US3887903A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interactive man-machine method and system for grading pattern pieces and for producing an apparel marker
Assignee: Gerber Camsco Inc
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Filing: 1973-08-29
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1993-08-29
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a technique for laying out an apparel pattern marker by efficiently arranging a plurality of apparel pattern pieces within a predetermined marker area. The system includes a digitizer for inputting digital coordinate data representative of a plurality of apparel pattern pieces. A central controller receives and stores the coordinate data and upon command, applies predetermined grading rules to the pattern pieces. The graded pattern pieces may be displayed upon a cathode ray tube display and checked by the operator. To produce a pattern marker, the operator faces the cathode ray tube display on which is displayed miniature representations of the marker area and the pieces comprising the desired style and sizes. The operator manually operates a stylus on a data tablet which is interconnected with the central controller and the cathode ray tube display. The operator further operates a multi-button function box in conjunction with movement of the stylus, in order to arrange the piece reproductions within the marker area on the cathode ray tube. When the desired miniature marker layout has been produced on the cathode ray tube display, the operator may cause the full sized apparel pattern marker to be automatically plotted. The pattern marker may then be utilized to cut cloth to enable the fabrication of a large number of garments of the desired style and sizes.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Ronald Martell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for laying out an apparel pattern marker wherein a plurality of apparel pattern pieces are arranged within a predetermined marker area comprising: screen means for displaying to an operator scaled miniature representations of said pattern pieces adjacent a scaled miniature representation of said marker area; positioning means movable by the operator to selectively move said representations of said pattern pieces one at a time on said screen means to within said representation of said marker area, wherein said representations of said pattern pieces may be efficiently arranged within said representation of said marker area to form a simulated marker; and means responsive to the orientation of said representations of said pattern pieces forming said simulated marker on said screen for plotting the full size marker layout of said pattern pieces in the predetermined full size marker area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for laying out an apparel pattern marker wherein a plurality of apparel pattern pieces are arranged within a predetermined marker area comprising: screen means for displaying to an operator scaled miniature representations of said pattern pieces adjacent a scaled miniature representation of said marker area; positioning means movable by the operator to selectively move said representations of said pattern pieces one at a time on said screen means to within said representation of said marker area, wherein said representations of said pattern pieces may be efficiently arranged within said representation of said marker area to form a simulated marker; and means responsive to the orientation of said representations of said pattern pieces forming said simulated marker on said screen for plotting the full size marker layout of said pattern pieces in the predetermined full size marker area.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for laying out an apparel pattern marker wherein a plurality of apparel pattern pieces are arranged within a predetermined marker area comprising: screen means for displaying to an operator scaled miniature representations of said pattern pieces adjacent a scaled miniature representation of said marker area; positioning means movable by the operator to selectively move said representations of said pattern pieces one at a time on said screen means to within said representation of said marker area, wherein said representations of said pattern pieces may be efficiently arranged within said representation of said marker area to form a simulated marker; and means responsive to the orientation of said representations of said pattern pieces forming said simulated marker on said screen for plotting the full size marker layout of said pattern pieces in the predetermined full size marker area.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for laying out an apparel pattern marker wherein a plurality of apparel pattern pieces are arranged within a predetermined marker area comprising: screen means for displaying to an operator scaled miniature representations of said pattern pieces adjacent a scaled miniature representation of said marker area; positioning means movable by the operator to selectively move said representations of said pattern pieces one at a time on said screen means to within said representation of said marker area, wherein said representations of said pattern pieces may be efficiently arranged within said representation of said marker area to form a simulated marker; and means responsive to the orientation of said representations of said pattern pieces forming said simulated marker on said screen for plotting the full size marker layout of said pattern pieces in the predetermined full size marker area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 1 and further comprising: a data tablet interconnected with said screen means and said positioning means for generating electrical signals representative of the position of said positioning means relative to said data tablet, and means responsive to said electrical signals for causing selective movement of said representations of said pattern pieces on said screen means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 2 and further comprising: circuitry responsive to movement of said positioning means relative to said data tablet for causing corresponding movement of a light cursor over said screen means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 3 and further comprising pick means for being operated such that pattern pieces displayed on said screen jump to a predetermined location relative to said cursor when said cursor is moved adjacent said pattern pieces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 and further comprising: a function box interconnected with said screen means and including function buttons for varying the position of said pattern pieces within said displayed marker area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said function box includes a button for causing selected pattern pieces to be abutted within said displayed marker area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said function box includes a button for causing a pattern piece to be selectively rotated within said displayed marker area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said function box includes a button for causing a pattern piece to be flipped over within said displayed marker area.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
173 words
A system for preparing an apparel pattern marker comprising: a digitizer for generating digital coordinate signals representative of the coordinates of points defining a plurality of model size pattern pieces; means for storing said coordinate signals and for grading said stored model pattern pieces according to predetermined grading rules; a display screen operable in response to said stored coordinatE signals for displaying miniature representations of a predetermined size of pattern pieces and a miniature representation of a marker area; a data tablet interconnected with said display screen and said storing and grading means and including a stylus movable adjacent said data tablet, circuitry responsive to movement of said stylus relative to said data tablet for selectively causing movement of said pattern pieces on said display screen into said marker area; a function box operable to arrange said pattern pieces in an efficient abutting relationship within said marker area; and a plotter for plotting a full sized marker corresponding to a final arrangement of pattern pieces within said marker area on said display screen.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
173 words
A system for preparing an apparel pattern marker comprising: a digitizer for generating digital coordinate signals representative of the coordinates of points defining a plurality of model size pattern pieces; means for storing said coordinate signals and for grading said stored model pattern pieces according to predetermined grading rules; a display screen operable in response to said stored coordinatE signals for displaying miniature representations of a predetermined size of pattern pieces and a miniature representation of a marker area; a data tablet interconnected with said display screen and said storing and grading means and including a stylus movable adjacent said data tablet, circuitry responsive to movement of said stylus relative to said data tablet for selectively causing movement of said pattern pieces on said display screen into said marker area; a function box operable to arrange said pattern pieces in an efficient abutting relationship within said marker area; and a plotter for plotting a full sized marker corresponding to a final arrangement of pattern pieces within said marker area on said display screen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said digitizer includes a light for being illuminated if the operator does not operate said digitizer in accordance with predetermined criteria.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said digitizer includes a cursor member movable over a table and including switches operable to designate types of coordinate signals being generated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 9 and further comprising means for calculating the efficiency of the utilizatiton of the marker area by a particular arrangement of pattern pieces on said display screen within the marker area, and means for displaying the efficiency of a finished marker layout on said display screen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 9 and further comprising means for terminating display of pattern pieces and marker area and for displaying a nested plot of various graded sizes of a pattern piece on said display screen, said stylus operable to check the grading applied to said nested plot.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
162 words
A system for laying out a plurality of pattern pieces in a pattern marker comprising: a digitizer for generating pattern pieces coordinate data from said pattern pieces and grading instructions from said coordinate data; means for storing said coordinate data and grading instructions; means for selectively retrieving portions of said coordinate data and grading instructions corresponding to pattern pieces of a preselected style; means for applying said grading instructions to said retrieved coordinate data to grade said pattern pieces to preselected sizes; a display screen for displaying miniature representations of said graded pattern pieces and said marker area; a data tablet; stylus means movable relative to said data tablet; circuitry responsive to movement of said stylus means relative to said data tablet for causing movement of said pattern pieces on said display screen into said displayed marker area; and means for plotting a full sized marker corresponding to the final arrangement of pattern pieces within said marker area on said display screen.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
162 words
A system for laying out a plurality of pattern pieces in a pattern marker comprising: a digitizer for generating pattern pieces coordinate data from said pattern pieces and grading instructions from said coordinate data; means for storing said coordinate data and grading instructions; means for selectively retrieving portions of said coordinate data and grading instructions corresponding to pattern pieces of a preselected style; means for applying said grading instructions to said retrieved coordinate data to grade said pattern pieces to preselected sizes; a display screen for displaying miniature representations of said graded pattern pieces and said marker area; a data tablet; stylus means movable relative to said data tablet; circuitry responsive to movement of said stylus means relative to said data tablet for causing movement of said pattern pieces on said display screen into said displayed marker area; and means for plotting a full sized marker corresponding to the final arrangement of pattern pieces within said marker area on said display screen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 14 and further comprising means for displaying said miniature pattern pieces on said display screen in an order of decreasing size.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 14 and further comprising a function box having a plurality of keys, one of said keys operable to cause one of said displayed pattern pieces to be locked on to movement of said light cursor in order to move said pattern pieces into said displayed marker area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 16 wherein one of said keys is operable to cause selected pattern pieces to be abutted within said displayed marker area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said forming means comprises a plotter for plotting a full sized marker on a sheet of pattern paper.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 14 and further comprising means for displaying a goal line on said marker area to designate a desired area to be filled with said pattern pieces.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 14 and further comprising means for generating an alarm indication if the boundaries of any of the pattern pieces arranged in said displayed marker area by operation of said stylus means are overlapped with one another.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for grading And checking model pattern pieces comprising: a digitizer for generating pattern piece coordinate data and grading instructions for said coordinate data; means for storing said coordinate data and grading instructions; means for applying said grading instructions to said coordinate data according to predetermined grade rules; display means for selectively displaying nested plots of a a plurality of graded sizes of each of said pattern pieces; a data tablet interconnected with said displaying means and including a stylus; means responsive to movement of said stylus adjacent said data tablet for displaying grading instructions on said display means corresponding to selected points on said displayed nested plots; a function box having switches operable to revise said grading instructions displayed on said display means corresponding to said selected points on said displayed nested plots; and means for regrading said selected points on said displayed nested plots according to said revised grading instructions.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for grading And checking model pattern pieces comprising: a digitizer for generating pattern piece coordinate data and grading instructions for said coordinate data; means for storing said coordinate data and grading instructions; means for applying said grading instructions to said coordinate data according to predetermined grade rules; display means for selectively displaying nested plots of a a plurality of graded sizes of each of said pattern pieces; a data tablet interconnected with said displaying means and including a stylus; means responsive to movement of said stylus adjacent said data tablet for displaying grading instructions on said display means corresponding to selected points on said displayed nested plots; a function box having switches operable to revise said grading instructions displayed on said display means corresponding to said selected points on said displayed nested plots; and means for regrading said selected points on said displayed nested plots according to said revised grading instructions.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 21 and further comprising means for displaying on said display means a rule table selected from said function box.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 21 and further including means for displaying a selected plurality of pattern pieces adjacent a marker area and for moving said pattern pieces into said marker area.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for arranging a plurality of apparel pattern pieces within a marker area to form a pattern marker comprising: displaying on a screen miniature representations of said pattern pieces and of said marker area; operating a positioning system to move said pattern pieces into said marker area on said screen and to arrange said pattern pieces within said marker area; and automatically tracing out a full sized apparel pattern marker corresponding to the final arrangement on said screen of said pattern pieces in said marker area.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for arranging a plurality of apparel pattern pieces within a marker area to form a pattern marker comprising: displaying on a screen miniature representations of said pattern pieces and of said marker area; operating a positioning system to move said pattern pieces into said marker area on said screen and to arrange said pattern pieces within said marker area; and automatically tracing out a full sized apparel pattern marker corresponding to the final arrangement on said screen of said pattern pieces in said marker area.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 24 and further comprising: operating buttons on a function box to cause selected ones of said displayed pattern pieces to be abutted together within said marker area.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of preparing an apparel pattern marker comprising: generating digital coordinate data representative of the coordinates of points defining a plurality of model size pattern pieces; storing said coordinate data; grading said stored coordinate data according to predetermined grading rules; displaying on a screen miniature representations of a predetermined size and style of pattern pieces and a miniature representation of a marker area; moving a cursor on said screen for picking selected pattern pieces displayed on said screen and for moving said pattern pieces into said displayed marker area; operating function buttons for arranging and orienting said displayed pattern pieces within said displayed marker area; and plotting a full size marker corresponding to the final arrangement of pattern pieces within said marker area on said screen.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of preparing an apparel pattern marker comprising: generating digital coordinate data representative of the coordinates of points defining a plurality of model size pattern pieces; storing said coordinate data; grading said stored coordinate data according to predetermined grading rules; displaying on a screen miniature representations of a predetermined size and style of pattern pieces and a miniature representation of a marker area; moving a cursor on said screen for picking selected pattern pieces displayed on said screen and for moving said pattern pieces into said displayed marker area; operating function buttons for arranging and orienting said displayed pattern pieces within said displayed marker area; and plotting a full size marker corresponding to the final arrangement of pattern pieces within said marker area on said screen.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 26 and further comprising operating ones of said function buttons for causing pattern pieces to be moved into abutment with one another within said displayed marker area.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 26 and further comprising: operating ones of said function buttons for causing rotation of selected ones of said displayed pattern pieces within said displayed marker area.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 26 and further comprising generating an alarm indication when pattern pieces overlap one another within said marker area.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |