GB2581361A - Digital measuring tape - Google Patents

Abstract

A wearable stretchable tight-fitting garment 110 for measuring various dimensions of an individual for, the wearable stretchable tight-fitting garment expands to fit the individual precisely and the expansion causes stretchable strain sensors 122 affixed to the garment to strain providing measurements of size for the individual for specific body locations, the body measurements are transmitted to a control device 300 (Figure 3) which are further transmitted from the control device a communication network. Garment suppliers can then provide garments that are optimised for the measured dimensions of the individual and deliver the optimised garments to the individual without the individual having to wear the garments to test for suitability of fit. The sensors may be printed on the garment, alternatively they may be glued or stitched. The sensors may communicate with the control unit via conductors or may use short or long range communication methods. The sensors may be encapsulated in a polymer protective layer.

Description

Field of Invention

Wearable technologies applied to made to measure and bespoke apparel. Wearable garments for sizing for off the rack fashion wear, uniforms, personal protection equipment, and footwear. Wearable measuring apparatus designed for capturing precise anthropometric data in the field of ergonomic design and sustainable production systems. A wearable data collection device for smart clothing, sports clothing, medical garments and, the connected clothing and fashion customer.

Background of Invention

Online retail of fashion and clothing garments has been growing at a significant pace in recent years and consumers are increasingly purchasing clothing, footwear and apparel garments using online retail platforms. Like many other consumer segments such as consumer electronics, food produce and financial products, a significant and increasing volume of clothing, footwear and apparel products are being purchased using online retail platforms. Many fashion and clothing products are available through online retail platforms such as online market places and direct internet selling with clothing, footwear and apparel manufacturers. Typical fashion and clothing products sold through online retail platforms include, sportswear, shirts, T-shirts, tops, jackets, coats, trousers, hats, gloves, uniforms, personal protection equipment, footwear undergarments and the like.

The growth of online retail for fashion and clothing garments, although growing at a significant pace, has been hampered by the issue of garment returns. The online clothing, footwear and apparel industry is increasingly reporting that operating costs are increasing due to consumer returns of garments. Consumers are known to order multiple sizes of garments in order to find the best fitting garment and purchasing only a small selection of the garments delivered to the consumer by the online vendor while returning most the delivered garments. Another issue is the variation of actual garment size of nominally identical garment sizes from manufacturer to manufacturer. For example, a garment nominally sized as medium "M" from one manufacturer can have a significantly different actual size compared to another garment with the same nominal size from another manufacturer. As a result, the consumer often needs to return garments ordered in the consumer's nominal size resulting from size variation due to manufacturing variations or offsets between actual garment sizes for the same nominal size from different manufacturers.

A market segment which has experienced less growth in online retail is the made-to-measure and bespoke clothing, footwear and apparel segment. This segment caters for consumers who seek garments, footwear and apparel with a tailored fit for their specific body dimensions. This type of consumer typically visits a high-end luxury fashion outlet to avail of services such as in-store tailoring, dressmaking, shoemaking, and the like, whereby a tailor, dressmaker, shoemaker and like measure specific locations of the body such as chest, shoulder width, waist, bicep, neck, back length, hips, inside leg and the like. These measurements are then used to produce made-to-measure shirts, suits, footwear and apparel. The precision of the measurements required for these made-tomeasure and bespoke products renders this market segment less amenable for online retailing.

The clothing, footwear and apparel industry requires a system for precisely determining a consumer's body dimensions to enable selection of optimally fitting products from online retail platforms. A system for precisely determining a consumer's body measurements will also enable faster adoption of the made-to-measure and bespoke clothing, footwear and apparel segments in online retail markets.

Summary of Invention

The present invention provides a digital measuring tape realized through a stretchable garment with electrical sensors which indicate size of wearer by stretch of the electrical sensors. The electrical sensors can include impedance-based measurements such as resistance-based measurements, capacitive-based measurement or inductive-based sensors. The sensors are protected by being located within a polymer or fabric casing, the polymer or fabric casing being attached to the garment such that garment stretch induces stretch in the electrical sensor.

A system includes a garment with various electrical sensors attached by means of printing, adhesive, stitching or the like. The system also includes wired or wireless configurations for transmitting sensor measurements, a controller device for receiving sensor measurements and transmitting the sensor measurements via a communication network, and a database for storage of an individual's body measurements that can be accessed by fashion and clothing retailers.

The present invention provides a method for converting a sensor's electrical signal into accurate length measurement representing a dimension of a consumer's body in the vicinity of the sensor. Conversion of a sensor's electrical signal can be carried out in a controller unit or any other device in the communication network, such as a server hosting the measurements database.

A method is also provided for selecting and delivering a garment optimised for accurate fit by making use of a consumer's body measurements obtained using the previously described measurement system and measurement conversion method. The consumer's body measurements can be combined with previous body measurements and certain preferences selected by the consumer or determined by the consumer attributes to further optimise the garments selected for the consumer.

Brief Description of Drawings

Reference will now be made by way of non-limiting examples to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGS. 1A-113 illustrate various embodiments of the measuring garment with sensors for strain measurements and conductive tracks for communication the strain measurements.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the measuring garment with sensors with data transmission using wireless transceivers.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate various wired and wireless embodiments of the controller unit. FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate various wired and wireless strain sensors.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the overall system comprising garment, controller unit, communication network and online retail system.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of calibration of strain sensors and calculation of body dimensions.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of the online retail method comprising calibration, garment wear, transmission of measurements, garment selection and garment delivery.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart for optimisation of garment selection using measured body dimensions, historic body dimensions and consumer attributes.

Detailed Description

The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for the purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention. The description taken with the drawings make it apparent to those skilled in the art how the present invention may be embodied in practice. The embodiments disclosed herein do not limit alternative embodiments employing the inventive concept.

FIGS. 1A-1B deploying transfers illustrate garments 100 and 102 with transfers 120 and 150 encapsulating stretchable electrical sensors attached to garment 110. The transfers 120 and 150 can be attached using an adhesive such as a heat activated adhesive or self-curing fabric adhesive such as Copydex®. In other embodiments, the transfer can be attached by mechanical means such as hook and loop fasteners, e.g. Velcro®, staples, stitching or similar. In the case of heat activated transfer adhesive, the heat and cooling process for transfer attachment is optimised to ensure the transfer remains attached over repeated wearing cycles and in particular after the garment washing cycles.

Sensors 122 and 152 are encapsulated within the transfers 120 and 150 and are electrically connected back to conductive contact points 180, 190 which are used to create the electrical contacts to the controller unit described later. The garment is made from a stretchable fabric using materials or combinations of materials such as Polyester, Elastamid, Lycra®, Elastane or similar and natural materials such as cotton or similar with a suitable structure to facilitate stretching during the wearing of the garment. As the garment stretches the stretch is imparted to the sensors which are adhered to the garment.

Sensors 122 and 152 are electrically connected to the controller data contact points 180a, 180b, 180c, and controller ground contact points 190 by means of conductive tracks serving as data tracks and ground tracks. Data tracks 140a, 140b and 140c and ground tracks 160 in FIG 1A, are integrated into the garment 110 using, for example, conductive ink, conductive thread or the like and electrically connected to sensors 122. In the case of tracks created using conductive ink, higher conduction performance of the track can be achieved by depositing a greater volume of conductive ink over the same track area by using, for example, multi applications of the conductive ink to the same track area location.

The data tracks 154 and ground tracks 156 in FIG 1B, are in electrical contact with the sensors 152 and both tracks 154, 156 and sensors 152 are encapsulated within the transfer 150 to enable efficient attachment to the garment 110 with a single step process attachment process. A key aspect of the present invention is the use low resistance for the tracks relative to the sensor. One such embodiment is the use of carbon-based sensors and silver-based tracks. Another key aspect of the present invention is the use of transfers to integrate the sensors to the garments. Sensors encapsulated in transfers resolve issues arising due to breaks in circuit continuity which can occur when sensors are directly applied to the garment. For directly applied sensors, circuit continuity tends to break when directly applied sensors cross garment seams or the garment weave is such that large gaps occur when the garment stretches. Transfers enable the sensors to provide measurements unaffected by seams, weave type, weave density, weave orientation and the like. In addition to providing structural support for the sensors, transfers provide elasticity and material recovery to enable the sensors to return to a repeatable non-strained state after stretching.

In yet another embodiment, sensors and tracks can be knitted or sewn into the garment using a weave pattern such as a seamless circular knit in a base material such as a polyester yarn interleaving high resistance materials such as a carbon-based yarn to form sensors and interleaving conductive materials such as a silver-based yarn to form tracks.

FIGS. 1A-113 illustrates sensors arrangements such that there are three measurement locations in the region of the chest. Other embodiments can include but are not limited to sensors located on the biceps, wrists, waist, neck. Additional sensors can be provided to enable higher resolution measurement over a greater proportion of the body. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to providing accurate measurement in garment tops as illustrated in FIGS. 1A-113 but also to other garment variants such as bottoms, trousers, and other types of garments for which accurate measurements are required such as socks, gloves, hats, caps. Moreover, this invention can be used to provide measurements beyond items of clothing, including jewellery such as rings, bracelets, necklaces and the like.

The invention also provides for longitudinal measurements by means of longitudinally anchoring the garment using, for example but not exhaustively, hand hooks for longitudinal sleeve measurements, heel hooks for leg measurements, upper to lower garment clip attachments for back length measurements or an all in one top and bottom garments anchored with the fit to shoulders, hand hooks and heel hooks all of which are integrated in a single garment. Additional means for generating longitudinal measurements using arrangements other than physical anchors can include alignment markers to enable the user to stretch the garment longitudinally to generate a longitudinal measurement. For example, the presence of a visual marking feature in the hip region of a garment bottom, enables the user to stretch the garment top by aligning the base of the top to the visual marking feature to stretch the garment for a back length measurement. These features and techniques provide garment stretch in the longitudinal direction to enable the generation of sleeve, back, leg, and other longitudinal length measurements.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the measuring garment with sensors for wireless data transmission. In garment system 200, transfers 220, 230, 240 encapsulating wireless sensors for measuring strain are attached to garment 210. The transfers can be attached using the same attachment methods disclosed for the garment systems 100, 102. Unlike systems 100, 102, the wireless sensors in garment system 200 transmit measurement data wirelessly to a control unit using well-known short-range communication protocols such as RFID and NFC communication protocols. This wireless system 200 reduces the manufacturing complexities of systems 100 and 102 and in the event that a control unit is unavailable, the system can transmit measurement data to a generic NFC capable device such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop or similar provided suitable software is installed on the device to instruct the device to capture measurements from the wireless sensors.

Garment system 200 presents further advantages in enabling attachment of a variety of wireless sensor configurations and types to garment 210. FIG. 2 illustrates some non-limiting examples of sensor configurations and types. In regions of the body where dimensions can vary considerably a plurality of sensors can be attached in close proximity to increase the measurement resolution. In this example, the plurality of sensors 220a, 220b, 220c are attached in the chest region to enable higher resolution chest measurements and to determine an accurate measurement for the maximum chest dimension. The plurality of sensors 230a, 230b, 230c are attached at different body regions including bicep, wrist and waist and demonstrate how wireless sensors enable easy acquisition of accurate measurements at disparate locations of the body by dispensing with the need for data and ground tracks. Sensor 240 is a different sensor type with a smaller form factor than sensors 220, 230 and used as a non-limiting example to demonstrate how a wireless sensor with smaller form factor can be used where space for attachment of the wireless sensor to the garment for the body dimension of interest is limited.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate wired and wireless embodiments of controller unit 300, which can be integrated into the garment by means of stitching, adhesively bonded, inserted into a pocket or the like. Controller unit 300 is powered by means of an energy unit 360 such as a button battery, rechargeable battery, power cell or the like. In alternative embodiments not shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, the energy unit is charged by energy harvesting circuits such as solar cells, kinetic energy harvesters and the like.

In FIG. 3A, connector 310 provides for electrical connection to the data contact points 180 and ground contact points 190 of the garment systems 100 or 102. Various embodiments of connector 310 include snap fit connectors, ribbon connectors, flat flex connectors (FFC), flexible printed cable (FPC) connectors, crimped connectors and the like. In another embodiment, the connection between controller unit 300 and the garment system 100 or 102 provides sufficient anchoring of the controller to dispense with the need for specific integration of the controller unit into the garment system 100 or 102.

In FIG. 3A, channel selector 320 selects an individual channel corresponding to one of the plurality of sensors 122, 152 in garment systems 100, 102. Although the channel selector is depicted in FIG. 3A as a serial selector, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that channel selector can take the form of a multiplexer to enable input of a parallel data stream from the plurality of sensors 122, 152. Sensor data is transmitted from channel selector 320 to signal meter 330 to analog to digital convertor (ADC) 340 which provides digital output for each sensor to processor 350. Signal meter 330 is selected according to the sensor type in garment systems 100, 102. For example, if the resistance-based sensors are deployed in garment system 100, 102, signal meter will incorporate a potential divider, Wheatstone Bridge or the like to output a signal representative of the sensor reading. Similarly, signal meter will comprise a capacitance meter for capacitance-based sensors and an inductance meter for inductance-based sensors. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this invention can incorporate a combination of sensor types in garment systems 100, 102 and controller unit 300.

Processor 350 receives sensor signal representative of sensor strain from ADC 340 at a specific sampling frequency. The processor sampling frequency is set within an appropriate range to ensure a sufficiently high temporal resolution without causing processor 350 to stall due to data overloading. Following sensor signal sampling, processor 350 scales the sensor signal to calculate one of the following: an electrical parameter representative of sensor strain; actual sensor strain; body dimension at the sensor location. Sampling and scaling parameters can be flashed to a nonvolatile memory in processor 350 or a discrete non-volatile memory, not shown in FIG 3A, such as ROM, EEPROM, flash and the like, integrated into controller unit 300. Scaled values can be cached in processor or written to RAM 390 for further calculations by processor 350 of statistical parameters such of mean, maximum, minimum, range, standard deviation for electrical parameters representative of sensor strain, actual sensor strain, or body dimension at the sensor locations. The statistical parameters can be calculated over a time interval incorporating a plurality of sampled values for each sensor in the system to smooth the sensor signal and reduce the volume of data to be transmitted from processor 350 to input output (I/O) module 370. In addition, processor 350 can use the statistical parameters to identify issues in the system such as noisy data and trigger an alarm with indicators such as an audible beep, warning light, or the like, integrated into controller unit 300, not shown in FIG. 3A.

I/O module 370 receives from the processor 350 data representative of body dimensions and transmits the data via data link 380 to an external device connected to a communication network or transmits the data via data link 380 directly to a communication network. This invention contemplates both wired and wireless embodiments for data link 380, which can include wired and wireless connections such as USB, Bluetooth, WiFi, 802.11, Zigbee connections to devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and the like. These devices can transmit body dimensional data to databases via public communications networks implementing technologies based on the 3GPP standards (2G, 3G, LTE, 56) or private networks implementing technologies such as VPN, LAN or SigFox. These devices can also be used to present the body dimensions on the device display, which can be viewed by the user. This invention also contemplates direct data connections from I/O module 370 to the aforementioned databases via the aforementioned public or private networks. The body dimensional data transmitted to the aforementioned databases can be accessed by online retail platforms to fulfil customer orders for garments with optimal fit for the customer.

FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment of a controller unit 302 with a short-range wireless controller module 325 and short-range wireless antenna 315. Control unit 302 functions as a short range wireless reader implementing short range wireless protocols, well understood by those skilled in the art, such as RFID, NFC and the like, to read signals from wireless sensors 220, 230, 240 in garment system 200. Energy unit 360 powers the short-range wireless controller module and short-range wireless antenna 315 to transmit RF to energy to inductively power wireless sensors 220, 230, 240. Upon receiving RF power, wireless sensors 220, 230, 240 each transmit their individual unique identification parameter and measurement signal indicative of their corresponding body dimension. Other components in controller unit 302 such as signal meter 320, ADC 340, processor 350, memory 390, I/O module 370, data link 380 function as described for controller unit 300.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that controller units 300, 302 can be manufactured using surface mount technology for connecting the individual modules to a printed circuit board. The individual modules can come in various package technology include QFP, SOIC, BGA and the like. Embodiments of processor 350 can include but is not limited to FPGA, ASIC, microcontroller, microprocessor and the like. It will be understood to those skilled in the art that some or all of the individual modules in controller units 300, 302, described herein can be integrated into a single system on a chip (SOC) package to enable ease of manufacturing and miniaturisation of this invention.

FIGS. 4A-4E illustrates various embodiments of the sensors encapsulated in the transfers. FIG. 4A shows a plan view of transfer 120 with encapsulated sensor 122 in encapsulant material 124. As highlighted previously, sensor 122 can comprise resistance-based sensor, capacitance-based sensor, inductance-based sensor or the like. Resistance-based sensors are typically formed from a resistive material such as carbon-based or graphene-based materials, conducting polymers such as polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT), polypyrrole(PPy), Polyaniline(PANi) and the like, that provide a variation in resistance when strained. Capacitance-based sensors are typically formed from two high conductivity electrodes formed from materials such as silver separated using a dielectric layer of low conductivity material such silicone, foam, polymer that provide a variation in capacitance when strained. Inductance-based sensors are typically formed a high conductivity material such as silver. The material is patterned to provide a variation in inductance when strained. Encapsulant material 124 is manufactured from polymer materials such as polyurethane, polyethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, silicone and the like. Encapsulant material protects sensor 122 from damage due to mechanical wear and tear from routine activities such as garment transport, garment wear and garment wash and, also facilitates a simple manufacturing process for attachment of the transfer to the garment.

FIG. 4B shows a sectioned side view through the centre of the resistance-based transfer, noting that the thickness of features, sensor 122, encapsulant 124 and adhesive 126 are exaggerated for the purpose of illustrating the configuration of the transfer. Adhesive 126 can be manufactured from heat activated adhesives such as thermoplastic hot melt adhesives, for example but not limited to copolyamides, or self-curing fabric glues such as Copydex°. In alternative embodiments transfer 120 can be attached to the garment using mechanical means such as stitching, stapling and the link, dispensing with the need for adhesive 126. FIG 4B demonstrates how sensor 122, encapsulant 124 and adhesive 126 undergo a dimensional change to 122', 124' and 126' respectively under the application of strain, which in turn leads to a detectable change in the sensor's electrical properties.

FIG. 4C shows a sectioned side view through the centre of the capacitance-based transfer 121, noting that the thickness of features, sensor comprising electrodes 125 and dielectric 123, encapsulant 124 and adhesive 126 are exaggerated for the purpose of illustrating the configuration of the transfer. FIG 4C demonstrates how sensor comprising electrodes 125 and dielectric 123, encapsulant 124 and adhesive 126 undergo a dimensional change to 125', 123', 124' and 126' respectively under the application of strain, which in turn leads to a detectable change in the sensor's electrical properties. As transfer 121 is subjected to strain, the thickness of dielectric 123 reduces causing a reduction in the distance between electrodes 125 and thereby effecting a change in the capacitance of the sensor.

In embodiments whereby the data tracks 140 and ground tracks 160 in FIG. 1A use conductive thread, electrical connection between the tracks and the sensors described in FIGS. 4A-4C is achieved by stitching a portion of the track to the sensor. In this embodiment, the stitch can simply pierce through the encapsulant to achieve electrical contact. Alternatively, whereby the data tracks 140 and ground tracks 160 in FIG. 1A use conductive ink, electrical connection between the tracks and the sensors described in FIGS. 4A-4C can be achieved by creating a gap in the encapsulant through which the conductive ink is printed in order to make contact between the tracks and the sensors.

FIG. 4D shows a sectioned plan view of short-range wireless transfer 220 with top layer of encapsulant 222 removed to illustrate its modules. Compact sensor 228 is electrically connected to power management module 225 and ADC module 226. Short range wireless antenna 223 harvests RF energy from the short-range wireless reading device providing energy to analog front end (AFE) module 224 and power management module 225 which in turn powers compact sensor 228, ADC module and non-volatile memory module 227 all of which are encapsulated within encapsulant material 122. Identification of the sensor is provided with a unique identifier stored in the nonvolatile memory module 227. Sensor 224 is made compact by using a pattern such as serpentine, circular spiral, square spiral, horseshoe or the like and provides for localised strain measurements for high resolution body dimension measurements. Non-compact transfers such as those shown in FIGS. 4A-4C can also deploy the short-range wireless modules described herein to be configured to operate as non-compact short-range wireless sensors.

Dimensional changes in sensor 224 alter the returning electrical parameter signal from sensor 224 to ADC module 226 and AFE module 224, which is then transmitted from short-range wireless antenna 226 to the short-range wireless reading device. The transmitted signal indicates garment strain at the location of transfer 220. Transfer 220 is mapped to a unique location on the garment through its unique identifier stored in the non-volatile memory module 228. A suitable lookup table or similar stored in the short-range wireless reading device can be used to define the specific garment location for each short-range wireless transfer in a plurality of attached short range wireless transfers using each transfer's unique identifier.

FIG. 4E shows a sectioned plan view of another embodiment of short-range wireless transfer 220 with top layer of encapsulant 222 removed to illustrate a combined strain sensor and short-range wireless antenna 228. In this embodiment, dimensional changes in combined dimensional changes in short range wireless antenna 228 due to strain imparted on transfer 222 alter its transmitted signal to the short-range wireless reading device indicative of the strain.

It is to be understood that in alternative embodiments for the transfers in FIGS. 4A-4E that encapsulation of sensors 122, 123, 125, 228, and NFC modules 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227 can be achieved without requiring encapsulation of sensors 122, 123, 125, 228, and NFC modules 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227 within a single material encapsulant. For example, in one such alternative embodiment, sensors and NFC modules are encapsulated between a layer of encapsulant and a layer of adhesive.

FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the overall system 500 comprising garment 520, NFC enabled device 540, communication network 560 and online retail system 580. The user wearing the tight-fitting stretchable garment 520 induces strains into each of the sensors attached to the garment. In this preferred embodiment, the user can wear multiple garments such as top, bottoms, socks, gloves and cap for a complete dimensional map of the user's body. The user's body dimension measurements are transmitted to the NFC enabled device 540 by bringing the device proximate to the sensors. This can be achieved by the user scanning the NFC enabled device 540 over the sensors or fixing the device 540 and scanning the worn garment 520 over the device 540 or the like. After transmitting the measurements, the user can view his body measurements on the NFC enabled device's display and transmit the measurements to the online retail system 580 via communication network 560.

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrates a flow chart for an embodiment of calibration and length conversion for the measuring sensors. FIG. 6A shows a typical procedure for calculation of regression parameters for converting a sensor's electrical response to a corresponding mechanical strain. The procedure is such that regression parameters can accommodate linear or non-linear variation in an electrical parameter to variation in strain. Linear regression will typically provide for sufficient precision in strain conversion, but non-linear regression can be implemented in applications where the sensor is operating in a non-linear range. Strain increments for calibration can be imparted on the transfers using an apparatus such as a benchtop stretcher, a dimensionally adjustable mannequin or the like.

FIG. 6B shows a typical procedure for calculation of a body dimension corresponding to a location for a sensor. Strain curve fit parameters are flashed to a non-volatile memory integrated into transfer, controller unit and/or networked device. The sensor's electrical parameters are converted to strain for the corresponding body location using strain curve fit parameters. The sensor transmits electrical parameters for conversion to strain if strain curve fit parameters are not stored on its nonvolatile memory, otherwise an FPGA, ASIC or microcontroller coupled to the sensor and encapsulated in the transfer can calculate strain for transmission directly from the transfer. The unstrained body dimension corresponding to the location of the sensor is multiplied by the calculated strain to give the actual body dimension. The process is repeated for all sensors to provide a complete set of body dimensions. Improved accuracy can be achieved by providing a plurality of sensors along the line of the body dimension to be measured. The line of the body dimension to be measured is split between each sensor. The actual body dimension is calculated with increased resolution by summing each individual sensor's reading multiplied by the length of the sensor's corresponding split line for the full set of sensors and split lines along the line of the body dimension to be measured.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of the online retail method comprising calibration, garment wear, transmission of measurements, garment selection and garment delivery. Calibration of the sensors and calibration of the strain curve fit parameters is carried out at the garment manufacturing facility. Subsequent calibration by a customer to maintain sensor accuracy to accommodate sensor drift can also be achieved at later time points using a calibration procedure made available in the control unit or mobile device. The customer wears the garments, top, bottom, sock, glove, cap and the like to calculate a complete set of body dimension measurements. The customer reviews the measurements and decides whether to transmit the complete set of body dimension measurements, a partial set of body dimension measurements or to postpone transmission of all body dimensions measurements. The customer, for example, may have a set of body dimension measurement targets to achieve as part of a fitness or health program with a reward of new clothing to be ordered through the systems and methods described in this invention upon achieving the body dimension targets.

The online retail platform upon receives the transmitted body dimension measurements along with customer information. For new customers, the online retail platform creates an account for the new customer and stores the received body dimension measurements for the new customer. For existing customers with an existing account, the online retail system can compare the received body dimensions measurements to historic body dimension measurements and check for consistency between current and historic measurements. In cases where the current measurements and the historic measurements show significant differences the online retail platform can send an alert to the customer before proceeding with the clothing identification and selection routine.

The clothing identification and selection routine analyses dimensional data for garments manufactured from a range of suppliers and compares the received body dimensions measurements to identify the optimal matching of body dimension measurements to the dimensions for garment available to order. The matching process can recommend garments from the same manufacturer or different manufacturers for the same customer order. The online retail platform can recommend for a customer order, tops and bottoms from the same manufacturer or different manufacturers.

In an alternative embodiment, the online retail platform can transmit the body dimension measurements to a clothing manufacturer for manufacturing of specific garments according to the measured body dimensions.

Upon selection or manufacture of the optimised garments, the online retail platform can trigger delivery of the optimised garments to the customer.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart of an embodiment of an optimised garment selection method using measured body dimensions, historic body dimensions, customer buying patterns and customer attributes. The optimised garment selection method can use garment characteristics in addition to the dimensional data, such as fabric type, fabric thermal properties, fabric mechanical properties, garment cut and shape, to supplement dimensional matching to identify the optimum garment for the customer using a multiparameter analysis.

This invention enables optimised garment selection for customers who measure body dimensions over short time periods of several hours or several days and who measure body dimensions over long time periods of several months or several years. In doing so, the systems and methods described herein can select garments according short-term and long-term body dimension variation patterns and optimise garment selection for fit and comfort over a wide range of garment wear scenarios including day wear, evening wear, night wear and seasonal wear.

Claims (14)

1. Claims 1. A system for measuring body dimensions comprising: A plurality of stretchable sensors attached to a stretchable garment wherein stretching of the stretchable garment induces a stretch in the stretchable sensor; wherein an electrical parameter associated with the stretchable sensor changes with the stretching of the stretchable garment, the change in the electrical parameter is indicative of a change in a garment dimension local to the stretchable sensor; A control unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of stretchable sensors, the control unit configured to receive electrical parameter data from the plurality of stretchable sensors; A database system communicatively coupled to the control unit, the database system configured to receive the change in garment dimension data from the control unit.
2. 2. The system according to Claim 1, wherein the plurality of stretchable sensors are screen printed to the stretchable garment.
3. 3. The system according to Claim 1, wherein the plurality of stretchable sensors are encapsulated in a protective polymer layer and affixed to the stretchable garment by means of heat activated glue.
4. 4. The system according to Claim 1, wherein the plurality of stretchable sensors are encapsulated in a protective polymer layer and affixed to the stretchable garment by means of stitching.
5. 5. The system according to Claim 1, wherein the plurality of stretchable sensors are communicatively coupled to the control unit by means of a plurality of electrical conductors.
6. 6. The system according to Claim 1, wherein the plurality of stretchable sensors are communicatively coupled to the control unit by means of a short-range wireless communication protocol.
7. 7. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the control unit is communicatively coupled to the database system by means of a long-range communication protocol.
8. 8. A method for measuring body dimensions comprising: Attaching a plurality of stretchable sensors to a stretchable garment wherein stretching of the stretchable garment induces a stretch in the stretchable sensor; Measuring an electrical parameter in the stretchable sensor, the electrical parameter indicative of a change in a garment dimension local to the stretchable sensor; Transmitting the electrical parameter data from the plurality of stretchable sensors to the control unit configured to receive electrical parameter data from the plurality of stretchable sensors; Calculating body dimension data using the electrical parameter data and transmitting the body dimension data from the control unit to a database system.
9. 9. The method according to Claim 8, wherein the plurality of stretchable sensors are screen printed to the stretchable garment.
10. 10. The method according to Claim 8, wherein the plurality of stretchable sensors are encapsulated in a protective polymer layer and affixed to the stretchable garment by means of heat activated glue.
11. 11. The method according to Claim 8, wherein the plurality of stretchable sensors are encapsulated in a protective polymer layer and affixed to the stretchable garment by means of stitching.
12. 12. The method according to Claim 8, wherein the plurality of stretchable sensors are communicatively coupled to the control unit by means of a plurality of electrical conductors.
13. 13. The method according to Claim 8, wherein the plurality of stretchable sensors are communicatively coupled to the control unit by means of a short range wireless communication protocol.
14. 14. The method according to Claim 8, wherein the control unit is communicatively coupled to the database system by means of a long range communication protocol.