Rubik’s Cube Patents

Almost everybody knows Rubik’s Cube. It is not only widely recognized as the best puzzle toy ever made, but it is also one of the best-sold toys worldwide. The Rubik’s Cube was patented in Hungary. However Rubik had obtained almost no patent protection abroad.

Invention

Rubik’s Cube, which is also known as Magic Cube, was invented by Hungarian professor of architecture Ernő Rubik. He received a Hungarian patent on his invention in 1977. Later, in 1981, so-called patent of importation (brevet d’importation) for Rubik’s Cube was obtained in Belgium. However, for various reasons, Rubik failed to secure patent protection in further countries.

Drawings from Hungarian patent № 170062, entitled “Térbeli logikai játék”.

Patent Documents

The table below shows details about the Rubik’s Cube patent documents.

Spatial Logic Toy

Endnotes

1. These documents are in the public domain.