Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD OF DETERMINING CLOTHING SIZES
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This relates to a method of determining clothing sizes in order to
produce new
clothing.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A major barrier to the growth of online clothing sales is that
customers are unable
to test the fit of garments before purchase. A recent article in the Wall
Street Journal states
that 20-40% of online garment sales are returned, most commonly due to poor
fit and that
returns of garments that don't fit were considered to be the biggest problem
with the Internet
Binkley, C. (2012) The Goal: a Perfect First-Time Fit. Wall Street Journal.)
As clothing sizes
are not standardized, it is difficult to evaluate the fit of an article of
clothing over the internet.
Many companies offer free return shipping to combat this problem, but this is
expensive for
retailers and inconvenient for customers.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to an aspect, there is provided a method of
manufacturing clothing,
comprising using an image capture device, capturing an image of an article of
clothing and a
reference object in the same image, the article of clothing and the reference
object being in a
common plane, and the dimensions of the reference object that are in the plane
being known,
transferring the images to a server, the server comprising instructions to
determine the
dimensions of the article of clothing based on the known dimensions of the
reference object,
generating a manufacturing pattern of the article of clothing, and using the
manufacturing
pattern, manufacturing a copy of the article of clothing.
[0004] According to another aspect, the method may further comprise the
step of
manually identifying a plurality of perimeter points of the reference object.
[0005] According to another aspect, determining the dimensions of the
article of clothing
may comprise generating a rectified image of the clothing, the rectified image
comprising an
image corrected for relative size and angle.
10006] According to another aspect, the method may further comprise the
step of
modifying the pattern prior to manufacturing the copy of the article of
clothing.
[0007] According to another aspect, the pattern may be modified based on
at least one of
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a style of collar, a style of cuff, a number and placement of pockets, a
colour, and a type of
fabric.
[0008] According to another aspect, generating a pattern may comprise
providing a pre-
existing pattern and modifying the pre-existing pattern based on the
dimensions of the article
of clothing.
[0009] According to another aspect, the manufacturing pattern may
comprise dimensions
for two or more pieces of material and instructions for assembling the two or
more pieces of
material to produce a new article of clothing using the pattern.
[0010] According to an aspect, there is provided a method of comparing
clothing,
comprising using an image capture device, capturing an image of an article of
clothing and a
reference object in the same image, the user article of clothing and the
reference object being
in a common plane, and the dimensions of the reference object that are in the
plane being
known, transferring the images to a server, the server comprising instructions
to generate the
dimensions and a rectified image of the user article of clothing based on the
known
dimensions of the reference object, providing a database comprising the
dimensions and
rectified images of third-party articles of clothing, and instructing the
server to search the
database based on the dimensions of the user article of clothing and
displaying the rectified
image of the user article of clothing and one or more third-party articles of
clothing
simultaneously on a digital display.
[0011] According to another aspect, the dimensions and rectified images of
the third-
party articles for sale may be generated using a reference object.
[0012] According to another aspect, the database may comprise rectified
images of the
third-party articles and generating a rectified image of the user article of
clothing, the third-
party articles may be displayed on a computer display adjacent to the user
article of clothing
using a similar reference scale.
[0013] According to an aspect, there is provided a method of
manufacturing a customized
article of clothing, comprising receiving, in a server, one or more digital
images of an existing
article of clothing and a reference object having known dimensions, the
article of clothing and
the reference object being on the same plane and appearing in the same digital
image,
programming the server with instructions to convert the digital images into an
array of data
points, align the data points using the location and dimension of the
reference object, and
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generate a pattern based on measurements of the existing article of clothing
from the aligned
data points.
[0014] According to another aspect, the method may further comprise the
step of sending
instructions to a manufacturer to produce a new article of clothing using the
pattern.
[0015] According to another aspect, the method may further comprise the
step of
manually identifying a plurality of perimeter points of the reference object.
[0016] According to another aspect, digital images may be captured of
more than one
existing article of clothing and the new article of clothing may be produced
using selected
measurements from the resulting more than one array of data points.
[0017] According to another aspect, the method may further comprise the
step of
providing user inputs to modify the pattern prior to manufacturing the copy of
the article of
clothing, and the user inputs may comprise one or more of type of .collar,
cuff, number and
placement of pockets, colour, and type of fabric.
[0018] According to another aspect, generating a pattern may comprise
starting with a
pre-existing pattern and modifying the pre-existing pattern based on the
measurements of the
existing article of clothing.
[0019] According to another aspect, the pattern may comprise dimensions
for two or
more pieces of material and instructions for assembling the two or more pieces
of material to
produce a new article of clothing using the pattern.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] These and other features will become more apparent from the
following
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings
are for the
purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic of an image capture device with a server and an image of
a
shirt and a reference object.
FIG. 2 is a top view of an image of a shirt and a reference object that has
been
taken from an angle.
FIG. 3 is a top view of an image of a shirt and a reference object that has
been
adjusted for distance and angle.
FIG. 4 and 5 are flow charts of the steps in alternate methods.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] A method of manufacturing clothing will now be described with
reference to FIG.
1 through 4. While the method will be described with respect to a shirt and
piece of paper as
shown in the drawings, it will be appreciated that the same principles would
apply and the
method could be used for other types of articles of clothing. For example, the
method may be
used with pants, dresses, skirts, socks, undergarments, etc.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, the method begins with step 102, where an
image 10 of an
article of clothing 12 is captured using a digital image capture device 11 as
shown in FIG. 1.
This may be done using a smartphone or a digital camera. As shown, a reference
object 14 is
placed on or next to article of clothing 12. In order to apply the principles
of photogrammetry
as described below, reference object 14 should be in the same plane. In the
depicted example,
reference object 14 is a piece of standard sized paper, such as letter sized
(8.5" by 11") or A4
sized (21cm by 29.7cm). Reference object 14 need not be a piece of paper, and
may be any
standard sized object, such as a CD or DVD, or a template designed for the
purpose. As
shown, the dimensions of reference object 14 are known in two dimensions. If
necessary, a
reference object with three known dimensions could be used, however as article
clothing 12 is
laid out on a flat plane, a two-dimensional object is sufficient. Once image
10 has been
captured, it is next transferred to a server 16 in step 104 of FIG. 4 using
methods that are well
known in the art, such as wireless transfer methods, or wired connections
between camera 11
and server 16. In one example, server 16 is located at a remote location, and
transferred to the
server by a user, such as by uploading the image over the internet, or sent
using another
communication protocol, such as by email, etc. While not shown, sever 16
preferably includes
a processor, a memory storage device, and other components known in the art
that allow the
image to be processed as described below. In another embodiment, server 16 may
be a
personal computer on which a computer program has been loaded.
[0023] In step 106, once received by server 16, image 10 is processed
using a series of
instructions that calculate the dimensions of article of clothing 12 using
photogrammetry and
based on the known dimensions of paper 14. This involves realigning the
picture in 3D
space, correcting for the angle at which the image was taken, and calculating
the dimensions,
or a scale so that the dimensions may be determined. The use of reference
object 14 in the
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same plane as article of clothing 12 and having a known dimension allows for
the program to
calculate a scale for the image based on absolute dimensions, such as pixels
per inch, and
thereby it is possible to rescale the image 10 to a standard distance.
Referring to FIG. 2, the
reference object 14 is preferably shaped such that any distortion from image
10 being taken at
an angle can be adjusted for. As seen in FIG. 2, image 10 may be distorted in
more than one
way. In the depicted example, image 10 is at an angle from the centre of shirt
12, as well as
being at an angle from directly vertically above shirt 12, and therefore being
offset from the
perpendicular. Image 10 being taken at an angle creates a rotation in image
10. An offset from
the perpendicular results in the portions of shirt 12 that are closer to
camera 11 being
proportionally larger than the portions of the shirt that are further from
camera 11. Potential
distortions such as these may be corrected for in order to obtain accurate
dimensions for
article of clothing 12. Referring to FIG. 3, corrected or rectified image 20
has been corrected
for relative size and angle is generated by the program. The program adjusts
the image by
moving pictures to align their axis in order to realign the image. Preferably,
the program does
not distort individual pixels, but rather moves the individual pixels
independently to realign
the entire picture. In a preferred embodiment, the program employs algorithms
that convert
image 10 into a data array of points, which can be realigned in space
automatically, and then
converted to corrected image 20. The program may also include edge detection
algorithms as
are well known in the art for detecting edges or the perimeter points of
reference object 14,
article of clothing 12, or both. The program may also have manual steps. For
example, a user
or administrator may be required to manually identify a plurality of perimeter
points of
reference object 14 in order to ensure that the program has recognized
reference object 14
correctly. Measurements of clothing item 12 can be taken from the corrected
image 20, as the
size of the image is known.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 4, once corrected or rectified, image 20 is
obtained, it may then
be compared with other images in order to compare the sizes of other clothing
items to
clothing item 12 in step 108. In this embodiment, a database may be provided
with
measurements and rectified images of other articles of clothing, such as
articles of clothing
sold on third-party online retail stores. Server 16 may be instructed to
search the database
based on measurements of article of clothing 12 to find articles of clothing
with similar
dimensions, or a user may select articles of clothing and display the
rectified image of article
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of clothing 12 and the new article of clothing simultaneously in order to
compare the
dimensions of the new article of clothing with the user's article of clothing
12 using a similar
reference scale. Preferably, the dimensions and images of the other articles
of clothing, such
as third-party articles for sale, are generated using a reference object as
described for the
user's article of clothing 12 in order to ensure consistent results and to
better compare the
items.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 5, alternatively, corrected image 20 can also be
used to generate
a pattern 23 for manufacturing a copy of article of clothing 12 in step 110.
Once corrected
image 20 has been generated an algorithm on server 16 may instruct the user to
provide
additional images 10 from different perspectives, depending on the complexity
of the item
using image counting methods well known in the art. FIG. 1 shows a dress
shirt, however, the
method could be used for any article of clothing. In a preferred embodiment, a
user taking an
image of a dress shirt would be instructed to upload six images of different
aspects of the
shirt. Once sufficient images 10 have been converted to corrected images 20,
the program
then takes measurements based on corrected images 20. These measurements
contain the
information required in order to tailor a new shirt and can be used to
generate a pattern. For
instance, in the depicted example, measurements may include cuff width, sleeve
length, shirt
length, collar width, shirt length, waist width, and shoulder width. Patterns
will likely include
the dimensions for two or more pieces of material and the assembly
instructions to produce an
article of clothing, such as the order of steps, the type of stitching, etc.
The pattern will
preferably correspond with a pattern style that can be used to manufacture
clothing. These
types of patterns, manufacturing techniques, style options, etc. are known in
the art and will
not be described further. In step 112, the measurements are then provided to a
clothing
manufacturer. The clothing manufacturer may be a tailor or tailoring company,
an automated
clothing production machine, a 3D clothing printer, or any other clothing
manufacturing
device or technology as will be understood by one skilled in the art. In step
114, the clothing
manufacturer is then able to manufacture a resulting clothing item using the
measurements or
the generated pattern.
[0026] Image 10 need not be immediately uploaded to server 16. As will be
understood
by one skilled in the art, in some instances it may be preferred to perform
the image
adjustment using a program on the user's computer rather than immediately
uploading. In this
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instance, the measurements or pattern can be transmitted to clothing
manufacturer directly. In
another embodiment, the pattern may be generated by starting with a pre-
existing pattern and
modifying the pre-existing pattern based on the measurements obtained. These
patterns may
be stored in server 16 or locally, or may be uploaded by the user. For
example, a user may
choose a pattern that they like and have the pattern adjusted based on the fit
of clothing they
choose. The features that may be selected or modified include colour, pattern,
size,
measurements in various directions, and the like.
[0027] As an example, this method could be used to allow users to receive
their own
bespoke shirts created from shirts they already own and prefer the fit of from
the comfort of
their own home. In this example, the user selects a shirt 12 that they like
the fit of. The user
then takes a number of images, such as six images of shirt 12 with reference
object 14 to
produce images 10 to be uploaded to server 16. Numerous images are preferred
such that
server 16 can compare and obtain a better resolution of the shirt 12. Images
10 are then
realigned and standardized by algorithms on server 16 as described above,
creating corrected
image 20. Corrected image 20 is of a standard known size, and due to the
presence of
reference object 14, precise measurements of shirt 12 can be found. These
measurements are
then sent to a tailor, who can create the custom shirt using different
fabrics, colours, and
accents, as well as being able to make small adjustments such as the length of
the sleeves
based on the user's preferences. As will be understood by one skilled in the
art, the custom
shirt can be modified in a number of ways and a number of user inputs may be
provided in
order to modify the pattern. For example, the user inputs may include style of
collar, style of
cuff, number and placement of pockets, colour, and type of fabric. The user
may also select
more than one shirt 12 and produce images 10 using different components of the
shirts 12 that
they prefer. For example, a user may like the collar shape of one shirt and
the fit of another,
and may take images of both shirts in order to make a custom shirt.
[0028] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-
limiting sense to
mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically
mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the
possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context
clearly requires
that there be one and only one of the elements.
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[0029] The scope
of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred
embodiments set forth in the examples above and in the drawings, but should be
given the
broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
