# How TinkerToy's Original Wooden Construction Blocks Work

> A 1914 patent for a modular toy system using wooden sticks and circular hubs with holes to build complex three-dimensional structures.

- **Patent:** US 1113371
- **Original title:** Toy construction-blocks.
- **Owner:** Individual
- **Granted:** 1914
- **Status:** Public domain (expired)
- **Times cited:** 41
- **Field:** mechanical, consumer_electronics

## What it does

The invention describes a construction toy consisting of wooden sticks and circular discs or hubs. The hubs feature multiple holes drilled around their perimeter and center, allowing the sticks to be inserted to create rigid geometric shapes. By connecting these components in various configurations, children can build structures like windmills, bridges, or towers. The system relies on the friction between the stick ends and the hub holes to hold the assembly together without needing glue or screws.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover plastic construction systems like LEGO which use interlocking studs.
- Does not cover magnetic construction sets that use poles and metal spheres.
- Does not cover motorized or electronic building kits.
- Does not cover blocks that rely on gravity or stacking alone without mechanical insertion.

## The clever bit

The innovation was the use of a standardized circular hub with multiple radial holes, which allowed for non-linear, multi-directional connections that were not possible with simple rectangular blocks.

## Real-world examples

1. Original wooden TinkerToy sets
2. Classic mid-century educational building kits

## Why it matters

This patent marks the origin of the TinkerToy brand, which became a staple of early 20th-century American childhood. It represents an early shift toward modular, open-ended play systems that encouraged engineering and spatial reasoning skills in children.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How TinkerToy's Original Wooden Construction Blocks Work cover?

A 1914 patent for a modular toy system using wooden sticks and circular hubs with holes to build complex three-dimensional structures.

### Who owns patent US 1113371?

Individual owns this patent, granted in 1914.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.

### What is patent US 1113371 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 41 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This patent marks the origin of the TinkerToy brand, which became a staple of early 20th-century American childhood. It represents an early shift toward modular, open-ended play systems that encouraged engineering and spatial reasoning skills in children.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover plastic construction systems like LEGO which use interlocking studs.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1113371/tinkertoy-pajeau

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US1113371

---

_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._


## Related patents

Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus:

- [How A.C. Gilbert Designed Early Interlocking Toy Construction Blocks](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1066809/erector-set-gilbert) — A 1913 patent by A.C. Gilbert for a system of toy building blocks designed to snap together to create structures.
- [How the Modern LEGO Brick Design Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3005282/lego-toy-brick) — The 1958 patent that defined the iconic LEGO brick with hollow tubes inside, allowing bricks to lock together firmly.
- [The Invention of Lincoln Logs](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1351086/lincoln-logs-wright) — A 1920 patent for a toy construction system using notched wooden logs to build miniature cabins and structures.
- [How the Slinky Toy Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2415012/slinky-toy) — The original 1947 patent for the Slinky, a helical spring toy designed to walk down stairs through the transfer of energy.
- [How the Hula Hoop Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3079728/hula-hoop-wham-o) — A 1963 patent for a lightweight, rigid plastic hoop designed to rotate around a human waist through rhythmic body movements.