US3069796A - Camouflage material - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1962 R. G. RTER 3,069,796

CAMOUFLAGE MATERIAL Filed Nov. 15. 1958 v Z-dimensional sheet UniteA tates atene nice ceased Filed Nov. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 773,770 Claims priority, application Germany Nov. 18, 1957 Claims. -(Cl. 41-10) a system of camouaging par- `According to another known camoullage method many linear slits are cut into a sheet, the slits being disposed alternating in parallel rows. Pulling out the sheet in a direction transverse to the slits produces a mesh-like arrangement of the material with a plurality of interstices. Due :to the warping of the sheet the portions between the slits are somewhat distorted out of the plane of the sheet. According to this known system the distortion is so little that additional strips must be attached to the order to produce a desired S-dimensional camouilaging eiTect.' But this is a ratherI detailed and expensive procedure.

According to the present invention there is provided a of textile or .plastics which can be easily transformed into a real 3-dimensional structure without any additional material and work, by providing numerous nonlinear, preferably shaped or semicircular cuts are made in the sheet and then distending the sheet. The ends of the cuts protrude into the interior of the corresponding bow-shaped cuts. The deeper the cuts reachor extend into the adjacent bows, the higher the leaf-like lappets or lips are lifted out of the plane of the sheet and the more the sheet may be drawn out. In order to simulate structure as near as possible to natural foliage, the bow-cuts are preferably made in dilerent sizes and may be irregularly disposed in various directions. Thus expanding 4the sheet in length and width elfectuates a pell-mell or non-uniform structure of quite irregularly drilled straps, outstanding leaf-tips and numerous holes of different sizes, so that the camouage material looks like a wall of vine foliage.

Further objects will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE l is a plan view of a section of a camouflage sheet showing a regular pattern of cuts in the sheet,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the camouage sheet with contrasting zones of light and color reflections and in extended shape,

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a sheet showing a pattern of cuts in more or less irregular fashion,

FIGURE 4 is a pan view of the sheet of FIG. l shown extended to eifect the third dimensional configuration, and

FIGURE 5 is ya cross section through the sheet of FIG. 4 taken on line 4 4.

Within the scope of this invention it is possible to adapt the camoutlaged objects to their various surroundings with regard to structure. general brightness and color tone. Due to the possibility of inclining the leaf-like lappets to the plane by pulling out the sheet, the structure of the camouflage material may be varied in numerous steps, so that it may be changed from a rather at to a totally projected surface. As the lappets by this stretching are gradually 'replaced by small or large dark-looking holes, the general brightness of the camouflageset may be In a similar manner made to melt into the environment.

sheet in color adaptation to may be changed by painting the lappets in a bright green shade while the straps are painted dark olive. Thus a little pullon the sheet will produce a rather bright and a further pull will produce a dark greenish appearance of the covered object. The the surroundings may be completed by painting for example, green color on the lappets disposed in one direction and brown for instance on the transversely aligned lappets. Such pull on the sheet as to length, transforms the total color to a greenish hue, while the colorrtone of the foliage f a pull in the breadth direction will produce a brownish tone. Finally, if the 'back of the sheet is colored white the camouflage cover may be used not only during the winter but it will protect the concealed object from the thermic nuclear radiation `of 4an atomic bomb. v

According to the invention the sheets from which the foliage is made, are preferably supposed to consist of a nonmelting and nonburning tissue or, at :least ofa texture of polyamides (nylon), the surface of which is covered with a layer of polyvinylchloride in order to prevent the burning and melting of the plastic. As such, the camouflage vfoliage'is extremely light and economical of space when stored and during transport, and while the weight is not raised by moisture, soldiers will be able to conceal the objects within a very short time. l

The foliage or sheet according to the invention may. be used for covering the helmet and the body of a soldier, for draping over weapons, for concealing ditches, foxholes etc. In connection with a carrier the foliage sheet may be used for garnishing camouage nets, tarpaulins, combat clothing and so on. ceive the "enemy by irregularly garnishing or covering a fishnet with a number of small and large pieces of pulledout foliage in various patterns of ramifed bushes or tree tops. Due to the striking resemblance with natural vegetation any object which is covered with such a net will be totally concealed. Furthermore, the foliage may be employed in the form of cut strips which are interlaced between the meshes of a net, or wound around a weapon.

Another purpose and use of the invention is to change the tell-tale outlines of the objects by fastening elastic carriers, that is, steel wires to the top-edges of the objects carrying the artificial foliage sheets projecting out beyond the outlines like a cocks comb. In such a way not only the reconnoitering from the ground is rendered difficult, but the observation by air, with the shadows cast on the ground being broken up and resembling the shadows of harmless bushes or trees.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing FIG. l shows a portion of a sheet 64 of plastic, textile or any other suitable material having a plurality of U-shaped cuts 7 in the form of a regular series 8 and an inverted series 9 constituting a row 10. The U-shaped cuts 7 are so formed that there is a space 11 between rows of cuts 10 and when the sheet 6 is pulled in opposite directions as shown in FIG. 4, the sheet 6 will take on a third dimension in that the rounded portions 12 of each U- shaped cut will be'pulled out of its plane to project at anangle relative to the sheet 6 with the extent of the angle dependent upon the length andr extent of the pull.

FIG. 2 shows by contrast of the light and dark sections forming a foliage pattern with for instance the U- shaped cuts 13 made to follow a regular pattern and contrasted with the rounded portions 14. The sheet of FIG. 2 shows the sheet extended.

FIG. 3 show's a plurality of U-shaped cuts 16 made i the sheet 15 which may be uniform in length and width butwhich may be of irregular dimensions, some 17 longer than others 18. Also the U-shaped cut portions, in FIG. 3, do not follow any particular pattern such as the symmetrical row arrangement as 'illustrated in FIG. l. The sheetv of FIG. 3 may also -be pulled from In such a way it is possible to de-A opposite sides similar to. F-lCp, 4 or it can be pulled both vertically as well as horizontally to produce varieclmeffects in third dimension conguration.

It is of course possible tomake the sheets of any textile, material of cotton and anyj artificial fibers-as: well asi canvas'` and, C ,Vfn heavy i ishow'ever preferablefto color rcolors.

i The sheet. mas/be pulled. t0, any, desired. extent so that theangle of the portions 12 ov eachl L J-s'ltap'edy cut may assume any desiredaz'n'gle relative to vthe plane of thev Due to the size of the sheet andthe natureA of sheet.V

the material used, the sheet will maintain its stretched out position indentely, while in usedue toffriotional Contact and by'rneans ofastening'meansifL used.

I claims my invention:

l. .A carnouage device to, simulate. foliage.- comprising a sheet material, with two, dimensions and having a pluf ralityv of irregular U-,shapedtand curved cutsvv therein so for-medf over their length and breadthl of the*l sheet. that.v each. cut, will protrudeintomthecurvedporton of-the ad;y jacent out, said sheet when. pulled inta` direction substanfVv t'ially Vparallelto lthe ltglkSfOf.` the-tcutsfthe Llshaped. outs,-

willjextend; biyiondflthe plane of.; fthe; fsheet.v

"2 A camouflagel vdevice laccording.,to claimt,v in Lwhich1 paper andllight car dboa rd. Ity t fx1-@ks the Sheets, from any 111111,1-` bier` of plastic materials of the proper thickness arey disconnected from the adjacent curved'portion of the.

U-shaped cut.

'5. A camouflage materiall formed from a textile with two dimensions having a pluralityA of curved cuts over the length and breadth ofsaid textile and interlocking with eachother so that the ends of the cuts terminate within the ields defined by adjacent substantially oppositelydisposed curvedcuts, said camouage appearing irregular withl the cut but areas.v extending outside the plane, o`f. therfabric. upon suspending. the same.

References. Cited in the :filet off this; patent-t

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