Computerized imaging of sporting trophies and method of providing a replica

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for providing replicas of a sporting trophy and for scoring the sporting trophy. The first method includes providing a sporting trophy to be scanned; scanning the sporting trophy to provide three-dimensional image data of the sporting trophy; and providing the three-dimensional image data of the sporting trophy to a replica generating system to provide a replica of the sporting trophy. The second method includes providing three-dimensional digital data of a sporting trophy having a volume and a surface area; providing at least one sporting-relevant measurement based on the three-dimensional data of the sporting trophy; and providing a score of the sporting trophy based on the at least one sporting-relevant measurement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing replicas of a sporting trophy, comprising the steps of:
 providing a sporting trophy to be scanned;   scanning the sporting trophy to provide three-dimensional image data of the sporting trophy; and   providing the three-dimensional image data of the sporting trophy to a replica generating system to provide a replica of the sporting trophy.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of storing the three-dimensional image data of the sporting trophy on a computer-readable medium. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the replica is substantially the same size as the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the replica is a miniature of the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the miniature is less than about 50% of the size of the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the miniature is less than about 10% of the size of the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the replica is a negative three-dimensional replica. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the negative three-dimensional replica is a miniature negative replica of the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the miniature negative replica is less than about 50% of the size of the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the miniature negative replica is less than about 10% of the size of the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of altering the three-dimensional image date to correct any flaws in the three-dimensional image data prior to providing the three-dimensional image data to the replica generating system. 
     
     
         12 . A system for providing replicas of a sporting trophy, comprising:
 a scanner configured to scan a sporting trophy in three dimensions and provide three-dimensional image data; and   a replica generating system to provide a replica of the sporting trophy from the three-dimensional image data.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a server coupled to the scanner, the server being configured to calculate a plurality of measurements relative to the sporting trophy. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the replica is substantially the same size as the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the replica is a miniature of the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the miniature is less than about 50% of the size of the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the miniature is less than about 10% of the size of the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the replica is a negative three-dimensional replica. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the negative three-dimensional replica is a miniature negative replica of the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the miniature negative replica is less than about 50% of the size of the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the miniature negative replica is less than about 10% of the size of the sporting trophy. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 12  wherein any flaws in the three-dimensional image data is corrected prior to providing the three-dimensional image data to the replica generating system.