This invention relates to a device for assisting an individual in climbing a tree or other vertical structure, and for providing a support on the tree at the desired location where the individual can sit or stand on the support in an elevated position.
In the past a variety of different types of devices have been developed to enable individuals to climb trees and to provide the individual with a location to stand on the tree in an elevated position.
These devices, take various forms, each with a different level of effort required to use the device to climb the tree and properly position the device on the tree to provide the elevated stand for the individual.
Initially, there are devices that are formed with two separate platform members, with each platform secured around the tree or vertical structure. The platforms are sequentially moved upwardly along the tree in order to enable the individual to utilize the platforms to climb the tree to the desired location, which requires a significant amount of time and exertion on the part of the individual to achieve. At that point, the upper platform serves as a seat for the individual, while the lower platform provides a footrest for the individual.
There are also devices that incorporate the seat and footrest into a single structure. These types of devices require the individual to climb the tree in a conventional manner and place a hanger, such as a chain or cable, around the tree at the desired location, which requires a significant amount of exertion from the individual. Once the hanger is placed where desired, the device can be secured to the hanger in a suitable manner, such as by engaging a hook or similar structure on the device with the hanger to retain the device in the tree.
In addition, there are devices that are formed as a ladder having a platform portion as the upper end that can be positioned against the tree or vertical structure. The ladder is placed on the ground and pivoted to position the platform portion against the tree, where a cable, strap or other securing device can then be positioned around the tree to hold the ladder in the desired position. This type of device, once positioned, enable the individual to scale the ladder in a conventional manner and secure the platform portion to the tree.
However, while each of these types of tree climbing allows the individual to climb and position themselves in an elevated position with respect to a tree, all of the devices require that the individual be able to physically lift the devices into the proper position on the tree, whether by constructing the device and placing it against the tree, or by lifting the device along the tree into the desired location. Further, in each ease, the device must be secured to the tree or other vertical structure by a strap or other member that wraps around the tree. As such, the devices are very limited for use with trees or other structures having branches or limbs extending outwardly therefrom, as the devices cannot be readily moved around or over the branches.
Accordingly, the prior art does not satisfy the needs and solutions required for devices of this type, such that it is desirable to develop a tree climbing device that enables an individual to climb a tree or other vertical structure in a manner that does not require extreme physical exertion and that can be used on trees or other structures having outwardly protruding branches or limbs.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a device is provided for use in climbing a tree or other vertical structure that also provides a platform to hold the individual utilizing the device in an elevated position on the tree. The device includes a frame formed of separable frame sections that are releasably attachable to one another and that can be secured to the tree. Each frame section includes engagement structures thereon that can be engaged by complementary structures located on a pair of platform sections to which the feet of the individual are secured. The engagement of the complementary structures enables the individual to “walk” up the frame sections to climb the tree or other structure to which the frame sections are secured. Once the desired height has been reached, the individual can position the platform sections in a planar configuration on the frame sections to form a stand for supporting the individual at that position.
According to another object of the present disclosure, the frame sections can be secured to one another as the individual is ascending along those frame sections already secured to the tree.
According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, the frame sections have a reduced profile such that they can be used on trees having branches extending outwardly therefrom without interference from the branches.
According to still a further aspect of the present disclosure, a separate seat can be attached to the frame sections at the desired location to form a seat on the device adjacent the platform formed by the platform sections.
Numerous additional objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures.
The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present disclosure.
In the drawings:
With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numbers represent like features throughout the application, a tree stand and climbing device constructed according to the present invention is indicated at 10 in
Referring now to
Looking now at FIGS. 1 and 9-10, the vertical rails 20 of each frame section 14 are formed with a front plate 28 disposed on the forward facing surface of each section 14. The plates 28 each include a number of apertures 30 formed therein that are spaced along the length of the plate 28. The apertures 30 can extend only through the plate 28, but in the illustrated embodiment extend through the plate 28 and into the hollow center of the vertical rails 20.
Referring now to
Opposite the step 34, the bracket 36 includes a lower portion 38 extending below the central portion 32 and an upper portion 40 projecting upwardly from the central portion 32. The lower portion 38 in the illustrated embodiment is formed with a generally triangular shape to provide added strength and stability to the platform section 16, and includes a tab 42 projecting rearwardly from the lower portion 38 as best shown in
Looking now at
Referring now to
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As shown in
Referring now to
When the platform section 216 is pivoted relative to the frame section 214 around the stops 280, the teeth 274 are disengaged from teeth 272, allowing the platform section 216 to slide upwardly along the frame section 214 until the teeth 274 are re-engaged with teeth 272 by pivoting the platform section 216 towards the frame section 214. Additional frame sections 214 can be attached to the sections 214 on the tree in the manner described previously to enable the individual to reach higher elevations on the tree.
As shown in
Looking now at
The corresponding platform section 316 is formed with a lower portion 388 including a sleeve 392 having an inner diameter slightly larger than that of the projections 390, such that the sleeve 392 can be slid and positioned over the projections to hold the platform section 316 on the frame section 314. The individual using the device 10 can move the platform sections 316 upwardly along the frame section 314 by sequentially sliding one of the platform sections 316 off of the corresponding projection 390 and moving it upwardly to align the sleeve 392 with a projection 390 located vertically up the frame section 314. The individual can repeat this process to ascend the device 10 to the desired position by adding frame sections 314 as necessary in the manner described previously. In each of the embodiments of the invention, the frame sections 14, 114, 214 and 314 are each formed with a simple and open construction, and of any suitable material, such as a metal or plastic that is preferably lightweight and rigid, such that the frame sections 14, 114, 214 and 314 can be positioned over and around branches and other irregularities in the shape of the tree without impairing the ability of the frame section 14, 114, 214 and 314 to be used to elevate the position of the individual with respect to the tree. The generally open center of the frame section 14, 114, 214 and 314 enables the 14, 114,214 and 314 to allow the irregularity to extend into the open center while the frame section 14, 114, 214 and 314 can be disposed around the irregularity.
To reduce the amount of the weight of the device 10, the frame sections 14, 114, 214 and 314 can be formed with additional apertures or weight reducing cut-outs, which can also be employed for the platform sections 16, 116, 216 and 316, which can be formed to be hollow or with a mesh-like like structure to provide the desired amount of support with an overall lighter weight.
In addition, while the vertical rails in each of the frame sections 14, 114, 214 and 314 are secured to one another by pegs (not shown) inserted into the open spaced defined within the vertical rails of each frame section 14, 114, 214 and 314, other suitable securing mechanisms are also contemplated as being able to be used, such as clamps, pins, or any other device capable of releasably securing the frame sections 14, 114, 214 and 314 to one another.
Various other alternatives are contemplated is being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/753,264, filed on Jan. 16, 2013, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61753264 | Jan 2013 | US |