History of Rubik's Cube
Rubik's initial attraction to inventing the Cube was not in producing the best-selling toy puzzle in history. The structural design problem interested Rubik; he asked, "How could the blocks move independently without falling apart?" In Rubik's Cube, twenty-six individual little cubes or cubies make up the big Cube. Each layer of nine cubies can twist and the layers can overlap. Any three squares in a row, except diagonally, can join a new layer. Rubik's initial attempt to use elastic bands failed, his solution was to have the blocks hold themselves together by their shape. Rubik hand-carved and assembled the little cubies together. He marked each side of the big Cube with adhesive paper of a different color, and started twisting.
That was how the Cube as a puzzle, was invented in the spring of 1974, when the twenty-nine year old Rubik discovered it was not so easy to realign the colors to match on all six sides. He was not sure he would ever be able to return his invention to its original position. He theorized that by randomly twisting the Cube he would never be able to fix it in a lifetime, which later turns out to be more than correct. He began working out a solution, starting with aligning the eight corner cubies. He discovered certain sequences of moves for rearranging just a few cubies at a time. Within a month, he had the puzzle solved and an amazing journey lay ahead.
Rubik applied for his Hungarian patent in January 1975 and left his invention with a small toy making cooperative in Budapest. The patent approval finally came in early 1977 and the first Cubes appeared at the end of 1977. By this time, Rubik was married. Two other people applied for similar patents at about the same time as
The international interest in the cube began in 1980 to last until about 1983. During this period, a great number of Rubik's Cube was sold. There were many broadcasts with speed competitions and shows around the cube. There was even a cartoon which dedicated to it. Many clubs were also created almost anywhere.
After the beginning of 1980's, the craze for the cube disappeared. Almost all clubs had disappeared. But since the use of the Internet became common, the cubomania strongly re-appeared. You can see Rubik's cube sold in every hypermarket, clubs and forums dedicated to the Rubik's cube are created.
One thing that can be said is that the cube is a success: since its launch on market in 1977, more than 200 millions of cubes were sold according to the manufacturer (without counting the numerous imitations)!