As a child, I loved my LEGO, spending hours creating huge towers
and complex structures. Now, as a parent, I enjoy watching my
children get the same satisfaction out of this wonderful
toy (I even still do some occasional building myself!).
Over time, the variety of products on offer from LEGO has
expanded greatly. As a child, I mostly had just the basic blocks to
craft my own creations. However, now the emphasis is on sets with
special pieces that make a particular vehicle or building. There
are even themed sets, such as Harry Potter or Star Wars.
What has not changed, however, is the shape and function of the
basic brick - a cuboid with circular projections on the top and
corresponding recesses underneath that allows bricks to be
connected together. This concept was the subject of a patent
application filed over 60 years ago. While the patent has long
since lapsed (patents generally expire after 20 years), the brick
has not required any re-inventing.
