Abstract:
A trailer-mounted, retractable elevated hunting stand, especially but not exclusively suitable for deer hunting. The stand comprises a wheeled trailer, suitable for pulling behind a tow vehicle. The elevated stand is hingedly mounted on the trailer in a “jack-knife” configuration, with a main shaft mounted via a hinge to the trailer, and a platform atop the shaft. The platform is hinged to permit rotation for compact storage. A spring biases the shaft toward a vertical position. To use the stand, the shaft is rotated to the vertical position and the seating platform is rotated on its shaft mounting so as to be substantially horizontal when the shaft is vertical. The shaft is then locked in place. A ladder permits access to the elevated platform. The shaft telescopes for additional height if desired. The trailer permits hauling of an ATV when the stand is retracted.

Description:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to apparatus used in various outdoor sports, especially but not exclusively hunting. In particular, the present invention is a trailer mounted, retractable elevated hunting or viewing stand.  
         BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
         [0002]    This invention relates to a type of elevated seating platform, commonly referred to as a “blind” or “stand,” which are commonly used by outdoors enthusiasts to view wildlife, such as birds and mammals. Stands are perhaps most commonly (but not exclusively) used by hunters, but birdwatchers and the like also employ stands. For the illustrative purposes of this patent application, the focus will be on the use of this stand for hunting. Further, while this invention is suitable for hunting various types of wild game, again for illustrative purposes it will be discussed in the context of hunting deer.  
           [0003]    For various reasons, it is often desired to hunt deer from an elevated position, hence the reference to a “stand.” Elevated stands are often more effective than ground-level stands, for several reasons: the increased height provides better viewing of the surroundings, permitting the hunter to see over and through underbrush; reduced chances of being viewed by the deer, since deer are not as apt to look upwardly for danger, as most of their natural predators are ground-bearing creatures; and the hunter&#39;s scent is not as likely to be detected by a deer when the hunter is elevated, being instead dispersed above a deer&#39;s scenting location.  
           [0004]    Elevated stands are often constructed in place and are relatively permanent—that is, they cannot be readily moved to different areas. Many stands comprise “towers” which have a shooting platform atop a steel or wooden tower framework, placing the shooting platform some distance above the ground. The shooting platform typically provides a few square feet of area to stand on, in addition to a seat (preferably a swivel seat) and a surrounding rail which provides a safety measure and a rest for the hunter&#39;s rifle. The shooting platform may be partially or fully enclosed to shelter the hunter from the elements. Other “permanent” stands are built into trees.  
           [0005]    A key limitation to permanent stands is just that—their permanence. Should a permanent stand be built in a non-productive area, or should game animals&#39; habits change, the stand may be of little value. It is therefore desirable to have a stand which provides the benefits of a stable, elevated shooting platform, yet which can be readily moved to different locations to increase hunting effectiveness.  
           [0006]    Various attempts have been made at building movable, elevated stands. Some movable stands have been built which comprise a conventional tower stand mounted on wheels, and therefore moveable at low speeds where sufficient overhead clearance exists, but stability problems with a tall structure exist. Obviously, such arrangements are not conducive to high-speed movement on public roads, due to both overhead clearance and stability concerns. Similar arrangements have included a scaffold-like structure mounted on a wheeled trailer, for example Howard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,523. Other stand configurations mount an elevated stand structure on an ATV, some of which are hingedly mounted on the ATV and capable of being carried from spot to spot on the ATV. Examples include Reeves, U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,081; Hayes III, U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,986; and Hale, U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,374. Stanley, U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,839 discloses a collapsible stand mounted in the bed of a pickup truck.  
           [0007]    Strange, U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,555 does disclose a trailer mounted, hingedly fixed hunting stand, which appears to be adapted to carry an ATV on the trailer (with the trailer in turn adapted to be towed either by a car or truck on a roadway, or by the ATV upon location). However, the apparatus disclosed in Strange is a relatively complex one, comprising hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower the stand, of necessity requiring a battery, electric motor and hydraulic pump assembly to power the hydraulic cylinders. By contrast, the present invention comprises a trailer mounted “jack-knife” stand assembly, of a simplified and relatively inexpensive design, in a preferred embodiment using only a spring to assist in raising the main shaft on which the shooting platform mounts. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stand, in a lowered position.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 a  is a top view of the stand in the position of FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stand, with the main shaft raised to its vertical position but before the shooting platform is rotated to its operational position.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a side view of the stand in the position of FIG. 2.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 shows one view of the stand, fully erected, but without the access ladder in place, for clarity.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a view from another angle of the fully erected stand, showing the access ladder.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 shows the stand in a lowered position, attached to a pickup truck as a tow vehicle, and with an ATV (or “four wheeler”) driven onto the trailer for transport.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a view in cross section of the gear mechanism which enables telescoping of the main shaft.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 8 a  and  8   b  are views in more detail of a hinge and lock for the platform of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a view in more detail of the hinge, lock and spring, hingedly connecting the main shaft to the trailer.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    The present invention may be made in a number of different embodiments, but for purposes of illustration one of the presently preferred embodiments is described herein. While the invention is described herein as applicable to hunting, especially deer hunting, the invention is equally suitable to any application wherein an elevated viewing position or platform is desired. Other uses for the invention include wildlife viewing, bird watching, surveying, spectator sport (football, baseball, etc.) viewing and photography. The scope of the invention is not to be limited by the exemplary embodiment and description presented herein.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 1, 2 and  3  show various views of the stand  10 . Referring first to those figures, stand  10  comprises a wheeled trailer  20  having a front end generally designated by  20   a  and a rear end generally designated by  20   b . Wheeled trailer  20  is adapted to be towed by a tow vehicle, in a preferred embodiment comprising a trailer hitch connector mounted on front end  20   a , as seen in FIG. 1. Main shaft  30  is shown in a first or folded down position. A first end of main shaft  30  is connected to trailer  20  by a hinge  40 , to permit rotation of main shaft  30  between the first position and a second, substantially upright position, as will be shown in the drawings.  
         [0020]    Stabilizer arms  170  extend from the trailer to a ground footing, to provide additional stability for the stand  10 . A jack  171  supports front end  20   a  of trailer  20  at a desired elevation. It is understood that although a multi-positional jack is shown, fixed means of support are also suitable.  
         [0021]    As can be seen, a platform  60  is mounted at a second end of main shaft  30 . Platform  60  comprises a base  70  on which a user of the stand can stand upon. In the preferred embodiment, platform  60  further comprises a seat  80  for the hunter&#39;s use, and a rail  100  elevated from base  70  and surrounding at least a part of the circumference of base  70 . Rail  100  is obviously an important safety aspect of the invention. Platform  60  is mounted to main shaft  30  by a hinge  90  which permits platform  60  to rotate between a first position as seen in FIGS.  1 - 3 , where base  70  is generally aligned with main shaft  30 , to a second position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 where base  70  is generally perpendicular to main shaft  30  and the stand is ready for use by a hunter or other user. Hinge  90  further comprises a lock, to lock platform  60  in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 (when in use), described in more detail hereinafter.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 4 and 5 show the invention in the erected position. Main shaft  30  is rotated to a second, substantially vertical position, via hinge  40 . A lock is engaged to lock main shaft in that position. The lock may be a pin and hole arrangement, as specified with more detail in FIG. 9 and in the text hereinafter. Stabilizer arms  170 , which may be telescopic, extend from trailer  20  to the ground, and from platform  60  (preferably from base  70 ) to the ground. In the preferred embodiment, a brace  180  extends from main shaft  30  diagonally to a connection on trailer  20 , to brace main shaft  30  and provide a rigid, triangular structure formed by main shaft  30 , trailer  20 , and brace  180 . The user of the stand may access platform  60  by ladder  110 . While FIG. 5 shows a rope ladder, it is to be understood that the ladder of the present invention is not to be restricted to a rope ladder but includes rigid type ladders made of materials such as metal or wood.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 shows a key aspect of stand  10  of the present invention. In FIG. 6, trailer  20  is connected to a tow vehicle  130  (which may be a conventional pickup truck, or automobile), preferably by a conventional trailer hitch/ball mechanism. Main shaft  30  is rotated down to its second stored position (as previously seen in FIG. 1). Platform  60  is rotated to its stored position as previously seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 . An all terrain vehicle (“ATV”)  140 , often called a “four-wheeler,” can be driven onto trailer  20 , preferably via ramps (not shown). A surface is provided on trailer  20  for holding ATV  140 . In the preferred embodiment, the surface comprises at least two tracks  190 , preferably with a non-skid surface thereon. In the preferred embodiment, as seen in FIG. 6, a typical four wheeler will straddle main shaft  30  providing an efficient loading arrangement.  
         [0024]    Also, in the preferred embodiment, main shaft  30  is mounted via hinge  40  at a position closer to rear end  20   b  of trailer  20 , than it is to front end  20   a ; mounted in such manner, main shaft  30 , from its second substantially vertical position as shown in FIGS. 2, 3,  4 , and  5 , rotates to its first folded position in a direction toward front end  20   a  of trailer  20 . That position places platform  60  in a position nearer front end  20   a  than rear end  20   b  as shown in FIGS. 1, 6, and  7 , and provides adequate space on trailer  20  for loading of ATV  140 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 8 a  and  8   b  show hinge  90  in further detail. As described above, hinge  90  connects platform  60  to the second end of main shaft  30 , to permit rotation of platform  60  between two positions (one for transit of the stand, one for use). Hinge  90  comprises a hinge plate  90   c  and a pin  90   a  which provides the connection to main shaft  30 . Hinge  90  also comprises a lock, comprising holes  90   b  through hinge plate  90   c  and main shaft  30 , and a pin  90   d . When hinge is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 8 b , pin  90   d  can be inserted through holes  90   b , thereby locking platform  60  in place.  
         [0026]    A similar hinge  40  permits rotation of main shaft  30  on trailer  20 . FIG. 9 shows main shaft  30  its first, lowered position, then rotated to its second, substantially vertical position (main shaft  30  shown in dotted lines). Hinge  40  comprises hinge plate  40   c , and hinge pin  40   a . Hinge  40  also comprises a lock, which in the preferred embodiment comprises a pin  40   d  inserted through holes  40   b  through hinge plate  40   c  and main shaft  30 , thereby rotationally locking the two together. A spring (which may be a coil spring) is represented by  40   c , and is disposed between main shaft  30  and trailer  20  (for example, coiled around hinge pin  40   a ) and biases main shaft  30  toward its second, substantially vertical position. Spring  40   c  can be of a strength such that little additional force is required to raise main shaft  30  to its vertical position.  
         [0027]    In the preferred embodiment, main shaft  30  is of a telescopic configuration, and comprises telescoping first and second shafts  30   a  and  30   b . FIG. 7 is a partial cross section of one possible embodiment of the telescopic feature, using a gear and lead screw arrangement. Referring to FIG. 7, first shaft  30   a  is proximal trailer  20 , and telescopes into a bore in second shaft  30   b . A nut  34  is disposed atop first shaft  30   a . A lead screw  33  (commonly referred to as an “Acme” screw) is threaded through nut  34 , extends upwardly through a bearing  34  fixed in second shaft  30   b , and is attached to a bevel gear  32  which rotates atop bearing  34 . A second bevel gear  31  is mounted within second shaft  30   b  on driven shaft  37 , which is in turn driven by the user by handle  35  (which may be detachable). To telescope main shaft  30  upwardly or downwardly, a user simply attaches handle  35  to driven shaft  37 , and rotates handle  35  in the desired direction. That action rotates bevel gear  31 , which in turn rotates bevel gear  32  and lead screw  33 . Rotation of lead screw  33  within nut  34  forces lead screw and the entire assembly above it—that is, the gears, bearing  36 , second shaft  30   b , and ultimately platform  60 —up or down as the case may be.  
         [0028]    The present invention also comprises a safety lock, denoted by element  200 , to positively lock first and second shafts  30   a  and  30   b  together at a desired position. Once main shaft (via first and second shafts  30   a  and  30   b ) are telescoped to a desired length, holes in first and second shafts  30   a  and  30   b  can be aligned one with the other, and safety lock  200  (which comprises a spring loaded pin) can be inserted through the aligned holes, thereby locking the shafts together. That way, safety lock  200  acts as a backup mechanism to the bevel gear and lead screw mechanism for maintaining the shaft in an extended position. As shown in FIG. 7, safety lock  200  comprises a spring loaded pin extending through shaft  30   b , and through holes in shaft  30   a , to lock the two together.  
         [0029]    A typical sequence of use of the stand is as follows. Starting with an ATV loaded atop trailer  20 , as seen in FIG. 6, tow vehicle  130  pulls stand  10  and ATV  140  to a general hunting locality. ATV  140  is then unloaded from trailer  20  with ramps or other suitable means. Stand  10  can then be disconnected from tow vehicle  130  and attached to ATV  140 , which can then pull stand  10  to a specific desired hunting location. Once on site, if desired, stand  10  can remain hitched to ATV  140 ; otherwise, it can be unhitched, and jack  171  used to support front end  20   a  of trailer  20 . Main shaft  30  is then raised (assisted by the bias of spring  40   c ) to its second, substantially upright position, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, and locked in place. Next, platform  60  can be rotated to a position wherein base  70  is substantially perpendicular to main shaft  30 , and locked in place. Then, main shaft  30  can be telescoped to its maximum extension. Stabilizer arms  170  can be installed to provide additional support with the ground, and brace  180  installed to create a more rigid connection between main shaft  30  and trailer  20 . Access ladder  110  is then deployed to enable access to platform  60 . From the first step of rotating the main shaft to its vertical position, until the stand is fully and completely erected, a total time of perhaps 15 minutes is required.  
         [0030]    With regard to materials and dimensions, most of the structural pieces of the invention lend themselves to fabrication from tubular or angle steel, including galvanized steel, as desired. Of course, other metals such as aluminum may also be used. Certain components, for example base  70 , could advantageously be made of high-strength composites. It is to be understood that the scope of the invention comprises fabrication from any suitable materials, and the suggestions given herein are by way of example only. Dimensions of the various components of the stand are a matter of choice and application to the particular setting. By way of example, main shaft may be comprised of two telescoping shafts, the lower one about 4 feet long and the upper one about 5 feet long. Such dimensions permit a telescoped shaft length of about 8½′ from the trailer bed to the base of the platform. Yet another dimensional aspect is that in the preferred embodiment, the maximum width of trailer  20  is less than the maximum width of ATV  140 . Therefore, the user is ensured that trailer  20  may be pulled through any opening through which ATV  140  will pass.  
         [0031]    While the above description contains many specificities, it is to be understood that they are by way of example only and not by way of limitation. A number of changes could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, different materials could be used; the shapes of different components, for example platform base  70  could be square, rectangular, or circular; additions could be made to trailer  20  such as tool boxes or the like; different types of locking mechanisms could be employed on the hinges; and so on.  
         [0032]    Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.