Method and apparatus for manipulating computer-based representations of objects of complex and unique geometry

An apparatus for sizing and fitting a generic form with a unique form, said unique form represented by a first set of coordinates, said generic form represented by a generic set of coordinates, comprising:

• (a) means for receiving a generic set of coordinates, representing said generic form;
• (b) means for spatially rotating the coordinates of said generic form such that said generic form corresponds to a spatial orientation of said first set of coordinates to produce a rotated generic set of coordinates;
• (c) means for scaling said rotated generic set of coordinates so that said generic form is sized substantially the same as said unique form, to produce a scaled generic set of coordinates, including;
• (i) means for identifying at least one feature coordinate within said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• and
• (ii) means of plurally representing said feature coordinate within said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• (d) means for determining from the coordinates of the forms whether said unique form and said scaled generic form interfere;
• and
• (e) means for modifying at least one coordinate of said scaled generic set of coordinates when necessary to avoid any interference between said unique form and said scaled generic form.

An apparatus for sizing and fitting a generic form with a unique form, said unique form represented by a first set of coordinates, said generic form represented by a generic set of coordinates, comprising a computer and control means executing in said computer, said control means operating said computer, comprising:

• (a) means for receiving a generic set of coordinates, representing said generic form, from a storage medium;
• (b) means for spatially rotating the coordinates of said generic form such that said generic form corresponds to a spatial orientation of said first set of coordinates to produce a rotated generic set of coordinates;
• (c) means for scaling said rotated generic set of coordinates so that said generic form is sized substantially the same as the unique form, to produce a scaled generic set of coordinates, including:
• (i) means for identifying at least one feature coordinate within said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• and
• (ii) means for plurally representing said feature coordinate within said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• (d) means for determining from the coordinates of the forms whether said unique form and said scaled generic form interfere;
• and
• (e) means for modifying at least one coordinate of said scaled generic set of coordinates when necessary to avoid any interference between said unique form and said scaled generic form.

A method for sizing and fitting a generic form with a unique form, said unique form represented by a first set of coordinates, said generic form represented by a generic set of coordinates, comprising operating a computer to perform the steps of:

• (a) receiving a generic set of coordinates, representing said generic form, from a storage medium;
• (b) spatially rotating the coordinates of said generic form such that said generic form corresponds to a spatial orientation of said first set of coordinates to produce a rotated generic set of coordinates;
• (c) scaling said generic set of coordinates so that the form is sized substantially the same as the object, to produce a scaled generic set of coordinates, including:
• (i) identifying at least one feature coordinate within said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• (ii) plurally representing said feature coordinate within said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• and
• (d) selectively creating at least one additional coordinate in said scaled generic set of coordinates to emphasize at least one feature to produce an altered generic set of coordinates.

A method for sizing and fitting a generic form with a unique form, said unique form represented by a first set of coordinates, said generic form represented by a generic set of coordinates, comprising operating a computer to perform the steps of:

• (a) receiving a generic set of coordinates, representing said generic form, from a storage medium;
• (b) spatially rotating the coordinates of said generic form such that said generic form corresponds to a spatial orientation of said first set of coordinates to produce a rotated generic set of coordinates;
• (c) scaling said rotated generic set of coordinates so that said generic form is sized substantially the same as said unique form, to produce a scaled generic set of coordinates, including;
• (i) identifying at least one feature coordinate within said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• (ii) plurally representing said feature coordinate within said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• and
• (d) selectively modifying said scaled generic set of coordinates using a shaping function.

A method for sizing and fitting a generic form with a unique form, said unique form represented by a first set of coordinates, said generic form represented by a generic set of coordinates, comprising operating a computer to perform the steps of:

• (a) receiving said generic set of coordinates, representing said generic form, from a storage medium;
• (b) spatially rotating the coordinates of said generic form such that said generic form corresponds to a spatial orientation of said first set of coordinates to produce a rotated generic set of coordinates;
• (c) scaling said rotated generic set of coordinates so that said generic form is sized substantially the same as said unique form, to produce a scaled generic set of coordinates, including:
• (i) selecting at least one feature coordinate from said first set of coordinates;
• (ii) identifying the corresponding feature coordinate on said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• (iii) plurally representing said feature coordinate on said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• (iv) modifying said plurally represented feature coordinate on said scaled generic set of coordinates to interface with said corresponding feature coordinate on said first set of coordinates;
• and
• (v) blending said modified feature coordinate with adjacent coordinates on said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• (d) determining from the coordinates of the forms whether said unique form and said scaled generic form interfere;
• and
• (e) modifying at least one coordinate of said scaled generic set of coordinates when necessary to avoid any interference between said unique form and said scaled generic form.

An apparatus for sizing and fitting a generic form with a unique form, said unique form represented by a first set of coordinates, said generic form represented by a generic set of coordinates, comprising:

• (a) means for receiving a generic set of coordinates, representing said generic form;
• (b) means for spatially rotating the coordinates of said generic form such that said generic form corresponds to a spatial orientation of said first set of coordinates to produce a rotated generic set of coordinates;
• (c) means for scaling said rotated generic set of coordinates so that said generic form is sized substantially the same as the unique form, to produce a scaled generic set of coordinates, including;
• (i) means for selecting at least one feature coordinate from said first set of coordinates;
• (ii) means for identifying the corresponding feature coordinate on said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• (iii) means for plurally representing said feature coordinate on said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• (iv) means for modifying said plurally represented feature coordinate on said scaled generic set of coordinates to interface with said corresponding feature coordinate on said first set of coordinates;
• and
• (v) means for blending said modified feature coordinate with adjacent coordinates on said scaled generic set of coordinates;
• (d) means for determining from the coordinates of the forms whether said unique form and said scaled generic form interfere;
• and
• e) means for modifying at least one coordinate of said scaled generic set of coordinates when necessary to avoid any interference between said unique form and said scaled generic form.