NZ272439A - Camouflage materials; method and material using colours selected to be highly visible for a first range of wavelengths and of low visibility for a second wavelength range - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number £72439 Priority Data(s): Compete Specification Filed: .TT.

Class: Publication £.LMLl926 P.O. Journal No: JtB.Q NO DRAWINGS Patents Form No. 5 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION HIGH VISIBILITY CAMOUFLAGE I, CRAIG MCEWAN, a citizen of New Zealand of 88 Marama Avenue North, R.D.9, Invercargill, New Zealand hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: PT0535662 Our Ref: AS800748 N.Z. PATENT OPflCE 26 J U r« 1995 RECEIVED The present invention relates to patterning. More particularly, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to a camouflage pattern and configuration for use in hunting and similar situations To the present time there are many camouflage pattern and colour combinations known. These are generally colour combinations which eure chosen so as to provide a similar visual appearance to the colour and configuration of the background against which they are likely or intended to be viewed. Such camouflage patterns are usually applied to clothing which is worn by hunters or other individuals who wish to blend into < particular background. Camouflage is also applied to vehicles although, the following discussion will be in the particular context of hunting camouflage.

One of the major risks in hunting while wearing camouflage is that in conditions of low visibility and/ or where the wearer is effectively camouflaged, the camouflaged individual may present the appearance or exhibit the signs of game (for example, semiconcealed movement) to a shooter who may not be able to clearly identify the prospective target as being another person Such situations have led to deaths and injuries.

The object of the present invention is to provide method of camouflage and a camouflage pattern which avoids or at least mitigates the above mentioned difficulties, or to at least provides the public with a useful choice. 3 272439 difficulties, or to at least provides the public with a useful choice.

In one aspect this invention provides for a camouflage pattern comprising a configuration of two or more colours selected so as to provide high contrast and/or visibility when a first range of wavelengths are viewed, and provide low contrast and/or visibility when a second range of wavelengths are viewed.

In a further aspect the present invention provides for a camouflage pattern comprising; a configuration of two or more colours selected so that when viewed in monochrome the camouflage pattern blends in with a particular environment; and where said configuration of two or more colours, when viewed with at least normal range of human colour vision, stands out to provide a clear indication as to the presence of an article to which the camouflage pattern is applied.

Preferably, at least a portion of the camouflage pattern is coloured red and/or purple and/or orange and/or yellow.

Preferably, the camouflage pattern is applied to clothing or is incorporated into the material from which the clothing is made.

Preferably the material is reversible and has a different camouflage pattern applied to each side. 2724 particular environment corresponding to the camouflage. The present invention will now be described by way of example only.

The particular embodiment will, in the following discussion, be described in terms of camouflage clothing suitable for use in hunting. However, it is to be understood that the general technique of the present invention may be applied to other situations where the visibility of a particular camouflage pattern is to vary depending on the frequency response of the means which is used to view the article to which the camouflage pattern is applied. Such applications include vehicles, buildings, shelters, markers and signs.

Conventional camouflage is designed so that it is difficult for an animal to see the object, to which the camouflage pattern is applied against a typical background found in the animals habitat. The effectiveness of such camouflage is further enhanced if the object or individual to which the camouflage is applied remains motionless.

Consequently, it is extremely difficult for a human to detect such a camouflaged individual or object under similar conditions.

In situations where two or more hunters are present in the same general area, there is the risk that the hunters may not be able to accurately identify a potential target due to low light, obscuring vegetation or merely the fact that the camouflage has effectively hidden the hunter. In these situations there exists the risk of a hunter mistaking another hunter for a legitimate target and shooting that person. Such a risk is evidenced by the number of such accidents which occur every year in areas where hunting is a popular recreational sport.

The present invention relies on the fact that most mammals are unable to distinguish the full colour spectrum and thus they will essentially see camouflage in monochrome, that is, an assemblage or pattern of shades of gray. Accordingly, it is possible to select a range of colours to be applied to a standard camouflage pattern which, while being indistinguishable from the background environment to animals, is clearly visible to the human eye.

For example, the conventional camouflage colours of black, brown, green and yellow can be substituted with red, purple, orange and yellow.

Such a camouflage pattern would be clearly visible to a human and would therefore eliminate or at least reduce the risk of accidental shootings in a hunting environment, while preserving the camouflage properties of the wearer.

It is also envisaged that such selections of camouflage patterns may be chosen to be particularly visible in different areas of the frequency spectrum. For example a colour selection may be chosen so that it produces a particularly high contrast effect when viewed through a coloured filter.

Claims (11)

2724 3 The novel camouflage colours may be applied to a large number of camouflage pattern types wherein the governing criteria are that the camouflage be highly visible to the human eye yet substantially indistinguishable from the background environment to a monochromatic viewing means. Such camouflage patterns described above may be applied to camouflage clothing or even to vehicles and other objects wherein high visibility is required for human sight, yet be camouflaged when viewed by animals. Wherein the aforegoing description, reference has been made to elements or integers having known equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be appreciated that improvements and/ or modifications may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the appended claims. 27 2 43 9 WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A camouflage pattern comprising a configuration of two or more colours selected so as to provide high contrast and/or visibility when a first range of wavelengths are viewed, and provide low contrast and/or visibility when a second range of wavelengths are viewed, wherein said first range of wavelengths corresponds to those visible with the human eye and the second range of wavelengths corresponds to monochrome vision.

2. A camouflage pattern as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said second range of wavelengths correspond to those visible to game animals.

3. A camouflage pattern comprising a configuration of two or more colours selected so as to provide an ineffective camouflage when viewed by a human and provide effective camouflage when viewed by an animal.

4. A camouflage pattern as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the two or more colours is a combination of one or more of red, purple, orange and yellow.

5. A material incorporating the camouflage pattern of any preceding claim. 272439

6. A material as claimed in claim 5 where the material is reversible so as to incorporate a camouflage pattern on both sides.

7. An article of clothing incorporating the camouflage pattern of any preceding claim.

8. A building, vehicle, marker, sign or incorporating the camouflage pattern of any preceding claim.

9. A method of camouflage comprising: using a camouflage pattern of two or more colours, where said pattern exhibits high contrast and/or visibility when viewed at a first range of wavelengths, and a second range of wavelengths where said camouflage pattern exhibits low contrast and/or visibility, wherein said first range of wavelengths correspond to those visible with the human eye and the second range of wavelengths corresponds to monochrome vision.

10. A method of camouflage comprising: using a camouflage pattern which exhibits effective camouflage to animals and exhibits ineffective camouflage to humans. .• • • 272439

11. A camouflage pattern as claimed in claim 1 substantially as herein described. CRAIG McEWAN By His Attorneys BALDWIN. SON & CAREY Per ASPEC09153