AIDER FOR TREE CLIMBING

Abstract

A tree climbing aider assembly includes at least one flexible support having portions spaced laterally from one another for suspended attachment to a tree climbing stick. At least one rigid or semi-rigid step member is provided having a width extending between laterally opposite side edges of the at least one step member and a depth extending laterally between opposite fore and aft edges of the at least one step member. The at least one step member is supported by and spans the lateral space between the flexible support portions.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This invention relates generally to aiders used in combination with tree climbing sticks to extend the reach of the sticks.

Tree climbing sticks are used by hunters, including mobile hunters, for climbing trees when hunting. At least one and typically two or more short climbing sticks are secured to the trunk of the tree to create a series of temporary steps that the hunter can climb to access an elevated stand or platform or to suspend themselves from a tether line when wearing a climbing saddle.

A typical mobile-hunter's class of climbing stick is relatively short in length and typically is provided with at least one lower step adjacent the lower end of the stick and at least one upper step adjacent the upper end of the stick. The hunter typically ties the body of the first stick to the tree and then climbs the stick to install the second stick and so on with placement of additional sticks as needed.

Aiders are sometimes used by mobile hunters and the like in order to extend the effective reach of one or more of the sticks. For example, the first-installed stick may be placed at a level one or more steps higher than the hunter is able to reach. Aiders in the form of a rope sling or straps are typically secured to the lower step of the stick and the stick positioned to locate the loops at a level that the hunter can reach with his foot. The user then steps into the aider and climbs onto the lower step of the stick.

Rope or strap type aiders are common, but they have inherent disadvantages. The rope or strap is slack and flexible and free hanging. This makes it challenging for the hunter to introduce his foot into the loop. This can be particularly problematic when descending the tree wherein the hunter has to blindly search about for the loop and then then manipulate the rope with his feet in order to position and open the loop for foot access. Additionally, the rope may hang down and toward the tree trunk, providing little if any forward clearance between the aide and tree to receive the front of the foot, keeping in mind that the rope aider is typically engaged across the arch area of the foot for best support and stability. Trees are not perfectly perpendicular (e.g., they can lean away from the climber) nor are they perfectly round (they can have protruding knots and other deviations) and access to the foot loop(s) of the rope or strap aider can be particularly challenging in these situations. The foot loop(s) can swing out of the original climbing position and come to rest against the trunk or off to one side once the user's foot is removed when ascending the tree. When descending the tree, the user faces a difficult situation as the foot loop(s) are no longer in their original position and may be very challenging to locate, particularly since the user must feel around blind with his foot and try to manipulate the step loop into a position that is accessible and safe for descending. And every tree is different so with each usage the wonderment of where the foot loops are when descending is there, making for a potentially precarious and unsafe situation. A further inherent problem with rope and strap aiders is that the foot loop naturally closes about the lateral sides of the foot when the hunter places his weight on the aider. This binding effect gives the hunter a tight, uncomfortable feeling unlike that experienced from the true steps of the climbing sticks, which are solid, wide and set off from the tree trunk.

What is needed is an improved aider that addresses and overcomes the disadvantages of conventional rope-type aiders.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, an aider device for climbing trees includes at least one step member having an upper step surface for receiving a foot of a user and a flexible suspension line attached or attachable to a tree-mounted structure and supporting the at least one step member with side-to-side and front-to-back stability to the step surface when supporting the foot of the climber.

According to further aspect, the step surface may comprise a step plate that is relatively more rigid than that of the flexible suspension line for supporting the weight of the climber without collapsing.

According to a further aspect, at least one and preferably at least two tree braces project forwardly of the step plate in position to engage the trunk of a tree to be climbed and to support the step surface spaced outward of the trunk.

According to a further aspect, the tree braces may include laterally spaced tree-engaging jaws.

According to a further aspect, the tree-engaging jaws may define a V-shaped notch of the stand-off projection for cradling the trunk.

According to a further aspect, the tree-engaging jaws may include spaced tree-gripping teeth.

According to a further aspect, the tree braces may be formed as an integral part of step plate.

According to a further aspect, the tree braces may comprise an extension of the step surface and may further include stiffening ribs on an underside of the tree braces.

According to a further aspect, the flexible suspension line may include fore and aft portions that engage the step plate at each of four corner regions of the step surface to provide the side-to-side and front-to-back stability to the step surface.

According to a further aspect, the suspension line may include stringer portions that extend beneath the step plate and engage and support the step plate from below.

According to a further aspect, there may be two stringer portions spaced from one another.

According to a further aspect, a bottom side of the step plate may include a plurality of spaced, laterally extending stiffening ribs.

According to a further aspect, the stiffening ribs may define a front channel adjacent a front edge of the step plate and a back channel adjacent a back edge of the step plate and wherein the two stringer portions include a front stringer portion received in the front channel and a back stringer portion received in the back channel.

According to a further aspect, the suspension line may comprise a rope that is flexible but substantially inelastic under tension load of a climber.

According to a further aspect, the rope may comprise a braided core of substantially inelastic HMPE strands covered by an abrasion resistant sheath.

According to another aspect, the step plate is external to the suspension line.

According to a further aspect the suspension line may include two upper girth hitch loops for cinched attachment to the tree-mounted structure and may further include mechanical locks for securing the loops in the cinched condition.

According to a further aspect, the mechanical locks may comprise friction slide locks.

According to a further aspect, the step plate may have a substantially planar top surface that includes the upper step surface.

According to a further aspect, the step surface may include grip-enhancing portions.

According to a further aspect, the grip-enhancing portions may comprise electroluminescent friction tape.

According to a further aspect, the step plate may include at least one elastic loop to enable the step plate to be releasable secured to a climbing stick when not in use.

According to a further aspect, the step plate may include at least three elastic loops to enable the step plate to be releasably secured to the climbing stick in at least two different orientations.

According to a further aspect, the step plate is at least 2 inches deep from front to back and at last 6 inches wide from side to side.

According to a further aspect, the step plate is constructed to support at least 300 pounds under a three-point flexural test without breakage.

According to a further aspect, the aider may include at least two step plates supported by the flexible suspension line in spaced position one below the other.

According to a further aspect, the suspension line extends beneath and directly supports both step plates with front-to-back and side-to-side stability.

According to a further aspect, the suspension line may comprise an endless rope or may comprise two or more rope sections fixed to each other to form an endless rope configuration.

THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages will be better understood when considered in connection with the following detailed description drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of an aider shown in use in a tree;

FIG. 2 is perspective view of an aider according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the aider of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the aider of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top cross sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the aider of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a top portion of the aider;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the aider of FIG. 2 in a first stowed position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the aider shown in a second stowed position;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an aider according to a second embodiment; and

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the aider of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a tree-mounted support structure in the preferred form of a climbing stick 10 that is used by hunters to climb a tree T and from which an aider 20 is supported either as part of its structure or by releasable attachement. The climbing stick 10 is secured to the tree T by a strap or rope 12 and includes a central support post 14 and lower 16 and upper 18 steps. Several of such climbing sticks 10 can be secured along the trunk of the tree T to enable the hunter to climb the series of steps that are formed by the multiple sticks 10 to access a desired elevated position in the tree T.

FIG. 1 illustrates usage of an aider 20 according to an embodiment that can be used in combination with the climbing stick 10. The particular configuration of the climbing stick 10 is not essential but rather serves as a support structure for suspended support of the aider 20, as will be described below. Likewise, while it is anticipated that the aider 20 will most often be used in combination with climbing sticks for the purpose of extending the effective reach of the sticks, and such application is preferred, it is envisioned and contemplated that the aider 20 may be used in connection with other tree-mounted structures in instances where is it desired to provide one or more steps below the structure for climbing.

The aider 20 includes two primary components, namely a flexible suspension line 22 and at least one step member in the preferred form of a step plate 24. The flexible suspension line 22 may comprise one or more ropes or straps that are configured to support the at least one step plate 24, and the step plate 24 may comprise a rigid or semi-rigid step plate 26 made of plastics that spans between multiple supports provided by the suspension line 22 to provide front-to-back and side-to-side stability of the at least one step plate 24. Further details concerning the suspension line 22 and the step plate 24 are provided below.

According to a presently preferred embodiment, the step plate 24 has an upper step surface 28 and an opposite lower surface 30. The upper surface 28 has a width and a depth of a size to receive and support the foot of a climber. The width of the supper step surface 28 extends between laterally spaced left and right side edges 32, 34 of the step plate 24. The depth of the upper step surface 28 extends between front and back edges 36, 38. The area of the upper step surface is at least 30 in² and more preferably at least 60 in² to provide a surface to receive and support a full size hunting boot, with the ball portion of the boot centered and fully supported across the width of the boot and with the toc portion of the boot extending toward the back edge 38 of the step plate 24. The upper step surface 28 preferably has a side-to-side width of 4-10 inches and a front-to-back depth of 2-7 inches, with the width dimension preferably being greater than the depth measurement. A particular embodiment of the step plate 24 shown to work well for its intended purpose has a width of 8 inches and a depth of between 3.75 and 4.75 inches. The step surface 28 is preferably flat and planar. The step surface is preferably provided with grip enhancers 40 that increase frictional contact with a climber's boot tread to improve sure-footedness of the step plate 24. The grip enhancers 40 may take many forms such as molded texturing features, slots, projections and the like, but preferably comprise grip-enhancing friction tape 42 adhered to the step surface 28 at predetermined locations. As illustrated, the grip-enhancing friction tape 42 is applied in multiple spaced sections running front-to-back and is provided in a color that contrasts with the color of the step plate 24. For example, the step plate 24 may be black in color and the friction tape strips 42 may be high visibility white, green, orange, yellow, pink or the like. According to a further preferred feature, the friction tape 42 presents a coarse sand paper-like texture and the tape strips 42 are electroluminescent to provide enhanced visibility to the user when using the aider under low light conditions, such as at the end of a day's hunting session when descending the tree T in a darkened woods at dusk. The strips 42 continue to glow for a period of time during the descent from having been exposed to daylight during the day time. It is preferred that the friction strips 42 occupy a majority of the area of the step surface 28 in order to clearly direct the user to where the user should place his or her foot when using the aider 20. The friction tape 42 thus not only increases traction of the step plate 24, but it provides a visual target to the user for proper placement of the feet. In the illustrated example, there are six strips of friction tape 42 that are each 1 inch wide and 2.5 inches long and closely spaced across the width of the step surface 24, signaling to the user the proper placement of the ball region of the user's foot.

A tree-engaging spacer 44 projects forward of the front edge 36 of the step plate 24 and is provided for the purpose of confronting the trunk of the tree and supporting the step surface 28 outward from the tree T and to provide support against lateral movement (kick out) of the step plate 24 relative to the tree T in use. The spacer 44 is in the preferred form of a pair of laterally spaced projections 46 that are formed as one integral piece with the step plate 24 and of the same material. The projections 46 have jaw surfaces 48 that are angled away from each other to form a V-shaped cradle or notch 50 for cradling the trunk of the tree T in use. The jaw surfaces 48 preferably are provided with a plurality of spaced gripping teeth 52 to enhance frictional engagement with the trunk of the tree T to help anchor the step plate 24 and provide added side-to-side and front-to-back stability and to support the step plate 24 against sideways movement when bearing the weight of the user. The projections 46, which may also be referred to as standoffs, project preferably 1.5 to 2.5 inches forward of the step surface 28. By spacing the step surface 28 outward of the trunk of the tree T the user has clear and consistent placement of the step surface from tree to tree and there is ample clearance for support of the user's foot without the user's toc hitting the tree T during use, thus providing unencumbered access and support to the foot of the user, including the toe portion of the boot, without interference by the tree T.

The step plate 24 is may be made of metal or plastic, but preferably a rigid or semi-rigid plastic so that the plate 24 does not flex or flexes only slightly (i.e., less flex than the support offered by the flexible suspension line 22 alone) under weight of the user's foot born on the upper step surface 28. One advantage of a rigid or semi-rigid plastics material is that it is quiet, light weight and corrosion free. A high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) The step plate 26 may be machined, molded, pressed, stamped, printed or produced by any other processes typical of making plastic components. It is preferably machined from ⅜ inch thick stock, giving the step plate 24 a thickness of ⅜ inch.

The upper step surface 28 is generally and preferably rectangular and both the width and depth are greater than the thickness of the step plate by at least 10 fold. The step plate 24 may be solid or may have one or more cut-outs for weight reduction or drainage.

The lower surface 30 of the step plate 26 preferably includes at least one and preferably a plurality of reinforcement ridges or stiffening ribs 54 which preferably extend widthwise between the opposite left and right side edges 32, 34 of the step plate 26. The ridges 44 preferably define at least one and preferably at least two channels, and more preferably at least a forward channel 56 and a rearward channel 58, and still more preferably a pair of intermediate channels 60. The channels 32, 34 can be open to receive spanning portions of the flexible suspension line 22, or may support rigid bars, tubes or beams made of metal or other stiffening structure that would add to the structural rigidity and support of the step plate. For example, a tubular metal support (not shown) may be received in each of the forward 56 and rearward 58 channel to provide supplemental support to the plastic step plate. Additional supplemental support may be provided to other channels or may be embedded or secured to the plastic step plate 24 as needed to achieve the desired stiffness and support of the plate 24.

The flexible suspension line 22 may comprise one or more ropes or ropes sections or straps or webbing. The flexible suspension line 22 is designed to hang free from the stick 10 and to provide suspended support to the step plate 24. One form of flexible suspension line 22 according to a preferred embodiment is a rope that is flexible but when taut is substantially inelastic so that when the user places his or her weight on the step plate 24, the suspension line becomes taut but does not stretch so that the user experiences a firm, solid feel of the step plate 24 that doesn't stretch or drop under load, apart from flexing of the step plate 24 itself. One material that is contemplated for the suspension line is AmSteel® and more preferably and AmSteel® core covered by a DuraBraid® sheath. The core material offers the strength and inelasticity while the sheath offers abrasion resistance and aesthetics. The suspension line 22 may comprise an endless rope configuration or may be made of multiple rope sections that are joined to support the step plate 24 in suspension off the climbing stick 10 or other tree-mounted structure.

The preferred suspension line 22 includes two girth hitch loops 62a, 62b at the top on the left and right sides of the aider 20 which slide over opposite left and right ends of the lower step 16 of the climbing stick 10. Once placed, the loops 62a, 62b are cinched tight about the step ends 16. Front and back line portions 64f, 64b extend down from the left side loop 62a and another set of front and back line portions 66f, 66b extend downward from the right side loop 62b. These line portions 64f, 64b; 66f, 66b represent the four primary support lines for the step plate 24 as explained further below. The aider 20 preferably includes loop locks 68 to secure the loops 62 in the cinched condition and lock them on the lower step 16. The loop locks preferably comprise mechanical slide locks 64 which are slid over the left and right set of line portions 64f, 64b; 66f, 66b and dimensioned for a tight friction fit such that forceably sliding the locks 64 upward against the cinched loops 62 secures the loops 62 against loosening and lock the aider 20 onto the climbing stick until such time as the locks 68 are slid back down and the loops loosened and released.

The line portions 64f, 64b; 66f, 66b which depend from the loops 62 engage the step plate 24 adjacent four corners of the step surface 28 to suspend the step plate 24 with front-to-back and side-to-side stability from the four line portions 64f, 64b; 66f, 66b. More specifically, the line portions 64f, 64b; 66f, 66b are received in slots 70 located adjacent the four corners. The front line portions 64f, 66f further extend preferably along the underside 30 of the step plate 24 adjacent the front 36 of the plate 24, and the back line portions 64b, 66b extend preferably along the underside 30 of the step plate 24 adjacent the back 38 of the plate 24. The front and back sets of line portions are preferably one piece or are joined so as to become united as one piece and to extend fully across the bottom 30 of the step plate 24 to provide suspended full width support between the slots 70 adjacent the front and back edge regions 32, 34 of the step plate 24. The flexing load of the step plate 24 is thus born by both the step plate and the line portions that traverse the underside of the plate 24 adjacent the front and back thereof. This spaced support of the step plate also gives it stability under load in the front-to-back direction as well as the side-to-side direction. Advantageously, the forward and rearward channels 56, 58 on the underside of the step plate 24 formed by the stiffening ribs 54 are sized to receive the traversing line sections. As a further advantage, at least a portion of the line sections traversing the underside 30 of the step plate 24 are provided with an enlarged sleeve 72 section which is sized to be received with a friction fit into the channels 56, 58. Conveniently, the sleeve 72 may further serve as a covering for a location where rope ends are joined together such as be sewing, gluing, welding, braiding or combinations thereof. In one example, the front and back line portions 64f, 66f; 64b, 64b are sewn together and the sewn joint covered by a shrink fit sleeve 72 which both protects the joint and provides the enlarged portion which can be force fit into the channels 56, 58 for a snug fit and adding to the stability of the step plate 24 as it is secured against sliding relative to the suspension line 22 along the underside 30 of the step plate 24.

The aider 20 is used by securing the loops 62 to the lower steps 16 in the manner described and then mounting the stick 10 at a desired location in the tree T in position where the suspended step plate 24 can serve as an extended or auxiliary step for the climbing stick 10. For example, when placing the initial climbing stick 10, the step plate 24 can be positioned to serve as the first step and may be located, for example, 18 inches off the ground. Once the climbing stick is secured, the user may step onto the step plate 24 while making sure that the jaws 48 straddle the tree trunk for stability and that the upper step surface 28 is horizontal or near horizontal. It is to be noted that the trunk of the tree may not be perfectly vertical or cylindrical. It is more often the case that a tree has some lean to it and that there may be knots or other features which project from the surface. The stand-off projections 46 of the step plate 46 are designed to accommodate such variations in tree conditions by engaging the trunk and supporting the step surface in spaced, horizontal relation relative to the trunk of the tree T. This is unlike typical rope-type aiders where a forward leaning tree would cause the step loop(s) to rest against the trunk and/or swing off to one side making accessibility difficult. The step plate 24 is suspended with fore-aft and side-to-side stability and further registered against the trunk by the stand-off projections to positively locate and support the step plate 24 relative to the tree that is being ascended and descended.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate two different and alternative ways that the aider can be stowed when not in use. In FIG. 8, clastic side loops 74 provided on the edges 32, 34 of the step plate are looped over the lower step ends of the climbing stick 10. FIG. 9 shows a second option, where a separate clastic loop disposed on the underside 30 of the step plate is looped around the support post 14 of the climbing stick 10 and secured to tab 78 of the step plate 24.

FIGS. 10-11 illustrate a further alternative embodiment wherein in addition to step plate 24, there is a second step plate 24′. In such case, the a lower set of line portions 64f, 66b′; 64f, 66b′ are added to the line portions 64f, 64b; 66f, 66b either as one piece or as separate pieces joined in the manner previously described such as be sewing and covering with shrink tube. The steps 24, 24′ may otherwise be advantageously configured identically and may be supported by their line portions in identical manner. Additional steps may be added as desired in the same manner.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described in the embodiments herein and is contemplated and within the scope of the invention. The invention is defined by the claims and is not to be limited by the embodiments.

Claims

1. An aider assembly, comprising: at least one step plate having an upper step surface;a flexible suspension line engagable with or suspended at an upper end thereof from a tree climbing stick or other structure mountable to a trunk of a tree to be climbed and supporting the at least one step plate in a manner that provides side-to-side and front-to-back stability to the step plate.

2. The aider assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible suspension line comprises at least one rope.

3. The aider assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one step plate is supported at four spaced locations.

4. The aider assembly of claim 3, wherein the four spaced locations comprise corner regions of the at least one step plate.

5. The aider assembly of claim 1 wherein the suspension line includes at least two bridging portions that extend beneath and engage an underside of the at least one step plate at spaced fore and aft locations.

6. The aider assembly of claim 1, wherein the suspension line comprises a rope having four main line portions which engage the at least one step plate adjacent it opposite sides at a rear location and a front location, and wherein the main line portions extend beneath and engage an underside surface of the at least one step plate to support to the at least one step plate with side-to-side and front to back stability.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one step plate includes lateral channels provided on an underside surface in which the mail line portions are received.

8. The aider assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one step plate includes side notches registered with the lateral channels in which the main line portions are received.

9. The aider assembly of claim 1, including photo-luminescent friction tape disposed on the upper step surface of the at least one step plate.

10. The aider assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one step plate includes a forwardly projecting stand-off portion for engaging the trunk of the tree and supporting the upper step surface in spaced relation to the tree trunk.

11. The aider assembly of claim 10, wherein the stand-off portion includes a notch.

12. The aider assembly of claim 11, wherein the notch includes tree-gripping teeth.

13. The aider assembly of claim 1, wherein an upper end of the suspension line includes at least one mounting loop for attachment to the climbing stick or the other tree-mountable structure.

14. The aider assembly of claim 1, wherein there are at least two step plates suspended by the suspension line.

15. An aider assembly, comprising: at least one step plate having a step surface on a top side thereof, an opposite bottom side, first and second side edges, a front edge and a rear edge;a flexible and substantially inelastic suspension line supporting the at least one step, the suspension line including a left side line portion and a right side line portion ach having a mounting loop at an upper end thereof for attachment to a structure mounted to a tree to be climbed, each of the left and right line portions branching into respective fore and aft line portions below the loops; the fore line portions of the left and right lines engaging front corner portions of the at least one step plate and the aft line portions engaging back corner portions of the at least one step plate; each of the fore and aft line portions engaging respective fore and aft edge surfaces of the at least one step plate spaced below the upper step surface to provide lateral and fore-aft stability to the step plate and supporting the step surface of the at least one step plate in a generally horizontal orientation when the left and right lines are suspended vertically.

16. The aider assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one step includes laterally extending fore and aft channels disposed on an bottom side thereof and receiving the fore and aft line portions across the width of the at least one step plate.

17. The aider assembly of claim 16, wherein the step plate includes a forward projecting stand-off for engaging the trunk of the tree and supporting the step surface in outward spaced relation to the tree.

18. The aider assembly of claim 17, wherein in there are at least two step plates.

19. A method for extending the reach of a climbing stick used for climbing a tree, said method comprising: preparing an aider having at least one step plate supported by a flexible line;securing the line to the climbing stick with the at least one step plate suspended by the line such that the at least one step plate is stabilized by the line side-to-side and fore-to-aft with an upper step surface thereof self-oriented transverse to the tree for ready and stable support of the foot of a user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one step plate includes a stand-off and wherein the stand-off is positioned to directly engage a trunk of the tree.