Apparatus for use in the making or alteration of garments

Claim 2

Measuring apparatus for use in the making or alteration of garments, comprising: a vertical member; a plurality of supports mounted for vertical movement on said member; a corresponding plurality of substantially parallel elongated elements, each element being mounted for horizontal in-and-out movement on a corresponding one of said supports; sensing means on each element adjacent the outward end thereof for detecting the presence of a person at said outward end, the sensing means on one of said elements including a neck sensor; element drive means fo causing each element to move outward in response to a first control signal, said drive means ceasing to cause said outward movement in response to a second control signal; means coupled to the sensing means on each element for applying said second control signal to said element drive means so that said drive means ceases to cause outward movement of the corresponding element when said sensing means detects the presence of said person; at least one laterally movable shoulder sensing assembly secured to the support associated with the element on which said neck sensor is mounted, said shoulder sensing assembly comprising a rotatable vertically oriented drive screw; a platform mounted on the drive screw, so that said platform moves downward when said screw rotates in a given direction; a screw drive motor for rotating said screw in said given direction; a horizontal sensing arm pivotally mounted on said platform for rotation in a vertical plane, said arm pivoting upon encountering said person during the downward movement of said platform; and a switch responsive to the pivoting of said sensing arm and coupled to said screw drive motor to stop the rotation of said screw when the arm mounted on said downwardly moving platform encounters a shoulder of said person.

Claim 3

Measuring apparatus for use in the making or alteration of garments, comprising: a vertical gear rack; neck, shoulder blade, waist, seat and calf vertical drive assemblies mounted in the order mentioned for vertical movement on said rack, each of said assemblies comprising a housing secured to said gear rack, an electric motor having a drive shaft mounted on said housing, and a drive gear means coupling said drive shaft to said gear rack, so that rotation of said drive shaft when said electric motor is energized results in vertical movement of said assembly along said gear rack; a horizontal neck slide assembly support shelf secured to said neck vertical drive assembly, a neck slide drive assembly mounted on said neck slide assembly support shelf and cooperating therewith to form a guide aperture therebetween, and an elongated neck slide assembly disposed between said neck slide assembly support shelf and said neck slide drive assembly, said neck slide assembly extending through said aperture and being disposed for horizontal movement on said neck slide assembly support shelf; said neck slide assembly having a longitudinal gear rack secured thereto and a longitudinal wire-receiving recess; said neck slide drive assembly comprising a housing secured to said neck slide assembly support shelf, a neck slide drive electric motor having a drive shaft mounted on said housing, and a drive gear means coupling said drive shaft to said neck slide assembly gear rack, so that rotation of said drive shaft when said neck slide drive motor is energized results in horizontal movement of said neck sLide assembly along said neck slide assembly support shelf; a neck sensor assembly secured to one end of said neck slide assembly, said neck sensor assembly comprising a neck sensor housing, a neck sensing lever pivotally mounted on said housing, said neck sensing lever pivoting upon engaging a person during horizontal movement of said one end of said neck slide assembly in a given direction away from said neck slide assembly support shelf, a neck sensor switch disposed within said housing and responsive to the pivoting of said sensing lever, at least one neck sensor electric wire disposed in said longitudinal recess and connected to said neck sensor switch; means for energizing said neck slide drive motor to cause said neck slide assembly to move in said given direction; means coupled to said neck sensor electric wire to stop the movement of said neck slide assembly in said given direction by de-energizing said electric motor when said neck sensing lever engages said person; and neck sensor position indicating means connected to said neck slide assembly support shelf and coupled to said neck slide assembly gear rack for providing an electrical signal indicative of the position of said neck sensing lever with respect to said neck slide assembly support shelf; a horizontal shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf secured to said shoulder blade vertical drive assembly, a shoulder blade slide drive assembly mounted on said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf and cooperating therewith to form a second guide aperture therebetween, and an elongated shoulder blade slide assembly disposed between said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf and said shoulder blade slide drive assembly, said shoulder blade slide assembly extending through said second guide aperture and being disposed for horizontal movement on said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf; said shoulder blade slide assembly having a longitudinal gear rack secured thereto and a longitudinal wire-receiving recess; said shoulder blade slide drive assembly comprising a housing secured to said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf, a shoulder blade slide drive electric motor having a drive shaft mounted on said housing, and a drive gear means coupling said drive shaft to said shoulder blade slide assembly gear rack, so that rotation of said drive shaft when said shoulder blade slide drive motor is energized results in horizontal movement of said shoulder blade slide assemblY along said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf; a shoulder blade sensor assembly secured to one end of said shoulder blade slide assembly, said shoulder blade sensor assembly comprising a shoulder blade sensor housing structure, a pair of laterally spaced shoulder blade sensing levers pivotally mounted on said housing structure, each of said shoulder blade sensing levers pivoting upon engaging said person during horizontal movement of said one end of said shoulder blade slide assembly in said given direction away from said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf, at least one shoulder blade sensor switch disposed within said housing structure and responsive to the pivoting of at least one of said shoulder blade sensing levers, at least one shoulder blade sensor electric wire disposed in said longitudinal recess and connected to said shOulder blade sensor switch; means for energizing said shoulder blade slide drive motor to cause said shoulder blade slide assembly to move in said given direction; means coupled to said shoulder blade sensor electric wire to stop the movement of said shoulder blade slide assembly in said given direction by de-energizing said shoulder blade slide drive motor when said at least one shoulder blade sensing lever engages said person; and shoulder blade sensor position indicating means connected to said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf and coupled to said shoulder blade slide assembly gear rack for providing an electrical Signal indicative of the position of said shoulder blade sensing levers with respect to said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf; a horizontal waist slide assembly support shelf secured to said waist vertical drive assembly, a waist slide drive assembly mounted on said waist slide assembly support shelf and cooperating therewith to form a third guide aperture therebetween, and an elongated waist slide assembly disposed between said waist slide assembly support shelf and said waist slide drive assembly, said waist slide assembly extending through said third guide aperture and being disposed for horizontal movement on said waist slide assembly support shelf; said waist slide assembly having a longitudinal gear rack secured thereto and a longitudinal wire-receiving recess; said waist slide drive assembly comprising a housing secured to said waist slide assembly support shelf, a waist slide drive electric motor having a drive shaft mounted on said housing, and a drive gear means coupling said drive shaft to said waist slide assembly gear rack, so that rotation of said drive shaft when said waist slide drive motor is energized results in horizontal movement of said waist slide assembly along said waist slide assembly support shelf; a waist sensor assembly secured to one end of said waist slide assembly, said waist sensor assembly comprising a waist sensor housing, a waist sensing lever pivotally mounted on said waist sensor housing, said waist sensing lever pivoting upon engaging said person during horizontal movement of said one end of said waist slide assembly in said given direction away from said waist slide assembly support shelf, a waist sensor switch disposed within said housing and responsive to the pivoting of said waist sensing lever, at least one waist sensor electric wire disposed in said longitudinal recess and connected to said waist sensor switch; means for energizing said waist slide drive motor to cause said waist slide assembly to move in said given direction; means coupled to said waist sensor electric wire to stop the movement of said waist slide assembly in said given direction by de-energizing said waist slide drive motor when said waist sensing lever engages said person; and waist sensor position indicating means connected to said waist slide assembly support shelf and

Claim 4

Measuring apparatus for use in the making or alteration of garments, comprising: a vertical gear rack; neck, shoulder blade, waist, seat and calf vertical drive assemblies mounted in the order mentioned for vertical movement on said rack, each of said assemblies comprising a housing secured to said gear rack, an electric motor having a drive shaft mounted on said housing, and a drive gear means coupling said drive shaft to said gear rack, so that rotation of said drive shaft when said electric motor is energized results in vertical movement of said assembly along said gear rack; a horizontal neck slide assembly support shelf secured to said neck vertical drive assembly, a neck slide drive assembly mounted on said neck slide assembly support shelf and cooperating therewith to form a guide aperture therebetween, and an elongated neck slide assembly disposed between said neck slide assembly support shelf and said neck slide drive assembly, said neck slide assembly extending through said aperture and being disposed for horizontal movement on said neck slide assembly support shelf; said neck slide assembly having a longitudinal gear rack secured thereto and a longitudinal wire-receiving recess; said neck slide drive assembly comprising a housing secured to said neck slide assembly support shelf, a neck slide drive electric motor having a drive shaft mounted on said housing, and a drive gear means coupling said drive shaft to said neck slide assembly gear rack, so that rotation of said drive shaft when said neck slide drive motor is energized results in horizontal movement of said neck sLide assembly along said neck slide assembly support shelf; a neck sensor assembly secured to one end of said neck slide assembly, said neck sensor assembly comprising a neck sensor housing, a neck sensing lever pivotally mounted on said housing, said neck sensing lever pivoting upon engaging a person during horizontal movement of said one end of said neck slide assembly in a given direction away from said neck slide assembly support shelf, a neck sensor switch disposed within said housing and responsive to the pivoting of said sensing lever, at least one neck sensor electric wire disposed in said longitudinal recess and connected to said neck sensor switch; means for energizing said neck slide drive motor to cause said neck slide assembly to move in said given direction; means coupled to said neck sensor electric wire to stop the movement of said neck slide assembly in said given direction by de-energizing said electric motor when said neck sensing lever engages said person; and neck sensor position indicating means connected to said neck slide assembly support shelf and coupled to said neck slide assembly gear rack for providing an electrical signal indicative of the position of said neck sensing lever with respect to said neck slide assembly support shelf; a horizontal shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf secured to said shoulder blade vertical drive assembly, a shoulder blade slide drive assembly mounted on said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf and cooperating therewith to form a second guide aperture therebetween, and an elongated shoulder blade slide assembly disposed between said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf and said shoulder blade slide drive assembly, said shoulder blade slide assembly extending through said second guide aperture and being disposed for horizontal movement on said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf; said shoulder blade slide assembly having a longitudinal gear rack secured thereto and a longitudinal wire-receiving recess; said shoulder blade slide drive assembly comprising a housing secured to said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf, a shoulder blade slide drive electric motor having a drive shaft mounted on said housing, and a drive gear means coupling said drive shaft to said shoulder blade slide assembly gear rack, so that rotation of said drive shaft when said shoulder blade slide drive motor is energized results in horizontal movement of said shoulder blade slide assemblY along said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf; a shoulder blade sensor assembly secured to one end of said shoulder blade slide assembly, said shoulder blade sensor assembly comprising a shoulder blade sensor housing structure, a pair of laterally spaced shoulder blade sensing levers pivotally mounted on said housing structure, each of said shoulder blade sensing levers pivoting upon engaging said person during horizontal movement of said one end of said shoulder blade slide assembly in said given direction away from said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf, at least one shoulder blade sensor switch disposed within said housing structure and responsive to the pivoting of at least one of said shoulder blade sensing levers, at least one shoulder blade sensor electric wire disposed in said longitudinal recess and connected to said shOulder blade sensor switch; means for energizing said shoulder blade slide drive motor to cause said shoulder blade slide assembly to move in said given direction; means coupled to said shoulder blade sensor electric wire to stop the movement of said shoulder blade slide assembly in said given direction by de-energizing said shoulder blade slide drive motor when said at least one shoulder blade sensing lever engages said person; and shoulder blade sensor position indicating means connected to said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf and coupled to said shoulder blade slide assembly gear rack for providing an electrical Signal indicative of the position of said shoulder blade sensing levers with respect to said shoulder blade slide assembly support shelf; a horizontal waist slide assembly support shelf secured to said waist vertical drive assembly, a waist slide drive assembly mounted on said waist slide assembly support shelf and cooperating therewith to form a third guide aperture therebetween, and an elongated waist slide assembly disposed between said waist slide assembly support shelf and said waist slide drive assembly, said waist slide assembly extending through said third guide aperture and being disposed for horizontal movement on said waist slide assembly support shelf; said waist slide assembly having a longitudinal gear rack secured thereto and a longitudinal wire-receiving recess; said waist slide drive assembly comprising a housing secured to said waist slide assembly support shelf, a waist slide drive electric motor having a drive shaft mounted on said housing, and a drive gear means coupling said drive shaft to said waist slide assembly gear rack, so that rotation of said drive shaft when said waist slide drive motor is energized results in horizontal movement of said waist slide assembly along said waist slide assembly support shelf; a waist sensor assembly secured to one end of said waist slide assembly, said waist sensor assembly comprising a waist sensor housing, a waist sensing lever pivotally mounted on said waist sensor housing, said waist sensing lever pivoting upon engaging said person during horizontal movement of said one end of said waist slide assembly in said given direction away from said waist slide assembly support shelf, a waist sensor switch disposed within said housing and responsive to the pivoting of said waist sensing lever, at least one waist sensor electric wire disposed in said longitudinal recess and connected to said waist sensor switch; means for energizing said waist slide drive motor to cause said waist slide assembly to move in said given direction; means coupled to said waist sensor electric wire to stop the movement of said waist slide assembly in said given direction by de-energizing said waist slide drive motor when said waist sensing lever engages said person; and waist sensor position indicating means connected to said waist slide assembly support shelf and

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said position indicating means comprises: pulse generating means responsive to horizontal movement of the corresponding slide assembly, said pulse generating means providing at least one pulse corresponding to a given increment of movement of said corresponding slide assembly; and means for counting said pulses to provide an output signal indicative of the total number of said increments traversed by said corresponding slide assembly.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said pulse generating means comprises a cam coupled for rotation with the movement of said corresponding slide assembly, a pulsing switch positioned for recurrent actuation by rotation of said cam and a digital counting circuit coupled to said pulsing switch.