Systems and methods for improved apparel fit

• US 7,092,782 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2004
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advantage Platform Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mbrio LLC
• Inventors: Lee, Cricket
• Primary Examiner(s): Calvert, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAUFFMAN, BRIAN K
• Application Number:
  US10/804,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20050022708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 700/130, 700/131, 700/132, 700/133, 700/134, 700/135, 356/625, 356/629, 345/419
• US Class Current: 700/132
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing garments with improved and customized fits to one or more target consumer groups fit are described in the present invention. One method provides for a garment fit to a target consumer group comprising the steps of determining common body types for the target consumer group, establishing customized body measurement standards for each body type, selecting at least one real fit model for each body type, creating a sample garment in a range of sizes using grading rules, checking each sample garment on a fit model selected for each size and body type, preparing a block for each sample garment size and body type, and using the block to provide a garment fit for a target consumer group. Additional aspects are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of providing a garment fit to a target consumer group that includes a plurality of pre-selected persons, the method comprising the steps of:

determining common body types for the target consumer group;

establishing customized body measurement standards for each body type;

selecting at least one real fit model for each body type;

creating at least one sample garment for each body type in a range of sizes using non-linear grading rules;

checking each sample garment on a fit model selected for each size and body type;

preparing a block for each sample garment for each body type after applying the non-linear grading rules and checking on a fit model; and

using the block to provide a number of garments fit for the target consumer group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining common body types for a target consumer group includes research and quantitative and qualitative analysis of data about the target consumer group.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the data is a data set obtained from the Textile Technology Corporation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein body types are selected from the group consisting of average, curvy, straight, pear-shaped, round, slim, hourglass, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein design preferences are determined for the target consumer group and used to prepare the sample garment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein grading rules are selected from the group consisting of applied grading rules, preferred grading rules, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the block is created from slopers and used to prepare a starter pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the target consumer group is selected from a group consisting of an age group, ethnic group, gender, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample garment is initially applied to a fit model of a specific size.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the specific size is the middle of the range of sizes.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a real fit model is used to check sample garment fit before the block is prepared.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein grading rules are applied to the sample garment after adjusting the sample garment to the selected real fit model.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is for production of the garment at any scale.

14. A garment provided by the method of claim 1.

15. A block provided by the method of claim 1.

16. A system for preparing a custom fit garment comprising:

quantitative and qualitative data, including body point measurements for common body types obtained from a target consumer group used to establish customized body measurement standards for each body type, wherein the target consumer group is a plurality of pre-selected persons;

at least one sample garment for each body type created from the customized body measurements standards;

at least one first real fit model for each body type with body measurements that fall within the customized body measurement standards used to fit the at least one sample garment;

one or more non-linear grading rules to create the at least one sample garments in a range of sizes for each body type of the target consumer group; and

at least one second fit model for each body type selected from the target consumer group and used to perfect the fit of the sample garment and prepare a number of custom fit garments for each body type of the target consumer group.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein quantitative and qualitative data comprise physical and preferential data about the target consumer group selected from the group consisting of an apparel-related database, market research, survey, questionnaire, interview, focus group, and combinations thereof.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the sample garment incorporates desired fit points and product attributes obtained from the target consumer group.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein one or more grading rules are selected from the group consisting of applied grading rules and preferred grading rules.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one first real fit model is for each size in the size range used to fit the sample garment.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein customized body measurement standards are adjusted with the at least one first real fit model.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the custom fit garments are used to establish slopers, blocks, and patterns for production of each custom fit garment.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the production is selected from the group consisting of small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the custom fit garment is perfected after fitting on one or more individuals selected from the target consumer group.

25. A custom fit garment provided by the system of claim 16.

26. A method of providing a custom fit garment comprising the steps of:

selecting a target group based on at least one criteria, wherein the target group is a plurality of pre-selected persons;

identifying at least one common body type for the target group;

providing size groupings for each body type;

establishing customized body measurement standards for at least one size in the size grouping for each body type;

creating a sample garment for the at least one size for each body type;

checking fit of the sample garment on a real fit model having body measurements that conform with the customized body measurement standards;

applying non-linear grading rules to the sample garment to obtain sample garments for the entire size grouping;

checking fit of each sample garment at selected sizes using real fit models having body measurements that conform with the customized body measurement standards for each size; and

creating a number of custom fit garments for each body type and size grouping after fits are checked.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein fit is checked using individuals from the target group.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein identifying at least one common body type is obtained from data about the target group that is quantitative and qualitative.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein non-linear grading rules are applied to sizes above and below the at least one size after which the fit is checked on a real fit model.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the customized body measurement standards are adjusted after checking the fit.

31. Improved grading rules provided fat a garment comprising:

applied grading rules that linearly grade the garment from a selected size in a size grouping; and

preferred grading rules that non-linearly grade the garment from a selected size in the size grouping, wherein the combination is used to prepare a number of custom fit garments.

32. An improved method of fitting a garment comprising the steps of:

creating a first garment at a size that is in the middle of a size grouping for a particular body type;

checking the fit of the first garment on a real fit model and making adjustments to the first garment where fit is unsatisfactory, wherein the real fit model has body measurements within customized body measurement standards for the particular body type and size;

using non-linear grading rules to obtain new sizes above and below the first garment size;

rechecking the fit of one or more new sizes on a real fit model and adjusting the fit of the first garment when unsatisfactory; and

adjusting the customized body measurement standards when fit is unsatisfactory to provide a number of second garments for the entire size grouping and the particular body type.

33. A set of garments for a target consumer group, wherein the target consumer group is a plurality of pre-selected persons having two or more body types and the set of garments are of defined sizes, and wherein each defined size includes two or more garments shaped and fitted to the two or more body types using non-linear grading rules and at least one real fit model for each body type.