U.S. patent application number 11/252072 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-03 for method of selecting optimum clothing style based on individually-assessed body type.
Invention is credited to Cheryl Burrell, Pamela Pryor.
Application Number | 20070100491 11/252072 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37997558 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070100491 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burrell; Cheryl ; et
al. |
May 3, 2007 |
Method of selecting optimum clothing style based on
individually-assessed body type
Abstract
A method of selecting an optimum clothing style based on
individually-assessed body type. The method comprises the steps of
a shopper, interacting with a retail entity, which provides a body
type identification system, through which a shopper can assess and
select a clothing style optimally-suited for a particular body
type.
Inventors: |
Burrell; Cheryl;
(Minneapolis, MN) ; Pryor; Pamela; (St. Paul,
MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
INSKEEP INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP, INC
2281 W. 190TH STREET
SUITE 200
TORRANCE
CA
90504
US
|
Family ID: |
37997558 |
Appl. No.: |
11/252072 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/138 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/138 |
International
Class: |
D05C 5/02 20060101
D05C005/02 |
Claims
1. A method of selecting optimum clothing style based on
individually-assessed body type, comprising the steps of: (a) a
shopper; (b) interacting with a retail entity; (c) said retail
entity providing a body type identification system; and (d) at
least one clothing item; wherein the body type identification
system informs the shopper of at least one clothing item that
optimally suits at least one perceivable body type.
2. The method in claim 1, wherein the shopper assesses and
subsequently selects an optimally-suited clothing item, based on
the perceivable body type.
3. The method in claim 1, wherein the shopper's interaction with
the retail entity occurs at a physical brick-and-mortar
establishment.
4. The method in claim 1, wherein the shopper's interaction with
the retail entity occurs via a web-based application.
5. The method in claim 1, wherein the body type identification
system comprises a two-dimensional description of the perceivable
body type.
6. The method in claim 1, wherein the body type identification
system comprises a three-dimensional description of the perceivable
body type.
7. The body type identification system in claim 1, wherein the
perceivable body type is associated with a color.
8. The body type identification system in claim 1, wherein the
perceivable body type is associated with a body shape label.
9. The body type identification system in claim 1, wherein the
perceivable body type is a custom-designed mannequin.
10. A method of selecting optimum clothing style based on
individually-assessed body type, comprising the steps of: (a) a
shopper; (b) interacting with a retail entity; (c) said retail
entity providing a body type identification system, comprising at
least one perceivable body type, and (d) at least one clothing
item;
11. The method in claim 10, wherein the shopper assesses and
subsequently selects an optimally-suited clothing item, based on
the perceivable body type.
12. The method in claim 10, wherein the body type identification
system comprises a two-dimensional description of the perceivable
body type.
13. The body type identification system in claim 12, wherein the
two-dimensional description comprises a color associated with the
perceivable body type.
14. The body type identification system in claim 12, wherein the
two-dimensional description comprises a written description of the
perceivable body type.
15. The method in claim 10, wherein the body type identification
system comprises a three-dimensional description of the perceivable
body type.
16. The three-dimensional description in claim 14, wherein the
three-dimensional description comprises a custom-designed
mannequin.
17. The three-dimensional description in claim 14, wherein the
three-dimensional description is a label comprising the shape of
the perceivable body type.
18. A method of selecting optimum clothing style based on
individually-assessed body type, comprising the steps of: (a) a
shopper; (b) interacting with a retail entity; (d) said retail
entity providing a body-type identification system, comprising at
least one perceivable body type; (e) said retail entity providing
at least one clothing item, wherein the body type identification
system informs the shopper of at least one clothing item provided
by the retail entity that optimally suits the perceivable body type
and wherein the shopper assesses and subsequently selects the
optimally-suited clothing item; and (f) said shopper recording the
individual body type information with the retail establishment for
future use by the shopper and/or retail entity.
19. The method in claim 18, wherein the shopper records individual
body type information at the physical brick-and-mortar retail
establishment.
20. The method in claim 18, wherein the shopper records individual
body type information via a web-based application.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] People have been shopping at retail establishments for
decades, for all manners of basic household, domestic and textile
goods. Brick-and-mortar retail establishments (hereinafter
"retailers") arrange products on the premises with a variety of
factors in mind. Specifically with regard to retailers that sell
clothing, product arrangement on the premises is typically
distinguished by departments which are often further arranged by
gender, designers and ages. Retailers further employ strategies for
promoting newer clothing lines by placing items near the most
accessible areas of the retail establishment in order to generate
the most profitable sales, whereas typically discounted items are
placed in less accessible areas of a particular department. On-line
or web-based retailers also arrange products on-line for purchase
by shoppers. Typically, products are again organized by gender,
design and ages via various links or listings.
[0002] The clothing selected for sale by retailers is typically
driven by the fashion industry. Thus, the clothing made available
to the public is driven by and modeled after those fashions
presented by the fashion industry (also referred to as "fashion
trends"). Retailers typically provide clothing based on the fashion
trends, without consideration to whether particular clothing styles
are suited to particular body types. Fashion trends, in and of
themselves, do not generally develop or evolve for the purpose of
optimally suiting a variety of body types. Subsequently, consumers
shop for clothing without regard or knowledge as to their
particular body types and/or which clothing styles most
optimally-suit their particular body types.
[0003] Personal shoppers are sometimes hired to consult with and
shop on behalf of clients, choosing color palettes and clothing
styles that are appropriate to the individual body type and
personal characteristics of the client. This is mostly due to a
client's need to find professional and/or optimally-suited clothing
styles, when the client does not have time to shop for
himself/herself. However, personal shoppers are often quite
expensive to hire and thus those services are not accessible to the
average consumer.
[0004] Further, the consuming public is often ill-educated as to
their individual body types and which particular clothing items and
styles are the most well-suited to their individual body types. At
all levels of economic status, people want to convey an image of
confidence, professionalism and sophistication with regards to
personal appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates to a method of selecting
optimum clothing style based on individually-assessed body type.
The method comprises the steps of
[0006] (a) a shopper;
[0007] (b) interacting with a retail entity;
[0008] (c) said retail entity providing a body type identification
system; and
[0009] (d) at least one clothing item;
[0010] wherein the body type identification system informs the
shopper of at least one clothing item that optimally suits at least
one perceivable body type.
[0011] The shopper is further able to assess and select a
subsequent optimally-suited clothing item based on a particular
body type.
[0012] One object of the present invention is to provide a method
for retail entities to assist an individual in identifying his or
her individual body-type.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide
individuals with a method of selecting an optimally-suited clothing
style associated with an identified body type.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of the method of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of exemplary body types as
described in the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a method of selecting optimum clothing style
based on individually-assessed body type 10. The process includes a
shopper 20. The shopper 20 may include, but is not limited to, the
ultimate purchaser and user of the clothing or a personal shopper
employed for purposes of selecting clothing for a client. The
shopper 20 then interacts with a retail entity 22, which may
include, but is not limited to, a brick-and-mortar retail
establishment and/or a web-based (on-line) application administered
or used by a retail establishment.
[0017] FIG. 1 further depicts the shopper 20 interacting with a
retail entity 22, which provides a body-type identification system
24. The body-type identification system 24, may be provided in
association with SHAPES.TM. brand retail services and products. The
body-type identification system 24 involves assessment of at least
one perceivable body type 26. Body types are perceivable at least
two-dimensionally 28. Examples of two-dimensional representations
of body types may include written descriptions, including but not
limited to, literature describing dimensions, colors, and shapes;
books; advertising and promotional materials; pamphlets;
questionnaires and other written tools. Body types are further
perceivable at least three-dimensionally 30. Examples of
three-dimensional representations of body types may include, but
are not limited to, labels, mannequins and other physical tools and
representations that inform perception of a three-dimensional body
type.
[0018] FIG. 1 further depicts the retail entity 22 providing an
association of an optimally-suited clothing style with the
perceivable body type 32. The retail entity 22 may establish such
an association through study, consultation and/or advisement with
persons of ordinary skill in the art to determine the
optimally-suited clothing style with the perceivable body type 32.
Such persons of ordinary skill may include, but are not limited to,
fashion design experts and personal stylists.
[0019] FIG. 1 further depicts that the shopper 20 assesses and
selects individual body type and subsequent optimally-suited
clothing item 34. The assessment is based on the shopper's
determination of a perceived body type 30 and specific physical
characteristics selected by the shopper. The subsequent selection
is based on the aforementioned determination of perceived body type
30, coupled with the aforementioned retail entity's association of
the optimally-suited clothing style with the perceived body type
30.
[0020] FIG. 2 provides exemplary perceivable body types 26,
including, but not limited to, type G, type P, type A, type L, and
type C, as described therein. Exemplary perceivable body types 26
may further include, but are not limited to, colors. Examples of
colors may include, but are not limited to, blue, red, green,
purple and orange. Exemplary perceivable body types 26 may further
include, but are not limited to, combinations of shapes, colors and
written and physical descriptions as referenced herein.
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