Three-dimensional image retainer

Abstract

A 3-D image retainer is configured to have a plurality of perforated retainer plates and a retainer assembly displaceable to lock selectively impressed pins, which traverse the retained plates, in the desired position corresponding to the 3-D contour of the applied load.

1 . An image retainer comprising:
 a plurality of retainer plates each having a respective multiplicity of openings and displaceable relative to one another in a first plane between a first position, in which the openings of the plurality of plates are aligned in a second plane extending transversely to the first plane, thereby forming a plurality of parallel rows of openings in the second plane, and a second position, in which the openings are misaligned;   a plurality of parallel pins each having a respective shank and a pair of spaced opposite pinheads each extending radially outwards from the respective shank, the plurality of pins each being inserted through a respective row of aligned openings in the first position of the plurality of plates and having a respective shank frictionally engaged by the plurality of plates in the second position thereof, wherein the plurality of pins are frictionally displaceable in the second plane to an impressed position of the plurality of pins in response to applying a load to one of the spaced opposite pinheads in the second position of the plurality of plates, thereby recreating a 3-D image of the load upon removing the load; and   a retaining assembly operative to move in the first plane upon displacement of the plurality of pins to the impressed position and lock the pins therein, wherein the plurality of pins displaced in the impressed position are displaceably arrested to retain the 3-D dimensional image upon removing the load regardless of a spatial position of the image retainer,   wherein the retainer assembly includes an actuator and a retaining element extending between the plurality of retainer plates, wherein the retaining element of the retainer assembly is a lock plate provided with a plurality of apertures, the plurality of apertures each being traversed by a respective one of the plurality pins, the lock plate being coupled to the actuator so that when the actuator is rotatable in one direction, the lock plate is displaced to a position in which a peripheral wall of each of the plurality of apertures presses against and arrests displacement of the plurality of pins, and when the actuator is rotatable in an opposite direction, the lock plate is displaced to unlock the pins,   wherein the retaining element includes a one-piece mat coupled to the actuator and made from a stretchable material, the mat having a plurality of alternating longitudinal ridges and valleys, the valleys being provided with a plurality of apertures each traversed by a respective one of the plurality of pins as at least some of the plurality of pins are displaceable to the impressed position.   
   
   
       2 . The image retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a shaft rotatable about a shaft axis, the shaft being coupled to one end of the mat so that when the shaft is rotated in one direction, the ridges are displaced towards one another to lockingly engage the plurality of pins in the impressed position thereof, and when the actuator is rotatable in an opposite direction, the ridges move away from one another so as to release the plurality of pins from the impressed position. 
   
   
       3 . An image retainer comprising:
 a plurality of retainer plates each having a respective multiplicity of openings and displaceable relative to one another in a first plane between a first position, in which the openings of the plurality of plates are aligned in a second plane extending transversely to the first plane, thereby forming a plurality of parallel rows of openings in the second plane, and a second position, in which the openings are misaligned;   a plurality of parallel pins each having a respective shank and a pair of spaced opposite pinheads each extending radially outwards from the respective shank, the plurality of pins each being inserted through a respective row of aligned openings in the first position of the plurality of plates and having a respective shank frictionally engaged by the plurality of plates in the second position thereof, wherein the plurality of pins are frictionally displaceable in the second plane to an impressed position of the plurality of pins in response to applying a load to one of the spaced opposite pinheads in the second position of the plurality of plates, thereby recreating a 3-D image of the load upon removing the load; and   a retaining assembly operative to move in the first plane upon displacement of the plurality of pins to the impressed position and lock the pins therein, wherein the plurality of pins displaced in the impressed position are displaceably arrested to retain the 3-D dimensional image upon removing the load regardless of a spatial position of the image retainer,   wherein the retainer assembly includes an actuator and a retaining element extending between the plurality of retainer plates, wherein the retaining element of the retainer assembly is a lock plate provided with a plurality of apertures, the plurality of apertures each being traversed by a respective one of the plurality pins, the lock plate being coupled to the actuator so that when the actuator is rotatable in one direction, the lock plate is displaced to a position in which a peripheral wall of each of the plurality of apertures presses against and arrests displacement of the plurality of pins, and when the actuator is rotatable in an opposite direction, the lock plate is displaced to unlock the pins,   wherein the plurality of retainer plates are arranged in a multiplicity of pairs, each retainer plate being provided with a plurality of tongues space apart and extending so that the plurality of tongues of one retainer plate of each pair extends in a plane perpendicular to a plane of the plurality of tongues of the other retainer plate, whereby the plurality of tongues of the retainer plates of each pair define a respective one of the plurality of openings having a larger cross-sectional area in the first position of the plurality of retainer plates and a smaller cross-sectional area in the second position of the plurality of retainer plates.   
   
   
       4 . An image retainer comprising:
 a plurality of retainer plates each having a respective multiplicity of openings and displaceable relative to one another in a first plane between a first position, in which the openings of the plurality of plates are aligned in a second plane extending transversely to the first plane, thereby forming a plurality of parallel rows of openings in the second plane, and a second position, in which the openings are misaligned;   a plurality of parallel pins each having a respective shank and a pair of spaced opposite pinheads each extending radially outwards from the respective shank, the plurality of pins each being inserted through a respective row of aligned openings in the first position of the plurality of plates and having a respective shank frictionally engaged by the plurality of plates in the second position thereof, wherein the plurality of pins are frictionally displaceable in the second plane to an impressed position of the plurality of pins in response to applying a load to one of the spaced opposite pinheads in the second position of the plurality of plates, thereby recreating a 3-D image of the load upon removing the load; and   a retaining assembly operative to move in the first plane upon displacement of the plurality of pins to the impressed position and lock the pins therein, wherein the plurality of pins displaced in the impressed position are displaceably arrested to retain the 3-D dimensional image upon removing the load regardless of a spatial position of the image retainer,   wherein the retainer assembly includes an actuator and a retaining element extending between the plurality of retainer plates, wherein the retaining element of the retainer assembly is a lock plate provided with a plurality of apertures, the plurality of apertures each being traversed by a respective one of the plurality pins, the lock plate being coupled to the actuator so that when the actuator is rotatable in one direction, the lock plate is displaced to a position in which a peripheral wall of each of the plurality of apertures presses against and arrests displacement of the plurality of pins, and when the actuator is rotatable in an opposite direction, the lock plate is displaced to unlock the pins,   wherein the retaining element includes a plurality of separate strips made from resilient material, the plurality of separate strips being spaced from one another at a larger distance in the first and second positions of the plurality of retainer plates so as to allow the plurality of pins freely move towards the impressed position, and spaced from one another at a smaller distance in the impressed position of the plurality of pins so as to arrest displacement of the plurality of pins.