Transformers Toy Patents

Here's a mystery... this is a patent for an unproduced Takara Transformer that is almost the same as Bandai's 1984 Winch Robo. It was created by Takayoshi Doi and it was filed 1985-02-28. Did Takara license the design to Bandai? Did Takara copy Bandai's design? Quite odd! JPS61145592U

Another unreleased fantasy themed Transformer by Takashi Matsuda. This one is a robot that turns into a heavily armed Pegasus. Filed 1984-12-26. JPS61111482U

Patent for an unreleased centaur combiner robot formed from a bird robot and a horse robot. Invented by Takashi Matsuda. Filed 1984-12-27. JPS61111481U

Took a break to work on this project for a bit. Back to posting TF Patents!

For some reason, a second Japanese patent was filed for Topspin on 1985-03-29, long after the initial patent and after it stopped being sold in Japan. Invented by Takashi Matsuda. JPS61163689U

Somehow full size Cassette Robo returned... Filed 1984-10-31, around the same time as many other canceled Micro Change items. This time, he was upgraded with a working radio. Also another variation was shown as well. Invented by Takashi Matsuda. JPS6180090U

Around the same time Daishirou Shibukawa was working on the unreleased dino triple changers, he also invented this unreleased mini dinobot. The T-Rex details resemble Grimlock, but the transformation and robot mode are totally original. Filed 1985-01-31. JPS61130288

Patent MC-20 Micro Scope aka Perceptor. This patent is for the body tube/shoulder cannon and how it was designed to keep it from breaking. (As a kid, mine ended up broken anyway sadly.) Filed 1984-10-11. Invented by Haruki Saito. JPS6167797U

I really like the two different base modes in figures 6 and 7. And he has a cool little grabby arm and a built-in ramp. It's too bad they decided to scrap this--I feel like this is better than Onslaught overall. Who wants to 3d model this...? :-)

Last but not least, the patent for Vortex was filed on 1985-05-14 as well. Lots of small differences from the final version, like the torso rotating, a different feet transformation, and the tail parts flipping forward in robot mode. Invented by Daishirou Shibukawa. JPS61188794U

The patent filed on 1985-05-14 for Swindle is similar to the final version, except that the connector peg to form Bruticus's arm folds out differently and does not use Swindle's head. He is shown attached to the prototype Combaticon tank torso. Invented by Daishirou Shibukawa. JPS61188795U

Three months after the patent for the early Brawl and Blast Off, patents were filed for the other three Combaticons. The Combaticon leader was originally a tank robot with a completely different transformation. Filed 1985-05-14. Invented by Daishirou Shibukawa. JPS61259688A

Synbios's Siege/Legacy-scale version of the unreleased scorpion cassette is now on Cults3D! Once again great job!!! cults3d.com/en/3d-model/...

A patent for early versions of Blast Off and Brawl was filed 1985-02-16. They look very different from the final versions, including how they transform. The patent shows how Blast Off would peg into Superion's torso. Invented by Kohjin Ohno. JPS61139283U

Nice!! I have never noticed that. I also think these briefly seen Lithonians from the beginning of TFTM also look fairly similar to Macross Valkyries as well.

Here’s the Macross Valkyrie from Fight or Flee. The other Paradronian looks rather startled by his presence! Interestingly neither Valk is the early Jetfire model (no armour) so it isn’t a case of pulling an existing model off the shelf, rather someone was deliberately inserting Macross Easter Eggs!

Patent for the chest partner gimmick on the Breast Force, featuring Jaruga and Hellbat. Filed 1989-06-14. Invented by Takashi Kunihiro. JPH037880U

US patent for Megatron, which reuses the Japanese patent diagrams but with extra shading added. Filed 1983-06-15. Invented by Takashi Matsuda. US4571201

US design patent for Hound. Filed 1984-04-17. Invented by Kohjin Ohno. USD285466

Yep, Dropshot was patented the same month as the others: January 1985 and done by Akio Kitamura, who did the race car/bird/robot triple changer. (See attached post) I think all of the patented toys had some form of prototype, but perhaps just proof of concepts for some. bsky.app/profile/tfpa...

US design patent for Swerve. Invented by Hideaki Yoke. Filed 1986-01-10. USD295300

US design patent for Rumble/Frenzy. Filed 1983-12-02. Invented by Takashi Matuda. USD288221

US design patent for Downshift. Filed 1984-05-30. Invented by Kohjin Ohno. USD284491

Another late patent is this US patent for Bluestreak, Skids/Crosscut, Trailbreaker and Inferno. Filed 1986-04-07, just as the 1984/1985 Autobot cars were being phased out. Drawings are reused from the Japanese patents but with extra shading. Invented by Kohjin Ohno. US4680018

One more unreleased triple changer from Kaoru Matsumoto. This one is a simple car/jet/robot. Filed 1985-01-31. JPS61127792U

Patent for a Lamborghini/tank/robot triple changer! The tank mode does not look very convincing, so maybe it's mis-transformed? Filed 1985-01-31. Invented by Kaoru Matsumoto, who later went on to work on Broadside. JPS61127793U

Patent for another unreleased triple changer. This one has race car, bird and robot modes and was invented by Akio Kitamura. Filed 1985-01-17. JPS61121888U

Another unproduced dinosaur/car/robot triple changer by Daishirou Shibukawa. This time, the dinosaur mode is a Brontosaurus and the car mode is a Honda City Turbo. Filed 1985-01-31. JPS61130287U

Filed 1985-01-31, an unproduced car/dinosaur/robot triple changer by Daishirou Shibukawa. He later went on to create Sandstorm as well as Bruticus and Abominus. There are many unproduced triple changers from this time period. JPS61130292U

Patent for another early version of the Battlechargers. Invented by Takashi Matsuda. Filed 1984-10-31. JPS61109589A