Reversible Camouflage Method for a Vehicle

Abstract

A method for making a reversible or adaptable camouflage scheme on a vehicle comprises first, second and third steps. The first step is to apply a first, base, coat of paint of a first colour on the m

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of methods for making a camouflage on a vehicle, in particular to camouflage methods used in the military domain. The military vehicles currently use mainly camouflages made by painting patterns directly on the body. According to the location where the vehicle should be used, the paint of the vehicle is changed. For example, the vehicle can use a "Central Europe"-type camouflage adapted to be used in European wooded areas. Assuming that this vehicle should be used in another context, for example a desert area, the existing camouflage would then be inadequate. It would then be necessary to change the existing camouflage by passing through a paint kiosk, the vehicle remaining unavailable during this step, or else to accept the use of the vehicle with an inadequate camouflage. In the domain of military camouflage, the existing solutions mainly have a fixed nature. However, a few solutions of movable camouflage exist, based on the addition of a kit on the vehicle to change the camouflage. These solutions are based on the use of a textile system added on the vehicle using temporary fasteners. The main disadvantages of this type of system are: - the need to install, on each vehicle, a permanent fastening kit using Velcro, fixing lug, strap'type or similar devices; - the impossibility to adapt the kit to the bumps of the vehicle to take into account an additional equipment not contemplated in the initial configuration of the vehicle, whether a simple nut, a radio antenna or a tripod for a collective gun carriage, because cutting the kit is usually not possible; - a tedious implementation, the kit being bulky and the installation time being significant. Methods using temporary paints also exist. This concept allows to repaint a vehicle according to a method similar to that of the application of a permanent paint, but also allows to return to the original camouflage more rapidly by a cleaning with a specific solvent. The main disadvantages of this system are: - an implementation as constraining as a permanent paint, which means specific means or infrastructures are required and a long execution time; - a return to the original camouflage simpler than for a permanent paint, but in practice too constraining due to the required treatment of effluents resulting from the temporary-coat scraping operation using solvents. The invention is intended to provide a camouflage method for a vehicle allowing to quickly adapt to a given context, with the implementation of the camouflage adapted to easily take into account the particularities of each vehicle with a controlled cost. According to the invention, a method for making a camouflage on a vehicle, comprising a first step of applying a first coat of paint of a first color on a major part of the vehicle, is characterized in that the method also comprises: - a second step of applying paint patterns of at least a second color, different from the first color, - a third step of applying at least one adhesive element of at least a third color, different from the first and second colors. Advantageously, the first coat of paint is applied on more than 50% of the total surface of the vehicle, possibly on the entire surface of the vehicle in some cases, particularly in cases where the reversibility prevails over the performance. The first color is called a base color and is selected according to the possibilities of combination it provides with the other colors commonly used in the domain of camouflage, such as green and beige. This color is common to all environments. According to the invention, the beige shade, designated by Terra brown of France, with the reference PIR / DEF-C 30X3 in the color catalogue of National Defense (NORMDEF 001, 2nd edition, September 2017), is particularly suitable, but the method according to the invention is not limited to the use of this color as first color. The paint patterns applied during the second step can be polygonal-shaped "marks". Indeed, geometric shapes are preferred. Advantageously, the at least one adhesive element applied during the third step is of polygonal shape, for the same reasons as for the paint patterns. Advantageously, the adhesive element is applied on landmarks previously arranged on the vehicle. In particular, the adhesive element can preferably be applied on a paint pattern made during the second step. The marks made can act as landmark and thus can be partially or entirely covered. The operator is guided by means for positioning the adhesive elements. The color of the adhesive element corresponds to the environment in which the vehicle will operate, for example a desert area. The adhesive element can then partially or entirely cover paint patterns applied during the second step. It is thus possible to adapt the camouflage of a vehicle to the environment in which it will operate, in an easy and very rapid manner. The adhesive element added during the third step can obviously be removed easily, due to its adhesive property, so as to achieve a modification of the camouflage made without requiring a new painting operation. The interest of the method according to the invention clearly appears here. The painting steps are performed only once, the addition and / or removal of adhesive elements then allowing to adapt the camouflage according to the environment in which the vehicle will operate. The paint patterns applied during the second step can have two colors. Each pattern then comprises several areas of geometric shapes, with each area being either color selected for the second step. Two close shades would be generally selected, for example two green shades for a camouflage adapted to the wooded area or two beige shades for a camouflage adapted to the desert. Similarly, the at least one adhesive element applied during the third step can have two colors. Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment, in reference to the appended drawings, which has no limiting character. FIG.l shows a vehicle after implementing the second step of the method according to the invention, and FIG.2 shows the vehicle of FIG.l, after implementing the third step of the method according to the invention. An exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention will now be described more particularly. FIG.l is a side view of a vehicle on which the first and second steps of the method according to the invention were implemented. Firstly, a first coat of paint, with the color Terra brown of France, was applied on the entire body of the vehicle. Secondly, patterns, also designated as marks, were made as two-color polygons, so as to provide a relief effect. Two green shades have been used to achieve a camouflage of "Central Europe" type or adapted to a wooded area. In FIG. 2, the vehicle is’ shown under another angle, after implementing the third step of the method using a matt-finish, self-adhesive type solution. Adhesive elements or stickers, under the form of geometric marks, were added on the patterns made during the second step. Two shades of the same color are used here, namely two beige shades, the color being adapted to the desert area. As a variant, it would be possible to use other combinations, for example two grey shades for a camouflage adapted to the urban areas or two lighter grey shades for a camouflage adapted to snowy areas. It is obvious that the one skilled in the art can implement many variants from the elements described here as an example. In particular, the one skilled in the art could use his / her experience in the field of camouflage to select colors and their shades, according to the environment in which the vehicle should operate. The method according to the invention has many advantages. In particular, the combination of two technical effects resulting from the application of coats of paint and the use of adhesive elements allows to achieve a reversible solution for the camouflage which allows the evolution of the camouflage of the vehicle without new painting operation while ensuring a good performance of the camouflage.

Claims

1. A method for making a camouflage on a vehicle, the method comprising a first step of applying a first coat of paint of a first color on a major part of the vehicle, characterized in that that method also comprises:- a second step of applying paint patterns of at least a second color, different from the first color,- a third step of applying at least an adhesive element of at least a third color, different from the first and second colors.

2. The method for making a camouflage according to claim 1, characterized in that the first coat of paint is applied on more than 50% of the total surface of the vehicle.

3. The method for making a camouflage according to claim 1, characterized in that the first coat of paint is applied on the entire surface of the vehicle.

4. The method for making a camouflage according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the paint patterns applied during the second step are of polygonal shape.

5. The method for making a camouflage according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one adhesive element applied during the third step is of polygonal shape.

6. The method for making a camouflage according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive element is applied on landmarks previously arranged on the vehicle.

7. The method for making a camouflage according to claim 6, characterized in that the adhesive element is applied on a paint pattern made during the second step.

8. The method for making a camouflage according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the paint patterns applied during the second step have two colors.

9. The method for making a camouflage according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one adhesive element applied during the third step has two colors.

10. The method for making a camouflage according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an adhesive element added during the third step is removed, so as to achieve a modification of the camouflage provided without any painting operation.

11. The method for making a camouflage according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first color is defined with the reference Terra brown of France PIR / DEF-C 30X4 in the color catalogue of National Defense (NORMDEF 001, 2nd edition, September 2017).IntellectualProperty OfficeApplication No: GB1818566.0Examiner:Dr Bill ThomsonClaims searched: 1-11Date of search: 12 February 2019Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17Documents Considered to be relevant:Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular reference X 141 US 2009 / 0252913 Al (CINCOTTIET AL) - See whole document, in particular paragraphs [0033]-[0039] and claim 62 X 1-11 US 5549938 A (NESBITT) - See whole document X 1-11 US 2014 / 0072708 Al (BENTLEY) - See whole documentCategories:X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and / or state of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if combined with one or more other documents of same category. P Document published on or after the declared priority date but before the filing date of this invention. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Officewww.gov.uk / ipo

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