WO2011057357A1

WO2011057357A1 - A retail method and system

Info

Publication number: WO2011057357A1
Application number: PCT/AU2010/001529
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Karlo Johansen
Original assignee: Johansen Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-11-16
Filing date: 2010-11-15
Publication date: 2011-05-19

Abstract

A method of selecting an article of clothing from a plurality of articles of clothing of the same type, using a web browser connected to the internet, the method including the steps of recording feedback received from reviewers concerning a plurality of sizes for the article of clothing in a database stored on a server connected to the internet; processing at the server a measurement of a wearer for the article of clothing; determining at the server a manufacturer size of the article of clothing that would fit the wearer based on an analysis of the feedback received from a subset of the reviewers having the same or substantially the same measurement as the wearer; and transmitting from the server to a web page the manufacturer size of the article of clothing that would fit the wearer.

Description

TITLE

A RETAIL METHOD AND SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a retail method and system: In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a method and system for selecting an appropriate article of clothing such as a brassiere or bra, shoes, underwear, trousers and the like.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The correct fitting of clothing is important. In particular, the correct fit of a bra is important, not just for cosmetic purposes such as to prevent breast bounce, but also for health purposes. Depending on the size, each individual breast can weigh in excess of half a kilogram, which can cause strains to the neck and back if not properly supported. Problems related to poorly fitting bras include poor posture, back and neck ache as well as headaches. Furthermore/ it is reported that 8 out of 10 women do not wear the correct size bra, which can exacerbate these health issues.

Women often find it difficult to select the correct bra size. Often a perfect fitting bra is only achieved by an experienced dressmaker who specialises in bra-making. A 2004 Which? Report on bra fitting services (published 02/09/2004 see http://www.which.co.uk/about-which/press/product-press-releases/which- magazine/2004/09/not-enough-support-from-bra-fitting-services.jsp) found that 80% of department store bra fittings resulted in a poor fit. Buying "off-the-shelf' or "online" bras is also fraught with difficulties if the buyer has never tried on the brand and type of bra that they are interested in buying. Some bra manufacturers and distributors state that trying on and learning to recognize the individual's best fit is the best way to determine a correct bra size, similar to buying shoes.

A bra consists of two cups for the breasts, a centre panel or gore, a band running around the torso under the breasts, and two shoulder straps. Bras are typically made of a fabric, such as cotton or polyester. The cups for the breasts may be supported by underwires made of metal and sometimes coated in plastic.

Bra sizes are traditionally defined by a number (known as a band size) and a letter (known as cup size), referred to in this document as the "traditional measurement system". For some styles (particularly sports apparel) sizing is merely a generic label such as small, medium, large etc. This system is referred to as the SML System.

There are many methodologies for quoting and calculating the band size depending on geographic location and a manufacturer's fitting philosophy. There is no single commonly accepted measurement methodology for determining which bra will fit a wearer. Despite this, the most prevalent system is detailed below. In the most prevalent traditional measuring method, the band measurement is calculated first. The following steps are performed with a bra on, but without outer clothes:

Firstly, the wearer is measured around the rib cage immediately below the breasts where the bra band would usually go, in inches.

If the measurement obtained in step 1 , rounded to whole inches, is an even number, 4 is added and if the measurement is an odd number, 5 is added. The resulting number is the band size for USA and UK measurements, shown on line 1 of Table 1 below.

From the Table 1 below the measurements may be converted to systems used in other countries.

Table 1

Once the band has been measured, a cup size is determined by making an "overbust" measurement. This is most commonly done using the following methodology (although a number of other methodologies are also used throughout the world):

1. The fullest part of the bust (overbust) is measured in inches ensuring the measuring tape is level across the wearer's back. c Next the difference (in inches) between the overbust measurement and the final band measurement (ie after the 4 or 5 inches adjustment has been added) is calculated.

Table 2 is then used to determine the cup size.

Table 2

The Traditional Measurement System has the following shortcomings amongst others:

1. The system assumes that the same absolute difference in overbust and underbust measurements corresponds to a certain cup size regardless of the band size. In reality, a given cup size increases with band size. For example the size of the cup in a 10D bra from a given manufacturer is smaller than the size of the cup in a 16D bra from the same manufacturer.

2. The traditional system does not separate the process of describing a wearer's measurements from the process of describing a bra size. That is, once measured, a wearer is described as "being" a certain size. Bras are also described as "being" a certain size. For example a wearer could be described as being a 10D, and a bra can also be described as being a 10D with the implication that the bra will fit the wearer because both she and it are the same size. This would work if all bras of a given size description were exactly the same size and shape, and all women with traditional measurements corresponding to a given size were exactly the same size and shape. But unfortunately, sizing standards differ from manufacturer to manufacturer so a person may fit one size in a particular brand but another size in another brand. Additionally, for the same manufacturer, sizing standards may differ between styles.

3. The traditional measurement system does not have a sufficiently large number of dimensions to uniquely specify a size. For example, a woman with small but uplifted breasts could return the same band size and band/cup difference as a woman with larger but less uplifted breasts. OBEJCT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome and/or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful and/or commercial advantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form, although not necessarily the only or the broadest form, the invention resides in a method of selecting an article of clothing from a plurality of articles of clothing of the same type, the method including the steps of:

recording feedback received from reviewers concerning a plurality of sizes for the article of clothing in a database stored on a server connected to the internet;

processing at the server a measurement of a wearer for the article of clothing; determining at the server a manufacturer size of the article of clothing that would fit the wearer based on an analysis of the feedback received from a subset of the reviewers having the same or substantially the same measurement as the wearer; and

transmitting from the server to a web page the manufacturer size of the article of clothing that would fit the wearer. Suitably, the feedback includes selecting a manufacturer size of the article of clothing which a majority of the reviewers, having the same or substantially the same measurement as the wearer, have determined provide a good fit.

Suitably, the feedback includes selecting a manufacturer size of the article of clothing according to a highest rating article or articles, the rating given by at least one reviewer having the same or a substantially similar measurement as the wearer.

Preferably the article of clothing is rated according to a category. Suitably, the category is at least one of a comfort, a fit, a support and an attractiveness.

Optionally, the article of clothing is a bra and the measurement may is a breast measurement. Preferably, the breast measurement includes the following steps:

■ recording a band measurement of the wearer;

recording a vertical cup measurement of the wearer; and

recording a horizontal cup measurement of the same or the other breast substantially transverse the vertical cup measurement of the wearer.

Suitably, the article of clothing is any one of shirts, shoes, underwear, trousers, skirts and blouses. Preferably, the measurement is taken from a part of the body according to the article of clothing.

In another form, the invention resides in a system for selecting an article of clothing from a plurality of articles of clothing of the same type, the system including: a server connected to the internet, the server including:

a memory coupled to a processor, wherein the memory includes computer readable program code components configured to cause:

recording feedback received from reviewers concerning a plurality of sizes for the article of clothing in a database stored on the server;

transmitting from the server to a web page the manufacturer size of the article of clothing that would fit the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example only, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram showing a system for determining an appropriate bra size according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of a method of measuring a wearer's breast according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a female torso to obtain a band measurement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a vertical cup measurement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a horizontal cup measurement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a method for determining an appropriate bra for the wearer according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram of a method for selecting an appropriate bra according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In this specification, adjectives such as first and second, left and right, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one element or action from another element or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order. Words such as "comprises" or "includes" are intended to define a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed, including elements that are inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus.

FIG 1 shows a block diagram of a system 10 according to one aspect of the present invention. System 10 includes a computer in the form of a server 11 connected to the internet 13, to which users 12 have access. Users 12 may access the server 11 using a web browser, as known by persons having ordinary skill in the art. The server 11 comprises computer readable program code components in the form of software installed on a memory, for example on a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), or any other applicable computer readable medium. The computer readable program code components are then processed by a processor in communication with the memory and are configured to cause execution of a method of the present invention. A database, stored on the server 11, interacts with a website as would be known to a person skilled in the art. The database stores product data, a user profile and review data. Product data contain details of bras generally available to consumers from various manufacturers. User profiles include details pertaining to a user 12 of the website. Review data are collected from a user 12 performing a review of a bra.

The website of the system 10 allows a wearer of a bra from the plurality of users 12 to select an appropriate bra or bras from a plurality of bras according to feedback or a rating given to each bra by at least one reviewer. The bra is selected by the system 10 according to the feedback or the rating provided by the at least one reviewer who has a similar or substantially identical breast measurement to the wearer. The breast measurement is made using a Breast Measurement System according to the present invention. The bra or bras with a highest rating, may be displayed to the user 12 or wearer. ^

Measurements according to the Breast Measurement System are preferably made in centimetres but may also be made in any other suitable units such as inches using a flexible tape measure. Measurements are made with the wearer standing up in a normal posture with a neutral chest (ie not inhaling or exhaling particularly deeply).

FIG 2 shows a flow diagram of a method of determining the wearer's breast measurement according to an aspect of the present invention.

1. FIG. 3 shows a schematic of a torso 30 of a woman according to an embodiment of the present invention. At step 201 a band measurement

(XXX) is recorded by passing a flexible tape measure 34 around a chest 33 of the wearer immediately below breasts 31 a and 31 b.

2. At step 202 a horizontal cup measurement (ΫΥ) is made on the largest breast in this case the left breast 31a. FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of the left breast 31a according to an embodiment of the present invention. The measurement is made with the flexible tape measure 24 between a first crease 35 where the breast 31a meets the breastbone around the fullest part of the breast 31a and following the contour of the breast 31a, to a second crease 36 where the breast 31a meets the torso 30 below the armpit.

3. At step 203 measuring a vertical cup measurement (ZZ) is made on the largest and in this case is also the left breast 31a. The vertical cup measurement is made transverse to the horizontal cup measurement. As shown in FIG 5, using the flexible tape measure 34, the breast 31a is measured from the top 37 of the breast 31a where the top 37 of the breast 31a meets the torso 30, around the fullest part of the breast 31a and following the contour of the breast, to the bottom 38 of the breast 31a where the bottom of the breast 31a meets the torso 30.

At step 204, the band measurement, the horizontal cup measurement and the vertical cup measurement are recorded in the database on the server 11. The resulting breast measurements, are the wearer's Breast Measurements and are recorded XXX-YY-ZZ.

Users 2 of the system 10 in the form of reviewers may submit feedback for a bra in the form of a review of a bra. To conduct a review, the reviewer selects a bra to review from the database according to manufacturer, model and the traditional bra size. The reviewer also submits their breast measurements according to the method of the present invention. Furthermore, the reviewer may add any further details pertaining to the review of the bra such as clasp setting or a strap setting if the bra has removable straps. The reviewer then provides a rating for the bra under review according to categories such as fit, comfort, support and attractiveness. Alternatively, the reviewer may provide an overall rating. The rating may be given out of 10 however it should be appreciated that the rating may be given out of any suitable rating scheme. Furthermore, the reviewer may provide any further comments regarding the bra. The manufacturer, model, traditional bra size and rating are then stored in the database on the server 11 together with the reviewer's breast measurements.

FIG 6 shows a flow diagram of the method for selecting an appropriate bra according to an embodiment of the present invention. At step 601 , a wearer submits their breast measurements. Additionally, the wearer may select a particular style or manufacturer they may be interested in. At step 602 the system 10 selects a most appropriate bra or bras from the plurality of bras in the database having a highest rating, the rating provided by the at least one reviewer having the same or substantially similar breast measurements to the wearer, and displays the bra or bras to the wearer. The selected bras may include other details such as traditional bra size, colour and any other relevant details.

It should be appreciated that the website may also provide links to manufacturers of bras and allow users 12 to purchase bras as is known in the art.

FIG 7 shows a flow diagram of a method for selecting an appropriate bra according to a second embodiment of the present invention. At step 701 , a reviewer may provide feedback by entering details of a bra that provides a good fit into a web page instead of, or in addition to, providing a rating for the bra. The bra details include information to identify the bra, for example manufacturer and model together with a manufacturer's bra size. At step 702, the reviewer also enters their breast measurements, measured according to the present invention. At step 703, the bra details and the reviewer's breast measurements are stored in the database on the server 11.

At step 704, a wearer, wishing to purchase a bra, selects a bra of interest and the wearer enters their breast measurements. At step 705 the system 10 searches the database for the bra of interest where the reviewers have the same or substantially the same breast measurements as the wearer and returns the manufacturer's sizes for the selected bra. At step 706, the server 11 selects the manufacturer size of the selected bra which a majority of reviewers, having the same or substantially the same breast measurement, have determined provide a good fit. At step 707, if there are no matches in the database, the server 1 uses an algorithm to estimate a manufacturer size from a table of sizes.

For example, the reviewer determines that manufacturer size 10D provides a good fit for Bra A and enters these bra details into a web page together with their breast measurements. The bra details and the reviewer's breast measurements are then stored in the database on the server 11.

A wearer would like to know which size would fit best for Bra B. The server looks up reviewers in the database that have the same (or substantially similar) breast measurements as the wearer for Bra B. In this example the wearer has breast measurements of 75cm, 25cm,- 20cm, and the server returns manufacturer sizes that the reviewers have determined provide a good fit for Bra B. For example the server may return the following results as shown in table 3 below:

In this example, one reviewer thought that manufacturer size 10B provided a good fit for Bra B. Four reviewers thought that manufacturer size 10C provided a good fit for Bra B. Two reviewers thought that manufacturer size 10D provided a good fit for Bra B and two reviewers thought that manufacturer size 12C provided a good fit for Bra B. Thus the manufacturer size that a majority of reviewers with breast measurements of 75, 25, 20 thought provided the best fit for Bra B is 10C.

If no matches are found in the database, the server 11 uses an algorithm to estimate a size of bra from a table of sizes.

Although an embodiment has been described with reference to bras it should be appreciated that the method may applied to selecting for other articles of clothing of the same type such as shirts, trousers, skirts, blouses, underwear and shoes.

For example, when selecting shirts, users may provide the following measurements:

1 ) a neck measurement;

2) an inside arm measurement;

3) an outside arm measurement; and 4) a chest measurement.

In a further example when selecting shoes, users may provide measurements of their foot. Some exemplary foot measurements may include:

1 ) a foot length from an end of a big toe to a back of the heel;

2) a width of a heel of the foot;

3) a width of a ball of the foot; and

4) a height of the foot adjacent an ankle.

In a similar manner to selecting a bra, shoes may be reviewed by a plurality of reviewers to provide a rating for the shoe. Similarly, the shoe may be rated under several categories such as comfort, fit, support and attractiveness. Alternatively, the reviewer may provide an overall rating for the shoe. The manufacturer, model, manufacturer's shoe size and the rating are stored in a database on the server 11 together with the reviewer's foot measurements determined above.

A wearer wishing to purchase a shoe, selects the shoe they are interested in according to manufacturer and model. The system 10 selects a most appropriate shoe or shoes in the database that have a highest rating, the rating provided by at least one reviewer having the same or substantially the foot measurements to the wearer.

Similarly to selecting bras, reviewers may enter details of a shoe that provides a good fit into a web page as an alternative, or in addition to providing a rating. The details of the shoe may include a manufacturer, a model and a manufacturer size. The shoe details are stored in the database together with the reviewer's foot measurements.

A wearer wishing to purchase a shoe, selects a shoe they are interested in according to a manufacturer and model. The system 10 searches the database for the shoe of interest where the reviewers have the same or substantially the same foot measurements as the wearer. The system 10 returns the manufacturer's sizes for the selected shoe and the server 11 selects the manufacturer size of the selected shoe which a majority of reviewers, having the same or substantially the same foot measurement, have determined provide a good fit. If there are no matches in the database, the server 11 uses an algorithm to estimate a manufacturer size from a table of sizes.

The advantages of the present invention include:

1) The breast measuring system according to the present invention provides a more comprehensive measurement of the wearer's breast that distinguishes between the various physiologies of breast.

2) A bra or an article of clothing is selected according to a rating provided by a plurality of reviewers with the same measurement as the wearer rather than a manufacturer's size which may vary between manufacturers and styles. Thus the selection of a bra is made independently from the manufacturer's bra size.

3) A manufacturer's size for an article of clothing may also be selected according to a majority of reviewers who have determined provide a good fit.

The above description of an embodiment of the present invention is provided for purposes of description to one of ordinary skill in the related art. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to a single disclosed embodiment. As mentioned above, numerous alternatives and variations to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. Accordingly, while some alternative embodiments have been discussed specifically, other embodiments will be apparent or relatively easily developed by those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and variations of the present invention that have been discussed herein, and other embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the above described invention.

Claims

1. A method of selecting an article of clothing from a plurality of articles of clothing of the same type, using a web browser connected to the internet, the method including the steps of:

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the feedback includes selecting a manufacturer size of the article of clothing which a majority of the reviewers, having the same or substantially the same measurement as the wearer, have determined provide a good fit.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the feedback includes selecting a manufacturer size of the article of clothing according to a highest rating article or articles, the rating given by at least one reviewer having the same or a substantially similar measurement as the wearer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the article of clothing is rated according to a category.

5. The method of claim 4 where in the category is at least one of a comfort, a fit, a support and an attractiveness.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the article of clothing is a bra.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the measurement is a breast measurement.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the breast measurement includes the following steps:

recording a band measurement of the wearer;

recording a vertical cup measurement of the wearer; and

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the article of clothing is any one of shirts, shoes, underwear, trousers, skirts and blouses.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the measurement is taken from a part of the body according to the article of clothing.

11. A system for selecting an article of clothing from a plurality of articles of clothing of the same type using a web browser connected to the internet, the system including: a server connected to the internet, the server including:

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the feedback includes selecting a manufacturer size of the article of clothing which a majority of the reviewers, having the same or substantially the same measurement as the wearer, have determined provide a good fit..

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the feedback includes selecting a manufacturer size of the article of clothing according to a highest rating article or articles, the rating given by at least one reviewer having the same or a substantially similar measurement as the wearer.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the article of clothing is rated according to a category.

15. The system of claim 14 where in the category is at least one of a comfort, a fit, a support and an attractiveness.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the article of clothing is a bra.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the measurement is a breast measurement.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the breast measurement includes the following steps:

recording a band measurement of the wearer;

recording a vertical cup measurement of the wearer; and

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19. The system of claim 11 wherein the article of clothing is any one of shirts, shoes, underwear, trousers, skirts and blouses.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the measurement is taken from a part of the body according to the article of clothing.