Patent Application
20160296043
[Not Applicable]
[Not Applicable]
Certain embodiments relate to an action uniformed sports player apparatus and a method of making the apparatus. More specifically, certain embodiments provide a sculpture formed by a mannequin set in an action pose and wearing sports apparel placed in a natural flow of a play action maneuver by positioning apparel flow mechanisms between the mannequin and the sports apparel.
Team and/or player jerseys are a common form of sports memorabilia sold in stores and displayed in museums. The jerseys typically include a player number, a team name and/or logo, and possibly the name of a well-known sports figure. Typically, in a retail setting, the jerseys are displayed on clothing hangers or conventional mannequins such that a potential purchaser inspects the jersey hanging in a straight form suspended from the hanger or mannequin. This conventional retail display provides little additional sales appeal and lacks realism. In a museum setting, the jersey may be part of the sculpture or the jersey may need to be cut and sewn on to the sculpture. In either case, the sculpture having the jersey typically lacks realism.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.
A method and sports action display apparatus including a sculpture formed by a mannequin set in an action pose and wearing sports apparel placed in a natural flow of a play action maneuver by positioning apparel flow mechanisms between the mannequin and the sports apparel are provided, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.
Certain embodiments may be found in an action uniformed sports player apparatus 1 and a method 300 of making the apparatus 1 (also referred to as a sculpture). More specifically, certain embodiments provide a sculpture 1 formed by a mannequin or sculpture portion 100 set in an action pose and wearing sports apparel 180 placed in a natural flow of a play action maneuver by positioning apparel flow mechanisms 152, 153 between the mannequin 101, 110, 120, 130, 140 and the sports apparel 180.
As used herein, the terms “exemplary” and “example” mean serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As used herein, the term “e.g.” introduces a list of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations.
As used herein, an element recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding the plural of the elements, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “a representative embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” “various embodiments,” “certain embodiments,” and the like are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising,” “including,” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional elements not having that property.
Although certain embodiments in the foregoing description may be shown with a hockey player as the action uniformed sports player apparatus, for example, unless so claimed, the scope of various aspects of the present invention should not be limited to hockey players and may additionally and/or alternatively be applicable to football players, baseball players, basketball players, soccer players, or any suitable character in a sports maneuver or other action pose. Moreover, although certain embodiments in the foregoing description may be shown with Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews as the action uniformed sports player apparatus, for example, unless so claimed, the scope of various aspects of the present invention should not be limited to a particular professional athlete or celebrity and may additionally and/or alternatively be applicable to any suitable person, real or imagined, living or deceased.
The sculpture portion 100 is secured to the base portion 200 such that the sculpture portion 100 is held in an upright position in its play action pose. The base portion 200 may be acrylic or any suitable material. The base portion 200 may be a circular planar base or any suitable shape. In an exemplary embodiment, the base portion is approximately four feet (e.g., three to five feet) in diameter or length and width. In an exemplary embodiment, the base portion 200 is approximately one inch (e.g., one-half inch to three inches) thick. However, larger and smaller diameters, lengths/widths, and/or thicknesses are contemplated as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. In certain embodiments, the base portion 200 is configured to weigh more than the sculpture portion 100. For example, if the sculpture portion is approximately thirty pounds, the base portion 200 may be configured to be approximately fifty pounds. Moreover, other base portion 200 configurations, such as two half base portions or any suitable configuration, are contemplated as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.
The sculpture 100 may be secured to the base portion 200 by an attachment mechanism, such as the skate blade attachment 190 described below in reference to
Still referring to
The exemplary action uniformed sports player sculpture 1 illustrated in
The arms 130 may include upper arms 131, forearms 132, elbows 133, and hands 134. A bottom of the upper arms 131 may be securable in an action position to a top of the forearms 132 at the elbows 133. A bottom of the forearms 132 may be securable in an action position to a top of the hands 134. The shoulder portions 113 of the upper torso 110 may be securable in an action position to a top portion of the upper arm portions 131 of the arms 130. For example, each of the arms 130 may be positioned up, down, forward, backward, in, out, bent, straight and/or any suitable combination to provide any desired action position. The arms 130 may be positioned or attached and then secured with an attachment mechanism 151 such as screws, hook and loop fasteners, tape, two-sided tape, glue, a ball and joint, and/or any suitable attachment and securement mechanism. In various embodiments, the shoulder 113 and/or various components 131, 132, 133, 134 of the arms 130 may be integrated. As an example, the shoulder 113 and/or various components 131, 132, 133, 134 of the arms 130 may be molded together in a pre-determined set position.
The legs 140 may include upper legs 141, lower legs 142, knees 143, and feet 144. A bottom of the upper legs 141 may be securable in an action position to a top of the lower legs 142 at the knees 143. A bottom of the lower legs 142 may be securable in an action position to a top of the feet 144. A bottom of the hips 121 of the lower torso 120 may be securable in an action position to a top portion of the upper leg portions 141 of the legs 140. For example, each of the legs 140 may be positioned up, down, forward, backward, in, out, bent, straight and/or any suitable combination to provide any desired action position. The legs 140 may be positioned or attached and then secured with an attachment mechanism 151 such as screws, hook and loop fasteners, tape, two-sided tape, glue, a ball and joint, and/or any suitable attachment and securement mechanism. In various embodiments, the hips 121 and/or various components 141, 142, 143, 144 of the legs 140 may be integrated. As an example, the hips 121 and/or various components 141, 142, 143, 144 of the legs 140 may be molded together in a pre-determined set position.
The exemplary sculpture portion 100 of the action uniformed sports player sculpture 1 illustrated in
The sculpture portion 100 may be dressed with sporting equipment 160, sports padding 170, and sports apparel 180. For example, as shown in
Still referring to
The exemplary sculpture portion 100 of the action uniformed sports player sculpture 1 illustrated in
The apparel flow padding 152 may be foam, cloth, cotton, plastic, metal foil, or any suitable material. For example, the apparel flow padding 152 may be injected foam, such as molded rubberized foam. In various embodiments, the molded foam pieces may be stackable to vary the size of the apparel flow padding 152. As another example, the apparel flow padding 152 may be a bubble wrap material that can vary in size dependent upon the amount of material placed between the mannequin 100 and the sports apparel 180. The apparel flow padding 152 can be secured to one or more of the surface of the sculpture 100 and the sports apparel 180 by a padding securement mechanism 153 to hold the sports apparel 180 in place. The padding securement mechanism 153 may include, hook and loop fasteners, an adhesive, tape, pins, or any suitable securement mechanism.
Still referring to
The exemplary sculpture portion 100 of the action uniformed sports player sculpture 1 illustrated in
The mask 102 may be silicone or any suitable material. The mask 102 may include paint 104 to provide colors of the skin, eyes, lips, hair, and the like. The mask 102 can additionally and/or alternatively include real or synthetic hair, such as on the top of the head, eyebrows, eye lashes, facial hair, and the like. In various embodiments, facial features, such as the eyes, teeth, nose, and lips may be bent or sanded, or otherwise formed so as to match the player's looks.
Once the mask 102 is completed, the mask 102 may be fitted over a mannequin head 101 having a human head shape. The mannequin head 101 is positioned on the upper torso 110 at the head connector 112 as shown in
The exemplary mask 102 for fitting on a head 101 of a sculpture portion 100 of the action uniformed sports player sculpture 1 illustrated in
Referring to
The exemplary sculpture portion 100 of the action uniformed sports player sculpture 1 illustrated in
The exemplary skate blade attachment 190 and a base portion 200 of an exemplary action uniformed sports player sculpture 1 illustrated in
At step 302, sports player reference image data may be generated and/or received. For example, photography or video of the actual player in live action may be used to provide a mapping of the visual occurrence of the player and sports apparel movement during play action. In certain embodiments, a circular video of a view all around the player may be taken, and then assembled as a video, or one or more photographs, to show the player frozen at a movement in the action. In various embodiments, a plurality of freeze action high definition video cameras (e.g., eighty cameras) may be positioned in a circle are a specifically defined area. The player may enter the defined area and perform specific functions of a game action, such as skating, striking a puck, blocking a puck, and the like. The cameras may be synchronized so that when the player is in the defined area a complete 360° view of that player is acquired to provide highly detailed reference image data so any facial, body, and/or sports apparel characteristics may be replicated. For example, the cameras may provide image data to a computer executing software configured to create models of the player (e.g., reference image data).
At step 304, a player mask 102 is created and overlaid on a head base to form a head 101 of a sculpture portion 100. In various embodiments, the player mask 102 may be created based at least in part on the reference image data generated and/or received at step 302. For example, the reference image data may be reviewed when preparing the mask 102 and applying hair 103 and/or paint 104 to the mask 102. The mask 102 may be silicon or any suitable material. The paint 104 may be applied to provide color for the skin, hair, eyes, lips, teeth, and the like. In certain embodiments, real and/or synthetic hair may be adhered to the mask 102 as facial hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, and/or on the top of the head. The head base may be foam or any suitable material. The head base may have a human head shape that at least generally corresponds with the facial structure of the sports player being recreated. For example, the reference image data may be applied to create a mold for creating a foam head base to apply the mask 102. The mask 102 may be configured to resemble a professional, college, or Olympic sports player and/or other celebrity. For example, in the hockey player example, the player may be Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, or any suitable recognizable hockey player.
At step 306, sports padding 170, if any, is positioned on the sculpture portion 100. In various embodiments, the sports padding may be positioned based at least in part on the reference image data generated and/or received at step 302. For example, if modeling a hockey player, shoulder pads 171 and leg pads 172 may be placed on the shoulders 113 and legs 140 of the mannequin 100. As another example, shoulder pads, rib pads, a neck roll, thigh pads, and knee pads may be positioned on a football player. Furthermore, shin guards may be placed on a soccer player.
At step 308, the sculpture portion 100 of action uniformed sports player sculpture 1 may be dressed in sports apparel 180 based at least in part on the reference image data. For example, a team jersey 181, pants 182, leggings 183, and/or the like may be placed on the mannequin 100 having the sports padding 170.
At step 310, the sculpture portion 100 may be positioned and secured in a selected action pose. In various embodiments, the head 101, torso 110, 120, arms 130, and/or legs 140 may be positioned in the action pose based at least in part on the reference image data generated and/or received at step 302. For example, the head 101 may be attached to the upper torso 110 at a head connector 112 and tilted and/or rotated to a particular position. The upper arms 131 may each be secured to a shoulder 113 of the upper torso 110 in a selected pose. The forearms 132 may be secured to the upper arms 131 at the elbows 133 in a particular position by a locking mechanism 151. The upper legs 141 may be attached to the hips 121 of the lower torso 120 in a selected pose. The lower legs 142 may be secured to the upper legs 141 at the knees 143 in a specific position by a locking mechanism 151.
At step 312, sporting equipment 160 may be placed on the sculpture portion 100 based at least in part on the reference image data. For example, a helmet 161 may be placed on a head 101 of the mannequin 100. As another example, gloves 162 may be placed on the hands 134 of the mannequin 100 and ice skates 164 may be placed on the feet 144 of the mannequin 100. In various embodiments, a hockey stick 163 may be coupled to the gloves 162 with a securement mechanism, such as hook and loop fasteners, adhesive, tape, or the like.
At step 314, the sculpture portion 100 is secured to a base portion 200 to form the action uniformed sports player sculpture 1. In various embodiments, the sculpture portion 100 may be coupled to the base portion 200 based at least in part on the reference image data generated and/or received at step 302. For example, in the hockey player embodiment, the ice skates 164 affixed to the mannequin 100 may be received in skate blade attachment mechanisms 190 and secured to the base portion 200. The skate blade attachment mechanisms 190 may have skate blade slots 192 angled to receive the sculpture portion 100 in a particular action position. The skate blade attachment mechanisms 190 may be positionally attached to the base portion in a selected action pose. Additionally and/or alternatively, wires or rods may extend from the base portion 200 and couple with hockey stick 163, skates 164, and/or legs 140, among other things, of the sculpture portion 100.
At step 316, apparel flow mechanisms 152 is positioned and secured between the sports apparel 180 and the sculpture portion 100. In various embodiments, the apparel flow mechanisms 152 are positioned based at least in part on the reference image data generated and/or received at step 302. For example, the apparel flow mechanisms may include apparel flow padding 152 that is positioned on the mannequin 100 at locations where the padding will bump out the sports apparel 180 to position and hold the sports apparel 180 outwardly from the mannequin 100 to place the apparel 180 in a flow action display (e.g., as though the player were actually moving). The apparel flow padding 152 may be secured to the mannequin 100 and/or the sports apparel 180 by apparel flow padding securement mechanisms 153, such as hook and loop fasteners, adhesive, tape, and the like. The importance of the apparel flow padding 152 is to capture visually the player's sports apparel 180 at a point of motion that is taking place by the player during game play.
Various embodiments provide sculpture 1 comprising a mannequin 100, sports apparel 180, and apparel flow padding 152. The mannequin 100 may comprise a head 101, a torso 110, 120, a pair of arms 130, and a pair of legs 140. The head 101, the pair of arms 130, and the pair of legs 140 may be pivotally attached to the torso 110, 120. The torso 110, 120, the pair of arms 130, the pair of legs 140, and the head 101 may be moveable into a play action position and firmly settable into the play action position. The head 101 may comprise a mask 102 of a face of a known player. The sports apparel 180 may comprise a team jersey 181 located on the mannequin 100. The team jersey 181 may comprise an identification of the known player. The apparel flow padding 152 may be located between the mannequin 100 and the sports apparel 180. The apparel flow padding 152 may affect the outside shape of the sports apparel 180 and may configure the sports apparel 180 to provide an apparel flow effect 184 for a moment in time corresponding with the play action position.
In a representative embodiment, the identification of the known player is one or more of a player name and a player number. In certain embodiments, the mask 102 is silicon and comprises one or more of paint 104 and hair 103. In various embodiments, the torso 110, 120 comprises an upper body torso 110 pivotally attached to a lower body torso 120. In a representative embodiment, the upper body torso 110 comprises a body 111, a head connector 112 configured to pivotally receive the head 101, and a pair of shoulders 113, each of the shoulders 113 configured to pivotally receive one of the pair of arms 130.
In certain embodiments, each of the arms 130 may comprise an upper arm 131, an elbow 133, a forearm 132, a hand 134, and at least one locking mechanism 151. The upper arm 131 may comprise a first end and a second end. The first end of the upper arm 131 may be configured to pivotally attach to one of the pair of shoulders 113. The forearm 132 may comprise a first end and a second end. The first end of the forearm 132 may be configured to pivotally attach to the second end of the upper arm 131 at the elbow 133. The hand 134 may be configured to attach to a second end of the forearm 132. The at least one locking mechanism 151 may be configured to firmly set one or more of the upper arm 131, the forearm 132, and the hand 134 in the play action position. In a representative embodiment, the at least one locking mechanism 151 may comprise a screw that is tightened to firmly set the one or more of the upper arm 131, the forearm 132, and the hand 134 in the play action position.
In various embodiments, the lower body torso 120 comprises a pair of hips 121. Each of the hips 121 may be configured to pivotally receive one of the pair of legs 140. In certain embodiments, each of the legs 140 comprises an upper leg 141, a knee 143, a lower leg 142, a foot 144, and at least one locking mechanism 151. The upper leg 141 may comprise a first end and a second end. The first end of the upper leg 141 may be configured to pivotally attach to one of the pair of hips 121. The lower leg 142 may comprise a first end and a second end. The first end of the lower leg 142 may be configured to pivotally attach to the second end of the upper leg 141 at the knee 143. The foot 144 may be configured to attach to the second end of the lower leg 142. The at least one locking mechanism 151 may be configured to firmly set one or more of the upper leg 141, the lower leg 142, and the foot 144 in the play action position. In various embodiments, the at least one locking mechanism 151 may comprise a screw that is tightened to firmly set the one or more of the upper leg 141, the lower leg 142, and the foot 144 in the play action position.
In a representative embodiment, the apparel flow padding 152 is injected foam. In certain embodiments, the apparel flow padding 152 is bubble wrap. In various embodiments, the apparel flow padding 152 is secured to one or more of the sports apparel and the mannequin by an apparel flow securement mechanism 153. In a representative embodiment, the apparel flow securement mechanism 153 is one or more of hook and loop fasteners, tape, and adhesive. In certain embodiments, the sculpture 1 may comprise sports padding 170 located on the mannequin 100 and at least partially under the sports apparel 180. In various embodiments, the sports padding 170 may comprise one or more of shoulder pads 171, leg pads 172, and clothing padding.
In certain embodiments, the sculpture 1 may comprise sporting equipment 160 attached to the mannequin 100. In a representative embodiment, the sporting equipment 160 may comprise one or more of a helmet 161, gloves 162, a hockey stick 163, and ice skates 164. In various embodiments, the sculpture 1 may comprise a base portion 200. The mannequin 100 may be mountable to the base portion 200. In certain embodiments, the pair of legs 140 may comprise feet 144. The mannequin 100 may comprise ice skates 164 coupled to the feet 144. The mannequin 100 may be mountable to the base portion 200 at a skate blade attachment mechanism 190. The skate blade attachment mechanism 190 may comprise a skate blade base 191 and a skate blade slot 192. The skate blade base 191 may be mountable to the base portion 200. The skate blade slot 192 may be in the skate blade base 191. The skate blade slot 192 may be configured to receive a blade of the ice skates 164. The skate blade slot 192 may comprise an angle corresponding with the play action position.
As utilized herein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joined by “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. As another example, “x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. As utilized herein, the term “exemplary” means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As utilized herein, the terms “e.g.” and “for example” set off lists of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations.
While the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but that the present invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to provisional application Ser. No. 62/144,228, filed on Apr. 7, 2015. The above referenced provisional application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62144228 | Apr 2015 | US |
