How the Game Twister Works
A 1966 patent for a floor-based game where players use their own bodies as game pieces on a mat with colored circles.
Original patent title: “Apparatus for playing a game wherein the players constitute the game pieces”
A 1966 patent for a floor-based game where players use their own bodies as game pieces on a mat with colored circles. Granted to Milton Bradley Co in 1969 with 23 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a game mat featuring a grid of colored circles arranged in rows and columns. A spinner determines which body part—left hand, right hand, left foot, or right foot—a player must place on a specific color. The players themselves act as the game pieces, maneuvering their bodies to occupy the designated spots without falling or touching the mat with other parts of their bodies.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover games played on a board with physical figurines or tokens.
- Does not cover digital or video game versions of the concept.
- Does not cover the specific color arrangement or the exact number of circles on the mat.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The innovation was shifting the game piece from an external object to the player's own body, forcing physical coordination and social proximity as the primary mechanics.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Twister board game
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent protected the core mechanics of Twister, one of the most recognizable party games in history. It turned the player into the game board, creating a unique physical interaction that was initially controversial but became a cultural phenomenon.
Filed
April 14, 1966
Granted
July 8, 1969
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Hasbro, which acquired Milton Bradley, continues to manufacture and market the game globally. The core mechanic has inspired various physical party games and fitness-based interactive activities.
Market impact
The game created a new category of physical, social party games that rely on player movement. It demonstrated that simple, low-tech physical engagement could achieve massive commercial success in the toy industry.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a game mat featuring a grid of colored circles arranged in rows and columns. A spinner determines which body part—left hand, right hand, left foot, or right foot—a player must place on a specific color. The players themselves act as the game pieces, maneuvering their bodies to occupy the designated spots without falling or touching the mat with other parts of their bodies.
The clever bit
The innovation was shifting the game piece from an external object to the player's own body, forcing physical coordination and social proximity as the primary mechanics.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover games played on a board with physical figurines or tokens.
- Does not cover digital or video game versions of the concept.
- Does not cover the specific color arrangement or the exact number of circles on the mat.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
28/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$20K – $63K
Midpoint $40K · expired or expiring · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Foley, C. F., & Rabens, N. W. (1969). How the Game Twister Works (U.S. Patent No. 3,454,279). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3454279/twister-game
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How the Game Twister Works cover?
A 1966 patent for a floor-based game where players use their own bodies as game pieces on a mat with colored circles.
Who owns patent US 3454279?
Milton Bradley Co owns this patent, granted in 1969.
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 3454279 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 23 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent protected the core mechanics of Twister, one of the most recognizable party games in history. It turned the player into the game board, creating a unique physical interaction that was initially controversial but became a cultural phenomenon.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover games played on a board with physical figurines or tokens.
Patent monitoring