Abstract:
Portable and lightweight hanger for raising and supporting weights such as game carcasses from posts, such as tress. The hanger can include a triangular crane shaped frame having a bent tip end, and an enlarged base with open side portion that abuts against a surface of the tree. A cable having stopper ends attaches an upper portion of the frame to the tree by having stopper ends being inserted into keyhole slots on a midportion of the frame. The bent tip can have a slot for allowing a rope to be pulled therethrough to list game carcasses up into the air to be cleaned. The hanger can be carried and installed on a tree by a single hunter without damaging the tree since no fasteners such as nails, and screws are used.

Description:
This invention relates to tree hangers, in particular to portable and lightweight devices, apparatus, systems and methods of hanging and raising weights such as game carcasses from tree hangers that only require one user to mount the hanger to a tree. 
   BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
   Hunters have preferred to clean their game, such as a deer, or wild hog, or bear soon after the game is caught. A usual technique for cleaning game has required the hunter to run a wire or rope between two trees for the game, or throwing one end of the rope/wire over a tree limb or attaching a hook to a tree. However, there are problems with these techniques. For example, the rope/wire between trees requires two good sized trees in proximity to one another strong enough to support game that can weigh up to a hundred pounds or more, which is not always an available option. Similarly, individual tree limbs are generally not able to support a game weighing up to a hundred pounds or more. 
   Also, the rope/wire and/or the hook may not be strong enough to support a game carcass that can weigh up to a hundred pounds or more. Additionally, it can be difficult for the hunter to physically raise the game up in the air, especially if the hunter is hunting alone. Still furthermore, once the game is raised up to the rope/wire and/or hook, it can be difficult for the hunter to lower the game once it has been cleaned without dropping the game to the ground. 
   Still furthermore, a single end mounted rope/wire or a hook, does not allow for the game to be thoroughly cleaned since one side may be adjacent to or too close to the tree itself, making cleaning around all sides of the game difficult to achieve. 
   Thus, wires/ropes and hooks are not practical for supporting game to be cleaned. 
   Various types of tree mountable brackets with or without hoists have also been proposed over the years. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,049,110 to Owens; 5,263,675 to Roberts et al.; 5,562,534 to McGough; 5,588,907 to DePietro et al.; 5,820,455 to Breedlove; 6,662,903 to Johnson; 6,695,688 to Owen et al.; 6.739,964 to Gearhart; and U.S. Published Patent Application 2003/0094553 to Mullis. However, these brackets have also been problematic and undesirable to use. 
   For example, these brackets all generally require two persons to raise the bracket and attach the bracket to a tree, which is impossible to do if the hunter is hunting alone. Many of these brackets are heavy and are difficult to transport since they also can require two or more persons to properly move and raise the bracket and attach it to the tree. Also, large brackets require a large storage location which also is not practical for hunters having small vehicles, and the like. 
   Additionally, many of these brackets require loose belts, loose chains, and/or separate mounting parts that must be carefully attached about the trees that can be difficult and time consuming for the hunter who needs to quickly raise the game to be cleaned. Still furthermore, many of these brackets require lifting the bracket to a height that requires a ladder or require the hunter to physically climb the tree to attach the bracket to a high location on the tree which is difficult and usually unpractical to most hunters. 
   Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A primary objective of the present invention is to provide portable devices, apparatus, systems and methods of hanging game from tree hangers, where only one person is needed to move, raise and attach the hanger to a tree. 
   A second objective of the present invention is to provide portable devices, apparatus, systems and methods of hanging game from tree hangers, which can be attached to a tree in minutes, and taken down from a tree in minutes. 
   A third objective of the present invention is to provide portable devices, apparatus, systems and methods of hanging game from tree hangers, which can support weights of up to approximately 1,000 pounds or more. 
   A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide portable devices, apparatus, systems and methods of hanging game from tree hangers, where the hanger is small enough to be held and carried in one hand. 
   A fifth objective of the present invention is to provide portable devices, apparatus, systems and methods of hanging game from tree hangers, which are lightweight being less than approximately 15 pounds. 
   A sixth objective of the present invention is to provide portable devices, apparatus, systems and methods of hanging game from tree hangers, which are small enough to be transported in the trunk of most automobiles. 
   A seventh objective of the present invention is to provide portable devices, apparatus, systems and methods of hanging game from tree hangers, that is environmentally safe on trees due to no fasteners such as nails and screws, and the like, are used, which can be cause damage to the trees. 
   An embodiment can include a 2 to 3 foot tall triangular metal frame having crane shape. The enlarged base has a flat bar, with two outwardly expanding metal bars, each with raised grooved edges so that it can abut against a tree. The frame has about three elongated solid type metal bars that form a triangular shape that comes together at a tip. 
   The tip has a bent end with a through-hole/slot. A ring and/or clamp can be suspended from the slot opening at the tip end of the frame. The ring and/or clamp can suspend dead game from it. 
   The frame can be secured to a tree trunk by wrapping a semi-flexible rigid cable with ends having plural enlarged metal stops. The metal stops at each end of the cable can fit into the large openings of keyhole shaped slots in a mounting flange located in a midportion of the frame. 
   The cable can have different metal stops arranged at different points along the cable so that the cable can be lengthened or shortened depending on the size of the tree. The stops can be inserted through the large openings of the keyhole slots, and then moved to the narrow openings of the keyhole slots. The stops can then be restricted from being removed once the cable ends are moved into the narrow openings of the keyhole slots. 
   Once the frame/crane is attached to a tree trunk, game such as deer, wild hogs, bears, and the like, can be suspended from the clamp that is attached to the tip end of the crane frame. With the game suspended, a single hunter can easily clean all sides of the carcasses of the game that is suspended in the air. 
   The invention can include method steps of pre-attaching one end of the cable to a keyhole slot on the frame. Next, an installed can raise the frame against the tree with one hand and attaching the cable about the tree with the other hand so that the opposite end with stoppers can be positioned and oriented into the other keyhole slot on the frame. The weight of the frame moving downward can lock this end into the other keyhole slot, and the frame can rest in a fixed raised position on the tree by the grooved teeth on the open side of the enlarged base abutting against one surface of the tree, while the looped around cable on the opposite side of the tree rests against another surface of the tree. 
   Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a right front perspective view of the game tree hanger frame. 
       FIG. 2  is a left front perspective view of the hanger frame of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a left rear perspective view of the hanger frame of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a right rear perspective view of the hanger frame of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the hanger frame of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a right side view of the hanger frame of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a rear view of the hanger frame of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 8  is a left side view of the hanger frame of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective exploded view of hanger frame of  FIGS. 1-8  detached from the cable with stops. 
       FIG. 10  is another view of the hanger frame and cable being positioned about the tree. 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the hanger frame of  FIG. 10  with one end of the cable with stoppers being inserted into one of the keyhole slots on the frame. 
       FIG. 12  shows the cable end with stoppers of inserted into the large opening of the keyhole slot on the frame shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 13  shows the cable end with stopper being slid toward the narrow opening of the keyhole slot on the frame shown in  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 14  shows the hanger frame of the preceding figures being held by one hand against the tree and other hand manipulating the other end of the cable into another keyhole slot. 
       FIG. 15  shows the tree mounted hanger after it is pushed up on the tree installed and supporting a game carcass, where the carcass is pulled up and suspended in mid-air. 
       FIG. 16  is an enlarged view of the hanger with game carcass of  FIG. 15  showing tension support points on the back and front of the tree, and rope end being loose. 
       FIG. 17  is another view of the tree mounted hanger of  FIG. 16  with rope end now tied off. 
       FIG. 18  is a side view of the hanger frame of the preceding figures installed on a tree by the cable with stopper ends. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
   The components in the drawing figures are listed below.
     Tree Hanger Designator Descriptions     10 . Tree Hanger Frame.     20 . Tie-off cleat.     30 . Lifting ring.     40 . Tree grabbing teeth/raised grooved edges.     50 . Cable locking flange plate.     60 . Cable locking keyway.     70 . Main spar(bar)(hollow).     80 . Tree bracket Base     82 ,  86  Outwardly Expanding Tree bracket members     85 . Base front member bracket member     90 . Tree contact point.     100 A,  100 B. Support spars(solid).     102 . lower support bar for flange plate  50       106 . upper support bar for flange plate  50       110 A,  110 B. Rearwardly Facing Cross braces(solid).     116 . Main cross brace for support spars     120 . Adjustable hanging cable assembly.     130 . Cable.     140 A,  140 B. Cable stops.     150 . Tree.     160 . Game animal.     170 . Rope.     180 . Knot.     200 . Upper Tip     210 . Bent end     220 . cross brace   

     FIG. 1  is a right front perspective view of the game tree hanger frame  10 .  FIG. 2  is a left front perspective view of the hanger frame  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a left rear perspective view of the hanger frame  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a right rear perspective view of the hanger frame  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5  is a front view of the hanger frame  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  is a right side view of the hanger frame  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7  is a rear view of the hanger frame  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 8  is a left side view of the hanger frame  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , hanger frame  10  formed from metal tube members that can have a generally crane shape with an enlarged bottom tree bracket base  80  and a upper tip  200  having a length of approximately 2 to approximately three feet therebetween, and an overall weight of approximately 10 to approximately 15 pounds. 
   The tree bracket base  80  can include a base bracket member  85  with outwardly expanding bracket members  82 ,  86  attached to ends of the member  85 , and vertical tie-off cleats  20  at the exposed ends of the bracket members  82 ,  86 , so that the bracket base forms a rear open portion to partially wrap about a tree. Along an inner surface of the two outwardly expanding bracket members  82 ,  86  can be grooved teeth strips of enhance the contact between the frame  10  and the tree, which will described later in reference to other figures. 
   The frame  10  can have about three main elongated solid type metal bars  100 A,  100 B,  70  that form a generally triangular shape between the base bracket  80  and the tip end  200 . Outer support spars  100 A,  100 B, can be attached to outer ends of the bracket members  82 ,  86  and attach together at the tip end  200 , and a main spar member  70  can run from a midportion of the base bracket member  85  to the upper tip  200 . 
   A horizontal flange support plate  50  having a pair of keyhole slots  60  can be supported by a lower support bar  102  which attaches and stabilizes the plate  50  relative to the bracket member  85 , and an upper support bar  106  which attaches and stabilizes the plate relate to the upper tip  200 . A pair of rearwardly facing cross braces  110 A,  110 B can also attach and stabilize portions of the upper support bar  106  to an upper portion of the main spar  70 . A main cross brace  106  adjacent flange plate  50  can attach and stabilize a mid portion of support spars  110 A,  100 B to one another. Lower support bar  102  and a lower portion of the main spar  70  can form a triangle shape therebetween, and upper support bar  106  and an upper portion of the main spar  70  can also form a triangular shape therebetween. 
   Upper tip  200  can have a bent end  210  protruding therefrom with a fixed lifting ring  30  with or without a clevis(U-shaped type clamp), with a cross brace  220  between a midportion of the bent end  210  and an upper portion of the main spar bar  70 . 
     FIG. 9  is a perspective exploded view of hanger frame  10  of  FIGS. 1-8  detached from the cable  130  with stops  140 A, and  140 B,  FIG. 10  is another view of the hanger frame  10  and cable  130  being positioned about the tree  150 .  FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the hanger frame  10  of  FIG. 10  with one end of the cable  130  with stoppers  140 A,  140 B being inserted into one of the keyhole slots  60 A,  60 B, on the frame.  FIG. 12  shows the cable  130  end with stoppers  140 A inserted into the large opening of the keyhole slot  60 A on the frame  10  shown in  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 13  shows the cable  130  end with stopper  140 A being slid toward the narrow opening of the keyhole slot  60 A on the frame  10  shown in  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 14  shows the hanger frame  10  of the preceding figures being held by one hand against the tree  150  and other hand manipulating the other end of the cable  30  with stoppers  140 B into another keyhole slot  60 B. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 9-14 , the hanger frame  10  is light enough and small enough to allow for a single user to attach the adjustable cable assembly  120  with the hanger frame  10  to a tree  150 . Initially, as shown by  FIGS. 11-13 , the user can orient the hanger frame  10  so that the wide openings of the keyhole slots  60 A,  60 B are lower the narrow openings of the keyhole slots  60 A,  60 B. Next, the user can install a single stopper  140 A form a row of stoppers on one end of the cable  130  into a wide opening of a keyhole slot  60 A, and then slide the cable upward in the angled keyhole slot  60 A into the narrow opening of the same keyhole slot  60 A. The cable can include strands of metal type parallel and/or wound type fibers wrapped by an outer sleeve such as a plastic sleeve, and the like. The metal can include but is not limited to stainless steel, galvanized metal, and the like, and other materials having similar strength. 
   After attaching one end of the cable  130 , the user can physically raise the frame  10  with one hand R pushing the open bottom the tree grabbing teeth  40  against the tree  150 . With their other hand L, the user can push the opposite end of the cable  120  with stoppers  140 B about the tree  150  so that the opposite cable end falls into the wide opening of the other keyhole slot  60 B. The cable is flexible but rigid enough to be able to partially raise one end of the cable by aiming the one end upward by grasping a midportion of the cable. The user can pull up on the cable  120  catching the one of the stoppers  140 B into the narrow opening of the second keyhole slot  60 B. The weight of the tip  200  of the frame  10  moving downward further locks the frame  10  against the tree  150 . 
     FIG. 15  shows the tree mounted hanger  10  after it is pushed up on the tree  150  installed and supporting a game carcass  160 . Here, a loop end of rope  170  can pass through lifting ring  30  and be pulled from the opposite end in the direction of arrow P so that, the carcass is pulled up and suspended in mid-air. 
     FIG. 16  is an enlarged view of the hanger  20  with game carcass  160  of  FIG. 15  showing tension support points on the back and front of the tree  150 , and rope end  170  being loose and about to be moved in the direction of arrow M to a tie off cleat  20 . 
     FIG. 17  is another view of the tree mounted hanger  10  of  FIG. 16  with outer end of rope  170  tied off on a cleat  20  with a knot that holds the game carcass  160  up in the air sot that the user can freely move about the carcass  160  to clean the entire carcass  160 . 
     FIG. 18  is a side view of the hanger frame  10  of the preceding figures installed on a tree  150  by the cable  120  with stopper ends  140 A,  140 B. The cable  120  can have a first series of different stoppers  140 A on one end, and a second series of stoppers  140 B on an opposite end of the cable  120 . The plural series  140 A,  140 B of stoppers allows for the frame  10  to be fastened about different tree widths, and around other vertical supports such as pillars, posts, and even telephone type poles. 
   The invention has been tested by Roberts Calibration Inc. with a proof test applied of 2,000 pounds, and has a rated work load of up to approximately 1,000 pounds. Testing was done on Mar. 3, 2008 in a testing procedure which included the Game Tree Hanger being mounted so that the cable was pulled in straight tension to 100% in excess of rated capacity (Ton=2000 lbs.). Tension stress on a cable with wound stainless steel strands has  been certified up to 1350 pounds. Metal cylindrical stoppers that were crimpled onto the wound cable strands were tested at both ends of the cable, and resulted in a double rated capacity of 2,700 pounds. 
   Although the invention is described for supporting weights such as game carcasses, the invention can be used to raise and support other weights in the air. For example, the motorcycles, bicycles, vehicles, jeeps, large plants, water barrels, punching bags, can be raised and lowered with the invention. 
   While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.