Patent Application
20190216239
The present invention relates to an apparatus for catching improperly-attached garment display manikin limbs during the dressing process. The present apparatus prevents limbs from falling onto the floor if accidentally released by the manikin's dresser before secure attachment, or in cases where the dresser erroneously believes the limb is properly attached, but it is not. The apparatus is useful for manikins with a pin- or dowel-to-hole arrangement for attaching limbs into the torso. The pin or dowel can be either on the limb or on the torso. This invention increases the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of a garment retail store.
In the retail garment store industry, manikins are often used as displays for clothes. The store's employees have to change the manikin displays at regular intervals as new arrivals are showcased. Dressing a manikin in clothes with sleeves involves first putting a garment on the manikin's torso, then threading the limbs through the sleeves.
Threading the limbs through the sleeves is not an easy process, and needs close attention by the dresser. One of the most challenging steps is making sure the limb is securely attached to the torso after the garment has been dressed on the manikin. If the limb-to-torso connection involves a pin or a dowel that goes into a corresponding hole, the dresser has to make sure that this connection is secure: the pin has to be fully inserted into its hole, and a positive connection must be made between the limb and torso. Otherwise, when the dresser releases the limb, it risks falling out of the sleeve and potentially breaking on the floor.
In a hypothetical situation, through the garment, the dresser can ascertain by feel that the pin has gone inside the hole, and trusts that the limb is secure. In reality, only half of the pin has actually gone into the hole. Gravity will pull the limb down, the pin slides out of the hole, and the limb falls. The present invention eliminates this unintended result.
There is known U.S. Pat. No. 9,538,866 for “MAGNETICALLY COUPLING MANIKIN JOINTS” for a manikin with such a pin-to-hole arrangement. However, this pin has no means to prevent it from slipping out of its hole and letting the limb fall to the floor.
There is also known CN104273988 for “AVOIDING FALL-OFF STRUCTURE FOR LIMBS OF EXHIBITED MANIKIN”, for a dowel pin and hole. However, this invention is not as effective as the present apparatus because the tip of the pin that functions as a limb catcher is ball-shaped, and therefore can slip out of the hole far easier than the present invention if bumped. The present invention also has two catching holes as a redundancy system, in case the limb is bumped out of the first catching hole, while CN104273988 does not.
The present invention saves time and money for garment retail stores. During dressing of display manikins, if the dresser makes an error, this can be costly if the manikin's limb falls to the floor and breaks. Some limbs are very aesthetically intricate, with fingers that can break off. If this happens, the limb will have to be thrown out.
This invention catches the limb before it falls to the floor, and lets the dresser quickly correct a mistake without having to re-thread the limb through the sleeve or buy a new limb. The preferred embodiment has a built-in redundancy to assure the limb from falling.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises, on the limb attachment means portion, a bend or hook at the tip of the lead-in pin, and two holes on the torso's attachment means portion. The holes, in the torso's lead-in base and magnet room, are oriented in such a way that if the lead-in pin's hook is bumped out of the first hole (in the magnet room), the sway of the limb will orient the hook to catch onto the second hole (in the lead-in base). Thus, the present invention will catch a limb before it falls to the floor.
In the preferred embodiment, the pin should be between 2″ and 3″, with a diameter of around ½″. The pin should be made of plastic, more specifically polycarbonate or ABS, but can be made of any material.
Referring now to the drawings,
Catcher 25 comprises a catching element, and holes 38 and 39 comprise a stopping element.
In operation, a dresser threads a garment onto a limb, and through the garment will locate lead-in pin 24 by feel. Dresser will then orient lead-in pin 24 so that catcher 25 goes through holes 38 and 39. Dresser then pushes the limb against the torso so that the attraction force of magnets (not shown) in magnet rooms 28 and 29 engage their attraction force, and securely connect the limb to the torso.
Once lead-in pin 24 is inserted through holes 38 and 39, if the dresser makes an error in judgment and assumes that the limb is securely connected to the torso, gravity will pull the limb to the floor, and lead-in pin 24 will slide out of holes 38 and 39. At the end of pin 24's slide, catcher 25 will engage hole 39 and prevent limb from falling to the floor. If, once the dresser sees the mistake, the dresser accidentally bumps the limb with enough force to dislodge the contact between catcher 25 and hole 39, catcher 25 will catch onto hole 38 in attach base 16, thus giving the dresser a second chance to correct the initial error.
Catcher 25 can be longer than the preferred embodiment, but it cannot be larger in diameter than holes 38 and 39. Another variation is possible for holes 38 and 39: an oval rather than a circular hole. This will make inserting catcher 25 easier, as there will only be one way to insert it into holes 38 and 39.
This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 62/617,822, filed on Jan. 16, 2018.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62617822 | Jan 2018 | US |
