Methods for manufacturing individualized protective gear from scan and resulting products
A method for manufacturing individualized protective gear such as pads based on a scan, and the resulting pads, are disclosed herein. A garment comprising a pocket with a visibly defined border is selected. A wearer dons the garment. A scan is taken of at least a portion of the garment over the wearer's body at the location where the pocket is disposed over the wearer's body. The scan is converted to a mesh model. The mesh model is used to define a first surface of the equipment configured to form to the wearer's body at the location where the pocket is disposed over the wearer's body and a second surface offset from the first surface. The model may be checked to identify production defects, which, if present, are removed. The equipment may be manufactured using additive printing technology.
1 . A method for fabricating equipment to be worn on a wearer's body, comprising:
a) selecting a garment comprising a marked section with a visibly defined border, wherein the marked section is a pocket;
b) donning the garment on the wearer's body;
c) obtaining a scan of at least a portion of the garment as worn on the wearer's body at the location where the marked section is disposed over the wearer's body;
d) preparing a wearer mesh model derived from the scan at the location where the marked section is disposed over on the wearer's body;
e) preparing a model of the equipment, the equipment having a first surface configured to form to the garment at the location where the marked section is disposed over the wearer's body and a second surface offset from the first surface;
f) checking the model of the equipment to identify production defects and, if a production defect is present, removing the defect; and
g) manufacturing the equipment.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the equipment is configured to be received by the pocket.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the shape of the equipment is substantially identical to the shape of the pocket inside of the visibly defined border.
4 . A method for fabricating equipment having a shell portion and a liner portion to be worn by a wearer, comprising:
a) selecting a garment comprising a pocket with a visibly defined border;
b) donning the garment on the wearer's body;
c) obtaining a scan of at least a portion of the garment at the location where the pocket is disposed over the wearer's body;
d) preparing a wearer mesh model derived from the scan at the location where the pocket is disposed over the wearer's body;
e) preparing a model of the shell, the shell having a first surface defined by the wearer mesh model and a second surface translationally offset from and identical to the first surface;
f) checking the model of the shell to identify production defects and, if a production defect is present, removing the defect;
g) preparing a model of a liner by flattening the model of the shell;
h) additively manufacturing the shell;
i) manufacturing the liner; and
j) attaching the liner to the shell.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising linking the model of the shell and the model of the liner to a serial number.
6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising orienting the model of the shell along a principal axis of the model of the shell for additive printing.
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the liner is attached to the shell by adhesively attaching the liner to the shell in a vacuum environment.