The initial patent application for Barbie was submitted on July 24, 1959, by inventor Jack Ryan on behalf of Mattel. Patent #3,009,284 was officially approved on November 21, 1961, and focuses on doll construction. This innovation allowed the doll to maintain a realistic, balanced stance when not in use. Several more patents followed, including Patent # 3,277,601, granted on October 11, 1966. This patent focused on Barbie having limbs that could be adjusted to different angles, enabling her to move more naturally.