System for automated decoration

• US 8,731,703 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: R.B. III Associates Inc.
• Original Assignee: RB III Associated Incorporated
• Inventors: Lehrer, Matthew, Lehrer, Andy, Caserta, Dave, Chavez, Evelia, Cole, Don, Hissong, Peter, Nation, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): DURHAM, NATHAN E
• Application Number:
  US11/684,116
• Time in Patent Office: 2,629 Days
• Field of Search: 700/130, 700/131, 700/132, 700/133, 705/26, 705/27, 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 705/27.2
• US Class Current: 700/132
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1256 User feedback, e.g. print preview, test print, proofing, pre-flight checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1257 by using pre-stored settings, e.g. job templates, presets, print styles
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

A system for automated decoration of an item comprising the steps of: installing print generating software on a computer with a memory (e.g. a server); linking an input system (e.g. a web site) to the computer; allowing a customer to select an item (customer selection), preferably a fabric item, via the input system; allowing the customer to specify a decoration (customer specification) for the item via the input system; generating a print image for the item from the customer selection and specification with the print generating software; and sending the print image from the computer to a printer, which is preferably a dye sublimation printer.

Claims

1. A method for automated decoration of a three dimensional item comprising the steps of:

a) providing an input system;

b) providing print generating software;

c) providing a computer;

said computer having a memory;

d) providing a fabric printer;

e) connecting said fabric printer to said computer

f) installing said print generating software on said computer;

g) installing an electronic library of two-dimensional templates on said computer;

each of said templates comprising a plurality of two-dimensional pattern pieces;

at least one of said pattern pieces having at least one location for a decoration;

said two-dimensional pattern pieces being adapted for assembly into a virtual three dimensional item;

said pattern pieces being use to fabricate two dimensional fabric pieces for assembly into a three dimensional item;

h) linking said input system to said computer;

i) allowing a customer to select at least one template (customer selection) via said input system;

j) allowing said customer to specify a background pattern for said templates comprising said virtual item;

k) allowing said customer to specify said decoration (customer specification) in steps for said templates comprising said virtual item via said input system;

l) electronically laying out said decoration on said template with said print generating software;

m) generating a two-dimensional print image with said print generating software;

said print image being the plurality of pattern pieces for the combination of said customer selection and specification;

said print image being designed for printing with a dye sublimation printer;

n) virtually assembling said plurality of pattern pieces into said virtual three dimensional item;

o) displaying said virtual, three dimensional item on a virtual model on said input system;

p) allowing said displayed virtual, three dimensional item on said virtual model to be virtually viewed from different sides of said virtual model;

q) updating said displayed virtual, three dimensional item and said decoration with each of said steps; and

r) sending said print image from said computer to said fabric printer.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said template for a three dimensional item is selected from the group consisting of pants, shorts, shirts and jackets.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said customer specification includes:

a color, a graphic, a graphic placement, text, text style, text placement, a name, a name placement, a number, a number placement, a size and a quantity.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 in which the step of generating a print image comprises the steps of:

a) coloring said template according to said customer specification; and

b) placing said graphic, said text, said name and said number on said template according to said customer specification.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

a) cutting said pattern pieces from a fabric whereby fabric pieces in the shapes of said pattern pieces are created;

b) loading said fabric pieces into said printer;

c) printing said print image onto said fabric pieces; and

d) sewing said fabric pieces together to form said three dimensional item.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 in which said printing step is dye-sublimation printing.

7. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

a) creating a print marker for said pattern pieces;

b) creating a cutting marker for said pattern pieces;

c) loading said fabric into said printer;

d) printing said print image onto said fabric;

e) cutting said pattern pieces whereby fabric pieces in the shapes of said pattern pieces are created; and

f) sewing said fabric pieces together to form said three dimensional item.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 in which said printing step is dye-sublimation printing.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising the step of allowing said customer to modify said specification via said input system.

10. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

a) saving said print image in said memory;

b) assigning a retrieval code to said print image; and

c) allowing said customer to perform customer selection and specification again by inputting said retrieval code to said input method.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the step of including said retrieval code in said print image.

12. A method for automated decoration of a three dimensional item comprising the steps of:

a) providing an input system;

b) providing print generating software;

c) providing a computer;

said computer having a memory;

d) providing a fabric printer;

e) connecting said fabric printer to said computer

f) installing said print generating software on said computer;

g) installing an electronic library of two-dimensional templates on said computer;

each of said templates comprising a plurality of two-dimensional pattern pieces;

at least one of said pattern pieces having at least one location for a decoration;

said two-dimensional pattern pieces being adapted for assembly into said three dimensional item;

h) linking said input system to said computer;

h) allowing a customer to select an three dimensional item (customer selection) via said input system;

i) allowing said customer to specify a background pattern for said templates comprising said virtual item;

j) selecting at least one of said templates based on said customer selection;

k) allowing said customer to specify said decoration (customer specification) in steps for said three dimensional item via said input system;

l) electronically laying out said decoration on said template with said print generating software;

m) generating a two-dimensional print image with said print generating software;

said print image being the plurality of pattern pieces for the combination of said customer selection and specification;

said print image being designed for printing with a dye sublimation printer;

n) virtually assembling said plurality of pattern pieces into a virtual three dimensional item;

o) displaying said virtual, three dimensional item on a virtual model on said input system;

p) allowing said virtual, three dimensional item on said virtual model to be virtually viewed from different sides of said virtual model;

q) updating said displayed virtual, three dimensional item and said decoration with each of said steps; and

r) sending said print image from said computer to said fabric printer.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 in which said three dimensional item is selected from the group consisting of pants, shorts, shirts and jackets.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 in which said customer specification includes:

a color, a graphic, a graphic placement, text, text style, text placement, a name, a name placement, a number, a number placement, a size and a quantity.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 in which the step of generating a print image comprises the steps of:

a) coloring said template according to said customer specification; and

b) placing said graphic, said text, said name and said number on said pattern according to said customer specification.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

a) cutting said pattern pieces from a fabric whereby fabric pieces in the shapes of said pattern pieces are created;

;

b) loading said fabric pieces into said printer;

c) printing said print image onto said fabric pieces; and

d) sewing said fabric pieces together to form said three dimensional item.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 in which said printing step is dye-sublimation printing.

18. A method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

a) creating a print marker for said pattern;

b) creating a cutting marker for said pattern pieces;

c) loading said fabric into said printer;

d) printing said print image onto said fabric;

e) cutting said pattern pieces whereby fabric pieces in the shapes of said pattern pieces are created; and

f) sewing said fabric pieces together to form said three dimensional item.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 in which said printing step is dye-sublimation printing.

20. A method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

a) saving said print image in said memory;

b) assigning a retrieval code to said print image; and

c) allowing said customer to perform customer selection and specification again by inputting said retrieval code to said input system.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 further comprising the step of allowing said customer to modify said specification via said input system.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20 further comprising the step of including said retrieval code in said print image.