WO2018087691A2

WO2018087691A2 - Anthropomorphic end

Info

Publication number: WO2018087691A2
Application number: PCT/IB2017/057010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Cascini; Giacomo PIROVANO; Luigi RIGAMONTI; Matteo Mattia RIGAMONTI
Original assignee: Suisse Creative Engineering Sa
Priority date: 2016-11-09
Filing date: 2017-11-09
Publication date: 2018-05-17
Also published as: WO2018087691A3; IT201600112979A1

Abstract

End (1) for an anthropomorphic leg (L) extending along a given direction (D) comprising a foot (1) and an ankle (100); the foot (1) having a first end portion (10) shaped similarly to a heel, a second end portion (20) shaped similarly to a metatarsus, and a median portion (30) arranged between the first end portion (10) and the second end portion (20); the first portion (10) and the median portion (30) being distinct from each other and hinged around an axis (A) transverse to the given direction (D).

Description

ANTHROPOMORPHIC END

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an end for an anthropomorphic leg. In particular, the present invention relates to an end comprising an ankle and a foot for an anthropomorphic leg. In greater detail, the present invention relates to an end comprising an ankle and a foot for an anthropomorphic leg, usable for wearing shoes of any shape.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In the field of anthropomorphic limbs, legs are well known provided with a foot connected to the leg through an ankle, that can be rigid or have controlled elasticity. There are also known substantially C-shaped prostheses, applied to the calf, used by athletes for running and sprinting.

In the field of mannequins, it is known to realize legs that carry ends comprising an ankle and a foot, wherein the set leg-ankle-foot is usually rigid. Due to this rigidity, it is necessary to define a priori the posture of the foot with respect to the ankle and the leg; therefore, to each foot corresponds only one type of shoe, whose sole shall be shaped in a given manner copying the shape of the sole of the artificial foot. It is clearly apparent that, both in case of prostheses for people and in case of mannequin, these restrictions to the shoes types that can be worn represent a particularly uncomfortable disadvantage, especially when the subject, i.e. The person involved, is a female.

In view of what described above, it would be desirable to have available an end for an anthropomorphic leg provided with an ankle and a foot, whose combination allows to wear shoes of any shape and type, especially shoes with high or low heel according to the needs, allowing to have the same contact that there is, in shoes, between the foot and the insole as occurs for human feet. It is clearly understood that it would be very useful for the client to overcome this inconvenience, above all in the case she wants to realize anthropomorphic mannequins for displaying clothes provided with legs, ankles and feet suitable to wear shoes with any heel.

The documents US 2475372 A, US 468352 A, and GB 1134045 A disclose ends for an anthropomorphic leg according to the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a foot for an anthropomorphic end that is devoid of the drawbacks described above and is configured in a simple and economical way.

According to the present invention an ankle is provided for an anthropomorphic end, whose main features will be described in at least one of the appended claims.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an ankle for an anthropomorphic leg that is devoid of the drawbacks described above and is configured in a simple and economical way.

According to the present invention an ankle is provided for an anthropomorphic end, whose main features will be described in at least one of the appended claims. A further object of the invention is to provide an end for an anthropomorphic leg comprising an ankle and a foot, this end being devoid of the drawbacks described above and being configured in a simple and economical way.

According to the present invention and end for an anthropomorphic leg is provided, comprising a foot and an ankle articulated with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the anthropomorphic end of the invention will be more apparent from the description below, set forth with reference to the attached drawings, that illustrate at least one non- limiting embodiment, where identical or corresponding parts are identified by the same reference numbers. In particular:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an anthropomorphic end provided with an ankle and a foot according to the invention;

- Fig. 2 shows a detail of Fig. 1 in enlarged scale and with some parts removed for the sake of clarity;

- Figs. 3-5 are side elevation views of Fig. 1 in a plurality of operative configurations;

- Figs. 6-8 are side elevation views of Fig. 1 with some parts removed for the sake of clarity in the operative configurations of Figs. 3-5;

- Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view from the bottom of a detail of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 10 is a plan view of Fig. 1, with some parts removed for the sake of clarity;

- Fig. 11 is a longitudinal cross-section of Fig. 1, with some parts removed for the sake of clarity; and

- fig. 12 is a longitudinal cross-section of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Irs Figure 1, number 1 indicates, as a whole, an artificial foot for an anthropomorphic leg L extending along a given direction D. The foot 1 has a first end portion 10 that is shaped similarly to the human heel; therefore, it will be indifferently called, hereinafter, "heel" or "first end portion", always indicated by the reference number 10. The foot 1 also comprises a second end portion 20, shaped similarly to the human metatarsus, and a median portion 30 arranged between the first end portion 10 and the second end portion 20. The median portion 30 is similar to the intermediate plantar portion of the human foot. The heel, or first end portion, 10 and the median portion 30 are distinct from each other and reciprocally hinged by means of an articulated device 40 comprising a first pivot pin 50 extending along an axis A transverse to the given direction D. With reference to Figure 10, the articulated device 40 comprises a first bush 12 coaxial with the axis A and carried by the first portion 10 so as to face the median portion 30; the articulated device 40 also comprises a pair of second brushes 32 carried by the median portion 30 externally and at opposite sides from the bush 12. The set consisting of the bush 12 and the bush pair 32 defines a housing 41 (Figures 11 and 12) for the first pivot pin 50 of the articulated device 40, whose function is to refer the heel 10 and the median portion 30 to the axis A. The first pin 50 has longitudinal extension sufficient to extend outside each second bush 32.

With reference to Figure 1 again, the leg L supports the foot 1 through an ankle 100 configured to house the ends 50' of the first pin 50 that are outside the bushes 32. As it is shown in Figure 9, the ankle 100 has an end hollow portion 102 having flanks 104, each of which is provided wiLh a projection 106 that extends towards the foot 1 and is provided with a cavity 108, transverse to the given direction D. The two cavities 110 are coaxial with each other so as to house the first pin 50 of the foot 1. The cavities 1.10 are close towards the outside so as to house the first pin 50 in an axially fixed an concealed manner. To assembly the foot 1 and the ankle 100 it is necessary temporarily to deform the end hollow portion 1.10 along the axis A. To do this, it is necessary to press the hollow portion 110 along the direction opposite to the axis A, so as to move away the projections 106, having the coaxial cavities 110 for the heads of the first pin 50. This movement away allows to align axially the coaxial cavities 110 and the pin A and the gradual decrease of the deformation caused by pressing the end hollow portion 110 transversally to the axis A allows to couple definitely the foot 1 to the ankle 100, covering the ends of the first pin 50, that is therefore kept concealed inside the ankle 100.

With particular reference to Figures 6-8 and to Figures 11-12, the first portion 10 carries integrally a first arched member 14 concentric with the first pin 50 and the median portion 30 carries integrally a second arched member 16 concentric with the first pin 50. The first and the second arched members 14/16 are shaped substantially in a mirror-like way, have respective first and second bases 14' /16' embodied respectively in the first portion 10 and in the median portion 30, and end, at the top, with respective first and second head portions 14'' and 16''. The head portions 14'' and 16'' are freely contained inside the end hollow portion 110 of the ankle 100. It should be specified that, with reference to Figures 6-8, the first and the second arched members 14 and 16 are carried at the Lop by the respective first and second members 10/30 in a coplanar and symmetrical manner with respect to a median plane M for the foot 1, transverse to the first pin 50. In view of the above description, and with reference to Figures 1, 3-8 and 10, the axis A and the first pin 50 are arranged between upper and reciprocally facing parts of the first portion 10 and of the median portion 30.

The foot 1 also comprises a first blocking device 60 for blocking an angular position of the first portion 10 and of the median portion 30 with respect to the first pin 50. The first blocking device 60 is magnetic and comprises a plurality of first plugs 62 (Figures 6-8) made of ferrous material, housed in the first head portion 14'' of the first arched member 14 and in the second head portion 16' ' of the second arched member 16. The first plugs 62 are parallel, to one other and to the axis A. The first blocking device 60 also comprises a pair of first magnetic abutments 64 for each series of first plugs 62 carried by the first head portion 14'' and by the second head portion 16''. The first magnetic abutments 64 are shaped like cylindrical buttons and are carried integrally by the ankle 100 inside the end hollow portion 110 in specific seats 111, only one of which is shown in Figure 10, so as to face, in use, one by one, head portions of the first plugs 62. Two first magnetic abutments 64 are provided at the side of, and on opposite sides of the first head portion 14'', and two first magnetic abutments 64 are provided' at the side of, and on opposite sides of the second head portion 16''. Each first magnetic abutment 64 has reduced cross dimension with respect to a length of the diameter section of the first plugs 62. For the sake of simplicity of the drawing, this feature is not shown in the attached figures, but it is very important for the effectiveness of the present invention. In fact, the aim of this configuration is to avoid that two adjacent plugs overlap, in order to facilitate the correct positioning of the respective arched portion between the first plugs 62, and therefore of the heel 10 and the median portion 30 with respect to the ankle 100.

With particular reference to Figure 2, the second end portion 20 is connected to the median portion 30 in an articulated way by means of a second pivot pin 52 at opposite side from the first portion 10 around an axis B substantially transverse to the given direction D. In particular, the median portion 30 has, at the front, a substantially central projection 34 carrying the second pin 52. The second portion 20 has a pair of aligned housings 21 for the second pin 52. A second magnetic blocking device 70 is shared between the second portion 20 and the median portion 30 to keep the second portion 10 directed in a given angular position with respect to the median portion 30 around the second pin 52. The second blocking device 70 comprises a plurality of second plugs 72 made of ferrous material. The second plugs 72 are housed in the projection 34 along an arc concentric with the second pin 52 parallel to the axis A. The second blocking device 70 comprises a pair of second magnetic abutments 74, opposite to each other, only one of which is clearly shown in Figure 12 for the sake of drawing economy, as the device 70 is analogous to the device 60. The magnetic abutments 74 are carried in a known manner by the second portion 20 in a position facing the projection 34 so as to face, in use, one by one, the plugs 72. Also these second magnetic abutments 74 have reduced cross dimension with respect to a length of the diameter section of the second plugs 72, for the same reason. For the sake of simplicity of drawing, also this geometrical feature is not shown in the attached figures, but it is very important for the effectiveness of the present invention.

With reference to Figure 2, the second portion 20 has a slot 21' opening the housings 21 from the side of the ankle 100. This slot 21' has the function of facilitating the removal of the second portion 20 as it extends longitudinally such as the second pin 52. Moreover, the second portion 20 has a recess 200 opening it at the front at opposite side from the median portion 30. The purpose of the recess 23 is to allow the foot 1 to wear flip-flops, that otherwise cannot be worn.

The use of the foot 1 and of the ankle 100 is clearly apparent from the description above. However, it should be specified that the rotation of the foot 1 relative to the ankle 100 is free, thanks to the angular connection between the foot 1 and the ankle 100 that is constituted by the first pin 1 engaging the housing 41, that is in turn constituted by the set of the two second bushes 32 and of the first bush 12. The angular positioning of the set consisting of the heel 10 and of the median portion 30 relative to the ankle 100 is made stable thanks to the blocking device 60, and it will more defined angularly by the angular density of the first plugs 61 on the first and the second arched members 14 and 16. Obviously, the possibility of rotating the second portion 20 relative to the median portion 30 and of fixing the reciprocal angular position through the second magnetic blocking device 70 completes the possibility of configuring the foot 1 similarly to a human foot, allowing to wear shoes with a heel of any height, as well as flip-flops.

Lastly, it is clearly apparent that variants and modifications can be done to the foot 1, the ankle 100 and the end 200 described and illustrated herein, without. however departing from the protective scope of the invention.

In view of the above description it is clearly apparent that the set consisting of the ankle 100 and the foot 1 defines an end 200 of an anthropomorphic leg L overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art described above. In particular, the teachings given above allow to produce anthropomorphic mannequins for displaying clothes with legs delimited by ankles articulated with feet that are suitable to wear shoes with heel of any height, so that, in fixed expositions, these mannequins can be used to show statically the same collections that are dynamically shown during the fashion shows worn by fashion models, giving the same appearance both for clothes and shoes of the various collections.

Claims

1. Foot (1) for an anthropomorphic leg (L) extending along a given direction (D) ; said foot (1) having a first end portion (10) shaped similarly to a heel, a second end portion (20) shaped similarly to a metatarsus, and a median portion (30) arranged between said first end portion (10) and said second end portion (20) ; wherein said first portion (10) and said median portion (30) are distinct from each other and are hinged by means of articulated means (40) around an axis (A) transverse to said given direction (D) , wherein said articulated means (40) comprise a first pivot pin (50) coaxial with said axis (A), characterized in that the first pivot pin (50) is positioned in a upper portion of said first portion (10) and in a upper portion of said median portion (30) .

2. Foot according to claim 1, characterized in that said articulated means (40) comprise a first bush (12) carried by said first portion (10) and facing said median portion (30), at least a second bush (32) carried by said median portion (30), wherein the first pivot pin (50) is housed in said first and second bushes (12) (32) .

3. Foot according to claim 2, characterized in that said first pin (50) has longitudinal extension sufficient to extend outside each said second bush (32) .

4. Foot according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said second end portion (20) is coupled to said median portion (30) in an articulated manner through a second pivot pin (52) at opposite side from said first portion (10) transversally to said given direction (D) .

5. Foot according to claim 4, characterized in that said first portion (10) carries integrally a first arched member (14) concentric with said first pin (50) and in that said median portion (30) carries integrally a second arched member (16) concentric with said first pin (50) ; first blocking means (60) being provided to position said first portion (10) and said median portion (30) in given angular positions with respect to said first pivot pin (50); said first blocking means (60) being respectively carried by said first and second arched members (14) (16) .

6. Foot according to claim 5, characterized in that said first blocking means (60) are magnetic and comprise a plurality of first pegs (62) that are made of ferrous material and housed in said first arched member (14) and in said second arched member (16) parallel to said axis (A) according to a given angular distribution; said first blocking means (60) comprising at least one first outer magnetic abutment (64) laterally facing said first pegs (62) .

7. Foot according to claim 6, characterized in that each said first peg (62) has a greater transverse dimension with respect to said first magnetic abutment (64) .

8. Foot according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that said median portion (30) has a projection (34) carrying said second pin (52) ; said second portion (20) having a pair of aligned housings (21) for said second pin (52); second blocking means (70) for blocking an angular position of said second portion (10) with respect to said median portion (30) around said second pin (52) .

9. Foot according to any one of claims 6-8, characterized in that said second blocking means (70) are magnetic and comprise a plurality of second pegs (72) that are made of ferrous material and are housed in said projection (34) along an arch concentric with said second pin (52); said second blocking means (70) comprising at least one second outer magnetic abutment (74) laterally facing said second pegs (72) .

10. Foot according to claim 9, characterized in that each said second peg (72) has a greater transverse dimension with respect to said second magnetic abutment (74) .

11. Foot according to claim 10, characterized in that said second portion (20) has a recess at opposite side from said median portion (30), extending transversally to said second pin (52) .

12. Ankle (100 for an anthropomorphic leg (L) extending along a given direction (D) ; said ankle (100) being characterized by having a hollow portion (102) having respective flanks (104), each of which is provided with a projection (106) provided with a cavity (108) transverse to said given direction (D) ; said two cavities (110) being coaxial with each other so as to house said first pin (50) of the foot described with reference to claims 1-11.

13. Ankle according to claim 12, characterized in that said cavities (110) are closed outwards to house said pin (50) in an axially fixed and concealed manner and in that said hollow portion (102) can be transversally deformed.

14. End (200) of an anthropomorphic leg (L) extending along a given direction (D) ; characterized by comprising a foot (1) according to any one of claims 1-11 and an ankle (100) according to claim 12.

15. Anthropomorphic dummy characterized by comprising at least one end (200) according to claim 14.