Mannequin, method and system for purchase, making and alteration of clothing

Abstract

A mannequin, method and system for facilitating making, altering and/or purchasing clothing by a user. The mannequin includes: a body that substantially resembles that of a prospective user of clothing and/or adornments, the body including an outer contour; a plurality of sensors attached to the body, for providing one or more quantitative indications of performance of the clothing and/or adornments fitted to the mannequin; and a data transmission interface connected to the sensors operable to transmit the one or more quantitative indications of performance of the clothing and/or adornments.

1 . A mannequin including:
 a body that substantially resembles that of a prospective user of clothing and or adornments, the body including an outer contour;   a plurality of sensors attached to the body, for providing one or more quantitative, indications of performance of the clothing and/or adornments fitted to the mannequin, and   a data transmission interface connected to the sensors operable to transmit the one or more quantitative indications of performance or comfort of the clothing and/or adornments.   
     
     
         2 . A mannequin according to  claim 1 , wherein the quantitative indications of the performance or comfort of the clothing and/or adornments fitted to the mannequin include one or more of an indication of pressure, air flow, body heat, fabric softness, clothing transparency, material stress, the extent to which fabric is stretched, and clothing and/or adornment integrity. 
     
     
         3 . A mannequin according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer body contour is defined over at least part of the body by a plurality of adjustable devices that are operable to cause the mannequin to replicate one or more outer body contours of the user. 
     
     
         4 . A mannequin according to  claim 3 , further including
 a data reception interface for receiving measurements of the user, the measurements associated with the one or more outer body contours of the user;   a processor for transforming the received measurements to signals receivable by the plurality of adjustable devices,   wherein upon receiving the signals, the plurality of adjustable devices are activated and/or controlled to adopt a position that causes the mannequin to replicate one or more outer body contours of the user.   
     
     
         5 . A mannequin according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of adjustable devices include movable pistons, and the plurality of sensors measure the force applied to the one or more of the movable pistons replicating the one or more outer body contours of the user by the clothing and/or adornments fitted to the mannequin. 
     
     
         6 . A mannequin according to  claim 5 , wherein the one or more movable pistons are activated hydraulically or pneumatically or electromagnetically or driven by motors or springs, and the force applied to movable pistons by the article of clothing or adornment is measured by one or more pressure sensors. 
     
     
         7 . A system for making, altering and/or purchasing clothing for, or by, a customer, the system including:
 a mannequin including:
 a body that substantially resembles that of a prospective user of clothing and/or adornments, the body including an outer contour; 
 a plurality of sensors attached to the body, for providing one or more quantitative indications of performance of the clothing and/or adornments fitted to the mannequin, and 
 a data interface connected to the sensors operable to transmit the one or more quantitative indications of performance of the clothing and/or adornments; and 
   a presentation module, for generating a graphical representation of the quantitative indications of performance of the clothing and/or the adornments fitted to the mannequin.   
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 7 , further including:
 a reception interface, for receiving measurements of the user, the measurements associated with the one or more outer body contours of the user;   a processor for transforming the received measurements to signals receivable by the plurality of adjustable devices,   wherein upon receiving the signals, the plurality of adjustable devices adopt a position that causes the mannequin to replicate one or more outer body contours of the user.   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 7 , further including a data transmission interface for transmitting the graphical representation of the quantitative indications. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the graphical representation of the quantitative indications includes a coded overlay on a graphic image. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the graphic image includes one of a photographic image of the clothing fitted to the mannequin. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the graphical representation includes regions of differential transparency, regions of differential coloured shading and/or regions of differential brightness. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the graphical representation includes regions of differential transparency and regions of differential coloured shading, wherein the coloured shading indicates a type of quantitative indication and the transparency indicates a magnitude of the quantitative indication. 
     
     
         14 . A method of facilitating making, altering and/or purchasing clothing by a user, the method including:
 providing an adjustable mannequin including:
 a body that substantially resembles that of a prospective user of clothing and/or adornments, the body including an outer contour; 
 a plurality of sensors attached to the outer contour of body, for providing one or more quantitative indications of performance of the clothing and/or adornments fitted to the mannequin, and 
 a data transmission interface connected to the sensors operable to transmit the one or more quantitative indications of performance of the clothing and/or adornments; 
   fitting the mannequin with the clothing and/or adornments;   receiving, via a data interface, the quantitative indications from the mannequin; and   providing the user, via a data interface, a graphical representation of the quantitative indications.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , further including:
 receiving, via a data interface, outer physical dimensions of the prospective user of clothing and/or adornments;   adjusting the mannequin according to the received outer physical dimensions;   wherein the mannequin includes a plurality of adjustable devices that are operable to adjust their physical dimensions to replicate one or more outer body contours of the user.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the physical dimensions of the prospective user include one or more of a height of the prospective s and a length or width of a body part of the prospective user. 
     
     
         17 . A method according  claim 14 , further including:
 generating, on a processor and from the quantitative indications of performance, an indication of the fit of clothing and/or adornments; and   providing, via a data interface, the indication to the user.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 14 , further including:
 receiving, via a data interface, one or more preferences of the prospective user of clothing and/or adornments; and   adjusting the graphical representation and/or the quantitative indications according to the one or more preferences.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the clothing includes any one or more of a shirt, a blouse, a dress, a skirt, a vest, a jumper, a jacket, pants, a suit, shoes, a hat or gloves, and the adornments include any one or more of a watch, a scarf, a bracelet, an anklet, a necklace, a fascinator or a girdle. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 14 , further including:
 adjusting the mannequin to a new position;   receiving, via a data interface, further quantitative indications from the mannequin regarding the fit of clothing and/or adornments; and   providing the user, via a data interface, a graphical representation of the further quantitative indications, corresponding to the mannequins new position.