Model

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to model figures of beings or objects, such as animate and inanimate objects. Animate objects include living beings, such as humans, animals, plants. Such models may comprise a wire frame formed of body segments movably connected with three-way, two-way and one-way joints. The frame may be wrapped with an additional wire. The joints may also include multi-axial joints.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A model of a figure comprising:
 first body segments made of wire and representing portions of the figure; and   a first joint movably coupling said first body segments for movement about at least two different axes and for movement of said first body segments between a first pose and a second pose, said first joint further including a first resistance element for maintaining said first body segments in said first and second poses,   said first joint not being locked whereby said model can move between and maintain said first and second poses without adjustment to said first joint.   
     
     
         2 . The model of  claim 1 , wherein said first pose is unaided standing. 
     
     
         3 . The model of  claim 1 , wherein said first pose is sitting. 
     
     
         4 . The model of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first body segments define a central open space. 
     
     
         5 . The model of  claim 1 , wherein said first joint further includes a bracket for defining said two different axes. 
     
     
         6 . The model of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of said first joints, wherein said first joints are two-way joints and said first joints are at first locations in said model. 
     
     
         7 . The model of  claim 5 , wherein said first joint further includes a first hinge and a second hinge; one of said first body segments further includes a first connection portion and the other of said first body segments includes a second connection portion; said first hinge being disposed through said first connection portion to movably couple said first connection portion to said bracket for movement about one of the axis; and
 said second hinge being disposed through said second connection portion to movably couple said second connection portion to said bracket for movement about the other of the axis.   
     
     
         8 . The model of  claim 7 , wherein said first connection portion is offset approximately 90 degrees from said second connection portion, and said first hinge is offset approximately 90 degrees from said second hinge. 
     
     
         9 . The model of  claim 7 , wherein said first hinge includes a first hinge pair; said second hinge includes a second hinge pair, and said first resistance element includes first and second pairs of spacers, said first pair of spacers being located between said first hinge pair said first connection portion, and second pair of spacers being located between said second hinge pair and said second connection portion. 
     
     
         10 . The model of  claim 9 , wherein said first connection portion is a pair of first loops and said second connection portion is a pair of second loops. 
     
     
         11 . The model of  claim 1 , wherein said first resistance element is a spacer. 
     
     
         12 . The model of  claim 6 , wherein said first locations include a neck location and hip locations. 
     
     
         13 . The model of  claim 11 , wherein the figure is a human. 
     
     
         14 . The model of  claim 6 , wherein said first locations further include shoulder locations and knee locations. 
     
     
         15 . The model of  claim 6 , wherein the figure is an animal. 
     
     
         16 . The model of  claim 15 , wherein said first locations include a neck location, hip locations, and a tail location. 
     
     
         17 . The model of  claim 16 , further including second body segments made of wire and representing portions of the figure, and said model further including a second joint located at a second location in said model, said second joint movably coupling said second body segments such that said second body segments move with respect to one another about only one axis. 
     
     
         18 . The model of  claim 17 , further including a plurality of the second joints located at a plurality of second locations, wherein said second locations include shoulder locations, knee locations, and ankle locations. 
     
     
         19 . The model of  claim 1 , wherein the figure is a non-living object. 
     
     
         20 . The model of  claim 6 , further including second body segments made of wire and representing portions of the figure, wherein said at least two different axes include a first axis and a second axis, and said model further including a second joint movably coupling said second body segments for movement about a third, fourth and fifth axes and for movement of said second body segments between a third pose and a fourth pose, said second joint being located at a second location within said model, and said second joint further including a second resistance element for maintaining said second body segments in said third and fourth poses;
 wherein said model can move between and maintain said third and fourth poses without further adjustment to said second joint.   
     
     
         21 . The model of  claim 20 , further including a plurality of the second joints at a plurality of second locations. 
     
     
         22 . The model of  claim 21 , wherein said first locations are a neck location, shoulder locations, knee locations, and hip locations, and said second locations are a waist location, elbow locations, wrist locations, and ankle locations. 
     
     
         23 . The wire model of  claim 20 , wherein said second joint further include a second bracket, a third bracket, a third hinge, a fourth hinge, and a fifth hinge, said third hinge movably coupling one of said second body segments to said second bracket for movement about said third axis, said fourth hinge movably coupling said third bracket to said second bracket for movement about said fourth axis, and said fifth hinge movably coupling the other said second body segment to said third bracket for movement about said fifth axis. 
     
     
         24 . The model of  claim 1 , wherein said first body segments include a pair foot segments, each of said foot segments including a flat bottom. 
     
     
         25 . The model of  claim 1 , wherein said first body segments include a pair of hand segments, each of said hand segments including fingers capable of holding an object. 
     
     
         26 . The model of  claim 1 , further including an external wire disposed around at least one of said first body segments. 
     
     
         27 . The model of  claim 1 , wherein said first body segments and said first joint are formed of metal. 
     
     
         28 . The model of  claim 1 , wherein one of said first body segments is a head body segment formed of plastic. 
     
     
         29 . The model of  claim 25 , wherein said first body segments further include a chest body segment and a pelvis body segment movably coupled by said first joint. 
     
     
         30 . The model of  claim 1 , wherein said first body segments include a pair of foot body segments, each of said foot body segments are formed of plastic. 
     
     
         31 . The model of  claim 4 , wherein said first body segments are formed of a first wire including a first wire piece and a separate second wire piece, said first wire piece including an integral first connection end and said second wire piece including an integral second connection end, said first and second wire pieces being angularly offset to define said central open space. 
     
     
         32 . The wire model of  claim 1 , wherein said first resistance element is selected from a group including ring-shaped spacers, conical-shaped spacers, and wavy spacers. 
     
     
         33 . The model of  claim 1 , wherein said first resistance element is selected from a group including metal, spring metal, plastic, acetate, or stainless steel. 
     
     
         34 . The model of  claim 1 , wherein one of said first body segments is bendable. 
     
     
         35 . A model of a figure capable of being positioned in various stationary poses, comprising:
 first body segments made of wire and representing differing body portions of the figure; and   a first joint movably coupling said first body segments for movement about at least two different axes between a first stationary pose and a second stationary pose, said first joint further including a first resistance element for maintaining said first body segments in said first and second stationary poses;   said first joint not being locked to permit said figure to move between and maintain said first and second stationary poses without adjustment to said first joint.