The present invention is directed to climbing apparatuses, and more particularly, to hand-holds or foot supports for scaling trees, poles, and the like.
The ability to safely and efficiently climb or scale trees, wooden poles such as telephone or powerline poles, and similar structures or surfaces is useful for reaching elevated hunting blinds, servicing utility wires, and the like. Although ropes and ladders are sometimes used for climbing, it is also known to install transportable steps that can be driven into a tree or pole to provide hand holds or foot supports to aid in climbing. Typical screw-in steps, for example, are forced against a tree or pole while turning the entire step, which can be particularly difficult or dangerous to accomplish because it typically requires the use of two hands. This may be especially difficult or dangerous when the user has already climbed part way up the tree or pole. Other known devices include tree-climbing “sticks” that are typically strapped to a tree, and that include a plurality of steps for use in scaling the tree.
The present invention provides a climbing support or apparatus, such as a tree climbing step or an apparatus including a plurality of steps, that can be readily installed by one person and/or by using only one hand. This may be accomplished without applying an axial force to a fastener simultaneously with a rotating force. The climbing support can typically be installed in two steps: (i) driving the support against a tree or pole so that the support is temporarily supported at the outer surface of the tree or pole, and then (ii) turning a threaded fastener to secure the support to the tree or pole. The climbing supports may be configured for use with a storage rack that permits a user to store a plurality of climbing supports on their person, and remove individual climbing supports from the storage rack for installation as the user progressively scales the tree or pole. Optionally, a climbing support apparatus having two or more steps may be attached to a tree or pole using one or more fasteners and, optionally, a spike configured to be thrust into the tree. One or more standoffs can be used to space the steps away from the tree or pole so that the apparatus is easier to use.
According to one form of the present invention, a climbing support for use in climbing a tree or pole includes a body, a fastener movably disposed at the body, and a projection supported at the body and spaced from the fastener. The body has an upper support surface and a tree-facing surface, the tree-facing surface defining a bore for movably receiving the fastener. The fastener includes a tip portion spaced from a head portion, the head portion configured to facilitate rotation of the fastener. The fastener is supported at the body in a manner such that at least part of the tip portion projects from the tree-facing surface of the body when a force is applied to the tip portion in the direction of the tree-facing surface, so that during normal use, the fastener's tip portion cannot be fully retracted into the bore. The body can be engaged by a user's hand or by a tool, and the tip portion of the fastener and the projection can be manually driven against the outer portion of a tree or pole with the hand or tool. The tip portion of the fastener and the projection cooperate to initially support the body at the tree or pole, and the projection limits rotation of the body relative to the tree or pole as the user rotates the fastener to drive the tip portion further into the tree or pole to secure the body at the tree or pole.
In one aspect, the fastener includes a projection that selectively engages the body to limit longitudinal movement of the fastener in the bore when the fastener is moved a predetermined distance, whereby at least part of the tip portion of the fastener is prevented from retracting fully into the bore. Optionally, the tip portion of the fastener is at least partially threaded.
In another aspect, the body defines an opening below the upper support surface, the opening configured as at least one of (i) a hand-hold, (ii) a foot support, and (iii) a tool support. Optionally, and when the opening is configured as a tool support, the climbing support may be combined with a tool having a handle portion and a fastener-engaging portion. The opening of the body is configured to releasably couple to the fastener-engaging portion of the tool so that the tool can be grasped at the handle portion and used to drive the climbing support against the tree or pole. The fastener-engaging portion of the tool is configured to receive the head portion of the fastener to rotatably drive the fastener.
In yet another aspect, a biasing element is disposed along the fastener and configured to engage a portion of the body. The biasing element urges the body against the tree or pole when the tip portion of the fastener is driven at least partially into the outer portion of the tree or pole, which maintains the projection in engagement with the tree or pole as the fastener is rotated, thereby limiting or preventing rotation of the body with the fastener.
Optionally, the body includes an outwardly-facing surface that is spaced from the tree-facing surface, and which faces in generally the opposite direction of the tree-facing surface. The bore in the upper end portion of the tree-facing surface of the body also extends through the outwardly-facing surface, and the head portion of the fastener is at least initially spaced outwardly from the outwardly-facing surface. A biasing element is disposed along the fastener and held in compression between the head portion of the fastener and the outwardly-facing surface of the body. The biasing element urges the body and spike in the direction of the tree or pole when the tip portion of the fastener is initially driven at least partially into the outer portion of the tree or pole.
In another aspect, the biasing element is a coil spring with an inboard end disposed against the outwardly-facing surface, and an outboard end disposed against the head portion of the fastener.
In a further aspect, the head portion of the fastener includes a non-circular portion for engagement by a tool, such as a ratchet wrench, an open or closed end wrench, a screwdriver, a hex key wrench, pliers, or the like.
In a still further aspect, the climbing support is configured for use in combination with a support rack, where the opening of the body receives a portion of the support rack. A plurality of the climbing supports can be stored at the support rack to facilitate installation of the climbing supports.
In yet another aspect, the tree-facing surface of the body includes an upper portion for supporting the fastener, and a lower portion for supporting the projection. The upper portion includes an upper end that projects forwardly of the rest of the upper portion, and that also projects forwardly of the lower portion. For example, the upper portion may be sloped so that the upper end projects forwardly. The upper end acts as a fulcrum when the fastener is tightened into a tree or pole, to draw the projection into the tree or pole substantially simultaneously with the tightening of the fastener.
In another aspect, the projection is a standoff member that engages the tree or pole and maintains a space between the body and the tree or pole when the fastener is tightened. Optionally, the standoff member includes a generally C-shaped portion that is rotatably coupled to the body and repositionable between a substantially horizontal orientation for engaging the tree or pole, and a substantially vertical orientation for transport. Optionally, the body defines one or more apertures for receiving a portion of the standoff member when in the substantially vertical orientation. A biasing element may be provided to bias the standoff toward the body.
In still another aspect, the body is an elongate member defining the tree-facing surface and at least one step portion that extends outwardly from the elongate member and defines the upper support surface. Optionally, a plurality of step portions are provided in vertically spaced arrangement and on alternating sides of the elongate member. Optionally, the step portions are pivotable to a transport position or configuration, in which the step portions are substantially aligned along the elongate member.
In a further aspect, a biasing element is provided at the body for axially driving the fastener into the tree or pole. The biasing element may be an elastic cord with opposite ends that are attached to the body, and a middle portion that engages the fastener at the head portion. The elastic cord is arranged so that drawing the fastener away from the tree or pole stretches the elastic cord, and releasing the fastener causes the elastic cord to drive the fastener axially into the tree or pole.
According to another form of the present invention, a climbing support apparatus includes an elongate body, a step member extending outwardly from the elongate body, a fastener, and a standoff member. The fastener is movably coupled to the elongate body and has a tip portion and a head portion. The tip portion is drivable into a tree or pole and is securable at the tree or pole in order attach the climbing support apparatus thereto. The standoff member is coupled to the elongate body and is configured to engage the tree or pole and to maintain a space between the elongate body and the tree or pole when the fastener is secured.
In one aspect, the climbing support includes a crank arm operatively coupled to the head portion of the fastener for rotatably driving the fastener into the tree or pole. Optionally, the crank arm includes a gripping portion and is pivotable relative to the fastener between a use position and a stowed position. The elongate body may optionally define an opening for receiving the gripping portion of the crank arm when the crank arm is pivoted to the stowed position.
In another aspect, the climbing support further includes a pivotably mounted spike at a lower end portion of the elongate body. The spike is positionable in a straight configuration in which the spike is oriented substantially longitudinally with the elongate body to extend substantially straight out from the lower end portion thereof, so that the apparatus with spike can be thrust in a spear-like manner. The spike is also positionable at an angled configuration in which the spike projects toward the tree or pole when the elongate body is substantially parallel to the tree or pole.
In a further aspect, the climbing support includes a deployment mechanism for selectively locking or engaging the spike in its angled position. The deployment mechanism includes a movable lock element and a coupler element for linking the lock element to one of the steps. The lock element is configured to selectively engage and disengage the spike when the spike is in the angled configuration, so that the lock element limits pivoting movement of the spike in at least one direction when the lock element engages the spike. The coupler element is coupled to one of the step members, and the coupler element translates in response to moving the step member between the transport configuration and a use configuration, to thereby engage and disengage the spike with the lock element.
Thus, the climbing support of the present invention provides a step or hand hold that facilitates one-handed or at least one-person installation and/or provides a compact climbing support assembly or apparatus that is readily secured to a tree or pole. The climbing support may be initially set into or against the tree or pole by first thrusting or driving the climbing support against the tree or pole to engage a threaded fastener tip and/or a projection or spike, to temporarily hold the climbing support in place. Once the climbing support is initially set, the fastener can be rotated, such as with a wrench or crank arm or other tool, in order to secure the climbing support at the tree or pole. The spike or projection maintains proper alignment of the climbing support as torque is applied to the fastener, and may provide additional stabilization and support for the climbing support and a user positioned thereon.
These and other objects, advantages, purposes, and features of the invention will become more apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a climbing support or tree climbing step 10 includes a step body 12, a rotatable fastener 14, and a projection in the form of a spike 16. Step body 12 includes an upper support surface 18 for use as a foot support or hand-hold by a climber, and a tree-facing surface 20. Step body 12 defines an opening 22 that can be used as a hand-hold during installation of the climbing step. Tree climbing step 10 may be grasped by a climber placing their fingers through opening 22, so that the climbing step can be manually driven or thrust against a tree, a pole, or the like. This permits the climbing step to be initially set against the tree or pole and temporarily retained by initial engagement of fastener 14 and spike 16. The fastener 14 can then be turned to bore further into the tree or pole, while spike 16 limits or prevents rotation of step body 12, to thereby secure the climbing step 10 for use in supporting the weight of a climber. To simplify the remaining description, the term “tree” will be used hereafter to refer to any readily-penetrable surface, including wooden or wood-like poles, or planar or polygonal surfaces or the like.
Upper support surface 18 of step body 12 includes a plurality of projections or traction lugs 24, and an upstanding end portion 26 that extends above the height of traction lugs 24 to help prevent a climber's hand or foot from slipping off the end of the upper support surface 18. In the illustrated embodiment, traction lugs 24 are elongated rectangular bars that engage a climber's footwear or hand to reduce the risk of slipping. It will be appreciated that substantially any shape of traction lug may be used, or none at all, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Tree-facing surface 20 of step body 12 includes an upper end portion 20a near upper support surface 18, and a lower end portion 20b spaced below upper end portion 20a. In the illustrated embodiment, upper end portion 20a is sloped so that its upper end, where it meets with upper support surface 18, is positioned forwardly of the rest of upper end portion 20a, and so that its upper end is positioned forwardly of lower end portion 20b. In this arrangement, the upper end of upper end portion 20a acts as a fulcrum, as will be described below.
Step body 12 defines a bore 28 (
The opening 22 in step body 12 is sized to receive a part of a climber's hand so that the climber's fingers and/or a portion of the palm can be inserted through opening 22 to facilitate the climber's grip of the step body 12 at a lower portion 34 of body 12, which defines the lower part of opening 22 and thus acts as a handle. In the illustrated embodiment, opening 22 includes opposed, rack-receiving recesses 22a to facilitate placing tree climbing step 10 on a storage rack, as will be described below.
Step body 12 further includes a rearward or outboard portion 36 that supports a rear portion 14b of fastener 14. Outboard portion 36 of body 12 defines a bore 38 for receiving rear portion 14b of fastener 14. In the illustrated embodiment, bore 38 includes a forward reduced-diameter portion 38a and a rearward increased-diameter portion 38b, with an outwardly-facing shoulder or lip 39 marking the transition between the two (
Coil spring 40 is disposed between rearward portion 14b of fastener 14 and rearward increased diameter portion 38b of bore 38 in outward portion 36 of body 12. The depth of the rearward increased-diameter portion 38b of bore 38 may be adjusted or selected according to the size of coil spring 40 and/or the desired amount of compression of the spring, as will be described below. Coil spring 40 is disposed along the shaft of fastener 14 at rearward portion 14b, and is at least partially received in the rearward increased-diameter portion 38b of bore 38, in the outboard portion 36 of step body 12. Coil spring 40 may be at least somewhat free to slide along fastener 14 and rearward portion 38b of bore 38, but once fastener 14 has been at least partially axially driven into a tree or pole (
As described above, fastener 14 includes tip portion 14a, which is at least partially threaded and received in bore 28, and rearward portion 14b, which is received in bore 38. Tip portion 14a includes a sharpened tip 42 and a continuous spiral thread 44, which may continue substantially all the way to sharpened tip 42, or which may terminate before reaching sharpened tip 42, as shown. Sharpened tip 42 allows the tip portion 14a of fastener 14 to readily penetrate the outer surface of a tree or tree bark by simply thrusting the fastener against the tree, without need for initially rotating the fastener. Spiral thread 44 allows fastener 14 to be substantially rotated to draw at least the fastener's tip portion 14a further into the tree. Similarly, spike 16 includes a sharpened tip 46 to facilitate penetration of the tree. Fastener 14 and spike 16 are typically made of metal, such as steel, so that they can be repeatedly driven into wood or similar surfaces without bending or loosing significant sharpness of their respective tips.
Located at rearward portion 14b of fastener 14 is a head portion 48 that, in the illustrated embodiment, is a hexagonal bolt head having a diameter that is greater than that of the shaft of fastener 14. Optionally, the head portion may be substantially any feature that facilitates rotation of the fastener via a tool, such as any non-circular outer surface, or a non-circular recess or cavity for receiving a tool such as a hexagonal wrench, a screwdriver, or the like. Optionally, the head portion could facilitate manipulation by hand, such as by including a pair of radially extending projections or wings (i.e., similar to a wing nut) of sufficient size to enable a climber to grasp the head portion and apply sufficient torque to rotate the fastener by hand and drive it into the tree or pole. In the illustrated embodiment, head portion 48 is positioned outboard of the outward portion 36 of step body 12, although it will be appreciated that the head portion could be positioned elsewhere along the shaft of fastener 14, such as along a mid portion that is accessible through opening 22 in step body 12.
A pair of radial projections 50 (
The respective diameters of bore 28 and forward reduced-diameter portion 38a of bore 38 are approximately equal to, or slightly greater than, the diameter of fastener 14, so that the fastener can move freely except as limited by head portion 48 and radial projections 50. Radial projections 50 are positioned along fastener 14 so that they will contact a forward-facing inner surface 56 of step body 12 (
The alternative tree climbing step 110 may be substantially similar to tree climbing step 10 described above, including a step body 112, a fastener 114, and spike 116, an upper support surface 118, a tree-facing surface 120, etc. (
Head portion 170a of tool 170 may be inserted from either side (i.e., laterally) of step body 112 and into opening 122 (
The tree-climbing steps described above may be made of substantially any sufficiently strong material that is resistant to corrosion in the presence of outdoor weather, tree sap, etc. For example steel, aluminum alloy, or fiber-filled resinous plastic may be used. If desired, the tree-climbing steps can be finished or molded in bright colors for high visibility, or in muted tones or camouflage patterns for blending in to the natural surroundings.
Referring now to
Tool-supporting portion 186 of support rack 180 is a generally planar horizontal plate that is coupled to and spans between each horizontal rod portion 190, as shown in
The vertical rods 182a of step-supporting portion 182 are sized and spaced to be received in the respective rack-receiving recesses 22a of opening 22 in step body 12. The space defined between vertical rods 188 and vertical rods 182a is such that the portion of step body 12 between rack-receiving portions 22a and upper support surface 18 is received between the vertical rods 188, 182a. In the illustrated embodiment, the center of gravity of tree climbing step 10 is located at or near the rack-receiving portions 22a of opening 22, so that the tree climbing step 10 will generally balance in substantially horizontal alignment when resting on horizontal base members 182c of step supporting portion 182, such as shown in
Accordingly, the present invention provides a climbing support, such as a tree climbing step, that can be installed one-handed, such as by a climber while progressively scaling a tree. As will be described in greater detail below, the tree climbing step is initially driven or thrust against the outer surface of the tree, in a direction that is generally orthogonal to the tree, to at least partially embed the respective tips of the fastener and the spike in the tree's outer surface. This temporarily supports the climbing step at the tree, which permits the climber to release his/her grasp of the climbing step, retrieve the tool such as a ratchet wrench, and rotatably drive the fastener using the tool (or using the climber's bare hand or a gloved hand) to fully secure the step at the tree by tightening the fastener. This draws the tree climbing step tightly against the outer surface of the tree, so that the step can bear the weight of the climber.
As noted above, the initial step of installing the climbing support of the present invention is to first manually drive or thrust the step against the outer surface of a tree 194, which includes an inner wood or fiber portion 196 and an outer bark portion 198 (
Once the tree climbing step 10 (or alternative step 110) is initially supported at the tree 194, coil spring 40 urges step body 12 against the bark 198, which helps to maintain spike 16 in engagement with the bark 198 to limit or prevent rotation of step body 12 as the climber applies torque to head portion 48 of fastener 14. This torque (indicated by curved arrows in
Thus, the tree climbing step of the present invention can be installed along a tree, wooden pole, or the like, in a one-handed manner, by initially setting the climbing step into the tree, typically with an overhand motion, and then using a single hand to rotate the fastener to tightly secure the step at the tree. Once the climbing step is fully secured, the lower portion of the step body and the opening may be used as hand-hold and/or foot-hold, and the upper support surface may also be used as a hand-hold or foot-support as a climber scales a tree or other surface to which the climbing step is attached. It will be appreciated that the climbing step can also be removed in a one-handed manner, by initially loosening the fastener until it mostly or entirely disengages the tree, and then manually pulling the climbing step away from the tree to disengage the spike.
Optionally, and with reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, fastener 218 is permanently or semi-permanently mounted in a bore 222 in a middle region 212c of elongate body 212, and can be manually axially driven into the tree 216 without the use of tools, as described below. A generally C-shaped housing or fastener-support member 224 extends outwardly from elongate body 212 away from tree 216, in the vicinity of bore 222, and supports fastener 218 with the fastener's head portion 218b positioned outwardly of support member 224. As fastener 218 is rotatably driven into tree 216, head portion 218b will be drawn closer to fastener-support member 224, typically until making contact, so that further rotation of the fastener causes head portion 218b to apply a force to the support member 224, which thereby urges the tree-climbing apparatus 210 toward the tree. The tightening of the fastener 218 also urges C-shaped portions 220a of standoffs 220 into tighter contact with the tree, so that the apparatus 210 is held tightly against the tree with little or no movement during use, and with fastener 218 and standoffs 220 all providing both vertical support and lateral support for elongate body 212 and steps 214 as the fastener and standoffs engage the tree 216.
Fastener 218 includes a generally smooth shaft portion 218c between tip portion 218a and head portion 218b (
Thus, tree-climbing apparatus 210 may be installed along a tree by orienting the apparatus 210 generally vertically along the tree 216, setting the standoffs 220 against the tree's outer surface, and driving the fastener 218 into the tree. The fastener 218 is driven into the tree by grasping head portion 218a, drawing the fastener away from the tree to compress spring 230, and releasing the head portion 218b so that the fastener's tip portion 218a is driven some distance into the tree by spring 230. The fastener 218 is then rotated to further drive it into the tree until standoffs 220 are urged tightly against the tree and the climbing apparatus 210 is secure. Optionally, multiple tree-climbing apparatuses 210 may be positioned one atop the other to facilitate climbing a tree of substantially any height. The tree-climbing apparatus 210 may be readily removed from the tree simply by loosening the fastener 218, and without reaching around the tree to loosen straps or other attachment devices.
Referring now to
To facilitate storage, compactness, and portability when the apparatus is not in use, steps 314 are pivotably mounted to elongate body 312 via respective fasteners 322, and are formed with channels 324 (
Standoffs 320 are rotatable from a use position in which generally C-shaped tree-engaging portions 320a are oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, perpendicular to elongate body 312 (
Standoffs 320 further include body-receiving bracket portions 320b, located opposite C-shaped tree-engaging portions 320a, and which are also generally C-shaped. Bracket portions 320b receive a portion of elongate body 312 when the standoffs 320 are in the use position, such as shown in
The fasteners 318 of apparatus 310 are configured to be readily removable from elongate body 312 when desired, such as for safer transport of the apparatus without sharp fastener tips projecting out from the elongate body. Fasteners 318 include threaded tip portions 318a and head portions 318b, with middle portions 318c that are received in a bore 330 (or in a pair of corresponding bores since, in the illustrated embodiment, elongate body 312 is tubular). A generally C-shaped collar plate 332 includes a center channel 332a (
An elongate elastic cord or biasing element 336 has opposite end portions 336a, 336b that are attached inside of the tubular elongate body 312 with fasteners 337 (
Elastic cord 336 biases fastener 318 so that tip portion 318a is urged away from elongate body 312, such as shown with reference to the upper fastener and elastic cord in
When elastic cord 336 is released, its stored energy biases fastener 318 toward tree 316 due to engagement of cord 336 with collar plate 332, and engagement of the collar plate 332 with C-clip 334. Fastener 318 is thus rapidly accelerated or propelled toward the tree 316 so that tip portion 318a impacts and at least partially embeds into the tree. In this way, the sharpened and threaded tip portion 318a of fastener 318 can be easily initially driven into the tree 316 using only one hand, and without pounding using a hammer or other tool, or the user's hand. Fastener 318 may then be rotated to drive its threaded tip portion 318a further into the tree 316 until tree-climbing apparatus 310 is sufficiently secured to the tree. It will be appreciated that when fastener 318 is somewhat loosened so that collar plate 332 is not tightly pinched between fastener heat portion 318b and elongate body 312, collar plate 332 may be readily disengaged from fastener 318, which allows for full removal of the fastener 318 from apparatus 310 if desired (
Thus, the tree climbing apparatus can be installed along a tree, wooden pole, or the like, in a one-handed manner, by initially setting the apparatus against the tree, and then using a single hand to draw a fastener rearwardly against the biasing force of a spring, elastic cord, or other biasing member, and then releasing the fastener so that it impacts the tree at high velocity to embed the fastener tip at least partially in the tree, followed by rotating the fastener to tightly secure the apparatus at the tree. Once the climbing apparatus is fully secured, the steps may be used as hand-holds and/or foot-holds as a climber scales a tree or other surface to which the climbing apparatus is attached. Standoffs may be provided to increase the space between the steps and the tree, and the standoffs and steps may be repositionable between use configurations and more compact storage or transport configurations. It will be appreciated that the climbing apparatus can be installed and removed by a user positioned at one side of a tree or pole, without need for the user to reach around or walk around the tree or pole during installation or removal. Optionally, a plurality of tree climbing apparatuses can be installed one above the other, to enable a climber to reach substantially any desired distance along the tree or pole.
Other tree-climbing apparatuses are envisioned that simplify installation, such as to further facilitate installation by a single user. Referring now to
To facilitate storage, compactness, and portability when the apparatus is not in use, steps 414a-c are pivotably mounted to elongate body 412 via respective fasteners 422 (
Tree-climbing apparatus 410 includes a crank arm 428 that is pivotably coupled to a proximal end portion of fastener 418, which protrudes from elongate body 412 (
Deployment mechanism 426 permits spike 424 to be secured in a fully-extended configuration in which the spike extends substantially straight out from the lower end portion of elongate body 412 (
A lock plate 438 that spans the width of elongate body 412 engages ratchet tabs 440 to selectively prevent spike 424 from rotating or pivoting from the angled use position to the stowed position, as best shown in
Lock plate 438 is urged downwardly by a biasing element in the form of a coil spring 448 that is held in compression between a mounting tab 450, which is internal to elongate body 412. When lower step 414c is moved to its lowered or deployed position as shown in
Coupler rod 452 and lock plate 438 are moved up and down with the movement of lower step 414c between it stowed position (e.g.,
Optionally, it is envisioned that coupler rod 452 could be replaced with a stiff but somewhat flexible actuator cable, rod, spring, or the like, which is sufficiently rigid to hold lock plate in engagement with ratchet tabs 440 when lower step 414c is deployed, but which is also sufficiently flexible that it will bend or buckle or compress under sufficient compressive load. For example, a user could grasp lock plate 438 (such as where its edge portions protrude through slots 442 in sidewalls 443 of elongate body 412) and lift the lock plate against the biasing force of spring 448 to buckle or bend the actuator cable (or other actuator element) that is used in place of coupler rod 452. This would allow a user to adjust the angle of spike 424 relative to elongate body 412 (at least slightly), even when the apparatus 410 is installed along a tree and lower step 414c is deployed.
Accordingly, tree-climbing apparatus 410 may be readily and securely installed at the tree or pole 416 by a single user, in a relatively short period of time, and in just a few steps, such as shown in
Once spike portion 424a is set into the tree 416, the upper portion of elongate body 412 is pushed toward the tree 416 by the user (
Crank arm 428 is grasped by the user at the gripping portion 430 and is rotated to apply torque to fastener 418 until a bracket portion 420b of standoff 420 is drawn snugly against tree 416, which stabilizes tee-climbing apparatus 410 (and especially its upper portion) against side-to-side and vertical movement. Spike 424 remains imbedded in the tree 416 during tightening of the fastener 418, so that elongate body 412 typically pivots at least slightly relative to spike 424 as the upper portion of the elongate body 412 is drawn toward tree 416 by the fastener.
Once fastener 418 and the C-shaped tree-engaging portion 420a of standoff 420 are fully engaged, crank arm 428 may be positioned with gripping portion 430 at the top of its circular travel path so that crank arm 428 may be pivoted about 180-degrees downwardly with gripping portion 430 received in opening 432, such as shown in
Optionally, one or more tree-climbing apparatuses 410 may be installed in vertical arrangement to allow the user to climb higher into a tree than would otherwise be possible with a single tree-climbing apparatus. Once a first apparatus is fully installed at the tree 416 as described above, additional apparatuses may be installed by a user whose weight is supported on the first apparatus, although for safety and ease-of-use reasons, it may be desirable to for the user to secure themselves using a safety strap attached to the tree or the previously-installed climbing apparatus.
Tree-climbing apparatus 410 may be removed from tree 416 following the above-described steps in substantially the reverse order, by first pivoting the crank arm 428 to the use position and rotating it to remove the fastener 418 from tree 416. The elongate body 412 can be pivoted away from the tree regardless of whether or not lower step 414c has been raised to is stowed configuration, since the engagement of lock plate 438 with the ratchet tabs 440 of spike mounting portion 424b does not limit or prevent pivoting movement of spike 424 toward its straight configuration in-line with elongate body 412, such as shown in
Once tree-climbing apparatus 410 has been removed from the tree 416, steps 414a-c are typically pivoted upwardly to their respective stowed positions to provide a narrower profile for the apparatus. In addition, standoff 420 may be drawn a sufficient distance from elongate body 412 to disengage its bracket portion 420b and permit rotation of the standoff 420 about 90-degrees to align its C-shaped tree-engaging portion 420a generally vertically and with the opposite ends of bracket portion 420b received in horizontal slots 427 of elongate body 412 and retained therein by the spring contained in horizontal extension 420c. In this way, the overall width of tree-climbing apparatus 410 is approximately equal to the width of elongate body 412. This reduces the space needed for long-term storage of the tee-climbing apparatus 410, as well as the space needed in a vehicle, such as the bed of a pickup truck or other vehicle, when transporting one or more tree-climbing apparatuses to a climbing site.
It will be appreciated that numerous design variations may be carried out without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the tee-climbing apparatus could be provided with two or more threaded fasteners with respective crank arms, either in place of or in addition to a spike that is set into the tree as described above. In addition, two or more standoffs may be provided to further add stability to the apparatus when installed along a tree or pole.
The tee-climbing apparatuses described above may be made primarily from steel, such as sheet steel that is cut and formed (e.g., bent, welded, etc) to the desired shapes, and optionally painted, powder-coated, or epoxy-coated as a final finish, which could optionally be a camouflage pattern, for example. However, it will be appreciated that numerous other sufficiently strong and corrosion-resistant materials may be suitable, such as high-strength aluminum alloy, or even certain high-strength composite materials or the like.
Thus, the tree climbing apparatus can be installed by a single user along a tree, wooden pole, or the like, in a one-handed manner, by initially thrusting a spike at the lower end of the apparatus into the tree, urging a fastener at the upper end of the apparatus into the tee and rotating the fastener to tightly secure the apparatus at the tree. Once the climbing apparatus is fully secured, the steps may be used as hand-holds and/or foot-holds as a climber scales a tree or other surface to which the climbing apparatus is attached. A standoff located at the fastener increases the space between the steps and the tree, and provides added stability to the device upon tightening the fastener to engage the standoff with the tree or pole. The standoff and the steps may be repositionable between use configurations and more compact storage or transport configurations.
Changes and modifications in the specifically-described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.
The present application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/394,425, filed Oct. 19, 2010, and of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/510,196, filed Jul. 21, 2011, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
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Entry |
---|
Exhibit A includes photos of various “climbing sticks,” at least three of which (“Ameristep”, “Muddy Outdoors,” and “Gorilla”) are believed to have been on sale more than one year prior to the filing date of this application. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61394425 | Oct 2010 | US | |
61510196 | Jul 2011 | US |