Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/250,946 entitled “Apparel Fit Guide” filed Oct. 13, 2009. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to apparel and more specifically establishing appropriateness of an item of apparel for an individual. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The market for apparel in the United States in  2005  totaled approximately $174 billion in 2005. This comprising approximately $77 billion for women&#39;s apparel, $48 billion for men&#39;s apparel and $49 billion for children&#39;s clothing. Within children&#39;s apparel girl&#39;s account for 50% of the market whilst infant/toddler clothing comprised 25% and boys 25%. In men&#39;s clothing suits account for 30%, tops 20% and pants 15% whereas for women tops account for nearly 50%, pants 25% and dresses 15%. Hence, assuming an average cost of $50 per item, that represents the purchase of 3.5 billion items of apparel. 
         [0004]    For the majority of men and women purchasing items of apparel means a trip to a store, mall or other retail establishment, perusing the racks and shelves for items of interest, trying them on, deciding whether to purchase and progressing accordingly. Hence, even in this ideal circumstance purchasing any items of apparel involves additional time, typically an hour or two, and expenditure, gas, parking, wear and tear on motor vehicle etc increasing the effective cost of the items selected. Accordingly this situation is exacerbated when the person buying the clothing is purchasing for an individual who is not present should the selected items of apparel not fit requiring the purchaser to return to the store and either exchange or recoup their money. 
         [0005]    How can such a situation occur? One would expect the purchase to know the size of clothing for the person they are buying for as they will typically be immediate family, such as their children, spouse, partner, sister, etc or have obtained information from immediate family or friends. As such they would be seeking for example a size 6X blouse for a young girl, a size 12 dress for a female adult, a large sweater for male adult, etc and will be able to find such items within the retail environments they are searching within. 
         [0006]    Well despite published standards for clothing in the United States these were derived from statistical data in the 1940s and 1950s and there are no Government requirements for manufacturers to follow such standards. Accordingly over the past 20 years, the North American fashion industry has manipulated clothing sizes to accommodate its growing public, especially women. For example, the waist circumference on a 1984 size 8 dress was 25 inches (64 cm). In 1995 it was 26 inches (66 cm) and in 2004 it was 27½ (70 cm), a two-and-a-half inch (6.5 cm) difference from 1984 to 2004. Meanwhile sizing standards in other parts of the world remained constant, for example by regulations wherein in Europe the newest standard is EN 13402 and includes by clothing type what body dimension shall define the size of the item. 
         [0007]    The situation is even more complex with a retail chain offering for example standard sizes, e.g. 12 Regular, petite, e.g. 12 petite, and Plus Sized, e.g. 12 Plus. Plus sized clothing in 2006 accounted for approximately 45% of apparel sold and is anticipated to grow to about 55% by 2012. According to Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/us_standard_clothing_size) variants according to height etc for women include Misses, Miss Petite, Junior, Junior Petite, Young Junior, Women&#39;s and Half Sizes where increasing size within each type is denoted by numerical identifiers, e.g. 7, 9, 11 etc for Junior, 38, 40, 42 for women&#39;s, and 10½, 12½, 14½ etc for half sizes. Additionally many stores will use simpler sizing based upon S, M, L, and XL together with additional sizes of XXL, XXXL or 1X, 2X etc. 
         [0008]    As a result even though the purchaser may have in their mind that their daughter is a 6X, based upon recently purchasing some apparel at Gap™ for example, clothing labeled 6X at other stores, such as for example Sears™, American Eagle™, Old Navy™ etc may be manufactured according to different sizing standards. As such purchasing items at these different stores may result in some or all of them not fitting their daughter requiring them to be returned. However, this may be repeated again if the adjusted sizes chosen by the purchaser in these stores do not match the 6X from Gap™, requiring another trip. 
         [0009]    Naturally such return trips are a significant waste of time, resources and money. This being made even worse in situations where the purchaser is buying for someone who lives elsewhere within North America. In such situations the recipient might not have the same store in their locality, or even town making such returns extremely difficult. Potentially the store does not exist within the same state or even country. 
         [0010]    In the above examples where the individual was at the retail establishment in the process of selecting and purchasing an item of apparel it was considered that it would be easy for them to take the item of apparel and try it on making the process less prone to error in choosing the incorrect size. However, this is not always the case as there are those with disabilities for whom such an activity at the retail establishment is not feasible. In 2007 the US Census Bureau listed at 51.2 million the number of people who have some level of recognized disability, namely 18 percent of the population of the United States. Of all people with disabilities, 32.5 million, or 12 percent of the US population, had a severe disability. This is without considering those who whilst being able bodied have some phobia or fear of undressing within a fairly public environment to try on possible items of apparel. 
         [0011]    With the increasing penetration of the Internet then in some instances a potential buyer may go online and access the website of a retailer and seek their specific sizing guide. However, this then requires the user to print out and bring with them sizing guides for each store they may potentially wish to shop within, which is a cumbersome and laborious process. Further in many instances these guides may be unavailable even from major retailers, e.g. Nike™, or wherein retailers carry multiple manufacturers, such as Sears™ for example, or the particular selection varies frequently, e.g. end-of-line retailing clearance houses such as Winners™. 
         [0012]    As such in a very high percentage of instances of an individual purchasing an item of apparel it would be beneficial for them to possess a guide to determining whether a particular item of clothing will either fit them or if being sized large enough to fit them has the desired fit, such as for example slim, regular or relaxed. It would be further beneficial if the guide was derived from a simple measurement of the individual, was simple to use allowing those with infirmities or visual impediments or elderly to utilize it, and inexpensive such that it can be widely employed and replaced in the event of loss as will naturally occur when such a tool is used within environments with clothes being tried on/off, moving around retail establishments etc. Further low cost benefiting low income families where a family may require three, four, or more guides to cover all family members. 
         [0013]    Accordingly it is therefore desirable to provide an easy to use guide for the selection of clothing for individuals. It would also be desirable for the guide to be simple for those suffering handicaps or disabilities to use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one disadvantage of the prior art. 
         [0015]    In accordance with an embodiment of the invention there is provided a guide having at least a first end and at least a first predetermined region of a plurality of predetermined regions, each predetermined region being indicative of a measure of fit for an item of apparel with respect to a user and disposed in a predetermined location with respect to the first end of the device. 
         [0016]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention there is provided a method comprising providing a guide having at least a first end and at least a first predetermined region of a plurality of predetermined regions, each predetermined region being indicative of a measure of fit for an item of apparel with respect to a user and disposed in a predetermined location with respect to the first end of the device. 
         [0017]    Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  depicts the range of chest measurements for women&#39;s blouses from a selection of retailers; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  depicts the range of waist and hip measurements for women&#39;s jeans from a selection of retailers; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  depicts the range of waist measurements for men&#39;s pants from a selection of retailers; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  depicts the range of chest measurements for men&#39;s shirts from a selection of retailers; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  depicts the variations in fit associated with a particular clothing size; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  depicts a measurement guide according to the prior art of Lewis (U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,224); 
           [0025]      FIG. 7A  depicts a measurement guide according to the prior art of Slilaty (U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,998); 
           [0026]      FIG. 7B  depicts a measurement guide according to the prior art of Oblander (U.S. Pat. No. 3,685,155); 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  depicts how a dimension of a pair of pants varies with fit for same size garment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  depicts a first step in a process according to an embodiment of the invention in measuring the individual for whom clothing is to be purchased; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  depicts a process flow according to an embodiment of the invention wherein an individual is measured using the guide and clothing selected for them using the guide; 
           [0030]      FIG. 11A  depicts a guide according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 11B  depicts a guide according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11C  depicts a user guide associated with retailing a guide according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  depicts a measurement of an item of apparel using a guide according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  depicts embodiments of the invention for fit guides for visually impaired users; 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  depicts an application of a guide according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  depicts an application of a guide according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    The present invention is directed to a method of sizing an item of apparel for purchase or selection without requiring the individual to either to be present during the purchase/selection or try on the item of apparel. 
         [0038]    Reference may be made below to specific elements, numbered in accordance with the attached figures. The discussion below should be taken to be exemplary in nature, and not as limiting of the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined in the claims, and should not be considered as limited by the implementation details described below, which as one skilled in the art will appreciate, can be modified by replacing elements with equivalent functional elements. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 1  there is depicted a graph  100  that shows the published chest measurements for women&#39;s blouses, both size 10 and size 14, from a selection of retailers who publish sizing guides online including Gap™, Reitmans™, American Eagle™ and Tommy Hilfiger™. As shown a size 10 may vary from 36.5 inches with Oakley™ to 40 inches with Zappo™. Looking at the size 14 dimensions then we see that A is evident from the graph  100  the 40 inches of a Zappo™ size 10 is larger than the Oakley™ size 14 and only slightly smaller than the size 14&#39;s sold by Gap™, Reitmans™ and American Eagle™ which measure 40½ inches. Overall the size 14 dimensions range from 39½ inches with Oakley™ to 42½ inches with Liz Claiborne which is larger than a size 16 from Gap. 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  depicts a graph  200  that presents the range of waist and hip measurements for women&#39;s jeans from a selection of retailers. Considering firstly a size 10 pair of jeans then we observe that the waist measurement goes from 28 inches (Oakley™) to 33½ inches (Liz Claiborne™), a range of 5½ inches. Likewise the hip measurement ranges from 39 inches (Oakley™) to 41.5 inches (Gap™), a range of 2½ inches. Additionally we can see for many manufacturers the hip measurements are missing from published data, such as Liz Claiborne™ and Addition Elle™ for example. We also see that the waist-hip difference with a size 10 pair of jeans varies also, from 9 inches with Roots for example to 12½ inches with Gap™. 
         [0041]    Now considering published measurements for a size 14 pair of jeans then we see that the waist measurement ranges from 31 inches (Artik™, Oakley™) to 36.5 inches (Liz Claiborne™) and the hip ranges from 42 inches (Oakley™) to 44 inches (Roots). Again we find that not only does a single dimension, i.e. waist, vary substantially between different manufacturers and retailers but also that within each garment there is a variation in sizing, as shown by the waist-hip difference. 
         [0042]    Now referring to  FIG. 3  there is depicted a graph  300  which shows the range of waist measurements for men&#39;s pants from a selection of retailers for sizes medium (M) and large (L). Looking firstly at medium then we find that the waist measurements range from 32 inches (Dickies™) to 35 inches (Columbia™). In contrast for large the waist measurements range from 34 inches (American Apparel™ and Oakley™) to 39 inches (Roots™). Not only therefore do the measurements for large pants vary more than medium but the difference between each size shifts dramatically within manufacturers. For example the difference between large and small with Oakley™ is just one inch whereas with Roots™ it is 5 inches. Hence, should someone have purchased medium pants at either of these stores and then find them too small, and subsequently choose large it is likely that in the case of Oakley™ these will still not fit (being only an inch different) and that the Roots™ pants will be too loose (being 5 inches different). 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 4  there is depicted graph  400  showing the chest dimensions for men&#39;s shirts from a selection of retailers, similarly sold as medium and large. Considering initially the medium shirts then the chest measurements range from 40 inches for multiple retailers including Oakley™ and Roots™ to 42 inches from American Eagle™. For large the measurements range from 42 inches (Roots™ for example) to 45 inches (American Eagle™ for example). Again a purchaser of a shirt from retailers such as Tommy Hilfiger™ and Roots™ might find that a large from an exchange on an original medium purchases offers a slim or form fit due the increase in size of only 2 inches versus a more regular or relaxed fit from the 4 inches difference with retailers such as American Apparel™ and Columbia™. 
         [0044]    The fit of apparel is shown in  FIG. 5  where the variations in fit associated with a particular clothing size are depicted. Accordingly for tops there are shown fits form fitting top  510 , slim fit top  520 A, regular fit top  530 A and relaxed fit top  540 A. For each of these there is an associated gap, being first to fourth gaps  550  through  590  respectively, between the body of the individual wearing the item and the fabric of the item of apparel. The gap, being first through fourth gaps  550  through  590  increasing as the fit ranges from form fitting through to relaxed. 
         [0045]    Similarly, with pants there are shown varying fits, being form fitting pants  510 B, slim fit pants  520 B, regular fit pants  530 B, and relaxed fit pants  540 B, wherein there are varying gaps between the wearers body and the item apparel at their hips, being first to fourth hip gaps  515 A through  545 A respectively and first to fourth knee gaps  515 B through  545 B respectively. Other aspects of fit may also vary, as indicated by the silhouettes of the clothing against the body within  FIG. 5 . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 6  there is depicted a measurement guide  600  according to the prior art of Lewis (U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,224) wherein a series of templates, first template  610  through sixth template  660 . Each template represents an effective cross-section through the chest or abdomen of an individual which has been selected from a measurement of the individual. According to Lewis the intention is that the individual take the template, representing themselves or the individual they are purchasing for, with them to the retail establishment and insert this into the item of apparel to determine the fit. It would be apparent to one skilled in the art that transporting and using a rigid template having dimensions of a human body. Equally it would be apparent that using the template is cumbersome and awkward for even an able bodied person yet alone one with limited dexterity, manual disability etc. Further judging fit would also be difficult. As such the invention of Lewis has not gained any commercial or other exploitation to the benefit of clothing purchasers. 
         [0047]    Now referring to  FIG. 7A  there is depicted a measurement guide  700  for shirts according to the prior art of Slilaty (U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,998). Accordingly the individual places the measurement guide  700  around their neck, first portion  710  sitting to the front of them as the collar of a shirt would normally. They then adjust second portion  72 —to the desired fit whereupon a measurement is read from the second portion  720 . Accordingly the user obtains a neck measurement which can be used to purchase tailored shorts which are typically sold by neck size, e.g. 15, 15½, 16 etc. Therefore as long as the shirt manufacturer follows a standard, such as EN 13402 then the purchaser knows the shirt will fit. However, as described supra in North America such standards are not generally followed, nor does this help wherein the retailer uses M, L, XL etc, or where the users stomach is perhaps larger than EN 13402 defines such that whilst the short fits around the neck it does not around their stomach. Accordingly, measurement guide  700  really only addresses a very specific section of the market, formal shirts. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 7B  there is depicted a measurement guide  750  for measuring an individual for use in making clothes with a pattern according to the prior art of Oblander (U.S. Pat. No. 3,685,155). According to Oblander an individual takes a tape  760  and wraps it around their body at the appropriate point, such as waist, hips, sleeve, and makes a mark at that point on the tape  760 . They then apply a pre-printed sticker to the tape at that location, being waist marker  774 , hip marker  776  and sleeve marker  772  respectively. Each of these markers being the same size and their locations being subject to human error as the user marks a point and then attaches the sticky marker. The user then takes the tape  760  and lays this down onto a pattern, comprised of first and second pattern pieces  782  and  784  respectively, allowing them to adjust each of the first and second pattern pieces  782  and  784  such that one edge of the pattern sits on one side of the pattern and a predetermined point on the sticky marker, e.g. hip marker  776 , sits on the other side of the pattern. Each stickly marker, such as hip marker  776 , has a predetermined marking set at a predetermined distance from the middle, for example 2″ for hip marker  776 . This distance being the standard “ease” within the garment industry for that garment and that part of the garment. The user then uses the adjusted pattern in conjunction with their chosen fabric to make the garment. Accordingly the tape  760  with the sticky markers provides a means of adjusting a pattern during making of a garment but maintains the industry standard ease. 
         [0049]    Now referring to  FIG. 8  there is depicted a schematic  800 A showing how a cross-sectional view of how a dimension of a pair of pants varies with fit for the same nominal size. Also shown is graph  800 B showing the measurements for this dimension. Accordingly in schematic  800  a cross-section  810  of a user is shown. Then shown are cross-sections of a garment for form fit  820 , slim fit  830 , regular fit  840  and relaxed fit  850 . As can be seen the cross-section increases as the fit goes from form fit  820  to relaxed fit  850 . For each fit the garment has a periphery dimension, which as shown in graph  800 B varies from 40 inches for form fit  890 , to 41 inches for slim fit  880 , to 43 inches for regular fit  870  and 45 inches for relaxed fit  860 . As such differences from the form fit  890  are 1 inch, 3 inches and 5 inches which are relevant when considering purchasing a garment as typically any measurements made on an individual of waist, chest etc are form fitting a the measuring tape is tight around that portion of their body. Accordingly the individual does need to know neither these differences nor the particular dimensions of a garment they are trying as it is the comparison of the later with the former that will define the appropriateness of the garment to the user. 
         [0050]      FIG. 9  depicts a first step in a process according to an embodiment of the invention wherein the baseline measurement for a measurement guide, according to an embodiment of the invention, for an individual for whom clothing is to be purchased is shown. As such person  910  has two measurements made, being bust  920  and hips  930 . For the bust  920  a blank tape is wrapped around the bust of person  910  and adjusted until it is deemed to be form fitting to them. This first tape length  922  forms the periphery measurement of their body at the bust. This tape is then halved to form first shortened tape  924  wherein a mark is made at the fold and identified with a marker denoting the measurement, such as a “B”. Next the tape is unfurled again and the same process repeated to make the measurement of their hips  930 . This time a second tape length  932  is obtained, which is again folded in half to form second shorted tape  934 , to which another mark is added at the fold with an indicator, for example “H”. Accordingly the fit of a top or bottom may be determined with reference to each of the first and second shortened tape lengths  924  and  934 . 
         [0051]    It would be apparent to one skilled in the art that additional measurements could be taken for an individual including but not limited to neck, waist, thigh etc. Further it would be apparent that as the measurements made on the individual are established from a determination of a periphery of a body portion and simply halving the device making the determination that the device making the determination does not have to have any marking, numbering, pattern or other artifact. Also it would be evident to one skilled in the art that the device may accordingly be formed from a variety of materials including but not limited string, fabric, rope, paper, wire etc. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 10  there is depicted a process flow according to an embodiment of the invention wherein an individual is measured using the guide and clothing is selected for them using the guide. Accordingly the process begins at step  1005  wherein a helper takes a blank measuring guide and in step  1010  measures the circumference of the individual&#39;s body at the chest or bust. Then at step  1015  they take the blank tape from the start to this measurement point and fold it in half allowing them to find the halfway point, after which they mark that point with a line and an indicator “B”. Then at step  1020  they perform a second circumference measurement at the hip of the individual. Then in step  1025  they repeat the process of determining the half-way point for this circumference measurement and mark this with a second line and an indicator “H”. The two measurements being made from a common start point. Next in step  1030  the fit guide is attached to the common reference point of the measurement device, at which point the guide is ready to use in step  1035 . This completes the first stage of the process wherein the measurement guide is prepared for use. This first stage being similar to that depicted supra in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0053]    In the second stage of the process the helper takes the guide to a retail establishment and looks for an item of clothing for the individual. At step  1040  a selected item is removed from a rack (or shelf/display area) and then in step  1045  is laid flat, such that the garment is presented with half the material at the back and half at the front. Then in step  1050  the guide is laid across the garment. At step  1055  the appropriate marker, i.e. “H” or “B” is placed to the left edge of the garment. At step  1060  the measurement device is laid across the garment and the helper looks at where the right edge of the garment and in step  1065  the individual looks at whether that edge sits within the band on the measurement device that has the desired fit for the individual. At step  1070  a decision is made as to whether the garment is acceptable. If the decision is no then the process moves to step  1075  and the garment is replaced and the process returns to step  1040  with the selection of another item of clothing. If the decision is yes then the process moves forward to step  1080  and the helper purchases the garment. Next in step  1085  the helper determines whether more apparel is to be tried and/or purchased. If the decision is that more clothing will be tried then the process moves to step  1040  and continues. If the decision is no then the process moves to step  1090  and terminates. 
         [0054]    It would be evident to one skilled in the art that the measurement device may be formed as a single entity rather than as presented supra in  FIG. 10  being formed from two elements. It would also be evident that the same guide could be used for multiple individuals with markings indicating the name of the individual as well as the specific measurement. Equally a discrete measurement device may be used for each individual. Also the purchasing step and decision to select more garments may be juxtaposed without impacting the overall result as can the sequence in which measurements of the individual&#39;s body are made. 
         [0055]    Whilst the embodiment described supra in respect of  FIG. 10  was described in respect of a helper and an individual it would be apparent to one skilled in the art that these may be the same person, whether able bodied, disabled, etc. Equally, as the measurement device when employed in making a garment determination does not necessarily contain any measurements in centimeters or inches there is also the removal of embarrassment for the individual as a helper does not know whether the individual is 36 inch, 38 inch etc. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 11A  there are depicted exemplary front and back portions  1100  and  1150  respectively of a guide according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown the front portion comprises first section  1160  that explains how to establish the measurements of an individual and second portion  1170  that explains how to use the guide upon an item of apparel. The back portion  1150  comprises four fit guides  1130  through  1145  respectively. First fit  1130  being for tops, second fit guide  1135  for jackets, third fit guide  1140  for coats and fourth fit guide  1145  for bottoms. Within first fit  1130  for tops are shown the fit ranges which are molded  1105 , also known as form fitting, close fit  1110 , semi-fitted  1115 , also known as regular, loose fit  1120 , also known as relaxed, and very loose fit  1125 . 
         [0057]    It would be evident to one skilled in the art that the guide may include more fit guides, such as fit guides  1130  through  1145  or may include fewer fit guides. Optionally the fit guide may be created for different population groups, such as men, women, boys, girls etc as well as to reflect ethnic or other preferences. It would also be apparent that the categories may be further divided, for example with women to reflect for example Misses, Miss Petite, Junior, Junior Petite, Young Junior, and Women&#39;s as discussed supra. Similarly the markings to denote particular fits and the nomenclature used may be varied according to sex, language, ethnicity, or other factors according to the target population base. Optionally the guide may be branded by a particular clothing manufacturer, retail store or other organization. 
         [0058]    Now referring to  FIG. 11B  there is depicted a guide  1175  according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown the guide  1775  comprises four individual guides of which only two are identified in  FIG. 11B , being first garment guide  1175 A for coats and outerwear and second garment guide  1175 B for tops and shirts. The other two guides not explicitly identified being for jackets/sweaters and pants/skirts. Each garment guide being seperable from the guide  1175  by tearing along seperation lines  1185 A. Optionally the garment guides being cut out from the guide  1175 . The description will focus on first garment guide  1175 A but the principles apply to each garment guide. Marked on the first garment guide  1175 A is reference line  1185 B which represents the point at which the tape, such as tape  922  or shortened tape  924  described in respect of  FIG. 9  supra, would be attached. Marked at predetermined positions with respect to the reference line  1185 B are multiple regions associated with bands for which a garment of the type associated with the garment band, which for the first garment band  1175 A is coats and outerwear, has different fits. These being snug  1180 A, regular  1180 B, relaxed fit  1180 C, and loose fit  1180 D. For second garment guide  1175 B these regions are very tight  1180 E, snug  1180 F, regular  1180 G, relaxed fit  1180 H, and loose fit  1180 J. It would be evident that guide  1175  allows the user to purchase a single guide kit and generate multiple garment guides for use in purchasing clothes for themselves, members of their family, or others. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 11C  there is shown a user guide  1190  providing user information for a guide such as guide  1175  or guide  1150  in  FIGS. 11B and 11A  supra respectively. The user guide  1190  comprises sales and marketing information as well as information tips. Such tips for example including using the guide with stretch knits and active wear  1195 A, measuring for waist as well as chest/bust  1195 B, addressing larger tummy  1195 C, larger bust  1195 D, and garments with pleats/gathers  1195 E. 
         [0060]    Now referring to  FIG. 12  there is depicted a measurement of an item of apparel using a guide according to an embodiment of the invention, and being similar to the second stage of the process flow described supra in respect of  FIG. 10 . Accordingly an individual has selected a shirt  1210  to assess using fit guide  1220  which comprises first portion  1230  and second portion  1240 . Accordingly the individual has laid the left edge of the fit guide  1220 , being the first portion  1230  with the mark and reference indicator “T” to the left edge of the shirt  1210  and laid the fit guide  1220  across the shirt such that second portion  1230  lies at the right hand edge of the short  1210 . Thus as shown the user selects visually the “Top” guide  1250  within the second portion  1240  of the fit guide  1220  to see where the edge of the shirt  1210  lies. As such it lies within the close fit  1260  region of the “Top” guide  250 . 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 13  there are shown Braille guide  1310  and visual guide  1350  according to embodiments of the invention. As discussed supra the guides according to embodiments of the invention have been primarily discussed with respect to those of impairments or impediments that prevent them trying the garment on when looking within a retail establishment or wherein the person for whom the apparel is intended are absent. However, in many instances the person selecting the item may be visually impaired or be blind. As such Braille guide  1310  and visual guide  350  are just two alternate embodiments wherein the guide is tailored to a particular group of people. Hence Braille guide  1310  comprises an identifier  1315  for the item of apparel, in this case tops, and regions  1320  through  1335  for the different fits. Each region being differentiate by a pattern of small raised dots and containing within the Braille text appropriate for that region. Accordingly the regions  1320  through  1335  are tight, slim, norm(al) and relax(ed). 
         [0062]    Similarly, visual guide  1350  contains apparel identifier  1355 , being “top” and text for the four regions  1360  through  1375  respectively, being again tight, slim, norm(al) and relax(ed). In contrast to back portion  1150  of the fit guide presented supra in respect of  FIG. 11  the text is now large within each of the four regions  1360  through  1375  allowing use by a user with poor visual acuity, such as the partially blinded or the elderly for example. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 14  an application of a guide according to an embodiment of the invention is shown for use in either ensuring a pattern to be made fits an individual or adjusting a pattern to suit the individual. Accordingly there is shown a pattern set  1400  comprising front  1410 , collar  1420  and back  1430 . Also shown laid onto back  1430  is a guide  1440  comprising tape  1440 A and guide  1440 B which as shown comprises a garment guide portion such as second garment guide  1175 B. Accordingly the user can determine the fit for the garment based upon the measurement made on the back  1430  or adjust the pattern set  1400  such that the adjusted pattern pieces, front  1410  and back  1430  will give the desired ease and fit. 
         [0064]    Now referring to  FIG. 15  there is shown an application of a guide according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in webpage  1500  a user has accessed an online offer to sell a blouse  1510  such as using eBay™ for example. However, there is an issue for seller and buyer in knowing how to size the garment for sale and fit once purchased respectively. Accordingly the seller has taken the photograph, which is shown expanded in image  1550  of the blouse  1520  with a measuring guide  1530  superimposed upon it. The measuring guide  1530  comprising a tape  1530 A and guide  1530 B, such as second garment guide  1175 B described supra in respect of  FIG. 11 . Tape  1530 A being unlike shortened tape  924  or first portion  1230  as described in  FIGS. 9 and 12  respectively in that it is marked with markings representing sizing. Unlike determining the fit of a garment in a retail establishment the user starts by placing the guide  1530 B at the ease the garment and then the marking on the tape  1530  denotes the size of the garment so that the seller knows how to list the item for sale and provides the potential buyer with physical proof that the item is the size the seller states. 
         [0065]    It would be apparent to one of skill in the art that each of the tape  1530 A and guide  1530 B portions may be varied according to the embodiments taught supra as well as others that do not depart from the scope of the invention. 
         [0066]    The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.

Technology Category: 1