Device for garment design
AssigneeMarks and Spencer p.l.c.
InventorIan D. Scott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Device for assessing the likely fit of a garment on a wearer, the device comprising a support shaped to resemble a body part onto which the garment is to be fitted, an artificial tissue layer and at least one pressure sensor, the arrangement being such that the pressure sensor can detect and measure pressure exerted by a garment on the artificial tissue layer.
Claims22
A device for assessing the potential fit of a garment on a wearer, the device comprising a support shaped to resemble a body part onto which the garment is to be fitted, an artificial tissue layer and at least one pressure sensor, the arrangement being such that the pressure sensor can detect and measure pressure exerted by a garment on the artificial tissue layer.
A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the pressure exerted on the artificial tissue layer in comparison with the pressure exerted on a human being has a correlation coefficient of at least +0.7, more preferably at least +0.8, more preferably at least +0.9.
A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the artificial tissue layer is silicone rubber with, optionally, a proportion of silicone oil.
A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the artificial tissue layer is between 2 mm and 40 mm thick.
A device according to any preceding claim comprising a portion shaped to resemble the human female breast, wherein the breast tissue layer is between 2-4 mm thick.
A device according to any preceding claim shaped to resemble the human female breast, wherein the breasts have an outer thin artificial tissue layer of polyurethane film or silicone rubber, and contents of silicone gel.
A device according to any preceding claim wherein the pressure sensor is substantially flat, and which gives little or no distortion of the interface between the garment and the artificial tissue layer.
A method for designing a device for assessing the likely fit of a garment on a human wearer comprising a support and artificial tissue layer, the method comprising the steps of
- i measuring a human subject to determine suitable dimensions for the support and artificial tissue layer,
- ii construction of a support and artificial tissue layer to those dimensions, and
- iii refinement of the design by comparison of the pressure exerted on the artificial tissue layer of the support with pressure exerted on the skin of human subjects, in order to modify the device to be more like the human subjects.
A method according to any of claims 15-17, wherein the device is used in combination with a cam and motor or hydraulic system in order to match the movement of the human subject.
A process for the manufacture of garments, comprising the steps of:
- i measuring the pressure exerted by a garment on the artificial tissue layer of the device of the invention;
- ii altering the garment, if necessary, to vary the pressure and obtain the desired garment fit, thus forming a template garment, and
- iii copying the template garment to produce articles to the same design.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.