Structural camouflage system

Abstract

A structural camouflage system includes as the primary structural component a planar panel with a reflective outer face, formed in a trapezoidal configuration with upper and lower edges of the panel in parallel relation, the panels connected in edge to edge orientation to form an enclosed structure with the reflective faces of the panels facing outward of the structure and inclined toward the surface upon which the structure rests, so that the panels reflect an image of the immediate foreground to more distant observer looking toward the structure, camouflaging the structure. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of reflective strips are connected to vertical supports with each strip disposed at an angle so as to reflect a composite image of the immediate foreground to a more distant observer.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 601,927, filed Aug. 16, 2004, by the same applicant, titled “Structural Camouflage System”.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to camouflage and means of camouflaging objects, and in its preferred embodiments more specifically relates to a structural system for camouflaging or disguising the existence of any relatively rigid structure, both fixed and mobile. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] It is often desirable for a variety of reasons to disguise the existence of an object from observers. Various systems of camouflage have been developed for this purpose. Approaches to camouflage, as originally developed in the natural world and then adopted and copied by humans, include coloration and patterning, and mimicry of another object or structure. In the coloration and patterning approach, the surface of the object to be camouflaged is...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] The present invention provides a camouflage system that is universally effective for camouflaging essentially any structure in essentially any environment in which it is placed. The system of the invention utilizes, in the preferred embodiment, a camouflage structure formed of a mirrored panels interconnected to form an enclosure in which one or more hunters may conceal themselves, or in which one or more objects to be camouflaged may be placed. Each of the mirrored panels is inclined at an angle of less than ninety degrees relative to the ground or other generally horizontal surface on which the structure is erected. Because of the inclination at which they are placed the mirrored panels reflect an image of the surrounding environment to an observer, eliminating the need to attempt to replicate or mimic any particular environment. The panels are disposed so as to prevent any glare, reflection of the sun or sky, or the image of an observer from being visible to an observer at any reasonable height above the ground. When an observer looks toward the camouflage structure or an object camouflaged using the system of the invention, the observer perceives a continuation of the foreground rather than the object itself.

Problems solved by technology

The disadvantage to this approach is that camouflage designed for one environment is completely ineffective in a different environment, and may actually be more detectable than a non-camouflaged object.

Although these approaches may be reasonably effective in the environment for which they are designed, such a structure is suited for use only in that environment and cannot be effectively moved to another.

Such a system is not provided by the prior art, and, accordingly, there remains an unfilled need for such camouflage.

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