Patent Application
20080296321
The present invention relates generally to store mannequins and, more particularly, to articulating components that permit the inclusion of limbs such as arms and legs.
Fashion mannequins are widely used in clothing stores and other venues, at the very least for advantageously displaying to potential customers the prospective appearance of one or more clothing items on a human body. While historically most full-size adult mannequins have been more or less stationary, without a capability of moving one part respective to another (e.g., a limb respective to a torso), several have indeed been developed with such movement capabilities. Fusion Specialties, Inc., of Broomfield, Colo. USA, for example, has created many such mannequins. Typically, the joints at various connection points include a clicking feature which facilitate steady positioning, e.g., of a limb with respect to a torso or a wrist with respect to an arm. Generally, a sliding and clicking motion is involved with lateral movement while vertical motion tends to involve solely a sliding movement. However, some restrictions have been noted on the relative freedom of movement with such an arrangement.
At the same time, children's apparel has been a mushrooming endeavor in recent years, and needs are also noted there for workable mannequins. However, no workable effort has hitherto been found in connection with applying the features of an articulating adult mannequin (as described above) to a proportionately sized child mannequin (including the mannequin sizes of “newborn” [3-6 mos.], “toddler” [up to 24 mos.] and “preteen” or “big kid” [6×7]). At best, many stores have resorted to simply providing a bust only, necessitating that any clothing placed on the bust needs to be filled, e.g., with tissue or newspaper in order for limb portions of the clothing to “fill out”.
In view of the foregoing, a compelling need has been recognized in connection with providing a child mannequin that is at least as versatile, mobile and flexible as an articulating adult mannequin.
In accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is broadly contemplated herein a mannequin that includes articulating joints which permit a considerable range of movement. In accordance with a preferred variant of the present invention, special accommodations are made for wrist joints on a mannequin. The present invention broadly encompasses not only full or partial body mannequins, but any portions thereof that include an articulated connection between one part of the mannequin and another.
In summary, one aspect of the invention provides a joint structure for attaching and positioning body parts of a mannequin comprising: a first unit for being associated with a first body part; a second unit for being associated with a second body part; the first unit comprising a first disc arrangement; the second unit comprising a second disc arrangement disposed coaxially with respect to the first disc arrangement; the first disc arrangement comprising a frictional engagement medium; the second unit further comprising: at least one element for frictionally engaging with the frictional engagement medium; and an arrangement for biasing the at least one element towards the frictional engagement medium.
Furthermore, an additional aspect of the invention provides a mannequin comprising: a first body part; a second body part; and a joint structure interconnecting the first and second body parts, the joint structure comprising: a first unit associated with the first body part; a second unit associated with the second body part; the first unit comprising a first disc arrangement; the second unit comprising a second disc arrangement disposed coaxially with respect to the first disc arrangement; the first disc arrangement comprising a frictional engagement medium; the second unit further comprising: at least one element for frictionally engaging with the frictional engagement medium; and an arrangement for biasing the at least one element towards the frictional engagement medium.
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.
It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method of the present invention, as represented in
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals or other labels throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the invention as claimed herein.
Indicated at 4, in each of regions 5, 8, 9, 11 and 2 (see
As shown, several components are coaxial with respect to an “X” axis, and others with respect to a “Y” axis perpendicular there. Along the X axis, a central disc 4a, with central aperture 41, as shown, may include a number of dimples or recesses 42 disposed along an imaginary circle at a constant radius from a center of disc 4a. Such dimples 42 are preferably provided on both flat surfaces of disc 4a. Preferably flanking central disc 4a on either longitudinal side thereof are cooperating discs 13 and 18, respectively. Cooperating discs 13 and 18 are each configured to accommodate a spring and ball combination 14/15 and 17/16, whereby, when cooperating discs 13 and 18 are longitudinally in close proximity to central disc 4a, springs 14/17 will bias balls 15/16, respectively, into one of the dimples 42. Thus, when cooperating discs 13/18 are in relative rotational movement with respect to central disc 4a, a “clicking” action will take place. This will allow for easy positioning of one body part with respect to another, in a manner to be better understood herebelow. Springs 14/17 need not be connected or affixed to balls 15/16, as the biasing force of springs 14/17 will preferably ensure that the balls 15/16 do not “escape” from the assembly.
Each cooperating disc 13/18 may be configured as shown, i.e., as two parallel discs of smaller thickness that are integral with one another (e.g., via a short annular section disposed between the two parallel discs in a manner not shown), or may be configured in essentially any other suitable manner. Disc 13 preferably includes a cylindrical stub 131 with an outer diameter smaller than or equal to the inner diameter of aperture 41 of central disc 4a. Accordingly, cooperating disc 18 may have a central aperture 181 through which a screw 19 can be directed to connected with an internally threaded central hole of stub 131. With stub 131 extending into aperture 41, it will be ensured that cooperating discs 13/18 will be in close proximity to central disc 4a.
With regard to components centered about the Y axis, a bolt 43 preferably extends radially away from central disc 4a. A grooved element 20, to be discussed in more detail herebelow, is preferably disposed about bolt 43 and secured thereto via a nut 24; further, nut 24 preferably “caps” an assembly of a washer 21, spring 22 and washer 23 disposed longitudinally adjacent to grooved element 20, whereby spring 22 acts to bias grooved element 20 against a circumferential edge of disc 4a. A grooved cap 34 is also preferably provided, for purposes to be more fully appreciated herebelow. Grooved cap 34 preferably has internal grooves and protrusions that mesh with grooves and protrusions of grooved element 20 to permit relative rotational movement between the two components. Cap 34 may be fit about grooved element 20 in essentially any suitable manner, e.g., by gluing or snapping together two halves of cap 34 about grooved element 20.
Preferably, all components centered about the Y axis (here, 20/21/22/23/24/34/43), as well as central disk 4a from which bolt 43 extends, can be referred to as the “Y unit” and preferably are associated with one of the two body parts being connected at a joint 4. Thus, in the case of
During manufacture of the mannequin, the X unit is preferably clamped about the Y unit via tightening screw 19, and this ensemble is then incorporated integrally into a “lower limb” at a joint 4 (such as lower leg 12) while the lower leg mold is still not full solid (i.e., still partly molten or semi-solid during a conventional molding process).
Thence, an “upper limb” at a joint 4 (such as upper leg 10) is preferably molded around cap 34 (which essentially covers all other components of the Y unit), with the result that a shallow recessed cylindrical pocket 20a mates with the double disc arrangement 34a of cap 34. Preferably, the lower limb (such as lower leg 12) will be convexly shaped at an upper portion thereof as shown (preferably semi-spherically at that) and will interface with corresponding concave portions at a lower end of the upper limb (such as upper leg 10).
The result will be a joint connection which permits considerable freedom of movement in a multitude of directions. On the one hand, relative pivoting movement of the lower limb (e.g. 12) with respect to the upper limb (e.g., 10) in parallel to a plane defined by the Y axis and transverse to the X axis will be possible by way of relative rotational movement between central disc 4a and cooperating discs 13/18. It should be understood that cooperating discs 13/18 are essentially embedded into the material of the lower limb (e.g. 12) and thus fixed with respect thereto. Also, the biasing force of springs 14/17 is preferably strong enough to hold the upper and lower limbs (e.g., 10 and 12) in place with respect to one another when a ball 15/16 is biased into a dimple 42. It should also be noted that the springs 14/17 are preferably dimensioned and configured as to “give” sufficiently when relative rotational movement between discs 4a and 13/18 does take place, to permit balls 15/16 to briefly retract from the dimples 42.
On the other hand, rotational movement of the lower limb (e.g. 12) about the upper limb (e.g. 10) about the Y axis is preferably permitted throughout a full 360 degrees. In this case, the grooved element 20 preferably rotates freely with respect to cap 34 while, by virtue of the grooves, longitudinal displacement of the grooved element 20 along the Y axis with respect to cap 34 will not be permitted. It should be appreciated, then, that the number of grooves in grooved element 20 and cap 34 and their dimensions, as well as the dimensions of the double disc arrangement 34a, are preferably selected so as to ensure that a significant tensile force applied to grooved element 20 along the Y axis with respect to cap 34 will not be sufficient to promote the aforementioned longitudinal displacement. At the same time, the materials of cap 34a (e.g., PVC or other polymeric material) and grooved element 20 (e.g., metal) will preferably be chosen to ensure a relative coefficient of friction between the components that is sufficiently low to permit the aforementioned rotational displacement but sufficiently high as to prevent inadvertent slipping of the two limbs (e.g., 10/12) with respect to one another in a rotational direction about the Y axis. Clearly, the joint 4 should preferably be tight enough overall as to be able to adequately hold the weight of the body parts concerned.
In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
Discs 29 and 25 respectively include apertures 291 and 251 into which, respectively springs 30 and 26 may extend. Apertures 291/251 are preferably graduated such that springs 30 and 26 will not extend past disks 29 and 25 in a direction towards central disc 33, but instead will bias an annular internal surface of disk 29 or 25, respectively, towards central disc 33. The biasing force of springs 30 and 26, respectively, can preferably be effected by screws 32 and 28, respectively, which thread into stubs 331 and 333, respectively. Preferably, washers 31 and 27 may be interposed between screws 32/28 and springs 30/26, respectively. The biasing force of springs 30/26 is preferably strong enough to hold the hand and lower arm 7/6 in place with respect to one another when the grooves 332/252 are engaged with one another. It should also be noted that the springs 30/26 are preferably dimensioned and configured as to “give” sufficiently when relative rotational movement between discs 33 and 29/25 does take place, to permit grooves 252 to briefly retract from 332.
The result will be a joint connection which permits solely up-and-down movement of hand 7 with respect to lower arm 6, i.e., a pivoting movement of hand 7 with respect to lower arm 6 along a plane perpendicular to the Z axis into and out of the paper with respect to
Torso 1, as shown and described herein, preferably includes a head, while lower legs 12, as shown and described herein, preferably include ankles and feet. As such, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a head may be immobile with respect to torso 1 and ankles/feet may be immobile with respect to lower legs 12. However, it should be understood that optionally there may be provided articulated joints similar to any of those discussed hereinabove, that would interconnect a head with torso 1 or a foot/ankle portion with a lower leg 12. By the same token, it should also be understood that any the body parts specifically shown and described herein as being movable (i.e., can move with respect to at least one other body part by way of an articulating joint) can of course be immobile or stationary with respect to one or more other body parts as may be desired in accordance with a given practical application.
It should be appreciated that the central discs 4a and 33 discussed hereinabove are capable of undergoing a full 360 degrees of movement relative to the cooperating discs that flank them while undergoing the “clicking” or ratcheting action described in each case.
It should further be appreciated that the arrangements discussed and illustrated herein generally involve the use of joints having a first disc arrangement, associated with a first body part, that is coaxial with respect to a second disc arrangement, associated with a second body part. The second disc arrangement is generally biased into the first disc arrangement. Because the disc arrangements are coaxial, the space needed for the joints is greatly reduced.
While discussion has been made hereinabove of integrally forming one or more joint components with respect to a mannequin body part during a molding process, it should be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment a joint may be retrofitted into an already formed mannequin body part by any of a wide variety of conceivable methods.
Broadly stated, and in brief recapitulation, it will be appreciated that there is broadly contemplated herein, in accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, a joint structure for attaching and positioning body parts of a mannequin, or a mannequin which includes such a joint structure. The joint structure includes a first unit for a first body part and a second unit for a second body part. The first unit includes a first disc arrangement and the second unit includes a second disc arrangement disposed coaxially with respect to the first disc arrangement. The first disc arrangement comprises a frictional engagement medium while the second unit further comprises: at least one element for frictionally engaging with the frictional engagement medium, and an arrangement for biasing this at least one element towards the frictional engagement medium.
It should be understood, in essence, that a “frictional engagement medium” need not necessarily be restricted to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. For instance, instead of the dimples 42 or grooves 332 discussed hereinabove (with ball and spring arrangements [14/15, 17/16] or grooves [252] engaging with them, respectively), cooperating discs as understood herein could engage frictionally via friction pads or similar media which would provide a high coefficient of friction of rotational movement between the discs as one or more discs is biased against another.
If not otherwise stated herein, it is to be assumed that all patents, patent applications, patent publications and other publications (including web-based publications) mentioned and cited herein are hereby fully incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in their entirety herein.
Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
