Abstract:
A garment to be worn while hunting is provided that is formed with an exterior surface having a base layer and an additional layer formed with individual sections that project away from the base layer to provide a three dimensional appearance to the garment. The sections are each formed with an irregular edge shaped similarly to items found in a natural environment to obscure the silhouette of the individual wearing the garment. Also, the colors of some of the sections are selected from those having wave lengths of between 590 to 700 nm, which are readily discernible by humans, but which the animals being hunted are much less sensitive to, rendering the garment inconspicuous to the animals.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application 61/084,147 filed on Jul. 28, 2008, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]    The present disclosure is directed to a garment for hunting, and in particular, it is directed to a garment that conceals the hunter from the hunted prey while also easily making other hunters in the vicinity aware of the hunter&#39;s presence. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]    Typically, hunters attempt to conceal themselves in the hunting environment from the hunted animals. One known and often used means of concealment is to dress in camouflage clothing. The camouflage clothing typically includes colors and patterns that are common in the hunting environment (e.g., browns and greens) in order to enable the hunter wearing the clothing to blend into the hunting environment. However, when a number of hunters hunt in the same geographic area and because colors of this type also make it difficult to discern a hunter wearing clothing having these colors from the hunting environment or can cause the hunter to be mistaken for the animals being hunted, which often blend into the environment, there is an increased danger that a hunter dressed in camouflage might be mistaken by other hunters as an animal and injured. 
         [0004]    As a result, due to the danger of camouflaged hunters being mistaken by other hunters as part of the environment or animals, safety regulations have been enacted requiring that hunters wear a certain amount of bright colored clothing (e.g., blaze orange) when hunting for certain types of animals in certain geographic areas. These types of colors do not blend into the hunting environment and are readily discernable by other hunters to prevent a hunter wearing these colors from being mistaken for an animal. 
         [0005]    However, some of the hunted animals (e.g., deer) are dichromatic animals, meaning they can clearly see colors in the lower wavelength range, i.e., blue, green and yellow, in a manner similar to or even better than humans. However, these animals have a much lower sensitivity to those colors at the higher wavelengths of the visible spectrum of light, e.g., the color red or colors with wavelengths closer to red, such as the commonly required color blaze orange. Consequently, blaze orange clothing does not create as great of a concealment problem as it would if the hunted animals were the type that could perceive all colors similarly to humans. Because of this, commercially available blaze orange hunting gear is designed specifically to be noticed by other hunters, and not typically designed to conceal the hunter from the hunted animals which can see blaze orange, but not as clearly as humans. 
         [0006]    However, since dichromatic animals can still distinguish shades of color at the higher end of the visible spectrum, i.e., like orange and red, if the colors worn by a hunter to make the hunter visible to other hunters are not a normal part of this natural environment, they can be distinguished by the animal. In addition, shapes that do not conform to the environment known by the animal, such as a human silhouette, can be readily distinguished from the environment by the animal. Therefore, there is a need for hunting gear that can better conceal the hunter from animals while at the same time enabling the hunter to be easily identified by other hunters. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]    According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a garment and a related method is provided that conceals the hunter from animals while at the same time makes the hunter easily identifiable by other hunters. The garment includes an exterior surface for the garment including a number of sections that are colored to be readily discernible to humans, but that are perceived to generally blend into the surrounding environment so as not to be easily discernible by humans or animals, and a number of sections that are colored to be readily discernible to humans, but that are perceived to generally blend into the natural environment by animals. Thus, the garment is capable of effectively concealing the hunter from animals while including sufficient conspicuous color to easily be seen by humans. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the sections on the exterior surface of the garment are formed to break-up or conceal the profile of the hunter from animals. The shape of the individual sections is selected to be sufficiently similar to the shape of various items located in the natural environment, such as leaves. This shape for the sections of the exterior surface effectively render the sections, and thus the garment/hunter part of the environment in which the hunter wearing the garment is located, such that the hunter wearing the garment is perceived as a part of the natural environment by the animal. 
         [0009]    Numerous other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0010]    The drawing figures illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a first embodiment of a garment constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a second embodiment of a garment constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a portion of an exterior surface of the garment shown in  FIG. 1 , with portions removed for clarity; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a cuff portion of the garment shown in  FIG. 1 , with portions removed for clarity; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a pocket portion of the garment shown in  FIG. 1 , with portions removed for clarity; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a first closure portion of the garment shown in  FIG. 1 , with portions removed for clarity; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a second closure portion of the garment shown in  FIG. 2 , with portions removed for clarity. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    With reference now to the drawing figures in which like references numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, a first embodiment of a garment according to the present disclosure is shown generally at  10 . The term “garment” is used herein to refer to any article of clothing (e.g., hat, gloves, pants, jacket, shirt, poncho, etc.) that can be worn by a hunter. In the depicted embodiment, the garment is a jacket  10  with a body  11  having an inner or interior surface  102  and an outer or exterior surface  100 , sleeves  12 ,  13 , and a hood  14 . It should be appreciated that the term “jacket” is used herein to refer to any garment that is configured to cover at least a portion of a person&#39;s torso. In the depicted embodiment the jacket  10  includes two pockets  15 ,  16 , a zipper  17 , extremity closures  18 , and hood drawstring  19 . In the depicted embodiment the pockets  15 ,  16 , zipper  17 , extremity closures  18 , and drawstring  19  are partially hidden by the outer surface of the jacket  10 . In some embodiments the pockets are closed by snap fasteners (see  FIG. 5 ), and in other embodiments the pockets can be closed with a hook and loop system (not shown). It should be appreciated that many other garment configurations are also possible concerning the number and placement of pockets  15 ,  16  and the types of closures  18  used for the pockets  15 ,  16  or for the garment  10 . 
         [0019]    In the depicted embodiment, the outer surface  100  of the jacket  10  is configured to obscure the hunter&#39;s silhouette. In other words, the outer surface  100  is configured so that the outline of the garment  10  appears less like the human form and more a part of the environment in which the hunter is placed. In the depicted embodiment, the outer surface  100  is textured as opposed to smooth. The textured outer surface  100  is also referred to herein as a three dimensional outer surface  100  (i.e., an outer surface with visually perceptible depth). It should be appreciated that in some embodiments the entire outer surface  100  of the garment can be three dimensional, whereas in other embodiments only a portion or potions of the outer surface are three dimensional. 
         [0020]    The jacket  10  of the depicted embodiment includes more than one shade of color. In the depicted embodiment the fabric that provides the three dimensional texture to the outer surface  100  includes preferably more than one shade of orange or other colors that are not easily perceived by animals but that readily stand out to humans, e.g., those at the higher wavelength end of the visible light spectrum. The various shades of the color used to form some or all of the outer surface  100  mimic differences in the shades of natural foliage. In particular, to animals that cannot easily distinguish colors of these types, the shades of an unnatural color (e.g., blaze orange) do not have an appearance that is substantially different than the appearance of shades of a natural color (e.g., green). 
         [0021]    Although in the depicted embodiment the garment  10  is not completely orange, it should be appreciated that alternative embodiments of the garment  10  can include any number of different colors and shades of color. It should also be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, the garments can include a single color or multiple different colors. In the embodiments where the garment  10  has an outer surface  100  formed of multiple colors, the colors can be selected from natural colors and some color can be selected from conspicuous colors. The term “natural colors” is used herein to refer to colors that are typical in the hunting environment (e.g., browns, greens), and the term “conspicuous colors” is used to refer to colors found at the higher wavelength end of the visible light spectrum, and preferably from about 590 nm to about 700 nm, that are not highly visible to animals in their natural environment but are very visible to humans in that environment. In some embodiments the color of the garment is a combination of colors that both conform to and stand out from the environment, for example, orange and green or, bright red and brown. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the garment can also be formed as a pair of pants  30 . In the depicted embodiment the pants  30  are baggy and can be worn over other clothing. In the depicted embodiment the pants  30  include a waistband  32  with a draw string, extremity closures  34 , and pockets  35 ,  36 . In the depicted embodiment the waistband  32  is covered by the jacket  10 , and the extremity closures  34  are covered by overhanging portions of the cuffs on the pants  30 . The pockets  35 ,  36  are openings that allow access to the clothing worn underneath the pants  30 . 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the pants  30  are water resistant as is known and can be worn in place of rain pants. In alternative embodiments, the pants  30  are porous as is known and allow air to flow therethrough so that they are not overly warm in warmer hunting environments. In other embodiments, the pants  30  are insulated in a known manner to provide additional warmth in colder hunting environments. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the material on the outer surface  100  of the garment  10  that provides the garment a three dimensional outer surface  100  is shown in greater detail. In the depicted embodiment, the garment  10  is covered with fabric  38  that extends from jacket  10  or pants  30  in an overlapping arrangement. The pieces of fabric  38  are shown to include a jagged edge profile  39  similar to the profile of natural foliage (e.g., tree leaves). It should be appreciated that the term “fabric” refers to cloth or any other material that can be configured and arranged to provide a three dimensional outer surface on the garment (e.g., burlap, cotton, plastic, nylon, polyester, etc.). 
         [0025]    In the depicted embodiment, the fabric  38  includes three layers. The first layer is a base layer  40  that supports the second  42  and third  44  layers, and optionally can be used to form the body  11  of the garment  10  as well. In the depicted embodiment, the sizes of the shapes  43  (also referred to herein as leaves) on the second layer  42  are slightly larger than the sizes of the leaves  45  on the third layer  44 . The leaves  43 ,  45  on the second and third layers  42 ,  44  share similar jagged edge profiles  39 , but can be formed to have different edge profiles as well. In the depicted embodiment, the shade or color of the leaves  45  on the third layer  44  is slightly lighter than the shade of the leaves  43  on the second layer  42 . This artificially creates the illusion of shadowing and depth of field. In particular, when any two objects of even the same color in nature are stacked or layered, the outer layer is going to appear brighter and/or more shiny than the bottom layer. The bottom layer will appear darker and less vibrant because of not receiving the direct sunlight or ambient light that the outer layer receives, but also simply from the shadowing caused by the layer above it. When you look at leaves on a tree, the outer layer is brighter and shines more than the leaves behind. It is not necessarily because the deeper leaves are darker, it is just that the sunlight and shadows make them appear darker. In that way of perceiving the color, one can tell which items are the outer layer and which leaves are inner layers. The mind interprets those perceptions as three dimensional inputs that create depth of field. 
         [0026]    By using color alone, as in the case of the silhouette distorting hunting garment  10 , the illusion of thickness, three dimensionality, and depth of field is created by utilizing artificial shadowing through darker coloring for the leaves  43  on the second layer  42  coloring and optionally additionally adding greys and blacks in any configuration or amount to the leaves  43 . In the depicted embodiments for the garments  10 , the leaves  43  on the second layer  42  can also include a small amount of black to grey highlights to enhance this effect. The greys and blacks can also be added in some fashion to the leaves  45 , and/or the base layer  40 , if desired. It should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the three dimensional characteristic can be accomplished with more or fewer layers, and that the leaves thereon can vary in shapes, sizes, and colors. 
         [0027]    With the combination of colors and shapes, the garment  10  and the pants  30  are able to provide a camouflage to an individual that effectively renders the individual hard to discern by an animal being hunted, but readily discernible by a human. More specifically, the shapes of the various or color leaves  43 ,  45  on the fabric  38  secured to or forming the outer surface  100  are similar enough to that of a natural environment for the animal to prevent any silhouette of the individual wearing the garment  10  from appearing out of place in that environment to the animal. In addition, the color scheme of the leaves  43 ,  45  and base layer  40  is made at least partially of conspicuous colors at the high end of the visible spectrum, optionally in conjunction with other colors naturally found in the environment for the animal. By using these conspicuous colors, the garment  10  is readily visible to humans based on the brightness of the colors. However, due to the low sensitivity of the animals to these colors, the garments  10  and pants  30  formed with these colors do not stand out to animals as to the human eye. As a result, the garment  10  and/or pants  30  effectively conceal the shape of the individual from the animal, while also making the individual less visible to the animal, but easily visible to humans due to the color selections for the garment. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the extremity closures are shown in greater detail. The extremity closures  18 ,  34  in the depicted embodiment are similar. In the depicted embodiment the extremity closures include an elastic band  38  that helps keep the garment in place. The extremity closures also prevent insects from accessing the garment via the extremities. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the pockets are shown in greater detail. In the depicted embodiment the pockets  15 ,  16 ,  35 ,  36  can have a similar construction. The pockets can include a hook and loop closure system or a snap (or both). In some embodiments, the pockets are used to allow access to other pockets in clothing worn under the garment. On other embodiments the pockets in the garments are pockets that can be used to hold contents therein. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the hood and zipper arrangement of the garment is shown in greater detail. The hood  14 , zipper  17 , hood drawstring  19  are shown with the three dimensional surface feature removed for clarity. In the depicted embodiment the fabric hides some of these features to facilitate conceahnent of the hunter. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , waistband  32  of the garment is shown in greater detail. In the depicted embodiment the fabric on the jacket  10  hides some of these features to facilitate concealment of the hunter. 
         [0032]    In addition, in order to reduce the likelihood of visual detection by an animal that has increased visual acuity in the lower ranges of the visible spectrum, the fabric used to form the various layers  40 ,  42  and  44  of the garment  10  should be formed without any UV enhancing or brightening compositions. The use of such compositions, while only seemingly causing the colors of the various fabric layers  40 ,  42  and  44  to be brighter to the human eye, causes the fabric to have a much more significant appearance in the Uv spectrum, regardless of the actual color of the fabric. This, in turn, makes the fabric much more visible to the animal, essentially causing the fabric, and thus the hunter, to glow in the UV spectrum, which makes the hunter easily apparent to the animal. Therefore, by minimizing the effects of, removing, or otherwise not treating the garments  10  with any UV brighteners or similar materials, the advantages gained by the selection of the colors for the various fabric layers  40 ,  42  and  44  and their orientation on the garment  10  can be maintained 
         [0033]    The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.