Deer stand with improved tree fastening means

An improved tree fastener for a deer stand has adjustable tree clamping purchase provided by a pair of fork members forming a V-shaped throat for engaging the trunk of an adjacent tree and a continuously adjustable bolt and nut hooked into a tightening relation with a flexible band such as a link chain. The fastener is mounted on the seat module of a light weight modular ladder assembly of sufficient portability to be readily carried into a wooded hunting locale.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to deer stands utilized by hunters and 
sportsmen and more particularly to an improved tree fastening means 
therefor. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Various stands have been provided heretofore which comprise ladders or step 
forming means surmounted by a platform or a seat so the hunter may achieve 
an elevated vantage point in the hunt area. 
Such devices are frequently simply leaned against a supporting tree with 
consequent instability and risk of physical injury to the user. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
By the present invention a special and very effective fastener for a deer 
stand is provided wherein a clamping purchase is obtained between a rigid 
fork and a flexible chain or cable connected to a continuously adjustable 
bolt. The user may quickly and conveniently set up the stand, wrap the 
chain around the adjacent tree and selectively tighten the purchase by 
turning a handle provided on the bolt.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The present invention finds a particularly appropriate application to a 
deer stand used by hunters and/or sportsmen in a wooded locale. Thus there 
is shown generally at 10 a deer stand comprising a ladder 11, a seat 12, 
and a top rail 13. 
The ladder may take the form of one or more modules made of lightweight 
aluminum or any other suitable material. For example, as embodied in the 
exemplary disclosure, a five foot module 14 and a three foot module 16 are 
quickly and conveniently interconnected by telescoping coupling sleeves 
retained in a locking position by detent means. The individual modules 
comprise tubular side pieces 17 with rungs 18 extending therebetween and 
spaced apart from one another on fifteen inch centers. The couplings are 
shown at 19. 
The ladder module 16 of th present invention has the seat 12 connected to 
it. If desired the seat structure may take the form shown in the drawings 
wherein the seat comprises a shelflike element which may comprise a 
sheet-form member made of expanded metal and shown at 20. The seat shelf 
20 is supported by suitable framing including end tubes 21 and cross tubes 
22. 
Each of the end tubes 21 of the seat framing is provided with a tubular 
socket at spaced intervals in which to receive in a plug-in relation the 
upstanding stanchion tube of the top rail 13. In the illustrative 
embodiment of this invention there are two such sockets 23,23 on each end 
tube 21. 
The top rail 13 is a tubular member bent or otherwise configured to form a 
curved U-shape with the bight portion 13a paralleling the seat shelf 20 
and the respective end leg portions 13b and 13c paralleling the end tubes 
21,21 of the seat framing. A pair of upright stanchion tubes 24,24 are 
disposed at opposite ends of the top rail 13 and are connected to 
corresponding end legs 13b or 13c at their top ends. The bottom ends of 
the stanchion tubes 24,24 are plugged into corresponding sockets 23 
thereby to position the top rail at a selected spaced distance above the 
seat shelf 20. To further rigidify and support the top rail 13, a cross 
piece 26 extends between a medial portion of each pair of stanchion tubes 
24,24. To prevent inadvertent removal of the stanchion tubes 24,24 from 
the sockets 23, suitable openings may be formed in the adjacent members to 
receive a locking pin such as a cotter pin 27 as shown in FIG. 3. 
The construction of the seat 12 further includes a linkage by means of 
which the seat 12 is connected to the ladder 11. A plurality of links are 
shown at 28 and may be pin connected as at 29 to accommodate pivotal 
movement between a folded carrying position or transporting position and 
the extended utilitarian position of the drawings. An intermediate step 30 
also made of expanded sheet-form metal is also part of the linkage. 
In order to place the components of the deer stand 10 in operative 
position, the framing of the seat 12 including the end tubes 21 and the 
links 28 are positioned at approximately an angle of 105 degrees as shown 
in FIG. 3. 
In accordance with the present invention, an improved tree fastener is 
provided for the deer stand 10. First of all, there is an upright support 
member or body member 40 which may advantageously take the form of a 
vertically disposed tube or cylinder connected to one of the cross tubes 
22 of the seat framing. 
A pair of fork members 41 and 42 are elongated elements connected at one 
end to the body member 40 and extending laterally away therefrom in a 
normal relation, i.e., at right angles to the body member 40. The fork 
members 41 and 42 diverge away from one another so that together with one 
another they form a V-shaped throat. As appears in FIG. 4, the free ends 
of the fork members 41 and 42 are cut, formed, or shaped to provide a 
pointed end 43 thereby to achieve a good solid contact with the trunk of 
an adjoining tree, such as the tree T shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The fork 
members 41 and 42 are of sufficient length to extend laterally beyond the 
seat shelf 20 for unimpeded contact with the tree T. 
Spaced vertically from the fork members 41 and 42, the body member 40 is 
formed with a through passage 44 which extends at right angles to the axis 
of the body member 40 and in parallel relation to the lateral disposition 
of the fork members 41 and 42. 
A fork adjusting bolt 46 is extended through the passage 44. At one end 
thereof the bolt 46 has assembled in firm assembly therewith a bolt 
turning handle 47 and a stop 48. As shown in FIG. 5, the stop 48 may 
conveniently comprise a nut which is turned on the end of the bolt 46 and 
then welded fast thereto as well as to an actuating or turning handle 47 
as at 49. The nut or stop 48 abuts against the body member 40 at the edges 
of the passage 44. The passage 44 is of sufficient size to permit the bolt 
to turn freely while constraining the bolt 46 against lateral 
displacement. 
On the other side of the body member 40, a special hook fastener nut 50 is 
provided. The nut 50 is threaded on the bolt 46 and has formed thereon two 
oppositely extending hooks shown at 51 and 52. By way of illustration, but 
not by way of limitation, the hooks 51 and 52 may conveniently comprise 
spread chain links, i.e., links that have been opened to form a "C" shaped 
hook which is connected to the nut 50 by a weldment 53 or 54 respectively. 
In order to firmly embrace the adjoining tree T, a flexible binding means 
is provided which in the illustrative embodiment of this disclosure 
comprises a link chain 56. The chain 56 is wrapped around the tree T and 
is drawn by hand so that one end of the chain 56, or perhaps more 
accurately, one side of the chain 56 is hooked to one of the hooks 51 or 
52 while the other side or end of the chain 56 is hooked to the other 
hook. The bolt adjusting handle 47 is then selectively turned, thereby 
axially moving the nut 50 on the bolt 46. 
By virtue of the arrangement thus provided, the user can obtain a clamping 
purchase on the tree T which can be selectively tightened with the throat 
of the fork members 41 and 42 engaging one side of the tree T and the 
chain 56 embracing and engaging the opposite side of the tree T. 
In use, the deer stand 10 of the present invention is readily transported 
by hand into an appropriate wooded hunting locale. The ladder 11 is 
quickly extended by coupling the modules 14 and 16 together. The seat 12 
is swung into position on its linkage 28 and the top rail 13 is inserted 
into the sockets 23 and pinned. By engaging the fork members 41 and 42 of 
the improved fastening means against the tree T with the points 43 
penetrating the bark of the tree, the chain 56, or other flexible cable or 
strap used for the purpose is placed around the tree T and is hooked on 
the hooks 51 and 52 and tightened by turning the handle 47. 
Although minor modifications might be suggested by those skilled in the 
art, it should be understood that I wish to embrace within the scope of 
the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and 
properly come within my contribution to the art.