U.S. patent application number 10/131579 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-30 for camouflage composition and method of making.
Invention is credited to Lee, Alan, Shultz, Scott S..
Application Number | 20030200599 10/131579 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29248597 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030200599 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shultz, Scott S. ; et
al. |
October 30, 2003 |
Camouflage composition and method of making
Abstract
A composite camouflage composition includes a substrate and a
plurality of individual strips of camouflage material being spaced
apart and adhered to the substrate along a bonding axis, each strip
of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage material
presenting a plurality of lobes adjacent the bonding axis, each
strip of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage material
being gathered at points along the bonding axis such that more than
one layer of each strip of the plurality of individual strips of
camouflage material is adhered to the substrate at such points. A
garment and a method of forming the camouflage composition is
further included.
Inventors: |
Shultz, Scott S.; (Cannon
Falls, MN) ; Lee, Alan; (Diamond Bar, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATTERSON, THUENTE, SKAAR & CHRISTENSEN, P.A.
4800 IDS CENTER
80 SOUTH 8TH STREET
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-2100
US
|
Family ID: |
29248597 |
Appl. No.: |
10/131579 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/900 ; 28/158;
28/160; 442/185; 442/186; 442/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 442/3041 20150401;
F41H 3/00 20130101; Y10T 442/30 20150401; B32B 3/02 20130101; Y10T
442/102 20150401; Y10T 442/3033 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/900 ; 442/185;
442/186; 442/2; 28/158; 28/160 |
International
Class: |
D04H 001/00; D03D
001/00; D03D 011/00; D03D 027/10; D03D 039/16; D06C 023/02; D03D
015/00; D03D 025/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A composite camouflage composition, comprising: a substrate; a
plurality of individual strips of camouflage material being spaced
apart and adhered to the substrate along a bonding axis, each strip
of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage material
presenting a plurality of lobes adjacent the bonding axis, each
strip of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage material
being gathered at points along the bonding axis such that more than
one layer of each strip of the plurality of individual strips of
camouflage material is adhered to the substrate at such points.
2. The composite camouflage composition of claim 1, the substrate
bearing the imprint of a select camouflage pattern.
3. The composite camouflage composition of claim 1, the lobes of
each strip of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage
material being formed in a substantially leaf shaped pattern.
4. The composite camouflage composition of claim 1, each strip of
the plurality of individual strips of camouflage material being
adhered to the substrate along a bonding axis by stitches.
5. The composite camouflage composition of claim 1, the substrate
being an open mesh.
6. The composite camouflage composition of claim 1, the substrate
being pervious to water vapor and impervious to water droplets.
7. The composite camouflage composition of claim 1, the plurality
of individual strips of camouflage material being a woven
material.
8. The composite camouflage composition of claim 1, the gathering
of each strip of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage
material at points along the bonding axis causing a three
dimensional effect, the lobes of each strip of the plurality of
individual strips of camouflage material standing off from the
substrate.
9. The composite camouflage composition of claim 1, each strip of
the plurality of individual strips of camouflage material having a
length dimension prior to being adhered to the bonding axis that is
greater than the length dimension of the substrate to which the
individual strip is adhered.
10. The composite camouflage composition of claim 1, each strip of
the plurality of individual strips of camouflage material having a
length dimension prior to being adhered to the bonding axis that is
between 1.1 and 1.75 times the length dimension of the substrate to
which the individual strip is adhered.
11. The composite camouflage composition of claim 10, each strip of
the plurality of individual strips of camouflage material having a
length dimension prior to being adhered to the bonding axis that is
preferably substantially 1.3 times the length dimension of the
substrate to which the individual strip is adhered.
12. The composite camouflage composition of claim 1, the lobes of
each strip of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage
material randomly overlapping the lobes of at least one adjacent
strip of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage
material.
13. The composite camouflage composition of claim 1, the bonding
axes being substantially straight and parallel.
14. The composite camouflage composition of claim 1, the bonding
axes of adjacent strips being spaced apart between one and three
inches.
15. A method of forming a composite camouflage composition,
comprising: providing a substrate; forming a plurality of
individual strips of camouflage material; presenting a plurality of
lobes formed of each of the plurality of individual strips of
camouflage material; spacing the plurality of individual strips of
camouflage material apart on the substrate; gathering each of the
plurality of individual strips of camouflage material at points
along a bonding axis; and adhering the plurality of individual
strips of camouflage material to the substrate along the bonding
axis such that more than one layer of each strip of the plurality
of individual strips of camouflage material is adhered to the
substrate at such gathering points.
16. The method of claim 15, imparting the imprint of a select
camouflage pattern on the substrate.
17. The method of claim 15, forming the lobes of each strip of the
plurality of individual strips of camouflage material in a
substantially leaf shaped pattern.
18. The method of claim 15, adhering each strip of the plurality of
individual strips of camouflage material to the substrate along a
bonding axis by stitches.
19. The method of claim 15, forming the substrate of an open
mesh.
20. The method of claim 15, forming the substrate of a material
being pervious to water vapor and impervious to water droplets.
21. The method of claim 15, forming the plurality of individual
strips of camouflage material of a woven material.
22. The method of claim 15, causing a three dimensional effect by
the gathering of each strip of the plurality of individual strips
of camouflage material at points along the bonding axis, the lobes
of each strip of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage
material standing off from the substrate.
23. The method of claim 15, randomly overlapping the lobes of each
strip of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage material
with respect to the lobes of at least one adjacent strip of the
plurality of individual strips of camouflage material.
24. The method of claim 15, forming the bonding axes to be
substantially straight and parallel.
25. The method of claim 15, spacing the bonding axes of adjacent
strips apart a distance of between one and three inches.
26. The method of claim 15, forming each strip of the plurality of
individual strips of camouflage material with a length dimension
prior to being adhered to the bonding axis that is greater than the
length dimension of the substrate to which the individual strip is
adhered.
27. The method of claim 15, forming each strip of the plurality of
individual strips of camouflage material with a length dimension
prior to being adhered to the bonding axis that is between 1.1 and
1.75 times the length dimension of the substrate to which the
individual strip is adhered.
28. The method of claim 15, forming each strip of the plurality of
individual strips of camouflage material with a length dimension
prior to being adhered to the bonding axis that is preferably
substantially 1.3 times the length dimension of the substrate to
which the individual strip is adhered.
29. A garment being formed at least in part of a composite
camouflage composition, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of
individual strips of camouflage material being spaced apart and
adhered to the substrate along a bonding axis, each strip of the
plurality of individual strips of camouflage material presenting a
plurality of lobes adjacent the bonding axis, each strip of the
plurality of individual strips of camouflage material being
gathered at points along the bonding axis such that more than one
layer of each strip of the plurality of individual strips of
camouflage material is adhered to the substrate at such points.
30. The garment of claim 29, the substrate bearing the imprint of a
select camouflage pattern.
31. The garment of claim 29, the lobes of each strip of the
plurality of individual strips of camouflage material being formed
in a substantially leaf shaped pattern.
32. The garment of claim 29, each strip of the plurality of
individual strips of camouflage material being adhered to the
substrate along a bonding axis by stitches.
33. The garment of claim 29, the substrate being an open mesh.
34. The garment of claim 29, the substrate being pervious to water
vapor and impervious to water droplets.
35. The garment of claim 29, the plurality of individual strips of
camouflage material being a woven material.
36. The garment of claim 29, the gathering of each strip of the
plurality of individual strips of camouflage material at points
along the bonding axis causing a three dimensional effect, the
lobes of each strip of the plurality of individual strips of
camouflage material standing off from the substrate.
37. The garment of claim 29, each strip of the plurality of
individual strips of camouflage material having a length dimension
prior to being adhered to the bonding axis that is greater than the
length dimension of the substrate to which the individual strip is
adhered.
38. The garment of claim 29, each strip of the plurality of
individual strips of camouflage material having a length dimension
prior to being adhered to the bonding axis that is between 1.1 and
1.75 times the length dimension of the substrate to which the
individual strip is adhered.
39. The garment of claim 38, each strip of the plurality of
individual strips of camouflage material having a length dimension
prior to being adhered to the bonding axis that is preferably
substantially 1.3 times the length dimension of the substrate to
which the individual strip is adhered.
40. The garment of claim 29, the lobes of each strip of the
plurality of individual strips of camouflage material randomly
overlapping the lobes of at least one adjacent strip of the
plurality of individual strips of camouflage material.
42. The garment of claim 29, the bonding axes being substantially
straight and parallel.
43. The garment of claim 29, the bonding axes of adjacent strips
being spaced apart between one and three inches.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to camouflage materials for
forming camouflage net systems, garments and the like. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a camouflage
composition that has a three-dimensional (3-D) appearance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Camouflage materials have long been employed to conceal
objects, personnel, and equipment in various terrains from visual
detection. Generally, such camouflage materials for concealing
objects and equipment are drapable two-dimensional sheets or net
structures of varying size and shape, and are solid color or
imprinted in multiple color patterns. For concealing personnel,
such camouflage materials are formed into a plurality of different
garments including, but not limited to: jackets, pullovers, parkas,
coveralls, bibs, and pants.
[0003] In recent years, in an effort to enhance concealment,
efforts have been directed toward adding a third dimension to such
camouflage materials. To that end, two companion patents, U.S. Pat.
Nos. 4,931,320 and 5,013,375, both to Robert R. Leonard, are
directed to a camouflage material (the '320 patent) and to a method
and apparatus for producing the material (the '375 patent).
[0004] The aforementioned material is a camouflage construction
having an open mesh net substrate, and a continuous sheet overlying
the substrate and bonded thereto along plural spaced lines of
attachment. The sheet is cut on opposite sides of the lines of
attachment to form a plurality of lobes. The apparatus and method
includes a sewing station for stitching the sheet along plural
spaced lines of attachment to the substrate to form open-ended
pockets for channels between the sheet and substrate. The cutting
station spaces the sheet from the substrate and a heated cutting
wire reciprocates between adjacent lines of stitches to cut the
sheet and open the channel to form a series of loose lobes. A
problem with such construction is that the lobes were cut from an
essentially flat, two-dimensional material having a substantially
flat set to the material. Notwithstanding the fact that the ends of
the lobes were free, the lobes tended to lie flat against the
substrate, thereby defeating the sought-for three-dimensional
effect.
[0005] In an effort to remedy this, two additional patents have
issued. Significantly, both of those patents utilize the material,
apparatus, and method of the aforementioned '320 and '375 patents.
The later patents are U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,451 to James R. Reynolds
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,385 to Don M. Bylund et al. In the '451
patent, a camouflage construction is formed having an open mesh net
substrate, and a continuous sheet overlying the substrate and
bonded thereto along plural spaced lines of attachment. The sheet
is cut on opposite sides of the lines of attachment to form a
plurality of lobes. The fabric is heated and the lobes folded and
creased to increase the openness of the fabric.
[0006] The fabric of the '385 patent is an open mesh, net substrate
to which is bonded a sheet material. The sheet is colored in the
desired pattern and bonded to the substrate along spaced lines of
attachment. Separate lobes are formed on each side of the lines of
stitching (attachment) to simulate the appearance of natural
objects of the terrain. The lobes are then heated to over
400.degree. F. to wrinkle and de-luster the camouflage lobes to
increase the three-dimensional effect and significantly decrease
luster.
[0007] It is significant to note that, in all four of the
aforementioned patents, the construction has an open mesh net
substrate and a continuous sheet overlying the substrate and bonded
thereto along plural spaced lines of attachment. The sheet is then
cut on opposite sides of the lines of attachment to form a
plurality of lobes.
[0008] Notwithstanding the efforts shown in the aforementioned four
patents in forming a composition that has a three-dimensional
effect, there is still a need in the industry for camouflaged
fabric having a definite and naturally appearing three-dimensional
effect.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention substantially meets the aforementioned
needs of the industry. A definite three-dimensional effect is
created without the need to heat, fold, or crease the material that
is applied to the substrate. The three-dimensional effect is
created simply by the means by which individual strips are adhered
to the substrate. With the method of the present invention, there
is no need for the complex machine necessary for stitching and
cutting as disclosed in the '320 and '375 patents noted above.
[0010] The present invention is a composite camouflage composition
that includes a substrate and a plurality of individual strips of
camouflage material being spaced apart and adhered to the substrate
along a bonding axis, each strip of the plurality of individual
strips of camouflage material presenting a plurality of lobes
adjacent the bonding axis, each strip of the plurality of
individual strips of camouflage material being gathered at points
along the bonding axis such that more than one layer of each strip
of the plurality of individual strips of camouflage material is
adhered to the substrate at such points. The present invention is
further a garment and a method of forming the camouflage
composition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is perspective view of a swatch of material made in
accordance with the present invention having four strips of
camouflage material adhered to a substrate;
[0012] FIG. 2 is perspective view of the swatch of material of FIG.
1 with a fifth strip of camouflage material being adhered to a
substrate, a first portion of the fifth strip being adhered and a
second portion of the fifth strip not being adhered;
[0013] FIG. 3 is perspective view of the swatch of material of FIG.
1 with the fifth strip of camouflage material adhered to a
substrate and the length of the fifth strip being depicted in
phantom;
[0014] FIG. 4 is and enlarged perspective view of a portion of the
swatch of material of FIG. 1 with a fifth strip of camouflage
material being adhered to a substrate, a first portion of the fifth
strip being adhered and a second portion of the fifth strip not
being adhered;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a sectional taken along the section line 5-5 of
FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a sectional taken along the section line 6-6 of
FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of an exemplary garment,
a portion of which is made of material made in accordance with the
present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 8 is a planform depiction of an individual strip having
a Mossy Oak R camouflage imprint.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The camouflage composition of the present invention is shown
generally at 10 in the Figures. Composition 10 has two major
components; substrate 12 and individual strips 14. The substrate 12
preferably has a relatively small mesh 16 although the substrate 12
could be a closed material as well, including being closely woven.
The size of the mesh 16 is discernible by the unaided human eye,
and is large enough to accommodate the free passage of air through
the substrate 12, while at the same time forming a barrier for many
noisome insects, including flies, mosquitoes, and ticks. A somewhat
smaller mesh 16 may also be selected such that water vapor,
including human perspiration, may pass through the substrate 12,
but that water droplets, as from rain, melting snow, and the like,
does not pass through the substrate 12. For a given quantity of the
composition 10, it is preferable that the substrate 12 be a single
contiguous piece of material. In certain applications, such as
covering vehicles and the like, individual pieces of the substrate
12 maybe joined together to form a large sheet. The substrate 12
may be formed of any suitable textile yarn, such as nylon,
polyester, or the like. The substrate 12 may be dyed a single color
or may be imprinted with a camouflage pattern 13 having a plurality
of colors in selected patterns, as depicted in FIG. 1.
[0020] The substrate 12 may overly base 15. The base 15 may be an
insulating layer or the like. Preferably, the base 15 is put in
place after the individual strips 14 are adhered to the substrate
12.
[0021] The individual strips 14, as depicted in FIG. 8, may be
formed of a suitable material, such as woven nylon or polyester
fabric, preferably of rip-stop construction. Each of the individual
strips 14 has a length dimension 15 and a width dimension 17, with
the length dimension 15 being substantially greater than width
dimension 17. See FIG. 2. A camouflage pattern imprint 18 is
imposed on each of the individual strips 14. The camouflage pattern
imprint 18 may be selected from any of a number of well-known
patterns currently in the marketplace, or an original pattern may
be designed to comprise the camouflage pattern imprint 18.
[0022] A plurality of opposed lobes 20 are formed on the individual
strips 14 and from lobe tip to opposed lobe tip comprise the width
dimension 15 of the individual strips 14. The width dimension 15 of
the individual strips 14 is preferably between about two and five
inches from the tip of a lobe 20 to the tip of an opposed lobe 20.
Preferably, the opposed lobes 20 extend along the full length
dimension 17 of the individual strips 14.
[0023] In an alternative embodiment, the individual strips 14 can
have a substantially straight margin on one side, and a plurality
of lobes 20 formed in opposition thereto. In such case, the
individual strips 14 would preferably be bonded to the substrate 12
proximate the straight side margin.
[0024] Preferably, each of the lobes 20 has a plurality of
sub-lobes 22 formed thereon. The sub-lobes 22 are selected such
that the lobe 20 assumes the appearance of a leaf, preferably in
the shape of an oak or maple leaf.
[0025] Each of the individual strips 14 has a generally centrally
located bonding axis 24. In the depiction of the figures, the
bonding axis 24 is formed in a generally straight line.
Alternatively, the bonding axis 24 could be undulating or generally
sinusoidal. The generally sinusoidal bonding axis 24 provides for
different-sized lobes 20 on either sides of the undulations of the
generally sinusoidal bonding axis 24 to enhance the 3-D effect.
[0026] As depicted in the Figures, the bonding axes 24 of adjacent
individual strips 14a-e are selected to be spaced apart. In the
Figures, the straight bonding axes 24 of adjacent strips 14 are
generally parallel with one another. The spacing between the
bonding axes 24 of adjacent individual strips 14 is preferably
selected to be less than one-half the width 15 of the individual
strips 14, so as to provide a certain amount of overlap of the
facing lobes 20 on adjacent strips 14.
[0027] A bond 26 is formed along the bonding axis 24. Such a bond
26 may be made with adhesive or heat, but is preferably formed by
stitching. The length dimension 17 along the bonding axis 24 is
selected to be substantially greater than the dimension 30 of the
substrate 12 which will be coterminous with the individual strips
14. Preferably, the ratio of the length dimension 30 of the
substrate 12 to the length dimension 17 of the individual strips 14
is from about 1:1.1 to about 1:1.75 and is most preferably
substantially 1:1.3. The reason for the disparity between the
length dimensions 17, 30 will become apparent when the method of
adhering the individual strips 14 to the substrate 12 is described
in greater detail below.
[0028] Effectively, a plurality of spaced-apart gather points 32
are defined along the bond 26. See FIGS. 4-6. At each gather point
32, the individual strip 14 is gathered such that the individual
strip 14 is drawn into small folds or puckers. The small folds or
puckers are effected as by drawing a thread through the individual
strip 14 or by other suitable bonding techniques. The gather 34
that occurs at the gather points 32 results in more than one layer
of the individual strip 14 being bonded to the substrate 12. It The
gather points 32 may be uniformly spaced or may be randomly spaced
apart. The random spacing of the gather points 32 generates a more
non-uniform appearance to the three-dimensional camouflage
composition 10, which is a desirable feature. The gathering of the
individual strips 14 as they are bonded to the substrate 12
advantageously causes the lobes 20 to fold and separate from or
stand out from the substrate 12 without any additional steps to
deform the lobes 20 as noted in the '451 and '385 patents discussed
above.
[0029] The camouflage composition 10 may be formed into a plurality
of different garments including, but not limited to: jackets,
pullovers, parkas, coveralls, bibs, and pants. The camouflage
composition 10 may be formed into a portion of a garment 100 made
in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,835, owned
by the assignee of the present application and incorporated herein
by reference, as depicted in FIG. 7, or may form the entire
garment. The garment 100 has the hood 42 and the torso 44 made of
the camouflage composition 10 of the present invention. The chest
46 and the front facing arms 48 are made of a two dimensional
material 50 that may have a camouflage design imprinted
thereon.
[0030] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other
embodiments in addition to the ones described herein are indicated
to be within the scope and breadth of the present application.
Accordingly, the applicant intends to be limited only by the claims
appended hereto.
* * * * *