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*The founder of a US educational toy store chain has developed a product for children that makes use of plastic bottles. *

Created by KleinCepts President Steven Klein, the Connect Bottle enables users to link bottles by threading them together, or inserting the cap into a connector piece at the base of each bottle.

Adding lightweight plastic connectors and wheels in an assortment of shapes transforms the empty containers into various creations, such as letters of the alphabet, goal posts, animals, tunnels and vehicles. The system that will work with any size or shape of bottle or container offers similar learning and development qualities to that of other building toys, including hardwood blocks and Lego.

Klein is currently in the process of developing additional features, such as wheels, lights and remote controls, as well as devising annual design competitions for primary, secondary and college students with scholarships and cash prizes as incentive rewards.

He also believes that the system that traps air within containers could have a further use as insulation in homes and is looking into applications in developing countries.