WO2013147626A1

WO2013147626A1 - Mannequin

Info

Publication number: WO2013147626A1
Application number: PCT/PL2012/000017
Authority: WO
Inventors: Slawomir MAZAN; Jarema SZANDAR
Original assignee: Mazan Slawomir; Szandar Jarema
Priority date: 2012-03-27
Filing date: 2012-03-27
Publication date: 2013-10-03

Abstract

The present invention refers to a mannequin, designed especially for the performance of multimedia functions. The mannequin's body is at least partially hollow and has the form of the human body or the torso with the head unit, with the face made of a translucent properly shaped intaglio facial plate (3), installed in the body (1). Inside the mannequin there is an image projection system comprising a projector (4), from which the image is projected on the inside surface of the facial plate (3), favorably by the reflective surface. (5).

Description

Mannequin

The present invention relates to a mannequin designed especially for the performance of multimedia functions.

From the prior art there are commonly known anthropomorphic forms of mannequins, used e.g. for the display of clothes, historical outfit or for educational and advertising purposes. Such mannequins are made of different materials, they can be made of wood or other materials in the form of solid structures, or, as disclosed in the European patent application EP2289374A1 , they can be composed of several interconnected elements. There are also known hollow mannequins, as for example mannequins made of pressure-formed plastic plates.

The international patent application WO2011/141646A1 discloses an anthropomorphic mannequin structure, having some inside devices which enable augmentation of some parts in an adjustable predefined range.

From the international patent application WO 2012/015290A2 there is known an articulated mannequin structure, with the limbs and head characterized by a big range of movement. The mannequin is provided with the mechanism which enables it to make automated movements, walk and cooperate with movable objects. US patent application US20 0099067 relates to an anthropomorphic mannequin which can make some movements, some elements of which are made of a material resembling the human tissue. This mannequin is a training dummy for those who perform surgeries involving anesthetic techniques, insertions or implantations.

From the Korean patent application KR20090111409 A there is known a device for the transmission of visual information, being an anthropomorphic mannequin fixed on a support laying on the ground, wherein an electronic display panel is attached to the mannequin and transfers visual information. The mannequin is provided with power supply devices, control devices and audio information system.

From the international patent application WO2012/020353 A1 there is known an anthropomorphic mannequin structure, provided with a video camera hidden in the eye and a data processing system, which, for statistical purposes, makes it possible to determine the age, sex and ethnicity of the people within the field of view of the installed camera.

From the Chinese patent application CN101947031 A there is known a mannequin structure with replaceable facial impressions. This mannequin is designed for the display of clothes and for making them more attractive to customers which boosts sales.

From the Korean patent document KR10-0913491 B1 there is known a mannequin structure provided with an intaglio facial area, which enables doubling the display effect of the mannequin by making the eye line of the face see a viewer. The mannequin according to the invention has a head with an intaglio facial surface, with a contour expressed to concavely enter the inside and a removable embossment facial area which is detachably combined with the intaglio facial area of the head unit and converts the intaglio face of the head unit into the embossment face. The backplane of the intaglio facial area is formed of the embossment facial area.

There are also known image projection screens having a spatial form, e.g. cylindrical or spherical, used for example in planetariums. There are also known less regular projection screens, such as building mock- ups, anthropomorphic masks, car bodies. For all known screens the image is projected on the front. An extreme example of frontal projection on an irregular surface is the so-called mapping, where an irregular shape, e.g. car body, is receives the projection of the reflecting road, reflexes, rotating wheels etc., which gives an impression of movement.

The present invention relates to a mannequin for the performance of multimedia functions.

The mannequin according to the invention is an at least partially hollow body having the form of a human body or its upper part with the head unit, with the facial part made of a translucent intaglio facial plate expressed concavely into the body. Inside the body, there is an image projection system projecting the image onto the inside surface of the facial plate, comprising a projector from which an image is projected onto the inside surface of the facial plate, advantageously through a reflective surface.

In an advantageous embodiment, the mannequin is provided with a projector with the lens having a zoom option which makes it possible to position the projector directly opposite the inside surface of the facial plate without any compromise to the image size. Thanks to that it is possible to move the projector closer to the screen and at the same time keep the proper dimensions of the projected image.

A favorable visual effect is obtained once the facial plate material has a visible light transmittance value in the range from 5% to 95%. Especially favorable image reconstruction conditions occur when the facial plate has a matt inside surface and is formed of an opalescent material. It is especially favorable when the facial plate is made of acrylic copolymer, polycarbonate or polyester resin. The inside surface of the facial plate may be covered with a layer of a matt lacquer .

The loudspeakers that the mannequin is provided with enable it to transmit a good quality acoustic effect.

All the devices necessary for the performance of the multimedia functions, such as a projector, a possible zooming system, a loudspeaker, an amplifier, an audio-video player, a control module are installed inside the mannequin in such a way that they cannot be seen from the outside. The mannequin, even though it accommodates all the subassemblies necessary for the performance of the multimedia functions, still keeps natural proportions and does not have any visible deformations on the surface, redundant convexities or holes.

In the mannequin according to the invention, the spatially expressed facial plate performs the role of a focusing screen where the image is projected on the back. During this projection the viewer is on this side of the screen, which is opposite to the image projector. The image projected by the projected can either be frozen or it can be a motion picture. The properties of the facial plate in the mannequin according to the invention make it possible to obtain the good sharpness image, having a spatial form of the human face. A tailored projection of the human face, played from the inside of the mannequin and displayed on the spatial face- alike screen makes it possible to obtain an illusion of an authentic figure talking to a viewer.

The mannequin according to the present invention makes it possible to obtain an unexpected realistic effect of a figure's animation. The multimedia functions performed by the mannequin emphasize the authenticity of the figure presented by the mannequin. The mannequin can be used for educational purposes, for presentation of information in public utility facilities, in museums, at railway stations, state offices. The mannequin is characterized by an uncomplicated design and functionality which enables easy transportation and a variety of applications. The mannequin according to the invention has been illustrated in its embodiments in the attached drawing, where:

Fig. 1 shows the vertical section of the mannequin,

Fig. 2 shows another mannequin's embodiment in its vertical section,

Fig. 3 shows the front view of the mannequin:

a) with image projection off;

b) with image projection on

The mannequin has the form of a partially hollow body 1 in an anthropomorphic form provided with a head unit 2, equipped with an audio play system, a power supply module and a control module, with the face made of the facial plate 3, matt on the inside and translucent, having an appropriate spatial form, said plate installed in the body 1. Inside the body 1 , there is a projector 4 installed vertically, from which the image is projected on the inside surface of the facial plate 3 through the reflective surface 5, deviated from the vertical by an angle of 45°.

The mannequin's facial plate 3 is made of opalescent polyester plate, 3 mm thick, of a visible light transmittance value of 75 %. The facial plate 3 has a matt inside surface. The mannequin is provided with a power supply module 5 placed in the body and a block 6 connected to a projector 4 and accommodating an audio-video player, a control module and a remote control module. In the mannequin's torso a loudspeaker 7 is hidden. In another embodiment, the mannequin is provided with a projector, with the lens which offers such a large zooming effect that the projector can be placed directly opposite the inside surface of the facial plate 3.

Claims

1. A mannequin, with a body which is at least partially hollow and has the form of the human body or the torso provided with the head unit, equipped with an audio playing module, a power supply module and a control module, characterized in that the mannequin's face is made of a translucent, properly shaped intaglio facial plate (3) which is installed in the body (1), inside which there is an image projection system (4) from which the image is projected on the inside surface of the facial plate (3), advantageously through the reflective surface (5).

2. A mannequin according to claim 1 , characterized in that it is provided with the projector (4), with the lens ensuring such a zooming factor that it is possible to put the projector (4) directly opposite the surface of the facial plate (3) without any compromise to the image size.

3. A mannequin according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the facial plate (3) is made of a material of a light transmittance value of 5-95 %

4. A mannequin according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the facial plate (3) has a matt inside surface, and, favorably, is formed of an opalescent material.

5. A mannequin according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the facial plate (3) is made of acrylic copolymer, polycarbonate or polyester resin.

6. A mannequin according to claim 1 , characterized in that the inside surface of the facial plate (3) is covered with a layer of a matt lacquer.