Mannequin joints

Abstract

Joints for joining together limb members of mannequins and forms, and methods of assembly of joints and mannequins are provided. The joints and mannequins of this invention provide natural anatomical shape and ease of assembly. This is accomplished using one or more assembly fixtures, located within or on a limb member to be joined, that contain elements of a joining or locking mechanism to hold the limbs together and other elements for creating tension or friction between joined limb members. The assembly fixtures also comprise a tab or disk that provides a natural appearance to the joint and allows for ease of assembly. The invention provides a friction assembly fixture recessed in the end of a first limb member to be joined. A tab formed as part of, or attached to, a second limb member is inserted into the first limb member to contact the friction assembly fixture. The first and second limb members are held in pivotal contact.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/961,792, filed Sep. 24, 2001, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety to the extent not inconsistent with the disclosure herein.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Forms or mannequins that are models of the human body are well known in the art and are used to display clothing and other merchandise. Such forms and mannequins are often complete or partial human bodies and often are of life-sized proportions. “Forms” typically refers to human shapes with or without heads, and without appendages or limbs. “Mannequins” typically refers to human shapes with or without heads, and with some or all appendages. The terms “form” and “mannequin” are used interchangeably herein, and each term incorporates the other. It is desirable that limbs can be placed in natural poses.

[0003] Examples of mannequin joint structures in the prior art include those described in Ikeda (U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,086); Day (U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,213); Schoenhut (U.S. Pat. No. 982,096); Abbat (U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,873); Stringer (U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,762); Pansiera (U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,643); Kotlarsky and Gelman (U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,188); Bruce (U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,804); Strover and Strover (U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,790); Luke (U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,518); Miller (U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,844); Fogarty et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,276); Unalp and Kelley (U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,469); Glovier (U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,471); Toy (U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,514); Wiley et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,977); Jiang (U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,779); Neuschatz (U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,782); Breiden (U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,800); De Porteous (U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,960); Richards (U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,692); and Richards (U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,765).

[0004] A typical joint structure for mannequins uses a ball and socket connection means wherein a ball portion formed on a first limb member fits in and moves against the interior surface of a socket portion formed on a second limb member. The ball and socket are held in contact with each other by a locking mechanism, or fastener. Fastening the ball and socket together results in friction between the exterior ball surface and the interior socket surface. This friction allows the limbs to be placed and held in multiple positions.

[0005] One common type of fastener for a ball and socket joint is an eyehook-spring fixture where the spring and the eyehook are located on opposite sides of a bolt. The eyehook passes through a slot on the ball and is looped around a pivot-pin that is screwed into the center portion of the ball perpendicular to the long axis of the limb. The spring is threaded onto a rod that is located in the limb above the socket. Threading the spring onto the rod forces the ball and socket together, creating the friction used to position the limbs. The use of this type of fastener also results in the appearance of a gap on the ball portion of the joint at the slot and also permits movement of the limb having the ball portion to pivot, relative to the limb with the socket, by allowing the bolt to move through the slot.

[0006] Drawbacks of these types of prior art joints include:

[0007] 1. The entire limb is assembled in one step, which can be awkward.

[0008] 2. An unnatural looking slot, or gap, on the ball section of these joints.

[0009] 3. Poor anatomical shape of the limb.

[0010] The joint of this invention defines an improvement over the prior art in that the disclosed joint eliminates the unnatural gap on the ball section of the limb. Further, novel fastening means simplifies production and assembly of joint structures and the assembly of mannequins and forms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In its most general form, this invention provides a mannequin having removable, positionable limb members attached thereto comprising a joint to join two of the limb members together. The joints of this invention comprise one or more assembly fixtures, located within or on a limb member to be joined, that contain elements for joining limb members. The assembly fixtures may contain elements of a locking mechanism, or fastener, and may contain other elements for joining members or creating friction or tension between limb members to bejoined. For example, a socket assembly fixture is positioned fixedly in the socket portion of a first member to be joined and comprises a chamber containing a tension-producing member and one half of a locking mechanism. A ball assembly fixture is positioned in the ball portion of a second member to be joined to said first member and comprises a second half of a locking mechanism, and means for attaching the second half of the locking mechanism to the ball portion of the second member to be joined. A joint structure is formed when two attachable limb members are joined together using one or more assembly fixtures.

[0012] This invention also provides methods for assembling the different embodiments of the joints and mannequins of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIGS. 1A-B show a mannequin of the invention with movable, detachable limbs. FIG. 1A shows a front view. FIG. 1B shows a side view.

[0014] FIGS. 2A-C show a socket assembly fixture of this invention. FIG. 2A is an exploded view. FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of the fixture in FIG. 2A through b-b. FIG. 2C shows a top view of a portion of the socket assembly fixture of FIG. 2A.

[0015] FIGS. 3A-C show a ball assembly fixture of this invention. FIG. 3A is a side view of the ball assembly fixture. FIG. 3B shows a pivot pin. FIG. 3C shows a side view of the ball assembly fixture of FIG. 3A together with a pivot pin.

[0016] FIGS. 4A-B show an exploded view of the joint structure of this invention, used to join an upper leg with a lower leg. FIG. 4A is a front view. FIG. 4B is a side view.

[0017] FIGS. 5A-B show another embodiment of the joint structure of this invention at the wrist joint. FIG. 5A is a top view cross-section. FIG. 5B is an exploded side view.

[0018] FIGS. 6A-B show another embodiment of the joint structure of this invention at the wrist joint. FIG. 6A is a top view cross-section. FIG. 6B is an exploded side view.

[0019] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the joint structure of this invention at the wrist joint. FIG. 7 is a top view cross-section.

[0020] FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the joint structure of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] This invention describes novel joint structures for mannequins. In one embodiment of this invention, a joint structure is formed when a socket assembly fixture and ball assembly fixture are joined together.

[0022] For example, a socket assembly fixture is positioned fixedly in the socket portion of a first member to be joined and is comprised of a chamber containing a tension-producing member and one half of a locking mechanism. The tension-producing member may be made of any reversibly compressible material such as a spring, an elastomer, rubber, foam, or any other reversibly compressible material known in the art. Preferably, the tension-producing member is a spring. The locking mechanism can be a nut and bolt, a snap, a latch, dimples, a locking collar, or any other fastener or fastening means known in the art. Preferably, the locking mechanism is a threaded nut.

[0023] A ball assembly fixture is positioned in the ball portion of a second member to be joined to the first member and comprises a second half of a locking mechanism, and means for attaching the second half of the locking mechanism to the ball portion of the second member to be joined. Preferably, the second half of the locking mechanism is an eyebolt and the preferred means for attaching the eyebolt to the second member to be joined is via attachment to a disc. The disc may be molded with a groove on one of its flat surfaces to fixedly accept the eye portion of said eyebolt such that the eyebolt is held substantially in place relative to the disc surface. Alternatively, the eyebolt may be fixed to the disc using any means known in the art, including mechanical means and the use of adhesives.

[0024] The round disc is pivotally attached to the second member by any attachment means that allow the ball portion of the limb to pivot around the disc. Such attachment means are known in the art and include the use of a pivot pin and dimples. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means is a pivot pin.

[0025] In another embodiment of this invention, a friction assembly fixture is recessed in the end of a first limb member to be joined, below the ball portion of the first limb member. A tab formed as part of, or attached to the socket surface of a second limb member, is inserted into the first limb member to contact the friction assembly fixture. Preferably, the tab is inserted into a slit formed in the first limb member. The first and second members may be held in pivotal contact using any attachment means known in the art, including a pivot pin passing through both members and dimples. Preferably, a pivot pin is inserted through both fixtures, perpendicular to the limb axis, to hold the first and second limb members in contact.

[0026] The friction assembly fixture comprises a chamber with one end open to the attaching end of the first member. This chamber contains a reversibly compressible material in its bottom and a bearing on top of the reversibly-compressible material. This reversibly-compressible material can include elastic materials such as rubber, elastomers, foam or other polymers, or may be a spring. Preferably the reversibly-compressible material is a spring. Also preferably, the spring is made of spring wire, also known as music wire or piano wire. The bearing may be made of any suitably rigid material, including plastics, metals, alloys, polymers, and the like. Preferably the bearing is made of plastic. More preferably the bearing is made of nylon.

[0027] The tab may be fixedly attached to the second limb member. The tab to be received by the friction assembly fixture may be molded as an integral part of the second limb member to be joined or it may be attached to the limb member using any attachment means known in the art, including adhesives, latches, clamps, pegs, or screws. Preferably, the tab is molded together with the second limb member to be joined.

[0028] Alternatively, the tab may be pivotally attached to the second limb member to allow rotation of the second limb member with respect to the tab. The rotation axis of the second limb member is parallel to the long axis of the second limb member. The tab may be pivotally attached by any means known to the art, including a rod fitting into a socket. The rod can be attached to the second limb member and the socket formed in the tab.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment the first and second limb members are held together with a pivot pin passing through the end of the first member and the tab of the second member to be joined such that the tab contacts the bearing in the socket assembly fixture enough to compress the reversibly compressible material. The resulting friction between the two limb members allows them to bend or to be moved relative to each other.

[0030] Optionally, one or more depressions, such as recessed dimples, grooves, or pits, are present on the surface of the tab. As the tab contacts the bearing in the socket, the bearing engages in a recessed dimple or groove on the surface of the tab. By slidably positioning the tab relative to the bearing to engage different recessed dimples or grooves, the limbs are held in one or more positions.

[0031] This invention also provides for a mannequin having the joints of this invention. “Mannequin” refers to human shapes with or without heads, and with some or all appendages. The mannequins of this invention may have one or all of the joint structures described herein. FIG. 1A shows a front view of a mannequin or form of this invention with removable, freely movable, positionable, and adjustable limbs. Joint structures are present between the torso 10 and the upper arms 15 at the shoulder joint 12, between the upper arms 15 and the lower arms 20 at the elbow joint 18, between the lower arms 20 and the hands 25 at the wrist joint 23, between the torso 10 and the upper legs 30 at the hip joint 22, between the upper legs 30 and the lower legs 35 at the knee joint 32, and between the lower leg 35 and the feet 40 at the ankle joint 38. FIG. 1B is a side view of FIG. 1A.

[0032] FIG. 2A shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of socket assembly fixture 50. Socket assembly fixture 50 is located within a first limb member to be joined and adjacent to the molded socket surface of the first limb member (see FIG. 4B). Socket assembly fixture 50 consists of chamber 60 defining cavity 63. Cavity 63 may be any shape such as square, round, oval, triangular, and the like. Preferably chamber 60 is defined by four walls 68 and is square. Chamber 60 is attached by tack welding at the corners of chamber 60, or by other means known in the art, to the flat surface of washer 62, which is stamped with a recessed shape 61 (FIG. 2C) to match and receive one end of chamber 60. Washer 62 also has an opening 65 (FIG. 2C) in its center that has a diameter smaller than the diameter of spring 70 (FIG. 2A) so as to retain spring 70 within chamber 60. Spring 70 fits in chamber 60 in contact with washer 62. Nut 72, having threads 71 is positioned on top of washer 62 in chamber 60. Each wall 68 has a dimple 64 positioned on its surface such that the dimple is located above nut 72. Optional cap 75 fits on top of chamber 60 such that it closes cavity 63. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the socket assembly fixture 50 in FIG. 2A, through the axis b-b as it appears after assembly.

[0033] FIG. 3A shows a preferred embodiment of ball assembly fixture 55 in the ball portion of the limb members to be joined. Ball assembly fixture 55 consists of a disc 80 having surface 81, a groove (not shown) molded in surface 81, an edge surface 84 (FIG. 3c) and an opening 82 near the center of surface 81. Ball assembly fixture 55 also consists of an eyebolt 74 having threads 76 and a looped portion 78. The looped portion 78 of eyebolt 74 is positioned in the molded groove on surface 81 of disc 80.

[0034] FIG. 3B shows pivot pin 90 having a recessed middle portion 92 having a smaller diameter than the two outer portions 87 and 89 of pivot pin 90. Disc 80 is rotatably mounted on pivot pin 90 with the recessed middle portion 92 of the pin engaged upon and secured within opening 82 of disc 80. This is shown in FIG. 3C, a side view of FIG. 3A through c-c with pivot pin 90.

[0035] FIG. 4A is an exploded view of the knee joint 32 used to join upper leg 30 and lower leg 35. Upper leg 30 has a socket 31 at its lower end with socket assembly fixture 50 recessed in the limb above the socket surface. Socket 31 has a hole 37 that is aligned with an opening 65 of washer 62. Lower leg 35 has a slot 34 extending into lower leg 35 from the center of the ball surface 33. Lower leg 35 also has a pin channel 36 that is perpendicular to and intersects with slot 34. Pin channel 36 may pass completely through lower leg 35 or may begin on either the lateral or medial side of lower leg 35 and pass only partially through lower leg 35. Preferably, pin channel 36 begins on the medial side of lower leg 35 and does not pass completely through to the lateral side of lower leg 35.

[0036] There are at least two methods of assembling the fastener to join the two limbs. In a first method for joining upper leg 30 and lower leg 35, the threaded portion 76 of eyebolt 74 (fixedly attached to disc 80) is inserted into socket hole 37 of upper leg 30 and opening 65 of washer 62 and passes through spring 70. Dimples 64 and/or cap 75 retain nut 72 within chamber 60. The eyebolt threads 76 are coupled with threads 71 of the nut 72 (FIG. 2A) of socket assembly fixture 50. Joining these threads together pulls nut 72 towards the socket 31 and puts tension on spring 70. Next, the disc 80 of ball fixture assembly 55 is inserted into slot 34 of lower leg 35 so that disc opening 82 is aligned with pin channel 36 on lower leg 35 (FIG. 2a). Finally, pivot pin 90 is inserted into pin channel 36 on lower leg 35 so that recessed portion 92 of the pivot pin 90 is located within and engages with opening 82 in the disc 80. Thus engaged, pivot pin 90 is securely centered in disc 80. Alternatively, lower leg 35 and ball fixture assembly 55 can be assembled as above prior to joining socket assembly fixture 50 with ball assembly fixture 55.

[0037] Once upper leg 30 is joined to lower leg 35, lower leg 35 is free to rotate about the axis c-c defined by eyebolt 74 (FIG. 4B), and can also pivot about pivot pin 90. Also, disc 80 effectively fills the gap found in prior art joints in which a spring-topped eyebolt only (no disc) is used to pivotally attach a ball limb member to a socket limb member. Furthermore, the distance′f on disc 80 is ideally slightly smaller than the diameter ‘g’ of the ball portion of the limb (FIG. 4B). This allows the ball surface 33 to fully contact the socket surface 31, which in turn results in greater friction between the two limb members than if only the disc edge surface 84 (FIG. 3C) contacted the socket surface. This allows the limbs to be more easily held in a variety of positions. Preferably, the difference between distances f and g is between 0.100 and 0.010 inches. More preferably, the difference is between 0.060 and 0.020 inches. Most preferably, the difference is 0.040 inches.

[0038] Another embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, which illustrate a top view cross-section and a side view, respectively, of wrist joint 23 between lower arm 20 and hand 25. In this embodiment, lower arm 20 provides the ball portion 102 of the ball and socket connection means and hand 25 provides the socket portion 103 of the ball and socket connection means.

[0039] FIG. 5A shows an embodiment where tab 100 is fixedly attached to a hand. Referring to FIG. 5A, lower arm 20 has a chamber 94 extending into the center of lower arm 20 below the slit 104 of the ball portion 102. Chamber 94 contains a friction-producing assembly fixture 105, said friction-producing assembly fixture consisting of a spring 96 and a bearing 98 positioned on top of spring 96. Ball portion 102 of lower arm 20 also has a cavity 97 that is perpendicular to the long axis of chamber 94. Hand 25 has tab 100 fixedly attached to the interior surface of its socket portion 103. Tab 100 also has a center hole 95 (FIG. 5B, pin 91 not shown in FIG. 5B). Optionally tab 100 has one or more surface depressions, shown as dimples 101 in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

[0040] To assemble the wrist joint, tab 100 is inserted into slit 104 such that center hole 95 lines up with cavity 97. With center hole 95 and cavity 97 aligned, wrist pin 91 is inserted into cavity 97 and through center hole 95 to secure hand 25 to lower arm 20. Wrist pin 91 pivotally attaches the tab to the lower arm so that the tab can rotate about an axis parallel to the thickness of the tab. The wrist pin 91 extends through the tab and at least partly through the first limb member. Pin 91 may or may not extend completely through the first limb member. Further, when tab 100 is thus secured in slit 104, its lower surface 93 contacts bearing 98. The resulting tension in spring 96 causes the bearing 98 to push up against the lower surface 93 of tab 100. This pressure causes friction between tab 100 and wrist pin 91 that allows the limbs to be placed in a variety of positions.

[0041] Alternatively, bearing 98 registers with the optional tab surface depressions, shown as dimples 101 in FIGS. 6A-6B (pin 91 not shown in FIG. 6B), to afford additional control over limb position. As seen in the previous embodiment, tab 100 also effectively fills the joint gap found in prior art joints. In different embodiments, the tab fills greater than or equal to about 80%, or about 85%, or about 90%, or about 95% of the width of the joint gap.

[0042] In another embodiment of the invention, tab 100 is pivotally attached to the second limb member to allow rotation of the second limb member with respect to the tab and to the first limb member. For example, for a wrist joint where the first limb member is a lower arm and the second limb member a hand, pivotal attachment of the hand to the tab allows rotation of the hand with respect to the tab, with the axis of rotation being parallel to the long axis of the hand. Once the joint is assembled, pivotal attachment of the hand to the tab also allows rotation of the hand with respect to the lower arm.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, once the joint between the first and second limb member is assembled, the joint cannot be readily disassembled. For example, for a wrist, once the wrist joint is assembled the hand cannot be readily removed. This prevents loss of the hand from the mannequin.

[0044] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a top view cross-section and an exploded view, respectively, of wrist joint 23 between lower arm 20 and hand 25 in which tab 100 is pivotally attached to hand 25. The tab 100 is attached to hand 25 by a rod assembly.

[0045] The rod assembly comprises a rod 200 and socket 210. The rod assembly is connected to tab 100 by rod 200 that fits into socket 210 in tab 100 (FIG. 8). As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, rod 200 may be threaded and have head 205. Rod 200 may be a headed screw. If rod 200 is threaded, socket 210 can be correspondingly threaded to receive rod 200. Socket 210 may comprise a metal insert in tab 100. The rod and socket may also be affixed to one another so that no rotation of the rod within the socket occurs after the joint is assembled (e.g. by gluing the rod within the socket or otherwise locking it in place).

[0046] The rod assembly is also connected to hand 25. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rod assembly may comprise threaded bushing 250 which is adapted to receive threaded rod 200. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, bushing 250 may be threaded both internally and externally. Bushing 250 may be attached to the second limb member (the hand in FIGS. 7 and 8) by inserting the bushing into a threaded portion of cavity 270 formed in the second limb member, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The bushing is typically affixed to the hand so that the bushing does not rotate within the cavity after assembly of the joint.

[0047] The joint in FIGS. 7 and 8 is assembled by inserting the head end of rod 200 in cavity 270, inserting bushing 250 into cavity 270, and then inserting rod 200 into socket 210 of tab 100. Tab 100 is inserted into slit 104 such that center hole 95 lines up with cavity 97. With center hole 95 and cavity 97 aligned, wrist pin 91 is inserted into cavity 97 and through center hole 95 to secure hand 25 to lower arm 20. Wrist pin 91 pivotally attaches the tab to the lower arm so that the tab can rotate about an axis parallel to the thickness of the tab. Further, when tab 100 is thus secured in slit 104, its lower surface 93 contacts bearing 98. The resulting tension in spring 96 causes the bearing 98 to register with the optional tab surface depressions, shown as grooves 120, to afford additional control over limb position. This pressure causes friction between tab 100 and wrist pin 91 that allows the limbs to be placed in a variety of positions. Alternatively, if tab surface depressions are absent, the bearing may push up against the lower surface 93 of tab 100. As seen in the previous embodiment, tab 100 also effectively fills the joint gap found in prior art joints. In different embodiments, the tab fills greater than or equal to about 80%, or about 85%, or about 90% or about 95% of the width of the joint gap.

[0048] The joint shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be operated by fixing rod 200 within socket 210 so that the rod does not rotate within the socket. The hand 25 can then be rotated with respect to the tab 100 by movement of bushing 250 along rod 200. Travel of the bushing along the rod is limited by contact between head 205 and bushing 250. This contact, in combination with the fixing of rod 200 within socket 210 and the fixing of bushing 250 to hand 25, prevents easy removal of hand 25 once the joint is assembled. Travel of the bushing along the rod may also be limited by contact between head 205 and cavity 270 or contact between the ball 102 and socket 103 portions of the first and second limb. Preferably, the joint is designed so that rotation of the hand is limited to one and a half turns.

[0049] Prevention of easy removal of hand 25 once the joint is assembled can be achieved with other joint designs. For example, the rod 200 can be affixed to hand 25 and the rod and socket designed to prevent easy removal of the rod from the socket after assembly of the joint. For example rod 200 may have a head 205 placed within an enlarged portion of socket 210 or a c-ring may be inserted into the tab to prevent easy removal of rod 200.

[0050] Throughout this specification, the term “limb member” refers to any movable member of a form and includes but is not limited to: head, neck, torso, upper and lower arms, hands, fingers (including all digits), upper and lower legs, feet, and toes (including all digits). The term “joint” refers to all the joints that commonly connect limb members and allow their relative movement and includes neck, shoulder, wrist, hip, knee, torso, ankle, and fingers and toes. The term “medial” refers to positions towards the center, or mid-line of the body, while the term “lateral” refers to positions towards the side of the body, opposite the medial position.

[0051] The present invention is not to be limited by the preferred embodiments described herein. Upon reading this specification, those skilled in the art will recognize various modifications thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0052] All references cited herein are incorporated in their entirety to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the disclosure herein.

Claims

1. A joint structure for joining limb members of a mannequin comprising:

a slit positioned on the joining end of a first limb member;

a tab attached to the joining end of a second limb member, adapted to be received by the slit and pivotally attached to said first limb member; and

a friction-producing assembly fixture recessed within the first limb member and in contact with said tab.

2. The joint structure of claim 1 wherein the tab is fixedly attached to the second limb member.

3. The joint structure of claim 2 wherein the tab is molded as one unit with the second limb member.

4. The joint structure of claim 1 wherein the tab is pivotally attached to the second limb member to allow rotation of the second limb member with respect to the tab.

5. The joint structure of claim 4 wherein a rod assembly attaches the tab to the second limb member.

6. The joint structure of claim 5 wherein the rod assembly comprises a threaded rod and a socket adapted to receive said rod, said socket being formed in said tab.

7. The joint structure of claim 6 wherein the rod assembly further comprises a bushing adapted to receive said rod, said bushing being attached to said second limb member.

8. The joint structure of claim 7 wherein said rod has a first end comprising a head and a second end affixed to said socket and said bushing is affixed to said second limb member and disposed between said first and second ends of said rod, whereby said second limb member cannot be readily removed from said first limb member after assembly of said joint.

9. The joint structure of claim 1 wherein the friction-producing assembly fixture recessed in the first member to be joined comprises:

an open-ended chamber extending into the first member from said slit;

a reversibly-compressible material positioned at the closed end of said chamber; and

a bearing positioned between the reversibly-compressible material and the tab.

10. The joint structure of claim 9 wherein the reversibly-compressible material is a spring.

11. The joint structure of claim 10, wherein the tab is attached to the first limb member by means of a pivot pin entending through said tab and at least partly through said first limb member.

12. The joint structure of claim 1 which forms a joint selected from the group consisting of a neck, a shoulder, an elbow, a hip, a knee, and an ankle.

13. A mannequin comprising a joint structure of claim 1.

14. A joint structure for joining limb members of a mannequin comprising:

a slit positioned on the joining end of a first limb member;

a tab attached to the joining end of a second limb member, adapted to be received by the slit and pivotally attached to said first limb member by means of a pivot pin extending through said tab and at least partly through said first limb member; and

a friction-producing assembly fixture recessed within the first limb member, said friction-producing assembly fixture comprising:

an open-ended chamber extending into the first member from said slit;

a spring positioned at the closed end of said chamber; and

a bearing positioned between the spring and the tab.

15. A joint structure for joining limb members of a mannequin comprising:

a slit positioned on the joining end of a first limb member;

a tab attached to the joining end of a second limb member, adapted to be received by the slit and pivotally attached to said first limb member, said tab having one or more surface depressions; and

a friction-producing assembly fixture recessed within the first limb member and in contact with said tab.

16. The joint structure of claim 15 wherein the tab is molded as one unit with the second limb member.

17. The joint structure of claim 15 wherein the tab is pivotally attached to the second limb member to allow rotation of the second limb member with respect to the tab.

18. The joint structure of claim 17 wherein a rod and socket assembly attaches the tab to the second limb member.

19. The joint structure of claim 18 wherein the rod assembly comprises a threaded rod and a socket adapted to receive said rod, said socket being formed in said tab.

20. The joint structure of claim 19 wherein the rod assembly further comprises a bushing adapted to receive said rod, said bushing being attached to said second limb member.

21. The joint structure of claim 15 wherein the surface depressions are grooves.

22. The joint structure of claim 15 wherein the friction-producing assembly fixture recessed in the first member to be joined comprises:

an open-ended chamber extending into the first member from said slit;

a reversibly-compressible material positioned at the closed end of said chamber; and

a bearing positioned between the reversibly-compressible material and the tab.

23. The joint structure of claim 22 wherein the reversibly-compressible material is a spring.

24. The joint structure of claim 23, wherein the tab is attached to the first limb member by means of a pivot pin entending through said tab and at least partly through said first limb member.

25. A mannequin comprising a joint structure of claim 15.

26. The mannequin of claim 25 wherein said joint structure forms a joint selected from the group consisting of a neck, a shoulder, an elbow, a hip, a knee, and an ankle.

27. A joint structure for joining limb members of a mannequin comprising:

a slit positioned on the joining end of a first limb member;

a tab attached to the joining end of a second limb member, adapted to be received by the slit and pivotally attached to said first limb member by means of a pivot pin extending through said tab and at least partly through said first limb member, said tab having one or more surface depressions;

a friction-producing assembly fixture recessed within the first limb member, said friction-producing assembly fixture comprising:

an open-ended chamber extending into the first member from said slit;

a spring positioned at the closed end of said chamber; and

a bearing positioned between the spring and the tab.

28. The joint structure of claim 27 wherein the surface depressions are grooves.

29. A method of assembling a joint structure comprising:

a) providing a first limb member to be joined, the joining end of said first member having a slit and a friction-producing assembly fixture recessed within the first limb member;

b) providing a second limb member to be joined, said second limb member having a tab attached thereto;

c) placing said tab within said slit so that said tab is in contact with said friction producing assembly fixture; and

d) securing said tab to said first limb member.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the friction producing assembly comprises:

an open-ended chamber extending from said slit;

a reversibly compressible material in contact with the closed end of the chamber; and

a bearing in contact with the reversibly compressible material; and

step c) comprises placing said tab within said slit to contact said bearing.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein said tab has one or more surface depressions and further comprising the step of positioning the first limb member relative to the second limb member by slidably engaging the bearing in the depression on the tab surface.

32. A method of assembling a joint structure comprising:

a) providing a first limb member to be joined, said first limb member having a slit positioned on the joining end of said first limb member;

b) providing a second limb member to be joined,

c) attaching a tab to said second limb member;

d) providing a friction producing assembly fixture recessed in the first limb member, said friction producing assembly fixture comprising:

i. an open-ended chamber extending from said slit;

ii. a spring in contact with the closed end of the chamber; and

iii. a bearing in contact with the spring;

e) placing said tab within said slit to contact said bearing; and

f) securing the tab to the first limb member;

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said tab has one or more surface depressions and further comprising the step of positioning the first limb member relative to the second limb member by slidably engaging the bearing in the depression on the tab surface.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the tab is attached to the second limb member by

a) threading a bushing onto a threaded rod;

b) inserting the head end of the rod and the bushing into a cavity in the second limb member;

c) affixing the bushing to the second limb member;

d) inserting the rod into a socket in the tab; and

e) affixing the rod to the socket.