U.S. patent application number 11/952291 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-17 for display form having magnetically attachable parts.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fusion Specialties, Inc.. Invention is credited to James D. Barber, James Talaric, Richard Varner.
Application Number | 20080089739 11/952291 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46150396 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080089739 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Varner; Richard ; et
al. |
April 17, 2008 |
Display Form Having Magnetically Attachable Parts
Abstract
Forms for display of clothing and the like with magnetically
attachable parts are provided. The magnetic joints comprise a
magnetic assembly with a depth-of-pull sufficient to cause the
attachable part to begin to pull toward the form at a distance
preferably greater than one-half inch, preferably about one inch.
Preferably the magnetic assembly has a depth-of-pull of at least
about 120 gauss at a distance of one inch. A metallic plate is
arranged in mating configuration with the magnetic assembly. Mating
pins may be provided, as well as indexing pins. If the manikin is
knocked over, or if the attached part is pulled or bumped, it will
come loose rather than breaking off; and the mating parts are
self-seeking in use, so that they will come together in proper
orientation even when being mated beneath clothes. A bump to the
manikin sufficient to overcome the on-contact strength of the
magnetic attachment may not result in detachment of the limb
because of the depth-of-pull strength of the magnetic assembly. The
indexing pins allow the limbs to be placed in a variety of
positions.
Inventors: |
Varner; Richard; (Longmont,
CO) ; Barber; James D.; (Longmont, CO) ;
Talaric; James; (Louisville, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENLEE WINNER AND SULLIVAN P C
4875 PEARL EAST CIRCLE
SUITE 200
BOULDER
CO
80301
US
|
Assignee: |
Fusion Specialties, Inc.
Broomfield
CO
80020-1642
|
Family ID: |
46150396 |
Appl. No.: |
11/952291 |
Filed: |
December 7, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11567112 |
Dec 5, 2006 |
7325996 |
|
|
11952291 |
Dec 7, 2007 |
|
|
|
10797624 |
Mar 9, 2004 |
7144179 |
|
|
11567112 |
Dec 5, 2006 |
|
|
|
09771431 |
Jan 26, 2001 |
6705794 |
|
|
10797624 |
Mar 9, 2004 |
|
|
|
60178187 |
Jan 26, 2000 |
|
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
403/165 ; 223/66;
24/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09B 19/10 20130101;
Y10T 403/32983 20150115; Y10T 403/32262 20150115; Y10S 403/01
20130101; A63H 3/46 20130101; G09B 23/34 20130101; Y10T 403/18
20150115; Y10T 403/74 20150115; A47F 8/00 20130101; Y10T 24/32
20150115; Y10T 403/32426 20150115; F16C 11/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
403/165 ;
223/066; 024/303 |
International
Class: |
F16D 3/00 20060101
F16D003/00; A47F 8/00 20060101 A47F008/00 |
Claims
1. A manikin having a removable piece attached thereto by a
magnetic system comprising: (a) a magnetic assembly comprising a
magnetic material and having a depth-of-pull sufficient to cause
the removable piece to begin to move towards the manikin at a
distance from the manikin of more than one-quarter of an inch, said
magnetic assembly being positioned on said manikin or said
removable piece; (b) an attracted material positioned on the other
of said manikin or said removable piece; comprising a strap for
securing said attracted material to the material of the manikin or
removable piece on which it is positioned;
2. The manikin of claim 1 wherein the magnetic assembly has a depth
of pull of at least 160 gauss at a distance of one inch.
3. The manikin of claim 1 wherein the magnetic assembly has a depth
of pull of at least 170 gauss at a distance of at least one
inch.
4. The manikin of claim 1 wherein the magnetic assembly has a depth
of pull of at least 200 gauss at a distance of one inch.
5. The manikin of claim 1 wherein said magnetic assembly is
positioned on said removable piece.
6. The manikin of claim 1 wherein said magnetic assembly is
positioned on said manikin.
7. The manikin of claim 1 wherein said magnetic assembly comprises
a cup containing at least one magnet.
8. The manikin of claim 7 wherein said cup serves as a pole
piece.
9. The manikin of claim 7 wherein said cup is a circular cup.
10. The manikin of claim 1 wherein said magnetic system comprises a
mating pin on one of said magnetic assembly or attracted material,
and a mating hole positioned to mate with said mating pin on the
other of said magnetic assembly or said attracted material.
11. The manikin of claim 10 wherein said mating pin is located in
the center of said magnetic assembly and said mating hole is
located in the center of said attracted material.
12. The manikin of claim 1 wherein said attracted material presents
a circular face.
13. The manikin of claim 1 wherein said attracted material presents
an oval face.
14. The manikin of claim 1 wherein said magnetic system further
comprises at least one index pin on one of said magnetic assembly
or said attracted material, and an index hole positioned to mate
with said index pin on the other of said magnetic assembly or said
attracted material.
15. A manikin having a removable piece attached thereto by a
magnetic system comprising: (a) a magnetic assembly having a
depth-of-pull sufficient to cause the removable piece to begin to
move towards the manikin at a distance from the manikin of more
than one-quarter of an inch, said magnetic assembly being
positioned on said manikin or said removable piece; said magnetic
assembly being a cup magnetic assembly comprising a cup serving as
a pole piece, said cup having at least one magnet therein; and (b)
an attracted material positioned on the other of said manikin or
said removable piece so as to mate with said magnetic assembly; (c)
a mating pin on said magnetic assembly or said attracted material,
and a mating hole positioned to mate with said mating pin on the
other of said magnetic assembly or said attracted material; and (d)
indexing means on one of said manikin or said removable piece for
adjusting said removable piece to display a variety of positions
and postures.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/567,112 filed Dec. 5, 2006, which is a divisional of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/797,624 filed Mar. 9, 2004, now U.S. Pat.
No. 7,144,179, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application
Ser. No. 09/771,431, filed Jan. 26, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No.
6,705,794, which claims priority from U.S. provisional application
No. 60/178,187, filed Jan. 26, 2000, all of which are incorporated
herein by reference to the extent not inconsistent herewith.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Forms or manikins to display clothing or other merchandise
are models of complete human bodies or parts thereof, often of
life-size proportions. It is difficult to dress such forms unless
the limbs are detachable.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 3,028,058 discloses a manikin with truncated
legs, swiveling arms, and a detachable head. In manikins with
removable parts, at least one leg is often made to be removable,
arms are removable, and the torso may be made in two parts. Hands
may also be detachable. Bayonet attachments are common means for
attaching detachable limbs to forms, wherein a projection on the
limb must be inserted into an appropriately shaped hole in the
form, and turned for locking into place. U.S. Pat. No. 2,595,485
describes a fastener of this type, as does U.S. Pat. No. 2,081,071.
There are numerous drawbacks to this method. The operation of
attaching the removable piece must usually be performed blind, i.e.
under the clothing. Often, once the removable piece is locked into
position, it cannot be changed so as to place the limbs in various
expressive attitudes. Further, if the limb is bumped, it may be
easily broken, or the entire form knocked over and damaged.
[0004] One attempt to solve these problems is described in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,727,717, which provides joints for manikins which use
sandwich magnets to keep the limbs in place. Male and female
contours are used to provide mating surfaces, and once the joint is
in place, it does not rotate. A drawback of this device is that the
sandwich magnets do not provide sufficient depth-of-pull to keep
the limb from being easily knocked off by customers and store
personnel by bumping when the form is in use. If the limb is bumped
with sufficient force to overcome the on-contact strength of the
magnet, the limb will simply fall off. Further, the limb must be
positioned with greater accuracy for attachment, since the sandwich
magnet does not exert much force at a distance therefrom to pull
the limb into place when it has been placed approximately in the
correct position. This device may allow limbs to be positioned in
two positions 180 degrees apart, but does not allow for positioning
in attitudes between these extremes. Moreover, it is difficult to
provide sufficient strength with the sandwich magnets described in
that patent for secure attachment at small joints such as wrists
and ankles, and the weight to strength ratio of such sandwich
magnets is not good.
[0005] A lightweight means for attaching removable limbs to a form
is needed which allows the limbs to be easily seated into place
when the operator moves them into approximate alignment, which
holds with sufficient force that the limbs are not easily knocked
off by being bumped, but which does allow for detachment of the
limbs when sufficient force is applied which would otherwise knock
over and damage the entire form.
[0006] All publications referred to herein are incorporated by
reference to the extent not inconsistent herewith.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A form is provided which has a removable piece attached
thereto by a magnetic system comprising a magnetic assembly having
a depth-of-pull sufficient to cause the removable piece to seek
home, i.e., begin to move toward the attracted material, at a
distance of at least one inch or, in other embodiments, a distance
greater than one-half inch, e.g., a distance of about three-fourths
inches. In one embodiment, this depth of pull is about 120 gauss at
one inch, more preferably it is greater than about 200 gauss at one
inch and, most preferably, is about 240 gauss at one inch. Said
magnetic assembly is positioned on said form or said removable
piece. Said magnetic system also comprises an attracted material on
the other of said form or said removable piece so as to mate with
said magnetic assembly.
[0008] A "form" is a manikin which may be in the shape of a human
or animal, or a stylized human or animal. The removable piece may
be any portion of the form, and is preferably selected from the
group consisting of an arm, an upper arm, a lower arm, a hand, a
leg, an upper leg, a lower leg, a foot, a head, a torso, and a
pelvis.
[0009] The attracted material may be steel, iron, or other
magnetically-adherent material known to the art, and is positioned
on the other of the removable piece or the main body of the form
and designed to mate with a corresponding magnetic assembly.
Magnetic assemblies and attracted materials may also be placed on
either or both ends of magnetic limbs, so that portions of limbs
may be attached to each other, e.g. hands to lower arms to upper
arms. A given detachable piece may comprise one or more structures
made of attracted material, one or more magnetic assemblies, one of
each, or any combination thereof as required to assemble the
complete form.
[0010] The attracted material is preferably a piece of metal,
preferably a steel disc having a thickness of at least about
one-eighth inch. A thinner material will result in a less strong
magnetic bond. Thicker pieces may be used, but will result in a
heavier and more costly joint.
[0011] The depth-of-pull of the magnetic assembly is the amount of
force exerted by the magnetic material at a point a given distance
from the magnetic assembly. In different embodiments, the magnetic
assembly has a depth of pull of at least about 160 gauss or at
least about 170 gauss at a distance of one inch. Preferably, the
magnetic assembly has a depth-of-pull of at least about 200 gauss
at one inch, and more preferably a depth-of-pull of about 240 gauss
at one inch. The depth-of-pull is preferably no greater than about
250 gauss at one inch to avoid pinching the operator=s fingers by
having the magnetic assembly engage with the attached material too
quickly and strongly.
[0012] In addition to its depth-of-pull, the magnetic assembly will
also have an on-contact strength, which is the amount of force
required to separate the magnetic assembly from direct contact with
the attracted material. Preferably, for joining an adult-size arm
to a form, the magnetic assembly has an on-contact strength of at
least about 60-120 pounds, more preferably at least about 85
pounds, and most preferably, at least about 100 pounds. The
on-contact strength is preferably no greater than about 120 pounds.
Preferably, for joining a child size arm to a form, the magnetic
assembly has an on-contact strength of at least about 20-60 pounds,
more preferably at least about 30 pounds, and most preferably, at
least about 35 pounds. For a shoulder cap, used to cover the
shoulder joint when no arm is required for the form, the on-contact
strength is preferably no more than about 20 pounds. The amount of
on-contact strength required should be sufficient to hold the limb
in place and prevent it from easily being knocked off during normal
use and not so great as to prevent manual disengagement of the limb
by the operator.
[0013] Appropriate on-contact strengths will be readily
ascertainable by those of skill in the art, depending on the
application. A discussion of magnetic properties and design is
found at www.magnetsales.com.
[0014] While prior art magnetic limb attachments utilize magnets
having good on-contact strength, the need for good depth-of-pull
has not previously been recognized, and devices which provide good
depth-of-pull have not been provided.
[0015] As used herein, depth-of-pull is defined in terms of gauss
readings at various distances from the magnetic material measured
in air, in the absence of an attracted material.
[0016] A greater or lesser amount of magnetic material may be used
in a larger or smaller magnetic assembly designed to fit infant
wrist joints, adult arms, legs, heads, or other parts with
differently-sized cross-sections to provide the required
depth-of-pull. Preferably, the magnetic assembly is arranged as
described herein for the preferred embodiment, scaled up or down as
appropriate. However, other materials and configurations may be
used, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
[0017] The cup design is especially useful for adapting to various
joint sizes since its on-contact strength can be varied, e.g., from
around 0.5 pounds up to 180 pounds with selection of appropriate
magnetic materials.
[0018] The magnetic material and configuration of the magnetic
assembly to provide appropriate on-contact strengths will be
readily ascertainable by those skilled in the art without undue
experimentation in accordance with principles discussed herein and
known to the art.
[0019] The manikins of this invention having magnetically
attachable parts have the following advantages: If the manikin is
knocked over, or if someone pulls on the attached part, it will
come loose rather than breaking off; and the mating parts are
self-seeking in use, so that they will come together in proper
orientation even when being mated beneath clothes. Generally,
manikins are dressed with arms removed, and the arms then have to
be inserted and positioned inside the sleeves ?blind,@ without the
dresser being able to see to align them properly. The self-seeking
feature of the magnetic mating parts of this invention
substantially aids in ease of dressing and provides significant
time savings for manikin dressers.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment hereof, a cup magnetic assembly
comprising a circular cup which serves as a pole piece is provided.
It is believed that the cup shape focuses the magnetic energy
toward the front (top edge of the cup), minimizing leakage of
magnetic force. The cup need not be circular; it can also be
square, rectangular, oval, polygonal, or other shapes. A magnetic
material within the cup provides the magnetic force. Many magnetic
materials are known to the art including strontium ferrite ceramic
magnets, neodymium and samarium cobalt. To optimize performance and
cost, combinations of known magnetic materials may be used, e.g.,
combinations of lower power magnets such as strontium ferrite
ceramic, ferrite with higher power magnets such as neodymium or
strontium cobalt, or either type with arnico or other medium power
magnet.
[0021] The cup assembly allows the magnetic field to be forced to
the outer edges of the cup to take full advantage of the magnets
being used.
[0022] A magnet seated within the cup, such as a ring magnet e.g. a
ceramic magnet such as a strontium ferrite ring having relatively
less depth-of-pull, preferably not in contact with the sides of the
cup, may be used to provide on-contact strength for the magnet. As
will be apparent to those skilled in the art, other types of
magnetic materials, or combinations thereof, may also be used. The
shape of the magnetic material may be varied; however, the magnetic
material should not extend to the top of the cup, since if it is in
direct contact with the attracted material, either some of the
magnetic force will be lost or the on-contact strength could be
increased to unacceptable levels, depending on orientation of the
poles of the magnetic material. Alternately, a non-magnetically
adherent material can be used to prevent direct contact between the
magnetic material and the attracted material (e.g. an austenitic
stainless steel lid placed on the magnetic assembly to cover the
magnets), in which case the magnetic material need not be below the
top of the cup. In an embodiment where the magnetic material does
not extend to the top of the cup involving a cup-shaped pole piece
having a diameter of two and a half inches and a height of one-half
inch, there is a gap of about 0.15 inch between the magnetic
material and the top of the cup.
[0023] In order to provide more depth-of-pull, additional magnetic
material having a strong depth-of-pull in contact with the ring
magnet, but separated from direct contact with the pole piece
(outer edges of the cup) may be provided. Because the size of the
manikin joint is limited, the size of the magnetic assembly will be
limited, and it will usually be necessary to conserve space within
the cup-shaped pole piece. Using nothing but strontium ferrite
ceramic magnets in the preferred embodiment of this invention might
require a pole piece too large to fit within the typical manikin
joint. Thus, additional magnetic materials to provide depth-of-pull
are preferably made of materials which provide greater
depth-of-pull than the ceramic magnets. Neodymium magnets are
preferred, e.g., neodymium-iron-boron materials. They may be in the
form of a ring, radial arc segments, or any other desirable shape,
so long as the separation from the sides of the pole piece is
maintained and the desired depth-of-pull is achieved. In a
preferred embodiment, the magnetic assembly comprises as additional
magnetic material--two neodymium arc segments symmetrically placed
opposite each other, and spanning about 45-90 degrees of arc in the
ring magnet. The size of such additional magnetic materials is
selected to provide the required depth-of-pull as will be evident
to those of skill in the art, or easily ascertainable without undue
experimentation using the information provided herein. The
additional magnetic materials are spaced apart from the pole piece
(outer edges of the cup) a sufficient distance so that the magnetic
force therefrom is not substantially conducted through the pole
piece. Preferably, the additional magnetic materials are spaced
apart from the pole piece at least about one-eighth inch in the
preferred embodiment hereof which involves the use of a circular
cup-shaped pole piece having a height of one-half inch and a
diameter of two and a half inches.
[0024] As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the
less expensive ceramic material can be entirely replaced with
stronger magnetic material, and the size of the cup could be
reduced accordingly; however, using a proportion of each type of
material optimizes cost.
[0025] To facilitate embedding of the magnetic assembly, it
preferably comprises a flange attached thereto by welding or other
means known to the art which is covered by the material of the form
as it is being molded or otherwise fabricated, leaving the
remainder of the magnetic assembly uncovered. The flange may
comprise one or more pieces of metal or other material welded to
the bottom of the cup assembly so that it extends on both sides, or
single pieces of metal or other material attached to the bottom of
the cup so as to extend out on at least one side.
[0026] The top of the magnetic assembly preferably defines a plane,
and the attracted material preferably presents a planar surface for
mating with the magnetic assembly. A lid of metal, plastic or any
other sheet-like material may be used to cover the magnetic
assembly. If the lid contacts both the cup pole piece and a magnet
within the cup, the lid should not be made of a magnetically
adherent material. Non-magnetically adherent materials suitable for
lids include nonmagnetic steels, where a nonmagnetic steel is a
steel which is not attracted by a permanent magnet. Nonmagnetic
steels include austenitic stainless steels. Other non-magnetically
adherent materials suitable for use as lids include aluminum,
Mylar, plastics, glass, ceramics, and other materials as known to
those skilled in the art.
[0027] Preferably, the attracted material is in the form of a disc
(circular or rounded plate) of steel or other magnetically
attracted material. In an embodiment, the attracted material is in
the form of an oval disc. The attracted material may also have
flanges or other projections therefrom for embedding in the
material of the form.
[0028] The planar surfaces of the attracted material and top of the
magnetic assembly contact each other. Each of the magnetic assembly
and attracted material may be equipped with a mating pin or pins
and an optional indexing pin or pins, which mate with corresponding
holes in the other of the attracted material or magnetic assembly.
In an embodiment, the mating pin is centrally located, extending
upward from the bottom of the cup magnet. Preferably it is rounded
or chamfered to provide ease of seating in the corresponding mating
hole when it comes into contact with an edge thereof. The index pin
or pins may be similarly rounded or chamfered. A plurality of index
holes may be provided so that the removable limb can be placed in
different positions, e.g. an arm can be extended downward, outward
or upward, a hand can be cupped or turned over, and the like.
[0029] If desired, additional means can be provided to the magnetic
system for providing holding force in the direction of the magnetic
attraction between the magnetic assembly and the attracted
material. Such additional means can include Velcro strips, adhesive
strips or other materials on the planar surfaces of the components
or within the holes and pins, latches, or other means known to the
art.
[0030] The magnetic assemblies and attracted materials may be sized
to accommodate the joints being attached. For example, smaller
versions might be used at the wrists and ankles. The proportion of
materials having a stronger magnetism to mass ratio could be
increased to allow for a stronger magnetic bond using the smaller
size.
[0031] Methods for attaching removable pieces of forms are also
provided herein comprising aligning the pieces to be attached and
allowing them to be held in place by magnetic force, or placing the
magnetic attachment systems in approximate alignment, and allowing
magnetic force to complete the mating. Approximate alignment means
that the components (the magnetic assembly and attracted material)
are close enough together that the strength of the magnetic field
at that distance (the depth-of-pull) is sufficient to pull the
parts together. Specifically, the magnetic pull should be felt when
the components are placed at least about one inch apart. It is
often desirable that the distance between the removable piece and
the form be greater than about one-half inch, and preferably
greater than about two-thirds or three-fourths of an inch when
sufficient pull is present to allow the pieces to Aseek home.@
Greater precision than these distances is difficult to achieve when
the operator is attempting to align the parts Ablind,@ i.e. under
clothing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a form of this invention with removable and
adjustable limbs.
[0033] FIG. 1A shows a front view and FIG. 1B shows a side
view.
[0034] FIG. 2 shows a portion of a cup magnet magnetic assembly of
this invention. FIG. 2A is a top plan view, and FIG. 2B is a side
view.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows a cup magnet magnetic assembly of this
invention comprising flanges, a mating pin and an index pin. FIG.
3A is a plan view and FIG. 3B is a side view.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows a magnetic assembly of this invention mated
with an attracted material.
[0037] FIG. 5 is a side view of a knee joint showing the metallic
plate.
[0038] FIGS. 6A and 6B compare the lines of magnetic force in prior
art form attachment magnet assemblies and the magnet assembly of
this invention, showing how greater depth-of-pull is achieved in
this invention.
[0039] FIGS. 7A and 7B show top and side views, respectively, of
oval-shaped attracted material suitable for use with the magnetic
assemblies of the invention.
[0040] FIG. 8A is top view of a different cup magnetic assembly of
the invention, without a centrally located mating pin. FIG. 8B is a
side view of the magnetic cup assembly of FIG. 8A. FIGS. 8C and 8D,
respectively show top and side views of a corresponding mating
plate.
[0041] FIGS. 9A and 9B compare the depth-of-pull at the strongest
points of attraction for the magnetic assembly of the invention and
a prior art sandwich magnet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] This invention provides manikins with magnetically
attachable parts. One or more limbs selected from the group
consisting of whole arms, forearms, upper arms, whole legs, thighs,
lower legs, feet, hands, and head, fingers, toes, and features may
be magnetically attachable. Surrealistic features such as wings,
chimeric animal parts, and the like may also be magnetically
attachable parts of this invention. Joint caps such as shoulder
caps may also be attachable. In a preferred embodiment, the whole
arms are magnetically attachable.
[0043] The magnetic attachment comprises two mating portions: a
material capable to adhering to a magnet, referred to herein as the
?attracted material,@ such as steel, iron, or other
magnetically-adherent material known to the art; and one or more
magnets or magnetized materials, referred to herein as the
?magnetic material,@ selected and arranged to provide a
depth-of-pull sufficient for the attachable part to begin to seek
home at a distance of about one inch, preferably at least about 120
gauss at one inch. This arrangement of the selected magnetic
material is referred to herein as the magnetic assembly.
[0044] Magnetic materials may be selected to optimize cost and
performance, as is standard in the industry. Table 1 lists several
magnetic materials, comparing costs and coercive strengths.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Permanent Magnet Material Comparison Table
Material Cost Index Coercivity Hci (KOe) Nd--Fe--B (sintered) 65%
Up to 30 Nd--Fe--B (bonded) 50% Up to 11 Sm--Co (sintered) 100% Up
to 25 Sm--Co (bonded) 85% Up to 10 Alnico 30% Up to 2 Hard Ferrite
5% Up to 3 Flexible 2% Up to 2 Source: stanfordmagnets.com.
[0045] As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the
placement of magnetic material with respect to pole pieces affects
the flow and intensity of magnetic flux, and thus the strength of
the magnetic assembly both in terms of on-contact strength and
depth-of-pull. Placement of air gaps between magnetic material and
pole pieces also affects performance. For example, in a cup
magnetic assembly, if the ceramic or neodymium components are
allowed to touch the sides of the cup, some of the lines of force
will be short-circuited through the sides and not reach past the
rim of the cup and thus not be able to flow into and hold the
attracted material. However, magnetic material may be in contact
with the sides of the cup if required to adjust the strength of the
magnetic assembly.
[0046] The magnets may be fixed in desired relationship to each
other and the pole piece(s) by means known to the art, e.g.,
adhesives.
[0047] In an embodiment, the mating parts also include at least one
mating pin projecting from the face of one of the parts which fits
into a hole sized to accommodate it on the other part.
[0048] One or more index pins may also project from the face of one
of the parts, and fit into holes sized to accommodate them on the
other part. In this way, the limb can be adjusted to display a
variety of positions and postures.
[0049] Preferably the mating parts are in the form of substantially
flat discs which may be equipped with flanges for embedding in the
material of the form. The attracted material may be a disc having a
flat face for mating, and the magnetic assembly preferably mates
with this planar surface. In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic
assembly comprises a cup construction made of a material such as
steel, having magnets arranged therein. Preferably the magnets do
not extend outward past the top of the "cup."
[0050] The mating parts are preferably round, but may be any shape,
such as the cross sectional shape of the limb being attached,
rectangular, ovoid, or other shapes, including shapes having mating
concavities and convexities to provide sockets, or cylinders which
may be nested together.
[0051] The depth-of-pull strength of the magnetic assembly is also
important for allowing the pieces to be joined to easily Aseek
home,@ that is pull themselves into proper alignment when they have
been approximately aligned. Exact alignment is difficult for the
operator to achieve when dressing a manikin, since the parts to be
joined will often be obscured by the clothing. The depth-of-pull
strength should be sufficient for the parts to start moving
together when they have been approximately aligned and are a
distance of more than one-half inch apart, preferably a distance of
one-third or more inches apart, more preferably three-fourths or
more inches apart and, most preferably, at least one inch apart.
The depth-of-pull should not be not so great as to cause injury to
the operator, nor so little as to require that the pieces be placed
in almost touching alignment, e.g. one-fourth inch apart, before
they start to pull together.
[0052] Principles known to the art may be used to adjust the
magnetic force, such as the thickness of the accepting material,
the type of magnetic material used, and the mass of the magnetic
material used.
[0053] Preferably, flanges extend outward from the mating parts so
that the manikin body may be molded around them. Alternatively, the
mating parts can be adhered to the manikin by any means known to
the art including screws, welds, adhesives, and the like.
[0054] The manikin comprising the magnetically attachable parts is
made of a material, preferably a molded polymeric material, capable
of supporting the mating parts. Manikins of this invention
comprising magnetically attachable parts may be replicas of normal
human bodies, or may be missing one or more parts, such as head,
feet, lower legs, or other parts enumerated above.
[0055] The attracted material may be on the manikin trunk or larger
body part, and the magnetic material is on the smaller part to be
attached, or vice versa. In one embodiment of this invention,
manikins are equipped with magnetic mating parts at some or all
joints normally articulable in the human body.
[0056] FIG. 1A depicts a front view of a manikin of this invention
equipped with mating magnetic portions. In the drawings, like
reference numbers indicate like drawing elements. The attracted
material is a metallic plate 12 and the magnetic assembly 14 is
mated thereto. Mating portions are present between the head 10 and
the neck 15, between the torso 20 and the upper arms 22 at the
shoulder joint 36, between the upper arms 22 and the lower arms 24
at the elbow joints 26, between the lower arms 24 and hands 30 at
the wrists 28, between the torso 20 and pelvis 40, between the
pelvis 40 and upper legs 50, between the upper legs 50 and lower
legs 60 at the knee joints 54, and between the lower legs 60 and
the feet 62 at the ankle joint 64. A mating pin 18 and an indexing
pin 16 are shown in the magnetic assembly 14 of the left
shoulder.
[0057] FIG. 1B shows a side view of a manikin of this invention
showing a metallic plate 12 attached at the neck, at the shoulder
36, and elbow 26, and indicating a variety of positions for the arm
attainable using indexing pins in the magnetic element (not shown)
which fit into corresponding indexing holes 34 shown in metallic
plate 12 at the shoulder 36. This metallic plate 12 also shows
mating hole 32.
[0058] FIG. 2A shows a magnetic assembly 14 of this invention
consisting of a pole piece 70 in the form of a cup. Inside the cup
is a ring magnet 72 in contact with the sides and bottom of the
cup. Atop the ring magnet are two neodymium magnets 74 separated
from the outer rim of the cup by space 78. FIG. 2B is a side view
of the magnetic assembly of FIG. 2A, showing that the ring magnet
72 underlies the neodymium magnets 74, and indicating that the
neodymium magnets do not extend to the top of the cup.
[0059] In the preferred embodiment, the cup is a steel cup having a
2.5 inch diameter weighing 114.5 g and about a 0.5 inch diameter
hole in the center through which the mating pin extends. The ring
magnet is strontium ferrite and weighs 85.58 g. Two neodymium
magnets weigh 17.9 g each. A stainless steel cover plate, not
shown, weighs 12.5 g, the mating pin weighs 16.4 g, the flange with
the indexing pin weighs 28.0 g, and the entire assembly weighs 293
g.
[0060] FIG. 3A shows the magnetic assembly equipped with flanges 76
for embedding the assembly in the material of the manikin, mating
pin 18 for mating with a corresponding mating hole in the attracted
material (metallic plate), and indexing pin 16 on flange 76 for
mating with a corresponding indexing hole in the metallic plate.
FIG. 3B is a side view of the magnetic assembly 14 of FIG. 3A, and
shows the staked end 17 of the indexing pin 16 and staked end 19 of
mating pin 18.
[0061] FIG. 4 shows the magnetic assembly 14 and metallic plate 12
attached to a cup 13 equipped with a flange 77 for embedding within
the material of the manikin. The mating pin 18 and indexing pin 16
extend into the metallic plate 12 when the magnetic system is in
use, through mating hole 32 and indexing hole 34 provided therein.
Magnetic assembly 14 is equipped with flange 76 for embedding it
within the material of the manikin. The magnetic assembly 14
comprises pole piece 70, ring magnet 72, neodymium magnets 74,
mating pin 18, indexing pin 16, and lid 75. Mating pin 18 comprises
a shoulder 21 to retain lid 75 in place.
[0062] In an embodiment, the metallic plate is included in a mating
cup 13 equipped with flanges 77 to provide appropriate recesses for
the mating and indexing pins. Preferably, the plate has a diameter
of 3.5 inches, and a hole having a diameter of about 0.5 inches in
the center to accommodate the mating pin. The mating plate may be
embedded in the material of the form via the flanges, or it may be
screwed or otherwise attached to structures molded into the form
for that purpose.
[0063] FIG. 5 shows a right side view of the knee joint 54 showing
the metallic plate 12 in upper leg 50, with indexing holes 34 and
mating hole 32.
[0064] FIG. 6A shows an end view of a prior art sandwich magnet
consisting of a ceramic magnet 82 and steel pole pieces 84. Lines
of magnetic force 86 indicate how the magnetic force runs from the
magnet to the pole pieces, and across the top through the air
between the pole pieces, as well as across the bottom through the
material of the manikin 88. This type of magnet design can provide
good on-contact strength, but little depth-of-pull. Magnetic poles
are indicated as N and S.
[0065] In contrast, FIG. 6B shows a magnetic assembly 14 of this
invention in which the lines of magnetic force 86 extend upward
from the edge of pole piece 70 to provide a large depth-of-pull.
Mating pin 18 and index pin 16 are also shown in this view.
Magnetic poles are indicated as N and S.
[0066] FIGS. 7A and 7B show top and side views, respectively, of an
embodiment of an oval-shaped plate and flange assembly suitable for
use with the magnetic assemblies of the invention. The central
portion 100 acts as the attracted material and as a mating plate
for the magnetic assembly. Central portion 100 has side 103
connected to an outer portion 105. When the assembly is attached to
a manikin or a removable piece thereof, the central portion is
elevated with respect to said outer portion. When the central
portion is elevated with respect to the outer portion, the central
portion projects further than the outer portion from the surface of
the manikin or removable piece thereof where the joint is placed.
Outer portion 105 acts as a flange which can then be embedded into
the manikin or manikin piece. For example, the outer portion 105
may be used to secure the plate to a polymeric form by covering the
flange with liquid polymer during molding of the form. In addition,
outer portion 105 may contain additional features to further secure
the mating plate to the form. FIG. 7B shows V-shaped depressions
107 made in the outer portion 105 and through-holes 109 formed in
the vicinity of depressions 107. In an embodiment, the
through-holes 109 are formed where the outer portion 105 joins the
side 103 of central portion 100. Although the depressions in FIG.
7B are shown as V-shaped, other shapes of depressions known to
those skilled in the art may be used.
[0067] V-shaped depressions 107 can help ensure that the plate and
flange assembly is correctly placed with the central portion 100
elevated with respect to outer portion 105 when the assembly is
molded into a polymeric form. To perform this function, the
depressions in the outer portion 105 should be formed so that the
assembly does not sit stably on a flat surface when resting on
depressions 107. During molding of the relevant part of the
polymeric form, the assembly can be held in place by a flat portion
of a mating magnetic piece which contacts central portion 100. The
magnetic mating piece used during molding is not required to be the
same as the magnetic assembly which forms the other side of the
magnetic joint on the manikin. If outer portion 105 rather than the
central portion 100 is inadvertently placed in contact with the
flat portion of the mating magnetic piece prior to molding, the
plate and flange assembly will not sit stably on the mating piece
and the molding operator will be more likely to notice and correct
the error.
[0068] During molding of a polymeric form, liquid polymer will flow
through holes 109, providing additional mechanical interlocking of
the mating plate and the form when the liquid polymer solidifies.
Preferably, the minimum dimension of holes 109 is about 1/8'' or
greater. Preferably, the maximum dimension of holes 109 is about
1/2'' or less. Holes 109 are preferably spaced apart from each
other so as to distribute the additional mechanical interlocking
around the plate.
[0069] FIG. 7A shows mating hole 32 and index hole 34. Mating hole
32 is not required to be centrally located, as is shown in FIG. 7A.
In an embodiment where the mating magnetic assembly is a circular
cup assembly, the distance a shown in FIG. 7A can be substantially
the same as the radius of the circular cup. The outline of such a
circular cup is shown by dashed lines in FIG. 7A.
[0070] The oval shaped device in FIGS. 7A and 7B may be formed from
a metal strip or coil by punching holes 32 and 34, using a
half-shear operation to create a height difference between central
portion 100 and outer portion 105, and further deforming outer
portion 105 to create V-shaped depressions 107, and separating the
oval device from the strip or coil. Additional holes which
partially define the oval and later aid in separation of the oval
from the strip or coil can be punched at the same time as holes 32
and 34. For plate and flange assemblies made using this process,
the V-shaped depressions are preferably not placed along the center
line connecting the mating and index holes to avoid deforming these
holes while forming the V-shaped depressions. The V-shaped
depressions can be formed deeply enough to tear holes 109 in the
metal. In addition, a flattening operation can be used to restore
planarity to central portion 100 after the die punching and half
shear operation(s). Suitable steel coil thicknesses are between
about 7 gauge and about 11 gauge. Other processes as known to those
skilled in the art, including joining two plates or a plate and a
larger ring to create an inner portion 100 elevated relative to
outer potion 105, may be used to create a plate and flange assembly
similar to that shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.
[0071] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate top and side views, respectively,
of another embodiment of a magnetic assembly of the invention. The
magnetic assembly shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B does not contain a
central mating pin, but rather two mating pins 18 placed outside
the cup. The pins are attached to flange 76. FIG. 8B shows the
staked ends 19 of the mating pins. The cup may be fuse-welded to
the flange, or joined by other means known to those skilled in the
art. FIG. 8C shows a top view of the corresponding mating plate 12
showing mating holes 32. The mating plate is a flat circular disk
with an attached strap 150. The strap may be fuse-welded to the
disk or joined by other means known to those skilled in the art.
FIG. 8D shows a side view of the mating plate, illustrating strap
150. The attached strap can be molded into a polymeric form or a
removable part thereof, thereby securing the mating plate to the
form or removable part thereof. Because the magnetic assembly shown
in FIGS. 8A-8B does not require a central mating pin, this design
allows use of a smaller cup pole piece for a given magnet strength
and magnetic material(s).
[0072] To make the devices of this invention, the components of the
magnetic assembly may be glued or soldered or otherwise adhered.
The metallic plate and magnetic assembly are then embedded in the
manikin, preferably by molding the manikin around flanges or other
projections thereof, however, these components may also be attached
to the manikin by other means such as screws, adhesives, and the
like, all as known to the art.
[0073] To use the magnetic joints of this invention, two parts are
approximately aligned, and the depth-of-pull strength of the
magnetic assembly then pulls the parts into place, with the mating
pins and indexing pins in their corresponding holes. A plurality of
indexing holes may be provided so that the limb can be placed in
alternative positions.
EXAMPLE 1
[0074] The on-contact and depth-of-pull strengths of magnetic
assemblies of this invention were tested and compared to those of
conventional sandwich magnets using a gauss meter. FIGS. 9A and 9B
show the points where the measurements were taken. FIG. 9A shows
the magnetic assembly of this invention with the poles labeled N
(north) and S (south). The asterisk 90, positioned about one-fourth
inch from the center of the 2.5-inch-diameter magnetic assembly,
indicates that the strongest depth-of-pull force was measured at
this distance from the center. The circle 92 on the perimeter of
the pole piece 70 indicates that the strongest on-contact force is
measured at the perimeter. FIG. 9B shows a sandwich magnet of the
prior art. The asterisk 94 indicates where the strongest
depth-of-pull forces were measured. This point also corresponds to
circle 96, the point where the strongest on-contact forces were
measured. The magnet of this invention weighed 0.581 pounds. The
sandwich magnet weighed 1.187 pounds. Results are shown in Table 2.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Two-pole Strontium Neodymium Cup Ferrite
Sandwich Distance from Magnet Assembly Assembly Strongest contact
2560 gauss 1410 gauss on Pole Piece Strongest Point on 4021 gauss
1410 gauss Magnet 1/32 inch 3850 gauss 1090 gauss 1/8 inch 2880
gauss 790 gauss 1/4 inch 1890 gauss 510 gauss 2 inch 850 gauss 270
gauss 3/4 inch 380 gauss 160 gauss 1 inch 240 gauss 110 gauss
[0075] These results show the superior depth-of-pull provided by
the present invention. At 1/8 inch from the magnet, the force of
the sandwich magnet begins to drop off drastically, despite the
fact that the sandwich magnet weighs nearly twice as much as the
magnetic assembly of this invention.
EXAMPLE 2
[0076] The on-contact and depth of pull strengths of a magnetic
assembly as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B were measured using a gauss
meter, and are shown in Table 3. The strongest point on the magnet
was measured at 3/32'' (.A-inverted. about 1/32'') from the center
of the magnet. The depth-of-pull forces were measured at this same
location. This magnetic assembly began to "seek home" at a distance
of about 3/4.'' The weight of the magnet was about 0.03 lb.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Neodymium Cup Distance from Magnet Assembly
Strongest contact 1500 gauss on Pole Piece Strongest Point on 2990
gauss Magnet 1/32 inch 2800 gauss 1/8 inch 2000 gauss 1/4 inch 1550
gauss 2 inch 680 gauss 3/4 inch 338 gauss 1 inch 178 gauss
[0077] Although this invention has been illustrated using various
specific components, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that alternative constructions and methods can be substituted
for those described, and are equivalent thereto.
* * * * *
References