CA1079524A - Camouflage mat simulating vegetation - Google Patents
Camouflage mat simulating vegetationInfo
- Publication number
- CA1079524A CA1079524A CA274,728A CA274728A CA1079524A CA 1079524 A CA1079524 A CA 1079524A CA 274728 A CA274728 A CA 274728A CA 1079524 A CA1079524 A CA 1079524A
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- shaped
- cut
- cuts
- sheet
- rows
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A sheet of camouflage material is provided for concealing people and equipment from people or animals having a sense of color or geometric perception. The sheet has a plurality of alternating rows of straight-sided, upright V-shaped cuts with intermediate rows of inverted V-shaped cuts. The upright V-shaped cuts line up vertically in alternating columns with intermediate columns of inverted "V" cuts. Each shaped cut is comprised of a long straight incision and a short straight incision which intersect to form a triangularly-shaped point. The ratio of the lengths of the short incision to the long incision and the ratio of the spacing between points of the adjoining shaped cuts in a column and the length of the long incision are defined so as to produce a sheet of camouflage material which, when stretched, produces a three-dimensional effect with sharp points simulating grass or leaves with a height in the third dimension between three and four times the height of previous incised camouflage sheets. The increased height or increased third dimension improves concealment from radar.
Controlled stretching of the sheet results in a particular and predictable see-through factor which is commensurate with the radar return. Less blades are necessary to incise the material and they are cheaper to build and cheaper to maintain.
A sheet of camouflage material is provided for concealing people and equipment from people or animals having a sense of color or geometric perception. The sheet has a plurality of alternating rows of straight-sided, upright V-shaped cuts with intermediate rows of inverted V-shaped cuts. The upright V-shaped cuts line up vertically in alternating columns with intermediate columns of inverted "V" cuts. Each shaped cut is comprised of a long straight incision and a short straight incision which intersect to form a triangularly-shaped point. The ratio of the lengths of the short incision to the long incision and the ratio of the spacing between points of the adjoining shaped cuts in a column and the length of the long incision are defined so as to produce a sheet of camouflage material which, when stretched, produces a three-dimensional effect with sharp points simulating grass or leaves with a height in the third dimension between three and four times the height of previous incised camouflage sheets. The increased height or increased third dimension improves concealment from radar.
Controlled stretching of the sheet results in a particular and predictable see-through factor which is commensurate with the radar return. Less blades are necessary to incise the material and they are cheaper to build and cheaper to maintain.
Description
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CAMOUFLAGE ~AT SIMULATING VEGETATION
BACKGROUND OF THE_INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to camouflage material and, more particularly, to an improved incising arrangement ~or said material to produce an improved three-dimensi.onal effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Camouflage material for civilian and military use has generally been found to be most effective where the material has openings and will assume a posture with respect to the equipment or persons being disguised that best simulates the surrounding grass, leaves, or the like. As is probably best illustrated in the Ruter U.S. Patent 3,069,796, a sheet of material is incised with U-shaped cuts in a symmetrical pattern such that stretching the material will cause the U-shaped members to project upward in a somewhat three-dimensional effect. It has been found with incising o~ the type shown in U.S. Patent 3,069,796 produces a relatively high see-through factor and, due to the tendency for the round ends of the U-shaped members to flop over or curl, to produce a somewhat flattened three-dimensional effect.
: . ., The Ekman U.S. Patent 2,911,652 shows another camouflage material wherein the cutouts of different sizes and shapes, when strung together and drawn in, will produce an uneven three-dimensional effect.
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CAMOUFLAGE ~AT SIMULATING VEGETATION
BACKGROUND OF THE_INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to camouflage material and, more particularly, to an improved incising arrangement ~or said material to produce an improved three-dimensi.onal effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Camouflage material for civilian and military use has generally been found to be most effective where the material has openings and will assume a posture with respect to the equipment or persons being disguised that best simulates the surrounding grass, leaves, or the like. As is probably best illustrated in the Ruter U.S. Patent 3,069,796, a sheet of material is incised with U-shaped cuts in a symmetrical pattern such that stretching the material will cause the U-shaped members to project upward in a somewhat three-dimensional effect. It has been found with incising o~ the type shown in U.S. Patent 3,069,796 produces a relatively high see-through factor and, due to the tendency for the round ends of the U-shaped members to flop over or curl, to produce a somewhat flattened three-dimensional effect.
: . ., The Ekman U.S. Patent 2,911,652 shows another camouflage material wherein the cutouts of different sizes and shapes, when strung together and drawn in, will produce an uneven three-dimensional effect.
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5~4 ~ oth of the above-mentioned prior art devices and other prior art devices, although possessing e~cellent camouflag~
ing characteristics, such as from an airplane or the like, are not quite as realistic as is desired at closer range or on radar.
The lack of realism is partially due to the tendency for the .
U-shaped cutouts of the Ruter patent or the spacings between the cutouts of the Ekman patent to be rounded causing them to flop or to curl. Thus, although the prior art does create a three-dimensional effect, such three-dimensional effect is somewhat flat, thereby resulting in a somewhat less than realistic visual contrast and a somewhat greater defined radar signature.
SUMMARY OF TH~ INVENTION
; An improved sheet of camouflage material is provided which closely duplicates natural herbaceous vegetation and growth by controlling the see-through and enhancing the three-dimensional effect. The impro~ed inci~ed material prevents people and animals having the a~ility to detect differences in .. color and who have geometric perception from readily spotting equipment or people covered by said material. The improved 2~ material has an incising arrangement that is capable of pro-. , .
., ducing a deeper three-dimensional effect that moxe nearly . simulates natural grass, tree leaves and the like. The improved ~ material has particular application for use in duck blinds, ~.
; ground-to-ground military targets, and the like, as well as ;
, exceeding existing specifications for military camouflage, '. such as air-to-ground targets, and the li~e. .
` Thus, broadly, the invention contemplates a camouflage '~ mat formed of a sheet of material having a vertical dimension ;.
- and a horizontal dimension, and a plurality of spaced apart :~
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rows of V-shaped cuts e~tending horizontally across the sheet with the rows alternating between upright V~shaped cuts and inverted V-shaped cuts, and with each uprigh-t V-shaped cut in each row falling in a vertical column and each inverted V-shaped cut in each row falling in a vertical column between the vertical columns of the upright V-shaped cuts. Each V-shaped cut has one leg cut longer than the other leg with the long leg of each V-shaped cut being adjacent the short leg o~ the next adjacent V~
shaped cut in each row of cuts, whereby stretching the material in a direction transverse -to the rows of V-shaped cuts extends the points of the V-shaped cuts in one row upward out of,the plane of the sheet with the points of the next adjacent row of cuts extending downward out of the plane.
sy incising a blank sheet of material with straight cuts that intersect to form V-shaped members, with the lengths of the cuts being controlled and the ends of the cuts overlapping in a particular manner, will produce a controlled accentuated three-dimensional effect when the material is stretched with the points of the V's sticking substantially straight up or straight down. This provides an improved three-dimensional effect of grass, leaves or surrounding terrain which creates a better visual concealment and a more degraded radar signature.
The angle of the cuts and the ratio between the lengths of the cuts and the ratio between the long cut and the distance point-to-point between aligned adjacent V-shaped members are within precisely defined ranges so as to create the accentuated three-dimensional effect when the material is stretched. The improved camouflage sheet reduces the percent of see-through under controlled degrees of stretch while providing the accentuated .
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three-dimensional e~fect, so as to closely d~ cate l~at:ural herbaceous vegetation and growth, BRIEF Dl.SCRIPTION OF TH~ DR~WINGS
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The details of construction and operation of the invention are more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which like reference numerals refer tv like parts throughout.
In the drawings:
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a duck blind 10 in a natural environment and covered-by a sheet of the improved camouflage material;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a sheet of camouflage material havi~g the improved incising pattern cut therein; -.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the portion of the sheet of matexial of Fig. 2 having a predetermlned degree of . stretch applied thereto; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of ~igO 3.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
, Referring to tlle drawin~s, and pa~ticularly to Fig. 1, :. :
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a low s~ructure 10 is illustrated in a natural herbaceous : .:
setting with vegetation, such as grass 12, bushes 14 having leaves, and trees (not shown) also bearing leaves. The structure 10 is covered over with a stretched sheet 20 of camouflage material having incising cuts 25,27 formed therein.
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It is ~o be understood that the structure 10 could be a military structure o~ could contain equipment or personnel, the purpose of the camouflage being to not only prevent detection , 30 ~rom the air~ but also to prevent detection ~rom the ground.
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Fig. 2 illustrates the sheet 20 of material having an incising pattern cut therein, the pattern consisting of a plurality of alternating rows 30,32,34 and 36 of upright V-shaped cuts 25 with intermediate alternating rows 38,40,42 and 44 of inverted V-shaped cu~s 27 therebetweén. The upright V-shaped cuts 25 are vertically aligned in alternating columns 46,48,50 and 52 with intermediate alternating columns 54,56 and 58 of inverted V-shaped cuts 27 therebetween.
It should be noted that each upright V-shaped cut 25 and inverted V-shaped cut 27 has one long cut or long leg 60 and one short cut or short leg 62, with the long cut 60 intersecting the short cut 62 substantially at;a point or apex 64 with a ~referred included angle "D" of between 60 and 70 degrees. The cuts 60,62 produce a triangularly- ' shaped member 66 which is hingedly attached to ,the sheet , generally along an imaginary base line extending between the ~:
free ends of the cuts 60i62. ' It shoula be noted that ~every other ro~ of upright V-shaped cuts 25~ for instance rows 30 and 34, have the long cut or le,g 60 on the left s,ide as viewed in Fig. 2, with the ~hort cut or leg 62 on the rigpt side thereof. The alternating rows 32,36 of upright '~ V-shaped cuts 25 have the short leg 62 on the left-hand side and the long leg 60 on the right-hand side. Likewise, the ' . inverted V-shaped cuts 27 in rows 38 and 42 have the short ; cuts 6.2 on the left~-hand side and the long cuts ~0 on the right-hand side. The intermediate rows 40,44 have the long cuts or legs 60 on the left-hand ~s~de and the short cuts or legs 62 .' . on the right-hand sidP~ ~
' : Each adjacent pair of upright'V-shaped cuts 25 have one short leg:62 of one cut adj~ining a long leg 60 of .
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the adjacent V-sh~ped cut 25. The same is true for the inverted V-shaped cuts 27. Also, each adjoining pair of upright V-shaped cuts 25,25 have an inverted V shaped cut 27 overhanging the ends of the cuts 60,62 of said adjoining V-shaped cuts. The same is true of each pair of adjacent inverted V-shaped cuts 27 in that the ends of the ad~acent legs or cuts 60,62 of the pair ha~e an upright V-shaped cu 25 overlapping the ends thereo~. In Fig. 2, each cut or leg 60,62 has a vertical component and a horizontal ~ :
component, the vertical component of the short leg 62 being designated by the letter "A" and the vertical component of the long cut or leg 60 being designated by the letter "B". From the tip or point .64 of one upright V-shaped cut 25 to.the tip or point 64 of the next vertically adjacent V-shaped cut 25 is designated ~y the letter "C".
- .It should be noted that the vertical component of each short cut or leg 62 and long cut or leg 60 of each upright V-shaped cut 25 or each inverted V-shaped cut 27 is sub-stantially the same.as is.the vertical component of each : 20 other short cut or leg 62 and long cut or leg 60 of eac~
~ .
V-shaped cut. The point ~4 to point 64 distance "C" between verticall~ adjacent cuts 25,25 or 27,27 is the same whether the cuts are inverted or upright V-shaped cuts.
It has been found that for a vertical component "B" of a long leg or cut 60 of a given~dimension and a point-to-pGint distance o~ "C" of a greater dimension, that the dis-tance "C" must not be less than seventeen percent ~17%) greater than the vertical component l'Bn, nor more than thirty-three percent (33~: greater than the vertical component "B".
. 30 Stated another way, the diistance~f~om point-to-point ., .' . ' . . _ 7 _ . .
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designated "C" must be between a minimum of seventeen percent ~17%) greater than "B" and a maximum of thirty-three percent (33~) greater than "B" to assure the results desired.
Likewise, the vertical component "B" must be not less than twelve percent (12%~ greater nor more than twen~y-five percent (25%) greater than the vertical component "A". The pre-ferred component for "B" is approximately sixteen percent ~15%~ greater than the vertical component "A". Using these values on a sheet of incised camoufla~e materialt according to Fig. 2, vertical stretch, that is stretch in the direction of the columns o~ upright and inverted V-shaped cuts, suf-~icient to produce a ten percent (10%) stretch of the material produces a camou~lage sheet having a see-through factor of approximately twenty-eight pexce~t (28%). The same sheet stretched in the same direction to apply a twenty percent (20%) stretch to the material, such as is illllstrated in Fig~ 3, will produce a see-thr~ugh factor o~ approximately thirty-six percent (36%) and a radar transmission of twenty-six percent (26~)~
The points 64 of the members 66 of the V~shaped cuts 25,27 will protrude almost perpendicular tQ the plane o~ the sheet, such as is illustrated in Fig. 4, with one column 54 of members 66 projecting upward with respect to the plane and the adjacent column 48 of members 66 projecting downwardly from he plane of the sheet. Due to the uneven lengths of cuts of the legs 60,62 Qf the inverted and upright V-shaped cuts 25,27 and the orientation of the ends of the cuts of each inverted or upright~cut with respect to the ends of the adjacent cuts, results in the hinged members 66 sticking ~
substantially straight up and straight down with respect to :, :
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the plane o~ the sheet. The forces n~ed~d to str~tch the material applies an uneven pull on the hinye o~ the hinyed ~-members 66 causing each member 66 to cup slightly thereby r adding a degree of stiffness to the member causing it to stand substantially straight up with respect to the plane of the sheet.
The straight standing of the V-sl~ap~d cutout mem~ers 66, together with the pointed shape of said cutout mem~ers, produces the visual illusion of natural herbaceous vege-tation, such as grass, leaves, bushes, and the like, so that people or animals that have the ability to preceive color and depth : have dificulty in distinguishing the natural herbaceous vegetation from the simulated vegetation created by the present invention.
In at least one prior art structure, a sheet of material is incised with overlapping U-shaped cuts of approxi-mately the same size as described hereinabove, su~h that when r the material is stretched so as to elongate the sheet by ten percent (10%), the see-through factor is approximately thirty-.. . . . .
four percent ~34%~ and when the sheet is stretched to twenty percent (20%) of its oriyinal length, the see-through factor is fourty-three percent (43%) and the radar transmission is thirty-three percent (33%)D In addition, the curved points of the U-shaped members have no stiffness or rigidity and, accordingly, lay over or flop with respect to the plane of the sheet thereby affording only a little three-dimensional ef~ect to the sheet. For comparison purposes, a sheet of camouflage using the prior art U-shaped incising of the same dimension as my improved sheet of V-shaped incising with the ends of the incising according to my invention, it has been ~0 ~ound that with a twenty percent (20%) s~retch applied to . ':
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.e~, -- .. , .. _ ., . _ .. . ' each ~heet, the sheet with the U~shaped incising produced a dimension in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the sheet equal to .75 inches while the impxoved V-shaped incised sheet produced a dimension in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the sheet equal to 2.75 inches. That i~ a sub-stantially four times greater third-dimensional effect fox the improved V-shaped incising sheet. Likewise, the see-through factor for the ten percent ~10~) stretch of the V-shaped cut sheet being twenty~eight percent (28%) and for the U-shaped cut sheet being thirty-four percent (34%) constitutes a seven percent (7%) less see-through factor for the improved sheet, which see-through factor is controllable. At a twenty percent (20~) stretch, the U-shaped cut sheet had a see-through factor of forty-three percent (43~) and a radar transmission of thirty-three percent (33~) compared to the see-through factor of thirty-six percent ~36%) and a radar transmission o~ twenty-six percent (26~) for the V-shaped cut sheet making a seven percent (7%~ reduction in see-through and xadar transmission. Since it is desirable to have less radar tran~mission, the seven percent (7~3 reduction in transmission results in a substantially improved camouflage materiaI-.
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In the prior art structure, the cuts were not able to effect a controlled pattern in the stretched condition .
since the curve U-shaped flaps flopped ~ver and obstructed the see-through making it di~ficult to determine exactly what was the see-through factor. With the improved V-shaped incising, ~ince each V-shaped member assumés a de~inite ~ -orientation with respect t~ the ~lane of the sheet, the see- ~-~hrough ~actor is controllable and predictableO It has been :'.~ ~:: ' .'.:
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found ~ha-t the V-shaped con~iguratlon for any given stretch can be manu~actured using twenty-five percent ~25~) less blades in the die, thereby making it less costly to build, repa.ir and replace the dies for cutting the Lmproved V-shaped incised sheet.
In camouflage technology, the control of see-through is commensurate with the radar return. See through is controlled by one of two methods, the first method being by controlling stretch and the second method being by increasing or decreasing the point-to-point distance between vertically adjacent cut-outs; in the present case the point-to-point distance is dimension "C" in Fig. 2. The control of see-through is desirable, first, for visua~ concealment and, second, for radar signature degradation. The visual concealment and radar signature degradation are improved, firstl when the see-thxough is con-trolled to a minimum consistent w~th the necessary open space to give visual contrast and, second, when the third dimension is increased without sacrificing increased see-through. There-, : fore, where the improved V shaped cuts are used to incise a camouflage sheet, the see-through is reduced seven percent (7~ while the radar transmission is reduced seven percent (7~) ~
and *he third-dimensional effect is increased by four times! ;
thereby producing ~ camouflage sheet having improved visual i . ..
.concealment and an improved radar signature degradation.
In the prior art constructions, in order to get more stretch, it was necessa.ry to increase the siæ~ of the ~ :
cut. The increased sized cuts only increased the amount of ~lop over of the cut parts thereby not improving the result 1 , needed. In the present situation, since the points stick out, it is.possible to get the stretch and the see-through without increas~ng the size o~ the cut.
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The V-shaped incis,ed cu-t with t.he uneven length o~
legs having a controlled ratio of the leng-th of the le~s with ,,respect to each other and with respect to the poi.nt-to~point vertically adjacent distances between adjoining cuts, produces an improved camouflage material duplicating natural herbaceous ~egetation and growth. It being understood -tha-t the surface of the sheet of camouflage material is to be colored in a way to simulate natural colors, the opposite sides of the sheet can be differently colored or can be commonly colored, or different patterns of coloring can be placed on the sheets so as to create the desired effect when the sheets are : stretched in the field.
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5~4 ~ oth of the above-mentioned prior art devices and other prior art devices, although possessing e~cellent camouflag~
ing characteristics, such as from an airplane or the like, are not quite as realistic as is desired at closer range or on radar.
The lack of realism is partially due to the tendency for the .
U-shaped cutouts of the Ruter patent or the spacings between the cutouts of the Ekman patent to be rounded causing them to flop or to curl. Thus, although the prior art does create a three-dimensional effect, such three-dimensional effect is somewhat flat, thereby resulting in a somewhat less than realistic visual contrast and a somewhat greater defined radar signature.
SUMMARY OF TH~ INVENTION
; An improved sheet of camouflage material is provided which closely duplicates natural herbaceous vegetation and growth by controlling the see-through and enhancing the three-dimensional effect. The impro~ed inci~ed material prevents people and animals having the a~ility to detect differences in .. color and who have geometric perception from readily spotting equipment or people covered by said material. The improved 2~ material has an incising arrangement that is capable of pro-. , .
., ducing a deeper three-dimensional effect that moxe nearly . simulates natural grass, tree leaves and the like. The improved ~ material has particular application for use in duck blinds, ~.
; ground-to-ground military targets, and the like, as well as ;
, exceeding existing specifications for military camouflage, '. such as air-to-ground targets, and the li~e. .
` Thus, broadly, the invention contemplates a camouflage '~ mat formed of a sheet of material having a vertical dimension ;.
- and a horizontal dimension, and a plurality of spaced apart :~
; ' ' - . ' ~
' 9S;~
rows of V-shaped cuts e~tending horizontally across the sheet with the rows alternating between upright V~shaped cuts and inverted V-shaped cuts, and with each uprigh-t V-shaped cut in each row falling in a vertical column and each inverted V-shaped cut in each row falling in a vertical column between the vertical columns of the upright V-shaped cuts. Each V-shaped cut has one leg cut longer than the other leg with the long leg of each V-shaped cut being adjacent the short leg o~ the next adjacent V~
shaped cut in each row of cuts, whereby stretching the material in a direction transverse -to the rows of V-shaped cuts extends the points of the V-shaped cuts in one row upward out of,the plane of the sheet with the points of the next adjacent row of cuts extending downward out of the plane.
sy incising a blank sheet of material with straight cuts that intersect to form V-shaped members, with the lengths of the cuts being controlled and the ends of the cuts overlapping in a particular manner, will produce a controlled accentuated three-dimensional effect when the material is stretched with the points of the V's sticking substantially straight up or straight down. This provides an improved three-dimensional effect of grass, leaves or surrounding terrain which creates a better visual concealment and a more degraded radar signature.
The angle of the cuts and the ratio between the lengths of the cuts and the ratio between the long cut and the distance point-to-point between aligned adjacent V-shaped members are within precisely defined ranges so as to create the accentuated three-dimensional effect when the material is stretched. The improved camouflage sheet reduces the percent of see-through under controlled degrees of stretch while providing the accentuated .
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three-dimensional e~fect, so as to closely d~ cate l~at:ural herbaceous vegetation and growth, BRIEF Dl.SCRIPTION OF TH~ DR~WINGS
~ _ _ .
The details of construction and operation of the invention are more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which like reference numerals refer tv like parts throughout.
In the drawings:
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a duck blind 10 in a natural environment and covered-by a sheet of the improved camouflage material;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a sheet of camouflage material havi~g the improved incising pattern cut therein; -.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the portion of the sheet of matexial of Fig. 2 having a predetermlned degree of . stretch applied thereto; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of ~igO 3.
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
, Referring to tlle drawin~s, and pa~ticularly to Fig. 1, :. :
.~ , . . .
a low s~ructure 10 is illustrated in a natural herbaceous : .:
setting with vegetation, such as grass 12, bushes 14 having leaves, and trees (not shown) also bearing leaves. The structure 10 is covered over with a stretched sheet 20 of camouflage material having incising cuts 25,27 formed therein.
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It is ~o be understood that the structure 10 could be a military structure o~ could contain equipment or personnel, the purpose of the camouflage being to not only prevent detection , 30 ~rom the air~ but also to prevent detection ~rom the ground.
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Fig. 2 illustrates the sheet 20 of material having an incising pattern cut therein, the pattern consisting of a plurality of alternating rows 30,32,34 and 36 of upright V-shaped cuts 25 with intermediate alternating rows 38,40,42 and 44 of inverted V-shaped cu~s 27 therebetweén. The upright V-shaped cuts 25 are vertically aligned in alternating columns 46,48,50 and 52 with intermediate alternating columns 54,56 and 58 of inverted V-shaped cuts 27 therebetween.
It should be noted that each upright V-shaped cut 25 and inverted V-shaped cut 27 has one long cut or long leg 60 and one short cut or short leg 62, with the long cut 60 intersecting the short cut 62 substantially at;a point or apex 64 with a ~referred included angle "D" of between 60 and 70 degrees. The cuts 60,62 produce a triangularly- ' shaped member 66 which is hingedly attached to ,the sheet , generally along an imaginary base line extending between the ~:
free ends of the cuts 60i62. ' It shoula be noted that ~every other ro~ of upright V-shaped cuts 25~ for instance rows 30 and 34, have the long cut or le,g 60 on the left s,ide as viewed in Fig. 2, with the ~hort cut or leg 62 on the rigpt side thereof. The alternating rows 32,36 of upright '~ V-shaped cuts 25 have the short leg 62 on the left-hand side and the long leg 60 on the right-hand side. Likewise, the ' . inverted V-shaped cuts 27 in rows 38 and 42 have the short ; cuts 6.2 on the left~-hand side and the long cuts ~0 on the right-hand side. The intermediate rows 40,44 have the long cuts or legs 60 on the left-hand ~s~de and the short cuts or legs 62 .' . on the right-hand sidP~ ~
' : Each adjacent pair of upright'V-shaped cuts 25 have one short leg:62 of one cut adj~ining a long leg 60 of .
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the adjacent V-sh~ped cut 25. The same is true for the inverted V-shaped cuts 27. Also, each adjoining pair of upright V-shaped cuts 25,25 have an inverted V shaped cut 27 overhanging the ends of the cuts 60,62 of said adjoining V-shaped cuts. The same is true of each pair of adjacent inverted V-shaped cuts 27 in that the ends of the ad~acent legs or cuts 60,62 of the pair ha~e an upright V-shaped cu 25 overlapping the ends thereo~. In Fig. 2, each cut or leg 60,62 has a vertical component and a horizontal ~ :
component, the vertical component of the short leg 62 being designated by the letter "A" and the vertical component of the long cut or leg 60 being designated by the letter "B". From the tip or point .64 of one upright V-shaped cut 25 to.the tip or point 64 of the next vertically adjacent V-shaped cut 25 is designated ~y the letter "C".
- .It should be noted that the vertical component of each short cut or leg 62 and long cut or leg 60 of each upright V-shaped cut 25 or each inverted V-shaped cut 27 is sub-stantially the same.as is.the vertical component of each : 20 other short cut or leg 62 and long cut or leg 60 of eac~
~ .
V-shaped cut. The point ~4 to point 64 distance "C" between verticall~ adjacent cuts 25,25 or 27,27 is the same whether the cuts are inverted or upright V-shaped cuts.
It has been found that for a vertical component "B" of a long leg or cut 60 of a given~dimension and a point-to-pGint distance o~ "C" of a greater dimension, that the dis-tance "C" must not be less than seventeen percent ~17%) greater than the vertical component l'Bn, nor more than thirty-three percent (33~: greater than the vertical component "B".
. 30 Stated another way, the diistance~f~om point-to-point ., .' . ' . . _ 7 _ . .
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designated "C" must be between a minimum of seventeen percent ~17%) greater than "B" and a maximum of thirty-three percent (33~) greater than "B" to assure the results desired.
Likewise, the vertical component "B" must be not less than twelve percent (12%~ greater nor more than twen~y-five percent (25%) greater than the vertical component "A". The pre-ferred component for "B" is approximately sixteen percent ~15%~ greater than the vertical component "A". Using these values on a sheet of incised camoufla~e materialt according to Fig. 2, vertical stretch, that is stretch in the direction of the columns o~ upright and inverted V-shaped cuts, suf-~icient to produce a ten percent (10%) stretch of the material produces a camou~lage sheet having a see-through factor of approximately twenty-eight pexce~t (28%). The same sheet stretched in the same direction to apply a twenty percent (20%) stretch to the material, such as is illllstrated in Fig~ 3, will produce a see-thr~ugh factor o~ approximately thirty-six percent (36%) and a radar transmission of twenty-six percent (26~)~
The points 64 of the members 66 of the V~shaped cuts 25,27 will protrude almost perpendicular tQ the plane o~ the sheet, such as is illustrated in Fig. 4, with one column 54 of members 66 projecting upward with respect to the plane and the adjacent column 48 of members 66 projecting downwardly from he plane of the sheet. Due to the uneven lengths of cuts of the legs 60,62 Qf the inverted and upright V-shaped cuts 25,27 and the orientation of the ends of the cuts of each inverted or upright~cut with respect to the ends of the adjacent cuts, results in the hinged members 66 sticking ~
substantially straight up and straight down with respect to :, :
~7~35;~
the plane o~ the sheet. The forces n~ed~d to str~tch the material applies an uneven pull on the hinye o~ the hinyed ~-members 66 causing each member 66 to cup slightly thereby r adding a degree of stiffness to the member causing it to stand substantially straight up with respect to the plane of the sheet.
The straight standing of the V-sl~ap~d cutout mem~ers 66, together with the pointed shape of said cutout mem~ers, produces the visual illusion of natural herbaceous vege-tation, such as grass, leaves, bushes, and the like, so that people or animals that have the ability to preceive color and depth : have dificulty in distinguishing the natural herbaceous vegetation from the simulated vegetation created by the present invention.
In at least one prior art structure, a sheet of material is incised with overlapping U-shaped cuts of approxi-mately the same size as described hereinabove, su~h that when r the material is stretched so as to elongate the sheet by ten percent (10%), the see-through factor is approximately thirty-.. . . . .
four percent ~34%~ and when the sheet is stretched to twenty percent (20%) of its oriyinal length, the see-through factor is fourty-three percent (43%) and the radar transmission is thirty-three percent (33%)D In addition, the curved points of the U-shaped members have no stiffness or rigidity and, accordingly, lay over or flop with respect to the plane of the sheet thereby affording only a little three-dimensional ef~ect to the sheet. For comparison purposes, a sheet of camouflage using the prior art U-shaped incising of the same dimension as my improved sheet of V-shaped incising with the ends of the incising according to my invention, it has been ~0 ~ound that with a twenty percent (20%) s~retch applied to . ':
.
~ ' - g - ' `"'~
~' ' ' , , ~:
.e~, -- .. , .. _ ., . _ .. . ' each ~heet, the sheet with the U~shaped incising produced a dimension in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the sheet equal to .75 inches while the impxoved V-shaped incised sheet produced a dimension in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the sheet equal to 2.75 inches. That i~ a sub-stantially four times greater third-dimensional effect fox the improved V-shaped incising sheet. Likewise, the see-through factor for the ten percent ~10~) stretch of the V-shaped cut sheet being twenty~eight percent (28%) and for the U-shaped cut sheet being thirty-four percent (34%) constitutes a seven percent (7%) less see-through factor for the improved sheet, which see-through factor is controllable. At a twenty percent (20~) stretch, the U-shaped cut sheet had a see-through factor of forty-three percent (43~) and a radar transmission of thirty-three percent (33~) compared to the see-through factor of thirty-six percent ~36%) and a radar transmission o~ twenty-six percent (26~) for the V-shaped cut sheet making a seven percent (7%~ reduction in see-through and xadar transmission. Since it is desirable to have less radar tran~mission, the seven percent (7~3 reduction in transmission results in a substantially improved camouflage materiaI-.
. .
In the prior art structure, the cuts were not able to effect a controlled pattern in the stretched condition .
since the curve U-shaped flaps flopped ~ver and obstructed the see-through making it di~ficult to determine exactly what was the see-through factor. With the improved V-shaped incising, ~ince each V-shaped member assumés a de~inite ~ -orientation with respect t~ the ~lane of the sheet, the see- ~-~hrough ~actor is controllable and predictableO It has been :'.~ ~:: ' .'.:
aCJ795Z~ ~
found ~ha-t the V-shaped con~iguratlon for any given stretch can be manu~actured using twenty-five percent ~25~) less blades in the die, thereby making it less costly to build, repa.ir and replace the dies for cutting the Lmproved V-shaped incised sheet.
In camouflage technology, the control of see-through is commensurate with the radar return. See through is controlled by one of two methods, the first method being by controlling stretch and the second method being by increasing or decreasing the point-to-point distance between vertically adjacent cut-outs; in the present case the point-to-point distance is dimension "C" in Fig. 2. The control of see-through is desirable, first, for visua~ concealment and, second, for radar signature degradation. The visual concealment and radar signature degradation are improved, firstl when the see-thxough is con-trolled to a minimum consistent w~th the necessary open space to give visual contrast and, second, when the third dimension is increased without sacrificing increased see-through. There-, : fore, where the improved V shaped cuts are used to incise a camouflage sheet, the see-through is reduced seven percent (7~ while the radar transmission is reduced seven percent (7~) ~
and *he third-dimensional effect is increased by four times! ;
thereby producing ~ camouflage sheet having improved visual i . ..
.concealment and an improved radar signature degradation.
In the prior art constructions, in order to get more stretch, it was necessa.ry to increase the siæ~ of the ~ :
cut. The increased sized cuts only increased the amount of ~lop over of the cut parts thereby not improving the result 1 , needed. In the present situation, since the points stick out, it is.possible to get the stretch and the see-through without increas~ng the size o~ the cut.
.
, ' - 11 - ' ,.', ~ ` ' ' ' ' ' .
,~ ' , .
,, .: . . . . . .
~C17~S2~
.
The V-shaped incis,ed cu-t with t.he uneven length o~
legs having a controlled ratio of the leng-th of the le~s with ,,respect to each other and with respect to the poi.nt-to~point vertically adjacent distances between adjoining cuts, produces an improved camouflage material duplicating natural herbaceous ~egetation and growth. It being understood -tha-t the surface of the sheet of camouflage material is to be colored in a way to simulate natural colors, the opposite sides of the sheet can be differently colored or can be commonly colored, or different patterns of coloring can be placed on the sheets so as to create the desired effect when the sheets are : stretched in the field.
,:
' .
.' :,. :: .
~, , , .' .~ ' ' , . ' ' ' ' ~ ' ': ' ' ' . .~ .~
~ ' - 12 - :. .' ~,. - . .
- - . , . . . ~ - . , ~ .. .
: . - -: . . .
Claims (7)
1. A camouflage mat formed of a sheet of material having a vertical dimension and a horizontal dimension, a plurality of spaced apart rows of V-shaped cuts extending horizontally across the sheet, the rows alternating between upright V-shaped cuts and inverted V-shaped cuts, each upright V-shaped cut in each row falling in a vertical column and each inverted V shaped cut in each row falling in a vertical column between the vertical columns of the upright V-shaped cuts, each V-shaped cut having one leg cut longer than the other leg with the long leg of each V-shaped cut being adjacent the short leg of the next adjacent V-shaped cut in each row of cuts, whereby stretching said material in a direction transverse to the rows of V-shaped cuts extends the points of the V-shaped cuts in one row upward out of the plane of the sheet with the points of the next adjacent row of cuts extending downward out of said plane.
2. The camouflage net of claim 1 wherein the cut forming each leg has a vertical component and a horizontal component, said vertical component of each long leg being in the range of from 17% to 33% shorter than the distance from an apex of one V-shaped cut to the apex of the next vertically adjacent V-shaped cut.
3. The camouflage net of claim 1 wherein the vertical component of the short leg is in the range of from 12% to 25% shorter than the vertical component of the long leg.
4. A camouflage material formed of a planar sheet of material having plural spaced apart horizontal rows and vertical columns of V-shaped cuts therethrough, each V-shaped cut comprising two straight unequal in length cuts defining a triangular member hinged about a base angularly disposed with respect to a horizontal axis of the sheet, alternate rows of V-shaped cuts inverted with respect to intermediate rows with the inverted V-shaped cuts falling in alternate columns intermediate the columns containing the upright V-shaped cuts, the longer length cut of each triangular, member has an end adjacent to the end of the shorter length of cut of the adjacent triangular member, the vertical component of the longer length of cut being from 12% to 25% greater than the vertical component of the shorter length of cut whereby stretching said material in a direction transverse to the rows of V-shaped cuts extends the points of the triangular members in one row upward out of the plane of the sheet with the next adjacent row of cuts extending the points of the triangular members downward out of said plane.
5. The camouflage material as claimed in claim 4 wherein the vertical dimension of the longer length of cut is from 17%, to 33% of the distance from one point on one V-shaped cut to a comparable point on the next vertically adjacent V-shaped cut.
6. A camouflage material formed of a sheet of material having two dimensions, a plurality of spaced apart rows of upright V-shaped cuts extending horizontally across the sheet, a plurality of spaced apart rows of inverted V shaped cuts extending horizontally across said sheet with each row of inverted V-shaped cuts being positioned between two rows of upright V-shaped cuts, each shaped cut having one leg cut longer than the other leg with the long cut of each shaped cut being adjacent the short cut of the next adjacent shaped cut in each row of cuts, the ends of the long cut and short cut of two adjacent shaped cuts terminating generally in the base of one of the oppositely disposed shaped cuts with the ends of the long cut of one shaped cut horizontally lining up substantially with the end of the short cut of the oppositely disposed vertically adjacent shaped cut, whereby stretching said material in a direction transverse to the rows of shaped cuts extends the points of the V-shaped cuts in one row upward out of the plane of the sheet with the next adjacent row of cuts extending downward out of said plane.
7. In the camouflage material of claim 6 wherein the vertical component of each of said long cuts is from 17% to 33% of the point-to-point distance between vertically adjacent shaped cuts.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US72333176A | 1976-09-14 | 1976-09-14 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1079524A true CA1079524A (en) | 1980-06-17 |
Family
ID=24905763
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA274,728A Expired CA1079524A (en) | 1976-09-14 | 1977-03-25 | Camouflage mat simulating vegetation |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1079524A (en) |
| MX (1) | MX144583A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6080459A (en) * | 1992-07-06 | 2000-06-27 | Creative Concepts Unlimited, Llc | Decorative packaging ribbon |
| RU2605186C2 (en) * | 2015-05-18 | 2016-12-20 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение "3 Центральный научно-исследовательский институт" Минобороны России | Vegetation fixation device |
-
1977
- 1977-03-25 CA CA274,728A patent/CA1079524A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-04-21 MX MX16885077A patent/MX144583A/en unknown
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6080459A (en) * | 1992-07-06 | 2000-06-27 | Creative Concepts Unlimited, Llc | Decorative packaging ribbon |
| RU2605186C2 (en) * | 2015-05-18 | 2016-12-20 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение "3 Центральный научно-исследовательский институт" Минобороны России | Vegetation fixation device |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| MX144583A (en) | 1981-10-28 |
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