Abstract: Automated made-to-measure garment manufacturing method and apparatus. A subject's mesurements are taken with a hand held measuring device and transmitted to a computer. The computer checks to see if the customer's style preference and physique are compatible and if they are, an order is generated. The customer measurements are then transmitted to a remote location for manufacture. At this location a computer has a set of co-ordinates defined for the customer's style in one size. These co-ordinates are modified based upon the actual customer measurements to produce a modified set of co-ordinates which in turn define the garment pieces for that customer. A control tape for a laser cutter is generated and the garment pieces are cut and sewn together. During the post cutting fabrication process, routing sheets for the garment indicate precision assembly steps to insure a quality finished garment is produced. Finally, the custom tailored suit is sent back to the retail outlet and delivered to the subject.

Abstract: A hand held device for taking measurements. The disclosed invention has particular utility for use in taking measurements for tailoring an article of clothing such as a suit. Two embodiments of the device are disclosed. One takes only length measurements and a second takes both length and angle measurements. Each includes a frequency modulated transmitter for sending signals corresponding to the measurements to a separate receiver and storage unit where the measurements are stored for later use in the tailoring process. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the storage unit comprises a personal computer with a visual display that can prompt a user into taking the measurements in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: A cloth spreading apparatus for use with an automatic cloth cutting machine. The apparatus is used in conjunction with a movable cutting surface which conveys cloth to a cutting station. The apparatus includes a spreader frame which moves on rollers along track surfaces adjacent the cloth laying surface to deposit cloth on the stationary surface. To provide this movement the spreader includes a direct current motor with an output coupled to the rollers. The motor speed of rotation is monitored by control circuitry including a tachometer.Mounted to the spreader is a cloth feed carriage which includes a cloth feed motor. The relative speed of the drive motor and cloth feed motor are controlled by feedback circuitry coupled to a drive and feed tachometer. The angle of cloth deposition onto the cutting surface is monitored by a feeler gauge. Whenever this angle deviates from an optimum value the speed of the cloth feed motor is automatically adjusted by circuitry coupled to the cloth roll motor.