Fluid-Expandable Body Suit for Garment 3D Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shape-adjustable mannequins offer limited adaptability due to large inflation cavities or bladders, and require complex mechanical solutions like arrays of motorized winches or displaceable pistons. Additionally, there is a need for convenient and accurate 3D image capture of mannequin-modeled garments to simulate the fit on a customer's unique body shape.
Innovation Solution
A shape-adjustable body suit comprising multiple fluid-expandable layers, including an outer skin layer with fluid-expandable cells and additional layers for simulating internal tissue depth. This suit is controlled by a computerized system that uses pressurized fluid to expand cells, allowing for precise emulation of a targeted human body shape. The system also includes sensors for monitoring expansion and pressure, and is compatible with a rotational support structure for comprehensive image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If large inflation cavities or bladders are used in mannequins, then shape adjustability is achieved, but device complexity and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The mannequin body is divided into multiple independent inflatable cells arranged in arrays within layers, rather than using large single cavities or bladders. Each cell can be independently controlled to achieve precise shape adjustment across different body regions, resolving the contradiction by segmenting the inflation system into controllable units that reduce complexity while enhancing adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The mannequin employs a dynamically adjustable structure where the outer skin layer and internal tissue depth layer can be independently inflated or deflated through fluid delivery. This dynamic capability allows continuous shape modification to match various human body types, achieving high adaptability without requiring complex mechanical assemblies
2Adaptability or versatility
If motorized winches or displaceable pistons are used for shape adjustment, then shape adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces motorized winches and displaceable pistons with a pneumatic system using inflatable cells connected to a fluid delivery mechanism. This approach achieves the same shape adjustment function with simpler mechanics, as fluid pressure can be easily controlled and distributed to multiple cells independently, reducing device complexity while maintaining shape adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
Complex mechanical systems (motorized winches, pistons) are substituted with a fluid-based pneumatic system. The inflatable cells respond to fluid pressure changes to adjust shape, eliminating the need for complex mechanical actuators while achieving comparable or superior shape adaptability through easier control of fluid delivery
3Manufacturing precision
If custom fabrication for each customer is performed, then accuracy of body representation is improved, but time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single mannequin unit with multiple inflatable cells can be reconfigured to represent different customer body types through fluid delivery, eliminating the need for custom fabrication for each customer. The universal design allows the same physical mannequin to adapt to various shapes and sizes, achieving customization without the time and cost of custom manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The mannequin's shape is dynamically adjustable through fluid delivery to inflatable cells, allowing rapid reconfiguration between different body representations. This dynamic capability enables quick adaptation to customer-specific shapes without time-consuming custom fabrication processes, maintaining manufacturing precision while reducing time loss
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a highly adaptable and accurate representation of human body shapes, enabling precise fitting of garments and efficient 3D image capture, thus addressing the limitations of prior mannequin technologies.
Implementation Method 1
an outer skin layer comprising an outer plurality of fluid-expandable cells arranged for selective fluid-driven expansion thereof in varying degrees or quantities to create a variable exterior skin contour
Data Source
AI summary
A body suit resembles at least a partial human body form for use in design, customization, alteration, testing and modeling of garments. The suit includes a plurality of fluid-expandable layers, including an outer skin layer divided into an outer plurality of selectively expandable in varying degrees or quantities to create a variable exterior skin contour. One or more additional fluid-expandable layers underlie the outer skin layer to establish a variable internal tissue depth further contributing to an overall outer body contour of the body suit. An exterior of the body suit is colored or colorable in blue or green to enable chroma key isolation of garment adorned over the suit. Sensors are arrayed over the exterior surface area of the suit for dimensional and pressure measurements, and rotational support structures and cooperating 3D scanners and track-based scanner movement enable 3D imaging of the modeled garment.