Armature kit and construction

Abstract

Described are novel armature kits, constructions and elements, providing increased flexibility in design and ease of use. In one aspect, inventive armatures include adaptations to isolate the tensioning of ball-and-socket joints occurring at either end of a motion segment. In other aspects, inventive armatures and kits include uniquely shaped plates, providing interchangeability among chest and hip areas of a human form. Novel threaded and tie-down armature elements are also described.

1 . An armature, comprising:
 an armature body having a first segment including at least two plates;   said plates each defining at least two joint sockets for receiving ends of dumbbell connectors to create ball-and-socket joints; wherein the joint sockets of the respective plates form pairs laterally aligned with one another;   at least two dumbbell connectors, each having an end received within one of said pairs of joint sockets to create a ball-and-socket joint;   said plates each defining fastener-receiving apertures adjacent each socket;   said plates laterally connected to one another with fasteners positioned through said fastener-receiving apertures;   said plates each further defining an isolator socket between said fastener-receiving apertures, for receiving a joint isolation component; wherein said isolator sockets of said plates are laterally aligned with one another;   a joint isolation component received and sandwiched between the isolator sockets so as to provide isolated tensioning of said ball-and-socket joints.   
   
   
       2 . The armature of  claim 1 , wherein said joint sockets and isolator sockets are apertures defined in said plates. 
   
   
       3 . The armature of  claim 1 , wherein said isolation component is a ball. 
   
   
       4 . The armature of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said armature body includes at least a second segment attached to said first segment;   said second segment comprising a pair of diamond plates each having a generally non-equilateral deltoid shape having a wider end and a narrower end, said diamond plates each having a plurality of joint sockets defined therein, and each having at least one fastener-receiving aperture defined therein;   said pair of diamond plates laterally connected to one another by a fastener received through said fastener-receiving apertures.   
   
   
       5 . The armature of  claim 4 , wherein said armature body has a human form. 
   
   
       6 . The armature of  claim 1 , wherein said armature body has a quadruped animal form. 
   
   
       7 . An armature kit, comprising:
 a plurality of plates each of a first length, said plates of a first length having apertures in corresponding locations along their length, whereby the apertures are aligned when the plates are positioned laterally to one another;   a plurality of plates each of a second length differing from said first length, said plates of a second length having apertures in corresponding locations along their length, whereby the apertures are aligned when the plates are positioned laterally to one another;   a plurality of dumbbell connectors of a first length, said connectors having a first spherical element, a second spherical element, and an intermediate post connecting said first and second spherical elements;   a plurality of dumbbell connectors of a second length, said connectors having a first spherical element, a second spherical element, and an intermediate portion connecting said first and said second spherical elements;   a plurality of ball elements having substantially the same diameter as said spherical elements;   a plurality of fasteners; and   a plurality of diamond plates, said diamond plates having a generally non-equilateral deltoid shape having a wider end and a narrower end, said diamond plates having a plurality of apertures defined therein.   
   
   
       8 . The armature kit of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of said dumbbell connectors has a threaded aperture in a spherical element thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The armature kit of  claim 8 , wherein said threaded aperture of said dumbbell connector has a central axis substantially aligned with a central axis of the intermediate portion of the dumbbell connector. 
   
   
       10 . The armature kit of  claim 8 , wherein said threaded aperture of said dumbbell connector has a central axis substantially transverse to a central axis of the intermediate portion of the dumbbell connector. 
   
   
       11 . The armature kit of  claim 10 , wherein said central axis of said threaded aperture is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the intermediate portion. 
   
   
       12 . The armature kit of  claim 7 , wherein said plates of a first length each include:
 two joint apertures for use in forming ball-and-socket joints, said joint apertures located adjacent opposite ends of said plates of a first length;   two fastener apertures for receiving fasteners;   at least one isolator aperture for receiving an isolator component, said isolator aperture located between said fastener apertures.   
   
   
       13 . An armature kit, comprising at least the following components:
 (a) a plurality of first plates each of a first length, said first plates each defining apertures in corresponding locations along their length, whereby the apertures are aligned when the plates are positioned laterally to one another, said apertures in each first plate including:
 two joint apertures for use in forming ball-and-socket joints, said joint apertures located adjacent opposite ends of said first plate; 
 two fastener apertures for receiving fasteners; and 
 at least one isolator aperture for receiving an isolator component, said isolator aperture located between said fastener apertures; 
   (b) a plurality of first dumbbell connectors having ends receivable in said joint apertures to form ball-and-socket joints;   (c) a plurality of fasteners receivable in said fastener apertures; and   (d) a least one isolator component receivable in said isolator aperture.   
   
   
       14 . The armature kit of  claim 13 , also including:
 a plurality of second plates each of a second length differing from said first length, said second plates having apertures in corresponding locations along their length, whereby the apertures are aligned when the second plates are positioned laterally to one another.   
   
   
       15 . The armature kit of  claim 13 , also including:
 at least one dumbbell connector having a first spherical element, a second spherical element, and an intermediate portion connecting said first and said second spherical elements, said at least one dumbbell connector also including a threaded aperture in at least one of said spherical elements.   
   
   
       16 . The armature kit of  claim 13 , also including:
 at least one dumbbell connector having spherical end portions, and threaded thru-apertures in each spherical end portion.   
   
   
       17 . The armature kit of  claim 13 , also including:
 at least one tie-down connector, said tie-down connector including a generally spherical end portion, a collar, and an intermediate portion connecting said end portion and said collar; and   said collar having a threaded aperture defined therein.   
   
   
       18 . The armature kit of  claim 13 , also including:
 at least one ball element having a threaded thru-aperture.   
   
   
       19 . The armature kit of  claim 13 , also including:
 a plurality of diamond plates, said diamond plates having a generally non-equilateral deltoid shape having a wider end and a narrower end, said diamond plates having a plurality of apertures defined therein.   
   
   
       20 . The armature kit of  claim 13 , also including:
 a plurality of cylindrical spacer elements, said fasteners receivable through said cylindrical spacer elements.   
   
   
       21 . The armature kit of  claim 13 , also including:
 (e) a plurality of second plates each of a second length differing from said first length, said second plates having apertures in corresponding locations along their length, whereby the apertures are aligned when the second plates are positioned laterally to one another;   (f) a plurality of second dumbbell connectors, said second dumbbell connectors having a length differing from that of said first dumbbell connectors;   (g) a plurality of diamond plates, said diamond plates having a generally non-equilateral deltoid shape having a wider end and a narrower end, said diamond plates having a plurality of apertures defined therein; and   (h) a plurality of ball elements.