Patent ID: 6079517
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: A01M,A45F,A63B

Abstract:
A power driven tree stand system automatically controlled by a user, such as a person in a wheelchair, comprising, in combination:an elevator assembly having a pair of parallel primary rails with interior ends and exterior ends and a pair of parallel secondary rails with interior ends and exterior ends, a pair of pivot pins coupling the primary rails and secondary rails adjacent to their interior ends, a primary axle coupling the exterior ends of the primary rails and a secondary axle coupling the exterior ends of the secondary rails, the secondary rails being formed of two separate sections with a bolt and nut on one section and a hinge on the other section to allow their coupling and uncoupling to permit the elevator assembly to encompass a tree;a pair of primary tires rotatably received on the primary axle and a pair of secondary tires rotatably received on the secondary axle, short internal spacers of a tubular configuration with an axial slit removably positionable over the axles between the tires with external spacers of a tubular configuration with an axial slit removably positionable over the axles between the tires and the rails to thereby hold the tires in closely spaced relationship during operation and use, elongated spacers of a tubular configuration with an axial slit removably positionable over the axles to hold the tires adjacent to the rails when transporting the system from one location to another;a pair of parallel support rails having free first ends and second ends pivotably coupled by pins to the exterior ends of the primary rails and a plurality of tubular cross bars there between for receiving a wheelchair thereupon;a pair of parallel angled rails formed of separable sections having top ends pivotably coupled by pins to intermediate regions of the primary rails and bottom ends pivotably coupled by pins adjacent to the first ends of the support rails and with an intermediate component pivotably coupled by pins to the separable sections remote from their top and bottom ends to allow movement of the separable sections between an in-line orientation during operation and use and a separated orientation during movement of a wheelchair to and from the support rails;a top rail coupling the interior ends of the primary rails with a winch and motor for rotating the winch and a battery there adjacent for energizing the motor with a control box under the control of a user for operatively coupling to the motor to thereby selectively power the winch to raise and lower the elevator assembly along a tree;a locking pin having a support end pivotably mounted on the secondary axle and a pointed free end adapted to penetrate a tree when the elevator assembly is in a raised orientation for securement purpose and a spring adapted to urge the free end into a tree, the support end of the locking pin including a handle with a forward end adapted to be under the control of an operator for rotating the pin for engaging and disengaging a tree;a U-shaped guard having free ends pivotably coupled by pins to an upper extent of the primary rails to secure the user and wheelchair in position;a short cable and a cable positioning member including a C-shaped upper component with a plurality of resilient fingers for releasably supporting the short cable configured in a major loop around a tree, the short cable having a first fee end with a first minor loop and a second free end with a second minor loop, the second free end of the short cable extending through the first minor loop and also including a long cable coupled between the winch and the second minor loop of the short cable; anda cable positioning mechanism also including a long rod for elevating the upper component and short cable to an intended height prior to energizing the winch and raising the elevator assembly.