LIGHT-WEIGHT, BREATHABLE, AND DISPOSABLE GARMENT OR COVER WITH PEEL-OFF ADHESIVE SEGMENTS FOR CAMOUFLAGE

Abstract

A camouflage system for a garment or concealment cover for a weapon or blind. The system has an adhesive outer surface over the garment or cover and peel-off masking covering the adhesive outer surface. The peel-off masking is pulled off, exposing the adhesive outer surface. After the adhesive outer surface is exposed, natural foliage is applied to the adhesive outer surface, where it sticks and provides natural camouflage suitable to the particular surrounding environment. The garment or cover may be made of almost any material, but light-weight, breathable, and inexpensive materials may be used, thereby providing a compact, light, disposable, and easy to carry garment.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of invention relates to camouflage garments and concealment covers, and more particularly to a new light-weight, breathable, and disposable garment or concealment cover with peel-off adhesive panels to apply camouflage to the garment, thereby allowing quick application of camouflage in the field.

2. Description of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,230 to Crawford and U.S. Pat. No. 7,065,793 to Wooten disclose artificial camouflage leaves that can be attached to a suit with hook and loop Velcro. Crawford discloses a polyester “hunter's coat” (16) with “fastening strips” (12) to which separable “fastening material” (8) strips are attached with velcro. The fastening material (8) includes artificial leaves to provide camouflage. See Crawford, at column 3, lines 18 through 19. Wooten discloses a “body covering” (12) with “couplers” (30) to which individual “flexible panels” (24) can be attached by velcro (32), buttons (36), or snaps (34). Wooten's flexible panels (24) are generally in the shape of leaves and can be provided in colors that blend into the surrounding environment. See Wooten, at column 2, lines 4 and 67 through 67.

The Crawford and Wooten camouflage systems require complimentary fasteners on both a garment and on multiple individual artificial camouflage elements. These systems require significant time to apply the many elements necessary to provide effective camouflage. Moreover, because both the garment and the artificial camouflage elements require complimentary fasteners, the garment and camouflage elements must match, thereby increasing the cost of the system and limiting the utility of each. In addition, reliance on artificial camouflage elements restricts the environments in which the camouflage will be effective to those the elements are designed for. That is, camouflage elements designed for use in an autumn landscape of deciduous trees will not be effective in a winter landscape amongst evergreens, and so forth. Also, the use of two-piece Velcro, button or snap fasteners increases the weight, bulk, and cost of the garment. The disclosures of Crawford and Wooten are intended for a camouflage system that will be re-used and are not simple or inexpensive enough for a single-use and disposal.

Also known in the field is an improvisational technique of spraying a waterproof garment, such as a poncho, with aerosol adhesive and immediately rubbing the adhesive covered on the ground to pick up leaves. This method has several disadvantages. Aerosol adhesives use liquified gases that, when released, can provide only relatively thin adhesive layers best suited for gluing together objects with fixed shapes and uniform surfaces. In cold weather, such as during the Fall hunting season, the aerosol adhesive is difficult, or impossible, to apply and lacks stickiness. Moreover, aerosol adhesives harden and, on a garment, crack, further losing adhesion. As a result, such aerosol adhesives do not work well with natural foliage. Moreover, this method requires significant quantities of aerosol adhesive to cover an entire garment, thereby increasing the quantity, bulk, and weight of materials that must be carried into the field.

What is needed is a light weight, compact, inexpensive, and disposable camouflage system that does not require complimentary garment and camouflage elements, that does not rely on Velcro, button or snap fasteners, that can make use of natural foliage as effective camouflage in the user's surrounding environment, that does not require separate adhesive to be applied in the field, that can employ adhesives effective for adhering natural foliage to a garment, and that is easy and quick to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages in the art, the present invention provides a camouflage garment that does not require complimentary fasteners, such as hook and loop Velcro, buttons, or snaps, and does not require separate aerosol adhesive. The present invention allows the use of natural foliage in the field for camouflage, thereby ensuring a match with the local environment. The present invention allows for simple and quick application of natural camouflage. The present invention does not require Velcro, button, or snap fasteners arranged on the garment, thereby resulting in a lighter and less bulky garment. The present invention employs adhesive effective for adhering natural foliage in the field and for retaining the foliage to the garment or concealment cover. The present invention may be made from inexpensive materials and lends itself to single-use and disposal.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a garment is provided with an adhesive outer surface covered by peel-off masking. The peel-off masking is pulled off, exposing the garment's adhesive outer surface. The adhesive can be a rubberized pressure sensitive adhesive that does not dry out and is suited for retaining natural foliage. After the adhesive outer surface is exposed, natural foliage, such as leaves, needles, bracken, grass, twigs, etc., is applied to the adhesive outer surface, where it sticks and provides natural camouflage suitable to the particular surrounding environment. The garment may be made of almost any material, but light-weight, breathable, and inexpensive materials may be used, thereby providing a compact, light, and easy to carry garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a two-piece camouflage garment according to the present invention

FIG. 2 is a three-quarter perspective view of a jacket according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a three-quarter perspective view of a jacket, showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a three-quarter perspective view of jacket of the present invention with natural foliage adhered to the adhesive outer surface.

FIG. 5 is a three-quarter perspective view of a one-piece garment according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a weapon concealment cover according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a three-quarter perspective of a camouflage blind according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention comprising separate jacket 11 and pants 12. It is not necessary that separate jacket and pants are used. A single coverall, such as shown in FIG. 5, is also contemplated by the invention. The jacket 11 has a torso portion 17, neck opening 16, and left and right sleeves, 15 and 15′. The pants 12 have leg portions 18. FIG. 2 is a three-quarter view of the jacket 11 showing the front 20 and portions of the back 19 sides of the jacket 11. Seams 22 run along the top of the sleeves, 15 and 15′, and seams 24 also run along the bottom of the sleeves where they join seams 21 along the left and right sides of the jacket 11. Peel-off masking 14 covers the front side 20 and peel-off masking 26 covers the back side 19. The masking 14 is peeled off, as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1, to expose the jacket's adhesive outer surfaces, 13 and 23. Thus, as seen in FIG. 2, peel-off masking 14 covers the front 20 portion of the jacket 11 and a separate peel-off masking 24 covers the back 19 portion of the jacket. The front masking 14 is bounded by the sleeve top seam 22, front portion of the neck opening 16, the sleeve bottom seams 24, the side seams 21, and the front portion of the jacket's bottom opening 25. The rear peel-off masking 26 is bounded by the sleeve top seam 22, back portion of the neck opening 16, the sleeve bottom seams 24, the side seams 21, and the back portion of the jacket's bottom opening 25. The front and back peel-off maskings, 14 and 24, are removed by gripping a corner and pulling the maskings away, as indicated by arrows A in FIG. 1, to expose the front and back adhesive outer surfaces, 13 and 23. With the adhesive outer surfaces exposed, natural foliage from the surrounding environment, such as leaves, grass, bracken, twigs, and the like (50) can be adhered to the jacket 11, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The camouflage garment of the present invention may be made of any suitable material. In one embodiment, the garment is constructed of a light-weight, breathable, and inexpensive material, such as nonwoven spunbond olefin fiber, most commonly known by the Trademark “Tyvek”. This material is very light and inexpensive. It is breathable, allowing water vapor to pass yet restricting water infiltration. Other suitable materials for the garment include fabrics formed from polyolefin, polypropelene, paper, and fiberglass. Preferably, the outer camouflage garment is a neutral grey or dark green color, which will not conflict with or show through natural foliage. Adhesive can be applied to the material and a peel-off masking can be applied over the adhesive.

The adhesive should be a stable, non-hardening composition, so that when the peel-off masking is removed the adhesive quality will be retained over time. Sticky rubber-based pressure sensitive adhesives, often composed of solid polymer blends, such as those used in duct tape, are preferred, as they remain in a pliable, sticky state and do not form chemical reactions and harden over time.

The embodiment described above uses front and back peel-off masking panels, 14 and 26, but additional panels allow for additional tailoring of the garment. FIG. 3 shows a jacket 11′ with eight masking panels, 37 through 44. A front right peel-off masking panel 37 is bordered by a front seam 30 running vertically down the center of the jacket front 20 from the neck 16 to the bottom 25, side seam 36 and the right, the top right sleeve seam 34 running from the neck opening 16 to the seam 46 between the right sleeve 15′ and the right portion of the front 20 of the torso 17, and the bottom 25 right front quarter of the jacket 11′. A front left peel-off masking panel 38 is bordered by the front seam 30, the side seam 36 on the left, the top left sleeve seam 32 between the neck 16 and the left sleeve-to-torso seam 45, and the bottom 25 left front quarter of the jacket 11′. A back right peel-off masking panel 39 is bordered by a back seam 31 running vertically down the center of the jacket back 19 from the neck 16 to the bottom 25, side seam 36 on the right, the top right sleeve seam 34 between the back of the neck 16 and the right sleeve-to-torso seem 46, and the bottom 25 right back quarter of the jacket 11′. A back left peel-off masking panel 40 is bordered by the back seam 31, the side seam 36 on the left, the top left sleeve seam 32 between the neck 16 and the left sleeve-to-torso seam 45, and the bottom 25 left back quarter of the jacket 11′. Left front and back sleeve peel-off masking panels, 41 and 42, are bordered by the top and bottom left sleeve seams, 32 and 33, and the left sleeve-to-torso seam 45. Right front and back sleeve peel-off masking panels, 43 and 44, are bordered by the top and bottom right sleeve seams, 34 and 35, and the left sleeve-to-torso seam 46. It will be appreciated that fewer or more panels may be devised for the garment's peel-off masking panels.

It will be appreciated that the present invention may also be applied to head coverings, gloves, and gaiters, or, as mentioned above, a single, coverall garment, as shown in FIG. 5, may incorporate any or all of these coverings along with the adhesive outer surface and peel-off masking panels described herein.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a one-piece camouflage garment 61 including the hood 65, torso 62, leg 63, sleeve 64, foot 66, and glove 83 portions. A user may don the one-piece garment 61 in the conventional way, through a releasable opening 67 at the front 68. The one-piece garment shown in FIG. 5 has five peel-off masking panels, front 77, back 78, left hood 79, right hood 80, and glove top 86, which, when peeled off, as indicated by arrows A, expose adhesive outer surfaces 75 (front), 78 (back), 79 (left hood), 80 (right hood), and 85 (glove top). The front peel-off masking panel 77 is bordered by seams along the top 87 of the sleeves 64, the front part of the neck 90, the center of the torso 70, the inner legs 89, the left and right sides 72 and 73, and the bottom 88 of the sleeves 64. The back peel-off masking panel 78 is bordered by seams along the top 87 of the sleeves 64, the back part of the neck 90, the back of the torso 71, the inner legs 89, the left and right sides 72 and 73, and the bottom 88 of the sleeves 64. The left hood peel-off masking panel 81 is bordered by the seams at the left portion of the neck 90 and the hood's center 74. Likewise, the right hood peel-off masking panel 82 is bordered by the seams at the right portion of the neck 90 and the hood's center 74. The peel-off masking panel 86 over the top of the 83 is bordered by a seam 84 running along the side of the glove and between the sides of the fingers. It will be appreciated that another peel-off masking panel could be provided for some or all of the bottom part of the glove 83.

The present invention may also be employed for camouflage concealment covers for weapons or blinds. FIG. 6 shows a weapon camouflage cover 91 draped over a rifle 92. The weapon cover 91 has an adhesive outer surface 93 covered by a peel-off masking 94. The masking 94 can be peeled away, as indicated by arrow A, to expose the adhesive outer surface 93, and natural foliage camouflage can be adhered to the outer surface 93, as described above. Similarly, FIG. 7 shows a hunter's blind 95. As with the camouflage garment and weapon cover, the blind 95 is, preferably, made of a light-weight, breathable, and inexpensive, such as Tyvec. The blind 95 has an adhesive outer surface 96 covered by peel-off masking 97. When the masking is peeled away A, natural foliage (not shown) from the surrounding environment can be adhered to the adhesive outer surface 96. Because the material is light-weight and inexpensive, the camouflage structure can be transported easily, set-up quickly, and disposed of.

The drawings and description set forth here represent only some embodiments of the invention. After considering these, skilled persons will understand that there are many ways to make a camouflage garment or cover according to the principles disclosed. The inventor contemplates that the use of alternative structures, materials, or manufacturing techniques, which result in a camouflage garment or system according to the principles disclosed, will be within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A camouflage garment, comprising:

an outer garment for a human body having an outer surface, a torso portion including left and right torso sides, a neck opening at a top of the torso, left and right sleeves, and a leg portion including left and right legs and left and right outer leg sides, wherein adhesive is disposed over the outer surface of the garment,

a peel-off masking covering the adhesive disposed over the garment's outer surface, wherein the peel-off masking can be removed to expose at least a portion of the adhesive, and

camouflage material secured to the garment by the exposed portion of the adhesive disposed over the garment's outer surface.

2. The camouflage garment of claim 1, wherein the garment further comprises:

a jacket portion including the torso portion, the neck opening, the left and right sleeves, the left and right torso sides, and a bottom opening at a bottom of the jacket distal from the neck opening,

a pants portion including the left and right legs, the left and right outer leg sides, a waist opening at a top of the pants, and left and right foot openings at a bottom of each leg distal from the waist opening, and

the peel-off masking further comprising a plurality of separate panels for the jacket and pants portions.

3. The camouflage garment of claim 2, wherein the garment further comprises front and back sides, and wherein the separate peel-off masking panel for the jacket further comprises at least a front jacket peel-off masking panel on the front side of the jacket portion and a back jacket peel-off masking panel on the back side of the jacket portion.

4. The camouflage garment of claim 3, wherein the plurality of separate peel-off masking panels comprises at least a front pants peel-off masking panel on the front side of the pants portion and a back pants peel-off masking panel on the back side of the pants portion.

5. The camouflage garment of claim 4, wherein the front jacket peel-off masking panel comprises at least two peel-off masking panels.

6. The camouflage garment of claim 5, further comprising:

a front center seam on the front side of the torso portion extending from the neck opening down to the bottom opening,

a left torso-sleeve seam between a left sleeve opening between the left sleeve and a left sleeve opening where the left sleeve and torso join, and a right side torso-sleeve seam between a right sleeve opening between the right sleeve and a right sleeve opening where the right sleeve and torso join,

a left side seam extending along the left torso side from the bottom opening to the left torso-sleeve seam, and a right side seam extending along the right torso side from the bottom opening to the right torso-sleeve seam,

a left shoulder seam extending along a top side of the torso from the neck opening to the left torso-sleeve opening, and a right shoulder seam extending along a top side of the torso from the neck opening to the right torso-sleeve opening,

a left sleeve top seam extending along a top side of the left sleeve from the left shoulder seam to a left cuff at a distal end of the left sleeve from the left torso-sleeve opening, a left sleeve bottom seam extending along a bottom side of the left sleeve from the left shoulder seam to the left cuff, a right sleeve top seam extending along a top side of the right sleeve from the right shoulder seam to a right cuff at a distal end of the right sleeve from the right torso-sleeve opening, a right sleeve bottom seam extending along a bottom side of the right sleeve from the right shoulder seam to the right cuff,

a front left quarter peel-off masking panel comprising at least a portion of the garment defined by the front center seam, the left shoulder seam, the left sleeve-torso seam, the left side seam, and the bottom opening, and a front right quarter peel-off masking panel comprising at least a portion of the garment defined by the front center seam, the right shoulder seam, the right sleeve-torso seam, the right side seam, and the bottom opening, and

a left front sleeve peel-off masking panel comprising at a least a portion of the garment defined by the left sleeve top seam, the left cuff, the left sleeve bottom seam, and the left sleeve-torso seam, a right front sleeve peel-off masking panel comprising at a least a portion of the garment defined by the right sleeve top seam, the right cuff, the right sleeve bottom seam, and the right sleeve-torso seam.

7. The camouflage garment of claim 1, wherein the outer garment is constructed of a light-weight and breathable material.

8. The camouflage garment of claim 7, wherein the light-weight and breathable material is formed from nonwoven spunbond olefin fibers.

9. The camouflage garment of claim 1, wherein the outer garment is constructed from a fabric selected from the group of consisting of polyolefin, polypropelene, nonwoven spunbond olefin fiber, paper, or fiberglass.

10. The camouflage garment of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a rubber-based pressure sensitive adhesive.

11. The camouflage garment of claim 1, wherein the torso and leg portions of the outer garment are formed as a unitary garment, and wherein the unitary garment includes an entry for a user to don the unitary garment.

12. The camouflage garment of claim 11, further comprising:

an integral hood portion, having a hood outer surface, extending up from the neck opening, and having adhesive disposed over the hood outer surface,

wherein a hood peel-off masking covers the adhesive disposed over the hood outer surface, wherein the hood peel-off masking can be removed to expose at least a portion of the adhesive, and

camouflage material secured by the exposed portion of the adhesive disposed over the hood outer surface.

13. The camouflage garment of claim 12, further comprising:

integral foot covering portions, having foot covering outer surfaces, extending from a foot opening at an end of the left and right legs distal to the neck opening, and having adhesive disposed over the foot covering outer surfaces,

wherein a foot covering peel-off masking covers the adhesive disposed over the foot covering outer surfaces, wherein the foot covering peel-off masking can be removed to expose at least a portion of the adhesive, and

camouflage material secured by the exposed portion of the adhesive disposed over the foot covering outer surface.

14. The camouflage garment of claim 13, further comprising:

at least one glove worn at an end of either the left or right sleeve distal from the neck opening, wherein the glove further comprises a glove outer surface, and wherein adhesive is disposed over the glove outer surface,

a glove peel-off masking covering the adhesive disposed over the glove outer surface, wherein the glove peel-off masking can be removed to expose at least a portion of the adhesive, and

camouflage material secured by the exposed portion of the adhesive disposed over the glove outer surface.

15. A camouflage system for garments and camouflage concealment covers comprising:

a concealment cover tailored to cover a human body, weapon, or blind, the concealment cover having an outer surface, wherein adhesive is disposed over the outer surface of the concealment cover,

a peel-off masking covering the adhesive disposed over the outer surface of the concealment cover, wherein the peel-off masking can be removed to expose at least a portion of the adhesive, and

camouflage material secured to the concealment cover by the exposed portion of the adhesive disposed over the outer surface of the concealment cover.

16. The camouflage system of claim 15, wherein the concealment cover tailored to cover a human body further comprises:

a torso portion having, a neck opening, left and right sleeves, left and right torso sides, and a waist portion distal from the neck opening,

a pants portion extending down from the waist portion and having left and right legs, left and right outer leg sides, left and right foot portions distal from the waist portion,

wherein the peel-off masking further comprises a plurality of panels for the torso and pants portions.

17. The camouflage system of claim 16, wherein the concealment cover tailored to cover a human body integrates the torso and pants portions in a unitary garment.