The purpose of the original fidget spinner designed in 1993 varies dramatically from the fidget spinners plaguing our world’s playgrounds today. Following the inventor’s patent securement, Catherine Hettinger’s idea was rejected by Hasbro and she ultimately lost the patent in 2005.
Prior to losing the patent, however, Hettinger produced the spinners with a machine she had purchased from an old sign-making company. She distributed the devices at art fairs. Then smaller manufacturers began to produce the spinners, mainly as a tool to comfort children dealing with conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and anxiety.
These devices were intended by both Hettinger and other manufacturers to provide therapeutic stress relief and strengthen users’ focus.[3] At this point, the fidget spinner was still considered more of a tool than a toy and was not commonly recognized or widely used.