Wearable measuring device for detecting body measurements of a person and method for manufacturing such a device

Abstract

A wearable measuring device (10) is described, comprising a matrix (12) of elastic textile configured to be worn by a user so as to adhere to at least a part of the user's body on which measurements have to be taken, and a plurality of markers (14) arranged on an outer side of the matrix (12) so as to be visible when the measuring device (10) is worn, to allow photographic images of said markers (14) to be acquired. The markers (14) are printed, in particular by sublimation printing process, on the matrix (12). The measuring device (10) also comprises, for each marker (14), a respective rigid or inelastic reinforcement element (20) applied, in particular by thermal bonding process, onto an inner side of the matrix (12).

Description

[0001] WEARABLE MEASURING DEVICE FOR DETECTING BODY MEASUREMENTS OF A PERSON AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH A DEVICE

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a wearable measuring device for detecting body measurements, intended to be used, for example, to automatically detect body measurements of a person to enable the creation of a tailor-made garment even remotely, i.e. , without the need for the tailor to acquire the body measurements directly on the person to whom the garment is intended.

[0004] According to a further aspect, the present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a wearable measuring device.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Measuring devices are known that are intended to be worn by a person to enable the automatic detection of the body measurements of that person, for example in order to be able to create a tailor-made garment without the need to manually acquire, on site, the body measurements of the person to whom the garment is intended.

[0007] An example of a wearable measuring device is known from international patent application W02022 / 070126 in the Applicant's name. According to this known solution, the wearable measuring device comprises a matrix and a plurality of markers attached to the matrix. The matrix is configured to be worn by the user so that the markers adhere to at least part of the user's body. The matrix is, for example, made as an elastically deformable membrane so that it easily adapts to the shape of the part of the user's body on which it is intended to be worn. In particular, the matrix is made so that, once it is worn, it covers the entire part of the body intended to be covered by the garment to be made. The matrix may, for example, be a kind of suit which, when it is worn, covers the user's torso, arms and legs. The markers are rigid elements, or rather elements configured so as not to deform when the matrix is worn by the user. Each marker includes a graphic sign placed on the side of the marker opposite to the side facing the matrix, so that, once the matrix is worn, the graphic signs are exposed in such a manner as to allow a photographic image thereof to be taken.

[0008] A wearable measuring device such as that known from W02022 / 070126 is rather complicated and expensive to manufacture, as it requires the various markers to be attached one by one to the matrix. Furthermore, errors may occur in the positioning andsubsequent attachment of the various markers to the matrix, making it very difficult to ensure sufficient uniformity in the manufacture of the measuring devices thus produced. US11468651 proposes a similar wearable measuring device, comprising a matrix or substrate of elastically deformable textile material, on which a plurality of markers made of non-elastic material are fixed, so as not to deform due to the expansion of the matrix when the latter is worn. For example, the markers may be made of metal or plastic material. However, such a measuring device suffers from the same drawbacks mentioned above with reference to document W02022 / 070126. According to an alternative embodiment, the markers are made of elastic material, just like the matrix. In this case, however, when the measuring device is worn, the markers deform due to the expansion of the matrix, and therefore the graphic signs on the markers also deform, which may create problems during the acquisition of images of the graphic signs for the purpose of determining the body measurements of the person wearing the measuring device.

[0009] Summary

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the abovediscussed prior art by providing a wearable measuring device that can be manufactured with greater repeatability and at a lower cost than the prior art.

[0011] This and other objects are fully achieved, according to one aspect of the present invention, by a wearable measuring device as defined in the attached independent claim 1, and, according to a further aspect of the present invention, by a method for manufacturing a wearable measuring device as defined in the attached independent claim 6.

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the wearable measuring device according to the invention, as well as preferred modes for carrying out the method for manufacturing a wearable measuring device according to the invention, are defined in the dependent claims, the subject-matter of which is to be understood as forming an integral part of the following description.

[0013] In summary, the invention is based on the idea of manufacturing the wearable measuring device by printing, in particular by sublimation printing process, a plurality of markers, each having a graphic sign different from the graphic signs of the other markers, on one side (outer side) of a matrix made of elastic textile and attaching on the opposite side (inner side) of the matrix, in correspondence with each marker, a respective rigid orinelastic reinforcement element, i.e., a respective reinforcement element made of a material that does not deform when the matrix is worn by the user.

[0014] Thanks to this method for manufacturing the measuring device, in particular thanks to the fact that the markers are printed directly onto the matrix, the positioning of the markers on the matrix is more precise than in the case where the markers are formed as rigid elements that must be attached to the matrix.

[0015] The risk of errors related to the exchange of positions of the various markers is also thereby eliminated: since each marker has a respective graphic sign different from those of all the other markers, as it contains, among other things, information relating to the position of that marker, exchanging the positions of two or more markers would, in fact, mean making errors in one or more measurements.

[0016] Furthermore, thanks to the fact that, on the inner side of the matrix, a respective rigid or inelastic reinforcement element is applied for each marker, the graphic signs present in each marker are prevented from deforming when the measuring device is worn by the user.

[0017] Brief description of the drawings

[0018] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, given purely byway of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] - Figure 1 shows an example of a measuring device according to the present invention, in the worn condition;

[0020] - Figure 2 shows a series of markers that can be used on a measuring device according to the present invention;

[0021] - Figure 3 shows in detail one of the markers of the measuring device of Figure 1 ; and - Figure 4 shows one of the rigid or inelastic reinforcement elements provided on the inner side of the matrix of the measuring device of Figure 1.

[0022] Detailed description

[0023] With reference first to Figure 1, a wearable measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated by 10.

[0024] The measuring device 10 comprises a matrix 12 on which a plurality of markers 14 are printed at specific points on the matrix 12 so as to allow, once the measuring device 10has been worn, the main user's body measurements (or at least all those necessary to allow, for example, the creation of the tailor-made garment to be manufactured) to be determined by acquiring images of the measuring device 10 and processing these images to measure the distance between appropriately selected pairs of markers 14. A measuring device such as the one proposed here can also be used for other purposes, such as detecting the movement of parts of the user's body for biomechanical analysis, or monitoring changes in the user's body measurements over time, for example in order to implement a proper nutritional programme.

[0025] In the example in Figure 1, the matrix 12 is configured as a one-piece suit, which covers both the torso and the limbs (upper and lower) of the user when worn, but other configurations are also possible for the matrix, such as a long trouser configuration, covering only the user's pelvis and legs, or a long-sleeved shirt configuration, covering only the user's torso and arms. However, the matrix might also be configured, for example, as a sock, in order to detect the measurements of the user's feet, or as a cap, in order to detect the measurements of the user's head.

[0026] Regardless of the configuration adopted, the matrix 12 is made of elastic textile so that it adheres perfectly to the user's body when worn. The elastic textile used to make the matrix 12 must be a printable textile, preferably light in colour, particularly white. In particular, the elastic textile of the matrix 12 is preferably printable at high temperatures so that it can be machine washed.

[0027] The markers 14 are printed on a same side, namely the outer side, of the matrix 12, so that they are visible once the matrix is worn. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each marker 14 has a graphic sign 16 which is formed by one or more light areas and one or more dark areas. The graphic sign 16 may be contained within a perimetral edge 18, for example circular in shape. In the example shown herein, the graphic signs 16 are square in shape, but they might also be of a different shape.

[0028] The graphic signs 16 contained in the various markers 14 of each measuring device 10 are different from each other and each contain at least one piece of information relating to the position of the respective marker 14 on the matrix 12, so that from the images of the measuring device 10 acquired in the worn condition by means of a camera, it is possible to determine exactly, for each marker 14, its position on the matrix 12 and thus establish for which pairs of markers 14 to measure the relating distance in order to determine the user's body measurements.

[0029] Figure 2 shows some examples of markers 14, which, as can be seen from this figure,not only differ from each other in their respective graphic signs 16, but may also differ from each other in size. For example, there may be a first series of larger markers (shown in the left-hand column in Figure 2) and a second series of smaller markers (shown in the right-hand column in Figure 2), which may also have a square graphic sign like the markers in the first series, but with a side of shorter length.

[0030] Finally, as shown in Figure 4, on the inner side of the matrix 12, in correspondence with each marker 14, a respective rigid or inelastic reinforcement element 20 is applied, for example by thermal bonding, i.e. , a respective reinforcement element made of a material that does not deform when the matrix 12 is worn by the user.

[0031] Preferably, each reinforcement element 20 has a shape and size substantially corresponding to those of the perimetral edge 18 of the respective marker 14, but it is nevertheless possible that at least some of the reinforcement elements 20 have a shape and / or size different from those of the respective markers 14. Thanks to the application of the reinforcement elements 20 in correspondence with the markers 14, when the matrix 12 is worn by the user, the markers 14, and therefore the graphic signs 16 contained in each of them, do not deform together with the matrix 12. The procedure for detecting the user's body measurements by processing images from the measuring device, acquired for example via a smartphone camera, is thus more accurate and reliable.

[0032] The measuring device 10 described above can be advantageously obtained by a method comprising the steps described below.

[0033] First, the markers 14 are printed on the outer side of the matrix 12, preferably by sublimation printing process. Once the markers 14 have been printed, the reinforcing elements 20 are attached to the inner side of the matrix 12, preferably by thermal bonding process. The two operations of printing the markers 14 and applying the reinforcing elements 20 might also be carried out simultaneously.

[0034] With such a method, it is possible to produce measuring devices with a large number of markers scattered throughout the various areas of the matrix, and therefore a correspondingly large number of measuring points, with reduced time and costs. Compared to applying one marker at a time onto the matrix, by gluing or welding, this method allows to provide a greater number of measuring points or, for the same number of measuring points, to reduce the time and cost required to manufacture the measuring device.

[0035] Furthermore, unlike the known process of gluing or welding markers onto the matrix,which can lead to errors in the positioning of the markers, the present invention avoids such errors as all markers are printed together on the matrix.

[0036] Along with the printing of the markers, other graphics can also be printed on the matrix, for example for marketing purposes, thus obtaining customised measuring devices. The present invention has been described herein with reference to possible embodiments or modes of implementation thereof. It is understood that other embodiments or modes of implementation may be envisaged, which share the same inventive core as those described herein, as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Wearable measuring device (10), comprising:- a matrix (12) of elastic textile configured to be worn by a user so as to adhere to at least part of the user's body on which measurements have to be taken; and- a plurality of markers (14) arranged on an outer side of the matrix (12) so as to be visible in the worn condition of the measuring device (10) to allow to take photographic images of said markers (14), wherein each marker (14) comprises a respective graphic sign (16) formed by one or more light areas and one or more dark areas; characterizedin that the markers (14) are printed on the matrix (12), andin that it further comprises, for each marker (14), a respective rigid or inelastic reinforcing element (20) applied onto an inner side of the matrix (12).

2. Measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the markers (14) are printed on the matrix (12) by sublimation printing process.

3. Measuring device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each marker (14) further comprises a perimetral edge (18) which surrounds the respective graphic sign (16).

4. Measuring device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said graphic signs (16) are different from each other.

5. Measuring device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said reinforcing elements (20) are applied onto the matrix (12) by thermal bonding process.

6. Method for manufacturing a wearable measuring device (10), of the type comprising a matrix (12) of elastic textile configured to be worn by a user so as to adhere to at least part of the user's body on which measurements have to be taken, and a plurality of markers (14) arranged on an outer side of the matrix (12) so as to be visible in the worn condition of the measuring device (10) to allow to take photographic images of said markers (14), wherein each marker (14) comprises a respective graphic sign (16) formed by one or more light areas and one or more dark areas,characterized in that it comprises the steps of:a) printing the markers (14) on the matrix (12); andb) for each marker (14), applying a respective rigid or inelastic reinforcing element (20) onto an inner side of the matrix (12).

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein said step a) is performed by sublimation printing process.

8. Method according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said step b) is performed by thermal bonding process.

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