US Patent:
20090313740, Dec 24, 2009
Inventors:
Luisa DeMorais Santos - Franklin MA, US
Deirdre E. Townes - Newton MA, US
Gabriel R. Patricio - Stafford VA, US
Carole Ann Winterhalter - Marlborough MA, US
Anabela Dugas - Fall River MA, US
Timothy R. O'Neill - Alexandria VA, US
Rosemary Ann Lomba - Westport MA, US
Barbara J. Quinn - Framingham MA, US
International Classification:
A41D 13/00
B32B 5/02
B32B 3/10
Abstract:
A camouflage system to be used for both military uniforms and equipment. The system includes specialized means of printing the camouflage system unto fabric. The system can also be used for civilian applications, particularly with sportsman hunters. The system provides camouflage in both the human visible light range and the infrared. The system depends on the use of a macro-pattern resulting from a repeat of a micro-pattern. When applied to fabric, a polyamide-cotton fiber blend has a macro pattern resulting from a repeat of a micro pattern printed on at least one surface. The coloring system used comprises at least four colorings from dyes that in combination produce a percent reflectance value comparable to the negative space of the surroundings near the camouflaged subject. The system functions by a macro pattern being disruptive of the shape of the subject and a micro pattern comprising sharp edge units of a size capable of blending the subject into the background. The relative lightness values and percentages of total pattern are sufficient to produce a percent reflectance of acceptable colors, wet or dry in terms of lightness values compared to current military four-color camouflage. On fabric, the results are achieved by printing A macro pattern that disrupts the sensed shape and a micro pattern with a repeat size that produces the macro pattern. The reflectance of the material is comparable to the negative space surrounding a subject so the subject does not appear too dark or too light (out of place). The variation in the lightness between wet and dry is not greater than 17-28%, achieved during the printing process.
