Minifig patent from 1979

AmperZand · Post by **AmperZand** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 7:06 pm

I found online the US patent for TLC's minifig from 1979. I thought it was interesting. The technical drawings make it looks like the minifig was invented by Escher (it wasn't!).

For those like me who remember when minifigs were three elements with no movable parts, no hands and no facial expression, the posable minifig was revolutionary when it appeared in the 1970s.

Post by **Athos** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 9:32 pm

Interesting.

Steve

Sir Fredric · Post by **Sir Fredric** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 9:51 pm

Interesting find.

g2 · Post by g2 » Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:56 pm

I have seen these images before, and I too liked the Technical Drawing of the minifig. It is so nice to see these again. Thanks for sharing.

Donut · Post by **Donut** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 5:56 am

That is really cool, this design is so ingenious that I see no changes have yet to be made!

AmperZand · Post by **AmperZand** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:49 pm

Donut wrote:That is really cool, this design is so ingenious that I see no changes have yet to be made!

It's indeed true that there are no outward changes to the design which is a testament to how brilliantly it was conceived from the start.

I believe though that there have been at least two to the internal structure of the minifig over the years:

1. The stud on the top of the head was opened up at one stage making the head a sort of tube so that if a kid swallowed the element, he could still breath.

2. The inside of the torso was reinforced where the legs attach. Prior to this change, minifigs sometimes split down the side.

There may have been other changes and I would be interested to know about them. I'm not counting such things as the surface designs applied to the face, torso etc; the different shaped heads and legs such as the Ewoks'; the spring of the basketball players; or the magnets inside some decorative minifigs. I was just thinking of changes to the basic design.

natelite · Post by **natelite** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:21 pm

that's bad though. patent was only to last for 14yrs from time of application: 1979. so it must have expired 1993. that means anyone, including chinese companies, can copy them now.

maybe that's why we're seeing so many enlighten copy-cat sets around? wonder why they didn't file for extension. someone sleeping at the wheel?

ottoatm · Post by **ottoatm** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 3:59 pm

How cool is that?! That would be a great CC avatar - it actually looks quite cool/stylish - I'd put that sucker on a T-shirt. No words, just a masterly drawn fig from the patent office.

Tower of Iron Will · Post by **Tower of Iron Will** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:08 pm

ottoatm wrote:How cool is that?! That would be a great CC avatar - it actually looks quite cool/stylish - I'd put that sucker on a T-shirt. No words, just a masterly drawn fig from the patent office.

What a top-shelf first class idea! I'd buy one.
-Tower

Blixen · Post by **Blixen** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 3:59 am

ottoatm wrote:How cool is that?! That would be a great CC avatar - it actually looks quite cool/stylish - I'd put that sucker on a T-shirt. No words, just a masterly drawn fig from the patent office.

That's exactly what I thought when I saw it. It's just so cool.

AmperZand · Post by **AmperZand** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 12:38 pm

ottoatm wrote:That would be a great CC avatar...

Excellent idea! Hope you don't mind if I swipe it.

Sir Dano · Post by **Sir Dano** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:25 pm

AmperZand wrote:2. The inside of the torso was reinforced where the legs attach. Prior to this change, minifigs sometimes split down the side.

they still do that

Jojo · Post by **Jojo** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:44 am

Hello!

The funny thing is, the minifig first appeared in 1978. And probably was invented one or two years beforehand.

There have been several changes. The shape of the heads changed, besides the already mentioned holes in the stud. The vertical shape changed from rounded over more angular to rounded again (pics = links):

The inner structure of the torsos has changed twice:

The first change was about 1983, the second about 1998.

And the overall shape has recently chaged from smoothed edges to sharp-edged. The tan torso is from 2004, while the blue one is the rear of a 1984 Black Falcon:

Bye
Jojo

DARKspawn · Post by **DARKspawn** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:55 am

I hadn't noticed the difference in the angles on the outer surface of torsos before, cheers, Jojo

AmperZand · Post by **AmperZand** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:09 am

Jojo wrote:The funny thing is, the minifig first appeared in 1978. And probably was invented one or two years beforehand.

They probably filed the patent when it was invented but it wasn't granted for a few years while they were assessing it. Between the time it was filed and the time it was granted, it would have had "patent pending" status which offers the filer protection if the patent is eventually granted, which, as we know, it was.

Jojo wrote:There have been several changes...

Great piece of research, Jojo. Most interesting! Thanks very much for that and the pics.