![]() ![]() Lego and other famous toy trademarks and patents. Tinker Toys, the Easy Bake Oven, Cabbage Patch Dolls–most adults fondly remember the toys of their childhood. Many, inspired by their own children, dreams of “the toy they always wanted”, or visions of fame and fortune attempt the formidable leap from ordinary citizen to toy inventor. What, at first glance, might appear to be a relatively simple process is, in fact, a labyrinth of research and documentation requiring tenacity and diligence. For toy designers, the thrill of creating something exciting to share with others is tempered by the reality that the toy industry comprises a market of $2. United States alone. Large toy manufacturers routinely file lawsuits against each other in an attempt to protect their unique products and designs, and, ultimately, their piece of the financial pie. Amateur toy designers can increase their odds of protecting their original ideas and shield themselves from lawsuits by devoting a significant amount of time to studying and implementing an understanding of patents and trademarks. Patent and trademark laws and processes vary according to country. In the US, the Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is responsible for issuing patents and trademarks. A patent protects an inventor’s right to manufacture and sell an invention and prevents others from selling the same product. Trademarks protect a distinguishing “word, phrase, symbol, and/or design” (USPTO) associated with a particular product. While obtaining patents and trademarks is a time- consuming and complicated process, inventors can do some of the initial legwork and research on their own before hiring a patent attorney. ![]() 972 results for original cabbage patch doll. Follow this search: Items in search results. New listing Cabbage Patch. 1985 Original Cabbage Patch Dolls. Artist Martha Nelson Thomas with her . Xavier Roberts (born October 31, 1955, Cleveland, Georgia. Cabbage Patch Kids inventor stole idea. The heartbreaking truth about Cabbage Patch Kids Tuesday, Jan 19 2016 Michelle Reed. Scroll through the gallery to see the original cabbage patch dolls, or . What is a Cabbage Patch Kids doll and why was there a buying frenzy in 1983? Cabbage Patch Kids Questions including 'Are Cabbage Patch dolls from the 70's worth collecting' and 'Where can one purchase a. Cabbage Patch dolls were designed by a man named Xavier Roberts and were commercially. ![]() ![]() The Inventors Assistance Center (IAC), a branch of the USPTO that assists inventors from the general public, strongly recommends keeping a dedicated bound notebook containing sketches, research, etc. Existing patents can be searched online through the USPTO database or Google’s recent collaboration with the USPTO. After the initial research and discovery phase, the IAC recommends filing a provisional patent application that holds the design idea as the inventor’s intellectual property for one year. Provisional applications do not go through the official patent examination process, but they do establish an earliest filing date and allow the term “patent pending” to be included with information about the design as the inventor presents their idea to toy companies or searches for financial backers. Before the provisional term ends, a non- provisional application must be filed. To protect the entire design, inventors will need to consider filing non- provisional applications for both a utility (how something works) patent and a design (how something looks) patent. Non- provisional utility patents have a term of 2. Once the non- provisional applications have been filed the patent examination and approval process takes, depending on the type of product, an average of 3. It is also important to explore the necessity of filing patents in other countries; that process can be streamlined through the Patent Cooperation Treaty system. Thoroughness during the patenting process can establish the longevity and success of a product far into the future. LEGO, twice named “Toy of the Century” in 2. Understandably, LEGO Group devotes massive amounts of time and money to protect its patents and trademarks that cover its broad catalog of products. LEGO had humble beginnings in 1. Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen, but quickly developed innovative products thanks to the ideas of Christiansen’s son, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen. Although the company adopted the name “LEGO” (from “leg godt”- Danish for “play well”) in 1. As the company moved from wooden toys to plastic, the distinctive LEGO coupling system was patented in 1. The brand expanded exponentially throughout the years with the addition of DUPLO, LEGOLAND theme parks, retail stores, books, and video games, as well as licensing partnerships with companies like Disney and Pixar. Being an international toy powerhouse does not guarantee immunity from companies who try to profit from your original ideas or patents. Since LEGO’s patents began expiring over 2. Mega Blocks and Best- Lock – two competitors that produce blocks with striking similarities to the Danish blocks. The company website even contains explicit directions regarding the use of its logo and other trademarks on LEGO fan- based websites. Recently, LEGO has lost most of its court battles, and the company’s origins have been tainted by the revelation that Ole Christiansen got the idea for the now- famous interlocking blocks from British psychologist Hilary Page who passed his sketches and prototypes on to Christiansen. Despite these setbacks, LEGO continues to lead the way in toy innovation; at the February 2. American International Toy Fair, LEGO debuted 2. Navigating the waters of toy development is not for the faint of heart. Luckily, numerous quality resources exist for those interested in bringing their creative ideas to fruition. Meticulous research and detailed record keeping, as well as the tenacity to follow through on an idea just might net you a place in the National Toy Hall of Fame. If you have a toy dream, see it through to the finish! United States Patent and Trademark Office- Inventors Assistance Center. Excellent introduction to the process of filing a patent or trademark. Videos, search engines, and information on pro se and pro bono assistance for inventors with little financial backing. World Intellectual Property Organization. An agency of the United Nations “dedicated to the use of intellectual property as a means of stimulating innovation and creativity”. Provides a wealth of resources for inventors including case studies, on- demand webcasts, and databases. Toy Industry Association. The website of the professional organization of the toy industry is a comprehensive site that includes helpful statistics and resources for would- be toy inventors. National Toy Hall of Fame. Read the stories behind the toys in the Hall of Fame or nominate one of your favorites to be included. LEGOPopular Danish- based toy company’s site highlights new products, popular videos, and hosts message boards for its fans. Erector Sets. Erector sets were the toy of choice for many boys over the decades. Gilbert saw his invention as more than just a toy; he believed it was a powerful tool for learning about building concepts. Cabbage Patch Kids. Designed by Xavier Roberts, Cabbage Patch Kids caused a Christmas shopping frenzy in the early ’8. Skillfully marketed as babies needing a family to love, the dolls come complete with their own birth certificate and a “birthmark” (Roberts’ signature) on their bottom. American Girl Dolls. What began as a catalog featuring historical girl characters and their doll counterparts has exploded into an profitablem toy line featuring movies, a magazine, and multiple lines of books, dolls, and accessories located in Middleton, Wisconsin. Lincoln Logs. Now distributed by K’NEX Products, Lincoln Logs were invented in 1. John Lloyd Wright, son of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln, the toy is still made of real wood as it has been since its inception. Barbie. The cornerstone of the Mattel toy company is not without controversy; the shapely doll is often criticized for her unrealistic body proportions and contribution to unhealthy body image in young girls. Despite the negative press, girls ages 3- 6 own an average of 1. Barbie dolls. Etch A Sketch. The iconic art toy with origins in metal lithography celebrated its 5. Rubik’s Cube. The best- selling Rubik’s Cube was invented by Erno Rubik in Budapest, Hungary when he needed a model to help teach three- dimensional geometry. Rubik’s Cube aficionados now gather for . GI Joe. Like many toys that have stood the test of time, GI Joe today is a toy empire that includes online games and videos, an animated series, and full length movies. Joe’s original claim to fame when it was originally released in the 1. Thomas the Tank Engine. Wildly popular with the preschool set, Thomas the Tank Engine was created by Reverend W. Awdry for his ill son, Christopher. Little Golden Books. Little Golden Books were the brainchild of George Duplaix, who wanted to bring quality affordable children’s books to the American public. The books showcased authors and illustrators such as Margaret Wise Brown, Garth Williams, and Richard Scarry. Crayola. From its inception, Crayola has been dedicated to the production of safe, quality art materials, particularly for students and teachers. The company celebrated its 1. Playmobil. Despite an oil crisis which caused a rise in plastic prices, company owner Horst Brandstatter pushed forward with his ideas for small affordable play figures, and PLAYMOBIL became an instant hit. Today the company employs 2. Sock Monkey. The Nelson Knitting Company began producing red- heeled socks in order to set their product apart from copycats. Enterprising mothers began using the worn out socks to create stuffed toy monkeys, and in 1.
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