초록 ▼

A system for automated decoration of an item comprising the steps of: installing print generating software on a computer with a memory (e.g. a server); linking an input system (e.g. a web site) to the computer; allowing a customer to select an item (customer selection), preferably a fabric item, via

A system for automated decoration of an item comprising the steps of: installing print generating software on a computer with a memory (e.g. a server); linking an input system (e.g. a web site) to the computer; allowing a customer to select an item (customer selection), preferably a fabric item, via the input system; allowing the customer to specify a decoration (customer specification) for the item via the input system; generating a print image for the item from the customer selection and specification with the print generating software; and sending the print image from the computer to a printer, which is preferably a dye sublimation printer.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for automated decoration of a three dimensional item comprising the steps of: a) providing an input system;b) providing print generating software;c) providing a computer; said computer having a memory;d) providing a fabric printer;e) connecting said fabric printer to said computerf) inst

1. A method for automated decoration of a three dimensional item comprising the steps of: a) providing an input system;b) providing print generating software;c) providing a computer; said computer having a memory;d) providing a fabric printer;e) connecting said fabric printer to said computerf) installing said print generating software on said computer;g) installing an electronic library of two-dimensional templates on said computer; each of said templates comprising a plurality of two-dimensional pattern pieces; at least one of said pattern pieces having at least one location for a decoration; said two-dimensional pattern pieces being adapted for assembly into a virtual three dimensional item; said pattern pieces being use to fabricate two dimensional fabric pieces for assembly into a three dimensional item;h) linking said input system to said computer;i) allowing a customer to select at least one template (customer selection) via said input system;j) allowing said customer to specify a background pattern for said templates comprising said virtual item;k) allowing said customer to specify said decoration (customer specification) in steps for said templates comprising said virtual item via said input system;l) electronically laying out said decoration on said template with said print generating software;m) generating a two-dimensional print image with said print generating software; said print image being the plurality of pattern pieces for the combination of said customer selection and specification; said print image being designed for printing with a dye sublimation printer;n) virtually assembling said plurality of pattern pieces into said virtual three dimensional item;o) displaying said virtual, three dimensional item on a virtual model on said input system;p) allowing said displayed virtual, three dimensional item on said virtual model to be virtually viewed from different sides of said virtual model;q) updating said displayed virtual, three dimensional item and said decoration with each of said steps; andr) sending said print image from said computer to said fabric printer. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said template for a three dimensional item is selected from the group consisting of pants, shorts, shirts and jackets. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which said customer specification includes: a color, a graphic, a graphic placement, text, text style, text placement, a name, a name placement, a number, a number placement, a size and a quantity. 4. A method as claimed in claim 3 in which the step of generating a print image comprises the steps of: a) coloring said template according to said customer specification; andb) placing said graphic, said text, said name and said number on said template according to said customer specification. 5. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising the steps of: a) cutting said pattern pieces from a fabric whereby fabric pieces in the shapes of said pattern pieces are created;b) loading said fabric pieces into said printer;c) printing said print image onto said fabric pieces; andd) sewing said fabric pieces together to form said three dimensional item. 6. A method as claimed in claim 5 in which said printing step is dye-sublimation printing. 7. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising the steps of: a) creating a print marker for said pattern pieces;b) creating a cutting marker for said pattern pieces;c) loading said fabric into said printer;d) printing said print image onto said fabric;e) cutting said pattern pieces whereby fabric pieces in the shapes of said pattern pieces are created; andf) sewing said fabric pieces together to form said three dimensional item. 8. A method as claimed in claim 7 in which said printing step is dye-sublimation printing. 9. A method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising the step of allowing said customer to modify said specification via said input system. 10. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising the steps of: a) saving said print image in said memory;b) assigning a retrieval code to said print image; andc) allowing said customer to perform customer selection and specification again by inputting said retrieval code to said input method. 11. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the step of including said retrieval code in said print image. 12. A method for automated decoration of a three dimensional item comprising the steps of: a) providing an input system;b) providing print generating software;c) providing a computer; said computer having a memory;d) providing a fabric printer;e) connecting said fabric printer to said computerf) installing said print generating software on said computer;g) installing an electronic library of two-dimensional templates on said computer; each of said templates comprising a plurality of two-dimensional pattern pieces; at least one of said pattern pieces having at least one location for a decoration; said two-dimensional pattern pieces being adapted for assembly into said three dimensional item; h) linking said input system to said computer;h) allowing a customer to select an three dimensional item (customer selection) via said input system;i) allowing said customer to specify a background pattern for said templates comprising said virtual item;j) selecting at least one of said templates based on said customer selection;k) allowing said customer to specify said decoration (customer specification) in steps for said three dimensional item via said input system;l) electronically laying out said decoration on said template with said print generating software;m) generating a two-dimensional print image with said print generating software; said print image being the plurality of pattern pieces for the combination of said customer selection and specification; said print image being designed for printing with a dye sublimation printer;n) virtually assembling said plurality of pattern pieces into a virtual three dimensional item;o) displaying said virtual, three dimensional item on a virtual model on said input system;p) allowing said virtual, three dimensional item on said virtual model to be virtually viewed from different sides of said virtual model;q) updating said displayed virtual, three dimensional item and said decoration with each of said steps; andr) sending said print image from said computer to said fabric printer. 13. A method as claimed in claim 12 in which said three dimensional item is selected from the group consisting of pants, shorts, shirts and jackets. 14. A method as claimed in claim 12 in which said customer specification includes: a color, a graphic, a graphic placement, text, text style, text placement, a name, a name placement, a number, a number placement, a size and a quantity. 15. A method as claimed in claim 14 in which the step of generating a print image comprises the steps of: a) coloring said template according to said customer specification; andb) placing said graphic, said text, said name and said number on said pattern according to said customer specification. 16. A method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising the steps of: a) cutting said pattern pieces from a fabric whereby fabric pieces in the shapes of said pattern pieces are created;;b) loading said fabric pieces into said printer;c) printing said print image onto said fabric pieces; andd) sewing said fabric pieces together to form said three dimensional item. 17. A method as claimed in claim 16 in which said printing step is dye-sublimation printing. 18. A method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising the steps of: a) creating a print marker for said pattern;b) creating a cutting marker for said pattern pieces;c) loading said fabric into said printer;d) printing said print image onto said fabric;e) cutting said pattern pieces whereby fabric pieces in the shapes of said pattern pieces are created; andf) sewing said fabric pieces together to form said three dimensional item. 19. A method as claimed in claim 18 in which said printing step is dye-sublimation printing. 20. A method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising the steps of: a) saving said print image in said memory;b) assigning a retrieval code to said print image; andc) allowing said customer to perform customer selection and specification again by inputting said retrieval code to said input system. 21. A method as claimed in claim 20 further comprising the step of allowing said customer to modify said specification via said input system. 22. A method as claimed in claim 20 further comprising the step of including said retrieval code in said print image.