U.S. patent application number 10/657991 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for foam camouflage apparatus and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Primos, Inc.. Invention is credited to Tilby, V. John.
Application Number | 20050053732 10/657991 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34226687 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050053732 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tilby, V. John |
March 10, 2005 |
Foam camouflage apparatus and method
Abstract
A foam camouflage material intended to blend in with natural
outdoor environments. The foam cam material comprises randomly
oriented shapes to break up rigid outlines associated with people
and objects to provide a camouflaged natural depth pattern. The
foam material includes a three-dimensional surface of a contiguous
surface material. The relief provided by the three-dimensional
surface creates shadows of varying light intensities to break up
outlines and cause the material to blend into surrounding
environments. The shapes may resemble recognizable shapes such as
rocks, sticks, twigs, leaves, tree bark, or other naturally
occurring, non-geometric shapes. The foam camouflage material may
further comprise irregular, arbitrary shapes. The foam element may
be used for clothing articles, hunting blinds and stands, cameras,
backpacks, and other outdoor and hunting equipment.
Inventors: |
Tilby, V. John; (Sandy,
UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
L. Grant Foster
HOLLAND & HART LLP
P.O. Box 8749
Denver
CO
80201
US
|
Assignee: |
Primos, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
34226687 |
Appl. No.: |
10/657991 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41G 1/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/017 |
International
Class: |
A41G 001/00 |
Claims
1. A camouflage apparatus, comprising: a thermoformed foam element
comprising a plurality of randomly oriented three-dimensional
shapes protruding from and depressed within the element, the
plurality of three-dimensional shapes blending in with natural
outdoor surroundings.
2. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shapes
resemble tree bark.
3. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shapes
resemble twigs.
4. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shapes
resemble leaves.
5. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shapes
resemble rocks.
6. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shapes
resemble a combination of two or more of: a stick, a leaf, a rock,
and tree bark.
7. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the shapes
resemble a combination of two or more of: a stick, a leaf, a rock,
and tree bark, wherein the shapes are irregular.
8. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
a fabric overlaying the thermoformed foam.
9. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the fabric
is laminated to the thermoformed foam.
10. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the fabric
comprises a camouflage pattern.
11. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the foam
comprises polyolefin.
12. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the
thermoformed foam is associated with an outdoor product.
13. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the
outdoor product comprises a camera, an article of clothing, a
hunting stand, a hunting blind, or a backpack.
14. A camouflage apparatus, comprising: a thermoformed foam
comprising a random pattern of depressions and protrusions.
15. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the
depressions and protrusions create shadows and an actual depth
resembling a natural outdoor environment.
16. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the random
pattern is non-geometric.
17. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the random
pattern comprises repeating random sub-patterns.
18. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the
thermoformed foam comprises polyolefin.
19. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 14, further
comprising a camouflage fabric laminated to the thermoformed
foam.
20. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the
thermoformed foam comprises a camera cover, an article of clothing,
a backpack, a rail or bar cover, or a hunting blind.
21. A camouflage apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the random
pattern resembles tree bark, rocks, leaves, sticks, or a
combination thereof.
22. A camouflage material, comprising: a central plane; a first
plurality of irregular peaks protruding from the central plane in a
first direction.
23. A camouflage material according to claim 22, further comprising
as second plurality of irregular peaks protruding from the central
plane opposite of the first direction.
24. A camouflage material according to claim 22, further comprising
a layer of fabric over the first plurality of irregular peaks.
25. A camouflage material according to claim 24 wherein the layer
of fabric comprises a camouflage pattern.
26. A camouflage material according to claim 22, wherein the foam
element comprises polyolefin.
27. A camouflage material comprising: a layer of foam comprising a
plurality of irregular shaped protrusions and depressions; a layer
of fabric adhered to the layer of foam.
28. A camouflage material according to claim 27 wherein the
plurality of irregular shaped protrusions and depressions comprises
stick, rock, leaf, or tree bark shapes.
29. A camouflage material according to claim 27 wherein the foam
comprises polyolefin and the fabric comprises a camouflage
pattern.
30. A camouflage article, comprising: a foam pad, the foam pad
comprising: a base surface; a theoretical surface spaced from the
base surface, the second theoretical surface corresponding to a
uniform distance from the base surface; an actual surface opposite
of the base surface comprising a plurality of irregular peaks above
and valley below the theoretical surface.
31. A camouflage article according to claim 30 wherein the
plurality of irregular peaks and valleys conform to a mold
patterned to resemble a natural outdoor environment.
32. A camouflage article according to claim 31 wherein the mold is
patterned to resemble one or more of: tree bark, rocks, leaves, and
sticks.
33. A camouflage material, comprising: a three-dimensional surface
comprising raised areas and depressed areas, the surface being free
of any loose material, the surface creating shadows of differing
light intensities to create a camouflage effect.
34. A camouflage material according to claim 33 wherein the
three-dimensional surface is contiguous.
35. A camouflage material according to claim 33, further comprising
a fabric of camouflage colors disposed on the top surface of the
three-dimensional surface to enhance the camouflage effect.
36. A method of making a camouflage material comprising: providing
a piece of foam; forming a random pattern of three-dimensional
shapes in the piece of foam to resemble a natural outdoor
environment.
37. A method of making a camouflage material according to claim 36,
further comprising adhering a fabric to the piece of foam and
forming the random pattern of three-dimensional irregular shapes in
the piece of foam and the fabric.
38. A method of making a camouflage material according to claim 36
wherein the fabric comprises a camouflage pattern.
39. A method of making a camouflage material according to claim 36,
further comprising shaping the piece of foam into an article of
clothing, a camera cover, a rail or bar cover, hunting blind, or a
portion of a backpack.
40. A method of making a camouflage material according to claim 36
wherein forming a random pattern comprises creating a resemblance
to one or more of: tree bark, leaves, rocks, and sticks.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to camouflage for hunting and
outdoor products, and more particularly to three-dimensional foam
camouflage for hunting and outdoor products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Camouflage has existed in various forms for many years.
Camouflage has traditionally been incorporated into clothing so
that persons wearing the camouflage clothing are less likely to be
detected. Specifically, camouflage clothing has been worn by
military personnel, hunters, photographers, bird watchers, and
others. In addition to clothing, camouflage has also been
incorporated into many other different items, including netting to
cover objects, paint patterns, and many other items.
[0003] Early camouflage products were a single color, often a shade
of green or brown. More recent camouflage arrangements include
repetitive patterns of shapes and designs, often designed to
replicate a particular wilderness scene. Such camouflage patterns
typically include two or three colors, often a combination of
green, brown, and black. Some camouflage patterns are primarily
green and designed for concealing people and objects in a forested
environment. Other camouflage patterns are light brown with
relatively darker borders around abstract shapes to match sandy,
desert backgrounds. The multi-colored camouflage patterns are
intended to produce a three-dimensional appearance in a
two-dimensional fabric. Such two-dimensional fabrics, even when
they include a camouflage pattern, usually leave readily detectible
outlines and silhouettes.
[0004] In view of the deficiencies of two-dimensional camouflage
material, camouflage clothing manufacturers have begun to create
three-dimensional cuts of fabric to create a true three-dimensional
camouflage effect. Some of these three-dimensional patterns include
leaf-like cutouts that are attached to the base fabric by a minimal
amount of their periphery. While such three-dimensional camouflage
fabrics often blend quite well into natural environments, such
fabrics give rise to a number of problems. For example, such
camouflage is often noisy, cumbersome, and prone to snags. Bow
hunters in particular must contend with the potential of a bow
string or other moving part of a bow becoming entangled with
exposed elements, loops, or tongues of the three-dimensional cuts.
Such three-dimensional camouflage also catches on leaves, branches,
and other parts of plants in the field which causes noise and
additional movement.
[0005] There is a need, therefore, for a new camouflage material
and pattern that will solve the aforementioned problems relative to
traditional two-dimensional and three-dimensional camouflage
materials and patterns.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention comprises a camouflage material and
pattern formed from foam. The inventive camouflage material is
designed to blend in with natural outdoor environments. The foam
camouflage material comprises a three-dimensional pattern of relief
in the form of irregular three-dimensional shapes that break up
rigid outlines associated with people and objects and provides a
natural depth pattern. The three-dimensional configuration produces
a variety of different shadows when light is cast upon it to create
a highly unique depth perception. In one embodiment the entire
surface of the camouflage material comprises a three-dimensional
surface that is contiguous in all directions. The irregular
three-dimensional shapes may resemble rocks, sticks, twigs, leaves,
tree bark, or other naturally occurring shapes. Such shapes may be
geometric or non-geometric shapes, but in one embodiment are
randomly formed in the foam and not a repeated pattern. The foam
camouflage material may be used for clothing articles, hunting
blinds and stands, cameras, backpacks, and as a cover material for
virtually any type of outdoor products and equipment.
[0007] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description of the
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below
with reference to the accompanying drawings:
[0009] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a portion of a foam
camouflage material with a pattern of irregular shapes according to
one embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional side view of the foam
camouflage material shown in FIG. 1A;
[0011] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a portion of a foam
camouflage material with a pattern of irregular shapes covered by a
camouflage-patterned fabric according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional side view of the foam
camouflage material shown in FIG. 2A;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an assembly-type perspective view of a foam
camouflage material covered with a fabric in proximity to a
thermoforming mold apparatus according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a foam camouflage material patterned to resemble a
tree bark shape according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a foam camouflage material patterned to resemble
stick or twig shapes according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is foam camouflage material patterned to resemble
leaf, rock, and stick shapes according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a vest employing a foam camouflage material with a
pattern of irregular shapes and covered by a camouflage-patterned
fabric according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a hunting blind employing a foam camouflage
material with a pattern of irregular shapes and covered by a
camouflage-patterned fabric according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a backpack employing a foam camouflage material
with a pattern of irregular shapes and covered by a
camouflage-patterned fabric according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a camera employing a foam camouflage material
with a pattern of irregular shapes according to one embodiment of
the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a hunting stand employing a foam camouflage
material with a pattern of irregular shapes and covered by a
camouflage-patterned fabric according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0022] Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers and
descriptions indicate similar, but not necessarily identical
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The present invention comprises a foam camouflage material
that blends in with natural outdoor environments. The present
invention also comprises a method of making such foam camouflage
material. The foam camouflage material described herein reduces the
chance that others will visually detect people and objects bearing
or covered by the foam camouflage material. The foam camouflage
material is shaped three-dimensionally, which provides depth and
often shadows that break up rigid outlines and surfaces associated
with conventional camouflage fabrics. The principles described
herein may be used with any products to conceal such products or
objects and people in natural environments.
[0024] As used throughout the specification and claims, the term
"camouflage" is used as both an adjective and a noun. When used as
an adjective, camouflage refers to any camouflage effect, including
without limitation the effect created by all combinations of color,
such as without limitation brown, green, tan, and/or black
patterns, and depictions of various scenes, including wilderness
scenes. Camouflage also means any ability of a material to create a
camouflage effect, by varying light intensities, shadows, relief,
or depth variations. When used as a noun, it refers to an item or
covering tending to blend in with natural surroundings. In
addition, "uniform" means always the same or predictable.
[0025] Turning now to the figures, and in particular to FIG. 1A, a
portion of a foam camouflage material in the form of an element or
pad 100 is shown according to one embodiment of the present
invention. The foam camouflage material 100 may be made of
polyolefin or other materials available in foam configurations. The
foam camouflage material 100 is shaped, in one embodiment, by a
thermoform process. Those skilled in the art will understand that
other molding and shaping processes may be used to form the foam
camouflage material 100 as shown. The foam camouflage material 100
comprises a plurality of randomly oriented three-dimensional
shapes, both regular and irregular shapes, comprising numerous
depressions 102 and protrusions 104. The depressions 102 and
protrusions provide an actual three-dimensional pattern that tends
to blend in with natural outdoor surroundings, as opposed to a
three-dimensional perception associated with many current
two-dimensional camouflage fabrics. Further, the foam camouflage
material 100 does not have any loosely hanging cuts or pieces of
material, thereby reducing the occurrence of snags or other
interference. The foam camouflage material 100 more specifically
comprises three-dimensional relief in the form of a
three-dimensional surface that is contiguous with all surrounding
surface areas. "Contiguous" as used herein means touching or in
contact with. Therefore, the foam camouflage material 100 has a top
surface that resembles the top surface of a three-dimensional
relief map.
[0026] The depressions 102 and protrusions 104 are, in one
embodiment, randomly oriented. Such depressions and protrusions may
resemble regular shapes including, but not limited to: leaves,
twigs, sticks, rocks, and tree bark. In addition, the depressions
and protrusions may resemble arbitrary or irregular shapes such as
the depressions 102 and protrusions 104 shown in FIG. 1A. Such
depressions and protrusions may further include shapes that recur
in a random pattern. Therefore, the term "random" does not exclude
repeating shapes.
[0027] Random irregular depressions 102 and protrusions 104 are
shown in cross-section in FIG. 1B, which illustrates a central
plane or reference plane 106 substantially centered within the foam
element 100. The central or reference plane 106, however, is not
necessarily a geometric plane as shown. The reference plane 106 may
itself undergo any number of curves, corners, or other changes in
direction, depending on the shape of an object the foam element 100
is intended to cover. The embodiment of FIG. 1B illustrates a first
set of irregular peaks 108 protruding from or extending above the
reference plane 106 in a first direction that correspond with the
protrusions 104 shown in FIG. 1A, and a second set of irregular
peaks 110 extending from the plane 106 opposite of the first
direction. The first and second sets of irregular peaks 108, 110
may be the same or different from one another. In addition,
according to some embodiments there is only the first set of
irregular peaks 108, and a generally flat or smooth opposing
surface or base surface 113 (see FIG. 2B). However, the base
surface 113 of FIG. 1B comprises a pattern of irregular shapes. The
foam camouflage material 100 also includes a theoretical surface
112 corresponding to a generally flat, smooth, or predictable
surface. The theoretical surface 112 is a uniform distance from the
reference plane 106 of the foam camouflage material 100 and may
correspond with a first or top surface 315 (see FIG. 3) of the foam
camouflage material 100 prior to being formed with the pattern of
irregular shapes. Accordingly, many or all of the depressions 102
fall below the theoretical surface 112 (i.e., toward the central
plane 106) and many or all of the protrusions 104 extend beyond the
theoretical surface 112. According to some embodiments, some of the
depressions 102 may even fall below the central plane 106. After
the random pattern of shapes has been made in the element 100, an
actual surface 115 is created opposite base surface 113. The random
pattern of three-dimensional shapes creates shadows with a variety
of different light intensities to create camouflage, even when the
top surface is made of only a single color. Thus, as light strikes
the foam camouflage material 100, the resulting variation in light
intensities allows the material to break up the outline of the
object and to blend in with natural environments. Therefore, as
shown in FIG. 1A, a camouflage item or covering may be made with
the foam camouflage material 100 without the use of multiple
colors. Further, this variation in light intensities from the
relief provided by the three-dimensional contiguous surface creates
a camouflage effect without the need of traditional camouflage
color patterns. By adding camouflage colors, the effect of the
novel relief provided by the camouflage material 100 is
enhanced.
[0028] The foam camouflage material 100 may further comprise a
fabric overlay 114 as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2A-B. The
fabric overlay 114 is adhered or laminated to the foam camouflage
material 100 and follows the pattern of depressions 102 and
protrusions 104. The fabric overlay 114 may be a single color, or
it may have a standard or nonstandard camouflage pattern as shown.
The fabric overlay 114 may comprise polyester or any other suitable
fabric. As mentioned above, the base surface 113 may be generally
flat or smooth as shown in FIG. 2B.
[0029] One method of forming the foam camouflage material 100, with
or without the fabric overlay 114, is shown with reference to FIG.
3. According to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the foam camouflage
material 100 (FIG. 1A) is thermoformed by inserting a generally
flat or otherwise unformed virgin foam camouflage material 300 into
a mold 320. The virgin foam element 300 includes a base surface 313
and an actual surface 315 opposite of the base surface 313. The
actual surface 315 coincides with the theoretical surface 112 of
FIG. 1B prior to thermoforming.
[0030] The mold 320 includes one or more heated plates made of
metal, plastic, composite, or ceramic, which according to FIG. 3,
include a top plate 322 and a bottom plate 324. One or both of the
plates 322, 324 include a pattern of irregular shapes according to
the patterns discussed above with reference to FIGS. 1A-B. The mold
320, however, is not limited to the generally flat top and bottom
plates 322, 324 shown, the mold 320 may comprise any shape for any
product. According to FIG. 3, the virgin foam element 300 is
inserted into the mold 320 and the top and bottom plates 322, 324
are compressed to sandwich and thermoform a pattern of randomly
oriented three-dimensional shapes in the foam element 300, such as
the pattern shown in FIG. 1A, to resemble a natural outdoor
environment.
[0031] A fabric layer 314 may be added to the foam element 300
prior to thermoforming as shown in FIG. 3. If used, the fabric
layer 314 forms and adheres to the foam element 300 in the same
irregular pattern as the foam element 300. As mentioned above, the
fabric layer 314 may include a monochrome color, or a standard or
nonstandard camouflage pattern.
[0032] The shapes used to form three-dimensional depressions and
protrusions in the foam element 300 may vary widely. For example,
with reference to FIG. 4, tree bark 317 is used as a random model
pattern to form a foam element 400 that resembles a tree. In
addition, various stick and twig shapes 526 are thermoformed into a
foam element 500 to create the three-dimensional pattern shown in
FIG. 5. Further, the use of irregular shapes to form patterns that
blend in with natural outdoor surroundings may be used. To be sure,
any combination of many irregular shapes may be used. For example,
a three-dimensional pattern resembling the forms of sticks 626,
leafs 628, and rocks 630 is used to form a foam element 600 in FIG.
6.
[0033] Moreover, irregularly formed foam elements such as those
shown and described above may be used with a wide variety of
products to provide camouflage to people and objects. For example,
referring to FIG. 7 an article of clothing such as a vest 740 may
comprise the novel foam camouflage material 100 (FIG. 1A). A
hunting blind 800 illustrated by FIG. 8 comprises the
three-dimensional foam camouflage material 100 (FIG. 2A) covered in
a camouflage fabric similar or identical to the patterns shown in
FIG. 2A. Likewise, a backpack 938 shown in FIG. 9 includes the
patterned foam camouflage material 100 shown in FIG. 1A. Other
products, including hunting and nature-observing products such as
cameras 940 (FIG. 10), tree stands 950 (FIG. 11), and all-terrain
vehicles components and accessories may comprise the novel foam
camouflage material 100 (FIG. 1)--with and without patterned fabric
overlays--sized and shaped to fit over or cover various components
of the products, such as rails or bars 952 of the tree stand 950.
However, it will be understood by those of skill in the art having
the benefit of this disclosure that the examples shown in FIGS.
7-11 are merely exemplary in nature, and that the foam camouflage
material 100 (FIG. 1A) may be sized and shaped to accommodate
virtually anything used in outdoor or hunting environment.
[0034] While this invention has been described with reference to
certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be recognized by
those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without
departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. The
invention, as described by the claims, is intended to cover all
changes and modifications of the invention which do not depart from
the scope of the invention. The words "including" and "having," as
used in the specification, including the claims, shall have the
same meaning as the word "comprising."
* * * * *