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Details for Patent: 7,371,069
| Title: | Manikin and eye device apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture |
| Abstract: | Apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for installing an artificial eye in a realistic, life-like sculpture, comprising an artificial eye of partially hemispherical shape, as well as a manikin with an eye-mounting area adapted to mate with such an artificial eye without risk of subsequent movement of the eye or of distortion of the features surrounding the eye-mounting area of the sculpture. Eye mounting pieces for retrofitting existing sculptures having conventional eye mounting areas to permit the accurate and life-like mounting of artificial eyes are also provided. |
| Inventor(s): | Johnson; Brian (Hayward, WI) |
| Assignee: | Tohickon Johnson Development LLC (Wilmington, DE) |
| Filing Date: | Mar 10, 2004 |
| Application Number: | 10/797,232 |
| Claims: | 1. A sculpture for mounting at least one artificial eye, comprising at least one molded eye mounting area further comprising: (a) a molded eye socket having an upper rim having an upper surface, and a lower rim having a lower surface; (b) a molded upper eyelid positioned above and a lower eyelid positioned below the upper and lower rims, respectively; and (c) a molded recess formed between the upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower rims; (d) wherein the upper and lower surfaces are molded such that placement of the at least one eye in the eye socket correctly orients the eye on the sculpture. 2. The sculpture of claim 1, wherein an eye mounted thereon is configured in a partially hemispherical configuration. 3. The sculpture of claim 2, wherein the mounting area is on a sculpture selected from the group consisting of taxidermy manikins, dolls, toys, stuffed toy animals, clothing mannequins, and artistic sculptures. 4. The sculpture of claim 3, wherein the mounting area is on a taxidermy manikin. 5. A sculpture having at least one artificial eye, comprising: (a) an artificial eye of partially hemispherical configuration, comprising a front convex side and a back side, wherein the back side is configured so as to be installed within a molded eye mounting area of the sculpture, and (b) a sculpture having a molded eye mounting area, comprising a molded eye socket having an upper rim having an upper surface, and a lower rim having a lower surface; a molded upper eyelid positioned above and a lower eyelid positioned below the upper and lower rims, respectively; and a molded recess formed between the upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower rims; (c) wherein the upper and lower surfaces are molded such that placement of the at least one eye in the eye socket correctly orients the eye on the sculpture. 6. The sculpture of claim 5, wherein the artificial eye further comprises an edge around the outer circumference of the backside, and wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower rims of the eye mounting area are molded such that placement of the eye in the eye socket also mates the edge of the eye to the upper and lower surfaces of the mounting area and correctly orients the eye on the sculpture. 7. The artificial eye of claim 6, wherein the sculpture having at least one artificial eye is selected from the group consisting of taxidermy manikins, dolls, toys, stuffed toy animals, clothing mannequins, and artistic sculptures. 8. The artificial eye of claim 7, wherein the eye is affixed to the mounting area on a taxidermy manikin. 9. The artificial eye of claim 5 wherein the eye comprises a modified partially hemispherical artificial eye configuration and the back side of the eye is concave. 10. The artificial eye of claim 5, wherein the convex front surface of the eye is aspheric in shape. 11. The artificial eye of claim 5, wherein the eye is manufactured from glass or acrylic material. 12. The artificial eye of claim 11, wherein the eye is manufactured from glass. 13. A method for mounting at least one partially hemispherical artificial eye in a sculpture, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an artificial eye comprising a partially hemispherical configuration having a front convex side and a back side; (b) providing at least one molded eye mounting area on the sculpture, said eye mounting area comprising a molded eye socket having an upper rim having an upper surface, and a lower rim having a lower surface; a molded upper eyelid positioned above and a lower eyelid positioned below the upper and lower rims, respectively; and a molded recess formed between the upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower rims; wherein the upper and lower surfaces are molded such that placement of the at least one eye in the eye socket correctly orients the eye on the sculpture; (c) installing the at least one artificial eye in the at least one molded eye socket. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: (a) configuring an edge around the outer circumference of the backside of the artificial eye, and (b) molding the upper and lower surfaces of the upper and lower rims of the eye mounting area such that installing the eye in the eye socket also mates the edge of the eye to the upper and lower surfaces of the mounting area, correctly orienting the eye on the sculpture. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the sculpture is selected from the group consisting of taxidermy manikins, dolls, toys, stuffed toy animals, clothing mannequins, and artistic sculptures. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sculpture is a taxidermy manikin. 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the artificial eye comprises a modified partially hemispherical artificial eye configuration and the back side of the eye is concave. |
