EP2289374A1

EP2289374A1 - Display mannequin

Info

Publication number: EP2289374A1
Application number: EP10173085A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alfonso Catanese
Original assignee: ALMAX SpA
Current assignee: ALMAX SpA
Priority date: 2009-08-31
Filing date: 2010-08-17
Publication date: 2011-03-02
Also published as: ITMI20091515A1

Abstract

A mannequin for the display of clothing comprises a torso (1) which is advantageously divided into at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5) that define corresponding sections of the torso (1) and has connection means (6, 7) for engaging said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5) to hold said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5) together in stacked arrangement one above and in contact with another, while allowing one of said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5) to rotate relative to another part adjacent thereto of said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5).

Description

The present invention relates to a mannequin, more particularly a mannequin for the display of clothing, for instance in storefront windows, stores and showrooms.
Mannequins are designed in anthropomorphic form, to mimic human morphology in a particular size. It shall be noted in this respect that mannequins often mimic only a part of the human body. Thus, for example, certain mannequins only mimic the torso of the human body (i.e. the part between the waist and the start of the neck) and others only the legs, the former being designed for the display of jackets, shirts and the like, whereas the latter are designed for the display of trousers, skirts, stockings and the like.
Referring to prior art mannequins, it is appreciated that they can be effectively used for the display of clothing, but they do not allow simultaneous display of additional items, such as a belt or a bag, unless these items are directly worn by the mannequin itself. This restricts the possibility of displaying the desired items, because any additional item has to be either laid on the floor next to the mannequin pedestal or attached in precarious balance to the mannequin itself.
Furthermore, it will be noted that a need is strongly felt in the field of mannequins for such mannequins to be formed of interchangeable parts, so that when a different conformation or features of the mannequin are desired, one or more parts of such mannequin can be easily replaced with other interchangeable parts, without necessarily replacing the whole mannequin. Prior art mannequins allow, at the most, interchanging of certain large parts such as arms, torso, legs and/or feet.
The object of the present invention is to provide a mannequin adapted to allow the display of clothing, which has such structural and functional characteristics as to obviate the above prior art drawbacks.
This object is fulfilled by a mannequin as defined in claim 1.
Further features and advantages of the mannequin of the present invention will result from the following description of one preferred embodiment thereof, which is given by way of illustration and without limitation with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a mannequin according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective front view of the mannequin of Figure 1, with certain parts arranged in a different configuration;
Figure 3 is a perspective front view of the mannequin of Figure 1, with certain parts arranged in a further configuration;
Figures 4, 5 and 6 shown the mannequin of Figure 1 with certain parts omitted;
Figure 7 is a bottom view of the mannequin of Figure 1;
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are plan views of a detail of the section of the mannequin of Figure 10 with pin seats conformed in three different manners respectively.

Referring to Figures 1 to 7, numeral 1 generally designates a mannequin of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the mannequin only mimics the upper part of a human body, generally known as trunk, or torso.
As shown in the drawings, the torso 1 of the mannequin extends in a main longitudinal direction X-X between a lower end and an upper end, substantially corresponding to the waist and the start of the neck of a human body respectively.
The torso 1 is divided into at least three parts, each defining corresponding sections of the torso 1. In this example, the torso 1 is divided into four parts, which are stacked one above the other in the longitudinal direction X-X. In the figures, these four parts are referenced 2, 3, 4, 5 from bottom to top respectively.
The torso 1 further includes connection means 6, 7 which engage said four parts 2, 3, 4, 5 to hold them together, preferably in substantial contact with each other, while allowing mutual displacement of one part (e.g. the part 3) relative to the other part next to it (e.g. relative to the part 2 or the part 4).
More simply, each part 2, 3, 4, 5 defines a section of the torso 1 which is delimited between a first end wall (in the figures the upper walls 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) and an opposite second end wall (in the figures the lower walls 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b). It shall be noted that the side wall of each part 2, 3, 4, 5 between the corresponding end walls defines a corresponding portion of the mannequin torso 1.
Preferably, the upper end walls 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a and the lower end walls 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b are flat walls extending transverse to said longitudinal direction X-X. More preferably, said upper end walls 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a and said lower end walls 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b are flat walls extending perpendicular to said longitudinal direction X-X oif the torso 1.
Said connection means are so designed as to allow said parts 2, 3, 4, 5 that form the torso 1 to make a rotary movement of a first part 2, 3, 4, 5 relative to a second part 2, 3, 4, 5 next to the first.
In the embodiment of the figures, the connection means include pin means 6 engaging with corresponding pin seats 9. More particularly, the connection means include a pin 6 that extends parallel to the longitudinal direction X-X substantially throughout the length of the torso 1. Advantageously, the pin 6 is entirely received in the torso 1, and does not project therefrom or at least does not jut out of the contour of the mannequin.
The pin 6 engages respective, corresponding pin seats 9, which:

are formed in the four parts 2, 3, 4, 5 that compose the torso 1 and
are arranged and extend in each of said parts 2, 3, 4, 5 in aligned relation, one after another.

These pin seats 9 extend between the upper end wall, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a respectively and the lower end wall 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b respectively of each part 2, 3, 4, 5.
According to a first embodiment, the pin seats 9 have a circular cross section (see 9a in Figure 8).
According to a second embodiment, the pin seats are slots (see 9b in Figure 9), which are adapted to allow said four parts 2, 3, 4, 5 to rotate and translate at the same time along the axis of the slot 9b, relative to the pin 6 and hence to each other.
According to a further embodiment, the pin seats are defined by two or more joined slots, which are adapted to allow said four parts 2, 3, 4, 5 to rotate and translate at the same time relative to the pin 6 and hence to each other. For instance, in each part 2, 3, 4, 5 that forms the torso 1, the two or more slots may be arranged in a cross shape (see 9c in Figure 8) or in a X, K, H, T, L or O shape, or else.
In order to provide secure support to the pin 6 at its bottom end, the pin seat 9 in the part 2, i.e. the part that defines the lowermost portion of the torso 1, ends at the lower end wall 2b with an enlarged portion that defines a recess for receiving a flanged head 7 of a internally threaded bushing. The bottom end of the pin 6 is threaded and in thread engagement with the internal threads of said bushing.
It shall be noted that the flanged head 7 of the threaded bushing of the lower part 2 is secured by fastening screws 8, although other fixation arrangements may be provided, e.g. press fit or glue.
Preferably, the mannequin is made of plastic, more preferably of impact-resistant polystyrene.
In the use of the inventive mannequin, starting from the configuration of Figure 1, in which said parts 2, 3, 4, 5 of the torso are perfectly aligned one above another to mimic the torso of a human body, one part may be displaced relative to another to obtain the configurations of Figure 2 or Figure 3, as well as other configurations of infinite possible configurations. Particularly, the configuration of Figure 2 or Figure 3 is obtained by simply rotating the parts 2, 3, 4, 5 of the mannequin torso relative to one another, about the pin 6 that engages such parts at their pin seats 9. Also, starting from the configuration of Figure 1, very different configurations from those as shown in Figures 2 and 3 may be obtained, if one or more of these parts is only translated or both rotated and translated relative to the pin 6.
It shall be noted that in the variant configurations of Figures 2 and 3, substantially horizontal support surfaces (e.g. the surfaces referenced 2a, 3a and 4a in Figures 2 and 3) are defined in the mannequin at its torso 1, and may act as support surfaces for the display of any accessory, such as a belt, a lighter, a scarf or the like, or even as a support for a plate bearing information on the articles of clothing displayed on the mannequin or on sale prices.
Furthermore, it will be appreciated that, with a torso having the feature of being composed of a plurality of parts connected as described above, one or more parts may be changed and even a single part of the torso may be changed in a simple and quick manner. This may be useful not only when a part of the mannequin torso has been damaged but also, for instance, if a mannequin torso that mimics a woman's body is required to be changed from a torso with large breasts to a mannequin model with smaller breasts.
As clearly shown in the above description, the mannequin of the present invention fulfills the above needs and obviates the drawbacks of prior art mannequins. Indeed, the mannequin of the invention allows mutual offset of the parts that compose the torso to create horizontal support surfaces.
Another advantage of the mannequin of the invention consists in its flexible configuration, allowing replacement of one or more parts of the torso so that their features may fit particular displaying needs.
Yet another advantage of the mannequin of the invention is its uniquely simple construction, despite the possibility of simple and which configuration changes.
Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and adaptations may be made to the preferred embodiment of the mannequin as described hereinbefore, and that its elements may be replaced by other functionally equivalent elements, without departure from the scope defined by the following claims.
Thus, for example, the number of parts that compose the torso may be increased.
Furthermore, the single pin 6 may be replaced by a plurality of distinct pins. For instance, each part may be equipped with a pin projecting out of its upper end wall, for engaging a corresponding pin seat in the lower end wall of the overlying part, obviously excepting the part that defines the upper portion of the torso.

Claims

A mannequin, particularly for the display of clothing, comprising a torso (1) that extends in a main longitudinal direction (X-X),
characterized in that:
- said torso (1) is divided into at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5), defining corresponding sections of the torso (1);

- it comprises connection means (6, 7) for engaging said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5), to hold said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5) together and allow one of said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5) to move relative to another part of said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5).
A mannequin as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5) are stacked one above the other in said longitudinal direction (X-X).
A mannequin as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5) are stacked in mutual contact in said longitudinal direction (X-X).
A mannequin as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each of said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5) comprises a first end wall (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a), an opposite second end wall (2b, 3b, 4b, 5b) and a side wall extending between the end walls (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b) to define the portion of the mannequin torso (1) of its respective part (2, 3, 4, 5).
A mannequin as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first end walls (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) and said second end walls (2b, 3b, 4b, 5b) are flat walls extending transverse to said longitudinal direction (X-X).
A mannequin as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first end walls (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) and said second end walls (2b, 3b, 4b, 5b) are flat walls extending perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (X-X).
A mannequin as claimed in any claim from 1 to 6, wherein said connection means allow a first of said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5) to rotate relative to a second part of said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5), which is adjacent to said first part.
A mannequin as claimed in any claim from 1 to 7, wherein said connection means include pin means (6) engaged with corresponding pin seats (9).
A mannequin as claimed in claim 8, wherein said connection means include a pin (6) extending in said torso in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal direction (X-X) to engage respective corresponding pin seats (9), said pin seats (9):
- extending in each of said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5) and

- being aligned one after another.
A mannequin as claimed in claim 9, wherein said pin seats (9) extend between said first end walls (2a, 3a, 4a, 5a) and said second end walls (2b, 3b, 4b, 5b) of each of said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5).
A mannequin as claimed in any claim from 8 to 10, wherein said pin seats (9) have a circular cross section.
A mannequin as claimed in any claim from 8 to 10, wherein said pin seats (9) are slots adapted to allow simultaneous rotation and translation of said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5) relative to the pin (6).
A mannequin as claimed in claim 12, wherein said pin seats (9) are defined by two joined slots adapted to allow simultaneous rotation and translation of said at least three parts (2, 3, 4, 5) relative to the pin (6).