Automatic garment inspection and measurement system

An apparatus for developing a fit for a standard sized garment by generating and analyzing data on a plurality of persons within a size range, comprising:

• a. means for capturing a plurality of analog image signals of the person without requiring the person wear a marked bodysuit, each analog image signal from a different vantage point, around an axis of rotation;
• b. a first means for converting the plurality of analog image signals into a plurality of digital image signals for each person, said first means for converting coupled to the means for capturing a plurality of analog images;
• c. means for creating a three-dimensional representation of each person's body from the plurality of digital image signals for each person, said means for creating coupled to the first means for converting;
• and
• d. means for compiling the three-dimensional representations from each of the plurality of people to generate an ideal representation for the plurality of persons within the size range, said means for mathematically processing coupled to the means for creating a three-dimensional representation.

An apparatus for comparing an object of a specified size to determine if dimensions of that object are within a predetermined tolerance of a standard, comprising:

• a. means for creating a representation of the object;
• b. means for determining a plurality of dimensions of the object using the representation, said means for determining a plurality of dimensions coupled to the means for creating a representation;
• c. means for storing a plurality of standards representative of an ideal object;
• and
• d. means for comparing the dimensions of the object to the standards for determining whether the dimensions of the object are within an allowable tolerance and wherein the representation can be either a two-dimensional representation or three-dimensional representation of the object, and wherein the three-dimensional representation of the object is created by fixing the object to a rotating platform and rotating the platform relative to an axis of rotation and capturing a plurality of images of the object, each image at a different vantage point, and wherein the rotating platform is equipped with a garment mount where a garment can be placed on the garment mount and blown up with compressed air so that the garment will assume its natural shape and the platform can then be rotated and an electronic representation of the garment can be captured.

A method of comparing an object of a specified size to a standard for an object of that specified size to determine if dimensions of that object are within a predetermined tolerance of the standard, comprising the steps of:

• a. forming a representation of the object;
• b. determining the dimensions of the object using the representation;
• c. comparing the dimensions of the object to the standard for that object;
• and
• d. determining if the dimension of the object are within the standard plus a predetermined set of tolerances and wherein the representation can be either a two-dimensional or three-dimensional representation of the object, and wherein the three-dimensional representation of the object is formed by fixing the object to a rotating platform and rotating the object on a platform relative to an axis of rotation and capturing a plurality of images of the object, each image at a different vantage point, and wherein the platform is equipped with a garment mount where a garment can be placed on the garment mount and blown up with compressed air so that the garment will assume its natural shape and the platform can then be rotated and an electronic representation of the garment created.

A method of measuring a plurality of dimensions of an object and comparing those measured dimensions to a predetermined pattern, comprising the steps of:

• a. creating an analog image signal of the object;
• b. converting the analog image signal into a digital image signal;
• c. comparing the digital image signal to the predetermined pattern;
• and
• d. determining if the digital image signal matches the predetermined pattern within a preprogrammed set of tolerances and wherein the analog image signal can be either a two-dimensional representation or a three-dimensional representation of the object, and wherein the three-dimensional representation of the object is created by fixing the object to a rotating platform and rotating the platform relative to an axis of rotation and capturing a plurality of images, each image at a different vantage point, and wherein the platform is equipped with a garment mount where a garment can be placed on the garment mount and blown up with compressed air so that the garment will assume its natural shape and the platform can then be rotated and an analog image signal of the object created.

An apparatus for comparing an object of a specified size to determine if dimensions of that object are within a predetermined tolerance of a standard, comprising:

• a. means for creating a representation of the object;
• b. means for determining a plurality of dimensions of the object using the representation, said means for determining a plurality of dimensions coupled to the means for creating a representation;
• c. means for storing a plurality of standards representative of an ideal object;
• and
• d. means for comparing the dimensions of the object to the standards for determining whether the dimensions of the object are within an allowable tolerance,
• wherein the representation can be either a two-dimensional representation or three-dimensional representation of the object, and wherein the three-dimensional representation of the object is created by fixing the object to a platform and rotating a plurality of image capturing devices relative to the object and to an axis of rotation, and wherein the platform is equipped with a garment mount where a garment can be placed on the garment mount and blown up with compressed air so that the garment will assume its natural shape.