Methods and apparel for attenuating electromagnetic fields emanating from a hunter

• US 8,188,452 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Human Energy Concealment Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Human Energy Concealment Systems LLC
• Inventors: Slinkard, Michael D., Maupin, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanore, David A
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMYTH, ANDREW P
• Application Number:
  US12/347,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20110072550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 250/516.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/025 Hunting blinds, i.e. camouflage
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/02 Overalls , e.g. bodysuits or bib overalls sweating suits A61H36/00
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/108 Hunting
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/32 Retroreflective

Abstract

Attenuating, while hunting or observing wildlife, one'"'"'s own emanated electromagnetic field by wearing apparel that includes an electromagnetically shielding fabric. The shielding fabric comprises a substantially continuous system of conductive fibers combined with non-conductive fabric. Or attenuating, while a hunter is hunting or an observer is observing wildlife, the electromagnetic field emanated by the hunter or observer, by (i) providing to the hunter or observer apparel that includes the electromagnetically shielding fabric, and (ii) instructing the hunter or observer to wear it while hunting or observing wildlife, respectively. The attenuation of the emanated electromagnetic field decreases the likelihood of detection by an animal. A wearable article of apparel comprises the electromagnetically shielding fabric, and can also comprise one or both of (i) a visual camouflage pattern on at least a portion of the its outer surface, or (ii) an odor absorber, suppressant, attenuator, or blocker.

Claims

1. A method comprising attenuating, while hunting for or observing non-human wildlife, one'"'"'s own emanated electromagnetic field by wearing at least one article of apparel that includes an electromagnetically shielding fabric, which shielding fabric comprises a substantially continuous system of conductive fibers combined with a non-conductive fabric and attenuates the emanated electromagnetic field at frequencies less than about 1 gigahertz, wherein said attenuating of one'"'"'s own emanated electromagnetic field at frequencies less than about 1 gigahertz decreases the likelihood of detection by a non-human animal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the conductive fibers are intermingled with non-conductive fibers that form the non-conducting fabric.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the conductive fibers are applied to a surface of the non-conducting fabric.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one said article of apparel comprises an article of clothing, footwear, headwear, or eyewear.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one said article of apparel includes a visual camouflage pattern on at least a portion of its outer surface.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one said article of apparel includes an odor absorber, suppressant, attenuator, or blocker.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the shielding fabric includes between about 2% and about 35% by weight of the conductive fibers.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the conductive fibers comprises stainless steel fibers.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the conductive fibers comprise copper, silver, conductive ceramic, conductive polymer, or conductive nanotubes.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said attenuating of one'"'"'s own emanated electromagnetic field at frequencies less than about 1 megahertz decreases the likelihood of detection by the non-human animal.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said attenuating of one'"'"'s own emanated electromagnetic field at frequencies less than about 1 kilohertz decreases the likelihood of detection by the non-human animal.

10. A method comprising attenuating, while a user is hunting for or observing non-human wildlife, the user'"'"'s emanated electromagnetic field by:

providing to the user at least one article of apparel that includes an electromagnetically shielding fabric, which shielding fabric comprises a substantially continuous system of conductive fibers combined with a non-conductive fabric and attenuates the emanated electromagnetic field at frequencies less than about 1 gigahertz; and

instructing the user to wear, while hunting for or observing the non-human wildlife, at least one said article of apparel,

wherein said attenuating of the user'"'"'s emanated electromagnetic field at frequencies less than about 1 gigahertz decreases the likelihood of detection of the user by a non-human animal.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the conductive fibers are intermingled with non-conductive fibers that form the non-conducting fabric.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the conductive fibers are applied to a surface of the non-conducting fabric.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one said article of apparel comprises an article of clothing, footwear, headwear, or eyewear.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising constructing at least one said article of apparel prior to providing it to the user.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one said article of apparel includes a visual camouflage pattern on at least a portion of its outer surface.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one said article of apparel includes an odor absorber, suppressant, attenuator, or blocker.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the shielding fabric includes between about 2% and about 35% by weight of the conductive fibers.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the conductive fibers comprises stainless steel fibers.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein the conductive fibers comprise copper, silver, conductive ceramic, conductive polymer, or conductive nanotubes.

22. The method of claim 10 wherein said attenuating of the user'"'"'s emanated electromagnetic field at frequencies less than about 1 megahertz decreases the likelihood of detection of the user by the non-human animal.

23. The method of claim 10 wherein said attenuating of the user'"'"'s emanated electromagnetic field at frequencies less than about 1 kilohertz decreases the likelihood of detection of the user by the non-human animal.