Toys-Games · Iconic Everyday Products
Are Hot Wheels Patented?
The original Mattel Hot Wheels patents (US 3,510,981 on the orange flexible track, US 3,594,945 on the bearing wheel) were filed in the late 1960s and expired in the 1980s. Mattel's protection now is trademark + ongoing improvement patents.
Quick answer
Originally yes — long expired
The original Mattel Hot Wheels patents (US 3,510,981 on the orange flexible track, US 3,594,945 on the bearing wheel) were filed in the late 1960s and expired in the 1980s. Mattel's protection now is trademark + ongoing improvement patents.
Key patents on the Hot Wheels Track + Cars
Every patent number below is a live USPTO record — click through to read the original claims on Google Patents.
- US 3,510,981 (1970) — Toy vehicle track of flexible interlocking sections. Status: expired / public domain.
What to know
- Matchbox (the rival brand) is now also owned by Mattel — the historical patent battle ended in acquisition.
- Modern Hot Wheels stunt sets (loops, launchers) often have new utility patents on the launch mechanism even if the cars themselves are off-patent.
Have your own invention idea?
If a product like Hot Wheels Track + Carscan get patent protection, your idea probably can too — assuming it’s novel. The cheapest first step is a provisional patent application, which locks in your priority date for 12 months while you validate the market. LegalZoom files provisionals from $199 + USPTO fees; you can also read the official USPTO patent basics first if you prefer.
Read next
Famous Patented Products — Velcro US 2,717,437. Post-it US 5,194,299. Spanx US D429,386. Each entry shows the patent number, filing date, and the commercial story that…