U.S. patent application number 10/848826 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-24 for camouflage article.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kappler, Inc.. Invention is credited to Willis, Michael Leon.
Application Number | 20050257308 10/848826 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35373745 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050257308 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Willis, Michael Leon |
November 24, 2005 |
Camouflage article
Abstract
A novelty article or article of wearing apparel is provided
having an exposed surface that is covered by contiguous distinct
zones of at least two contrasting colors. These contiguous distinct
zones are arranged to define a camouflage pattern. The colors used
in the article are colors that do not blend with environmental
colors and are selected to correspond to colors adopted by a group,
such as a team or school, for which the user of the article has an
affinity or affiliation. In specific embodiments, the colors
correspond to the team colors of a professional or amateur sports
team. In further specific embodiments, the novelty article may
additionally include a logo or symbol of the team.
Inventors: |
Willis, Michael Leon;
(Guntersville, AL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALSTON & BIRD LLP
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA
101 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 4000
CHARLOTTE
NC
28280-4000
US
|
Assignee: |
Kappler, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
35373745 |
Appl. No.: |
10/848826 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/00 20130101;
A41D 27/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/093 |
International
Class: |
A41B 001/00; A41D
001/00; A41D 003/02 |
Claims
That which is claimed:
1. A novelty article having an exposed surface that is covered by
contiguous distinct zones of at least two contrasting colors,
wherein said contiguous distinct zones are arranged to define a
camouflage pattern, and wherein said at least two colors are colors
that do not blend with environmental colors and are selected to
correspond to colors adopted by a particular group for which the
user of the article has an affinity or affiliation.
2. The novelty article of claim 1, wherein the group is a school,
team or government entity and the selected colors correspond to the
school colors, team colors or flag colors of the government
entity.
3. The novelty article of claim 2, wherein the article has no more
than three predominant colors.
4. The novelty article of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
colors is a bright color selected from the group consisting of
yellow, orange, gold, red, blue and purple.
5. The novelty article of claim 4, wherein another of the at least
two contrasting colors is white, black, silver or another bright
color.
6. The novelty article of claim 4, wherein at said at least two
colors do not include beige, tan, brown, olive drab or hunter
orange.
7. The novelty article of claim 1 in the form of an article
selected from the group consisting of wearing apparel, coolers,
umbrellas, stadium blankets, seat cushions and insulated drink
covers.
8. The novelty article of claim 2, additionally including a team,
school or government entity logo or symbol.
9. The novelty article of claim 8, wherein the logo or symbol is
formed as an applique or by embroidery.
10. The novelty article of claim 8, wherein the logo or symbol is
integrated into the camouflage pattern.
11. The novelty article of claim 1, wherein said exposed surface is
the surface of a flexible sheet material and the contiguous
distinct zones of color that define the camouflage pattern are
irregular in shape but repeat along at least one dimension of the
sheet material.
12. The novelty article of claim 11, wherein the flexible sheet
material is a textile fabric.
13. The novelty article of claim 1, wherein said at least two
contrasting colors are of color shades matching the official colors
of said group in accordance with the Pantone Matching System.
14. An article of wearing apparel comprising a fabric material
substrate having an exposed outer surface that is covered
throughout by contiguous distinct zones of at least two contrasting
colors, wherein said contiguous distinct zones are arranged to
define a camouflage pattern, and wherein said at least two colors
are colors that do not blend with environmental colors and are
selected to correspond to colors adopted by a particular group for
which the user of the article has an affinity or affiliation.
15. The apparel claim 14, wherein the group is a school, team or
government entity and the selected colors correspond to the school
colors, team colors or flag colors of the government entity.
16. The apparel of claim 15, additionally including a logo or
symbol of the group.
17. The apparel of claim 15 in the form of a jacket, poncho, shirt,
pants, shorts, skirt, hat, cap, visor or bandanna.
18. An article of wearing apparel comprising a fabric material
substrate having an exposed outer surface that is covered
throughout by contiguous distinct zones of no more than three
contrasting colors that do not blend with environmental colors, one
of said colors being selected from the group consisting of red,
yellow, blue, green, orange, purple and shade variations thereof,
and another of said colors being either another color selected from
said group or white, black or silver, wherein said contiguous
distinct zones are arranged to define a camouflage pattern, and
wherein the combination of said colors is identifiable as
corresponding to the colors of a particular group whereby the
wearer of the apparel can demonstrate his or her affinity for or
affiliation with that group.
19. A method for producing a novelty article, said method
comprising forming on an exposed surface of the article contiguous
distinct zones of at least two contrasting colors, arranging said
contiguous distinct zones to define a camouflage pattern, and
selecting as said at least two colors of the camouflage pattern,
colors that do not blend with environmental colors and that
correspond to colors adopted by a particular group for which a user
of the article has an affinity or affiliation.
20. A method for producing a novelty article, said method
comprising selecting at least two contrasting colors corresponding
to the colors of a team, school or government entity, the selected
colors being colors that do not blend with environmental colors,
providing an article having an exposed surface, providing on the
exposed surface of the article contiguous distinct zones of the
selected colors arranged to define a camouflage pattern, and
providing the novelty article to a person having an affinity for or
affiliation with the team, school or government entity
corresponding to the selected colors.
Description
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an article displaying a
camouflage pattern, and more particularly, to articles of wearing
apparel and other items that have a camouflage pattern thereon.
[0002] Camouflage, and articles having a camouflage pattern, are
ordinarily used for purposes of concealment. Hunters wear
camouflage clothing to conceal themselves from their quarry.
Military uses of camouflage are concerned with concealing military
personnel and equipment from enemy forces. The camouflage patterns
are designed to blend into the environment. To this end, the
civilian and military camouflage materials typically use patterns
and colors found in the environment in which the person or object
to be camouflaged is located. Thus, camouflage materials have been
developed that mimic the colors and patterns found in forests,
fields, marshes, and deserts. Typically, these camouflage materials
use earth tone colors to blend in with the environmental
surroundings. Perhaps the most familiar camouflage pattern is the
traditional woodland camouflage pattern. It has irregular, random
appearing areas or blotches of different sizes and different
colors. The traditional woodland pattern camouflage typically has
at least four colors, including shades of tan, brown, green (olive
drab) and black. More modern, nontraditional camouflage patterns
for hunters have also been developed having complex
three-dimensional representations of various outdoor settings, such
as a forest, marsh, corn field, tree bark, wetlands, etc. Examples
of these types of camouflage materials include the RealTree.RTM.
line of camouflage materials from Jordan Outdoor Enterprises and
the Mossy Oak.RTM. brand camouflage materials from Haas Outdoors
Inc.
[0003] People sometimes consider it fashionable to wear camouflage
patterns in everyday use, rather than solely in hunting or military
applications. Certainly, traditional camouflage patterns and colors
have been worn for this purpose. Apparel manufacturers, recognizing
the popularity of using camouflage in apparel, have also offered
various kinds of "urban camo" or "city camo" apparel. These city
camo patterns mimic the graphic patterns of the more traditional
camouflage materials and, like traditional camouflage materials,
typically have at least four colors. The selected colors have, for
example, included color tones of similar to the concrete, brick and
asphalt materials found in urban environments. Other city camo
patterns have been produced using several different shades of the
same color, such as light, medium and dark blue, for example.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention departs from the conventional use of
camouflage patterns for the purpose of concealment. The present
invention provides articles that use traditional camouflage graphic
patterns, but with colors that do not serve the traditional
concealment function of camouflage. Articles in accordance with the
present invention are referred to herein as "novelty articles"
since they may be used or worn to provide amusement, interest and
enjoyment rather than for the purpose of concealment. In accordance
with the present invention, the selected colors used in the
articles are readily identified by ordinary observers as
corresponding to the colors of a particular group, such as a
school, team or government entity. The novelty articles are worn or
used by individuals to indicate their affinity for or affiliation
with the particular group represented by those colors.
[0005] According to the present invention, a novelty article is
provided having an exposed surface that is covered by contiguous
distinct zones of at least two contrasting colors. These contiguous
distinct zones are arranged to define a camouflage pattern. The
colors used in the novelty article are colors that do not blend
with environmental colors and are selected to correspond to colors
adopted by a particular group, such as a school, team or government
entity, for which the user of the article has an affinity or
affiliation. In specific embodiments, the colors correspond to the
team colors of a collegiate sports team or a high school, middle
school, amateur, or professional sports team. In further specific
embodiments, the novelty article may additionally include a logo or
symbol of the team.
[0006] The colors adopted by sports teams and schools are typically
bright colors rather than subdued earth tone colors. For example,
many team colors or school colors include at least one bright
primary or secondary color selected from the group consisting of
yellow, orange, gold, red, blue and purple. This bright color is
typically paired with a contrasting color, which can also be a
bright primary or secondary color, or a lighter or darker
contrasting neutral accent color such as black, white or silver.
Sometimes a third color is used as an accent in addition to the two
main colors. In any event, the team colors or school colors are
selected so as to be highly visible to human observers, and to form
an aesthetically pleasing color combination suitable for team
uniforms, banners, pennants and similar items. The colors adopted
by teams and schools do not ordinarily include the colors most
often seen in traditional camouflage patterns, namely colors such
as beige, tan, brown, or olive drab.
[0007] The present invention contemplates using the unique
camouflage patterned combinations of team and school colors on a
wide variety of items that may be used in relation to a team or
school event, examples of which include, but are not limited to,
wearing apparel, coolers, umbrellas, stadium blankets, seat
cushions and insulated beverage covers. When used as an article of
wearing apparel, the article may take the form of a jacket, poncho,
shirt, pants, shorts, shirt, hat, visor, bandana, or other wearing
apparel articles.
[0008] The present invention also provides method for producing a
novelty article which includes steps of forming on an exposed
surface of the article contiguous distinct zones of at least two
contrasting colors, arranging the contiguous distinct zones to
define a camouflage pattern, and selecting as the colors of the
camouflage pattern, colors that do not blend with environmental
colors and that correspond to colors adopted by particular group
for which a user of the article has an affinity or affiliation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0009] Having thus described the invention in general terms,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are
not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing a jacket having a
camouflage pattern in accordance with the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing a stadium blanket
having a camouflage pattern in accordance with the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view showing an insulated
sleeve for a beverage bottle or can having a camouflage pattern in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present inventions now will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed,
these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should
not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;
rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will
satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout.
[0014] The term "camouflage pattern" is used herein to refer to the
shape, but not the color, of any graphic pattern of the type
commonly used in sporting camouflage materials for hunting or for
military uses. The camouflage pattern is typically made up of
irregular or random-appearing zones of contrasting colors that form
shapes designed and intended to help blend into the environment.
The camouflage pattern can take various forms or shapes, such as
the familiar woodland pattern of irregular spots that resembles the
pattern of sunlight filtering through trees, as well as more
recent, three-dimensional appearing graphic patterns resembling the
forms of tree limbs, tree bark, corn fields, leaves, rocks, marsh
grass, etc.
[0015] The term "color" is used herein with its ordinary meaning to
refer to a visual attribute of an object as a result of the object
reflecting or transmitting light. This visual attribute enables
persons to differentiate objects even though the objects may be
otherwise identical in size, form or texture. The color of the
object may be described in terms of a person's perception of the
hue, lightness (or brightness) and saturation using names such as
red, blue, pink, green, yellow, white or black.
[0016] In FIG. 1, a camouflage jacket 10 in accordance with the
present invention is shown. The jacket 10 is of a conventional
construction, having a torso portion, sleeves, and a front opening
that can be closed by suitable closures, such as a zipper, buttons,
snaps or the like. The jacket may be fabricated from a suitable
textile material, such as a woven shell fabric made from yarns of
natural or synthetic fibers such as cotton, rayon, nylon,
polyester, acrylic, or polyolefin. The jacket may include an inner
shell or liner (not shown) and a waterproofing barrier layer, such
as Goretex.RTM., as is well known.
[0017] The outer exposed surface of the fabric from which the
jacket is made is covered throughout by a camouflage pattern. The
camouflage pattern is defined by contiguous distinct zones
indicated by the reference characters 11, 12 and 13 of three
different contrasting colors. The respective contiguous color zones
11, 12 and 13 touch one another and define distinct transitions
from one color zone to another. In the specific embodiment shown in
FIG. 1, the shapes of the contrasting color zones 11, 12, 13
provide an irregular or random appearance of the type that is
commonly seen in the traditional woodland camouflage pattern.
However, it will be understood that the present invention is not
restricted to this particular camouflage pattern. The camouflage
pattern may be applied to the surface of the fabric using known
textile processing methods such as screen printing or transfer
printing. When the substrate is a fabric produced as roll goods,
the contiguous distinct zones of color that define the camouflage
pattern are irregular in shape but repeat along at least one
dimension (typically the longitudinal or machine direction) of the
substrate.
[0018] While the shapes defined by the contrasting zones 11 and 12
resemble the graphic shapes of conventional and well known
camouflage patterns used by hunters and by the military, the colors
selected for use in the camouflage pattern are distinctly different
from the colors ordinarily seen in traditional camouflage
materials. Traditional camouflage materials typically use earth
tone colors selected to blend into the environment, such as shades
of beige, tan, brown and olive drab for example. The colors used in
the camouflage materials of the present invention are selected so
that they do not blend with environmental colors. Unlike
conventional camouflage materials, the colors used in the present
invention are bright colors such as yellow, orange, gold, red, blue
and purple. Typically, at least one of the colors is a primary
color (red, yellow or blue) or a shade variation thereof, or a
secondary color (green, orange and purple) or a shade variation
thereof. As is known from color theory, the primary colors red,
yellow and blue are the three pigment colors that can not be mixed
or formed by any combination of other colors. All other colors are
derived from these three hues. The secondary colors green, orange
and purple are the colors formed by mixing the primary colors.
[0019] These bright primary and secondary colors are the colors
most frequently adopted and used by teams and schools. Typically,
the team colors or school colors include one of the aforementioned
primary or secondary colors, paired with either another contrasting
bright accent color or a contrasting neutral accent color such as
white, black or silver. Team colors and school colors do not
typically include fluorescent high visibility colors, such as the
hunter's orange color that is commonly worn for safety purposes by
hunters and construction workers.
[0020] A unique and advantageous feature of the present invention
is that the colors used in the camouflage materials are selected so
as to be readily identifiable as the colors adopted by a particular
group, such as a team or school. Moreover, the color combinations
are such that they will be readily associated with a particular
school or team without the necessity of having the school name or
logo present on the article to convey this relationship to the
observer. Thus, a user or wearer of an article, such as the jacket
10, can display his or her affinity for or affiliation with the
school or team whose selected colors are on the article. This
provides a way to demonstrate support or team spirit for the school
or team.
[0021] In order that the selected colors will be readily
identifiable by the ordinary observer as the colors of a particular
school or team, the shade of each color must match the color shade
adopted by the particular school. For example, in order to be
readily identifiable as corresponding to the team colors of the
University of Tennessee, which are orange and white, the selected
colors should include the particular shade of orange that is used
by the university (e.g. PMS151 from the Pantone Matching System),
and not just any orange shade. Similarly, in order to be
identifiable as corresponding to the University of North Carolina,
whose colors are blue and white, the selected colors must include a
shade of light blue, similar to sky blue, which has become known as
"Carolina blue" (e.g. Pantone 278C). The Pantone Matching System is
a popular color matching system used by the printing industry to
match colors by indicating a Pantone name or number. Most colleges,
universities and professional teams identify their approved school
or team colors using Pantone numbers.
[0022] Also for purposes of ready identification, it is preferred
that the number of different predominant colors used in the
camouflage article be limited to no more than three. Most schools
or teams use two main colors, and may also use an additional main
color or accent color so that the team can have different appearing
light and dark jerseys for home and away games. When more than
three predominant colors are used in the camouflage material, the
impact or effect upon the ordinary observer is changed. While the
pattern will still be recognized as a pseudo-camouflage pattern,
the pattern is not immediately identifiable as corresponding to a
particular team or school because of the diversity of other colors
or shades present.
[0023] The color combinations can be selected to correspond to the
colors of a group such as a college or university or the school
colors for a high school or middle school. The selected colors may
also correspond to team colors of a club sports team. The color
combinations may also correspond to the colors used by a government
entity, such as the colors of the flag of that entity. For example,
patriotic colorful camouflage materials may use the colors of the
United States flag, red (PMS 193), white, and blue (PMS 281).
[0024] Examples of some of the most commonly used color
combinations for colleges and universities include the
following:
1 TABLE 1 Bright Main Contrasting School Color Main Color Air Force
blue silver Alabama red (crimson) White Arizona red (cardinal) blue
(navy) Arkansas red (cardinal) (PMS199) White Auburn orange
(PMS172) blue (PMS289) Boston College red (maroon) (PMS202) gold
(PMS874) Clemson orange purple Duke blue white Florida orange blue
Georgia red black Illinois orange blue Kansas red (crimson) blue
Kentucky blue white Michigan blue yellow (maize) Mississippi red
(cardinal) blue (navy) Nebraska red (scarlet) yellow (cream) North
Carolina blue (carolina) white NC State red white Ohio State red
(scarlet) gray Penn State blue white South Carolina red (garnet)
black Stanford red (cardinal) white Tennessee Orange (PMS151) white
UCLA yellow (gold) blue Wake Forest yellow (gold) (PMS873)
black
[0025] In accordance with one specific embodiment of the present
invention, the jacket or other article is not only produced with
colors corresponding to a particular team or school, but also a
logo or symbol of that team or school is provided on the article.
Thus, as seen in FIG. 1, the jacket includes the team logo 16
applied to the front or back of the jacket. In the embodiment
shown, the team logo is applied as an applique to the jacket. The
logo or symbol could also be formed by embroidery directly on the
jacket. In other embodiments of the present invention, the team
logo could be integrated into the graphics of the camouflage
pattern itself. In this regard, the logo pattern could be featured
prominently in the graphic pattern, or alternatively, the logo
could appear subtly as part of the graphic pattern. When used in
combination with selected colors that are readily identifiable with
a particular team, this provides a particularly unique way for a
person to express his or her affinity for or affiliation with that
team.
[0026] In addition to the jacket shown in FIG. 1, the principles of
the present invention are applicable to various other articles of
wearing apparel, such as ponchos, shirts, T-shirts, pants, shorts,
skirts, hats, caps, visors, bandanas and the like. Additionally,
the principles of the present invention can be applied a variety of
articles related to or used in association with sporting events or
team sports, examples of which include coolers, umbrellas, stadium
blankets, seat cushions, insulated sleeves for beverage cans or
bottles, team pennants, tents, awnings, chair seats and various
other articles. The concepts can also be applied to articles
unrelated to sporting events or team sports, including articles
such as tarps, automobile covers, boat covers, tote bags, and
luggage. By way of illustration, but not of limitation, FIG. 2
illustrates a stadium blanket 20 having a camouflage pattern
thereon and FIG. 3 illustrates an insulated sleeve 25 for a
beverage can or bottle having a camouflage pattern. It should be
evident that the present invention is not limited to specific
articles or to specific substrates, but can be implemented in a
variety of article using various substrate materials including
woven, knitted and nonwoven fabrics, films, foam sheeting, plastic,
metal and paper.
[0027] Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions
set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to
which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings
presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated
drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are
not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that
modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included
within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms
are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive
sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
* * * * *