SYSTEMS, METHODS AND MACHINE READABLE PROGRAMS FOR MEASURING, RECORDING, AND ACCESSING DATA FOR IMPROVED SELECTION OF CLOTHING

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a variety of approaches to facilitate the remote fitting of clothing items.

Claims

1. A method of remotely determining a user's clothing size, comprising: receiving image data of a user, wherein the image data is obtained by optically imaging the user when the user wears tight fitting clothing to conform to the user's body; analyzing the image data; and determining at least one article of clothing that is likely to fit the user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates exemplary “body sock” to be worn by a user of an embodiment of the disclosed system.

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary inflatable mannequin to be used in sizing runs of apparel in various sizes. In this example, it illustrates a device for measuring trousers.

[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of the system in accordance with the disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates a suggestion of a possible scanner assembly. It should be noted that there are existing 3-D scanning devices of different configurations which can be adapted for this function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The method and corresponding steps of the disclosed embodiments will be described in conjunction with the detailed description of the system.

[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary elastic “body sock.” Such an article can be put on by a user in a changing booth at a scanning location, or it can be worn under the user's clothing. No. 1 points to the “body sock”. No. 2 indicates the dimension of the users leg size at the top of the ankle. In this location, the actual garment, trousers, may measure a substantially greater dimension. The increases from those measured will be determined by style, function, and choice of fit. In the instance of men's trousers, the usual dimension of the garment can be, for example, three times that of the user's measured dimension. In the case of women's Toreador-style pants, the measured user's dimension can be very close to the dimension of the garment. The measurement at 2 can, if desired, actually be two dimensions measuring the width and the depth at that location. No. 3 indicates the measurement at the wrists, which can also include the depth as well as the width. No. 4 indicates the diameter at the knees, 5 at the thigh, 6 at the waist, 7 at the chest, 8 at the elbow, 9 at the upper arm or shoulder and 10 at the neck. These dimensions can, if desired, all include a depth measurement as well. Additional measurements can include 11 from the neck to the waist, 12, the inseam, and 13 indicating the sleeve length. The ease of obtaining such measurements can permit additional criteria for a superior fit such as for men's suits and other formal wear.

[0043] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary inflatable device similar to the “body sock” for scanning clothing in order to classify garments within the sizing system. In this instance, an inflatable bladder in the configuration of the lower portion of a human torso is provided for the sizing of various styles of garments of the trouser category, such as bell-bottomed, cuffed, or slack trousers, culottes, skin-hugging styles, shorts and other garments of this type. No. 100 indicates the bladder, which is sized to accommodate all anticipated lengths of trousers. No. 101 points to the garment being measured. Nos. 102 to 106 indicate measurement locations which may involve width and depth measurements. 107 and 112 indicate the waistband to crotch and inseam measurements respectively. Additional criteria can be identified for close fitting garments. The garment being measured, 101, is preferably a representative example of any lot of a certain size of the particular article. The manufacturer or measuring agent is preferably confident that the sample being measured is representative of the other garments in the lot. This can be better insured by the measurement of random additional garments in the same lot.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the system. No. 201 represents the user; 202 the scanner located at a retailer or vendor involved with the system. No. 203 is the analyzer which can be located with the scanner, or, for example, at a central database. No. 204 is an exemplary central system memory which can be in the form of a server farm or can be at a plurality of interlinked locations. No. 205 is the clothing source, which can be an apparel manufacturer, an importer, or a wholesaler. 206 is the garment scanner which is preferably at the location of 205. No. 207 is the processor or analyzer which may be at the scanner 206 location or at the central memory location, 204. No. 201, the user, or 208, another purchaser, can contact the retailer, whether a department store, a catalog merchant or over the internet. The purchaser, whether the user 201, or someone sending a gift to the user 208, supplies the retailer 209 with an identifier, whether the user's name, address and telephone number, or a coded identifier which can be supplied to relatives and friends, along with the clothing selection and be certain of a good fit.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a conceptual view of a scanner installation which can, for example, be placed in a room or booth off of the selling floor of a retail store, or in the space of a private vendor, providing the service for a fee, if desired. No. 300 is the user wearing the “body sock” over or under street clothes. No. 301 indicates the scanning horn tower arrays. No. 302 indicates scanning rays emanating from the scanning heads. It would be the responsibility of the user to be re-scanned if the user suspects he or she has gained or lost weight or otherwise had measurement changes.

[0046] All statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the disclosure, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

[0047] Block diagrams and other representations of circuitry herein represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry and software embodying the principles of the disclosure. Thus the functions of the various elements shown in the Figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of individual processors, some of which may be shared. The functions of those various elements may be implemented by, for example, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, network processor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), read-only memory (ROM) for storing software, random access memory (RAM), and non-volatile storage. Other hardware, conventional and/or custom, may also be included.

[0048] Any element expressed as a means for performing a specified function is intended to encompass any way of performing that function including, for example, a) a combination of circuit elements which performs that function or b) software in any form, including, therefore, firmware, microcode or the like, combined with appropriate circuitry for executing that software to perform the function. The disclosure as defined by such elements resides in the fact that the functionalities provided by the various recited means are combined and brought together in the manner which the disclosure calls for. Applicant thus regards any means which can provide those functionalities as equivalent to those shown herein.

[0049] Similarly, it will be appreciated that the system flows described herein represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer-readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown. Moreover, the various processes can be understood as representing not only processing and/or other functions but, alternatively, as blocks of program code that carry out such processing or functions.

[0050] The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for a clothing fitting system with superior properties. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the systems and methods of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure include modifications and variations that are within the scope of the subject disclosure and equivalents.