FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention concerns an artificial tree to camouflage antennas and the antenna
supporting structures as set forth in the main claim.
[0002] The invention is used to camouflage any type of antenna and the relative supporting
structure in order to reduce the aesthetic conflict with the surrounding environment.
[0003] In the following description, the term "antenna" should be taken to mean any device
suitable to emit or receive electromagnetic waves, whether it be of the monopole type,
panel type, dish type or otherwise.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The problems caused by the installation of antennas, for example for cellular telephone
systems, radio bridges and so on, in areas of great historic or environmental value,
whether in the town or in the country, are well-known.
[0005] The antennas have to be located at a considerable height from the ground and, while
this is not a great problem in industrialised areas, in other areas the presence of
poles, towers and pylons has an extremely negative impact on the environment.
[0006] This problem is at present a very topical one, also because there is an ever growing
diffusion of public networks or particular technological sectors such as for example
telecommunications and cellular telephone systems which require an ever greater number
of antennas distributed over a large part of the territory.
[0007] To limit this environmental impact, there have been proposals for poles for antennas
shaped like a tree wherein the antennas are located at the top and hidden by foliage
made of synthetic materials.
[0008] The European Patent EP-0 791 976, for example, provides to use a pole which has an
upper part, where the antenna is installed, on which attachment means for artificial
foliage are provided.
[0009] The attachment means consist of an annular clamp suitable to be locked onto the pole,
equipped on the outer perimeter with a plurality of radial plates each of which is
suitable to support, at a defined angle of inclination with respect to the pole, the
lower end of a rod.
[0010] Artificial foliage made of plastic material, suitable to reproduce the branches of
a palm-tree, is tied to every rod, which is made of thermoplastic material and has
a substantially square transverse section.
[0011] The annular clamp and the lower end of the rods are covered with partly overlapping
shells and the rest of the pole with coaxial sleeves; the shells and sleeves are made
of fiber glass and are conformed to simulate the trunk of a palm-tree.
[0012] One disadvantage of EP-0 791 976 is that it allows to achieve only artificial trees
conformed as palm-trees or similar since the attachment means proposed are not suitable
to support substantially horizontal branches or at least to allow very thick and compact
foliage to be achieved, such as for example like a conifer.
[0013] The solution proposed therefore can only be used in areas with a hot climate where
palm-trees are very common.
[0014] The US patent US-5,611,176 is also known to the state of the art; on the one hand
it solves the problem of reproducing other trees apart from palm-trees, but on the
other hand it has other disadvantages.
[0015] This patent teaches to cover the surface of a pole, suitable to support an antenna
at the top, with a mesh made of plastic material which is then covered with a layer
of epoxy resin.
[0016] The layer of epoxy resin is subjected to a surface treatment, for example molding,
which allows to make it similar to the bark of the tree which is to be imitated.
[0017] When the resin is polymerized, it is painted with an epoxy paint of a color similar
to the surface of the bark which is to be imitated.
[0018] At certain points on the surface of the pole a plurality of tubes are welded, each
of which is suitable to support a respective branch.
[0019] The branches are made with segments of tube made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), fitted
and glued together one after the other slightly off-axis so as to obtain segmented
branches.
[0020] The branch thus obtained is then covered with a layer of epoxy resin which, after
polymerization, is painted.
[0021] The first segment of tube of the branch has a larger diameter than the others and
is fitted onto the respective tube which is solid with the pole.
[0022] The branches not only do not greatly resemble real branches, but also have a structure
which is not very resistant to mechanical stresses, atmospheric agents and ageing.
[0023] To be more exact, the segments of tube thus assembled have a very low resistance
to bending and cutting and are therefore not very suitable to support the stresses
caused by strong wind, a load of snow or ice on the foliage.
[0024] The vibrations to which the branch is subjected because of the wind, moreover, can
lead to the branch coming off the respective segment of tube, which can compromise
the overall appearance of the artificial tree but above all constitute a danger for
people.
[0025] Moreover, US-5,611,176 allows to provide finished artificial trees with characteristics
and dimensions which can be varied exclusively during the planning or production stage.
[0026] Another disadvantage encountered in artificial trees made according to both US-5,611,176
and EP-0,791,976 is that the layer of paint applied on the epoxy resin to give it
the desired color has a limited duration and resistance to external agents.
[0027] To be more exact, if subjected to scratches or abrasions, the layer of paint shows
the natural color of the underlying epoxy resin, which compromises the aesthetic appearance
of the artificial tree.
[0028] Furthermore, the systems to attach the antennas used in such patents are substantially
of a conventional type and made with metallic elements which do not easily lend themselves
to being camouflaged as artificial trees reproducing different species from those
proposed.
[0029] US-5,611,176 moreover, proposes a system to anchor the pole to the ground which,
although it ensures a good hold, is not suitable to perfectly resemble an artificial
tree.
[0030] This patent teaches to achieve tufts of needle-shaped leaves using the same technology
used in the bottle brushes employed to clean the insides of bottles or the barrels
of fire arms.
[0031] Instead of using two metal wires twisted together, however, two wires of plastic
material are used and instead of the bristles filaments of green plastic material
are used.
[0032] The filaments of green plastic material are held to the two twisted wires by means
of gluing with a polymerizable resin.
[0033] In this embodiment there are problems in the application and adhesion of the resin
to the two twisted wires.
[0034] The present Applicant has devised and embodied this invention to overcome the shortcomings
of the state of the art and to obtain further advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0035] The invention is set forth and characterised in the main claim, while the dependent
claims describe other innovative characteristics of the invention.
[0036] The purpose of the invention is to provide an artificial tree which is quick and
easy to achieve and install and suitable to camouflage any type of antenna.
[0037] A second purpose of the invention is to achieve an artificial tree which perfectly
resembles natural trees and which offers maximum versatility of use, which can be
assembled on site and structurally adapted to contingent situations or specific uses
of the antenna, suitable to be perfectly integrated into most environments.
[0038] A further purpose of the invention is to provide embodiments suitable to ensure an
optimum mechanical resistance, to atmospheric agents and to ageing.
[0039] The artificial tree according to the invention has a modular structure defined by
a plurality of components which can be assembled and are suitable to be associated
with a pole used to support an antenna of any type.
[0040] To be more exact, the modular components are suitable to define a bark used to cover
the supporting pole and a foliage suitable to hide the antennas.
[0041] The bark comprises a plurality of autonomous elements suitable to couple together
and to cover the supporting pole.
[0042] In a first embodiment according to the invention, the elements are substantially
cylindrical in conformation, or shaped slightly like a truncated cone; they are made
of a material which is at least partly deformable elastically and equipped with at
least a longitudinal aperture or cut.
[0043] Thanks to this characteristic of elastic deformability, it is possible to widen each
cylindrical element when it is associated with the pole to allow it to be inserted
thereon.
[0044] In another embodiment according to the invention, every element defining the bark
consists of two or more semi-shells suitable to be coupled together to define a substantially
cylindrical, or slightly truncated cone shape.
[0045] According to a variant, which can be applied to both embodiments, these elements
can be made with one or two layers or meshes of high resistant fibers which are impregnated
and covered with a polymerizable resin.
[0046] In the preferential embodiment of the invention, the elements are made by molding
using molds suitable to reproduce the roughness of natural bark.
[0047] According to a variant, the same polymerizable resin is also used to close the longitudinal
aperture of the first type of element, to weld the semi-shells of the second type
of elements together and to couple the elements overlapping along the pole to each
other.
[0048] According to one characteristic of the invention, the polymerizable resin is neutral
in color and pigments are added thereto in order to give it the desired coloring.
[0049] The bark achieved with this method, therefore, has no problem of discoloration, abrasion
or scratches and hence does not need maintenance and has a practically unlimited working
life.
[0050] Moreover, by applying several layers of different colored polymerizable resins to
the modular elements, it is possible to obtain variations in color typical of the
bark of the chosen species of tree.
[0051] With this embodiment, it is possible to achieve trees of any height, according to
the height of the supporting tree, simply by adding or subtracting a defined number
of modular elements.
[0052] The branches according to the invention are defined by several segments of tube,
of a gradually decreasing diameter towards the outer end of the branch, axially coupled
together.
[0053] The first part of the branch, that is to say, the part facing the trunk, is suitable
to be attached to a mating appendix solid with the pole.
[0054] This first part, which is normally the part most subject to stresses, is made of
a segment of tube with high resistance to mechanical stresses.
[0055] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first part is reinforced with high
resistance fibers such as for example fiber glass impregnated with polyester resin.
[0056] According to a variant, the segment of tube is made by a process of coiling continuous
fiber glass using a polymerizable resin as a binding element (filament-winding).
[0057] The other parts of the branch are achieved with segments of tube made of plastic
material such as for example polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
[0058] There is no problem, with these segments of tube, that they might accidentally come
loose, since they are axially coupled together.
[0059] With this invention, moreover, this problem is avoided since, once they are coupled,
the segments of tube are completely covered with casings made of high resistance fiber
glass impregnated with pigmented polymerizable resin.
[0060] Once the resin has polymerized, the casings make the structure of the branch substantially
monolithic.
[0061] Should it be desired to give the branches a substantially curved development, the
invention provides to bend the segments of tube made of thermoplastic material when
hot, before they are covered by the sheathes made of resin-impregnated fibers.
[0062] According to the invention, the first part of the branch and the corresponding appendix
on which the first part is fitted are equipped with coupling means suitable to retain
the branch in the correct position and prevent the latter from accidentally coming
loose.
[0063] Although extremely stable, the coupling achieved by these attachment means is not
however of the permanent type and it is possible to rapidly remove the branch from
the artificial tree at any moment, for example to facilitate the maintenance of the
antenna.
[0064] Then the desired type of foliage is associated with the branches thus obtained.
[0065] According to a preferential embodiment of the invention, the artificial tree is suitable
to reproduce a conifer and the foliage is therefore of the needle-shaped type.
[0066] In this embodiment, the tufts of needle-shaped leaves are made with filaments or
similar made of plastic material which are arranged transversely between two or more
rows of high resistance continuous fibers or roving, for example fiber glass, the
fibers being parallel and impregnated with polymerizable resin.
[0067] The rovings are then twisted together so as to retain the filaments and, subsequently,
the resin is polymerized using, advantageously but not exclusively, a source of ultra-violet
light to accelerate the process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0068] These and other characteristics of the invention will be evident from the following
description of some preferred forms of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example,
with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
- Fig. 1
- shows an artificial tree according to the invention to camouflage antennas;
- Fig. 2
- shows the artificial tree as in Fig. 1 before the branches are associated;
- Fig. 3
- shows a detail of a possible attachment system used to constrain the tree as shown
in Fig. 1 to the ground;
- Fig. 4
- shows a modular element used to achieve the bark of the trunk of the artificial tree
shown in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 5
- shows a variant of Fig. 4;
- Figs. 6 and 7
- show two possible embodiments of antennas which can be camouflaged with the artificial
tree according to the invention;
- Fig. 8
- shows the modular elements as in Fig. 4 associated with the pole supporting the antennas;
- Fig. 9
- shows the enlarged section from A to A of Fig. 8;
- Fig. 10a
- shows a branch of the tree as in Fig. 1 in a first production step;
- Fig. 10b
- shows the branch as in Fig. 10a in a subsequent step;
- Fig. 11
- shows the enlarged section from B to B of Fig. 10b;
- Fig. 12
- is a part view of the branch as in Fig. 10b during its association with the tree as
in Fig. 2;
- Fig. 13
- shows the foliage used in the artificial tree as in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 14
- shows the enlarged section from C to C of Fig. 13;
- Fig. 15
- shows an enlarged detail of Fig. 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0069] With reference to Fig. 1, an artificial tree 10 according to the invention is used
to camouflage a system of antennas 11 of the type normally used in cellular telecommunications
systems, of which two possible embodiments are shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
[0070] To be more exact, the system of antennas 11 comprises three directional antennas
11a provided in close proximity in Fig. 6 and distanced in Fig. 7.
[0071] The system of antennas 11, however, may be replaced by a system comprising antennas
of another type, such as for example a monopole, a panel or a dish.
[0072] In this case, the artificial tree 10 is able to simulate a conifer of the Pinus nigra
species, commonly known as the black pine or Austrian pine.
[0073] The Pinus nigra can easily be imitated since it has a straight trunk with substantially
horizontal branches, very regular and defining a conical-pyramidal foliage, very thick
and compact and hence very suitable to camouflage antennas.
[0074] These plants, moreover, can reach heights of up to 20-30 metres, and therefore are
optimal models to achieve artificial trees 10 suitable to camouflage antennas which
need to be installed at a great height.
[0075] According to a variant, not shown in the drawings, the artificial tree 10 is able
to simulate a conifer of the Pinus pinea species, commonly known as cluster pine.
[0076] The artificial tree 10 according to the invention has a modular structure comprising,
in its essential parts, a trunk 12 and branches 13.
[0077] The trunk 12, in turn, has a modular structure defined by a plurality of elements
14 suitable to be superimposed and associated with each other so as to simulate bark
which surrounds and hides a metal pole 15 equipped at the upper end with supporting
elements 16, of which some possible forms of embodiment are shown in Figs. 6 and 7,
for the system of antennas 11.
[0078] The metal pole 15, as shown in Fig. 2, is shaped substantially like a truncated cone
and is equipped, on the upper part, with a plurality of radial appendixes 17, each
of which is suitable to constrain a respective branch 13, as will be explained in
more detail later.
[0079] According to a variant, not shown in the drawings, the pole 15 has a truncated pyramidal
shape having at least fifteen sides.
[0080] On the lower end of the pole 15 there are constraining means 22 which allow to make
the pole 15 solid with the ground 23.
[0081] In this case, the constraining means 22 comprise a flange 24 which is attached in
a conventional manner to tie bars 25 constrained to a concrete cast 26.
[0082] As can be seen in Fig. 3, the concrete 26 is made in the ground 23 at a desired depth
so as to give the trunk 12 a realistic appearance.
[0083] In this case, the appendices 17 consist of segments of metal tube 18 welded to the
pole 15 orthogonally, or with a defined angle of inclination.
[0084] According to one characteristic of the invention, the modular elements 14 are suitable
to be coupled to the pole 15 by intervening laterally thereto.
[0085] According to a first solution shown in Fig. 4, each modular element 14 comprises
two semi-shells, respectively 14a and 14b, which can be coupled together so as to
define a shell shaped substantially like a truncated cone, and suitable to surround
the pole 15.
[0086] According to a variant which is not shown here, each modular element 14 is made with
three or more semi-shells.
[0087] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the elements 14 are defined by a single shell,
shaped substantially like a truncated cone, elastically deformable and equipped with
a longitudinal aperture or cut 19.
[0088] The characteristic of elastic deformability allows to widen each shell 14 until it
is possible to insert it onto the pole 15 by acting laterally thereto.
[0089] According to the invention, the modular elements 14 are made by contact molding,
using polymerizable resins reinforced with high resistance fibers, such as for example
glass or carbon disposed like a reed-matting.
[0090] According to one characteristic of the invention, the polymerizable resins are neutral
in color and pigments are added thereto; the pigments are natural or artificial in
origin and are suitable to give the resins a desired coloring such as, for example
in the case of a Pinus nigra, grey-brown-blackish.
[0091] Using pigmented resins allows to achieve elements 14 with a more natural color than
by using a surface painting process, and prevents scratches or abrasions from compromising
the aesthetic appearance of the trunk 12.
[0092] According to the invention, the molds used to produce the elements 14 are made of
silicon rubber or similar and are suitable to reproduce the roughness and longitudinal
ribbed structure typical of natural bark.
[0093] With this invention it is possible to achieve artificial trees 10 of any height simply
by varying the number of modular elements 14 to be associated with the pole 15.
[0094] The individual modular elements 14, moreover, can easily be shortened in order to
allow, for example, to adapt them to specific installation requirements.
[0095] It is very easy to couple the individual modular elements 14 to the pole 15, as shown
in Fig. 8, and provides that the corresponding edges 114 of each individual modular
element 14 are made to coincide. The modular elements 14 are fixed to the pole 15
by means of gluing performed along a single directrix.
[0096] Subsequently the edges 114 are covered with a layer 21 of polymerizable resin (Fig.
9) of the same type used to achieve the modular elements 14.
[0097] The same method is used to associate the superimposed modular elements 14 (Fig. 8).
[0098] According to a variant, the modular elements 14 can be finished with surface applications
of pigmented resin of a different color from the basic color used, so as to make the
trunk 12 even more realistic.
[0099] As shown in Fig. 10a, each branch 13 comprises a plurality of tubular elements 27
of a gradually decreasing diameter, in this case five, respectively 27a, 27b, 27c,
27d and 27e, axially fitted and glued together.
[0100] In this case, the tubular elements 27, except for the first 27a, are bent under heat
in such a manner as to achieve curved branches 13.
[0101] According to the invention, the first tubular element 27a is suitable to couple with
the respective tubular metal segment 18 and for this purpose is equipped with a through
hole 28 suitable to align with a corresponding through hole 29 made in the same tubular
metal segment 18.
[0102] A pin 30 is suitable to be inserted into the aligned holes 28 and 29 and is held
in position by a split pin 31 (Fig. 12).
[0103] The pin 30 prevents the branch 13 from accidentally coming loose from the tubular
metal segment 18 but it allows to detach the branch 13 at any moment to facilitate,
for example, the replacement or maintenance of the system of antennas 11.
[0104] The first tubular element 27a is the one which is most subject to mechanical stresses
and therefore is made with a polymerizable resin reinforced with high resistance fibers,
such as for example fiber glass.
[0105] The remaining tubular elements 27b-27e may be made with less resistant materials
such as for example polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
[0106] According to one characteristic of the invention, once the tubular elements 27 have
been fitted and glued together as shown in Fig. 10a, they are entirely covered (Figs.
10b and 11) with a casing 32 made of a web of high resistance fibers, for example
glass, impregnated with pigmented polymerizable resins.
[0107] In this case too, the polymerizable resin may be surface treated, for example with
molds or matrixes in silicon rubber, in order to make grained and ribbed structures
similar to those of real branches.
[0108] The branches 13 thus achieved not only are very similar in appearance to real branches,
but also they are very resistant to mechanical stresses since they have a monolithic
structure.
[0109] When the resin has polymerized, a plurality of little tubes 33 are coupled onto the
branch 13, welded to the respective tubular elements 27a-27e with resin and fiber
glass; they are suitable to accommodate and retain secondary branches or foliage 34
of the type shown in Fig. 13, or of any other type.
[0110] The foliage 34 is made with filaments 35 made of plastic material, for example polyvinyl
chloride (PVC), which are arranged transversely between three rows of fiber glass
or carbon (roving) 36, temporarily held parallel, impregnated with polymerizable resin.
[0111] The threads 36 are then twisted together (Fig. 15) so as to retain the filaments
35 and, subsequently, the resin is made to polymerize using, for example, a source
of ultra-violet light in order to accelerate the polymerization process. The filaments
35 form a winding angle comprised between 0° and 80° with respect to the longitudinal
axis of the tubular elements 27a-27e, according to the filament winding technique.
[0112] It is obvious that modifications and additions may be made to this invention, but
these shall remain within the field and scope thereof.
1. Artificial tree to camouflage antennas comprising a trunk (12) suitable to cover a
pole (15) supporting the antenna (11) and branches (13) suitable to hide the antenna
(11), wherein each branch (13) comprises two or more tubular elements (27) axially
coupled together, wherein said tubular elements (27) are covered with a casing (32)
suitable to achieve a monolithic structure, wherein a first tubular element (27a)
is able to be coupled with a corresponding appendix (17) solid with said pole (15)
and is equipped with constraining means able to removably couple the branch (13) to
the pole (15), characterised in that said trunk (12) has a modular structure defined
by two or more modular elements (14) constituted by truncated cone-shaped shells able
to be coupled one on top of the other and able to be inserted onto the pole (15) by
acting laterally thereto.
2. Artificial tree as in Claim 1, characterised in that said constraining means comprise
a pin (30) suitable to be removably inserted into through holes (28,29) provided in
corresponding positions on the appendix (17) and on the end of the first tubular element
(27a) where it is associated.
3. Artificial tree as in Claim 1, characterised in that at least said first tubular element
(27a) is made with artificial fibers wound between continuous rows of fiber glass
or carbon, with a winding angle comprised between 0° and 80° with respect to the longitudinal
axis of said first tubular element (27a), according to the filament winding technique.
4. Artificial tree as in Claim 1, characterised in that the casing (32) is made with
webs of high resistance fibers impregnated with polymerizable resin.
5. Artificial tree as in Claim 1, characterised in that the tubular elements (27b-27e)
coupled with the first tubular element (27a) are made of plastic material suitable
to be bent under heat.
6. Artificial tree as in Claim 1, characterised in that said pole (15) has a truncated
pyramidal shape having at least fifteen sides.
7. Artificial tree as in Claim 6, characterised in that every truncated cone-shaped shell
(14) comprises at least two semi-shells (14a-14b) suitable to be coupled together.
8. Artificial tree as in Claim 7, characterised in that the corresponding coupling edges
(114) of the semi-shells (14a-14b) are suitable to be welded together by polymerizable
resin (21).
9. Artificial tree as in Claim 6, characterised in that every truncated cone-shaped shell
(14) has a longitudinal aperture or cut (19) which allows to temporarily widen said
shells (14).
10. Artificial tree as in Claim 9, characterised in that the edges (114) defining the
longitudinal aperture or cut (19) are suitable to be welded together by means of polymerizable
resin (21).
11. Artificial tree as in Claim 1, characterised in that the branch (13) is suitable to
support tufts of needle-shaped foliage (34) made by twisting together at least two
rovings of high resistance fibers impregnated with polymerizable resin, filaments
made of plastic material suitable to simulate needle-shaped leaves being arranged
transversely between said rovings before they are twisted.
12. Artificial tree as in any claim hereinbefore, characterised in that coloring pigments
are added to the polymerizable resin.
13. Artificial tree as in Claim 1, characterised in that the pole (15) is equipped at
the lower part with constraining means (22) suitable to be buried.
14. Artificial tree as in Claim 1, characterised in that said modular elements (14) are
made with elastic polymerizable and reinforced resin with a reed-matting of fiber
grass or carbon.
15. Artificial tree as in Claim 1, characterised in that it simulates a conifer of the
Pinus nigra or Pinus pinea species.
16. Method for manufacturing an artificial tree to camouflage antennas, wherein said artificial
tree comprises a trunk (12) suitable to cover a pole (15) supporting the antenna (11)
and branches (13) suitable to hide the antenna (11), wherein said trunk (12) has a
modular structure defined by two or more modular elements (14) constituted by truncated
cone-shaped shells able to be coupled one on top of the other and able to be inserted
onto the pole (15) by acting laterally thereto, characterised in that said modular
elements (14) are made by contact molding, using polymerizable resins reinforced with
high resistance fibers disposed in a reed-matting manner.
17. Method as in Claim 16, characterised in that said polymerizable resins are neutral
in color, wherein pigments are added thereto and wherein said pigments are natural
or artificial in origin and are able to give said resins a desired coloring.
18. Method as in Claim 16, characterised in that the mold used to produce said modular
elements (14) is made of silicon rubber or similar material and is able to reproduce
the roughness and longitudinal ribbed structure typical of natural bark.
19. Method as in Claim 16, characterised in that each individual modular elements (14)
is coupled to said pole (15) in such a manner that the corresponding edges (114) of
each individual modular element (14) are made to coincide.
20. Method as in Claim 16, characterised in that said modular elements (14) are coupled
to said pole (15) by means of gluing performed along a single directrix.