Camouflaged Aircraft, Surface Vessel or Vehicle or the Like

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example various embodiments of this invention:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one aspect of the coating scheme;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing coating application to various curved surfaces on an aircraft or the like;

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are diagrammatic perspective views of the left and right sides respectively of the diagram shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are respectively the top and bottom plan views and left and right side elevation views of an aircraft embodying the camouflage scheme of this invention;

FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are respectively the top and bottom plan views and the left and right side elevation views of an aircraft embodying a modified version of the camouflage scheme of this invention;

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 are respectively the left side elevation view and the top and bottom plan views of an aircraft embodying a modified version of the camouflage scheme of this invention;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the tail portion of an aircraft having two vertical stabilizers embodying a modified version of the camouflage scheme of this invention.

In FIG. 1, the circular area to the left of figure diagrammatically shows a fuselage F in cross-section. Diagrammatically to the right, we note the fuselage from the side. The coatings on the fuselage are indicated as dark, medium and light. The coatings may be painted, anodized, laminated or otherwise applied to the surface of the aircraft, or other type air or surface vehicle. The coatings may be of any type of paint, dye or other material. They may be colors but it is preferred that the dark coating be a dark grey, that the medium coating be a medium grey and the light coating be a light grey. In general, three shades or colors are applied, however, in an emergency, two different coatings may be applied, namely, a dark coating and a light coating with substantial constrast therebetween.

In FIG. 1, the horizontal is generally indicated at 2 and the lines of demarcation between the shades or colors, are generally indicated at 4 and 6. It is to be noted that the lines of demarcation 4 and 6, though irregular, extend generally in the direction of horizontal 2 which is generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The lines 4 and 6 are of unequal lengths following in general the principle that no two items on the object on which the camouflage system is used are camouflaged in an identical fashion. It is to be noted that pairs of short lines comprising lines 4 and 6 form scallops 8 and 10 which are in effect bites of light coatings L into the dark and medium coatings D and M. The lines 4 and 6 as shown in FIG. 1 are sharply definitive and are provided with hard edges. Though scallops may be curved, it is preferred that they be angular and without soft or rounded peaks and valleys as this adds to difficulty in perceiving form. The darker shades or colors in contrast to the light or medium shades or colors are applied on the top surface of the fuselage F. The purpose is to kill the highlights and to lessen the reflectivity. It is preferred that flat rather than gloss paints be used. It will be noted, that the 90.degree. vertical line 12 which extends above and below the horizontal line 2 enables one to determine the height to which the scallops extend into the darker shade or color. Thus, the scallops will extend from 0.degree. to 30.degree. above or below the horizontal as indicated. It will thus be seen that on aircraft, the preferred medium grey flat paint will be on a substantial portion of the bottom of the aircraft and the preferred dark grey flat paint will be on a substantial portion of the top of the aircraft. The light grey flat paint will be generally applied along the side surfaces between the dark and medium flat greys.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, it will be noted that wherever there are convex surfaces 14 the color scheme in general will be dark. As will be subsequently described, the major portion of the upper surface of the aircraft and preferably approximately about two-thirds, will be painted dark. The remaining minor portion of the aircraft or approximately one-third will be painted with lighter paints such as the light and medium greys. The under surface or bottom of the aircraft or vehicle will have the lighter shades or colors and the medium or light shades will vary from approximately 40% to approximately 60% of the bottom of the aircraft, though the preferred scheme would be approximately about 50% of the light or medium paints or coatings.

It should be noted that all upper horizontal flat surfaces 15 will in general have the dark flat color or shade thereon. The application of the dark or medium color to the aircraft as a rule applied to the major curved surfaces of the aircraft.

The concave surfaces 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, have applied to them a dark or medium coating as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In these instances, the coatings form scallops which extend on either side of a horizontal line such as 17 and 19 respectively, a distance of from 60.degree. to 90.degree. from above or below the horizontal lines 17 and 19 as the case may be depending upon whether the concave surface is on the top or on the bottom of the aircraft as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIGS. 5 through 8, an aircraft 20 has a cockpit-canopy 22 and is provided with wings 24 and 26, horizontal stabilizers 28 and 30, and a vertical stabilizer 32. Engine air scoops 34 and 36 are shown in advance of the wings 24 and 26.

In FIG. 6, a detail cockpit-canopy 38 similar to cockpit-canopy 22 is painted on the under portion or bottom of the aircraft 20.

The camouflage scheme is painted or otherwise affixed to the aircraft 20 as illustrated with the dark colors on the upper surface of the aircraft approximately two-third of the total surface area as illustrated in FIG. 5 with the medium and light shades or colors covering the other one-third of the upper surface of the aircraft. The dark coloration is indicated by D, the intermediate coating is indicated at M, and the light coating is indicated at L. It will be noted that the detail of the cockpit-canopy 38 will be painted dark on the bottom of the aircraft. It will be further noted, that the lines of demarcation 40, 42 and 44 are substantially parallel to each other and extend diagonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. Wherever there is a bite 46, 48 or 50 from the leading or trailing edge of the aircraft, it will be noted that the lines intersecting lines 40, 42 and 44 along the other edge of the bites 46, 48 and 50 will be substantially parallel.

In order to provide substantial contrast and to maintain the rule that no two surfaces look alike, the intermediate coating M is applied to the surfaces of the intake 36 and the bites 46, 48 and 50.

In order to provide contrast, occasionally, a line of demarcation such as lines 58 and 60 will extend somewhat diagonally but run in the same direction as lines of demarcation 40, 42 and 44. It is important that the shade or color next to the dark area D be the intermediate color or shade M.

The bottom of the aircraft is provided with intermediate color scheme M as shown having lines of demarcation 62 and 64 which are parallel to each other and diagonal to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. Where bites 66 and 68 are taken from the portion of the leading or trailing edges of the wings 24 or the horizontal stabilizer 28, the other edge of the bite will have lines of demarcation 70 and 72 which are generally parallel.

In accordance with the scheme as illustrated and described for FIGS. 1 through 4, the side elevation views of the aircraft FIGS. 7 and 8, will have scallops extending from front to rear of the aircraft. It will be noted that the lines of demarcation 74 and 76 in general appear to run from front to rear along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The scallops formed in the lines, are shown to have matching lines extending in a parallel relationship as illustrated by lines 78 and 80.

Bites 82 and 83 on the vertical stabilizer 32 are taken from the leading and trailing edge thereof. Wherever possible, lines 84 and 85 are parallel as illustrated.

In FIGS. 9 through 12, the same aircraft illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8 is shown with a slightly modified camouflage scheme. It will be noted, that in this version, the one-third two-third light to dark system is applied to the upper surface of the aircraft 20 and the 40 to 60% light to medium is applied to the lower or bottom surface of the aircraft 20.

The primary difference in the scheme illustrated in these figures is that the lines of demarcation 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 92, 94 and 96 are zigzag though portions of these lines of demarcation extend parallel to other lines and diagonally across the surface of the aircraft with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft 20.

It will also be noted that the lines of demarcation 96, 98 and 100 of the scalloped effect are softer and somewhat curved but still extend along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

It should also be noted that rectangular bites 102, 104, l06, 108, and 110 are used with triangular bites 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120.

In general, the dark D, medium M and light L shadings are as shown.

In FIGS. 13 through 15, the aircraft 122 follows the scheme aforementioned for the aircraft shown in the previous figures. The coating scheme is illustrated by the light L, dark D, and intermediate shade M. Where engine nacelle 124, 125, 126 and 127 are added as in FIGS. 14 and 15, a pattern is used to break up the visual perception in that nacelle 124 is light, nacelle 125 is dark, and nacelle 126 and 127 are medium shades.

FIG. 16 illustrates an aircraft having two vertical stabilizers 128 and 129. In order to produce confusion and to make the stabilizers appear as one when viewed at a perspective angle, the pattern painted on stabilizer 128 is substantially reversed on stabilizer 129. Note, for example that bite 130 on the vertical stabilizer 125 is at the trailing edge of the stabilizer and that the bite 131 is on the leading edge of the stabilizer 129. Note also the reversal of the color schemes, whereby the bite 131 is dark whereas the bite 130 is light. The balance of the stabilizers are also reversed in color scheme or shade. In the instance shown, the dark and light combination is illustrated. Where there are more than two stabilizers, the stabilizers on either side of the central stabilizer will be dissimilar.

To summarize certain aspects of this invention, it will be noted in addition to the above, that for the aircraft shown, the light L and dark D coatings are major portions of the sides of the aircraft, vessel, vehicle or the like, whereas the third or intermediate coating M is a minor portion of the sides. Generally, where stabilizers or wings or the like are a portion of the object camouflaged, at least a portion of one of the coatings includes a triangular bite from a portion of another of said coatings.

As aforenoted, the light and third or intermediate coats L and M may vary with respect to each other and constitute from about 40% to 60% of the bottom of the aircraft and preferably about 50%. Additionally, the wingtips of aircraft should have dissimilar coatings.

The degree of coating on the top or bottom surfaces as described angularly in FIGS. 1 to 4 can also be generally stated as a coating extending on the curved surfaces from about 10 o'clock to about 2 o'clock for a major portion of its length. Where two coatings only are used, the general rules for the dark coating apply with the balance being the light coating.

In general, for determining the area of scalloping, as in the case of a curved surface of less than a full arc of 90.degree., the horizontal is determined by the transition line between it, and the next adjacent surface which may be the begining of a flat surface or a curved surface in the reverse direction, or a curved surface in the same direction, having a different arc. In some instances, there may be no curved surface and the upper or lower surfaces of the aircraft or other vehicle may have downwardly or upwardly sloping flat surfaces respectively. The horizontal in these instances is determined as in the case of curved surfaces by the transition point between it and the next adjacent surface. If however, the flat surface is at an angle of more than 60.degree. above the horizontal, it should be coated with a light coating, not a dark or medium, since as a general rule, vertical or nearly vertical surfaces are generally light and horizontal surfaces dark or medium.

While this invention has been described, it will be understood that it is capable of further variations uses and/or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.