Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
  • A47F8/00—Dummies, busts or the like, e.g. for displaying garments

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an "intelligent" mannequin, i.e. a mannequin that is able to detect several data of those people who stop and observe it.
• Mannequins are normally used in the field of fashion in order to display items of clothing, so that a potential purchaser can get an early impression of how a particular garment will look like when it is worn.
• Known mannequins are provided with reversible connections (normally between the trunk, the arms and the pelvis, and between the pelvis and a leg) , so as to allow dismantling the mannequin in several elements and thus allowing the same to be dressed.
• the object of the present invention is to at least partially meet the above-mentioned requirements.
• the present invention allows to obtain advantages in terms of simplicity of production, increased resistance, increased compactness and/or increased versatility.
• FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic view of a mannequin having a head according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 shows a perspective schematic view of a second mannequin having the head of Fig. 1;
• FIG. 3 shows a second head in accordance with the present invention
• FIG. 4 shows a third head in accordance with the present invention
• FIG. 5 shows a rear view of a fourth head in accordance with the present invention.
• any reference made to a mannequin should be intended to a static one, and any type of automaton or antropomorph automaton (robot) which by being provided with motor means is able to perform complex movements, is expressly excluded.
• mannequin shall encompass those mannequins which are capable of performing a small number of movements, such as for example limited oscillations around one or two axes.
• a mannequin is generally designated with 1, particularly an anthropomorhic mannequin, having a head 2 provided with eyes (or ocular portions) 3, neck 4, trunk 5, arms 6, pelvis 7, legs 8.
• the mannequin 1 can be provided in several separated elements, which are then joined to each other .
• the number 9 indicates an interface between some of these elements.
• the number 9 indicates an interface between trunk 5, arms 6 and pelvis 7, and an interface 9 between pelvis 7 and a single leg 8.
• the precise position of the interfaces 9 (for example if the shoulder must be comprised in the element that provides the arm 6 or in the one that provides the trunk 5) is variable according to modes and with advantages known in the art relatively to production flexibility, configuration and obtainable realism.
• the head 2 can comprise two ocular portions 3, whose position relative to the head 2 will be sufficiently clear both to those skilled in the field and to the casual observer at any time.
• the ocular portions 3 can also represent particularly realistic eyes, like in the examples of Fig. 1, 2, and 3, for example with eyelashes and/or eyebrows and/or eyelids and/or an eyeball and/or a pupil and/or an iris, or be simply an area in which an ocular portion 3 is identifiable, as in Fig. 4.
• mannequins that are particularly realistic.
• an ocular portion 3 it will be meant that all the characteristics that define an eye can be either absent or present with a greater or lower degree of realism, according to what is known in the mannequin manufacturing field.
• the head 2 is advantageously hollow and defines an inner volume V for an optical detector 10 to be accommodated therein.
• the head 2 can comprise a hole 11 arranged proximate to the ocular portion 3, preferably having a diameter ranging between 1 mm and 50 mm, for example lower than 10 mm, which connects the internal volume V to the outside of the head 2.
• Such hole 11 can be advantageously provided, for example by means of drilling, after the operations of painting the head 2.
• This hole 11 can be provided in the centre of the ocular portion 3, for example in the position corresponding to the pupil, or directly in the pupil, in case the latter is provided in the head 2.
• the diameter of the hole is substantially equal to that of a pupil, for example slightly greater than that.
• the thickness S of the head 2 can be reduced, if necessary, to less than 7 mm, preferably less than 5 mm.
• the thickness can range between 2 mm and 4 mm or lower than 4 mm.
• the thickness reduction can be obtained for example by means of milling.
• support and/or fastening means 12 for example a bracket, either made of metal or other material
• the optical detector 10 can be provided for the optical detector 10, so that the latter is fixed relative to the inner part of head 2, advantageously relative to the hole 11.
• the optical detector 10 is arranged within the volume V proximate to the hole 11, so as to detect images of the outside of said head 2 through said hole 11.
• the optical detector 10 can be, for example, a video camera and connection means 13 can be associated therewith which connect it to suitable processing means 14.
• the optical detector can send a signal representative of the images being detected to the processing means 14.
• the single elements composing the mannequin 1, which are produced independently from each other, for example by means of extrusion and blow-moulding, can be made from polymeric material, for example comprising polyester or PS.
• polymeric material for example comprising polyester or PS.
• HDPS can be used, possibly in alloy with styrene, such as to provide the resulting piece with shockproof properties.
• the head 2 In order to meet production rationalisation requirements, it is possible to manufacture the head 2 separately from the trunk 5. In this case, an interface 9 could be provided transversal to the neck 4, thereby the inner volume V of the head 2 is connected to the outside of head 2.
• intersection between the interface 9 and the internal volume V defines a second open portion of the head, in addition to the hole 11.
• the elements of the mannequin 1 are assembled to each other.
• the head 2 and the trunk 5 can be assembled to each other by means of welding (or gluing) thereby causing the interface 9 to be hidden from sight, like in Fig. 1 and 2.
• the assembly of the two elements can be carried out by providing inner mechanical connecting elements within the internal volume of mannequin 1 and therefore partially within the internal volume V of head 2.
• the mannequin 1 is painted.
• the access to internal volume V of the head 2 is difficult, if it is carried out through the second open portion as, after the welding the latter is difficultly accessible, whereas if the head and trunk 5 are not welded to each other, the access is hindered by the inner mechanical connecting elements.
• the head 2 can provide an opening 15, having a greater dimension than the hole 11, in order to allow accommodating the optical sensor 10 in position within the head 2.
• the opening 15 (represented in Fig. 5) can be realized in such a position of the head 2 that it can result to be hidden in the mannequin when it is being used. Since mannequins can be associated with suitable wigs, the opening 15 can be provided in those areas of the head 2 corresponding to the nape (as in Fig. 5) , the temples or those where hair can normally grow.
• the opening 15 can be closed by a wall (not visible in the drawings) which is suitably shaped and held in position from suitable lock means, for example a screw.
• the wall is obtained directly by the head 2, and can be the result of a cut that provides both the wall and the opening 15 in one operation.
• the wall can have the shape of a skullcap.
• the opening 15 is provided before painting the head 2 and preferably even before the head 2 and the trunk 5 are welded to each other.
• the seat for the optical sensor is also provided, by drilling the hole 11 and checking the thickness S of the head 2 proximate to the hole 11.
• the optical sensor 10, instead, can be inserted after the head 2 has been completed.
• the processing means 14 can be either internal or external to the mannequin 1. If they are external, the connecting means 13 will be able to transfer the signal emitted from the optical detector 10 both in wireless and cabled modes.
• the connecting wire/s may exit from the external surface of the mannequin 1 from a hidden position, for example from one of the extremities of the limbs, for example from a leg, from a heel or sole.
• the connecting wire/s can be also caused to pass from the mannequin 1 directly to a pedestal on which the mannequin 1 is supported.
• the connecting means 13, within the mannequin 1, start from the inner volume V of the head 2 and are arranged within the other parts of the mannequin 1, which are also advantageously hollow such as a single cavity is defined without interruption within the mannequin 1.
• the processing means 14 process the signal received from the optical detector 10 in order to detect several data, also anthropometric data, for example referring to the people entering the visual field of the optical detector 10.
• the anthropometric data can be for example comprised in or selected from the group comprising: gender, age group (for example, child or adult, or child, adolescent, adult, elder), ethnic group.
• the time can be detected and recorded when one or more passers-by enters the field of the optical detector 10 and/or the time of attention, possibly associated to each person.
• time of attention it can be meant the time spent by someone standing in the field of the optical detector 10, or standing near the mannequin 1 or, preferably, the time spent by a person observing said mannequin 1.
• the processing means 14 can inhibit the access to the images detected by the optical detector 10.
• the processing means 14 can comprise suitable storing devices, that may be timed, in order to store a copy of the images detected by the optical detector, possibly for a predetermined period of time, for example three days.
• the number and position of the interfaces 9 is not required to be as described above, but a greater (or lower) number of interfaces 9 can be also provided.
• optical detector 10 could be replaced or supplemented with a suitable sensor of a different type, for example a microphone, with a proximity sensor or the like.
• This sensor could be arranged proximate to the ocular portion 3 and/or could be not arranged proximate to the ocular portion 3. Similar considerations will also apply to the position of the optical detector 10.
• the senor or optical detector 10 could be arranged in a different portion in the mannequin 1 relative to the head, for example it could be disposed proximate to the portion (if provided) corresponding to the ears, throat, nose, mouth, hands, fingers, umbilicus, feet and/or toes, such as to improve dissimulation according to the garments displayed by means of the mannequin 1 or portion of mannequin 1.
• EXAMPLE 5 A head 2 according to one of the examples 1 to 4, in which the head 2 comprises an opening 15, having greater dimensions than the hole 11, which is arranged on the surface of the head 2 corresponding to the nape or temples or in the area where hair normally grows, wherein the opening 15 allows the insertion of the optical detector 10 into the volume V; the opening 15 being rather reclosable by means of a wall being fastened to the head 2 by means of lock means.
• a mannequin 1 or a portion of mannequin 1 comprising a head 2 according to one of the examples 1 to 4, in which the head 2 is integral to the trunk 4 of the mannequin 1 and optionally comprises two arms 6 and two legs 8, wherein it further optionally comprises connecting means 13 in order to connect the optical detector 10 to a processing device 14 being arranged either inside or outside of the mannequin 1 and wherein, when the processing device is arranged outside the mannequin 1 and the connecting means 13 comprise wires exiting from mannequin 1, the wires exit from the mannequin 1 proximate to the base of the mannequin 1.
• anthropometric data being comprised in the group comprising: gender, age, ethnic group and/or detecting the time spent by someone to observe the manneguin 1, wherein the processing device 14 cannot output any signal representative of the images being detected from the optical detector, except for the above-mentioned anthropometric data.
• a method for manufacturing a head 2 according to one of the examples 1 to 6 comprises, in order, the following steps :
• a method according to the preceding example which comprises, after the step (b) the step of:
• a method according to the example 8 or 9 which comprises, after the step (d) , one or more of the following steps: (e) fitting the optical detector 10 into the volume V through the opening 15;

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• Toys (AREA)
• Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=43707999

Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (4)

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Citations (5)

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• 2010
  • 2010-08-10 IT ITMI2010A001533A patent/IT1401320B1/it active
  • 2010-10-12 IT ITMI2010A001860A patent/IT1402519B1/it active
• 2011
  • 2011-08-02 EP EP11754496.5A patent/EP2603115A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2011-08-02 US US13/814,994 patent/US20130292428A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2011-08-02 WO PCT/IB2011/053434 patent/WO2012020353A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (5)

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