METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CUSTOM TAILORING AND RETAIL SALE OF CLOTHING

• US 20100070384A1
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massi Miliano Ltd., Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Massi Miliano Co.
• Inventors: Pällin, Paul, Hindpere, Ene, Haldre, Heikki, Leinus, Roman, Kruusmaa, Maarja, Aabloo, Alvo, Abels, Artur
• Granted Patent: US 9,655,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: A41H 1/00 Measuring aids or methods
• CPC Class Codes: A41H 5/01 with means for adjustment, e.g. of height
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 8/00 Dummies, busts or the like, e.g. for displaying garments tailors' dummies A41H5/00; artificial limbs A61F; dolls in general A63H
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Demonstrating a piece of real clothing to a customer to facilitate a trying-on and purchasing process includes: obtaining a set of data, representing the customer'"'"'s body configuration, determining from the set of data a first standardized size for a piece of clothing that is a close match to the customer'"'"'s body configuration, putting a first piece of real clothing with the first standardized size on a real mannequin with measurements corresponding to the set of data representing the customer'"'"'s body configuration, obtaining a first image or set of images showing the first piece of clothing on the real mannequin; and presenting to the customer the first image or set of images showing the first piece of real clothing.

Claims

1. A method for demonstrating a piece of real clothing to a customer to facilitate trying-on and purchasing processes, the method comprising:

obtaining a set of data, representing customer'"'"'s body configuration;

determining from said set of data a first standardized size for said piece of clothing that is closest match to customer'"'"'s body configuration;

putting a first piece of real clothing with said first standardized size on a real mannequin with measurements corresponding to said set of customer'"'"'s body configuration;

obtaining a first set of images showing said first piece of clothing on said real mannequin; and

presenting to the customer said first set of images showing said first piece of real clothing.

2. A method as in claim 1, comprising mechanically adjusting the size of said real mannequin.

3. A method as in claim 2, comprising mechanically adjusting the size of said real mannequin using computer controllable means.

4. A method as in claim 3, comprising adjusting the shape of said real mannequin to represent the body type of the customer.

5. A method as in claim 4, comprising moving at least one region of said real mannequin in a manner characteristic to a human being at the time of wearing or trying on process.

6. A method as in claim 5, comprising adjusting chest measurements and the shape of at least one shoulder of said real mannequin.

7. A method as in claim 6, comprising adjusting neck measurements of said real mannequin.

8. A method as in claim 7, comprising putting on said real mannequin a second piece of real clothing that is one standardized size smaller than said first standardized size, obtaining a second set of images demonstrating said second piece of real clothing, and presenting to the customer said second set of images showing said second piece of real clothing on said real mannequin.

9. A method as in claim 8, comprising putting on said mannequin a third piece of real clothing that is one standardized size larger than said first standardized size, obtaining a third set of images demonstrating said third piece of real clothing, and presenting to the customer said third set of images representing said third piece of real clothing.

10. A method as in claim 9, comprising providing the customer with a fourth set of images showing said piece of clothing as envisioned by the designer of said piece of clothing.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said first, second, third and fourth set of images are presented side by side

12. A method as in claim 11, comprising taking said images by videographic means.

13. A method for custom tailoring, said method comprising:

obtaining a three dimensional image of the body of a customer by three dimensional scanning of the customer in a first geographical location;

entering said three dimensional image of the customer into a first computer located in said first location;

calculating a set of body measurements from said three dimensional image of the customer;

transferring said set of body measurements, over a network, to a second computer located in a second geographical location;

using the set of body measurements to adjust a computer controllable mannequin, connected to said second computer; and

using said mannequin for custom tailoring and fitting.

14. A shoulder structure for a computer controllable shoulder mannequin, having a vertical support, said structure comprising:

a first extendable link, having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first extendable link rotably connected to said vertical support, wherein said first extendable link is rotable around both vertical and horizontal axis;

a second extendable link, having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second extendable link connected with said second end of said first extendable link, said second extendable link comprising a motor for linearly extending and contracting said second extendable link, wherein said second extendable link is substantially parallel with said vertical support;

a third extendable link, having a first end and a second end, said first end of said third extendable link connected with said second end of said second extendable link and said second end of said third extendable link rotably connected to said vertical support, said third extendable link comprising a motor for linearly extending and contracting said third extendable link, said third extendable link being substantially perpendicular with said vertical support, wherein said first, second and third link composing a plane that is parallel with said vertical support; and

means for turning said plane around an axis that is parallel with said vertical support.

15. A shoulder structure as in claim 14, comprising a bar, having a first end and a second end, said first end of said bar connected with said vertical support and being perpendicular with said vertical support and said third extendable link, and wherein said means for turning said plane comprising a fourth extendable link, having a first end and a second end, said first end connected with said second end for said bar, and said second end of said fourth extendable link connected to a first end of said third extendable link, said fourth extendable link comprising a motor for extending and contracting said fourth extendable link.

16. A computer controllable shoulder mannequin, said mannequin comprising a first shoulder structure as described in claim 15 for moving right shoulder of the mannequin, and a second shoulder structure as described in claim 15 for moving left shoulder of the mannequin.

17. A method of designing designer clothing on a computer controllable mechanically adjustable mannequin, said method comprising:

putting a piece of clothing on said mannequin; and

adjusting said mannequin to a number of pre-set standardized sizes and body configurations to evaluate the fit of the piece of clothing for said pre-set standardized sizes and body configurations.