Methods for increasing a camouflaging effect and articles so produced

Abstract

Methods and articles so produced for increasing the camouflaging effect of any camouflaging pattern, the invention relates to the coating of at least portions of a camouflaging pattern disposed on an article with a material capable of different chromic states at different ambient light levels. Materials employed to produce color changes in the camouflaging pattern include light and/or heat sensitive dyes and/or inks and particularly photochromic materials capable of reversible color changes. At least portions of camouflaging patterns modified according to the invention change color, typically from a color in the original camouflaging pattern to a different color or from a first shade of a given color to a second shade of that same color, on exposure to sunlight either of a more direct nature or a greater intensity, the color change being reversed in whole or in part by a return of ambient light conditions toward or to a given set of original light conditions. Since lighting conditions, especially direct sunlight, can cause thermal changes, materials capable of reversible alteration in chromic state due to heat changes also find utility in the methods of the invention.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.