Classic toys that continue to entertain digital-age kids
Patent applications relating to emblematic toys.
Slinky
![](/documents/1319360/2811217/ipday_us2415012-2_840.jpg/2bc6ebe5-b668-aad9-eecc-14e89dccee34?version=1.1&t=1707726915057)
Richard T. James filed a patent application for a “toy and process of use” in 1946.
Rubber duck
![](/documents/1319360/2811217/ipday2017_us153514-0_840.jpg/ccb3275d-92a4-4a8f-ebb4-027cf8477317?version=1.1&t=1707726896507)
Peter Ganine filed a patent application for a “toy duck” in 1947.
Wheeled stick horse
![](/documents/1319360/2811217/ipday2017_us2648160-0_840.jpg/8a54ed9e-e6aa-0eed-0600-a41d55a3c84b?version=1.1&t=1707726902128)
Noble Van Voorhis filed a patent application for a “sound-making wheeled stick horse” in 1950.
Lego
![](/documents/1319360/2811217/ipday2017_us3005282-0-840.jpg/a947f003-b62c-36f3-d6ea-ea496bf25679?version=1.1&t=1707726904568)
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen filed a patent application for a “toy building brick” in 1958.
Space hopper
![](/documents/1319360/2811217/ipday2017_us3595948-0_840.jpg/c88832ac-2b08-f440-1d3d-5e868f3d0ee1?version=1.1&t=1707726905734)
Aquilino Cosani filed a patent application for a “process for the industrial production of balls, balloons and hollow bodies which may be inflated, for recreative and sporting use” in 1969.
Star Wars action figures
![](/documents/1319360/2811217/ipday2017_us265754-1_840.jpg/f05ec8f3-43ff-687c-ebba-1b7c3fe30291?version=1.1&t=1707726903423)
George W. Lucas filed several patent applications for “toy figures” in the late 1970s and early 1980s.