Mannequins and articulating components thereof

Abstract

A mannequin, particularly a child sized 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.

1 . 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;   said first unit comprising a first disc arrangement;   said second unit comprising a second disc arrangement disposed coaxially with respect to said first disc arrangement;   said first disc arrangement comprising a frictional engagement medium;   said second unit further comprising:
 at least one element for frictionally engaging with said frictional engagement medium; and 
 an arrangement for biasing said at least one element towards said frictional engagement medium. 
   
   
   
       2 . The joint structure according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said frictional engagement medium comprises a plurality of dimples; and   said dimples are distributed substantially over an entire 360 degree arc coaxially with respect to said first disc arrangement.   
   
   
       3 . The joint structure according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first disc arrangement comprises a central disc;   said second disc arrangement comprises a pair of discs disposed at opposite faces of said central disc.   
   
   
       4 . The joint structure according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said frictional engagement medium comprises a plurality of dimples; and   said at least one element comprises a ball member for engaging with said dimples.   
   
   
       5 . The joint structure according to  claim 4 , wherein said biasing arrangement comprises a spring which biases said ball member towards said dimples. 
   
   
       6 . The joint structure according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first unit further comprises an extension which extends radially away from said first disc arrangement;   said extension including a grooved element;   said grooved element acting to permit rotational movement of said extension and grooved element about a longitudinal axis of said extension, with respect to the first body part;   whereby rotational movement of said second body part with respect to said first body part, about the longitudinal axis of said extension, is afforded.   
   
   
       7 . The joint structure according to  claim 6 , wherein said extension is integral with respect to said first disc arrangement. 
   
   
       8 . The joint structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said frictional engagement medium comprises a plurality grooves extending in a radial direction with respect to said first disc arrangement. 
   
   
       9 . The joint structure according to  claim 8 , wherein said at least one element for frictionally engaging with said frictional engagement medium comprises protrusions extending in a radial direction with respect to said second disc arrangement. 
   
   
       10 . A mannequin comprising:
 a first body part;   a second body part; and   a joint structure interconnecting said first and second body parts, said joint structure comprising:
 a first unit associated with said first body part; 
 a second unit associated with said second body part; 
 said first unit comprising a first disc arrangement; 
 said second unit comprising a second disc arrangement disposed coaxially with respect to said first disc arrangement; 
 said first disc arrangement comprising a frictional engagement medium; 
 said second unit further comprising:
 at least one element for frictionally engaging with said frictional engagement medium; and 
 an arrangement for biasing said at least one element towards said frictional engagement medium. 
 
   
   
   
       11 . The mannequin according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said frictional engagement medium comprises a plurality of dimples; and   said dimples are distributed substantially over an entire 360 degree arc coaxially with respect to said first disc arrangement.   
   
   
       12 . The mannequin according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said first disc arrangement comprises a central disc;   said second disc arrangement comprises a pair of discs disposed at opposite faces of said central disc.   
   
   
       13 . The mannequin according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said frictional engagement medium comprises a plurality of dimples; and   said at least one element comprises a ball member for engaging with said dimples.   
   
   
       14 . The mannequin according to  claim 13 , wherein said biasing arrangement comprises a spring which biases said ball member towards said dimples. 
   
   
       15 . The mannequin according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said first unit further comprises an extension which extends radially away from said first disc arrangement;   said extension including a grooved element;   said grooved element acting to permit rotational movement of said extension and grooved element about a longitudinal axis of said extension, with respect to the first body part;   whereby rotational movement of said second body part with respect to said first body part, about the longitudinal axis of said extension, is afforded.   
   
   
       16 . The mannequin according to  claim 15 , wherein said extension is integral with respect to said first disc arrangement. 
   
   
       17 . The mannequin according to  claim 15 , further comprising a second joint structure between a third body part and a fourth body part, said second joint structure comprising:
 a third unit associated with said third body part;   a fourth unit associated with said fourth body part;   said third unit comprising a third disc arrangement;   said fourth unit comprising a fourth disc arrangement disposed coaxially with respect to said third disc arrangement;   said third disc arrangement and said fourth disc arrangement being pivotally displaceable with respect to one another;   said third body part and said fourth body part being solely pivotally displaceable with respect to one another in parallel to pivotal displacement of said third disc arrangement and said fourth disc arrangement with respect to one another.   
   
   
       18 . The mannequin according to  claim 15 , wherein said first body part comprises one of: a torso, an upper arm and an upper leg. 
   
   
       19 . The mannequin according to  claim 15 , wherein said second body part comprises one of: an upper arm, a lower arm and a lower leg. 
   
   
       20 . The mannequin according to  claim 10 , wherein said frictional engagement medium comprises grooves extending in a radial direction with respect to said first disc arrangement. 
   
   
       21 . The mannequin according to  claim 20 , wherein said at least one element for frictionally engaging with said frictional engagement medium comprises protrusions extending in a radial direction with respect to said second disc arrangement. 
   
   
       22 . The mannequin according to  claim 21 , wherein said first body part comprises a lower arm and said second body part comprises a hand.