Patent Application
20210029986
There are no cross-related applications.
The present invention essentially relates to the field of transportable and removable platforms for mounting on trees or poles for use in the civil industry, forestry or recreation among others. Specifically, the present invention relates to a means for securing a platform to a tree or a pole.
The aforementioned objectives of the present invention are met using a new self-climbing platform.
This self-climbing platform essentially comprises, on the one hand, a main support including a winch for supporting the platform. It is supported by a cylindrical tree or pole and is supported by a 360° removable bracket located at a height higher than the platform.
This is an innovative self-climbing platform designed to be hoisted to a cylindrical element generally vertical to the ground. The platform enables one to climb to a tree or pole depending on the quality of the tree or pole. The self-climbing platform may include the following:
This self-climbing platform comprises a platform connected to a main support where a winch and a winder/unwinder provided with a holding cable are installed. The cable is attached to a bracket using a carabiner. The main support comprises a plate installed at the upper part of the platform and connected to the lower part via vertical supports.
The bracket is provided with a serrated plate allowing it to remain in the desired position and is fixed to the tree or pole with an angle which gives a safe advantage over the prior art.
The retaining strap with adjustment locks make it possible to manually slide the bracket around the tree or pole 360° degree to the desired position regardless of the diameter of the tree or pole. The pressure exerted on the bracket by the platform during the climb has the effect of increasing the pressure on the serrated plate and on the bracket.
The adjustable retaining strap and the two adjustment locks hold the bracket in place for different tree and poles sizes.
The purpose of the self-locking safety system is to avoid an unwanted descent when the platform is stopped. The self-locking security system may include a self-locking security lock, a lever and a resilient member that are connected to the main support.
The displacement skis can be integrated to the lower part of the platform and can facilitate the sliding of the platform on the tree or pole.
The self-climbing platform may include a removable seat being adapted to rotate 360° upon itself, or spin, on the platform. The seat is placed on a support allowing the user a freedom of movement of 360° either standing or sitting.
The self-climbing platform can be adapted to include a removable safety railing, three railing supports and two stabilizing cables. The railing supports and the stabilizing cables are connected to the removable safety railing.
Locking means keep the railing supports in place. The safety railing is intended to improve safety so as to prevent falls from the platform.
The self-climbing platform can also be adapted to include a battery to activate the winch.
The features of the present invention which are considered novel and inventive will be described in more detail in the claims presented hereinafter.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:
A novel self-climbing platform will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.
In one embodiment, a self-climbing platform 100 is illustrated (
The self-climbing platform 100 generally allows climbing on a tree or pole depending on the quality of the tree or pole (1,
It is a platform 21 connected to a main support 9 where a winch 8 and a winder/unwinder tensioner operatively connected to a steel cable 6, are installed on the main support 9. The steel cable 6 is attached to a bracket using a carabiner 5. The main support 9 comprises a plate installed at the top of the self-climbing platform 100 and connected to the platform 21 comprising the lower part of the platform through vertical supports. The capacity of the winch 8 may be about 2,000 lbs (907 kg).
The connector 26 comprises a retaining strap 2 configured to surround at least a portion of the tree or pole 1, an adjustment lock 3 attached to the retaining strap 2 and a bracket 4 comprising an upper chord 27 (
The bracket 4 (
The retaining strap 2 (
The adjustable retaining strap 2 and the two adjustment locks 3 generally allows the maintenance of the bracket in place on different sizes of poles or trees 1.
The self-locking safety system comprises a self-locking security lock 24 (
In certain embodiments, the self-climbing platform 100 may also include a removable seat 13, and/or a removable safety railing 11, and/or a battery 22, and/or a cover.
In other embodiments, the displacement skis 19 are integrated with the platform 21 and facilitate the sliding of the platform on the tree or pole 1.
The self-climbing platform 100 may also include a removable seat 13 adapted to rotate 360°. The seat is placed on a support 23. The platform 100 generally provide the user with a freedom of movement of 360° either standing or sitting.
The self-climbing platform 100 can be adapted to include a removable safety railing 11 provided with a security lock 15. In some embodiments, the removable safety railing 11 is connected to the platform 21 by three railing supports 17 and two stabilizing cables 16. The railing supports 17 and the stabilizing cables are connected to the removable safety railing 11. Anchoring locks 18 can also keep the railing supports 17 in place. The railing supports 17 may be aimed at improving safety so as to prevent falls from the platform 100.
The self-climbing platform 100 may also include a battery 22. The battery 22 may be connected to the winch 8 to power it. This battery 22 may be 12 volts and may be installed on a support 20 placed above the platform. The battery 22 could also be positioned elsewhere, such as below the seat 13. The support 20 can be connected to the support of the seat 23. Of course, the platform 100 can be powered by other sources of currents, such as solar energy with the use of a solar panel. In some embodiments, the platform may include one or more power outlets, such as USB jacks.
In other embodiments, the platform 100 may be provided with a cover or canvas to position above the user of the platform 100, for example installed as an umbrella facing the weather. The cover can also be installed to surround the platform to protect the user and/or equipment.
The self-climbing platform 100 can be removable and transportable. The platform 100 can also be made of rigid materials, such as metal, aluminum, steel or other types of alloys. In general, the platform 100 is lightweight, removable and low volume. The platform 100 can also be used by people with reduced mobility.
Assembly and Operation
The components of the self-climbing platform 100 can be transported in transport bags or on a coupling of a small motorized vehicle. The platform 100 can be manufactured in such a way that the assembly and disassembly of the components of the platform 100 are carried out without any tools and/or in a simple manner.
The self-climbing platform 100 can be assembled according to the following steps: connect the platform 21 to the main support 9, connect the removable safety railing 11 and the railing supports 17 to the platform, and connect the steel cable 6 of the winch 8 to the carabiner 5 of the bracket 4.
Once the self-climbing platform 100 assembled, a user can access the platform 100 without the help of a ladder. The platform 100 can support high load at this time. The height at which the self-climbing platform 100 can be raised is adjustable according to the length of the steel cable 6 of the winch 8 and the quality of the anchoring, that is to say the quality of the pole or the tree 1.
Once the self-climbing platform 100 is brought near the tree or the pole 1, the bracket 4 is installed or anchored on the tree or pole 1 at the desired location, the height of the user. Once the bracket 4 is installed, the user can perform an action of ascent or descent.
The user can then activate the winch 8 to hoist the self-climbing platform 100 on the tree or pole 1. The ascent and descent are performed safely while being guided by the adjustable support wheels 10 as well as by the displacement skis 19. The adjustable support wheels 10 are adjusted according to the diameter of the tree or pole 1.
During the ascent of the self-climbing platform 100, the platform 100 rises until it is stopped by the user of the winch 8, the elevation being limited by the height of the bracket 4 on the tree or the pole 1. The movement is done using a winder-unwinder tensioner with a retaining strap, which passes through the adjustable support wheels 10, which aims to provide a stable and safe movement.
When stopping the self-climbing platform 100, the self-locking safety lock 24 is automatically deployed. The self-locking lock generally makes it possible to maintain the self-climbing platform 100 in the desired position on the tree or the pole.
During the descent of the platform 100, a double maneuver to initiate the descent can be performed for embodiments having a lever 14. The user must simultaneously activate the lever 14 (
While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.
