IP Library Granted Patent US 11,000,086
Granted Patent B2
US 11,000,086 · App. 16/288,042 · Granted May 11, 2021

Apparel design system with collection management

Inventors: Debdulal Mahanty (Fremont, CA); Benjamin Bell (San Francisco, CA); Christopher Schultz (San Francisco, CA); Jennifer Schultz (San Francisco, CA); Jeff Zens (Emeryville, CA)
Assignee: Levi Strauss & Co.
A41H43/00A41D1/06A41D27/00A41D27/08A41H3/08B23K26/352D03D1/00D06C23/00D06C23/02D06M10/005G05B19/4097G06F3/011G06F3/0482G06F3/04845G06F30/00G06F30/12G06F30/17G06F30/20G06Q10/06315G06Q30/0621G06Q30/0643G06T3/005G06T19/006G06T19/20A41D2500/20D03D2700/0174D06C2700/31D10B2201/02D10B2501/04D10B2501/06G05B2219/35008G05B2219/35012G05B2219/45222G06F2111/20G06F2113/12G06T2210/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,000,086
App. No.
16/288,042
Granted
May 11, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system allows a user to create new designs for apparel and preview these designs before manufacture. Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. Users may collaborate while designing the apparel and designate what items should belong in specific collections.

Claims (135)

1. A method comprising:

providing a garment previewing tool that allows previewing on a computer screen of a garment base customized by a user with a finishing pattern, wherein the garment previewing tool includes

providing an option for the user to select the garment base and upon a user's selection, showing a first garment preview image on the computer screen comprising a jeans base image for the selected garment base,

providing an option for the user to select a wear pattern from a menu of wear patterns,

after the wear pattern is selected, showing a second garment preview image on the computer screen comprising the selected wear pattern in combination with the jeans base image, wherein the second garment preview image replaces the first garment preview image,

in the second garment preview image, allowing the user to select the wear pattern and modify a sizing of the wear pattern relative to the jeans base image, wherein as the user makes changes, the modified sizing of the wear pattern is displayed to the user in response to selecting and modifying the sizing of the wear pattern,

in the second garment preview image, allowing the user to select the wear pattern and modify a position of the wear pattern relative to the jeans base image, wherein as the user makes changes, the modified positioning of the wear pattern is displayed to the user in response to selecting and modifying the position of the wear pattern, and

showing a third garment preview image on the computer screen comprising the jeans base image and selected wear pattern, with modified sizing or modified positioning, or a combination,

wherein the second garment preview image is generated by a method comprising

generating an adjusted base image from the jeans base image without the selected wear pattern,

generating a pattern mask based on a laser input file associated with the selected wear pattern,

for a pixel at a pixel location of the second garment preview image, obtaining a first contribution by combining a first value associated with a pixel of the pattern mask at a pattern mask pixel location that corresponds to the pixel location of the second garment preview image and a value of a pixel of the base image at a base image pixel location that corresponds to the pixel location of the second garment preview image,

for the pixel at the pixel location of the second garment preview image, obtaining a second contribution by combining a second value associated with the pixel of the pattern mask at the pattern mask pixel location that corresponds to the pixel location of the second garment preview image and a value of a pixel of the adjusted base image at an adjusted base image pixel location that corresponds to the pixel location of the second garment preview image,

combining the first contribution and second contribution to obtain a combined value for the pixel at the pixel location of the second garment preview image, and

displaying the pixel of the second garment preview image as a color on the computer screen, wherein the color of the pixel corresponds to the combined value;

granting access to a first session of the garment previewing tool on a first device;

granting access to a second session of the garment previewing tool on a second device;

in the first session at the first device, creating a first selected garment using the garment previewing tool and designating the first selected garment as belonging to a first collection;

after the first selected garment has been designated as belonging to the first collection, identifying the second session at the second device as a first collection collaborator; and

after the second session has been identified as the first collection collaborator, transmitting to the second device that the first selected garment belongs to the first collection.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a method of manufacturing a target garment corresponding to the first selected garment comprises:

assembling the target garment from fabric panels of a woven first material comprising a warp comprising indigo ring-dyed cotton yarn, wherein the fabric panels are sewn together using thread.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising:

based on a laser input file corresponding to a wear pattern for the first selected garment, using a laser to remove selected amounts of material from the surface of a material of a target garment at different pixel locations of the garment, and

for lighter pixel locations of the finishing pattern, a greater amount of the indigo ring-dyed cotton warp yarn is removed, while for darker pixel locations of the finishing pattern, a lesser amount of the indigo ring-dyed cotton warp yarn is removed.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising:

when using a laser to create a finishing pattern on a target garment corresponding to the first selected garment, obtaining different laser levels by varying an output of the laser beam by altering a characteristic of the laser comprising at least one of a frequency, period, pulse width, power, duty cycle, or burning speed.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a target garment corresponding to the first selected garment is made of at least one of a twill material or a cotton twill material.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the garment base corresponds to a base fit fabric and the base fit fabric includes known characteristics regarding the suitability of the base fit fabric for finishing using the laser.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising:

in the second session at the first device, creating a second selected garment using the garment previewing tool and designating the second selected garment as belonging to the first collection;

in response to the second selected garment designated as belonging to the first collection, identifying the first session at the first device as a second collection collaborator; and

in response to identifying the first session as the second collection collaborator, transmitting to the first device that the second selected garment belongs to the first collection.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first selected garment is added to the first collection from a first user and the second selected garment is added to the first collection from a second user, different than the first user.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the first and second selected garments share the same garment base.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the first and second selected garments share the same wear pattern, but different garment base.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first collection comprises garments in a similar color.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first collection comprises garments in a colorway.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first collection comprises garments in a similar finish.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first collection comprises garments for use in a specific season.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the first collection comprises garments manufactured using an environmentally friendly process.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the first collection includes a label designating a category for garments included in the first collection.

17. The method of claim 1 comprising:

receiving a requested amount for the first collection.

18. The method of claim 1 comprising:

receiving a requested amount for the first collection comprising the first selected garment.

19. The method of claim 18 comprising:

after receiving the requested amount, providing target garments corresponding to the first selected garment; and

based on laser input files associated with selected wear patterns with modified sizing or modified positioning, or a combination, using the laser to create the finishing pattern on an outer surface of the target garments.

20. The method of claim 7 comprising:

receiving a requested amount for the first collection comprising the first and second selected garments.

21. A method comprising:

providing a garment previewing tool that allows previewing on a computer screen of a garment base customized by a user with a finishing pattern, wherein the garment previewing tool includes

providing an option for the user to select the garment base and upon a user's selection, showing a first garment preview image on the computer screen comprising a garment base image for the selected garment base,

providing an option for the user to select a wear pattern from a menu of wear patterns,

after the wear pattern is selected, showing a second garment preview image on the computer screen comprising the selected wear pattern in combination with the base image, wherein the second garment preview image replaces the first garment preview image,

in the second garment preview image, allowing the user to select the wear pattern and modify a sizing of the wear pattern relative to the base image, wherein as the user makes changes, the modified sizing of the wear pattern is displayed to the user in response to selecting and modifying the sizing of the wear pattern,

in the second garment preview image, allowing the user to select the wear pattern and modify a position of the wear pattern relative to the base image, wherein as the user makes changes, the modified positioning of the wear pattern is displayed to the user in response to selecting and modifying the position of the wear pattern, and

showing a third garment preview image on the computer screen comprising the base image and selected wear pattern, with modified sizing or modified positioning, or a combination,

wherein the second garment preview image is generated by a method comprising

generating an adjusted base image from the jeans base image without the selected wear pattern,

generating a pattern mask based on a laser input file associated with the selected wear pattern,

for a pixel at a pixel location of the second garment preview image, obtaining a first contribution by combining a first value associated with a pixel of the pattern mask at a pattern mask pixel location that corresponds to the pixel location of the second garment preview image and a value of a pixel of the base image at a base image pixel location that corresponds to the pixel location of the second garment preview image,

for the pixel at the pixel location of the second garment preview image, obtaining a second contribution by combining a second value associated with the pixel of the pattern mask at the pattern mask pixel location that corresponds to the pixel location of the second garment preview image and a value of a pixel of the adjusted base image at an adjusted base image pixel location that corresponds to the pixel location of the second garment preview image,

combining the first contribution and second contribution to obtain a combined value for the pixel at the pixel location of the second garment preview image, and

displaying the pixel of the second garment preview image as a color on the computer screen, wherein the color of the pixel corresponds to the combined value;

granting access to a first session of the garment previewing tool on a first device;

granting access to a second session of the garment previewing tool on a second device;

in the first session at the first device, creating a first selected garment using the garment previewing tool and designating the first selected garment as belonging to a first collection;

after the first selected garment has been designated as belonging to the first collection, identifying the second session at the second device as a collection collaborator; and

after the second session has been identified as the collection collaborator, transmitting to the second device that the first selected garment belongs to the first collection.

22. The method of claim 21 comprising:

receiving a requested amount for the first collection comprising the first selected garment.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the first selected garment comprises a pair of jeans.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein a method of manufacturing a target garment corresponding to the first selected garment comprises:

assembling the target garment from fabric panels of a woven first material comprising a warp comprising indigo ring-dyed cotton yarn, wherein the fabric panels are sewn together using thread.

25. The method of claim 21 comprising:

based on a laser input file corresponding to a wear pattern for the first selected garment, using a laser to remove selected amounts of material from the surface of a material of a target garment at different pixel locations of the garment, and

for lighter pixel locations of the finishing pattern, a greater amount of the indigo ring-dyed cotton warp yarn is removed, while for darker pixel locations of the finishing pattern, a lesser amount of the indigo ring-dyed cotton warp yarn is removed.

26. The method of claim 21 comprising:

when using a laser to create a finishing pattern on a target garment corresponding to the first selected garment, obtaining different laser levels by varying an output of the laser beam by altering a characteristic of the laser comprising at least one of a frequency, period, pulse width, power, duty cycle, or burning speed.

27. The method of claim 21 comprising:

in the first session at the first device, creating a second selected garment using the garment previewing tool and designating the second selected garment as belonging to the first collection.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein the first selected garment comprises a pair of jeans, and the second selected garment comprises a pair of jeans.

29. The method of claim 21 wherein the first selected garment comprises a pair of jeans, and the second selected garment comprises a garment type other than a pair of jeans.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein the first selected garment comprises a pair of jeans, and the second selected garment comprises a shirt.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the first and second selected garments share the same garment base.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein the first and second selected garments share the same wear pattern, but different garment base.

33. The method of claim 27 wherein the first collection comprises garments in a similar color.

34. The method of claim 27 wherein the first collection comprises garments in a colorway.

35. The method of claim 27 wherein the first collection comprises garments in a similar finish.

36. The method of claim 27 wherein the first collection comprises garments for use in a specific season.

37. The method of claim 27 wherein the first collection comprises garments manufactured using an environmentally friendly process.

38. The method of claim 27 wherein the first collection includes a label designating a category for garments included in the first collection.

39. A method comprising:

providing a garment previewing tool that allows previewing on a computer screen of a garment base customized by a user with a finishing pattern, wherein the garment previewing tool includes

providing an option for the user to select the garment base and upon a user's selection, showing a first garment preview image on the computer screen comprising a garment base image for the selected garment base,

providing an option for the user to select a wear pattern from a menu of wear patterns,

after the wear pattern is selected, showing a second garment preview image on the computer screen comprising the selected wear pattern in combination with the base image, wherein the second garment preview image replaces the first garment preview image,

in the second garment preview image, allowing the user to select the wear pattern and modify a sizing of the wear pattern relative to the base image, wherein as the user makes changes, the modified sizing of the wear pattern is displayed to the user in response to selecting and modifying the sizing of the wear pattern,

in the second garment preview image, allowing the user to select the wear pattern and modify a position of the wear pattern relative to the base image, wherein as the user makes changes, the modified positioning of the wear pattern is displayed to the user in response to selecting and modifying the position of the wear pattern, and

showing a third garment preview image on the computer screen comprising the base image and selected wear pattern, with modified sizing or modified positioning, or a combination,

wherein the second garment preview image is generated by a method comprising

generating an adjusted base image from the jeans base image without the selected wear pattern,

generating a pattern mask based on a laser input file associated with the selected wear pattern,

for a pixel at a pixel location of the second garment preview image, obtaining a first contribution by combining a first value associated with a pixel of the pattern mask at a pattern mask pixel location that corresponds to the pixel location of the second garment preview image and a value of a pixel of the base image at a base image pixel location that corresponds to the pixel location of the second garment preview image,

for the pixel at the pixel location of the second garment preview image, obtaining a second contribution by combining a second value associated with the pixel of the pattern mask at the pattern mask pixel location that corresponds to the pixel location of the second garment preview image and a value of a pixel of the adjusted base image at an adjusted base image pixel location that corresponds to the pixel location of the second garment preview image,

combining the first contribution and second contribution to obtain a combined value for the pixel at the pixel location of the second garment preview image, and

displaying the pixel of the second garment preview image as a color on the computer screen, wherein the color of the pixel corresponds to the combined value;

granting access to a first session of the garment previewing tool on a first device;

granting access to a second session of the garment previewing tool on a second device;

in the first session at the first device, creating a first selected garment using the garment previewing tool and designating the first selected garment as belonging to a first collection;

after the first selected garment has been designated as belonging to the first collection, identifying the second session at the second device as a collection collaborator;

after the second session has been identified as the collection collaborator, transmitting to the second device that the first selected garment belongs to the first collection; and

in the second session at the second device, creating a second selected garment using the garment previewing tool and designating the second selected garment as belonging to the first collection.

40. The method of claim 39 comprising:

receiving a requested amount for the first collection comprising the first and second selected garments.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein a method of manufacturing a target garment corresponding to the first selected garment comprises:

assembling the target garment from fabric panels of a woven first material comprising a warp comprising indigo ring-dyed cotton yarn, wherein the fabric panels are sewn together using thread.

42. The method of claim 39 comprising:

based on a laser input file corresponding to a wear pattern for the first selected garment, using a laser to remove selected amounts of material from the surface of a material of a target garment at different pixel locations of the garment, and

for lighter pixel locations of the finishing pattern, a greater amount of the indigo ring-dyed cotton warp yarn is removed, while for darker pixel locations of the finishing pattern, a lesser amount of the indigo ring-dyed cotton warp yarn is removed.

43. The method of claim 39 comprising:

when using a laser to create a finishing pattern on a target garment corresponding to the first selected garment, obtaining different laser levels by varying an output of the laser beam by altering a characteristic of the laser comprising at least one of a frequency, period, pulse width, power, duty cycle, or burning speed.

44. The method of claim 39 wherein the first selected garment comprises a pair of jeans, and the second selected garment comprises a pair of jeans.

45. The method of claim 39 wherein the first selected garment comprises a pair of jeans, and the second selected garment comprises a garment type other than a pair of jeans.

46. The method of claim 39 wherein the first selected garment comprises a pair of jeans, and the second selected garment comprises a shirt.

47. The method of claim 39 wherein the first and second selected garments share the same garment base.

48. The method of claim 39 wherein the first and second selected garments share the same wear pattern, but different garment base.

49. The method of claim 39 wherein the first collection comprises garments in a similar color.

50. The method of claim 39 wherein the first collection comprises garments in a colorway.

51. The method of claim 39 wherein the first collection comprises garments in a similar finish.

52. The method of claim 39 wherein the first collection comprises garments for use in a specific season.

53. The method of claim 39 wherein the first collection comprises garments manufactured using an environmentally friendly process.

54. The method of claim 39 wherein the first collection includes a label designating a category for garments included in the first collection.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 069335/0647 Recorded Jun 9, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
Reel/Frame 071512/0857 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 069335/0647 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2021
From: LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
To: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 057105/0426 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2021
From: MAHANTY, DEBDULAL; BELL, BENJAMIN; SCHULTZ, CHRISTOPHER; SCHULTZ, JENNIFER
To: LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
Reel/Frame 056675/0214 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62636112 · Feb 27, 2018
Provisional Application 62636108 · Feb 27, 2018
Related Publication 20200063309A1 · Feb 27, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,675,035