U.S. patent application number 10/749841 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-07 for camouflage system.
Invention is credited to Casey, Sean.
Application Number | 20050144697 10/749841 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34711145 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050144697 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Casey, Sean |
July 7, 2005 |
Camouflage system
Abstract
The present invention comprises an improved camouflage system to
be used for clothing generally employed by hunters, photographers
and the like for the purpose of visual concealment in natural
environments. An open, interlaced fabric substrate is employed as
part of a garment to be worn by the user. A plurality of
preconfigured camouflage elements are coupled to the fabric
substrate. Each camouflage element comprises an elongated central
mesh element, each end thereof depending into panels having
multiple lobes to simulate leaves or other natural flora. The
camouflage elements are dyed or otherwise colored with contrasting
indicia in a manner consistent with a selected natural
environment.
Inventors: |
Casey, Sean; (Torrance,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael A. Painter
Suite 850
8484 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills
CA
90211
US
|
Family ID: |
34711145 |
Appl. No.: |
10/749841 |
Filed: |
January 2, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 3/00 20130101; A41D
2200/20 20130101; A41D 13/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/094 |
International
Class: |
A41B 001/00; A41D
001/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An improved camouflage system for use in natural environments
comprising: (a) an interlaced matrix of closed loop members; and
(b) a plurality of camouflage elements coupled to one of said
closed loop members, each of said camouflage elements comprising a
substantially uniform, elongated central segment having first and
second axially opposed ends, said first and second ends extending
into first and second simulation segments respectively, each of
said first and second simulation segments including aligned lobes
disposed on opposite sides of the axis of said central segment, the
alignment of the lobes of said first and second simulation segments
being opposed to one another.
2. An improved camouflage system as defined in claim 1 including a
garment having an outer surface, said interlaced matrix being
coupled to the outer surface of said garment.
3. An improved camouflage system as defined in claim 1 wherein said
interlaced matrix is netting.
4. An improved camouflage system as defined in claim 1 including
contrasting visual indicia disposed upon each of said camouflage
elements whereby said camouflage elements simulate the natural
environment.
5. An improved camouflage system as defined in claim 1 wherein the
lobes of said simulation segments are aligned in opposition to one
another.
6. An improved camouflage system as defined in claim 1 wherein at
least a portion of said camouflage elements coupled to said
interlaced matrix of closed loop members is of substantially
three-dimensional character.
7. An improved camouflage system for use in natural environments
comprising: (a) a substrate of open loop netting; (b) a plurality
of first camouflage elements coupled to said netting, each of said
camouflage elements comprising a substantially uniform, elongated
central segment having first and second axially opposed ends, said
first and second ends extending into first and second simulation
segments respectively, each of said first and second simulation
segments including aligned lobes disposed on opposite sides of the
axis of said central segment, the lobes of said first simulation
segment being in aligned opposition with the lobes of said second
simulation segment; (c) a plurality of second camouflage elements
coupled to said netting, each of said camouflage elements
comprising a substantially uniform, elongated central segment
having first and second axially opposed ends, said first and second
ends extending into first and second simulation segments
respectively, each of said first and second simulation segments
including aligned lobes disposed on opposite sides of the axis of
said central segment, the lobes of said first simulation segment
being aligned facing the lobes of said second simulation
segment.
8. An improved camouflage system as defined in claim 6 including a
garment having an outer surface, said netting being secured to the
outer surface of said garment.
9. An improved camouflage system as defined in claim 6 including
contrasting visual indicia disposed upon each of said camouflage
elements whereby said camouflage elements simulate the natural
environment.
10. An improved camouflage system as defined in claim 7 wherein at
least a portion of said camouflage elements coupled to said
interlaced matrix of closed loop members is of substantially
three-dimensional character.
11. An improved camouflage system for use in natural environments
comprising: (a) a garment having an outer surface; (b) a substrate
of open loop netting; (c) a plurality of first camouflage elements
coupled to said netting, each of said camouflage elements
comprising a substantially uniform, elongated central segment
having first and second axially opposed ends, said first and second
ends extending into first and second simulation segments
respectively, each of said first and second simulation segments
including aligned lobes disposed on opposite sides of the axis of
said central segment, the lobes of said first simulation segment
being in aligned opposition with the lobes of said second
simulation segment; (d) a plurality of second camouflage elements
coupled to said netting, each of said camouflage elements
comprising a substantially uniform, elongated central segment
having first and second axially opposed ends, said first and second
ends extending into first and second simulation segments
respectively, each of said first and second simulation segments
including aligned lobes disposed on opposite sides of the axis of
said central segment, the lobes of said first simulation segment
being aligned facing the lobes of said second simulation segment;
and (e) visual indicia imposed upon each of said camouflage
elements whereby said camouflage elements simulate the natural
environment.
12. An improved camouflage system as defined in claim 8 wherein at
least a portion of said first and second camouflage elements
coupled to the netting is of substantially three-dimensional
character.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to camouflage
clothing used for avoiding visual detection in natural
environments, and more particularly to camouflage garments
fabricated with individual panels adapted to permit a user to
visually blend into the natural environment.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] The use of manufactured camouflaged garments by hunters,
photographers, soldiers and the like is disclosed in the prior art.
Typically, camouflage material is used to produce a visually
disruptive pattern and cause an individual to appear to become
visually part of the adjacent natural environment and thereby avoid
visual detection. Typically, the color and texture of camouflage
garments permit the user to blend into the terrain and indigenous
natural flora of a given geographical location.
[0005] A typical camouflage system disclosed by the prior art
employs a net substrate on which is attached an overlay sheet
material exhibiting a predetermined camouflage design. The attached
sheet material is cut to form irregular edges, the shapes of which
are purported to simulate patterns of vegetation and/or selected
terrain. The problem with this camouflage system is inherent in the
inflexibility of the construction to its inability to adapt to
varied environments.
[0006] Where the camouflage elements of prior art garments are
produced through the use of alterations to attached sheet material,
the variations which can be produced are limited. The prior art
generally affixes the sheet material to the net substrate in a
uniform manner. This substantially limits the manner in which the
camouflage system can be produced and, most importantly, the
variety of natural environments in which they are able to
simulate.
[0007] Another camouflage system disclosed by the prior art affixes
camouflaging material in the form of burlap strips directly to the
exterior of a garment. The burlap strips are dyed to colors which
are intended to produce various shades of woodland colors producing
a stringy, fuzzy appearance resembling naturally occurring moss.
The inadequacies with this camouflage system is inherent in the
inability to create visually diverse textures or images. The use of
burlap strips provides a substantially uniform appearance and, even
if provided with varied colorations, the natural environments in
which they can be effectively used will be limited.
[0008] The present invention substantially resolves the problems
inherent in those camouflage systems taught by the prior art.
Garments in the form of jackets, hoods, trousers and the like are
adapted to incorporate the present invention improved camouflage
system along the exterior surface thereof. The present invention
comprises an open loop fabric base substrate preferably in the form
of interlaced matrix or netting. A plurality of camouflage elements
are used to implement objectives of the present invention. Each
camouflage element comprises a central, elongated, planar mesh
segment, each end thereof forming a pattern of lobes which
simulates the specific natural environment which the camouflage
element is to simulate. These would include leaves, tree branches
or other similar naturally occurring structures. Each camouflage
element is colored in a manner which directly relates to the
environment where it is intended to be used. A plurality of
camouflage elements are selectively coupled to strands of the
interlaced netting to create a three-dimensional appearance which
will cause the camouflage garment to blend into the natural
environment for which it has been adapted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention comprises an improved camouflage
system to be incorporated into garments typically used by hunters,
photographers, and the like for creating a visual impression which
blends into the terrain and flora of natural environments. The
present invention comprises a substrate of an open loop matrix of
interlaced fabric typically fabricated from uniformly interlaced
netting to which camouflage elements are coupled. The camouflage
elements each comprise a planar mesh layer having a substantially
uniform central, elongated section, the axial ends thereof being
extended into end segments which are used to depict leaves or other
natural flora. The camouflage elements are dyed or otherwise
colored in a manner which will depict the colors of a selected
natural environment. To improve the ability to blend into the
appearance of the selected natural environment, shaded indicia may
also be imprinted or otherwise disposed upon the mesh of the
camouflage element to depict structural elements of the natural
environment such as branches or twigs of bushes and trees.
[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an improved camouflage system.
[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
improved camouflage system which employs camouflage elements which
are preconfigured to visually simulate a natural environment.
[0012] It is still yet another object of the present invention to
provide an improved camouflage system which employs camouflage
elements which can be coupled to an underlying substrate to provide
a three-dimensional depiction of environmental features.
[0013] It is still yet another object of the present invention to
provide an improved camouflage system which is simple and
inexpensive to fabricate.
[0014] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic
of the invention, both as to its organization and method of
operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof,
will be better understood from the following description considered
in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a presently
preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of
example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the
drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description only,
and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0015] FIG. 1 is a partial view of a jacket and hood employing the
present invention camouflage system.
[0016] FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate forms of the camouflage elements
used in accordance with the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of interlaced netting and
coupled camouflage elements in accordance with the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the interlaced netting
and coupled camouflage elements shown in FIG. 3.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a partial view of a camouflage element
illustrating imprinted indicia.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] An understanding of the present invention can be best gained
by reference to FIG. 1 which illustrates a partial view of a jacket
and hood 10 employing the present invention camouflage system. It
is understood the present invention camouflage system can be
employed on any type of garment or fabric which is to be used for
visual concealment in natural environments. The garment 10 is made
up of a jacket 11 and hood 12 to be worn by the user. Garment 10
will be used to produce a pattern which would be visually
disruptive to a viewer and cause the user to become a visual part
of and appear to blend in with the natural environment. To
accomplish this objective, garment 10 has incorporated on the outer
surface 13 thereof a camouflage system which is generally
designated by the reference numeral 14.
[0021] Camouflage system 14 can be best seen by reference to FIGS.
2a, 2b, 3-5, inclusive. Camouflage system 14 employs a substrate 20
which comprises an open fabric base preferably in the form of
interlaced netting. Although the preferred embodiment of the
present invention utilizes interlaced netting to implement
substrate 20, it is understood that other conventional mesh or open
fabrics can be used in lieu thereof.
[0022] It is understood that the color and texture of the
camouflage garment permit the user to visually blend into the
terrain and indigenous natural flora of a given geographical
location and thereby be visually concealed. This objective is
achieved through the structure of camouflage elements 25a and 25b
which are illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b, respectively. Camouflage
elements 25a and 25b each consist of a mesh substrate 26a and 26b
respectively which are formed to depict elements of indigenous
natural flora. In FIG. 2a, an elongated central segment 27a is
axially extended at either end thereof into multi-lobed segments
28a which generally depict or simulate the appearance of leaves
from indigenous bushes, flowers or trees. As shown in FIG. 2a,
lobes 29a which are part of opposed segments 28a are in an opposed
relationship to each other. In the form of the camouflage element
25b shown in FIG. 2b, lobe segments 28b axially extend outwardly
from central segment 27b and employ lobes 29b which are oriented
toward each other.
[0023] It is an objective of the present invention to produce an
improved camouflage system which exhibits coloration, texture and
otherwise depicts the flora and background of the specific natural
environment in which the present invention is to be employed. To
accomplish this objective, depending on the environment where the
present invention is being used, camouflage elements 25a and 25b
are typically manufactured or dyed in a mixture of shades of brown,
tan and/or green. As shown in FIG. 5, printed indicia 30 are
disposed upon the surface 31 of a camouflage element 32. Depending
upon the environment in which the present invention is used, the
indicia 30 will provide the illusion of structural elements in the
environment such as tree branches or twigs.
[0024] The composite structure of the present invention can be best
seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Camouflage elements 25a and 25b are coupled
to interlaced netting 14 at central segments 27a and 27b,
respectively. The camouflage elements 25a and 25b may be coupled to
net substrate 14 in any conventional manner including but not
limited to staples, glue or by knotting. It is understood the
number of camouflage elements 25a and 25b which are coupled to
netting 14 and the placement thereof are sufficient to provide a
three-dimensional image that visually blends into the specific
environment where the present invention is employed. When
camouflage elements 25a and 25b are coupled to net substrate 14,
the structural rigidity of the mesh substrate will cause the
camouflage elements 25a and 25b to be viewed in three dimensions.
In addition, the camouflage elements 25a and 25b can be placed
along net substrate 14 in a manner which will enhance the
concealing qualities of the camouflage system in a manner which can
be adjusted or changed in accordance with the natural environment
in which the camouflage system is being used.
* * * * *