the drive assembly operates in a first operating state to provide motorized extension of the blade body members outward from an opening in the hilt body and in a second operating state to provide motorized retraction of the blade body members into the hilt body through the opening in the hilt body,
• wherein the plurality of light sources is positioned between the pair of blade body members and are powered to output light when the drive assembly is operated in the first operating state,
• wherein each of the blade body members has a planar cross section in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the blade body member when the blade body member is retracted into the hilt body, and
• wherein the hilt assembly includes a blade shaping assembly shaping the blade body members into the planar cross section during retraction of the blade into the hilt body and into a semicircular cross section during extension from the hilt body.

An apparatus for producing an energy sword special effect, comprising:

• a hilt assembly including a drive assembly within a hilt body;
• and
• a blade comprising a pair of blade body members each having, when the blade is extended out from the hilt body, a semicircular cross section in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the blade body member,
• wherein the drive assembly operates in a first operating state to extend the blade outward from an opening in the hilt body and in a second operating state to retract the blade into the hilt body through the opening in the hilt body, and
• wherein the pair of blade body members are at least partially nested when the drive assembly is operated in the first operating state to define a hollow cylindrical body of the blade.

A special effects device, comprising:

• a hilt body;
• a drive assembly;
• an end cap;
• a pair of blade body members each attached to the end cap;
• and
• a plurality of light sources,
• wherein the drive assembly operates in a first operating state to provide motorized extension of the blade body members outward from an opening in the hilt body and in a second operating state to provide motorized retraction of the blade body members into the hilt body through the opening in the hilt body,
• wherein the plurality of light sources is positioned between the pair of blade body members and are powered to output light when the drive assembly is operated in the first operating state, and
• wherein the pair of blade body members are at least partially overlapping when extended from the hilt body to define a hollow cylindrical blade.

A special effects device, comprising:

• a hilt body;
• a drive assembly;
• an end cap;
• a pair of blade body members each attached to the end cap;
• and
• a plurality of light sources,
• wherein the drive assembly operates in a first operating state to provide motorized extension of the blade body members outward from an opening in the hilt body and in a second operating state to provide motorized retraction of the blade body members into the hilt body through the opening in the hilt body,
• wherein the plurality of light sources is positioned between the pair of blade body members and are powered to output light when the drive assembly is operated in the first operating state, and
• wherein the special effects device further includes a first spool, pivotally supported in the hilt body, for receiving a first one of the blade body members during retraction of the blade into the hilt body and a second spool, pivotally supported in the hilt body, for receiving a second one of the blade body members during retraction of the blade into the hilt body, wherein the drive assembly comprises a drive motor operating to concurrently rotate the first and second spools in a first direction during retraction of the blade into the hilt body and in a second direction, opposite the first direction, during extension of the blade out of the hilt body.