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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/488,888, entitled “Combination Tree Stand and Recliner Seat”, filed Jul. 21, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is herein specifically incorporated by reference for all that it discloses and teaches. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     a. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to climbing tree stands, and more specifically to apparatus for support of a person on a reclining seat suspended from the trunk of a tree and used for viewing or hunting wildlife from an elevated position. In this art, “tree stand” or “stand” is a generic term that includes devices or platforms configured for standing, for sitting, or for laying, so use of “tree stand”, or “stand” herein is broad enough to cover apparatus designed to accommodate any or all of those uses.  
         [0004]     b. Description of the Background  
         [0005]     Hunters, photographers, and wildlife enthusiasts have long enjoyed using raised platforms to gain greater access to wildlife and game. Usually these platforms have small seats that attach to a tree trunk or other stable elevation structure and often include a platform on which a person may stand or sit. These stands are typically entered (and exited) utilizing a stationary ladder or screwed-in tree steps installed “adjacent” the platform. With such stands or seats, a user must maneuver himself/herself from the steps into the stand or seat, which is often positioned high above the ground. This maneuver can be a somewhat dangerous maneuver if it is not performed carefully and with the required agility and balance. A hunter, for instance, may often be required to sit for long hours waiting for game to pass by, resulting in an uncomfortable and enduring experience which can reduce the overall enjoyment of the hunt. Since the vast majority of hunters do not hunt for necessity, they are often only willing to stay in their uncomfortable seats for a short period of time.  
         [0006]     Tree stands with a recliner type sling seat have been previously contemplated by the inventor in U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,158, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all it teaches and discloses. Whereas the stand in that patent is a portable, self-climbing tree stand, it is limited in applications and can only be deployed on smooth trees, where there are no upper branches obstructing the upward climb.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention overcomes some of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art by providing a tree or tripod stand that has a moveable recliner sling seat to facilitate entry and exiting. The tree stand embodiment has the capability of being deployed as a fixed stand (temporarily or permanently on the tree), as a ladder stand with the “ladder option” installed, or on a free-standing tripod.  
         [0008]     An embodiment of the present invention may therefore comprise a viewing and hunting stand for attachment to a substantially rigid structure to support a person in an elevated position comprising: a detachable support including a frame for supporting the person; an attachment bracket with connectors for fixedly attaching the bracket to the substantially rigid structure; and a receiver on the attachment bracket to removably attach the detachable support to the recliner bracket.  
         [0009]     An embodiment of the present invention may also comprise a method for creating an elevated viewing and hunting stand comprising the steps of: attaching a recliner bracket to a substantially rigid structure, the recliner bracket having a receiver for releasably attaching an upper portion of a detachable recliner assembly to the recliner bracket such that the detachable recliner assembly will pivot at the point of the receiver while supporting the weight of the detachable recliner assembly and the person, a horizontal support member that connects the recliner bracket below the point of the receiver to the detachable recliner assembly, thereby supporting a lower portion of the detachable recliner assembly away from the recliner bracket at an angle; attaching the detachable recliner assembly having a frame for supporting the person, a sling of flexible material that is supported on opposing ends by a pair of rigid cross members that are laterally supported by the frame thereby forming a recliner seat for the person to the recliner bracket.  
         [0010]     An embodiment of the present invention may also comprise a platform apparatus for supporting a person above the ground, including a frame adapted for attachment to substantially rigid structure and a detachable support connected to and supported by the frame in a use position for supporting the person in a seat space above the ground comprising: means for allowing the seat to be moved with respect to the frame enough for the person to pass through at least a portion of the seat space.  
         [0011]     The disclosed embodiments provide a tree stand for hunting or viewing game that can function either as a fixed tree stand, an adjustable ladder stand, or a freestanding tripod stand. The disclosed embodiments offer the advantage of providing a tree stand with a recliner seat which allows easier, safer and more convenient entry and exit for a person transitioning between the ladder stand and the recliner seat. The disclosed stands utilize a removable seating frame which can be easily transferred between a plurality of locations and are adaptable for use with tree steps, pole climbing spikes, a tree ladder, a tripod, and other conventional devices for climbing above the ground. The embodiments combine the features and advantages of a ladder stand, a fixed-position seat stand, as well as the recliner-type sling seat, resulting in a versatile, comfortable tree stand, which is safer to use than conventional designs. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the descriptions serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0013]     In the drawings:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a tree stand with a recliner seat of the present invention mounted on a tree with a ladder connected to the tree stand;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a recliner seat of a tree stand with a recliner seat with the top portion of the sling seat shown detached from the frame to accommodate moving the sling seat aside according to this invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a bracket assembly for the tree stand of this invention mounted on the tree before the seat assembly (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) is connected to the bracket assembly;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the bracket assembly of the tree stand with a ladder attached to it, but shown without the seat assembly attached to the bracket;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the seat assembly and the ladder connected to the bracket assembly and illustrated with a portion of the sling seat cut away to reveal the components under the sling seat;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the seat assembly and bracket assembly mounted on a tree in a position ready for use;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the bracket assembly of the tree stand installed onto the tree in combination with tree steps attached to the tree;  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the tree stand mounted on a tripod for use as a free standing elevated stand. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     An example tree stand  100  with a reclining seat assembly  102  according to this invention is shown in  FIG. 1  mounted on a tree T with a ladder  348  connected to the tree stand  100 , as will be described in more detail below. The seat assembly  102  is preferably attached in a releasable manner to a tree bracket assembly  200 , after the bracket assembly  200  is mounted in a secure manner on the tree T. Such a secure mounting of the bracket assembly  200  to the tree T can be accomplished in any of a number of different ways, such as, for example, the chain  220  and strap  224  shown in  FIG. 1 . The ladder  348  is one of several options for a user to climb from the ground to the tree stand  100 . When the ladder  348  is used, its upper end  42  is preferably connected to the bracket assembly  200 , and one or more optional ladder braces  44  extending between the ladder  40  and the tree T can be used to further stabilize the ladder  348 .  
         [0023]     The seat assembly  102  of the tree stand  100  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 2  with the top portion of the sling seat  104  shown temporarily detached from the seat assembly frame  103  to allow a user to climb between the vertical support members  130 ,  132  to get onto the top of the seat assembly  102  or to go from the top of the seat assembly  102  back to the ladder  348 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the sling seat  104 , which can be made, for example, of a flexible fabric, polymer or any other material that is strong enough to support a user, is attachable at its upper end  105  to a moveable cross member  108  and extends across the space between the vertical support members  130 ,  132  to form a sling-type seat with its lower end  107  attached to a rigid cross member  106  of the frame  103 . The lateral ends  109 ,  111  of the moveable cross member  108  are sized and shaped for resting in a pair of frame pockets  110  and  112 , which support the top end  105  of the sling seat  104  when the sling seat  104  is positioned to support a person. The ends  109 ,  111  of the cross member  108  can be releasably secured in the pockets  110 ,  112  with a pair of locks  114  and  116  engaging until they make contact with stops  122  and  124  to prevent unwanted disengagement. Of course, any other convenient locking or fastening devices, such as bolts, pins, or other instrumentalities known to persons skilled in the art can also be used to secure the cross member  108  in place. Alternatively, when the cross member  108  is removed from the pockets  110 ,  112  to move the sling seat  104  aside so that a user can climb between the vertical support members  130 ,  132 , as described above, the cross member  108  can be placed into a pair of lower retainer pockets  118  and  120  to hold the sling seat  104  in a temporary non-use position. In this non-use position, the seat  104  material is not suspended across the space bounded by the vertical support members  130 ,  132  and by the upper and lower cross members  142 ,  106 , thereby allowing room for ingress onto, or egress from, the stand from below. This feature is very important, since, by entering the stand through that space from below the seat assembly  102 , the user does not have to jump into the stand from an adjacent ladder or tree steps or have to climb around the outside of the seat assembly frame  103  to get on top of it.  
         [0024]     The frame  103  of the seat assembly  102  has two longitudinal support members  134  and  136  extending upwardly from cross members  142 ,  144  with respective holes  152  and  154  near the upper end of each support  134 ,  136 . These support members  134  and  136  are used to attach the seat assembly  102  to the tree bracket assembly  200  ( FIG. 3 ) by aligning the holes  152 ,  154  to holes  210  and  212  of the recliner bracket  200  using hitch pins  138  and  140 , as will be described in more detail below. This connection provides a fixed mount for the top of the seat assembly  102  to the tree bracket  200 , while allowing the support members  134  and  136  to pivot about the connection point created with the hitch pins  138  and  140  until the horizontal support members  126 ,  128  are connected to the tree bracket assembly  200 , as will also be described below. The frame  103  may also contain hinge points at or near a midpoint to allow the seat assembly to fold so as to be carried in a more easy fashion by a user.  
         [0025]     The tree bracket assembly  200 , which holds the seat assembly  102  on a tree T is best seen in  FIG. 3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the bracket assembly  200  is comprised of two vertical side braces  230  and  232  that are rigidly fixed in a substantially parallel manner to one another by two substantially parallel cross members  214 ,  236 . The upper cross member  214  joins the upper portion of the vertical side braces  230  and  232 , and the lower cross member  236  joins the lower portion of the vertical side braces  230  and  232  to create a rigid rectangular frame structure  201 .  
         [0026]     The bracket assembly  200  can be mounted on the tree T in any secure manner, such as, for example, with a chain  220  and a strap  224 . A pair of eyebolts  216  and  218  at either end of cross member  214  can be used to connect the ends of the chain  224  to the bracket assembly  200 . One end of a chain  220  is connected securely to a first eyebolt  216 , and the chain  220  extends tightly around the tree trunk  234  with the other end of the chain connected securely to the second eyebolt  218 . The lower portion of the vertical side braces  230  and  232  are secured to the tree trunk  234  by a strap  226  that extends around the tree trunk  234  and is connected at opposite ends to respective eyebolts  222  and  228 . A conventional ratcheting or tightening mechanism  227  on the strap  226  can be used to cinch the strap  226  tightly to the tree trunk  234 .  
         [0027]     The lower cross member  236  of the bracket assembly  200  has two receiver bracket members  202  and  204  on respective opposite ends  203 ,  205  to receive and fix the positions of the horizontal support members  126  and  128  of the seat assembly  102  ( FIG. 2 ), as will be described in more detail below. An adjustable strut  346  slidably mounted in a sleeve  324  on the lower cross member  235  can be used to adjustably set the angle of the bracket assembly  200  in relation to the tree trunk  234  before the strap  226  is tightened. This feature is particularly useful with the ladder  348 , as will be explained below. Essentially, the strut  346  holds the lower cross member a desired distance from the tree trunk  234 , which can be set by inserting the pin  350  through any of the adjustment holes  347  in the strut  346 , although any other convenient adjustment mechanism can also be used.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the tree bracket  200  can be adopted for convenient connection to a ladder  348  with a pair of channel-shaped ladder receiver attachments  338 ,  340  affixed to the side braces  230 ,  232 . The upper ends  322 ,  328  of the vertical risers of the ladder  348  (which can be any length in height and multiple sections) are inserted into the ladder receiver attachments  338  and  340  and can be retained there by the eye bolts  228 ,  222  or by any other convenient mechanism. The ladder receiver attachments  338  and  340  can be bolted in place using bolts  342  and  344  or fastened in any other convenient manner, such as welding, etc. Since the ladder  348  may be erected at an angle to the tree T, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the bracket assembly  200  has to be able to accommodate any such angle. Such accommodation can be made by setting the angle of the bracket assembly in relation to the tree T to match the angle of the ladder  348  to the tree T with the angle adjuster  346 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , so that the upper ends  322 ,  328  of the ladder  348  do not bind in the ladder receiver attachments  338 ,  340 . Alternatively, this angle accommodation can be made by swiveling or rotating the ladder receiver attachments  338 ,  340  in relation to the side braces  230 ,  232 , or the lower ends  330 ,  332  of the ladder receiver attachments  338 ,  340  can be flared enough to accommodate more angles between the ladder  348  and the bracket assembly  200 .  
         [0029]     Also, with the ends  322 ,  328  of the ladder  348  inserted into the ladder receiver attachments  338 ,  340 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , the ladder  348  can be used to raise the bracket assembly  200  to a desired height on the tree T. The user can then stand on the ladder  348  to mount the bracket assembly  200  on the tree T with the chain  220  and strap  224 , as explained above.  
         [0030]     As mentioned above, the seat assembly  102  attaches to the bracket assembly  200 , first by connecting the longitudinal support members  134 ,  136  to the side braces  230 ,  232 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . This connection can be accomplished in any of a variety of ways, such as, for example, with the hitch pines  138 ,  140  inserted through the respective holes  252 ,  254  in the side braces  230 ,  232  and through the respective holes  152 ,  154  in the longitudinal support members  134 ,  136  as detailed in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . The lower portion of the seat assembly  102  is then raised to a desired outstretched position and supported in that position by connecting the horizontal support members  126 ,  128  of the seat assembly  102  to the receiver bracket members  202 ,  204  of the bracket assembly  200  so that the distal or lower end of the seat assembly  102  cantilevers outwardly from the support members  126 ,  128 . This connection can be made in any convenient manner, such as, for example, with bolts or pints  262 ,  264  inserted through respective holes  266 ,  268  in the receiver bracket members  202 ,  204  and through selected ones of the holes  270 ,  272  in the horizontal support members  126 ,  128 . A plurality of holes  270 ,  272  are provided in the horizontal support members  126 ,  128  so that the angle between the seat assembly  102  and the bracket  200  is adjustable.  
         [0031]     With the seat assembly  102  attached to the bracket assembly  200 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , a person standing on the ladder  348  can open the space between the vertical support members  130 ,  132  by removing the cross member  108  from the upper pockets  110 ,  112  to move the sling seat  104  aside. Then the person can climb through that space to get above the seat assembly  102 . Standing on the lower cross member  146 , the user can extend the sling seat  104  back across the space between the vertical support members  130 ,  132  and replace the cross member  108  into the upper pockets  110 ,  112  to anchor the sling seat  104  into its use position for supporting the person in a sitting position. When the cross member  108  is removed from the pockets  110 ,  112  to move the sling seat  104  aside, as described above, the cross member  104  can be positioned temporarily in the lower pockets  118 ,  120 . As explained above, this procedure is reversed for egress from the seat assembly  102 .  
         [0032]     Of course, the sling seat  104  could also be made so that the bottom cross member  106  is moveable instead of, or in addition to, the moveable top cross member  108 . Any other means of providing a seat structure between the vertical support members  130 ,  132  and that is moveable out of that space to allow ingress and egress of a user through that space can also be used for purposes of this invention. The seat assembly  102  attached to the bracket assembly  200  and mounted tree T with the sling seat  104  in position for use is shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 7  illustrates the tree bracket  200  of the tree stand  100  installed onto the tree T and used in combination with screwed-on or strapped-on tree steps instead of the ladder described above. This illustration shows that the user may use any type of conventional tree steps in order to gain access to the tree stand  100 , which can reduce the overall cost as well as eliminating the need to carry a long, heavy, and cumbersome ladder into the woods. Additionally, it gives greater versatility to the environment in which the device may be used. Sometimes specific tree structures are not conducive to stable erection of a ladder  348 , such as when the tree trunk is excessively curved, there are obstructive branches, uneven ground conditions, or the like. In such instances, a user can selectively install tree steps  48  around branches and obstacles in order to reach the tree stand  100 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of the seat assembly  102  used in combination with a tripod mount  648  to act as a free standing elevated stand. As shown in  FIG. 8 , a conventional tripod type base  648  can be used in environments where trees are either not present or are not conducive to a tree mounted stand. A tripod  648  having a tripod platform  656  for a floor base is equipped with a set of tripod stairs  652  on at least one of the tripod legs used for gaining access to the elevated stand. In this embodiment, the bracket assembly  200 , which is similar to the tree bracket assembly  200  described above, is mounted in the rear of the stand and supports the seat assembly  102  in a similar manner to the embodiments described above in relation to  FIGS. 1 through 6 . As detailed above, a rigid cross member  106  is rigidly fixed in place with vertical support members  130 ,  132  extending on either lateral side and forms the attachment point for the lower edge of the sling seat  104 . The angle of the recliner assembly  102  is again held by horizontal support members  126 ,  128 . The opposing upper edge of the sling seat  604  is fixed to the mobile cross member  108  that can be attached a variety of positions using frame pockets  110  to either adjust the fit of the sling seat  104  to the user, or to allow ingress and egress to the seat  104  of the stand through the center of the recliner assembly  102  in much the same way as described above. Support rails  654  may be added to the tripod design to form a railing around the seating area for added safety of the used, especially when used in a standing position or to steady a camera, bow, or rifle when shooting. Additional features may be added or adapted to the embodiments described above. For example, the bracket assembly  200  and/or the tripod platform  656  may be modified to incorporate a swing door section to aid in accessing the stand. This access as well as the mobile cross member  108  can have a locking means to place them in a secure and unusable manner when the stand is not in use.  
         [0035]     Numerous advantages are realized in utilizing the disclosed embodiments which combine the features and advantages of a ladder stand, a fixed-position seat stand, a tripod stand, as well as a recliner-type sling seat, resulting in a versatile, comfortable stand, which is also much safer to use than most other currently available designs.  
         [0036]     The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or structure disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings and within the scope of the claims appended hereto. The embodiments described above were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art. The words “comprise,” “comprising,” “include,” “including,” and “includes” when used in this specification and in the following claims are intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers, components, or steps, but they do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, components, steps or groups thereof.

Summary:
Disclosed is a method and device for a tree or tripod stand that has a moveable recliner sling seat for entry and exiting. The tree stand embodiment has the capability of being deployed as a fixed stand (permanently on the tree) or as a ladder stand with the “ladder option” installed, thereby creating two stands in one.