U.S. patent application number 10/525881 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-15 for mannequin having drive section.
Invention is credited to Hiroyuki Hoshino, Tatsuya Matsui.
Application Number | 20060124673 10/525881 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31972708 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060124673 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsui; Tatsuya ; et
al. |
June 15, 2006 |
Mannequin having drive section
Abstract
A mannequin to be placed in a show window or the like,
comprising a body comprising at least a torso (2) and arms (3), a
plurality of joints (4, 5, 6) installed at least in the arms and
adapted to be operable in a prede- termined direction, a drive
section (10) connected to the joints to drive the respective
joints, a control section (11) connected to the drive section and
capable of optionally controlling the movements of the joints by
means of controlling the drive section, and a storage section (12)
connected to the control section to store instructions
corresponding to predetermined movement pattern for the motion of
the body. The control section (11) controls the drive section (10)
on the basis of the instructions stored in the storage section (12)
so as to ensure that the body moves to follow the movement pattern
in accordance with the instructions.
Inventors: |
Matsui; Tatsuya; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Hoshino; Hiroyuki; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WELLS ST. JOHN P.S.
601 W. FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 1300
SPOKANE
WA
99201
US
|
Family ID: |
31972708 |
Appl. No.: |
10/525881 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
August 27, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP03/10880 |
371 Date: |
January 20, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
223/120 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 8/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
223/120 |
International
Class: |
A41H 5/00 20060101
A41H005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 29, 2002 |
JP |
2002-251852 |
Claims
1. A mannequin to be placed in a show window and so on, comprising:
a body comprising at least a torso and arms, a plurality of joints
installed at least in the arms and adapted to be operable in a
predetermined direction, a drive section connected to the joints to
drive the respective joints, a control section connected to the
drive section and capable of optionally controlling the movements
of the joints by means of controlling the drive section, and a
storage section connected to the control section to store
instructions corresponding to predetermined movement pattern for
the motion of the body, wherein the control section controls the
drive section on the basis of the instructions stored in the
storage section so as to ensure that the body moves to follow the
movement pattern in accordance with the instructions.
2. A mannequin according to claim 1, wherein the drive section is
constituted in a pneumatic driving system comprising an air
compressor, a pressure control unit and a valve unit.
3. A mannequin according to claim 1, wherein the drive section is
constituted in an electric driving system comprising a motor and a
power transmission mechanism.
4. A mannequin according to any one of preceding claims 1 to 3,
wherein the control section is connected to an electrical
communication network and is remotely operable via the electrical
communication network.
5. A mannequin according to claim 4, wherein the storage section is
connected to the electrical communication network and is connected
to the control section via the electrical communication
network.
6. A mannequin according to any one of preceding claims 1 to 5,
further comprising a sensor capable of sensing the presence of
passers, wherein the sensor is connected to the control section,
and, when the sensor sensed that the passer has stopped for a
period longer than a predetermined period of time, the control
section controls the mannequin so that the mannequin shows its
motions toward the sensed passer.
7. A mannequin according to claim 6, wherein the sensor is arranged
in one or more of the front, the rear, and the right and left sides
of the location where the mannequin is placed.
8. A mannequin according to any one of preceding claims 1 to 7,
wherein the movement pattern corresponding to the instructions
stored in the storage section is such a movement pattern that it
imitates typical poses of fashion models.
Description
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a mannequin that is to be
installed in a show window, at a point of sale, in the vicinity of
merchandises or the like, and particularly to a mannequin having a
drive section for driving joints installed in the arms, etc. of the
mannequin.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] The conventional mannequin to be installed in a show window,
or at a point of sale or in the vicinity of merchandises is the one
being worn with merchandises, such as dresses and shoes, and
displayed in a static prefixed pose while keeping such a pose,
which is chosen at the time of the placement. The arms of such a
mannequin are generally provided with joints with which the arms
can take motions similar to those behaved by human beings. Those
joints can be moved by workers, for example by bending arms, in
order to set the mannequin in a fixed pose. Whenever it is desired
to change the pose of a mannequin, such arms are moved by workers
to be set in a different pose. Whereas, since the pose of a
mannequin that basically has no joints cannot be changed, it has
been required to prepare for a mannequin of the different type
whenever it is desired to change poses.
[0003] However, it has been a troublesome job to change poses of a
mannequin frequently, since workers have to either move the arms or
replace the mannequin by a different one each time the pose has to
be changed as described above. In addition, such a conventional
mannequin to be displayed in a static state could have obtained
less interest of passers and/or purchasers and is not so
conspicuous. Further, with such a mannequin whose motion is fixed,
although it is possible to sense the feeling for a dress when it is
actually worn, it is not feasible to realize how nice the dress is
in the moving state. Hence, up till today, a mannequin capable of
obtaining higher interests of passers and the like and of
effectively appealing merchandises to them has been desired to
use.
[0004] Based on the above-mentioned disadvantage, the present
invention is intended to provide a mannequin having a drive section
for driving the joints so that the mannequin can move in accordance
with a predetermined motion pattern.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object of the
present invention, the mannequin to be installed in a show window
or the like according to the present invention comprises a body
comprising at least a torso and arms, a plurality of joints
installed at least in the arms and adapted to be operable in a
predetermined direction, a drive section connected to the joints to
drive the respective joints, a control section connected to the
drive section and capable of optionally controlling the movements
of the respective joints by means of controlling the drive section,
and a storage section connected to the control section to store
instructions corresponding to a predetermined movement pattern for
the motion of the body,
[0006] wherein the control section controls the drive section on
the basis of the instructions stored in the storage section so as
to ensure that the body moves to follow the movement pattern in
accordance with the instructions.
[0007] The drive section may be constituted in either a pneumatic
driving system comprising an air compressor, a pressure control
unit and a valve unit, or an electric driving system comprising a
motor and a power transmission mechanism.
[0008] The control section is connected to an electrical
communication network, whereby it may be operated remotely via said
electrical communication network.
[0009] Alternatively, the storage section may be connected to an
electrical communication network and connected to the control
section via said electrical communication network.
[0010] Further, a sensor capable of sensing the presence of passers
may be placed in the vicinity of the mannequin. The sensor may be
connected to the control section to thereby control the mannequin
so that the mannequin can show its motions toward the sensed
passers when the sensor has sensed that the passers are stopping
for a period longer than a predetermined period of time.
[0011] Note that the sensor(s) may be placed in any one of the
front, the rear, the right and left sides of the position where the
mannequin is placed, or a plurality of sensors may be placed in the
plural sides of said position.
[0012] The movement pattern corresponding to the instructions
stored in the storage section may be a movement pattern that is a
mimic of the typical poses behaved by fashion models.
[0013] With the means as described above, the following operations
will be executable. Namely, the mannequin according to the present
invention can realize freely and easily to move so that it follows
a predetermined movement pattern. Since the mannequin can be
operated continuously, it can have higher attractive influence on
passers, allowing to realize effective display of merchandises and
the like. Furthermore, it will be also possible to let the
mannequin show a desired pose more easily by means of remote
operation whenever it is desired. Further thereto, it will be also
possible to show the best pose of a mannequin for passers who have
paid attention thereto. In such a manner, the mannequin according
to the present invention can have more attractive influence on
customers of merchandises such as dresses and the like. Still
further, since the mannequin can move with following the typical
motions behaved by fashion models, it will be possible to let
customers feel the worn merchandises like dresses as it is more
beautiful.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the mannequin having a
drive section according to the first example for the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the mannequin having a
drive section according to the second example for the present
invention; and
[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the mannequin having a
drive section according to the third example for the present
invention.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The embodiments according to the present invention will now
be explained with referring to the examples illustrated in the
appended drawings. FIG. 1 is a drawing schematically illustrating
the mannequin according to the first example for the present
invention. A body of this illustrated mannequin according to the
present invention is constituted mainly with a head 1, a torso 2
and arms 3. Depending upon the usage of the mannequin, it is
naturally accepted even though the body 1 has no head 1. Each arm 3
has joints 4, 5 and 6 at the positions of its shoulder, elbow and
wrist, respectively, so that the arm 3 can be moved in given
directions, for example, so as to show similar motions to those
behaved by human beings. Note that the joint may naturally be
installed in a neck 7 functioning as a part connecting the head 1
and the torso 2, and a lower back, or may be installed only in a
shoulder. The joints may be further installed in the parts
corresponding to the joints of fingers. The positions where those
joints are installed and the numbers to be installed may be
optionally determined in consideration of requirements for the
mannequin, the use pattern, the production cost, etc.
[0018] A drive section 10 for driving the joints is connected to
the joints. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, an embodiment in
which the drive section 10 is constituted in a pneumatic driving
system is shown. In this example, an air cylinder or the like is
provided in the joint in order to cause the arm to be driven. Also,
an air flow path (shown with broken lines in FIG. 1) is formed in
each of the air cylinders. The drive section 10 includes an air
compressor 101 for compressing air to increase air pressure, a
pressure control unit for controlling the pressure caused by the
air compressor 101 to a predetermined pressure, and a valve unit
103 for controlling incoming/outgoing air flow rates into/from the
air cylinders. Note that, although the drive section constituted in
a pneumatic driving system is illustrated in FIG. 1, the drive
section according to the present invention is not limited to this
system. Needless to say, various types of driving means capable of
driving the joints are applicable. For example, the drive section
may be any of driving systems employing not only air pressure but
also hydraulic power, water pressure and the like as well as
electric driving systems comprising a power transmission mechanism
and the like, which includes a motor, and gears and belts both
adapted to transmit the rotation of a motor to the joints.
[0019] The mannequin according to this invention is connected to
the above-described drive section 10 and includes a control section
11 capable of optionally controlling the respective joints 4, 5 and
6. In case of the drive section of the pneumatic driving system
shown in FIG. 1, the control section 11 is connected to the valve
unit 103 in the drive section 10 to control the valve operation of
the valve unit 103, thereby optionally controlling the operations
of the joints 4, 5 and 6. Specifically, in case it is desired to
operate the joint 4 in the shoulder to thereby cause the arm to be
raised, the control section 11 controls the valve of the valve unit
103 installed in the air flow path, which is connected to the air
cylinder provided in the joint 4. With this control, air pressure
is provided into an air cylinder to drive the joint 4. The same
control is carried out for the respective joints, whereby the same
motions as those behaved by human beings are realized.
[0020] Next, a storage section 12 is connected to the control
section 11. In the storage section 12, instructions corresponding
to a predetermined movement pattern for the motions of the
mannequin body are stored. Concretely speaking, the storage section
12 is a storage device capable of storing instructions for
controlling the drive section 10 that drives the respective joints
to operate in order to realize the movement of the arms 3 in
accordance with a series of movement pattern. The examples of the
storage section include not only a semiconductor memory but also
various storage devices, such as magnetic disks and optical disks.
Note that, specifically, the instruction is a program corresponding
to the movement pattern and the control section 11 controls the
drive section 10 in accordance with the program stored in the
storage section 12 to thereby cause the respective joints 4, 5 and
6 to operate.
[0021] Now, an explanation for the motions behaved by the mannequin
constituted as described above according to this invention will be
made in the following. When an operator or the like starts to cause
the mannequin to show its motions, the air compressor 101 in the
drive section 10 is actuated, and the pressure control unit 102
controls air pressure at a predetermined level. Then, instruction
corresponding to a predetermined movement pattern stored in the
storage section 12 is selected. In accordance with the selected
instruction, for example, an instruction to show the best motion of
a fashion model, the control section 11 controls the valve unit 103
in the drive section 10. The movement of the mannequin that follows
a predetermined movement pattern is realized by opening or closing
the valve in the valve unit 103 to thereby operate the air
cylinders respectively installed in the joints 4, 5 and 6. The
storage section 12 can store a plurality of instructions those
which correspond to a plurality of movement patterns. It is
naturally possible for the storage section to select a
predetermined movement pattern from the plurality of instructions
being stored and to operate at random automatically.
[0022] Therefore, with the mannequin having a drive section
according to this invention, which is worn with merchandises, such
as a dress, bags and accessories, and placed in a show window, at
the point of sale, in the vicinity of merchandises or the like, it
becomes unnecessary for a worker to go out and change the pose of
the mannequin, and the attractive influence of the mannequin on
passers and customers will be enhanced since the mannequin can
automatically move by itself. In addition, since customers can see
the appearance of a worn dress when the arms of mannequin are
moved, the display, introduction and advertisement of merchandises
in further effective manner will be achieved with the mannequin
according to this invention. Still further, various movement
patterns can be stored in the storage section 12 as far as the
mechanical operation is executable. Therefore, for example, typical
poses of fashion models and a series of poses of famous models like
super models can be imitated to store in the storage section 12,
which makes customers feel merchandises such as dresses as they are
more beautiful. Regarding the imitation of such poses of models, it
is feasible to introduce the movements of models into a computer or
the like by means of various technologies such as motion capture
and, for example, to then convert the introduced movements into
instructions that are applicable to the control section according
to this invention.
[0023] Next, a second example for the present invention will be
explained with referring to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic
illustration of the mannequin according to the second example for
this invention. In this drawing, the components with the same
reference symbols as those in FIG. 1 represent the same components,
respectively. Therefore, explanation for the overlapped components
is omitted. In the mannequin according to the second example for
this invention, the control section 11 is connected to an
electrical communication network 15 so that the movements of the
mannequin can be controlled via the electrical communication
network 15.
[0024] With such a manner that the control section 11 is connected
to an electrical communication network 15, for example, the
internet, the intranet and the like, it becomes feasible to
remotely operate the mannequin. That is, for example, if an
operation center 20 that manages the mannequin is structured on the
electrical communication network 15, the mannequin can be
controlled from a remote place easily and speedily without need to
reach the location where the mannequin is placed. Also, it is
possible to connect the storage section as well to the electrical
communication network 15 to thereby connect the storage section 12
to the control section 11 via the network. In this case, the
storage section may be constructed with a file server or the like,
which makes it possible to record a large amount of movement
patterns into the storage section 12 without paying attention to
the storing capacity and the like. In addition, since the recording
and modification of the movement patterns by the operation from a
remote place will be realized when the storage section 12 is
structured on the electrical communication network, it becomes
feasible to immediately react to poses in fashion and the like.
Note that the connection between the control section 11 and the
electrical communication network 15 is not limited to a wired
connection. Paying attention to the drawing-around of the wiring,
it is naturally acceptable to structure the connection in a
wireless manner.
[0025] In case of having a plurality of mannequins, for example, in
a store, they can be controlled in the block at the operation
center 20 if the respective control sections 11 are connected to an
electrical communication network 15. Note that even though the
mannequins are placed in stores locating at different places far
from one to another, it is feasible to interrelate them and to
control them simultaneously. When the storage section 12 is
structured on an electrical communication network 15, it becomes
unnecessary to provide the storage section 12 to each mannequin,
which makes possible to reduce the number of the components. In
addition, operations to manage the movement patterns will be
diminished since those operations can be carried out at one place
in a concentrative manner.
[0026] Next, the mannequin according to a third example for this
invention is schematically illustrated in FIG. 3. In this drawing,
the components with the same reference symbols as those in FIG. 1
represent the same components, respectively. Therefore, explanation
for the overlapped components is omitted. In this example, sensors
16 capable of sensing the presence of passers are further connected
to the control section 11.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of sensors 16 are arranged
in front of a show window where the mannequin according to this
invention is placed. These sensors are adapted to sense passers 18
who have stopped in front of the show window. Specific example of
the sensor 16 includes a sonar sensor, an optical sensor, a thermal
sensor, and other sensors of various types as far as they can sense
passers. The sensor 16 may be a voice sensor that reacts to the
voice of passers 18. Note that a plurality of sensors 16 are
arranged in the example shown in this drawing, one sensor may be
accepted naturally if it is capable of sensing the positions of
passers 18 over a wide range. That is, it is sufficient to arrange
the sensor(s) 16 at one or more of the front, the rear, and the
right and left sides of the location where the mannequin is placed.
The required number in total and location to be arranged can be
chosen appropriately depending on the performance of sensors as far
as it is possible to sense the positions of passers 18 with them.
Alternatively, the sensor 16 may be installed naturally in the
mannequin itself. Note that the passers mentioned herein include
all peoples who are looking at a dress and a bag put on the
mannequin, such as crowds and customers.
[0028] In the example shown in FIG. 3, when a centrally-arranged
sensor has sensed a passer 18 who has paid his/her attention to the
mannequin and is stopping for a period longer than a prefixed
period of time, for example, for 5 seconds, the control section 11
makes a judgment that the passer 18 who is standing in the center
has paid his attention to the mannequin and subsequently controls
the drive section 10 in accordance with instructions stored in the
storage section 12 so that the mannequin starts to show a given
movement pattern such as the best pose toward the center. In case
the other sensor has sensed that a passer has stopped for a period
longer than a prefixed period of time, the control section 11
controls the drive section 10 so that the mannequin starts to show
its motions toward the passer sensed by the sensor. Note that,
although the control section 11 is not connected to an electrical
communication network in the example shown in FIG. 3, when this
example is made in combination with the second example for this
invention, it is naturally feasible to remotely operate the
mannequin via the electrical communication network and to structure
the storage section 12 on the electrical communication network.
[0029] According to this example, it becomes feasible to cause the
mannequin to show its motions toward a passer who has paid his/her
attention to the mannequin and stopped. As a result, dresses and
bags worn on the mannequin can be displayed and built up in a more
effective manner, and the mannequin can be a mannequin having
enhanced attractive influence on the customers.
[0030] Note that the mannequin having a drive section according to
this invention is not limited to the above-illustrated examples and
various modifications may be made naturally without departing from
the gist of the present invention. For example, although the
mannequin having a head is embodied in the illustrated example, the
mannequin according to this invention may be embodied in the form
of a mannequin without a head. If it is desired, not only the bust
but also the lower part of the body may naturally be constituted so
as to be similar to the bust of the mannequin according to this
invention. Further, the structure of the drive section described
above is only explanatory, and various arts may be employed as far
as it can operate the joints in the arms and the like.
[0031] As explained above, according to the mannequin having a
drive section of this invention, unlike mannequins simply worn with
merchandises and placed in the static state, it is made feasible to
operate the mannequin freely and easily so that it moves in
accordance with a predetermined movement pattern, which allows to
exert such an excellent effect that merchandises can be displayed
and built up in an effective manner.
[0032] Furthermore, when the mannequin is provided with a sensor,
an interactive mannequin that reacts to passers and the like can be
realized since it is made feasible to cause the mannequin to show
its motions toward passers and the like who are looking at it.
* * * * *