Lego was founded in 1932, with the first plastic interlocking bricks produced in 1949 and the modern stud-and-tube brick design patented on January 28, 1958.

Key dates

• 1932: Ole Kirk Christiansen founded the company in Billund, Denmark, initially making wooden toys.

• 1949: Early plastic interlocking pieces called “Automatic Binding Bricks” were first manufactured by the company.

• 1958: The iconic stud-and-tube coupling of the modern LEGO brick was patented, enabling today’s clutch power and compatibility.

Short explanation

If by “Lego invented” you mean the company, that began in 1932; if you mean the interlocking plastic brick, production began in 1949; and if you mean the modern brick system used today, its defining patent dates to 1958, which is why pieces from 1958 still connect with current bricks.