Abstract:
A climbing stick apparatus includes a plurality of stick members, each of which includes a fastener reception portion at each stick member end and a plurality of foot-support-reception channels. A plurality of member-to-member couplers and fasteners are provided for erecting a plurality of stick members in a longitudinal arrangement. A plurality of foot support members are received in the foot-support-reception channels. The climbing stick apparatus of the invention permits rapid assembly of a climbing stick next to a tree for hunters and other outdoorsmen. When erected next to a tree the climbing stick apparatus permits the hunter to remain above ground level so that he is not noticed or smelled by game on the ft floor.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to ladders and, more particularly, to ladders especially adapted for climbing trees. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Ladders used for climbing trees are well known in the art. Such ladders are especially useful for hunters who wish to climb trees, such as for gaining access to a tree-mounted hunting stand. 
   In this respect, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to tree ladders, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,762,200, 5,040,635, 5,655,623, 6,305,497, and 6,340,071. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,200 discloses a tree ladder which includes only two, relatively long ladder sections that are carried to a tree and are assembled at a tree to be climbed. Once the tree ladder is assembled, the top of the tree ladder hooks over a branch of the tree to stabilize to the tree ladder to the tree. Rather than having two relatively long tree ladder sections, for convenience in carrying and storing the tree ladder when not in use, it would be desirable if a tree ladder were provided which included a plurality of relatively short tree ladder sections which are assembled to form a full length tree ladder. Also, since heights of branches on a tree truck may not be coincident with the height of the top section of a tree ladder, rather than hooking the top portion of the tree ladder over a branch, it would be desirable if stabilization of the tree ladder did not depend upon hooking over a branch for stabilizing the tree ladder on the tree. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,635 discloses a pole ladder comprised of two relatively long pole sections. As explained above, it would be desirable if a tree ladder included a plurality of relatively short tree ladder sections which are assembled to form a full length tree ladder. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,623 discloses a folding tree ladder and tree stand. Elongated riser components are connected together with a folding joint. In this respect, the overall height of the tree ladder is pre-defined. Since tree heights are of various heights, and since a hunter would like to decide for oneself as to the height of a tree ladder that is to be used, it would be desirable to have a tree ladder whose height can be selected by the user of the tree ladder. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,497 discloses a mast ladder for a sailboat mast. This mast ladder employs a sail slide for its operation. Obviously, a tree does not have a sail slide, and, in this respect, this patent is not relevant with respect to a tree stand, used by hunters. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,340,071 discloses a rung-foldable ladder device which includes a single elongate tubular support member and a plurality of rung members which are tethered together. The single elongate tubular support member is not convenient for storage and transport by a hunter, such as through a wooded area. Moreover, by tethering the rungs together, the tethers can become twisted and knotted, whereby placement of the rungs on the tubular support member may be impeded. In this respect, it would be desirable if a tree ladder is provided in which rungs of the ladder are not tethered together. 
   Still other features would be desirable in a tree ladder which may also be called a climbing stick apparatus. For example, when the climbing stick apparatus is not in use, such as when it is disassembled and carried by a hunter, it would be desirable if the disassembled climbing stick apparatus can be in a kit form. 
   Also, there may be times when it would be desirable for a climbing stick apparatus not to be in direct contact with the trunk of a tree. In this respect, it would be desirable if a climbing stick apparatus were provided which can be spaced from a tree trunk. 
   Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use climbing sticks or tree ladders, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a climbing stick apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) includes a plurality of relatively short tree ladder sections which are assembled to form a full length tree ladder; (2) does not depend upon hooking over a branch for stabilizing the tree ladder on the tree; (3) has an adjustable height which can be adjusted by the user of the tree ladder; (4) includes ladder rungs which are not tethered together; (5) can be provided in a kit form; and (6) can be spaced from a tree trunk when installed on a tree. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique climbing stick apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a climbing stick apparatus which includes a plurality of stick members, wherein each stick member includes a fastener reception portion at each stick member end, and wherein each stick member includes a plurality of foot-support-reception channels. A plurality of member-to-member couplers are provided, wherein each member-to-member coupler includes a fastener reception portion at each end of the member-to-member coupler. A plurality of fasteners are provided for securing a selected member-to-member coupler to a pair of selected stick members. A plurality of foot support members are provided for being received in the foot-support-reception channels. The climbing stick apparatus of the invention permits rapid assembly of a climbing stick next to a tree for hunters and other outdoorsmen. When erected next to a tree the climbing stick apparatus of the invention permits the hunter to remain above ground level so that he is not noticed or smelled by game on the ft floor. 
   Each of the foot support members includes a foot reception portion and a stick-member-connector portion. Preferably, the stick members have a square cross-section. 
   Preferably, the stick members include internally threaded fastener reception portions; the member-to-member couplers include internally threaded fastener reception portions; and each of the fasteners includes an externally threaded portion which screws into an internally threaded fastener reception portion and an internally threaded fastener reception portion which are placed in registration with other. 
   Preferably, the foot-support-reception channels are internally threaded, and each of the foot support members includes an externally threaded stick-member-connector portion which is screwed into a respective foot-support-reception channel. 
   The stick members can be either solid throughout or hollow. Preferably, the stick members can are hollow, thereby providing both strength and light weight. Similarly, the foot support members can be either solid throughout or hollow. When the foot support members are hollow, a wad of scent bearing material can be inserted into a hollow foot support member. 
   A plurality of tree-to-stick binding members can be provided for binding an erected climbing stick apparatus to a tree. Each of the tree-to-stick binding members can include a pair of binding hooks for easily securing the ends of the tree-to-stick binding members together when they are placed circumferentially around the tree and a member-to-member coupler. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a spacer member reception extension is connected to each of the respective member-to-member couplers, and a spacer member received in each of the spacer member reception extensions. 
   The climbing stick apparatus of the invention can be provided as a disassembled kit which can be stored in a disassembled state and which can be erected on site, next to a tree. 
   The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least two preferred embodiments of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved climbing stick apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved climbing stick apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved climbing stick apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction. 
   An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved climbing stick apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such climbing stick apparatus available to the buying public. 
   Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved climbing stick apparatus which includes a plurality of relatively short tree ladder sections which are assembled to form a full length tree ladder. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved climbing stick apparatus that does not depend upon hooking over a branch for stabilizing the tree ladder on the tree. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved climbing stick apparatus which has an adjustable height which can be adjusted by the user of the tree ladder. 
   Even another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved climbing stick apparatus that includes ladder rungs which are not tethered together. 
   Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved climbing stick apparatus which can be provided in a kit form. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved climbing stick apparatus that can be spaced from a tree trunk when installed on a tree. 
   These together with still other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and the above objects as well as objects other than those set forth above will become more apparent after a study of the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view showing a fully assembled first embodiment of the climbing stick apparatus of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the embodiment of the climbing stick apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  fastened to a tree and taken along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a partially exploded enlarged front view of the portion of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1  that is contained in circled region  3  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the embodiment of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 3  taken along line  4 — 4  thereof. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a foot support member, contained in circled region  5  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a second embodiment of the invention which also includes brace members positioned between the tree and the remainder of the climbing stick apparatus of the invention. 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged exploded view of the portion of the embodiment of the invention shown in circled region  7  of  FIG. 6 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference to the drawings, a new and improved climbing stick apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be described. 
   Turning to  FIGS. 1–5 , a first embodiment of the climbing stick apparatus of the invention is shown generally designated by reference numeral  10 . In the first embodiment, climbing stick apparatus  10  includes a plurality of stick members  12 , wherein each stick member  12  includes a fastener reception portion  14  at each stick member end, and wherein each stick member  12  includes a plurality of foot-support-reception channels  36 . A plurality of member-to-member couplers  18  are provided, wherein each member-to-member coupler  18  includes a fastener reception portion  15  at each end of the member-to-member coupler  18 . A plurality of fasteners  16  are provided for securing a selected member-to-member coupler  18  to a pair of selected stick members  12 . A plurality of foot support members  20  are provided for being received in the foot-support-reception channels  36 . 
   Each of the foot support members  20  includes a foot reception portion  22  and a stick-member-connector portion  24 . Preferably, the stick members  12  have a square cross-section. 
   Preferably, the stick members  12  include internally threaded fastener reception portions  14 ; the member-to-member couplers  18  include internally threaded fastener reception portions  15 ; and each of the fasteners  16  includes an externally threaded portion which screws into an internally threaded fastener reception portion  14  and an internally threaded fastener reception portion  15  which are placed in registration with other. 
   Preferably, the foot-support-reception channels  36  are internally threaded, and each of the foot support members  20  includes an externally threaded stick-member-connector portion  24  which is screwed into a respective foot-support-reception channel  36 . 
   The stick members  12  can be either solid throughout or hollow. Preferably, the stick members  12  can are hollow, thereby providing both strength and light weight. Similarly, the foot support members  20  can be either solid throughout or hollow. When the foot support members  20  are hollow, a wad of scent bearing material  26  can be inserted into a hollow foot support member  20  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   A plurality of tree-to-stick binding members  32  can be provided for binding an erected climbing stick apparatus to a tree  11 . Each of the tree-to-stick binding members  32  can include a pair of binding hooks  34  for easily securing the ends of the tree-to-stick binding members  32  together when they are placed circumferentially around the tree  11  and a member-to-member coupler  18 . 
   Turning to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a second embodiment of the invention is shown. Reference numerals are shown that correspond to like reference numerals that designate like elements shown in the other figures. In addition, a spacer member reception extension  28  is connected to each of the respective member-to-member couplers  18 , and a spacer member  30  received in each of the spacer member reception extensions  28 . The spacer members  30  serve to provide a rigidly defined spacing  17  between the tree  11  and the stick members  12  of the climbing stick apparatus  10  of the invention. 
   To use a climbing stick apparatus  10  of the invention, a first stick member  12  is obtained and placed in a vertical orientation next to a tree  11 . Then, the bottom fastener reception portions  15  of a first member-to-member coupler  18  are placed in registration with the top fastener reception portions  14  of the first stick member  12 . Then, fasteners  16  are screwed into the registered fastener reception portions  14  and the fastener reception portions  15  to secure the first member-to-member coupler  18  to the first stick member  12 . 
   Then, a second stick member  12  is slid into the top portion of the first member-to-member coupler  18  so that the bottom end of the second stick member  12  substantially rests on the top end of the first stick member  12 . The bottom fastener reception portions  14  of the second stick member  12  are placed in registration with the top fastener reception portions  15  of the first member-to-member coupler  18 , and fasteners  16  are screwed into the respective registered fastener reception portions to secure the second stick member  12  to the first member-to-member coupler  18  and the first stick member  12 . 
   This procedure is repeated to extend the climbing stick apparatus  10  with a third, fourth, fifth, etc. stick member  12  and a second, third, fourth, etc. member-to-member coupler  18  to make the longitudinal length of the climbing stick apparatus  10  as long (or as short) as desired. 
   The foot support members  20  are attached to the stick members  12  by screwing the externally threaded stick-member-connector portions  24  into the internally threaded foot-support-reception channels  36  in the stick members  12 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the foot support members  20  are located on the stick members  12  in alternating right/left positions, such as is commonly employed with foot support members  20  on telephone poles. 
   To secure the climbing stick apparatus  10  to a tree  11 , as shown in drawing  FIGS. 2 and 6 , tree-to-stick binding members  32  are placed to encompass portions of the tree  11  and the member-to-member couplers  18 . Free ends of the tree-to-stick binding members  32  can includes binding hooks  34  for securing the free ends of the tree-to-stick binding members  32  together. 
   The tree-to-stick binding members  32  can be made from elastic material, such as well know bungee cord materials. 
   The climbing stick apparatus  10  of the invention can be provided as a disassembled kit which can be stored in a disassembled state and which can be erected on site, next to a tree  11 , as described above. After the erected climbing stick apparatus  10  is no longer needed, it can be disassembled back into its kit form for convenient storage. The kit form can be carried is a carry bag (not shown). 
   The respective longitudinal lengths of the stick members  12  can be any suitable lengths, and the respective longitudinal lengths of the member-to-member couplers  18  can be any suitable lengths. Similarly, the respective widths and heights of the stick members  12  and the member-to-member couplers  18  can be any suitable respective dimensions. It is understood, however, that the member-to-member couplers  18  preferably fit telescopically on the outside ends of the stick members  12 , as shown in the drawing Figures. 
   The components of the climbing stick apparatus of the invention can be made from inexpensive and durable metal and plastic materials. 
   The components of the climbing stick apparatus of the invention can be made from inexpensive and durable metal and plastic materials. 
   As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same is apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly, no further discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation need be provided. 
   It is apparent from the above that the present invention accomplishes all of the objects set forth by providing a new and improved climbing stick apparatus that is low in cost, relatively simple in design and operation, and which may advantageously be used to provide a plurality of relatively short tree ladder sections which are assembled to form a full length tree ladder. With the invention, a climbing stick apparatus is provided which does not depend upon hooking over a branch for stabilizing the tree ladder on the tree. With the invention, a climbing stick apparatus is provided which has an adjustable height which can be adjusted by the user of the tree ladder. With the invention, a climbing stick apparatus is provided which includes ladder rungs which are not tethered together. With the invention, a climbing stick apparatus is provided which can be provided in a kit form. 
   Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use. 
   Hence, the proper scope of the present invention should be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications as well as all relationships equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification. 
   Finally, it will be appreciated that the purpose of the annexed Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Accordingly, the Abstract is neither intended to define the invention or the application, which only is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.