Ladder tree stand

A tree stand is described that enables the user to pivot a seat to multiple positions for improved visibility and shooting. The stand is constructed of a frame that includes a rear section with a seat mount, and a front section with a platform; a multi-section ladder having an upper end attachable to a lower part of the frame; a swivel seat; and a connector arm having a first end pivotally attached to the frame and a second end pivotally attached to the seat, whereby the seat can be pivoted to various seating positions relative to the frame. The stand also includes toothed tree engagement arms with stops to align hooks from a tree-girdling cinch longitudinally behind the teeth of the arms for improved clamping.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the following description, terms such as horizontal, upright, vertical, above, below, beneath, and the like, are used solely for the purpose of clarity in illustrating the invention, and should not be taken as words of limitation. The drawings are for the purpose of illustrating the invention and are not intended to be to scale. As illustrated in the drawings, tree stand, generally 10 , is comprised of a rear frame section 12 , a front frame section 14 , a seat 16 supported on rear frame section 12 , a platform secured to front frame section 14 , and a ladder 18 attached beneath front frame section 14 . Frame sections 12 and 14 include abutting attachment bars 20 and 22 , respectively, that are bolted together when stand 10 is assembled. Rear frame section 12 , in addition to front attachment bar 20 , is comprised of spaced side bars 24 and 26 extending rearwardly from the ends of attachment bar 20 , and parallel center bars 28 and 30 that include seat mount 32 , and terminate in rearwardly and outwardly extending tree engagement arms 34 and 36 . Seat 16 is comprised of seat frame 38 with a base plate 40 . An elongated connector arm 42 has one end pivotally attached to the plate 40 and the opposite end pivotally attached to seat mount 32 carried on center bars 28 and 30 , so that seat 32 can be positioned at various locations. Seat 32 also includes a seating surface 44 , a seat back 46 , and arms 48 and 50 . Tree engagement arms 34 and 36 extend outwardly at an angle of about 90° relative to each other to engage the rear ends of the side bars 24 and 26 . Front frame section 14 is comprised of spaced parallel side bars 52 and 54 that are spaced apart at a greater distance that the spacing of rear side bars 24 and 26 , aforesaid attachment bar 22 , and connector bars 54 and 56 connecting bars 24 and 26 , respectively to the opposed ends of attachment bar 22 . Platform 60 is comprised of an outer framework 62 and a horizontal metal grid 64 that extends across framework 62 to form a standing platform or footrest. A pair of spaced, tubular ladder attachment members 66 extend downwardly from the front lower surface of framework 62 . Support bars 68 extend from attachment bar 22 to the rear of framework 62 . Ladder 18 is a multi-section ladder comprised of an upper ladder section 70 , a lower ladder section 72 , and preferably three intermediate ladder sections 74 , each ladder section having spaced, tubular parallel side rails, with a plurality of spaced rungs extending between the rails. The upper ends of section 70 are insertable into attachment member 66 , with the upper ends of sections 72 and 74 being insertable into the lower ends of the above section. Each engagement arm 34 or 36 includes spaced, rearwardly extending teeth 76 with longitudinal axes that are transverse to the longitudinal axes of the arm upon which they are mounted, and stops or pegs 78 extending forward from opposite side of engagement arms 34 and 36 . Pegs 78 are also aligned transverse to the longitudinal axis of the engagement arm on which they are carried. Each peg 78 is associated with a tooth 76 , with the longitudinal axes of each tooth and peg pair being parallel. The longitudinal axis of each peg is slightly closer to the outer or distal end of the arm carrying the peg, than is the longitudinal axis of the tooth of the pair. Tree stand 10 is secured to a tree with flexible cinch 80 , which can be a woven nylon belt, that extends around the tree from arm 34 to 36 . Cinch 80 includes a turnbuckle 82 for use in tightening or loosening cinch 80 . A hook 84 is attached to each end of cinch 80 , with each hook 84 being sized for hooking over an attachment arm behind one of pegs 78 . When hook 84 is secured to the engagement arm, the peg 78 against which hook 84 is held, aligns hook along the longitudinal axis of a tooth 76 . When tree stand 10 is used, the hunter can move seat 16 to various positions by pivoting connector arm 42 , and swiveling seat 16 . Some of the possible positions are illustrated in FIGS. 5 - 7 . Due to these positions, the hunter is not only able to sit facing the front of the tree stand, but can also quickly and easily move the seat so that he is facing to the side or rear of the stand. Thus, the hunter is able to maintain a safe and comfortable shooting position when the game is approaching the stand from any position. Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.