The Modern LEGO Brick Design Is Patented

Setting the scene

LEGO had made wooden toys and plastic bricks, but early designs did not clutch firmly enough for tall structures; Godtfred Kirk Christiansen pushed engineers to solve the interlocking problem.

What happened

The modern LEGO brick design was patented on January 28, 1958, in Billund, Denmark, with tubes under each stud that grip neighboring bricks through friction and clutch power.

Why it still matters

That patent underpins billions of bricks and theme sets from castles to Star Wars, making LEGO one of the world's most recognized toy brands. Memorable detail: bricks made since 1958 still interlock with bricks manufactured today.

Background

The interlocking system enabled endless building.