Foam camouflage apparatus and method

Abstract

A foam camouflage material intended to blend in with natural outdoor environments. The foam cam material comprises randomly oriented shapes to break up rigid outlines associated with people and objects to provide a camouflaged natural depth pattern. The foam material includes a three-dimensional surface of a contiguous surface material. The relief provided by the three-dimensional surface creates shadows of varying light intensities to break up outlines and cause the material to blend into surrounding environments. The shapes may resemble recognizable shapes such as rocks, sticks, twigs, leaves, tree bark, or other naturally occurring, non-geometric shapes. The foam camouflage material may further comprise irregular, arbitrary shapes. The foam element may be used for clothing articles, hunting blinds and stands, cameras, backpacks, and other outdoor and hunting equipment.

1 . A camouflage apparatus, comprising: 
 a thermoformed foam element comprising a plurality of randomly oriented three-dimensional shapes protruding from and depressed within the element, the plurality of three-dimensional shapes blending in with natural outdoor surroundings.    
     
     
         2 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the shapes resemble tree bark.  
     
     
         3 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the shapes resemble twigs.  
     
     
         4 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the shapes resemble leaves.  
     
     
         5 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the shapes resemble rocks.  
     
     
         6 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the shapes resemble a combination of two or more of: a stick, a leaf, a rock, and tree bark.  
     
     
         7 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the shapes resemble a combination of two or more of: a stick, a leaf, a rock, and tree bark, wherein the shapes are irregular.  
     
     
         8 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fabric overlaying the thermoformed foam.  
     
     
         9 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the fabric is laminated to the thermoformed foam.  
     
     
         10 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the fabric comprises a camouflage pattern.  
     
     
         11 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the foam comprises polyolefin.  
     
     
         12 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the thermoformed foam is associated with an outdoor product.  
     
     
         13 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the outdoor product comprises a camera, an article of clothing, a hunting stand, a hunting blind, or a backpack.  
     
     
         14 . A camouflage apparatus, comprising: 
 a thermoformed foam comprising a random pattern of depressions and protrusions.    
     
     
         15 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the depressions and protrusions create shadows and an actual depth resembling a natural outdoor environment.  
     
     
         16 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the random pattern is non-geometric.  
     
     
         17 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the random pattern comprises repeating random sub-patterns.  
     
     
         18 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the thermoformed foam comprises polyolefin.  
     
     
         19 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising a camouflage fabric laminated to the thermoformed foam.  
     
     
         20 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the thermoformed foam comprises a camera cover, an article of clothing, a backpack, a rail or bar cover, or a hunting blind.  
     
     
         21 . A camouflage apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the random pattern resembles tree bark, rocks, leaves, sticks, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         22 . A camouflage material, comprising: 
 a central plane;    a first plurality of irregular peaks protruding from the central plane in a first direction.    
     
     
         23 . A camouflage material according to  claim 22 , further comprising as second plurality of irregular peaks protruding from the central plane opposite of the first direction.  
     
     
         24 . A camouflage material according to  claim 22 , further comprising a layer of fabric over the first plurality of irregular peaks.  
     
     
         25 . A camouflage material according to  claim 24  wherein the layer of fabric comprises a camouflage pattern.  
     
     
         26 . A camouflage material according to  claim 22 , wherein the foam element comprises polyolefin.  
     
     
         27 . A camouflage material comprising: 
 a layer of foam comprising a plurality of irregular shaped protrusions and depressions;    a layer of fabric adhered to the layer of foam.    
     
     
         28 . A camouflage material according to  claim 27  wherein the plurality of irregular shaped protrusions and depressions comprises stick, rock, leaf, or tree bark shapes.  
     
     
         29 . A camouflage material according to  claim 27  wherein the foam comprises polyolefin and the fabric comprises a camouflage pattern.  
     
     
         30 . A camouflage article, comprising: 
 a foam pad, the foam pad comprising: 
 a base surface;  
 a theoretical surface spaced from the base surface, the second theoretical surface corresponding to a uniform distance from the base surface;  
 an actual surface opposite of the base surface comprising a plurality of irregular peaks above and valley below the theoretical surface.  
   
     
     
         31 . A camouflage article according to  claim 30  wherein the plurality of irregular peaks and valleys conform to a mold patterned to resemble a natural outdoor environment.  
     
     
         32 . A camouflage article according to  claim 31  wherein the mold is patterned to resemble one or more of: tree bark, rocks, leaves, and sticks.  
     
     
         33 . A camouflage material, comprising: 
 a three-dimensional surface comprising raised areas and depressed areas, the surface being free of any loose material, the surface creating shadows of differing light intensities to create a camouflage effect.    
     
     
         34 . A camouflage material according to  claim 33  wherein the three-dimensional surface is contiguous.  
     
     
         35 . A camouflage material according to  claim 33 , further comprising a fabric of camouflage colors disposed on the top surface of the three-dimensional surface to enhance the camouflage effect.  
     
     
         36 . A method of making a camouflage material comprising: 
 providing a piece of foam;    forming a random pattern of three-dimensional shapes in the piece of foam to resemble a natural outdoor environment.    
     
     
         37 . A method of making a camouflage material according to  claim 36 , further comprising adhering a fabric to the piece of foam and forming the random pattern of three-dimensional irregular shapes in the piece of foam and the fabric.  
     
     
         38 . A method of making a camouflage material according to  claim 36  wherein the fabric comprises a camouflage pattern.  
     
     
         39 . A method of making a camouflage material according to  claim 36 , further comprising shaping the piece of foam into an article of clothing, a camera cover, a rail or bar cover, hunting blind, or a portion of a backpack.  
     
     
         40 . A method of making a camouflage material according to  claim 36  wherein forming a random pattern comprises creating a resemblance to one or more of: tree bark, leaves, rocks, and sticks.