4-Axle Lego Technic Connector with Central Pinhole

[DLuders]

Here's an unusual Lego Technic Connector piece for which The Lego Group (TLG) has a US Patent, but which never released in an official Lego set: http://cgi.ebay.com/LEGO-Technic-Angle-Con...=item35a9232254 . I'm going to call it "Technic, 4-Axle Connector with Center Pin Hole". Click on the link to see what it looks like.

That strange piece got me wondering whether there are OTHER US Patents for Lego parts that have never been produced. I searched the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) using the terms "Lego Toy" ( http://search.usa.gov/search?query=lego+to...p;commit=Search ) to try to find the connector above. I found quite a few that HAVE BEEN RELEASED by TLG, and some like these which have never been released:

Plate, 4 x 4 with 2 x 2 Center Hole ( http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/wee...0-20100420.html ):

"Cubicle Building Elements" ( http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/wee...8-20100420.html and http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/wee...9-20100420.html ):

Perhaps the most intriguing is the "Remote Controlled Toy" ( http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/wee...8-20100413.html ):

"1. A toy construction set comprising:

a first toy construction element configured to resemble a toy construction element;

toy construction elements which contains electronic units controllable from said first toy construction element;

wherein the toy construction elements and the first toy construction element form a toy structure when incorporated therein; said first toy construction element has integrated within it;

a storage memory configured to store a program;

a processor to execute the program stored in the storage memory;

a transmitter; and

a user interface configured to enter a program for storage in the storage memory and execution by the processor in the first toy element; said program, when executed by the processor, providing control of the toy construction elements to provide controlled actions of the toy structure; wherein the first toy element is configured to transmit the program as a download signal; and

a second toy construction element with:

a receiver arranged to receive the download signal,

a user interface for operating the second toy element by a choice selection;

a storage memory configured to store the program;

means for executing the program which is configured for execution by the first and second toy element said execution providing program control of electronic units that resemble elements of the toy construction set and are coupled directly to the second toy element; wherein the second toy construction element checks whether the download signal is to be interpreted as commands which are to be executed at once or whether the download signal is to be interpreted as commands which are to be stored for subsequent execution."

The year of this patent (2004) is after the Lego Mindstorms, but before Power Functions. Is this patent for Lego Spybotics? Maybe it's something that was never introduced....

[jonwil]

Note that the 4 x 4 plate with hole does exist:

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=64799

And the other one (the cube thing) looks like its a patent for the dice piece from the LEGO games line (and variations thereof)

[JopieK]

Note that the 4 x 4 plate with hole does exist:

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=64799

And the other one (the cube thing) looks like its a patent for the dice piece from the LEGO games line (and variations thereof)

And the remote toy flow chart is a little peculiar, at least it is strange that one can patent such a generic procedure. Of course this is (except the OK and Error sound) the best way to receive and execute commands (although I don't understand "save program step", that might be a good way to do almost the same and avoid this patent ;)).

[Jan]

is this one of the mentioned parts? (used in the new games)

Edited June 3, 2010 by Jan

[DLuders]

@ Jonwil & Jan: Good sleuthing! I had not seen the real 4x4 plate with center hole or mini dice game pieces before. Of course, it would be much more impressive to make dice out of Technic pieces, like this (from http://technicbricks.blogspot.com/search?q=dice ):

[DLuders]

If you want a print of the "Technic, 4-Axle Connector with Center Pin Hole" (pictured below) that TLG never produced, you can get one here, along with prints of other Lego Technic patents.

[dr_spock]

I remember seeing that 4x4 plate with the hole in the Atlantis Snapper set I built recently. Also the cube piece was the dice in my Harry Potter game set.