Hunting stand and game carrier combination

An apparatus providing a game stand and game carrier combination having an elongated frame providing a ladder, the frame having wheels mounted thereon for transport of the apparatus, an elongated stabilizer bar having one of its ends mounted to the frame and extending outwardly therefrom, the other end of the stabilizer bar being provided with a first gripping device for contact with an upright for laterally stabilizing the frame in a generally upright posture with respect to the upright, a platform on the frame and extending outwardly therefrom in the same general direction as the stabilizer bar, and a second gripping device provided on the apparatus at an upper portion thereof for contact with the upright for further laterally stabilizing the frame at its upper portion with respect to the upright.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to game hunting or wild life 
observing and more particularly to easily transportable stands or supports 
which are convertible to carts, i.e., stand and carrier combination 
apparatus which can be used to both observe and transport game or to 
transport equipment and the like. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Tree stands and game observations platforms are widely used as a means for 
assisting the hunter or wildlife observer in his activities such as in 
gaining the advantage of unobstructed sight and a vantage point for 
shooting or photographing. Unfortunately, it is necessary to transport the 
game and any auxiliary apparatus and other gear in and out of remote 
locations. If hunting large game, it is practically a necessity to have a 
means for transporting the game out of these areas if one is not to leave 
substantial portions of the carcass behind. Since many such outings 
require transport over long distances and over rough terrain it is also 
desirable to have a lightweight unit to accomplish the transport without a 
resultant loss of structural integrity and breakdown of the unit. 
In this regard, many hunters are injured each year from tree stand related 
injuries, so the need for a stable platform is paramount. Getting proper 
height in the air is also crucial, however, the safety and ease of putting 
the stand up should not be compromised. Further, when taking a shot with a 
camera or a gun it is important to be stable, preferably leaning against a 
stable object. On the ground, tripods can be used, in a tree stand there 
is usually no such ability, thus it is desirable to have a stable 
apparatus for that purpose which is provided with convenient means for 
stabilizing a gun or camera or the like. 
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Although there are several game stands of similar construction shown in the 
prior art, none possesses a highly stabilized configuration in both the 
upright and folded forms. As well, none possesses the safety, security, 
versatility and ease of deployment as that of the present invention. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,556 discloses a selectively convertible device as a 
tree stand, free standing observation platform, camouflage shelter, and 
mobile cart used primarily for hauling canoes, boats and large equipment. 
This device, however, as taught, does not provide adequate support in tree 
stand form, providing little more than a ladder with platform attached. No 
means of securing or stabilizing the apparatus exists until it is climbed 
and a strap is attached to the top. No provision is made for the platform 
sliding down the tree and out from under the climber, and no provision is 
made for a gun or camera rest to aid the user. Further, additional pieces 
must be added, or excluded in order to transform the apparatus into a 
hauling device, whereas with the present invention, no significant work is 
necessary for conversion to a rigid triangular cart without the need for 
additional pieces. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Objects, therefor, of the present invention, are: to provide a 
transportable game hunting stand apparatus which is lightweight, strong, 
rigid and readily useable as a game transport means; to provide such 
apparatus with readily attachable gun or blind or the like auxiliary 
means, to provide such apparatus, in at least one embodiment, with 
integrated game stand and transport structure which requires no structural 
conversion of the apparatus; and to provide such apparatus with folding 
means whereby the lengthwise dimension of the stand ladder section can be 
essentially halved for purposes of transporting game or the apparatus 
itself. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The above and further objects hereinafter becoming evident have been 
attained in accordance with the present invention through the discovery of 
game hunting stand and transport or carrier combination apparatus 
comprising elongated, lightweight, rigid, elongated frame means having 
substantially parallel side rail means interconnected by a plurality of 
cross-member means for providing ladder means and having a longitudinal 
axis, said frame means comprising an upper section having an outer end 
portion, an intermediate section, and a lower section having an outer end 
portion, said sections lying progressively along said longitudinal axis, 
said lower and intermediate sections and an adjacent portion of said upper 
section lying substantially contiguous the same general plane, support 
means on said upper section for mounting wheel means thereon, elongated 
stabilizer means having one of its ends mounted to said frame means, 
preferably within said intermediate section thereof and extending 
outwardly from one side of said general plane, the other end of said 
stabilizer means being provided with first gripping means for contact with 
an upright for laterally stabilizing said frame means against said upright 
at its said intermediate section in a generally upright posture, said 
outer end portion of said upper section being provided with platform means 
extending outwardly from said one side of said general plane, and second 
gripping means provided on an outer edge portion of said platform means 
spaced from said general plane for contact with and attachment to said 
upright for laterally stabilizing said frame means at its upper section 
against said upright. 
In certain preferred embodiments: 
(a) said side rail means are pivotally jointed by hinge means within said 
intermediate section such that said lower section and upper section and 
the adjacent portions of said intermediate section can be folded toward 
each other about the axis of said hinge means and whereby said upper and 
lower sections can be positioned proximate each other at an acute angle 
with said platform means extending substantially therebetween; 
(b) cooperating components of connector means are provided on said outer 
end portion of said lower section and on said outer end portion of said 
upper section whereby said upper section and lower sections, including 
said platform means can be rigidly interconnected in a triangular 
configuration to form a highly structurally stable game transporting 
tailer; 
(c) said second gripping means comprises tooth means for engaging said 
upright and partially penetrating thereinto, first strap means is provided 
having one end affixed to one side portion of said platform means and 
adapted to loop around said upright and be fastened at its other end to an 
opposite side portion of the said platform means, and tightening means is 
provided for said strap means for tightening the same around said upright 
and drawing said tooth means into said upright to form a rigid and highly 
laterally stable connection of said platform means to said upright. 
(d) said stabilizer means comprises a bar which is pivotally connected at 
one end to said frame means for selectively adjusting the angle of said 
bar with respect to said frame means and said upright for accommodating 
variations in the distance from and the angular relationship of said frame 
means to said upright; 
(e) said stabilizer means comprises a generally bar-shaped means which is 
pivotally connected to said frame means and which is provided with length 
adjustment means for selectively adjusting the length and desired angle of 
said stabilizing means for accommodating variations in the distance from 
and the angular relationship of said frame means to said upright; and 
(f) the apparatus wherein the longitudinal segments of each said side rail 
means which lie adjacent the joint therein are dimensioned and configured 
with respect to said hinge axis and each other such as to overlap when 
said frame means is in its fully extended posture, and lock means is 
provided and adapted to be placed in position to simultaneously engage 
portions of both said overlapping segments and prevent relative motion 
thereof about said axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring to the drawings and with particular reference to the claims 
herein, the present apparatus is defined in its broad sense as an 
apparatus providing a game stand and game carrier combination comprising 
elongated, lightweight, rigid, frame means generally designated 10 having 
substantially parallel side rail means 12, 14 interconnected by a 
plurality of cross-member means 16 for providing ladder means 18 and 
having a longitudinal axis 20, said frame means having an upper section 22 
having an outer end portion 24, an intermediate section 26, and a lower 
section 28 having an outer end portion 30, said sections lying 
progressively along said longitudinal axis, said lower and intermediate 
sections and an adjacent portion 32 of said upper section lying 
substantially contiguous the same general plane 34, support means 35 on 
said upper section for mounting wheel means 36 thereon, elongated 
stabilizer means 38 having one of its ends 39 mounted to said frame means 
preferably within said intermediate section 26 thereof and extending 
outwardly from one side 40 of said general plane, the other end of said 
stabilizer means being provided with first gripping means 42 for contact 
with an upright 44 for laterally stabilizing said frame means at its said 
intermediate section in a generally upright posture with respect to said 
upright, said outer end portion 24 of said upper section being provided 
with platform means 46 extending outwardly from said one side of said 
general plane, and second gripping means 48 provided on an outer edge 
portion 50 of said platform means and spaced from said general plane for 
contact with and attachment to said upright for laterally stabilizing said 
frame means at its upper section with respect to said upright. 
The frame means is preferably welded up of lightweight material such as one 
inch square aluminum or lightweight steel tubing and, in addition to the 
cross-members or ladder steps 16, may be provided with rigidifying means 
such as bracing members 52, 54 wherever needed. The various sections, 
i.e., upper 22, intermediate 26 and lower 28 may be as long as desired and 
can have as many steps 16 as is required for convenience and safety. 
Typically the overall extended length of the frame is from about ten to 
about sixteen feet, although other lengths can obviously be used. The 
steps preferably are spaced apart as on conventional ladders and the 
aforesaid three sections may be considered to be substantially equal in 
length, i.e., the portions thereof which lie along the longitudinal axis, 
for purposes of description herein. 
A preferred type of axle means 35 is shown in FIG. 8 and comprises an axle 
tube 56 which is welded, e.g., across the ends of side rails 12 and 14. 
The axle rod 58 is welded to a square bushing 60 spot welded to the inside 
of tube 56. Preferably, a quick-disconnect lock-pin 62 is used to lock the 
wheel hub 64 and rub washers 66 to the axle means. Such a lock-pin is 
preferably and conveniently used for making the other quick-disconnect 
joints or couplings used in the present apparatus as will be further 
described below. It is particularly noted however, that conventional nuts 
and bolts, cotter pins or the like fastening means may be employed in the 
alternative. 
The stabilizer means 38 is preferably in the shape of a bar and pivotally 
connected at is one end 39 to a step member 16 by any suitable hinge or 
pivot means such as bearing flanges 68 welded on the step member on either 
side of bar 38 which is pivotally attached thereto by pin 70. When the 
apparatus is in its folded transport condition, bar 38 is pivoted down 
against the ladder steps 16 and temporarily secured thereto by any 
suitable quick disconnect means. The outer end of bar 38 is provided with 
first gripping means which preferably is in the form of a shaped member 72 
provided with a plurality of teeth 74 which are designed to frictionally 
engage a tree trunk or the like, preferably with slight but not damaging 
penetration of the bark. Member 72 does not necessarily have to be 
provided with means such as second strap means 76, however, such a 
tightening device is desirable for stabilizing the apparatus against a 
tree or other upright such that the user can safely climb up the ladder to 
the platform and tighten the platform against the tree for stabilizing the 
entire apparatus in an operative position. In this regard, it is preferred 
that the overall apparatus and bar 38 be configured and dimensioned such 
that a tightening device such as strap means 76 can be reached 
conveniently by the user from the ground. 
A tightening means or device 75 which may be used also for strap 76 is 
shown for first strap means 78 wherein the strap is of any lightweight, 
strong and weather resistant material such as Nylon or the like. The 
device may comprise a hook 80 affixed to one end 81 of the strap and 
insertable through any of a plurality of holes 82 provided in one side 
portion 84 of the platform. The other end 86 of the strap is affixed to a 
lever 88 by, e.g., pivot pin 90, which lever is pivotally mounted on the 
opposite side portion 92 of the platform by pivot pin 94 and bracket 96 
affixed to portion 92. 
In the use of such strap means 76 or 78, lever 88 is placed in its upright 
dotted position, the strap looped around the tree, hook 80 then hooked 
through a selected hole 82 which renders the strap as tight as it can be 
readily pulled by hand, and lever 88 then pulled downwardly past its 
overcenter position to firmly pull and maintain the gripping means against 
the tree. Alternatively to the simple lever 88, a conventional ratchet 
type strap tightener such as 89 shown in FIG. 2 may be employed. 
As shown in FIG. 10, a jaw type gripping device 100 may be employed as an 
alternative to the strap devices. This device comprises a pair of toothed 
jaws 102, 104, one of which, e.g., 102 is affixed to platform 46 or any 
other supporting means on the apparatus, and the other 104 is pivotally 
mounted to said supporting means by pivot pin 106. A tightening device 
such as ratchet tightener 89 mounted on said supporting means and 
connected to jaw 104 by a wind-up strap or cable 108 can be employed for 
strongly pivoting jaw 104 against the tree and pulling jaw 102 also 
thereagainst. Alternatively, jaw 102 may also be pivotally mounted. 
Referring to FIG. 3-7, each rail 12 and 14 is preferably jointed at 110 by 
a hinge means such as a pivot provided by bearing plates 112, 114 welded 
to either side of the upper section 115 of each rail within the aforesaid 
intermediate section of the frame means 10, and pivot pin 116 rotatably 
passing thru the plates and the lower section 118 of the rail. When the 
apparatus is to be placed in its operating condition, lower section 118 of 
each rail is released from its connection 119 to the platform end of the 
frame. This connection 119 which is made for transporting the apparatus by 
hand or by a towing vehicle is made, for example, by bracket 120 affixed 
to section 118 and pin 122 which passes thru the bracket and through the 
adjacent bracing member or any other portion of the frame means. Section 
118 is then pivoted around pin 116 to lie parallel to upper section 115 as 
shown by the dotted outline in FIG. 3. The lock means or sleeve 124 as 
shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 is then slid over the overlapping portions or 
segments 126, 128 of sections 115 and 118 respectively, and a pin such as 
130 is dropped through aligned apertures in the sleeve and the segments to 
prevent inadvertent sliding of the sleeve from its locking position. 
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, a pin 132, lock pin 62, and bearing 
brackets 134, 136 affixed to either side of 126 may be employed. 
Referring to FIG. 9 the connector means for removably affixing the canvas 
hunting blind 131 or other attachment such as a gun rest to the platform 
46 comprises vertical tubular members 138 affixed to the side portions of 
the platform for receiving shaft segments 140 to which the attachment is 
affixed. 
It is noted that the various structural components of the frame means and 
other portions of the apparatus can be welded together or joined by means 
such as shown in FIG. 12 or the like such that the apparatus can be stored 
then reassembled. Also the various components may be extendable by means 
known to the art. 
The hitch means 133 for vehicle towing purposes may comprise a bracket 135 
such as shown in FIG. 11, wherein said bracket is provided with a socket 
137 for pivotal mounting on a towing ball of a vehicle, and the tubular 
ends 139 of the bracket are dimensioned to slide within the ends of the 
rails 12 and 14. Suitable means such as bolts or pins 141 can be used to 
affix said rail ends to the bracket for towing. It is noted that bracket 
135 also provides a convenient handle means for hand pulling the apparatus 
out of the field. 
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to 
preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations 
and modifications will be effected with the spirit and scope of the 
invention.