MULTI-SPECTRAL CAMOFLAGE ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The following notice applies to the software and data as described below and in the drawings that form a part of this document: Copyright Raven Industries, Inc., Sioux Falls, S. Dak. All Rights Reserved.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document pertains generally, but not by way of limitation, to the manufacture and assembling of camouflage, concealment and deception garments and devices.

BACKGROUND

Multi-spectral concealment materials are incorporated into garments and devices (tarps, sheets, tents and the like) to provide a plurality of concealment types including, but not limited to, visual concealment, infrared (IR) concealment, ultraviolet (UV) concealment and the like. In one example, concealment materials are cut into elongate strips, gathered or folded and then applied to an underlying substrate, for instance a liner. Manual gathering or folding and stitching of the camouflage strips provides variability in the frequency and degree (e.g., length) of gather or folds across a single strip and between individual strips of concealment material. Accordingly the appearance and concealment properties of a garment or other device may be negatively impacted by this variability.

Additionally, in other examples, multi-spectral concealment materials are cut into strips (e.g., by a laser cutter or other similar machine) to allow gathering of the material into folds in a first step followed by a second step of stitching of the strips to an underlying liner. Elongate strips are difficult to handle. The strip length increases the chance that the strips become disorganized (tangled, curled, misaligned from a straight configuration or the like) when handled between cutting and loading into a sewing machine. These issues are further frustrated with strips having non-linear edges (e.g., to further assist with concealment). The non-linear features easily tangle with the corresponding features of adjacent strips (e.g., cut in a corresponding pattern). Additionally, these elongated strips are configured for gathering and are not dimensioned to fit onto the underlying liner resulting in excessive material waste.

Further, in still other examples, multi-spectral concealment materials are constructed with a plurality of layers to form a laminate. Laser cutting of the material is used to sear the edges, maintain the integrity of the laminate and prevent fraying (e.g., from wear). That is to say laser cutting melts the edges of the laminate together. Laser cutting of multiple plies of a laminate melts the edges of adjacent plies together and accordingly frustrates the separation of the plies for use in assembling garments and other devices.

Overview

The present inventors have recognized, among other things, that a problem to be solved can include inconsistencies in gathering (e.g., folding) of a concealment material caused through manual or automated gathering of strips of the material to form the gathers or folds. The strips of material are prone to tangling and disorganization because of their length, flexible nature and in some examples the non-linear shape of the strips. In one example, the present subject matter can provide a solution to this problem by providing a multi-spectral concealment sheet assembly including a garnish panel having a panel perimeter and a web of a plurality of garnish bands spanning the panel perimeter. The plurality of garnish bands extend between opposed sides of the panel perimeter and accordingly are not formed into separate strips that are prone to tangling or spreading apart from each other.

Additionally, the garnish panel provides a unitary piece (as opposed to a plurality of separate strips) that is readily fed to a sewing station for coupling with a liner. For instance, the garnish panel including each of the garnish bands of the web is fed in an organized fashion at a first feeding rate while the liner is fed at a second slower feeding rate. Accordingly, joining of the garnish panel with the liner includes a consolidated process that allows for fixing of the garnish panel to the liner at a plurality of locations while at the same time gathering the garnish panel into a plurality of garnish gathers or folds according to the difference between the first and second feeding rates. The individual feeding and variance in feed rates between separate strips of a camouflage material is accordingly avoided. Providing a method that consistently joins the garnish panel to the liner with corresponding consistent gathering of the garnish panel (e.g., including the garnish bands) ensures that a multi-spectral concealment sheet has enhanced and predictable concealment characteristics throughout the sheet as opposed to the varying concealment characteristics provided with the individual gathering or folding and sewing of separated strips.

The present inventors have further recognized, among other things, that a problem to be solved can include cutting multiple plies of a multi-spectral concealment sheet laminate without fusing one or more plies during cutting. In an example, the present subject matter can provide a solution to this problem, such as by interposing an isolation sheet between each ply of a plurality of plies of the sheet laminate. Laser cutting is conducted on the plurality of plies and the isolation sheets therebetween to form the garnish panels including a web of garnish bands spanning a panel perimeter. Laser cutting sears each of the garnish panels along its respective edges to prevent fraying and delamination of the sheet laminate. The isolation sheets isolate searing to the respective garnish panels and substantially prevent fusing of adjacent garnish panels. Accordingly, a multi-ply stack of garnish panels is rapidly produced and ready for further processing, for instance with the assembly method described herein including joining having consolidated fixing and gathering steps.

This overview is intended to provide an overview of subject matter of the present patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation of the invention. The detailed description is included to provide further information about the present patent application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of a multi-spectral concealment assembly including a garment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another example of a multi-spectral concealment assembly including a cover.

FIG. 3 is a top view of one example of a garnish panel including a plurality of garnish bands retained within a panel perimeter.

FIG. 4A is a front view of one example of a liner configured for coupling with the garnish panel.

FIG. 4B is a front view of one example of a garnish panel including a plurality of garnish bands retained within a panel perimeter.

FIG. 4C is a front view of the garnish panel of FIG. 4B with the plurality of garnish bands gathered and coupled with the liner.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of one example of a differential sewing station configured to fix a garnish panel with a liner while at the same time gathering the garnish panel

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing one method for assembling a multi-spectral camouflage assembly.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of one example of a laser cutting system configured to cut multiple plies of a multi-spectral concealment sheet laminate.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing one method of cutting multiple plies of a multi-spectral concealment sheet laminate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows one example of a multi-spectral concealment assembly 100. The exemplary concealment assembly 100 is a garment such as a camouflaging concealment and deception suit. It should be appreciated however that the invention is not so limited and other types of assemblies such as a tarps, sheets, films or and other types of garments are within the scope of the invention. The multi-spectral concealment assembly 100—in this example a garment—includes one or more portions such as portions for covering the chest 102, arms 104 and legs 106 of the user. In another example the exemplary multi-spectral concealment assembly 100 also includes a hood 110. The various portions of this exemplary multi-spectral concealment assembly 100 garment can work together and generally and substantially conceal all features of the user's body.

The exemplary multi-spectral concealment assembly 100 can be made of a plurality of panels, each corresponding to one of the body parts previously described. For instance, as shown in FIG. 1, one example of a panel is a chest panel 108 provided to cover the chest 102. Other examples are panels associated with each of the arms 104, the legs 106 and the head. The head may, for example, be covered with a panel in the form of the hood 110. The panels for each of the body parts are assembled into a garment, such as a suit, to accordingly conceal all or part of the body of the user. While this illustrative embodiment includes multiple panels, in other applications, concealment assemblies—including garments—are made of a single panel.

While the invention is not limited to particular construction methods, the multi-spectral concealment assembly 100 can be constructed with a multi-spectral concealment material that provides enhanced concealment from viewing in one or more of the optical (visible), IR or UV spectrums. Stated another way, the multi-spectral concealment material provides concealment of the user wearing the multi-spectral concealment garment to one or more spectrums of energy including for instance visible light, infrared light and ultraviolet light.

In the exemplary multi-spectral concealment assembly 100, each of the panels—formed for the corresponding body parts—includes one or more garnish panels each including a panel perimeter around the garnish panel. Each of the garnish panels includes a web of garnish bands extending between opposed sides of the garnish panel perimeter. The plurality of garnish bands can be cut or slit to form gaps between each of the bands. The garnish panels are thereafter gathered, for instance the plurality of garnish bands are folded or gathered along their lengths and optionally attached to an underlying liner. The gathering process folds the garnish bands and provides a visual appearance that breaks up the silhouette of the underlying user. Furthermore, the gathered garnish bands can enhance the multi-spectrum concealment benefits of the underlying material. For instance, the plurality of gathers of each of the plurality of garnish bands can enhance one, two or more of the concealment properties of the underlying material for instance visibility concealment, IR concealment or UV concealment.

Referring now to FIG. 2, another example of a multi-spectral concealment assembly 200—in this case a tarp, sheet, film or the like—is provided. As shown the multi-spectral concealment assembly 200 in the form of a sheet includes one or more optional retaining straps 202 sized and shaped to attach the multi-spectral concealment assembly 200 over a piece of equipment, along a building or other structure and the like. As with the multi-spectral concealment assembly 100 (e.g., the garment), the concealment assembly 200 can be constructed from one panel or multiple panels assembled together into the assembly 200. Each of the panels includes a panel perimeter and a web of garnish bands extending across the panel perimeter to accordingly facilitate the gathering of the bands into a configuration as shown in FIG. 2. The plurality of garnish bands provide a folded configuration and can break up the visible silhouette of the underlying object while at the same time also enhancing one or more of the concealment properties of the underlying material such as IR concealment, UV concealment or the like.

The multi-spectral concealment material making up a panel can be formed from a single layer or a laminate of two or more layers. In one example, the laminate includes two layers—one a thermally transparent visually opaque substrate including a polymeric material and a colorant and the other a thermally reflective layer including a low emissivity component. The laminate can be formed by coupling each of these layers together at one or more locations along a sheet or film of the material.

In one assembly and construction method, the multi-spectral concealment material is coupled with an underlying liner. With this method, for example, the overlying concealment material is gathered and bonded at one or more base locations (e.g., along the lengths of the garnish bands with the folds perpendicular to the length) to form the folds and the gathered appearance as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In one example, the gathers of each of the garnish bands is precisely monitored and controlled by way of a differential sewing process. A differential sewing process can be used on a single panel or all of the panels in an assembly to facilitate a consistent series of folds having a consistent configuration. Accordingly, the concealment properties (e.g., visual, IR and/or UV concealment properties) of the multi-spectral concealment material can be enhanced with the consistent gathering of the garnish bands as described herein.

FIG. 3 shows one example of a garnish panel 300 for instance a garnish panel used as a portion of the multi-spectral concealment assembly 100 shown in FIG. 1. The garnish panel 300 in this case is incorporated into the chest panel 108 also shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the garnish panel 300 includes a panel perimeter 302 extending around the garnish panel 300. While the invention is not so limited, the panel perimeter 302 in this example is substantially continuous. That is to say, the panel perimeter 302 is unbroken and accordingly provides a complete circuit of multi-spectral concealment material around the garnish panel 300.

As further shown in FIG. 3, a web 304 of a plurality of garnish bands 314 is provided within the panel perimeter 302. As shown the plurality of garnish bands 314 are in one example, cut into the garnish panel 300 in a spaced fashion relative to the exterior edge of the panel perimeter 302. Stated another way, each of the garnish bands 314 are in one example positioned within the web 304 away from the exterior edge of the panel perimeter 302 (corresponding to the edge of the garnish panel 300). Accordingly the garnish bands 314 are contained within the panel perimeter 302 and substantially constrained from detaching and tangling relative to one another (or with respect to the bands of adjacent panels). As shown in FIG. 3 a plurality of gaps 316 (e.g., formed by the cutting process that forms the garnish bands 314) are interposed between each of the garnish bands 314. As shown the garnish bands 314 extend from a first side 306 toward a second side 308. Additionally the garnish panel 300 includes a third and fourth side 310, 312.

As will be described herein, in one example a portion of the garnish panel 300 for instance the first side 306 serves as a leading edge that is fed into a differential sewing system. The garnish panel 300 is fed from the first side toward the second side 308 (e.g., substantially parallel to the lengths of the garnish bands 314). As the garnish panel 300 is fed into the differential sewing system the garnish panel 300 is gathered to form folds 301 perpendicular to the lengths of the garnish bands 314. The gathering of the garnish bands 314 into a plurality of gathers or folds 301 forms the broken silhouette appearance provided in FIGS. 1 and 2. As will be described herein, in one example, as the garnish panel (and the garnish bands 314) are gathered, the garnish panel is optionally coupled with an underlying liner to retain the gathered folds 301. For instance, the base of each of the folds is coupled (stitched, adhered or the like) to the liner to accordingly retain the folds 310 in the gathered configuration.

The configuration of the garnish bands 314 can vary depending on the application (e.g., based on the terrain, spectrum of energy or the like). The garnish bands 314 shown in FIG. 3, for example, have a substantially nonlinear configuration cut in a pattern that correspondingly provides the plurality of gaps 316 therebetween (e.g., shown as slits in FIG. 3). The pattern may, if desired, be consistent across the bands 314 to provider relatively consistent gaps 316 as shown.

Optionally, the garnish bands 314 include one or more bridges 318 extending between each of adjacent garnish bands 314. The bridges 318 can, for example, maintain the garnish bands 314 in an organized pattern within the panel perimeter 302. That is to say, the plurality of bridges 318 maintain portions of the garnish bands 314 for instance adjacent to each of the bridges 318 in an organized fashion and retain the garnish bands in the pattern shown in FIG. 3 until such time that gathering or folding of the garnish bands 314 is conducted. In another example, the bridges 318 facilitate the joining of portions of the garnish panel 300 with an underlying liner. For example, the bases of one or more of the folds 301 (at positions interposed between the folds and along the lengths of the garnish bands 314) are coupled with an underlying liner to retain the corresponding gathers or folds. This may be done by joining a portion of a single garnish band 314 to the liner and then using the bridges 318 to couple adjacent garnish bands 314 to the initial garnish band 314. Stated another way, the garnish band 314 coupled with the underlying liner (e.g., at the bases of one or more folds 301) anchors one or more adjacent garnish bands 314 by the bridges 318 interconnecting the bands.

Referring still to FIG. 3, the garnish panel 300 can be formed from a unitary piece of material such as a multi-spectral concealment material like those previously described. The sheet of material can be cut—using for instance laser cutting—along each of the garnish bands 314 in the pattern shown in FIG. 3. Cutting provides the gaps 316 and is interrupted to provide each of the bridges 318 between the garnish bands 314. In one example the gaps 316 correspond to slits through the material of the garnish panel 300. Where a plurality of garnish panels are constructed (for instance, by forming garnish panels with perimeters corresponding various body parts of the user such as the arms, legs, chest and head), each of the component panels can be formed with the plurality of garnish bands 314 extending in the manner of a web 304 across a panel perimeter 302.

By forming the panel 300 in this manner, the garnish bands 314 are substantially prevented from tangling with one another or becoming disarrayed through handling. Stated another way, each of the panels of a multi-spectral concealment assembly 100 (or 200) can be constructed in the manner of a panel 300 having a panel perimeter 302 and a plurality of garnish bands 314 extending as a web 304 across the garnish panel 300. In certain applications, multiple panels 300 can thereafter be assembled into a garment such as the assembly 100 shown in FIG. 1 or a sheet as shown with the assembly 200 in FIG. 2. That is to say, after assembly, the multi-spectral concealment assemblies 100 and 200 can include one or more garnish panels 300 coupled together to form the respective garment or sheet, with each of the panels including a panel perimeter 302 and a plurality of garnish bands 314 extending across the panel perimeter 302 from a first side 306 to a second side 308. Each of the garnish bands 314 are coupled with the opposed sides of the panel perimeter 302 to, for example, maintain the garnish bands 314 within the garnish panel 300 and further facilitate assembly of the garnish panels 300 into one or more of the corresponding assemblies 100, 200 shown herein.

Depending on the application, a garnish panel can be formed with different patterns along the outer edges of the garnish bands, different spacing between the bands and different stitching profiles across the garnish bands. This can, for example, provide different concealment properties to the panel. Variations are optionally provided within a single panel or between the panels in a multiple panel assembly. In the latter case, different panels can be made with different characteristics (e.g., different band edge patterns, different band spacing or different stitching) so that the assembly provides different concealment properties from panel to panel. In this way, for example, the assembly can be made to visually appear as something other than what is being concealed.

FIGS. 4A-C show a liner 400, the garnish panel 406 and the assembled panel 416 at various assembly stages. Beginning first with FIG. 4A, a liner 400 is shown in a laid flat configuration. The liner 400 extends from a liner leading edge 401 to a liner trailing edge 403 and has a liner length 402 and a liner width 404 defining the perimeter of the liner 400. As will be described in detail, the liner 400 can, for example, serve as the underlying substrate for the assembled panel 416. That is to say, a garnish panel such as the garnish panel 406 shown in FIG. 4B can be coupled over the liner 400 and joined thereto to form the assembled panel 416 while at the same time retaining the garnish bands 408 in a gathered configuration such as the configuration shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 4B, the garnish panel 406 is shown in a laid flat configuration prior to coupling with the liner 400. The garnish panel 406 extends from a panel leading edge 407 to a panel trailing edge 409. In the illustrated example, the panel leading edge 407 is mated with the liner leading edge 401 (shown in FIG. 4A) and the panel trailing edge 409 is mated with the liner trailing edge 403. The panel length and width relative to the liner can vary depending on the application and be more, less or the same. In the illustrated example of FIG. 4A, the ungathered panel length 412 of the garnish panel 406 is intentionally longer than the corresponding liner length 402 and the ungathered panel width 414 of the garnish panel 406 substantially matches the liner width 404 of the liner 400.

Still referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the garnish panel 406 is formed with the increased length relative to the liner 400 to accordingly allow for gathering of the plurality of garnish bands 408 along their length. Stated another way, as the garnish panel 406 is gathered—for instance during a differential sewing process—the garnish panel 406 is gradually shortened by the folds 301 and the panel trailing edge 409 (originally spaced from the liner trailing edge 403) is mated with the liner trailing edge 403. In one example, the garnish panel 406 has a length corresponding to the gathered panel length 418 (FIG. 4C) that is approximately 5 to 25% of its overall original ungathered length 412. In one example the garnish panel 406 when gathered 5 to 25 percent (e.g., shortened through gathering) relative to the ungathered panel length 412 enhances the concealment properties of the underlying multi-spectral concealment material. That is to say, one or more of the visibility concealment, IR concealment and UV concealment is optimized with the garnish panel 406 gathered approximately 5 to 25 percent (e.g., shortened as shown with the gathered panel length 418) relative to its ungathered panel length 412.

Referring now to FIG. 4C, the assembled panel 416 including the garnish panel 406 coupled to the liner 400 is shown. The assembled panel 416 includes the gathered garnish panel 406 (previously shown in an ungathered configuration in FIG. 4B) and the liner 400 with its leading edge 401 aligned with the panel leading edge 407 and its trailing edge 403 aligned with the panel trailing edge 409. The garnish panel 406, in the configuration shown in FIG. 4C, is gathered with its plurality of garnish bands 408 folded in a consistent and reliable fashion to form the gathered appearance provided in FIG. 4C (and also align the trailing edges 403, 409).

The gathering and joining may, as previously described, be provided by a differential sewing mechanism. The use of a differential sewing technique reliably gathers the garnish panel 406 (and the garnish bands 408) as the garnish panel 406 and the liner 400 are gradually joined and can shorten the ungathered panel length 412 (FIG. 4B) to the gathered panel length 418 (FIG. 4C). Accordingly, during assembly, the garnish panel 406 transitions from the configuration shown in FIG. 4B to that shown in FIG. 4C having a gathered panel length 418 corresponding substantially to the liner length 402.

Optionally, a garnish panel such as a garnish panel for the chest, arms, legs or the like can be made with more or less gathering to account for movement of the underlying user. For instance with the legs 106 shown in FIG. 1, in one example more gathering of the garnish panel 406 can be provided, for instance, in the areas of the garnish panel associated with the seat and front of the knees (and if desired, less gathering in the panel areas which will lie behind the knees to prevent excessive bunching of material). Accordingly, upon gathering the knees and seat are gathered, e.g., in a consistent fashion, across the garnish panel and the additional material provided at the knees and the seat provides room for movement of the user. Stated another way, with one or more of the components of a multi-spectral concealment assembly (e.g., assembly 100 or 200) corresponding to joints, areas of the body or areas of equipment that need additional flexibility the corresponding garnish panel is accordingly enlarged while the remainder of the garnish panel is either enlarged to a lesser extent or not enlarged relative to the corresponding liner. Accordingly, upon gathering of the garnish panel and coupling with the underlying liner room is left at each of the joints to facilitate mobility and flexibility of the multi-spectral concealment assembly 100, 200 at each of those joints.

As further shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, the liner 400 has a corresponding liner width 404, the garnish panel 406 has a corresponding ungathered panel width 414 and the assembled panel 416 has a gathered panel width 420. In one example, where the plurality of garnish panels 408 extend in a substantially transverse fashion to the respective widths 404, 414, 420, the widths are substantially unchanged between each of the configurations shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C. That is to say, because gathering occurs in a substantially linear fashion along each of the garnish bands 408 (e.g., with the folds extending perpendicular to the length as shown in FIG. 3) the gathered configuration for instance shown in the assembled panel 416 has a substantially identical width 420 to the ungathered panel width 414 as well as the liner width 404. Accordingly in at least one example the garnish panel 406 has an enlarged configuration along a single axis for instance along the ungathered panel length 412.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic example of a differential sewing station 500. As previously described herein, garnish panels, such as the garnish panel 406, include a plurality of garnish bands retained within a panel perimeter and gathered and joined with an underlying liner (e.g., liner 400). The differential sewing station 500 provides a consolidated mechanism to gather and join a garnish panel to a liner in substantially a single step.

In an exemplary process, the differential sewing station 500 receives a garnish panel 502 (in an ungathered configuration) and a liner 504 with a differential dividing member 506 interposed between each of the fed garnish panel 502 and the fed liner 504. The dividing member 506 typically lies proximal to a panel liner interface 508 and facilitates sliding of the panel relative to the liner. In particular, the dividing member 506 can, for example, separate the garnish panel 502 and the liner 504 from one another prior to engagement at the panel liner interface 508. In addition, the fed portion of the garnish panel 502 and the fed portion of the liner 504 may be moved at different rates for instance with a corresponding garnish panel feed dog 522 and a liner feed dog 520.

In an exemplary process, the garnish panel 502 and the liner 504 meet at the panel liner interface 508 prior to joining for instance, by way of stitching with a needle 524. The needle 524 can, for example, join the garnish panel 502 to the liner 504 while at the same time cooperating with one or more feed dogs (e.g., garnish panel feed dog 522 and a liner feed dog 520) to gather the garnish panel 502 into a plurality of garnish folds 510 (e.g., parallel to the fold 301 lines shown in FIG. 3) and allow the stitching of the garnish folds 510 in place at one or more bases of the folds 510 corresponding to the garnish panel first location 512 and the garnish panel second location 514.

The differential sewing station 500, in one example, includes a separate garnish panel feed dog 522 and a liner feed dog 520 configured to interact with the garnish panel 502 and the liner 504, respectively. The garnish panel feed dog 522 moves the garnish panel 502 over top of the liner 504 (e.g., relative movement) at the panel liner interface 508. The garnish panel feed dog 522 and the liner feed dog 520 may further include one or more of coated surfaces or materials having low coefficients of friction on the engagement feet to mitigate damage to the material surface (for instance, of the garnish panel 502).

In one example, the liner feed dog 520 moves at a second feeding rate while the garnish panel feed dog 522 moves at a first feeding rate greater than the second feeding rate of the liner feed dog 520. The difference between the feed rates accordingly allows the garnish panel feed dog 522 to fold the garnish panel 502 into the plurality of garnish folds 510 as shown in FIG. 5. The garnish folds 510 correspond to the gathering of the plurality of garnish bands as previously described herein (e.g., the folds 301). For instance, as the garnish panel feed dog 522 moves at a higher rate than that of the liner feed dog 520, the garnish panel feed dog 522 pulls a portion of the garnish panel 502 into the folded configuration shown in FIG. 5.

The process of folding can be illustrated with reference to the stitched garnish panel 502 with garnish folds 510 shown to the left of the needle 524. During the stitching process, the needle 524 first sews the garnish panel 502 to the liner 504 at a garnish panel first location 512 corresponding to a liner first location 516. As stitching continues, the garnish panel 502 is pulled into the garnish fold 510 and the needle 524 continues to stitch the garnish panel 502 to the liner 504 at a garnish panel second location 514 corresponding to a liner second location 518. The difference in feed rates between the panel 502 and liner 504 generates the garnish folds 510. Typically, the difference between the feed rates of the two feed dogs 520 and 522 remains constant during the stitching of a panel to provide a consistent generation of garnish folds 510. In other applications, the feed rates can be varied during the course of stitching a panel to create different spacing between the folds 510.

The differential sewing station 500 can, for example, by moving the garnish panel 502 at a rate different than that of the liner 504, generate the garnish folds 510 (e.g. gather the garnish panel 502) and at the same time join the garnish panel 502 to the liner 504 in a single consolidated step. The differential sewing station 500 joins the garnish panel 502 to the liner 504 at a garnish panel first location 512 and a liner first location 516 with this interface corresponding to a base of one the garnish folds 510. As described above, the feed dogs 520, 522 gather the garnish panel 502 relative to the first locations 512, 516 through varied feed rates. Thereafter, the needle 524 working with the feed dogs 520, 522 forms a second base of the garnish fold 510 by joining the garnish panel 502 to the liner 504 at the garnish panel second location 514 to the corresponding liner second location 518.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a block diagram illustrating one example of a method 600 for assembling a multi-spectral concealment assembly (such as the assemblies 100, 200 previously shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided. In describing the method 600, reference is made to features previously described herein including numbered references. The reference to these features is done for convenience and is not intended to be limiting. Instead numbered references are provided for convenience and further include any similar features and their equivalents.

At 600, a garnish panel such as the garnish panel 502 of a multi-spectral concealment material is fed to a sewing station such as the differential sewing station 500 at a first feeding rate. The garnish panel 502 includes a panel perimeter 410 and a web of garnish bands 408 separated by gaps spanning the panel perimeter 410. At 604, a liner such as the liner 504 is fed to the sewing station such as a differential sewing station 500 at a second feeding rate where the first feeding rate of the garnish panel 502 is greater than the second feeding rate of the liner 504. In one example the garnish panel 502 and the liner 504 are fed by corresponding feed dogs such as the garnish panel feed dog 522 and liner feed dog 520 shown in FIG. 5.

At 606, the method 600 includes joining the garnish panel 502 with the liner 504 at a panel liner interface 508. Joining of the garnish panel with the liner includes for instance fixing a garnish panel first location 512 at a liner first location 516 with the sewing station using, for example, the needle 524 of the differential sewing station 500 at step 608. Joining further includes gathering the garnish panel 502 into a garnish fold 510 at the garnish panel first location 512 with the spacing between garnish folds 510 being a function of a difference between the first and second feeding rates of the garnish panel 502 and the liner 504 (in one example the differing feeding rates are provided by the corresponding feed dogs 522, 520). At 612, joining of the garnish panel 502 with the liner 504 includes fixing a garnish panel second location 514 with a liner second location 518 with the differential sewing station 500 using, for instance, the needle 524. In this way, a garnish fold 510 extends between the first and second garnish panel locations 512, 514 and accordingly the corresponding first and second liner locations 516, 518.

Several options for the method 600 follow. In one example, gathering the garnish panel 502 into the garnish fold 510 includes gathering each of the garnish bands such as the garnish bands 408 shown in FIG. 4B of the web into the garnish fold 510 and the garnish fold 510 extends across each of the garnish bands 408. Accordingly, in one example each of the gathers or folds of the garnish bands 408 extends across adjacent garnish bands 408 to accordingly form a row of folds (e.g., as also indicated by the fold 301 lines in FIG. 3) along the garnish panel 406 as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C. In another example, gathering each of the garnish bands 408 includes gathering each of a plurality of nonlinear garnish bands such as the nonlinear garnish bands shown in FIG. 4B and previously shown in FIG. 3.

Optionally, joining of the garnish panel 502 with the liner 504 is repeated at a plurality of locations between the garnish panel and the liner and the plurality of garnish folds are gathered between the plurality of locations. In still another example feeding the garnish panel at the first feeding rate includes cycling a garnish panel feed dog 522 at the first feeding rate corresponding to a first frequency of engagement with the garnish panel 502 and a first engagement travel of the garnish panel feed dog 522. In still another example feeding the liner 504 at the second feeding rate includes cycling a liner feed dog 520. The second feeding rate of the liner feed dog 520 corresponds to a second frequency of engagement with the liner 504 and a second engagement travel of the liner feed dog 520. One or both of the second frequency of engagement or the second engagement travel are less than the respective first frequency of engagement and the first engagement travel. As previously described herein, in one example the length of the garnish folds 410 is determined according to the difference of the first feeding rate relative to the second feeding rate.

In another example, the method 600 includes isolating the fed garnish panel 502 from the fed liner 504 upstream from the panel interface 508 with a differential dividing member 506, as shown for instance in FIG. 5. The differential dividing member 506 is interposed between the fed garnish panel 502 and the fed liner 504. The panel liner interface 508 is adjacent to an end of the differential dividing member immediately preceding the joining feature of the differential sewing station 500 for instance the needle 524. As shown in FIG. 5 in one example the fed garnish panel 502 is translated along a first surface of the differential feeding member 507. Feeding the liner 504 correspondingly includes translating the fed liner 504 along a second surface 509 of the differential dividing member 506.

In another example, fixing the garnish panel first location 512 at the liner first location 516 includes stitching the garnish panel first location to the liner first location. Similarly, fixing the garnish panel second location 514 at the liner second location 518 includes stitching the garnish panel second location to the liner second location. In yet another example, the garnish panel (whether at the first location or the second location) is joined with the corresponding first or second location of the liner with one or more of a rivet, adhesive, mechanical fitting or the like as opposed to a stitch provided by the needle 524.

Gathering the garnish panel into the fold 510 includes moving the garnish panel first location 512, the garnish panel 502 and the liner distal to the garnish panel first location 512 at the second feeding rate. Conversely, the garnish panel 502 proximal to the garnish panel first location 512 is moved at the first feeding rate for instance the accelerated feeding rate provided by the garnish panel feed dog 522. The garnish fold length 510 is based on the difference between the first and second feed rates. Stated another way, the garnish panel downstream from the garnish panel first location 512 including for instance the liner 504 coupled thereto is moved at the second slower feeding rate while that portion of the garnish panel upstream from the first location (and accordingly not yet coupled with the liner 504) is moved at the second faster rate to accordingly form the garnish fold 510 shown in FIG. 5. The garnish fold 510 is formed by the difference between the first and second feeding rates according to this differential movement.

Optionally, joining the garnish panel 502 with the liner 504 is repeated with a plurality of garnish panels and a plurality of liners to form a plurality of corresponding garment panels. The method 600 further includes coupling the plurality of garment panels together to form a garment such as the multi-spectral concealment assembly 100 shown in FIG. 1. In another example, a plurality of garnish panels are coupled together for instance to form the multi-spectral concealment assembly 200 such as a tarp, sheet or the like as shown in FIG. 2. As previously described herein, forming the garnish folds 510 enhances one or more concealment characteristics of the multi-spectral concealment material, including one or more of visible concealment, IR concealment, UV concealment or the like.

In still another example, the garnish panel 406 includes a panel leading edge 406, a panel trailing edge 409 and a fed garnish panel length 412 (ungathered as shown in FIG. 4B) and the liner 400 includes a corresponding liner leading edge 401, a liner trailing edge 403 and a fed liner length 402 shorter than the ungathered panel length 412. That is to say, the ungathered panel length 412 of the garnish panel 406 is greater than the liner length 402. With this arrangement of the liner 400 and the garnish panel 406, the method 600 further comprises mating the panel leading edge 407 of the garnish panel 406 with the liner leading edge 401 of the liner 400. The panel trailing edge 409 is mated with the liner trailing edge 403 based on a difference between the fed ungathered panel length 412 of the garnish panel 406 and the fed liner length 402. That is to say, the difference between the first and second feeding rates (and the corresponding garnish folds 510 formed by the difference) draws up the garnish panel 406 to a length substantially the same as the liner length 402.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the gathered panel length of the assembled panel 416 corresponds to the liner length 402 and is shorter than the ungathered panel length 412 of the garnish panel 406. For example, the differential sewing described herein is conducted with first and second feed rates to accordingly provide between a 5 and 25 percent reduction in the garnish panel 406 length as it is gathered (folded) and joined with the liner 400. The ungathered panel length 412 is chosen to ensure that the garnish panel, when gathered, aligns the panel trailing edge 409 with the liner trailing edge 403.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the multi-spectral laminate sheet 700 lying on a sheet platform 710 during a laser cutting process using a laser cutter 712. It should be appreciated, however, that other cutting techniques can be used and that cutting process is not limited to the use of lasers. The multi-spectral laminate sheet 700 includes a plurality plies 702 separated from one another by isolation sheets 704 to form a stack. For instance as shown in FIG. 7, at least one isolation sheet 704 is provided between each of the plies 702. The multi-spectral laminate sheet 700, in one example, includes a plurality of layers (e.g., two or more such as 700A, B) for instance an opaque polymeric layer 700B and a thermally reflective layer 700A positioned there over.

In one example cutting of the sheet laminate frays the edges of the laminate and accordingly allows for delamination of one or more of the layers relative to the other layers of the multi-spectral laminate sheet 700. In use, the laser cutter 712 cuts the multi-spectral laminate sheet 700 through the plies 702. During the cutting process, the laser cutter 712 sears the edges of the multi-spectral laminate sheet 700 and cuts the sheet 700 to form a garnish panel (such as the garnish panel 300 shown in FIG. 3). Additionally, the laser cutter 712 can further cut the garnish bands 314 and sear the edges of the garnish bands corresponding to the gaps 316 (previously shown in FIG. 3). By using the laser cutter 712, the edges are readily fused and delamination of the multi-spectral laminate sheet 700 (including wear, abrasion and the like along the edges) can be substantially minimized.

When multiple plies 702 of the multi-spectral laminate sheet 700 are stacked and cut using a laser cutter, for example, fusing between the plies 702 may occur. The interposing isolation sheet, such as the isolation sheet 704 shown in FIG. 7, prevents fusing between the edges of adjacent ply 702. The isolation sheets 704 interposed between the plies 702 form an isolating barrier between each of the plies 702 and prevent or minimize fusing of the edges of adjacent plies 702. That is to say, the searing provided by the laser cutter 712 is localized to each of the plies 702 and does not extend from one ply to an adjacent ply.

The laser cutter 712 can cut through the stack of plies 702 and accordingly generate a plurality of stacked garnish panels bounded, for instance, by the panel perimeter edges 706 shown in FIG. 7. Stated another way, looking down on the stack of plies 702 (as opposed to the side view), the laser cutter 712 cuts along a pattern (e.g., a computer implemented pattern) for one or more garnish panels. The garnish panels cut with the laser cutter 712 are thereby provided in a consistent stacked configuration with the number of panels corresponding to the number of plies 702 in the stack. Additionally, the laser cutter 712 can be used to form the garnish bands 314 also shown in FIG. 3 and corresponding to the garnish band edges 708 shown in FIG. 7. Stated another way, the laser cutter 712 cuts the slits in the panels corresponding to the gaps 316 shown in FIG. 3. The laser cutter 712 can cut through multiple plies 702 at the same time to form multiple garnish panels of the same shape. Also, different sections of the same laminate sheet may be cut differently to form different panels from the same laminate. For instance, each of the garnish panels used in the construction of the assembly 100 are plotted on one or more plies 702, and the laser cutter 712 cuts each of the panels for the assembly 100 from each ply.

In one example, the plies 702 are stacked two or more plies 702 deep. In another example, the plies are stacked in a configuration of 2 to 20 plies deep. The laser cutter 712 can cut through the plies 702 and the interposed isolation sheets 704 and generate one or more garnish panels 300 from each laminate sheet 700 of plies 702.

After the laser cutter 712 is finished cutting each of the panel perimeter edges 706 and the garnish band edges 708 corresponding to the gaps 316 (along with searing and fusing along each of the edges), the remainder of the material of the multi-spectral laminate sheet 700 is removed to leave a stack of aligned garnish panels having a consistent size and shape configured for easy use for instance in a sewing mechanism such as the differential sewing station 500 shown in FIG. 5 and described in the description of the method 600 and shown in FIG. 6.

The characteristics of the isolation sheet 704 may vary depending on the application as well. By way of example and not of limitation, the isolation sheet 704 can be a paper material such as a high yield separating paper. Typically, the isolation sheet 704 is interposed between the plies 702 during stacking of the plies on top of one another. For instance, the isolation sheet 704 is placed on top of an individual ply 702 as the ply is positioned in a stack. An isolation sheet 704 of high yield separating paper can prevent slippage of the ply 702 and has a strong tensile strength but is otherwise lightweight. The isolation sheet 704 may further have sufficient porosity to enable the vacuum drawing down of the stack of plies 702 and isolation sheets 704 against the sheet platform 710 and to facilitate accurate cutting with the laser cutter 712.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram illustrating one example of a method 800 for manufacturing a multi-spectral concealment laminate sheet such as the sheet 700 shown in FIG. 7. In describing the method 800 reference is made to features and elements previously described herein including numbered references. These references are not intended to be limiting. Instead numbered references are provided for convenience as the method can be used in other applications. The features described herein (numbered and unnumbered) include any similar features and their equivalents. At

802, the method 800 includes stacking the multiple spectral camouflage sheet laminate 700 into a plurality of plies 702. For instance, as shown in FIG. 7, the plies 702 are separated sheets of a multi-spectral laminate sheet 700 stacked one on top of the other to form a stack of plies 702. In another example, the multi-spectral laminate sheet 700 is unrolled from a spool and layered over itself in multiple passes to form the stack of plies 702.

At 804, an isolation sheet (e.g., isolation sheets 704) is interposed between one or more of the plies 702. That is to say an isolation sheet 704 is provided between each of the plies 702 to accordingly isolate each of the adjacent plies 702 from other adjacent plies. The optional isolation sheet may be positioned by placing a sheet of isolation material over a sheet of ply material (or a layer of ply material if unrolled). Alternatively, a roll formed from ply material and isolation material may be unrolled and layered over itself in multiple passes.

At 806, the method 800 includes laser cutting garnish panels (such as the garnish panel 300 shown in FIG. 3) from each of the plurality of plies 702 at the same time to form multiple garnish panels of a consistent, similar shape. For instance, the laser cutter 712 is configured to laser cut each of the plurality of plies 702 in the stack. Laser cutting of each of the garnish panels 300 includes forming a panel perimeter 302 extending around the garnish panel 300 (at step 808). At 810, laser cutting cuts the pattern of the web into the plies 702. For instance, laser cutting forms cuts, gaps or slits corresponding to the gaps 316 shown in FIG. 3. The cut gaps 316 form the garnish bands 314 in each of the garnish panels, thereby accordingly forming the web 304. Turning again to FIG. 3, in one example, the web 304 extends between portions of the panel perimeter 302. The garnish bands 314 extend from a first side 306 to a second side 308 and a plurality of gaps 316 are positioned between each of the garnish bands 314. At 812, laser cutting of the garnish panels 300 includes searing the garnish panels 300 along their respective edges of the panel perimeter 302 and the plurality of garnish bands, for instance at the gaps 316 shown in FIG. 3.

The method 800 further includes isolating the searing provided by the laser cutting along the edges of the garnish panels 300 from searing along edges of another garnish panel 300 of another adjacent ply 702 of the plurality of plies 702 by way of the isolation sheet 704. That is to say, the isolation sheet 704 substantially prevents the fusing of adjacent plies 702 during a laser cutting process. Accordingly, a plurality of plies 702 stacked together are cut with the laser cutter 712 to provide a series of separated garnish panels 300 (or other garnish panels having other shapes) that are easily separated and accordingly formed into one or more of the garment panel sheets for the like as described herein for instance when provided to a differential sewing station such as the sewing station 500 shown in FIG. 5.

Several options for the method 800 follow. In one example, searing includes, searing each garnish panel 300 along edges of both its perimeter 302 and the plurality of garnish bands 314. Searing with plies 702 of two or more layers can further include fusing the layers 700A, B of a ply 702 together at the edges (e.g., along the panel perimeter edges 706 and the garnish band edges 708 shown for instance in FIG. 7). In another example, isolating the searing along the edges of a garnish panel 300 from searing along edges of another garnish panel includes localizing searing to each ply (and thus each garnish panel) without searing adjacently stacked plies 702 (and thus adjacent garnish panels) together. For instance in the example shown in FIG. 7, each of the plurality of plies 702 includes one or more garnish panels thereon. The method 800 isolates a first garnish panel for instance on a first ply 702 from an underlying or overlying garnish panel provided on another ply 702.

In yet another example, laser cutting the garnish panels such as the garnish panels 300 includes laser cutting at least one garnish panel from each of the plurality of plies 702 at the same time. That is to say, with the laser cutter 712, a plurality of garnish panels (separated by the isolation sheet 704) are cut in a single cutting procedure with the laser cutter 712, for instance by penetrating each of the plies 702 as well as the interposed isolation sheets 704. In another example, laser cutting the garnish panels includes laser cutting a plurality of garnish panels from each of the plurality of plies 702. Stated another way, the multi-spectral laminate sheet 700 is in one example patterned to include a plurality of garnish panels thereon oriented in a manner to maximize the amount of material usable from each of the multi-spectral laminate sheets 700 (e.g., the plies 702). Accordingly, a plurality of garnish panels are cut from each of the plies 702 and formed into separate stacks on the sheet platform 710. Furthermore, the method 800 includes removing excess material, for instance material cut away by the laser cutting process from the plurality of plies 702, after the laser cutting process. In this manner, a stack of garnish panels such as the garnish panels 300 can be made with consistent configurations in a number corresponding to the number of plies 702. Elsewhere, on the same laminate sheet 700, laser cutting may be used to form a stack of garnish panels of the same or different configuration, to maximize use of the laminate sheet material.

In still another example forming the web of the garnish panels includes forming a plurality of bridges 318 between adjacent garnish bands 314 of each of the plurality of garnish panels 300 (e.g., each garnish panel 300 includes its own web of garnish bands 314 coupled with the bridges 318). Each of the plurality of bridges 318 are spaced from the panel perimeter 302 or are between the gaps 316. As previously described, the plurality of bridges 318 ensure the organization of the garnish panels 314 within the web 304 and further within the panel perimeter 302 of each of the garnish panels 300. Stated another way, by providing the bridges 318 each of the adjacent garnish bands 314 is retained in an organized fashion within the garnish panel 300 prior to joining with an underlying liner during a joining process (e.g., with the differential sewing station 500 previously described herein). In yet another example, the method 800 includes forming the web with a plurality of nonlinear garnish bands 314, for instance as shown in FIG. 3. In one example the garnish bands 314 have a nonlinear configuration and accordingly the laser cutter 712 shown in FIG. 7 is used to pattern the nonlinear garnish bands 314 including the optional bridges 318 on each of the multi-spectral laminate sheets 700 for instance the plies 702 stacked in the configuration shown in FIG. 7.

Various Notes & Examples

Example 1 can include a multi-spectral concealment assembly comprising: one or more garnish panels constructed with a multi-spectral concealment material, each of the one or more garnish panels including: a panel perimeter extending around the garnish panel, the panel perimeter including opposed sides spaced from each other; and a web spanning the panel perimeter, the web including: a plurality of garnish bands extending from at least one opposed side to another opposed side of the panel perimeter, and a plurality of gaps, and one or more gaps of the plurality of gaps are positioned between each of the garnish bands.

Example 2 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Example 1, to optionally include wherein the garnish panel is constructed with the multi-spectral concealment material providing two or more of visibility concealment, IR concealment or UV concealment.

Example 3 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1 or 2 to optionally include one or more liners, each of the one or more liners including: a liner length and a liner width, the garnish panel having an ungathered panel length and an ungathered panel width, and at least one of the ungathered panel length or width is greater than the respective liner length or width; wherein each of the one or more garnish panels is coupled with a respective one of the one or more liners with the plurality of garnish bands gathered, and the garnish panel has one or more of a gathered panel length and a gathered panel width, and each of the gathered panel length and width correspond to the respective liner length and width.

Example 4 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1 through 3 to optionally include wherein the gathered plurality of garnish bands include one or more folds along the length of each garnish band, the folds including bases, and the plurality of garnish bands are coupled with the liner at the bases.

Example 5 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1-4 to optionally include wherein each of the one or more garnish panels coupled with the respective one or more liners are coupled together to form a multi-spectral camouflage garment.

Example 6 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-5 to optionally include wherein the adjacent garnish bands of the plurality of garnish bands are coupled at one or more locations along the plurality of gaps with one or more bridges spaced from the panel perimeter.

Example 7 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-6 to optionally include wherein the garnish panel including the panel perimeter and the web are constructed with a unitary piece of the multi-spectral concealment material.

Example 8 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-7 to optionally include wherein the panel perimeter continuously extends around the web.

Example 9 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-8 to optionally include wherein the plurality of gaps includes one or more slits formed in the web.

Example 10 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-9 to optionally include wherein the one or more garnish bands of the plurality of garnish bands extends non-linearly from the at least one opposed side to the other opposed side.

Example 11 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-10 to optionally include a method for assembling a multi-spectral concealment assembly comprising: feeding a garnish panel of a multi-spectral concealment material to a sewing station at a first feeding rate, the garnish panel including a panel perimeter and a web of garnish bands separated by gaps spanning the panel perimeter; feeding a liner to the sewing station at a second feeding rate, the first feeding rate greater than the second feeding rate; and joining the garnish panel with the liner at a panel-liner interface, joining including: fixing a garnish panel first location of the garnish panel at a liner first location of the liner with the sewing station, gathering the garnish panel into a garnish fold beginning at the garnish panel first location and based on a difference between the first and second feeding rates, and fixing a garnish panel second location at a liner second location with the sewing station, the fold extending between the first and second garnish panel locations.

Example 12 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-11 to optionally include wherein gathering the garnish panel into the garnish fold includes gathering each of the garnish bands of the web into the garnish fold, and the garnish fold extends across each of the garnish bands.

Example 13 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-12 to optionally include wherein gathering each of the garnish bands includes gathering each of a plurality of non-linear garnish bands.

Example 14 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-13 to optionally include wherein feeding the garnish panel at the first feeding rate includes rotating a garnish panel feeding dog, the first feeding rate corresponding to a first frequency of engagement with the garnish panel and a first engagement travel of the garnish panel feeding dog.

Example 15 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-14 to optionally include wherein feeding the liner at the second feeding rate includes rotating a liner feeding dog, the second feeding rate corresponding to a second frequency of engagement with the liner and a second engagement travel of the liner feeding dog, and one or both of the second frequency of engagement or the second engagement travel are less than the respective first frequency of engagement and the first engagement travel.

Example 16 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-15 to optionally include isolating the fed garnish panel from the fed liner with a differential dividing member interposed between the fed garnish panel and the fed liner, and the panel-liner interface is adjacent to an end of the differential dividing member.

Example 17 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-16 to optionally include wherein feeding the garnish panel includes translating the fed garnish panel along a first surface of the differential dividing member, and feeding the liner includes translating the fed liner along a second surface of the differential dividing member.

Example 18 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-17 to optionally include wherein fixing the garnish panel first location at the liner first location includes stitching the garnish panel first location to the liner first location, and fixing the garnish panel second location at the liner second location includes stitching the garnish panel second location to the liner second location.

Example 19 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-18 to optionally include wherein gathering the garnish panel into the fold includes: moving the garnish panel first location, the garnish panel and the liner distal to the garnish panel first location at the second feeding rate, and moving the garnish panel proximal to the garnish panel first location at the first feeding rate, a garnish fold length based on the difference between the first and second feeding rates.

Example 20 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-19 to optionally include wherein joining the garnish panel with the liner is repeated with a plurality of garnish panels and a plurality of liners to form a plurality of garment panels, and the method comprises coupling the plurality of garment panels together to form a garment.

Example 21 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-20 to optionally include repeating joining of the garnish panel with the liner at a plurality of locations between the garnish panel and the liner and accordingly gathering a corresponding plurality of garnish folds between the plurality of locations.

Example 22 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-21 to optionally include wherein gathering the corresponding plurality of garnish folds includes enhancing at least an IR concealment characteristic of the multi-spectral camouflage material.

Example 23 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-22 to optionally include wherein the garnish panel has a leading garnish panel edge, a trailing garnish panel edge and a fed garnish panel length, and the liner has a leading liner edge, a trailing liner edge and a fed liner length, and the fed garnish panel length is greater than the fed liner length, and

the method comprises: mating the leading garnish panel edge with the leading liner edge, and mating the trailing garnish panel edge with the trailing liner edge based on a difference between the fed garnish panel length and the fed liner length corresponding to the difference between the first and second feeding rates.

Example 24 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-23 to optionally include a method for cutting multiple plies of a multi-spectral concealment sheet laminate comprising: stacking the multi-spectral camouflage sheet laminate into a plurality of plies; interposing an isolation sheet between each ply of the plurality of plies; and laser cutting garnish panels having a consistent configuration from each of the plurality of plies at the same time, laser cutting including in each of the garnish panels: forming a panel perimeter extending around the garnish panel, forming a web including a plurality of garnish bands separated by gaps spanning the panel perimeter, searing the garnish panel along edges of both the panel perimeter and the plurality of garnish bands, and isolating the searing along the edges of the garnish panel from searing along edges of another garnish panel of another adjacent ply of the plurality of plies with the isolation sheet.

Example 25 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-24 to optionally include wherein the multi-spectral camouflage sheet laminate includes a plurality of layers, and searing the garnish panel along edges of both the panel perimeter and the plurality of garnish panels includes fusing the plurality of layers together at the edges.

Example 26 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-25 to optionally include wherein isolating the searing along the edges of the garnish panel form searing along edges of another garnish panel includes localizing searing to the respective garnish panels of each of the plurality of plies.

Example 27 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-26 to optionally include wherein stacking the multi-spectral concealment sheet laminate into a plurality of plies includes stacking the multi-spectral concealment sheet laminate into two or more plies.

Example 28 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-27 to optionally include wherein stacking the multi-spectral concealment sheet laminate into a plurality of plies includes stacking the multi-spectral concealment sheet laminate into between two or twenty plies.

Example 29 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-28 to optionally include wherein laser cutting garnish panels includes laser cutting at least one garnish panel from each of the plurality of plies at the same time.

Example 30 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-29 to optionally include wherein laser cutting garnish panels includes laser cutting a plurality of garnish panels in each of the plurality of plies at the same time.

Example 31 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-30 to optionally include removing excess material from the plurality of plies after laser cutting, and forming a stack of garnish panels with the consistent configuration corresponding to a number of plies of the plurality of plies.

Example 32 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-31 to optionally include wherein forming the web includes forming a plurality of bridges between adjacent garnish bands of the plurality of garnish bands, each of the plurality of bridges are spaced from the panel perimeter and between the gaps.

Example 33 can include, or can optionally be combined with the subject matter of Examples 1-32 to optionally include wherein forming the web including the plurality of garnish bands includes forming the web with non-linear garnish bands.

Each of these non-limiting examples can stand on its own, or can be combined in any permutation or combination with any one or more of the other examples.

The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, the present inventors also contemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein.

In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and any documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in this document controls. In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.

Method examples described herein can be machine or computer-implemented at least in part. Some examples can include a computer-readable medium or machine-readable medium encoded with instructions operable to configure an electronic device to perform methods as described in the above examples. An implementation of such methods can include code, such as microcode, assembly language code, a higher-level language code, or the like. Such code can include computer readable instructions for performing various methods. The code may form portions of computer program products. Further, in an example, the code can be tangibly stored on one or more volatile, non-transitory, or non-volatile tangible computer-readable media, such as during execution or at other times. Examples of these tangible computer-readable media can include, but are not limited to, hard disks, removable magnetic disks, removable optical disks (e.g., compact disks and digital video disks), magnetic cassettes, memory cards or sticks, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description as examples or embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

MULTI-SPECTRAL CAMOFLAGE ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME

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