Patent Publication Number: US-9896834-B1

Title: Tree house elevated in a simulated tree, and method of making

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/054,274, filed Feb. 26, 2016, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/595,035, filed Jan. 12, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/903,573, filed Nov. 13, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by this reference thereto. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to static structures and, more particularly, to a fanciful tree house elevated on a simulated tree trunk. 
     A number of additional features and objects will be apparent in connection with the following discussion of the preferred embodiments and examples with reference to the drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to build tree houses on simulated tree trunks such that, not only does the tree trunk seem real, but that also, the tree house seems like it could be a natural outgrowth of a real live tree. 
     It is popular nowadays to build tree house getaways which have as many of the amenities of comfort as a luxurious hotel suite. And these have been built in real live trees. However, real live trees are unsatisfactory because the live tree breaks and dies. Or else that, the real live tree is not always ideally located in the ideal place, or has an ideal form. 
     Some prior art solutions to this problem have included building “tree houses” on stilts like beach houses. The shortcoming here is that, the “tree house” indeed looks more like a beach house and than a tree house. 
     What is needed is a solution over the shortcomings of the prior art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee. 
       There are shown in the drawings certain exemplary embodiments of the invention as presently preferred. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed as examples, and is capable of variation within the scope of the skills of a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. In the drawings, 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tree house elevated in a simulated tree in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged scale perspective view of detail  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3 through 11  are a series of views showing various stages of construction of the tree house elevated in a simulated tree in accordance with the invention, one preferred embodiment of which is shown by  FIG. 1 , wherein:— 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the sinking and anchoring of the monopole support structure for the tree house into an excavated hole in the ground, and the attachment of it to a platform that is supported elevated off the ground by the monopole structure; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view, partly in section, taken in the direction of arrows  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view, partly in section, taken in the direction of arrows  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 , and showing the beginning stages of the decoration of the structural (steel) monopole as well as the structural (steel) struts that together form the structural elevated support for the tree house, as tree trunk and branches, respectively:—with artistically constructed forms of steel reinforcing bars (rebar or rebar rods) comprising elongated wavy stringers of rebar rod extending lengthwise along what will become the simulate trunk or simulated branches, and, irregular rings of rebar rod that will provide approximate circumferential contour for the simulated trunk or branches; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view that is partly in section and comparable to  FIG. 5 , except showing the rebar forms wrapped in a steel mesh screen and giving the rebar forms the outer contour of the simulated trunk and branches; 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational view that is partly in section and comparable to  FIG. 6 , except showing the coating of the steel mesh screen with a layer of a coating material (including without limitation a polyurethane spray foam) which serve as the simulated bark of the simulated trunk and branches; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational view that is partly in section and comparable to  FIG. 7 , except showing that the coating material—while it is still wet—lends itself to several secondary processes, including without limitation being imprinted with a texture simulative of tree bark of a chosen species, being sculpted and/or dug into to simulate raised knots or recessed holes and so on; after which a further coating (eg., sealant, with color) might be applied; 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevational view that is partly in section and comparable to  FIG. 8 , except showing the simulated tree trunk with branches are further dressed with artificial—or, real—twiggy sprouts (with leaves as shown); 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of a single twiggy sprout in isolation, wherein the leaves and branching form of this twiggy sprout might more nearly resemble the leaves and branching form of a different tree species than in  FIG. 9  (eg.,  FIG. 9  is meant to be more simulative of a White Oak, whereas  FIG. 10  is more simulative of an American Elm); 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view comparable to  FIG. 10  in part, except showing the twiggy sprout of  FIG. 10  can be replaced during the seasons to reflect four seasons, namely, from top to bottom:—winter, spring, summer and fall; 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of  FIG. 3  in part, showing the layout of the structural (steel) monopole as well as the structural (steel) struts of  FIG. 3  in the left half of the view, and, an alternate layout in right half of the view; 
         FIG. 13  is a pictorial view of an elevated tree house on a monopole support structure decorated as a simulated tree trunk tree in accordance with the invention; and 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged scale detail view of the monopole support structure decorated as a simulated tree trunk tree generally in accordance with the invention, but more particularly in accordance with  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1-11 and 13-14  show an elevated tree house  20  propped on a monopole support structure  22  decorated as a simulated tree trunk  24  in accordance with the invention. 
     It is an aspect of the invention to incorporate and/or adapt the methods and materials of monopole platform construction used by the outdoor signage industry (eg., billboards along Interstate highways and the like). 
     The tree house  20  in accordance with the invention can be produced in the following manner and without limitation. Preferably the monopole  26  or column that will serve as the ‘skeleton’ for the simulated tree trunk  24  is a singular hollow structural (steel) monopole (eg., tube) in an about thirty-six to forty-two inch (˜0.9 to 1.1 m) diameter. The monopole  26  is anchored/sunk in the ground  38  to stand erect. The monopole  26  is capped with an attached (steel) platform  28 . The platform  28  carries the “house”  30 , which can have any fanciful design including a rustic log cabin or the like, or else a more modern than traditional domicile in an elevated fashion. 
     The (steel) platform  28  is braced from underneath by a plurality of structural (steel) support braces  32  (eight to sixteen are preferred without limitation). These structural (steel) support braces  32  (or support arms) flare from base ends  34  attached to the monopole  26 , to, upper ends  36  bracing the platform  28  spaced away from the monopole  26 . In other words, the braces  32  flare out like stout limbs from a stout tree trunk. The number of braces  32  to use depends on several factors:— 
     (1) how high the monopole  26  tops out above the elevation of the ground  38 , 
     (2) the relative aspect ratio of height to diameter of the monopole  26 , 
     (3) the surface area of the elevated platform  28 , 
     (4) the design load to be carried by the platform  28 , 
     (5) the design wind load on the structure  20  as whole to withstand, and so on. 
     The support braces  32  and monopole  26  are then given a faux finish to create a simulated tree. The braces  32  and monopole  26  are covered in a network of rebar  40 , some of which may project out as smaller limbs. The braces  32 , monopole  26  and rebar  40  are wrapped in wire mesh screen  42 . The wire mesh screen  42  is manipulated to resemble the form and furrowed surfaces of actual tree limbs and tree trunk. The wire mesh screen  42  is also suited for serving as an underlayer for sprayed foam  44  to adhere to. Hence the formed structure  22 ,  40 ,  42 , etc. is covered in foam  44  to form solid simulated tree limbs  46  and a solid simulated tree trunk  24 . 
     The formed structure  22 ,  40 ,  42 , etc. may then be covered in an additional coating of a product called ZOOPDXY® which is then sculpted to resemble actual tree bark. It is believed that the composite material ZOOPDXY® is material that zoos use to create natural-looking animal habitat, eg., in the form of rocks and/or tree trunks or tree limbs and the like. 
     After that, the formed, covered and coated structure  22 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  etc. is painted and from then ultimately takes on the characteristics and look of a tree in a forest.  FIGS. 1-9  (excluding  FIG. 3 ) show a simulated tree trunk  24  which more nearly resembles certain varieties of Beech trees or certain species of Oak trees (eg., White Oak or Live Oak) than other trees. Nevertheless, this is a non-limiting example of a design preference. 
     In the Northeastern U.S., it might be more desirable to simulate White Pine. In the Southeastern U.S., it might be more desirable to simulate Bald Cypress, and so on. 
     All utilities  48  are buried underground leading to the monopole  26 , and run through the hollow center of the monopole  26 . It is an aspect of the invention to hide the utilities  48  in order to add to the simulation of what a “real” tree would look like holding up a domicile  30  of some kind. It is a design preference to make the platform  28  and ultimately the house  30  accessible by ladders or stairs and the like (eg., like a ramp  50  too). In fact, a fairly sturdy ramp  50  and/or stairway is more preferred still. Such a sturdy ramp  50  and/or stairway helps tether the platform  28  and house  30  from oscillating in the wind about the vertical axis of the monopole  26 . In other words, the sturdy ramp  50  and/or stairway helps spare occupants from becoming seasick. 
     To give  FIG. 1  renewed study, it shows a house  30  elevated in a simulated tree  24 ,  46 , etc. in accordance with the invention, as propped up on a simulated tree trunk  24  in accordance with the invention. The simulation is not intended to really fool anyone. Instead, the simulation is more intentionally meant to promote a romantic, storybook atmosphere to the tree house  20 , so that users will hopefully have a romantic, storybook ending to their stay there. 
     The site location for this tree house  20  is chosen on a wooded slope  38 . The pre-existing trees  52  are mature but way too weak to serve as the actual monopole  26  for this house  20 . Locating the tree house  20  on a slope  38  is preferred for the following two reasons. The ramp  50  can be run from the high ground to the platform  28  at a shallower angle. Therefore, the high ground is the front of the house  30 , where the parking is. The back of the platform  28 /house  30  is cantilevered over the dropping ground. In other words, the tree house  20  is located so that the back of the house  30  overlooks a vista above dropping ground. 
     To look briefly ahead to  FIG. 3 , it shows that main structural (steel) support  22  for the tree house  20  optionally comprises the following, namely:—
         (1) the structural (steel) monopole  26 ;   (2) structural (steel) braces  32  (eight shown); and   (3) structural (steel) platform  28  frame members (eg., eight spokes  54 , an inner quadrilateral  56 , and, an outer quadrilateral  58  are shown).
 
The inner quadrilateral  56  corresponds to the outer walls  62  of the house  30 . The outer quadrilateral  58  corresponds to the outer edges  64  of the surrounding platform  28  and its deck  60  surface.
       

     To return back to  FIG. 1 , if a pre-existing tree trunk  52  rises up within what will be the inner quadrilateral  56 , that tree  52   a  will have to be lopped off. If a pre-existing tree trunk  52  rises up within what will become the outer quadrilateral  58 /surrounding deck  60 , that tree  52   b  might be saved. The deck  60  might be formed with an opening to allow the tree  52   b  to continue to thrive.  FIG. 1  shows two choices with trees  52   a  and  52   b  that pre-existed within the outer boundary  64  of the deck  60  and/or house  30  (for an example where at least one of the house  30 &#39;s outer walls  62  forms the outer boundary  64  of the deck  60 , see  FIG. 12 ). The second kind of tree trunk  52   a  has been accommodated by an opening in the deck  60  (see also  FIG. 4 ). The proprietors of the property will presumably strive to keep this tree  52   b  healthy. The first kind of tree trunk  52   a  was deemed too problematical or else unlikely to keep alive by construction of the tree house  20 . Nevertheless, this tree&#39;s trunk  52   a  was chosen to be sufficiently ornamental to preserve. Hence, tree&#39;s trunk  52   a  has been lopped off at an elevation which is just sub-elevation for the platform  28 . For observers from the front end of the tree house  20 , tree trunk  52   a  will seem to be a natural growth into the platform  28 . 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show the sub-ground engineering which supports the house  30  on the structural (steel) monopole  36 . A deep hole  68  is ‘excavated’ (including either being drilled or dug). A structural steel pipe, or else a structural-steel rebar-rod cage  72  (among other options), can be lowered into the hole  68 . A concrete box ‘footing’  74  is poured around a rebar rod form referred to as a ‘squirrel cage,’ which is situated around the structural monopole  26  at below ground level, or just barely above. Utilities and services  48  are run underground into and up through the ‘squirrel cage’ footing  74 , and from there up through the structural monopole  26 , namely, and without limitation:— 
     (1) water; 
     (2) sewer; 
     (3) electric; 
     (4) cable/internet, and so on. 
     When construction is done (eg., see  FIG. 1 ), the ground  38  beneath the tree house  20  is intended to be landscaped and cleaned up so that users find it appealing to walk underneath the tree house  20 , and not just only limit their time on the deck  60  and inside the house  30 . 
     As previously mentioned,  FIG. 4  shows one example of a tree  52   b  that was saved and accommodated to continue growing with an opening through the deck  60 , and another example of a tree  52   a  which could not be saved but whose stump serves as further decoration. 
       FIG. 5  shows the beginning stages of the decoration of the structural (steel) monopole  26  as well as the structural (steel) struts  32  that together form the structural elevated support for the house  30 , as simulated tree trunk  24  and branches  46 , respectively. 
     It is an aspect of the invention to utilize artisans to create forms  40  and  42  (or, form works) out of structural materials  40  and  42  in order to decorate and disguise the symmetric structural support  22  of the tree house  20  as simulating trunk  24 , branches  46  and other tree parts and so on. 
     It is furthermore believed that, if a strut  32  were left bare for a small portion thereof, the romantic and/or storybook decoration which is ultimately sought is still intact. That is, a bare portion of a strut  32  otherwise covered in simulated tree branch decoration  46  appears as if vegetative growth swallowed the structural (steel) strut  32 . 
     The preferred structural material to dress the monopole  26  and struts  32  begins with rebar rod  40 .  FIG. 5  shows artistically constructed forms of steel reinforcing bars  40  (rebar or rebar rods) comprising elongated wavy stringers of rebar rod  40  extending lengthwise along what will become the simulated trunk  24  or simulated branches  46 , and, irregular rings of rebar rod  40  that will provide approximate circumferential contour for the simulated trunk  24  or branches  46 . 
     Notice also that  FIG. 5  shows can lights  80  underneath the deck  60 . It is an aspect of the invention that, when construction is done (eg., see  FIG. 1 ), the ground  38  beneath the tree house  20  is intended to be landscaped and cleaned up so that users find it appealing to walk underneath the tree house  20 , and not just only limit their time on the deck  60  and inside the house  30 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the structural (steel) monopole  26  as well as the rebar forms  40  wrapped in a steel mesh screen  42  and giving the structural (steel) monopole  26  as well as the rebar forms  40  the outer contour of the simulated trunk  24  and branches  46 , respectively. It is a design preference to give the simulated trunk  24  both a root flare  82  (a conic flare) and a crown flare  84  (an upside down conic flare). 
       FIG. 7  shows or represents that the screen material  42  will be covered in a coating material  44 . Preferably this coating material  44  has some thickness or volume. Such a suitable coating material  44  includes without limitation a polyurethane spray foam. This coating material  44  affords the possibility of further hand work to contour or sculpt. This coating material  44  will serve in part to function as simulated bark  86  of the simulated trunk  24  and branches  46 . 
       FIG. 8  shows or represents several things or events, some happening at different times (albeit, most events happening soon after the coating material  44  is applied as represented in  FIG. 7 ). 
     For one, while coating material  96  is still wet (ie., not hardened, or at least still plastic/malleable), the surface of the coating material  96  lends itself to several secondary processes. These including without limitation that the surface of the still not-dry coating material  96  can be imprinted with a texture simulative of the tree bark  86  of a chosen species. This imprinting can be accomplished with silicone rubber mats  88  or the like, which are recessed in reverse image of the tree bark  86  of a chosen tree species. The upper mat  88  in  FIG. 8  might more nearly resemble White Oak bark. The lower mat  88  in  FIG. 8  might more nearly resemble Hickory bark. 
     Moreover, during this time, the coating material  88  can be sculpted and/or dug into to simulate raised knots  90  or recessed holes  92  and so on. To build knots  90 , the coating material can be applied once, a knot  90  can be somewhat formed, more coating material  90  can be applied, and so on, such that the knot  90  is formed in a series of built-up layers. As for holes  92 , it is desirable to provide illumination, such as a set of eyes (not shown), at the back of the holes  92 . That way, the simulation is created that a creature is inhabiting the hole  92 , and is staring back out. 
     After coating material  96  (eg., polymeric foam spray) is dry, a further coating might be applied. This might be a sealant, with color. 
       FIG. 9  shows that the simulated tree trunk  24  with simulated branches  46  can be further dressed with artificial—or, real—twiggy sprouts  98 .  FIG. 9  shows that the twiggy sprouts  98  have leaves, as shown, rather then being bare, as shown in part in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a single twiggy sprout  98  in isolation, to contrast with its counterpart in  FIG. 9 . That is, the leaves and branching form of this twiggy sprout  98  in  FIG. 10  might more nearly resemble the leaves and branching form of a different tree species than in  FIG. 9 . (For example,  FIG. 9  is meant to be more simulative of a White Oak, whereas  FIG. 10  is more simulative of an American Elm). 
     It indeed is an aspect of the invention to garland the tree house  20  elevated on the simulated tree trunk  24  in accordance with the invention with live cut plant sprouts  98 . Just like a highly rated resort might have fresh live cut flowers for the rooms of new guests, a guest-oriented proprietor of a tree house  20  elevated on the simulated tree trunk  24  might seasonally dress it with fresh live cut plant sprouts  98  now and then:—presumably according to season. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view comparable to  FIG. 10  in part, except showing the twiggy sprout  98  of  FIG. 10  can be replaced during the seasons to reflect four seasons, namely, from top to bottom:—winter, spring, summer and fall. 
     In the winter slide frame of  FIG. 11 , the twiggy sprout  98  is bare of leaves, as are the live Hickory trees in the surrounding woods. 
     In the spring slide frame of  FIG. 11 , the twiggy sprout  98  has newly emerging leaves, as well as newly emerging nut-fruit, as the live Hickory trees in that climate are doing as well. 
     In the summer slide frame of  FIG. 11 , the twiggy sprout  98  has full leaf growth as do the live Hickory trees in the surrounding woods (the nuts may or may not be included). 
     In the fall slide frame of  FIG. 11 , the twiggy sprout  98  has lost leaves and those which have hung on are presumably showing fall color, in accordance with what the live Hickory trees in that climate are doing as well. 
     As a final matter,  FIG. 12  can be compared to  FIG. 3  in order to show that the layout of the structural (steel) monopole  26  as well as the structural (steel) struts  32  of  FIG. 3  shown in the left half of the view, can be varied in an indefinite number of designs, including without limitation what is shown in the right half of the view. 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  comprise a pair of figures “executed in color.” More simply, these are photographs of a representative elevated tree house  20  on a monopole support structure  22  decorated as a simulated tree trunk tree  24  in accordance with the invention.  FIG. 14  shows better this representative monopole support structure  22  decorated as a simulated tree trunk tree  24  generally in accordance with the invention, but as taken from below the  FIG. 13  platform  28 /deck  60  of the tree house  20 . 
     The invention having been disclosed in connection with the foregoing variations and examples, additional variations will now be apparent to persons skilled in the art. The invention is not intended to be limited to the variations specifically mentioned, and accordingly reference should be made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing discussion of preferred examples, to assess the scope of the invention in which exclusive rights are claimed.