Abstract:
A measuring garment may be provided. The measuring garment may include at least one measurement marking for determining a measurement for a desired garment dimension. The measuring garment may be used to convey calculate and subsequently convey measurement info to a garment company for producing or providing fitted garments.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/879,797, filed Sep. 19, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Shopping for clothing that properly fits is a tedious task. Currently, shoppers must go store-to-store to try on several items of clothing in several sizes in order to find clothing that fits to their own personal liking. If a shopper wants to avoid spending time to shop around, a shopper has to bear the expense of buying a piece of clothing then paying extra to have a tailor measure and alter the clothing so that it fits to the shopper&#39;s liking. Alternatively, with the increase in online shopping and free shipping, a business may bear the extra expense of shoppers purchasing items and returning them when they do not fit. Even further, a business may incur the expense of shoppers purchasing multiple sizes of the same item, only to return all but the best fitting. 
         [0003]    Current clothing sizing methods require an excess of time and expense. The required time and expense is increasingly burdensome if a shopper wants a unique, specified fit for each item of clothing they purchase or want to alter. Additionally, current clothing sizing methods cannot be done individually or in the privacy of one&#39;s home. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a measuring shirt may be provided. The measuring shirt may include a torso portion, a right arm portion, a left arm portion, a neck portion, and at least one measurement marking. The at least one measurement marking may be disposed on at least one of the torso portion, the right arm portion, the left arm portion, or the neck portion. 
         [0005]    According to another exemplary embodiment, a method of ordering a fitted shirt may be provided. The method may include acquiring a measuring shirt, putting on the measuring shirt, and determining desired measurements using the measuring shirt. The method may further include selecting a shirt for purchasing and providing the desired measurements determined above to the provider of the shirt. The process may be repeated as desired. 
         [0006]    In yet a further exemplary embodiment, a method for processing custom measurement garment orders may be provided. The process may include providing a measuring garment, allowing a user to calculate measurement data using the measuring garment, providing a software application for a user computer device, allowing a user to enter measurement data through the software application and allowing the user to order a garment through the software application. The user computer device may further be configured to communicate the measurement data entered through the software application to an order processing computer. The order processing computer may match the user measurement data with a pre-finished or unfinished garment in a company&#39;s inventory, or may provide the measurement data to create a new garment. A garment may be completed or selected based on the measurements and payment and shipping information may be processed through data entered by the user through the software application and communicated to the order processing computer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0007]    Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary diagram of a measuring shirt. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary diagram of a measuring shirt. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary diagram of a measuring shirt. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary diagram of a measuring shirt. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exemplary diagram of a measuring shirt. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary diagram of a measuring shirt. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an exemplary diagram of a portion of a measuring shirt. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an exemplary diagram of a portion of a measuring shirt. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is an exemplary flow chart of a shirt sizing process. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is an exemplary flow chart of a process for obtaining a fitted shirt. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is an exemplary diagram of a system for obtaining a fitted shirt. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
         [0020]    The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
         [0021]    Further, many of the embodiments described herein are described in terms of sequences of actions to be performed by, for example, elements of a computing device. It should be recognized by those skilled in the art that the various sequences of actions described herein can be performed by specific circuits (e.g. application specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) and/or by program instructions executed by at least one processor. Additionally, the sequence of actions described herein can be embodied entirely within any form of computer-readable storage medium such that execution of the sequence of actions enables the at least one processor to perform the functionality described herein. Furthermore, the sequence of actions described herein can be embodied in a combination of hardware and software. Thus, the various aspects of the present invention may be embodied in a number of different forms, all of which have been contemplated to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. In addition, for each of the embodiments described herein, the corresponding form of any such embodiment may be described herein as, for example, “a computer configured to” perform the described action. 
         [0022]    According to some exemplary embodiments, a user may utilize a measuring shirt, for example measuring shirt  100 , to determine specifically desired measurements that can be used by the user for purchasing new shirts or tailoring shirts the user already owns. A measuring shirt can have a plurality of measurement markings that allow a user to determine specifically desired measurements in a private location such as the user&#39;s home, thereby saving the user the time and expense of traveling to shop at stores, trying on several different sizes of shirts while shopping, and going to the tailor to get measurements or shirts altered. Additionally, a measuring shirt can also allow a user to make personal measurements by themselves without the need of a measuring tape. A measuring shirt can be used to determine measurements for any type of clothing that may be worn over a human upper body, for example jackets, coats, vests, sweaters, suit coats, tuxedos, robes, blouses, tank tops, and dresses. A measuring shirt can be made out of any fabric or textile material, as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0023]    Also, according to some exemplary embodiments, a plurality of measurement markings included on a measuring shirt may allow a user to determine a plurality of desired measurements, for example quantified measurements of a torso length, a front chest, a back chest, an overarm, a shoulder, a bicep, a forearm, a stomach, a waist, a hip, a neck, a sleeve, and a wrist. Additionally, a plurality of measurement markings included on a measuring shirt may allow a user to determine a general shirt size measurement, for example “small,” “medium,” “large,” “extra large,” “short,” “regular,” “long,” and “extra long.” Quantified and general shirt size measurements may be submitted online or over the phone to order new shirts or have old shirts resized. Measurement markings may be included on the measuring shirt via any known means such as printing, spraying, adhering, stitching, or sewing measurement markings onto the measuring shirt. The measuring shirt can allow a user to record the plurality of measurements to reflect their personal preference for the fit of the specific shirt for which the user makes the measurements. For example, an individual user can use the same measuring shirt to record measurements for a loose-fitting athletic shirt and a form-fitting formalwear shirt. A measuring garment with measurement markings may also be applied to lower body clothing such as pants, footwear such as shoes, handwear such as gloves, and headwear such as hats. 
         [0024]    Referring now to exemplary  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an exemplary embodiment of a measuring shirt such as measuring shirt  100  may be shown. Measuring shirt  100  may include a torso  102 , a right sleeve  104 , a left sleeve  106  and a neck  108 . The torso  102  may include a front torso  110  and a back torso  112 . The right sleeve  104  may include a front right sleeve  114  and a back right sleeve  116 . The left sleeve  106  may include a front left sleeve  118  and a back left sleeve  120 . The neck  108  may include a front neck  122  and a back neck  123 . The torso  102 , right sleeve  104 , and left sleeve  106  of the measuring shirt can be sized such that very large users may still be able to determine measurements for loose-fitting, “baggy” shirts. In some alternative embodiments, measuring shirts may come in multiple sizes, each accommodating measurements for a range of similarly sized users. 
         [0025]    As shown in exemplary  FIG. 1 , the front torso  110  may have at least a front torso length measurement marking  124 . A first front torso measurement marking  124  may start at or near the front neck  122  and end at a front torso bottom edge  126  of the front torso  110 . The front right sleeve  114  can have at least a first front right sleeve measurement marking  128 . The first front right sleeve measurement marking  128  can start at or near a front right shoulder  130  and end at a front right sleeve bottom edge  132 . The front left sleeve  118  can have at least a first front left sleeve measurement marking  134 . The first front left sleeve measurement marking  134  can start at or near a front left shoulder  136  and end at a front left sleeve bottom edge  138 . 
         [0026]    As shown in exemplary  FIG. 2 , the back torso  112  may have at least a back torso length measurement marking  140 . A first back torso measurement marking  142  can start at or near the back neck  123  and end at a back torso bottom edge  144  of the back torso  112 . The back right sleeve  116  can have at least a first back right sleeve measurement marking  146 . The first back right sleeve measurement marking  146  can start at or near a back right shoulder  148  and end at a back right sleeve bottom edge  150 . The back left sleeve  120  can have at least a first back left sleeve measurement marking  152 . The first back left sleeve measurement marking  152  can start at or near a back left shoulder  154  and end at a back left sleeve bottom edge  156 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to exemplary  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an exemplary embodiment of a measuring shirt such as measuring shirt  300  may be shown. Measuring shirt  300  can include more measurement markings in addition to the first front torso measurement marking  124 , the first front right sleeve measurement marking  128 , the first front left sleeve measurement marking  134 , the back torso length measurement marking  140 , the first back right sleeve measurement marking  146 , and the first back left sleeve measurement marking  152 . For example, as may be shown in exemplary  FIG. 3 , the measuring shirt  300  may include at least a first front chest measurement marking  158 , a first front stomach measurement marking  160 , a first front waist measurement marking  162 , a first front right bicep measurement marking  164 , a first front right forearm measurement marking  166 , a first front right wrist measurement marking  168 , a first front left bicep measurement marking  170 , a first front left forearm measurement marking  172 , and a first front left wrist measurement marking  174 . Additionally, for example, as may be shown in  FIG. 4 , the measuring shirt  300  may include at least a first back chest measurement marking  176 , a first back stomach measurement marking  178 , a first back waist measurement marking  180 , a first back right bicep measurement marking  182 , a first back right forearm measurement marking  184 , a first back right wrist measurement marking  186 , a first back left bicep measurement marking  188 , a first back left forearm measurement marking  190 , and a first back left wrist measurement marking  192 . Front and back measurement markings may be configured to form a single measurement marking Therefore, for example, a front and back bicep measurement marking may be configured to form a single circumferential measurement scale. 
         [0028]    Referring now to exemplary  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an exemplary embodiment of a measuring shirt, such as measuring shirt  500  may be shown. Measuring shirt  500  may have a plurality of measurement markings that can be referred to generally as a front measuring grid  194  and a back measuring grid  196 , which may allow a user to determine a plurality of desired measurements, for example quantified measurements of a torso length, a front chest, a back chest, an overarm, a shoulder, a bicep, a forearm, a stomach, a waist, a hip, a neck, a sleeve, and a wrist. 
         [0029]    Referring now to exemplary  FIGS. 7 and 8 , exemplary embodiments of a measurement marking, such as measurement marking  700  or measurement marking  800 , that may be included on a measuring shirt, such as measuring shirts  100 ,  300  or  500  may be shown. As shown in exemplary  FIG. 7 , measurement marking  700  may include at least a first ruler, for example one ruler  710 , and at least hash mark set, for example two hash mark sets  720  and  730 . Hash mark sets  720  and  730  may be aligned or staggered along ruler  710 . Hash mark set  720  may have general labels  740  that indicated sizing categories, for example sizing categories of “small,” “medium,” “large,” and “extra large.” General labels  740  may also be written abbreviations or sizing categories written in a language other than English. Hash mark set  730  may have quantified labels  750  that indicate numerals corresponding to length along the ruler  710 . Quantified labels  750  may relate to English units of measure, for example inches. Quantified labels  750  may alternatively relate to any unit of measure, standard or otherwise. As shown in exemplary  FIG. 8 , measurement marking  800  may include at least a first ruler, for example one ruler  810 , and at least hash mark set, for example two hash mark sets  820  and  830 . Hash mark sets  820  and  830  may be aligned or staggered along ruler  810 . Hash mark set  820  may have general labels  840  that indicate sizing categories, for example sizing categories of “short,” “regular,” “long,” and “extra long.” General labels  840  may also be written abbreviations or sizing categories written in a language other than English. Hash mark set  830  may have quantified labels  850  that indicate numerals corresponding to length along the ruler  810 . Quantified labels  850  may relate to metric units of measure, for example centimeters or millimeters. Quantified labels  750  may alternatively relate to any unit of measure, standard or otherwise. Other exemplary terms for use as general labels  740 ,  840  may include “fitted,” “athletic,” “traditional,” “loose,” and “baggy.” 
         [0030]    Referring to exemplary  FIG. 9 , a shirt sizing process  900  may be disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment having multiple size measuring shirts, a user may first determine an appropriate size measuring shirt  902 . An appropriately sized measuring shirt may be determined through approximate measurements, a height and weight approximation scale, or through trying on different measuring shirts. A user may acquire an appropriately sized measuring shirt  904 . Alternatively, in embodiments having a universal sized measuring shirt, a user may acquire such a universal sized measuring shirt. In step  906 , the user may then put on the measuring shirt. In step  908 , the user may individually or with the assistance of another determine desired measurements according to the scale of the measurement markings To do so, the user may choose a measurement to calculate first. For length measurements, the user may determine a desired length and select a point along the measurement marking in coordination with the desired length. In some embodiments, a user may close his or her eyes and point to where the user feels the garment should be hemmed. When the user opens his or her eyes, a measurement may be discernable from where the user is pointing. Alternatively, a user may perform the selection in a variety of ways, such as in front of a mirror. Measurements for horizontal, circumferential, or other measurements may be determined in a similar fashion. In step  910 , the user may then utilize the scale of the measurement marking to record the desired measurement. Alternatively, the user may roll up or fold the measuring shirt to a desired length. The desired measurement may be determined by reading where the measurement marking intersects the fold or roll of the shirt. For circumferential measurements, a user may fold or pinch the shirt such that a desired measurement can be determined from the measurement marking The user may repeat the measurement process for each measurement until all desired measurements are recorded  912 . The desired measurements may then be used to select a product or inform a tailor. For example, an online shopper may select a size when ordering based on the determined measurements. 
         [0031]    Referring to exemplary  FIG. 10 , a process for obtaining a custom tailored shirt  1000  may be disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the user may desire a custom fitted shirt  1002 . It will be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art that the process may be utilized for other types of garments. The user may acquire an appropriately sized measuring shirt  1004 . The user may then utilize the measuring shirt to determine desired measurements as described above  1006 . A garment manufacturer, distributor, or tailor may have the capability to process orders utilizing measurements from measuring shirts. In an exemplary embodiment, a user may access such a manufacturer, distributor, or tailor&#39;s website, the user may select a desired garment and the user may have the option of entering desired measurements from the measuring shirt  1008 . The measurements may include quantified measurements or sizing categories. In alternatively exemplary embodiments, the user may place the order and convey the desired measurements over the phone, in person, or through other methods as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, the manufacturer, distributor, or tailor may be the same as the producer of the measuring shirt utilized by the user, or may alternatively be certified by the producer of the utilized measuring shirt. 
         [0032]    In step  1010 , the manufacturer, distributor, or tailor may then process the order by selecting a finished garment matching the desired measurements or by selecting an unfinished garment and completing it to meet the desired measurements. The manufacturer, distributor, or tailor may alternatively tailor a completed garment or create a new garment to match the specified measurements. The process of completing the garment may be performed by a different entity from that which created an unfinished garment. The various steps of the process may also be completed in multiple countries or locales. In an exemplary embodiment, a stock of various shirts in several general sizes may be kept in inventory, but the torso length and sleeve length may be left unfinished. As orders come in utilizing measuring shirt measurements, these unfinished aspects may be completed to meet the user&#39;s desired specifications. Unfinished shirts may be configured to accommodate alterations based on any of the desired measurements calculated with the measuring shirt. In step  1012 , the completed shirt or other garment may then be delivered to the user, as desired. In step  1014 , if the user desires a similarly sized shirt, the process may repeat from  1008 . In  1016 , if the user desires a different shirt size, the process may repeat from step  1004  using a different measuring shirt or from step  1006  using different measurements. Alternatively, if a user desires a differently sized shirt, the user may recalculate the desired measurements on the same or a different measuring shirt. In embodiments utilizing multiple sizes of measuring shirts, the user may even recalculate the desired measurements on a differently sized measuring shirt. 
         [0033]    In at least one exemplary embodiment, a shirt company may stock unfinished shirts in general sizes, such as small, medium, or large. An exemplary unfinished shirt may fit certain general measurement criteria, but may not have a finished torso length or sleeve length. The shirt company may provide measuring shirts in the general sizes with measurement markings for the unfinished aspects, such as the sleeve length and torso length. Alternatively, the general size may also be determined from the measuring shirt. 
         [0034]    A system for processing custom measurement garment orders  1100  may be disclosed. A software application may be provided to facilitate the garment ordering process for a user. The software application may be run on a user computer device  1110  configured to provide a graphical user interface and allow for user interaction with the graphical user interface through device components such as a display component  1114  or input component  118 . An input component  1118  may include a touch screen, keyboard, mouse, or peripheral component as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. In an exemplary embodiment, a user device may be a mobile device. The user device may be configured to communicate over a network  1140  with a computer configured to process orders  1130  through communication interfaces  1115 ,  1135 . The user may be able to view, select, and initiate an order of a garment through the software application. A user may be able to register and create a user profile for storing user information. The user profile data may be updated as desired. The user information may include measurements determined from the measuring shirt, as described above. The user profile data may be stored in a database accessible by the software application. In some exemplary embodiments, the user profile data may be stored in a memory component of the user device  1116 , a memory component of the order processing computer  1136 , or a remote server  1140 . The user computer device may further include a processor  1112 . The order processing computer may further include a processor  1132 , a display component  1114 , and an input component  1118 . It will be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art that, pursuant to paragraph 18 above, additional components may be utilized in system  1100 , the user computer device  1110 , and order processing computer  1130  to perform the described sequences. 
         [0035]    In some exemplary embodiments, the user device may include a camera  1120  or may be communicatively coupled with a camera. In such embodiments, a user may enter measurement information by capturing measurement markings on a measuring shirt with the camera. For example, the measurement markings captured by the camera may be recognizable or readable by the software application, such as through the use of QR codes, digital watermarks or barcodes. The user measurement data may be automatically populated through the reading of measurement markings. Similarly a garment tag may include a barcode which can be captured through the user device camera and processed by the software application to order the garment with the user&#39;s desired measurements. 
         [0036]    In an exemplary embodiment, a user may browse a selection of available garments through a website or the software application. The available garments may include unfinished garments. The user may select a desired garment for ordering. The stored user profile data may be utilized to provide the necessary measurements for the purveyor to custom size the garment. Alternatively, the user may be able to enter desired measurements during the ordering process. The user profile data may additionally include shipping, billing, and contact information. Once the user has completed an order, the order information may be processed by the purveyor&#39;s order processing computer. A shirt may be selected from the inventory and then it may be completed and shipped. Alternatively, a completely new garment may be fabricated based on the user measurement data. In some exemplary embodiments, the process may be automated such that the measurement data may be communicated by the order processing computer to an automated production device. The production device may be configured to receive measurement data and produce or complete a garment according to the measurement data. 
         [0037]    The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
         [0038]    Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.