# Generic Terms: LiteBrite, Spirograph?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-terms-litebrite-spirograph/183571>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 22, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-terms-litebrite-spirograph/183571 "2003-06-22T12:05:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-terms-litebrite-spirograph/183571/1 "2003-06-22T12:05:00Z")

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I was wondering if there is a generic term for toys such as “LiteBrite” and “Spirograph”? Thanks, Jinx

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**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-terms-litebrite-spirograph/183571/2 "2003-06-22T13:28:03Z")

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Antiques? 🙂

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**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-terms-litebrite-spirograph/183571/3 "2003-06-22T15:06:37Z")

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Nah, they’re making LiteBrites again, I saw em at Toys R Us about a month ago.

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-terms-litebrite-spirograph/183571/4 "2003-06-22T15:42:12Z")

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While Hasbro has a trademark on the name “Spirograph”, the numerous times it appears on the Internet alone as the name for drawing applets (and even a nebula), it might not be long before they lose the fight and the name itself is generic. If you want another term, perhaps then consider Denys Fisher’s original studies into developing a “pattern making machine” (clunky, I know.)

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**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-terms-litebrite-spirograph/183571/5 "2003-06-23T05:17:25Z")

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According to the box cover, _Lite-Brite_ is a **light-up picture maker**.

And according to the Hasbro web site, _spirograph_ is a **design toy**.

Peace,

moriah  
generic poster

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**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generic-terms-litebrite-spirograph/183571/6 "2003-06-23T06:14:54Z")

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AutoCAD is a design toy, ain’t it?