Method and apparatus for jewelry design

• US 6,546,305 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2000
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harry Winston, Inc. (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Harry Winston, Inc. (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Hruby, Megumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US09/533,151
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 700/117, 700/118, 700/119, 700/120, 700/182, 700/17, 700/83, 700/233, 345/764, 703/6, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 700/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2004 Aligning objects, relative positioning of parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2016 Rotation, translation, scaling

Abstract

The present invention utilizes a computer program to size and orient one or more feature items on a jewelry design having a feature path. Typically feature paths are necklines, wristbands, broaches or rings. A feature item is a gemstone, set of gemstones or metal designs such as a cross, circle or other artful shape. The program and computer system of the present invention selects a feature path, detects a starting location on the feature path and then orients a first feature item in three dimensions on this feature path with respect to a three dimensional surface representing the jewelry wearer. Orienting the feature item in three dimensions is critical so that the feature item is properly displayed on the jewelry when the jewelry is worn. Once the initial feature item has been oriented, subsequent feature items are automatically placed on the feature path, sized with respect to the initial feature item and oriented with respect to both the initial feature item and the three dimensional surface. This automatic sizing and orientation of subsequent feature items quickly creates a complete jewelry design.

Claims

1. A computer assisted method for creating a jewelry design, comprising:

selecting a jewelry motif having a feature path and a plurality of locations along said feature path for placing feature motifs;

selecting at least one feature motif wherein each of said selected feature motifs has an assigned priority;

placing a first selected feature motif on said feature path at a first selected location;

orienting said first selected feature motif with respect to a tangent to said feature path at said first selected location;

copying said first selected feature motif;

reducing the size of said copied motif;

placing said reduced size motif on said feature path at a second selected location along said feature path; and

orienting said reduced size motif with respect to a tangent to said feature path at said second selected location.

2. A method, as in claim 1, further comprising:

orienting said reduced size motif in three dimensions.

3. A method, as in claim 1, wherein said reduced size motif is placed on said tangent at said record selected location.

4. A computer assisted method for creating a jewelry design, comprising:

selecting a jewelry motif having a feature path and a plurality of locations along said feature path for placing feature motifs;

selecting at least two feature motifs wherein each of said selected motifs has an assigned priority;

placing a first priority feature motif on said feature path at a first selected location;

orienting said first priority motif with respect to a tangent to said feature path at said first selected location;

placing a second priority feature motif on said feature path at a second selected location;

orienting said second priority feature motif with respect to a tangent to said feature path at said second selected location;

copying said first priority feature motif;

reducing the size of said first copied motif;

placing said reduced size first priority feature motif on said feature path at a third selected location along said feature path;

copying said second priority feature motif;

reducing the size of said second copied motif; and

placing said reduced size second motif on said feature path at a fourth selected location along said feature path.

5. A method, as in claim 4, further comprising:

orienting said first and second reduced size motifs in three dimensions.

6. A method, as in claim 5, wherein said first and second reduced size motifs are placed on said tangent at said third and fourth selected locations respectively.

7. A system for creating a jewelry design, comprising:

a central processing unit coupled to a memory, an input device and a display;

said central processing unit receives a jewelry selection input from said input devices and retrieves from said memory a corresponding jewelry motif having a feature path and a plurality of locations along said feature path for placing feature motifs;

said central processing unit receives at least two feature motif selections from said input device and retrieves from said memory two corresponding feature motifs each of which having an assigned priority;

said central processing unit executes instructions retrieved from said memory to display said feature path on said display device;

said central processing unit executes instructions retrieved from said memory to place on said display device a first priority feature motif on said feature path at a first selected location;

said central processing unit executes instructions retrieved from said memory to orient on said display device said first priority motif with respect to a tangent to said feature path at said first selected location;

said central processing unit executes instructions retrieved from said memory to place on said display device a second priority feature motif on said feature path at a second selected location;

said central processing unit executes instructions retrieved from said memory to orient on said display device said second priority feature motif with respect to a tangent to said feature path at said second selected location;

said central processing unit executes instructions retrieved from said memory to copy said first priority feature motif;

said central processing unit executes instructions retrieved from said memory to reduce the size of said first copied motif;

said central processing unit executes instructions retrieved from said memory to place on said display device said reduced size first priority feature motif on said feature path at a third selected location along said feature path;

said central processing unit executes instructions retrieved from said memory to copy said second priority feature motif;

said central processing unit executes instructions retrieved from said memory to reduce the size of said second copied motif; and

said central processing unit executes instructions retrieved from said memory to place on said display device said reduced size second priority feature motif on said feature path at a fourth selected location along said feature path.

8. A method of creating a jewelry design, comprising:

receiving information from a computer network;

selecting a jewelry motif based on said information wherein said jewelry motif has a feature path and a plurality of locations along said feature path for placing feature motifs;

selecting at least one feature motif based on said information wherein each of said selected feature motifs has an assigned priority;

placing a first selected feature motif on said feature path at a first selected location;

orienting said first selected feature motif with respect to a tangent to said feature path at said first selected location;

copying said first selected feature motif;

reducing the size of said copied motif;

placing said reduced size motif on said feature path at a second selected location along said feature path; and

orienting said reduced size motif with respect to a tangent to said feature path at said second selected location.

9. A method, as in claim 8, further comprising:

orienting said reduced size motif in three dimensions.

10. A method, as in claim 9, wherein said reduced size motif is placed on said tangent at said record selected location.

11. A method, as in claim 10, wherein said computer network comprises the worldwide web.