Patent Publication Number: US-9901192-B2

Title: Robotic mannequin system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to mannequin devices and more particularly pertains to a new mannequin device for advertising articles of clothing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a plurality of articles of clothing. A mannequin is provided. The mannequin has a torso, a pair of arms, a pair of legs and a head. Each of the articles of clothing is worn on the mannequin such that the mannequin displays the articles of clothing. An actuating array is coupled to the mannequin. The actuating array is in mechanical communication with the arms, the legs and the head. The actuating array urges each of the arms, the first legs and the head to move with respect to the torso. Thus, the mannequin may mimic human motion. Each of the arms, the first legs and the head position the articles of clothing in a selected pose. Thus, the mannequin may enhance an appearance of the articles of clothing. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a robotic mannequin system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a left side phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 6  thereof, a new mannequin device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the robotic mannequin system  10  generally comprises a plurality of articles of clothing  12 . The articles of clothing  12  may comprise male clothing or female clothing. Additionally, the articles of clothing  12  may include any article of clothing worn for any purpose. The articles of clothing  12  may be articles of clothing sold in a retail environment or the like. 
     A mannequin  14  is provided. The mannequin  14  has a torso  16 , a pair of arms  18 , a pair of legs  20  and a head  22 . Each of the pair of arms  18  is movably coupled to the torso  16  and each of the pair of legs  20  is movably coupled to the torso  16 . The head  22  is movably coupled to the torso  16 . Each of the articles of clothing  12  is worn on the mannequin  16  such that the mannequin  16  displays the articles of clothing  12 . The mannequin  14  may be positioned in the retail environment such that the mannequin  14  is visible to observers. The mannequin  14  may be a female mannequin and a male mannequin. 
     Each of the arms  18  has a plurality of movable sections  24 . Each of the movable sections  24  defines a shoulder  26 , and elbow  28  and a wrist  30  of each of the arms  18 . Each of the legs  20  has a plurality of movable sections  32 . Each of the movable sections  32  corresponding to the legs  20  defines a hip  34 , a knee  36  and an ankle  38  of each of the legs  20 . The torso  16  includes a top section  40  movably coupled to a bottom section  42 . Each of the legs  20  is movably coupled to the bottom section  42  and each of the arms  18  is movably coupled to the top section  40 . The head  22  is movably coupled to the top section  40 . 
     A base  44  is provided and the mannequin  14  is coupled to the base  44 . The base  44  retains the mannequin  14  in an upright position. The base  44  has a top end  46  and a bottom end  48 . The bottom end  48  may be positioned on a support surface  50  and the mannequin  14  is positioned on the top end  46 . The support surface  50  may comprise a floor or the like. 
     A rod  52  is rotatably coupled to the base  44 . The rod  52  extends upwardly from the top end  46 . The rod  52  extends upwardly into an associated one of the legs  20 . Thus, the mannequin  14  is movably coupled to the base  44 . 
     An actuating array  54  is coupled to the mannequin  14 . The actuating array  54  is in mechanical communication with each of the arms  18 , each of the legs  20  and the head  22 . The actuating array  54  urges each of the arms  18 , each of the legs  20  and the head  22  to move with respect to the torso  16 . Thus, the mannequin  14  mimics human motion. Each of the arms  18 , each of the legs  20  and the head  22  position the articles of clothing  12  in a selected pose. Thus, the mannequin  14  enhances an appearance of the articles of clothing  12  in the retail environment. 
     The actuating array  54  comprises a processor  56  that is positioned within the mannequin  14 . The processor  56  includes an electronic memory  58  and the electronic memory  58  may store a movement routine. The processor  56  may comprise an electronic processor or the like. The electronic memory  58  may comprise RAM, a hard disk drive or other form of electronic data storage. 
     A plurality of arm motors  60  is provided. Each of the arm motors  60  is electrically coupled to the processor  56  such that the processor  56  selectively actuates each of the arm motors  60 . Each of the arm motors  60  is positioned within the mannequin  14 . Each of the arm motors  60  is positioned at an associated one of the shoulder  26 , the elbow  28  and the wrist  30  of an associated one of the arms  18 . Thus, the arm motors  60  urge each of the arms  18  to move in the selected direction with respect to the torso  16 . Each of the arm motors  60  may comprise an electrical ball joint or the like. Each of the arm motors  60  may articulate within a one hundred eighty degree range of motion. 
     A plurality of leg motors  62  is provided. Each of the leg motors  62  is electrically coupled to the processor  56  such that the processor  56  selectively actuates each of the leg motors  62 . Each of the leg motors  62  is positioned within the mannequin  14 . Each of the leg motors  62  is positioned at an associated one of the hip  34 , the knee  36  and the ankle  38  of an associated one of the legs  20 . Thus, the leg motors  62  urge each of the legs  20  to move in a selected direction with respect to the torso  16 . Each of the leg motors  62  may comprise an electrical ball joint or the like. Each of the leg motors  62  may articulate within a one hundred eighty degree range of motion. 
     A head motor  64  is positioned within the mannequin  14 . The head motor  64  is electrically coupled to the processor  56  such that the processor  56  selectively actuates the head motor  64 . The head motor  64  is positioned at a neck  66  between the head  22  and the torso  16 . Thus, the head motor  64  urges the head  22  to move with respect to the torso  16 . The head motor  64  may comprise an electrical ball joint or the like. The head motor  64  may articulate within a one hundred eighty degree range of motion. 
     A rod motor  68  is positioned within the base  44 . The rod motor  68  is electrically coupled to the processor  56  such that the processor  56  selectively actuates the rod motor  68 . The rod motor  68  is coupled to the rod  52  such that the rod motor  68  rotates the rod  52 . Thus, the mannequin  14  rotates on the base  44 . A torso motor  69  is coupled between the top section  40  and the bottom section  42  of the torso  16 . The torso motor  69  urges the top section  40  to move with respect to the bottom section  42 . 
     A camera  70  is coupled to the head  22 . The camera extends outwardly from the head  22  and the camera  70  may record images. The camera  70  is electrically coupled to the processor  56 . The camera  70  may be aligned with one of a pair of eyes on the head  22 . The camera  70  may comprise a digital camera or the like. 
     A light emitter  72  is coupled to the camera  70  and the light emitter  72  extends outwardly from the head  22 . The light emitter  72  may be structured to substantially resemble a human eye. The light emitter  72  emits one of a plurality of colors of light. Thus, the light emitter  72  may mimic the ornamental appearance of a human eye having a selected color. The light emitter  72  may comprise an LED or the like. 
     A speaker  74  is coupled to the head  22  and the speaker  74  may emit audible sounds. The speaker  74  is electrically coupled to the processor  56 . The audible sounds may comprise a pre-recorded phrase stored within the electronic memory  58 . The speaker  74  may comprise an audio speaker or the like. 
     A transceiver  76  is positioned within the mannequin  14  and the transceiver  76  is electrically coupled to the processor  56 . The transceiver  76  may be in communication with an extrinsic electronic device  78 . The extrinsic electronic device  78  may comprise a personal computer or the like and the extrinsic electronic device  78  stores the movement routine. Thus, the extrinsic electronic device  78  may communicate the movement routine to the electronic memory  58 . The transceiver  76  may comprise a radio frequency transceiver or the like. The extrinsic electronic device  78  may include a remote control for controlling the movement of the mannequin  14 . 
     The movement routine may comprise a plurality of poses. The mannequin  14  may be sequentially positioned in each of the poses. The mannequin  14  may remain in each of the poses for a selected duration of time. Alternatively, the mannequin  14  may continually move between the poses. The movement routine may comprise a plurality of random poses and the movement routine may comprise a plurality of selected poses. The selected poses may correspond to poses employed in the convention of fashion modeling. 
     A power supply  80  is positioned within the base  44  and the power supply  80  is electrically coupled to the processor  56 . The power supply  80  comprises at least one battery  82 . The power supply  80  further comprises a power port  84  that is coupled to the base  44 . The power port  84  is electrically coupled to the battery  82  such that the power port  84  charges the battery  82 . A cord may be electrically coupled between the power port  84  and a power source. The power source may comprise an electrical outlet or the like. 
     In use, the articles of clothing  12  are worn on the mannequin  14 . The movement routine is determined on the extrinsic electronic device  78 . The movement routine is communicated to the electronic memory  58 . Each of the arms  18 , each of the legs  20  and the head  22  moves in accordance with the movement routine. Thus, the articles of clothing  12  are positioned in various poses thereby enhancing the ornamental appearance of the articles of clothing  12 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, system and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.