Tree styled monopole tower

• US 5,787,649 A
• Filed: 01/31/1995
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ch2M Hill, Pal Telecom Group, LLC, Tower 50 Family Incorporated
• Original Assignee: FWT Inc., Harold H. Sriver III, Nestor T. Popowych
• Inventors: Kao, Louis Ken-Hon, Popowych, Nestor T., Moore, Roy J., Sriver, Harold H. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aubrey, Beth
• Application Number:
  US08/381,504
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 52/40, 52/727, 52/726.4, 52/721.4, 52/736.1, 52/736.2, 52/736.3, 52/738.1, 52/651.01, 52/651.02, 52/651.07, 428/7, 428/10, 428/8, 428/20, 428/9, 428/18, 428/19
• US Class Current: 52/40
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/08 of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/24 Cross arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1242 Rigid masts specially adapted for supporting an aerial
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence

Abstract

A modified monopole tower is described, consisting primarily of a galvanized steel truncated pyramidal monopole capped by wireless electronic communications antennae and equipment. In the preferred embodiment, the simulated trunk containing the monopole exhibits protruding receptors which in turn support artificial palm fronds, and artificial pine boughs and branches. The artificial palm fronds, branches, and boughs are attached to the receptors primarily by mechanical and adhesive means. The modified monopole tower is designed to function optimally under all weather conditions, while imitating the landscape with attachment of indigenous tree components.

Claims

1. A telecommunications tower, comprising in combination:

a steel tubular monopole which is tapered along its length to provide a greater cross-sectional dimension at its base than at its top, the monopole being polygonal with equally spaced flat sides;

at least one antenna mounted to the monopole near its top;

a layer of artificial bark covering the monopole to simulate a tree trunk;

a plurality of tubular receptors, each having a base end welded to the monopole at selected points along the length of the monopole, each receptor protruding laterally through the bark from the monopole and having an open outer end;

a plurality of artificial tree branches, each having a stem portion with artificial tree leaves extending therefrom, the stem portion of each of the tree branches having a base end which slidingly mates with one of the receptors;

securing means for securing each of the base ends to one of the receptors; and

a plurality of flexible safety lines, each embedded within the stem portion of each of the tree branches and having a free portion protruding from the base end of each of the stem portions into one of the receptors where it is secured to retain the tree branch with the monopole in the event of a failure of the securing means.

2. The tower according to claim 1, wherein:

the base end of each of the stem portions comprises a tubular spine which joins and protrudes inward from a larger diameter section of the stem portion, defining an inward racing shoulder; and

wherein the tower further comprises;

a precast layer of artificial tree bark which is secured around each of the receptors and abuts the shoulder of each of the stem portions.

3. The tower according to claim 1, wherein:

the base end of each of the stem portions comprises a tubular spine which joins and protrudes inward from a larger diameter section of the stem portion, defining an inward facing shoulder; and

wherein the tower further comprises;

a layer of artificial tree bark which is precast into semi-cylindrical segments which are secured around each of the receptors in abutment with the shoulder of each of the stem portions.

4. The tower according to claim 1, wherein:

the base end of each of the stem portions comprises a tubular spine which joins and protrudes inward from a larger diameter section of the stem portion, defining an inward facing shoulder;

the securing means comprises a fastener which extends transversely through each of the receptors and the spines; and

wherein the tower further comprises;

a layer of artificial tree bark which is precast into semi-cylindrical segments which are secured around each of the receptors, completely enclosing the fastener and in abutment with the shoulder of each of the stem portions.

5. The tower according to claim 1 wherein the bark and the branches simulate those or a palm tree.

6. The tower according to claim 1 wherein the bark and the branches simulate those of a pine tree.

7. A telecommunications tower, comprising in combination:

a steel tubular monopole which is tapered along its length to provide a greater cross-sectional dimension at its base than at its top, the monopole being polygonal with equally spaced flat sides;

a plurality of antennas mounted to the monopole near its top;

a layer of artificial bark covering the monopole to simulate a tree trunk;

a plurality of tubular receptors, each having a base end welded to the monopole at selected points along the length of the monopole, each receptor protruding laterally through the bark from the monopole and having a bore with an open outer end;

a plurality of artificial tree branches, each having a stem portion with artificial tree leaves extending therefrom, the stem portion of each of the tree branches having an inner and;

a plurality of spines, each protruding from the inner end of one of the stem portions, each of the spines having a diameter smaller than the stem portion at the inner end, defining a shoulder facing toward one of the receptors and spaced outward from the base end of the receptor, each of the spines being inserted into the bore of one of the receptors;

a fastener extending transversely through each of the receptors and the spines for securing each of the spines to one of the receptors; and

a precast layer of bark which is secured around each of the receptors and the spines between the layer of bark on the monopole and the shoulder of each of the stem portions.

8. The tower according to claim 7, wherein each of the precast layers of bark completely encloses one of the fasteners.

9. The tower according to claim 7, wherein each of the precast layers of bark comprises a plurality or semicylindrical segments which are secured around one of the receptors over the fastener.

10. The tower according to claim 7, wherein at least some of the spines further comprise:

an extender portion which is releasably joined to the spine to lengthen the amount of protrusion of the spine from the stem portion.

11. The tower according to claim 7, wherein each of the stem portions has at least one tubular socket protruding therefrom;

and

wherein the artificial tree leaves each has a mandrel which inserts into and is secured to one of the sockets.

12. The tower according to claim 7, further comprising.:

a plurality of safety lines, each embedded within one of the stem portions and having a free end extending outward from the spine and into one of the receptors where it is secured.

13. The tower according to claim 7 wherein the bark and the branches simulate those of a palm tree.

14. The tower according to claim 7 wherein the bark and the branches simulate those of a pine tree.

15. The tower according to claim 7 further comprising:

a tapered top section secured to the top of the monopole and extending upward therefrom, the top section having an exterior which simulates the trunk of a tree;

wherein

at least some of the receptors and tree branches are mounted to the top section; and

all of the antennas are mounted to the monopole below the top section.

16. A telecommunications tower, comprising in combination:

a steel tubular monopole which is tapered along its length to provide a greater cross-sectional dimension at its base than at its top, the monopole being polygonal with equally spaced flat sides;

a layer of artificial bark covering the monopole to simulate a tree trunk;

a separate tapered top section secured to the top of the monopole and extending upward therefrom, the top section having an exterior which simulates the trunk of a tree;

a plurality of antennas mounted to the monopole near its top, all of the antennas being mounted below the top section;

a plurality of tubular receptors, each having a base end mounted to the monopole and the top section at selected points along the lengths of the monopole and the top section, each receptor protruding laterally;

a plurality of artificial tree branches, each having a stem portion with artificial tree leaves extending therefrom, the stem portion of each of the tree branches having a base end which is inserted into one of the receptors; and

securing means for securing each of the stem portions to one of the receptors.

17. The tower according to claim 16 wherein the top section is constructed of a nonmetallic material.