Collapsible Artificial Tree Branch for Portable Hunting Camouflage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hunters face challenges in effectively camouflaging themselves and their equipment from game animals, as existing solutions are often bulky and difficult to transport, compromising stealth and convenience.
Innovation Solution
A portable camouflage system featuring an artificial tree branch with a coil spring and flexible cover that can be expanded for concealment and collapsed for storage, utilizing attachment elements to mimic natural tree branches and obscure the view of tree stands and hunters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional camouflage equipment is used to hide hunters and equipment from game animals, then camouflage effectiveness is improved, but the equipment becomes bulky and difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The camouflage cover is designed to be dynamically transformable between expanded and collapsed states. The flexible cover with coil spring mechanism allows it to expand to provide full camouflage coverage when in use, and collapse to a compact form for easy transport and storage, directly resolving the contradiction between camouflage effectiveness and portability
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsed camouflage cover nests within a compact configuration, similar to a nested doll structure. When not in use, the cover collapses to fit within a small storage space, making it highly portable while maintaining full camouflage capability when deployed
2Ease of operation
If camouflage equipment is made compact for easy transport, then portability is improved, but camouflage coverage and effectiveness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic expansion mechanism ensures that when the camouflage cover is deployed, it expands to its full size providing complete camouflage coverage. The coil spring and flexible cover design allow transition from compact transport state to full expansion state, ensuring camouflage effectiveness is not compromised by the compact design
Solution Approach 2:
The camouflage cover is segmented into flexible sections that can expand and conform to tree branches. This segmentation allows the cover to maintain compact form during transport while expanding to provide adequate camouflage coverage when deployed, resolving the contradiction between portability and effectiveness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides lightweight, effective camouflage that closely resembles natural tree branches, enhancing stealth while being compact and easy to transport, thereby improving hunting success.
Implementation Method 1
The coil spring is disposed within the flexible cover and attached to the cover such that the coil spring shortens when the cover is collapsed and lengthens when the cover is expanded
Data Source
AI summary
A camouflage system includes an artificial tree branch having a flexible fabric cover having an inner surface defining an enclosed space. A coil spring is attached to the fabric cover within the enclosed space. The length of the artificial tree branch is variable by compressing and/or tensioning the coil spring. The artificial tree branch is thus easily compactible for transporting to a hunting location and can be expanded to the size of a natural tree branch on site. The camouflage system may include devices for attaching the artificial tree branch to a tree to hide a tree stand and its occupant from game animals.