Tree house rain leak prevention structure

Abstract

To provide a rain leak prevention structure for tree houses that prevents leaks while preserving tree growth by working on its outer bark, which has relatively little impact on tree development.SOLUTION: By removing only outer bark 510 around the entire circumference of a portion of a tree 500 located above a roof 100, an outer bark removal section 520 is formed. A rubber tape 600 is wrapped around this area once, and an umbrella-shaped rubber 700 is wrapped over it, and an other end thereof is bonded to the roof 100. Silicone resin 800 is arranged in a 2 cm wide strip to the top of the rubber tape 600 and umbrella-shaped rubber 700. This silicone resin 800 facilitates the rubber tape 600 to be firmly bonded to the umbrella-shaped rubber 700, preventing rainwater infiltration from above. The umbrella-shaped rubber 700 completely covers the gap 200, preventing rainwater from entering the interior of a tree house 10 and achieving leak prevention.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure for preventing rain leakage between the trunk of a tree in a tree house and the roof to be installed. [Background technology]

[0002] Treehouses are built on the foundations of living trees. Traditionally, they have been used as homes by indigenous people in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia and South America. It is believed that these people live in treehouses because of land issues, protection from wild animals, and hostile forces. On the other hand, in recent years, treehouse construction for the purposes of hobby, entertainment, recreation, and tourism has been gaining attention. In other words, treehouses are becoming widely recognized as a type of tourism resource. People like to stay in treehouses and enjoy a life integrated with the natural environment.

[0003] By the way, when building a treehouse using coniferous trees with few branches, the trunks of coniferous trees are upright and vertical, so they can be conveniently used as pillars. However, due to design requirements, the roof must penetrate the tree (trunk), which inevitably results in leaks where rainwater seeps in through the gap between the roof and the trunk. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6744644

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a leak prevention structure that prevents rainwater from entering through the gap between the roof and the trunk, as shown in Figure 4, by wrapping a two-layer waterproof sheet (see Figure 5) consisting of two layers of waterproof sheet and non-woven fabric (which has water absorption and drainage properties) around the trunk and installing it. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Normally, the surface (outer periphery) of a tree is covered with tissue called the outer bark, which is uneven and made of water-permeable fibers, allowing rainwater to pass through. In the invention described in Patent Document 1, the nonwoven fabric side of the double-layer waterproof sheet comes into contact with the outer bark to absorb rainwater, thereby preventing rainwater from seeping into the tree house. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer periphery of a tree is made up of an outer bark 510, a cork cambium 530, an inner bark (phloem) 540, and a cambium 550. Here, the cambium 550 is a tissue essential for the growth of a tree, and damage to this tissue will cause serious damage to the growth (survival) of the tree. On the other hand, although the outer bark 510 plays a role in protecting the entire tree, removing only this part has little effect on the growth (survival) of the tree.

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a rain leak prevention structure in a tree house that prevents rain leaks while maintaining tree growth by working on the outer bark, which has relatively little effect on tree growth. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The invention described in claim 1 provides a rain-leak prevention structure for a tree house built using trunks as pillars, characterized in that an outer bark-removed section is formed at the top of the roof of the tree house by removing the outer bark of the trunk around a certain width, rubber tape corresponding to the width of the outer bark-removed section is wrapped around it, the upper end of an umbrella-shaped rubber piece and the rubber tape are bonded together by placing silicone resin around the entire circumference, and the lower end of the umbrella-shaped rubber piece is bonded to the upper part of the roof. The invention described in claim 2 provides a rain-leak prevention structure for a tree house described in claim 1, characterized in that the outer bark removal section exposes the cork cambium of the tree, and rubber tape is wrapped around the exposed cork cambium. The invention of claim 3 provides a rain leak prevention structure for a tree house according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the rubber tape is made of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber). The invention described in claim 4 provides a rain leakage prevention structure for a tree house described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a nonwoven fabric with high water absorption and drainage properties is wrapped around the upper end of the umbrella-shaped rubber. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, in a tree house using tree trunks as pillars, rainwater leakage can be efficiently prevented using only materials that are normally available on the market. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a rain leakage prevention structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the internal structure of a tree used in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure of a tree used in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a rain leak prevention structure using a two-layer waterproof sheet. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a two-layer waterproof sheet used in a rain leak prevention structure. [Figure 6] 10 is a diagram for explaining the position where a nonwoven fabric with high water absorption and drainage properties is wrapped in a rain leakage prevention structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] (i) Overview of the embodiment A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the rain leakage prevention structure according to this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the leak-proof structure of this treehouse 10 is installed by having the roof 100 of the treehouse 10 penetrate the trunk 500 of a tree (e.g., a coniferous tree). Coniferous trees have a high uprightness, and when used as pillars for the treehouse 10, they are said to look good and allow for the construction of a sturdy and safe treehouse. A gap 200 inevitably occurs between the tree 500 and the roof 100 due to the unevenness of the surface (outer bark) of the tree 500. Therefore, in this embodiment, only the outer bark 510 of a portion of the tree 500 located above the roof 100 is removed, for example, about 5 cm around the circumference, to form an outer bark-removed portion 520.

[0012] A rubber tape 600, for example, 4 cm wide, is wrapped around this surface all the way around. An umbrella-shaped rubber piece 700 is wrapped around this and the other end is attached to the roof 100. Silicone resin 800 is placed (applied) to a width of approximately 2 cm to 3 cm on top of the rubber tape 600 and umbrella-shaped rubber piece 700. This placed silicone resin 800 firmly bonds the rubber tape 600 and umbrella-shaped rubber piece 700 together and prevents rainwater from seeping in from above. Furthermore, the umbrella-shaped rubber 700 completely covers the gap 200, preventing rainwater from entering the inside of the tree house 10 and preventing leaks.

[0013] (ii) Details of the embodiment First, the composition of the outside (periphery) of the inside of the tree will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the outside of the tree (hereinafter referred to as "bark") is formed from outer bark 510, cork cambium 530, inner bark (phloem) 540, and cambium 550 (note that there are slight differences depending on the type of tree). Furthermore, inside cambium 550, xylem 570 and core wood 560 are formed.

[0014] As a tree grows and its trunk thickens, the cambium 550 expands its circumference, producing xylem 570 cells on the inside and inner bark (phloem) 540 cells on the outside. As the trunk gradually thickens, a new meristematic tissue called cork cambium 530 is formed to protect the thickened trunk, and this tissue forms cork tissue with thick cell walls that prevent the passage of water and protect the trunk 500.

[0015] Therefore, the cambium 550 plays the most important role in the growth (survival) of a tree, and the cork cambium 530 functions to protect the tree. On the other hand, although the outer bark 510 functions to protect the tree, it is not an essential part for the survival of the tree, and partial removal is acceptable for the survival of the tree. This embodiment is based on this knowledge.

[0016] Next, a procedure for producing the rain leakage prevention structure according to this embodiment will be described. First, an example in which the roof 100 of the tree house 10 is provided so as to penetrate the trunk 500 will be described. The trunk 500 has outer bark 510 on the outermost periphery, and because this outer bark 510 is uneven, a gap 200 inevitably occurs between the roof 100 and the trunk 500. Also, taking into consideration the growth of the trunk 500, it is desirable to provide a small gap 200 in advance. On the other hand, this gap 200 is also a weak point for the tree house 10 in terms of waterproofing (preventing rain leaks).

[0017] Therefore, the outer bark 510 of the trunk 500 above the area where the roof 100 is installed is removed over a certain width all around. The width is, for example, 5 cm, but may be set appropriately taking into account various conditions (such as the thickness of the trunk 500 and the height of the tree). The depth of removal corresponds to the thickness of the outer bark 510. In other words, it is desirable to expose the cork cambium 530. It is necessary to work as carefully as possible so as not to damage this cork cambium 530. The tool used for this work is a knife for cuttings used for bonsai and potted plants (Miki Akira Cutlery, small knife, black carving knife, maximum length 180mm, blade length 50mm, Yasugi steel).

[0018] When outer bark 510 is removed, the entire circumference of cork cambium 530 is exposed. This is outer bark removed portion 520. This cork cambium 530 is highly flexible among parts of a tree, making it suitable for bonding to other materials. Then, rubber tape 600 is wrapped around and adhered to the exposed cork cambium 530 of the outer bark removed section 520. For example, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber) tape is used for this rubber tape 600. EPDM is a material that can flexibly adapt to the swaying of trees in the wind and their growth after wrapping. It also has excellent weather resistance, ozone resistance, and waterproofing properties.

[0019] Other than EPDM, natural cork sheets and cork powder may also be used. The width of this rubber tape 600 is determined according to the width of the outer bark removal section 520. For example, if the width of the outer bark removal section 520 is 5 cm, the width should be 5 cm or less. For example, it should be 4 cm. If it is 4 cm, as shown in FIG. 1, 1 cm of the lower part a of the outer bark removal section 520 will remain exposed. This width can be used for work convenience. This exposed area may be provided at the upper part of the outer bark removal section 520. It is also possible to make the width of the outer bark removal section 520 and the rubber tape 600 the same so that no exposed area is provided. The thickness of this rubber tape 600 is, for example, 1 mm, because 1 mm tape is widely used and is the most flexible.

[0020] Next, an umbrella-shaped rubber piece 700 is attached. The upper end of this umbrella-shaped rubber piece 700 is attached in contact with the rubber tape 600 wrapped around the outer bark removal section 520. The rubber tape 600 may be wrapped two or three times depending on the depth of the outer bark removal section 520. This rubber tape 600 can provide a smooth surface, making it easier to join to other members. On the other hand, the lower end is attached to the roof 100. The attachment method may be adhesive, or it may be fixed with nails or the like. The upper and lower ends are fixed without any gaps to prevent rainwater from seeping in. Also, it is firmly fixed so that it will not be blown away by the wind.

[0021] As shown in Figure 1, silicone resin 800 is applied all around the top of the umbrella-shaped rubber 700 to attach the umbrella-shaped rubber 700. Silicon resin 800 is an organic compound artificially made from silicon, and has excellent water resistance, heat resistance, electrical insulation, and surface tension. In this way, by applying the silicone resin 800, the adhesion between the rubber tape 600 and the umbrella-shaped rubber 700 is strengthened, and because it is water-resistant, it is possible to more reliably prevent rainwater from entering.

[0022] If the width of the outer bark removal portion 520 is 5 cm and the width of the rubber tape 600 is 4 cm, it is preferable to apply this silicone resin 800 in a width of 2 to 3 cm. It completely covers the rubber tape 600 and the upper end of the umbrella-shaped rubber 700, firmly bonding them together and completely blocking the intrusion of rainwater. The upper end of the silicon resin 800 may be left slightly above the outer bark removed portion 520 as shown in Figure 1, or may be at exactly the same position. Also, it may extend slightly beyond the outer bark removed portion 520 so as to come into contact with the outer resin 510. In this way, by disposing the silicone resin 800, the section formed by the umbrella-shaped rubber 700 is completely sealed, preventing rainwater from seeping in. In addition, since it is sealed, it can also prevent the intrusion of insects and mosquitoes, as well as rainwater.

[0023] Next, another embodiment will be described. Figure 5 shows the two-layer waterproof sheet used in the invention described in Patent Document 1. This two-layer waterproof sheet 50 is formed by bonding together a waterproof sheet 60 and a nonwoven fabric 70 that has high water absorption and drainage properties. Rainwater is absorbed from the upper end of this nonwoven fabric 70 and drained from the lower end. This double-layer waterproof sheet 50 is formed into a cone shape as shown in Figure 5 and placed on top of the umbrella-shaped rubber 700. In other words, by adding the double-layer waterproof sheet 50 to the top, waterproofness can be further improved. Also, a nonwoven fabric with high water absorption and drainage properties may be wrapped around the area indicated by X in Fig. 6. This can reduce the amount of rainwater that flows down to the umbrella-shaped rubber 700, achieving more reliable waterproofing (preventing leaks). When wrapping and securing the two-layer waterproof sheet 50 around the trunk 500, as in the above embodiment, an outer bark removal section 520 may be formed, rubber tape 600 may be wrapped around the area, and the two-layer waterproof sheet 50 may be glued and secured to that area.

[0024] In the above embodiment, the umbrella-shaped rubber 700 can be replaced with a waterproof cloth. Also, instead of the rubber tape 600, a stretchable silicone resin can be used instead.

[0025] In another embodiment, a double-layer waterproof sheet 50 may be used in place of the umbrella-shaped rubber 700.

[0026] The embodiments and modifications of the present invention may be combined as necessary.

[0027] Furthermore, the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention also covers such modifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 10. Treehouse 50 Double-layer waterproof sheet 60 Tarpaulin 70 Nonwoven fabric 100 roofs 200 gap 500 trunks (trees) 510 Outer bark 520 Outer bark removal section 530 Cork cambium 540 Inner bark (phloem) 550 Cambium 560 Core material 570 Wood 600 Rubber Tape 700 Umbrella-shaped rubber 800 silicone resin

Claims

1. A tree house built using trunks as pillars to prevent rain leakage. This tree house leak prevention structure is characterized in that an outer bark-removed section is formed on the upper part of the roof of the tree house by removing the outer bark of the trunk over a certain width all around, a rubber tape corresponding to the width of the outer bark-removed section is wrapped around it, the upper end of an umbrella-shaped rubber and the rubber tape are bonded together by placing silicone resin over the entire periphery, and the lower end of the umbrella-shaped rubber is bonded to the upper part of the roof.

2. The tree house leak prevention structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer bark removal portion exposes the cork cambium of the tree, and rubber tape is wrapped around the exposed cork cambium.

3. A rain leak prevention structure for a tree house as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the rubber tape is made of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber).

4. 3. A rain-leak prevention structure for a tree house according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a nonwoven fabric with high water absorption and drainage properties is wrapped around the upper end of the umbrella-shaped rubber.

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