Garment fitting system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for fitting a ready-made garment to the body of an individual person is disclosed which comprises selecting an existing garment from the individual's own wardrobe which has a desired fit on the individual person, measuring a prescribed set of garment dimensions of the existing garment and recording the dimensions with an identification of the individual person, and manufacturing one or more garments having said garment dimensions.

1 . A measuring device for obtaining dimensions of a pair of trousers, comprising: 
 a measurement surface comprising a grid of measurement markings, wherein said grid comprises at least one set of reference lines that correspond to a particular dimension of the trousers; and    an arm comprising first and second ends, said arm being disposed over said measurement surface at a predetermined position relative to said reference lines, wherein at least one of said first and second ends comprises a free end that permits the trousers to be slid onto said arm.    
   
   
       2 . The measuring device of  claim 1  wherein said at least one set of reference lines of said grid of measurement markings correspond to dimensions including a waist measurement, a drop measurement, a rise measurement, an inseam measurement, a cuff measurement, a mid thigh measurement and an upper thigh measurement.  
   
   
       3 . The measuring device of  claim 1  wherein said first end of said arm includes a datum point and said reference lines are located at predetermined positions on said measurement surface relative to said datum point.  
   
   
       4 . The measuring device of  claim 1  wherein said arm is disposed about 0.4 inches to 0.6 inches above said measurement surface.  
   
   
       5 . The measuring device of  claim 1  wherein said arm further comprises a lip located at said second end of said arm, wherein said lip is constructed to receive a crotch portion of said trousers.  
   
   
       6 . The measuring device of  claim 1  wherein said arm further comprises a groove formed along a vertical axis of said arm.  
   
   
       7 . A method of obtaining dimensions of a pair of trousers using a grid of measurement markings on a measurement surface, wherein said grid includes a common datum and a least one set of reference lines that correspond to a particular dimension of said trousers, said method comprising the steps of: 
 placing said trousers on an arm disposed over said measurement surface;    measuring said dimensions of said trousers using said grid of measurement markings; and    positioning a pant leg of said trousers at a predetermined position on said grid.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said at least one set of reference lines of said grid of measurement markings correspond to dimensions including a waist measurement, a drop measurement, a rise measurement, an inseam measurement, a cuff measurement, a mid thigh measurement and an upper thigh measurement.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said common datum point is positioned at said first end of said arm.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said arm is disposed about 0.4 inches to 0.6 inches above said measurement surface.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said arm further comprises first and second tapered lips located at said second end of said arm, wherein said first and second tapered lips are constructed to receive to position said trousers on said measurement apparatus.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising sliding said trousers onto said arm until a central locating point on said trousers lines up with said common datum point.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising measuring a waist measurement of said trousers by measuring first and second sides of said trousers by pulling said first and second sides outwards from said arm and reading said grid of measurement markings.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising measuring a rise and drop measurement by measuring said trousers against a measurement strip disposed on said arm when said trousers are placed thereon.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising measuring inseam, mid thigh, upper thigh and cuff measurements using a pant leg measurement grid on said measurement surface.  
   
   
       16 . A measuring device for obtaining dimensions of a pair of trousers from a common datum point, comprising: 
 a substrate having a measurement surface comprising different groups of measurement markings, each group including reference lines and at least one scale;    said groups of measurement markings each being located on said measurement surface at a predetermined position relative to a common datum point, wherein the dimensions of the trousers can be obtained by measurements of the trousers taken using the reference lines and scales when a selected point on the trousers is positioned at the common datum point.    
   
   
       17 . The measuring device of  claim 16 , wherein said groups of measurement markings include a first scale, a second scale, and a third, reduced scale, said first, second, and third scales each having a set of numbers, with the numbers of said first and second scales indicating actual distance measurements and the numbers of said reduced scale corresponding to those of said first scale and indicating less than actual distance measurements, whereby a first measurement can be taken using said first scale and a second measurement can be taken using said second scale, with said second measurement being taken at a position on the trousers that is identified by locating a point on said third scale that corresponds to the first measurement.  
   
   
       18 . A method of obtaining dimensions of a pair of trousers, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) placing the trousers on a grid such that a preselected point on the trousers is aligned with a common datum point on the grid;    (b) measuring an inseam length of the trousers using a first scale;    (c) measuring at least one thigh measurement using the measured inseam length and a reduced scale.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein step (c) further comprises locating a point on the reduced scale that is numbered the same as the measured inseam length and then measuring the width of the pant leg at that point.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the reduced scale comprises a mid thigh measurement scale and wherein step (c) further comprises obtaining a mid thigh measurement using the mid thigh measurement scale and obtaining an upper thigh measurement using a second reduced scale that is located adjacent the mid thigh measurement scale.