Abstract:
A tree stand including a horizontal platform and mechanism for detachably coupling the platform to a vertical support, such as a tree. The platform includes a vertical access opening therethrough allowing an individual to gain access to the top side of the platform from the underside thereof via a vertical opening extending through the platform. A pair of closure doors is articulately mounted on the platform for swinging movement between co-planar, closed positions, closing the opening and transverse, open positions. The doors can either be individually swingably mounted at there laterally outer edges to the platform or articulately connected to each other and only one of the doors pivotally coupled to the platform.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a tree stand and more particularly to an elevated platform having a vertical passage therethrough for allowing an individual to pass therethrough between the platform underside and the platform topside and, more particularly, to a new and novel door closure system for opening and closing the passage. 
   Tree stands are typically mounted on the trunk of a tree a substantial distance above the ground. Heretofore, access to the top side of the tree stand has been gained by way of ladder which leans against the tree and/or by vertically spaced foot pegs which have been detachable threaded into the tree. There is always a danger in laterally transferring oneself from the foot pegs or ladder to the tree stand because the user must laterally transfer himself to the tree stand after reaching the proper height. Such a transfer holds a danger of slipping or falling which is particularly hazardous because the transfer occurs at a substantial distance above the ground. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel tree stand which will minimize the dangers in accessing an elevated platform. 
   Many tree stands have camouflage side curtains or camouflage material mounted therearound to conceal the hunter from the game which is being hunted. Such camouflaging only exacerbates the problem of laterally accessing the tree stand. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and novel tree stand having a platform with a vertical opening therethrough for allowing the hunter to vertically pass through an opening in the platform. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and novel tree stand of the type described including a vertical opening in the platform and new and novel closure mechanism for closing the vertical opening. 
   Tree stands have been provided heretofore with openings having a single door thereon which swings upwardly forwardly to allow an individual access therethrough such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,066 issued to George W. Swett on Oct. 18, 1983. This stand is likewisely unsafe however, because the user will crawl upwardly and suspend himself above the platform at a height sufficient to allow the door, which was opened to allow access, to swing downwardly to a closed position under the suspended user. That movement requires elevation to a substantial height which is also dangerous. Moreover, the single door is relatively large and relatively difficult to close. Finally, since tree stands are typically utilized by hunters who typically try to minimize noise during set-up. The quiet closure of the large door illustrated in the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,066 is relatively difficult to accomplish. Accordingly, its another object of the present invention to provide a new and novel tree stand having a new and novel pivotal closure door system which will provide easier and safer access to the top of an elevated platform. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a tree stand platform which will safely allow a hunter to gain access to the top of the platform from a position below the platform. 
   It is still another object of the present invention to provide a tree stand of the type described which will allow quieter access thereto. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and novel tree stand having a pair of closure doors hingedly coupled at their laterally outer edges to the platform. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel tree stand of the type described having a pair of doors which are moveable between co-planer positions closing the passage through the tree stand platform and transverse positions opening the passage. 
   Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel tree stand having a vertical access opening therethrough and a pair of closure doors each having a breath not greater than one-half of the breath of the opening. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel tree stand of the type described having a pair of doors each having a breath substantially equal to one-half the breath of the opening. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel tree stand including mechanism articulately coupling a pair of doors to a platform to allow the doors to swing between co-planer positions in the plane of the platform adjacent each other to close a common vertical opening and upstanding positions transverse to the plane. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a tree stand having a vertical opening therethrough and a pair of articulately connected bi-fold doors having one end of one of the doors pivotally coupled to the platform. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a tree stand of the type described including bi-fold doors having a free end slidably coupled to the platform. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide new and novel bi-fold closure doors for a vertical access passage through a platform having one end of one of the closure doors slidably coupled to the platform for linear movement while the opposite end of the one door is swingably coupled to the other door which, in turn, is swingably coupled to the platform for swinging movement between open and closed positions. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A tree stand comprising a platform for supporting an individual and including a vertical access passage therethrough for allowing the vertical ascent and descent of an individual therethrough between a position underlying the platform and a position overlying the platform; mechanism for mounting the platform in a generally horizontally disposed position on an upstanding support, such as a tree trunk; a pair of closure doors; and mechanism articulately mounting the closure doors on the platform adjacent to the passage for movement between closure positions adjacent each other and generally lying in the same plane to close the passage and provide a support for an individual overlying the platform and open upstanding positions transverse to the plane alongside said passage to allow an individual to pass through the passage. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     For a further understanding of the nature and object of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a tree stand constructed according to the present invention illustrating the position and also in a vertical position the seat in a horizontal position, the platform access doors closed, and the platform in a horizontal position, and also in a raised position in phantom; 
       FIG. 2  is a similar side elevational view, parts being broken away in section to better illustrate a J-hook for coupling the tree stand to a tree trunk, and illustrating the seat, in a raised, vertical position, one of the platform access doors open, and a tree, in phantom, on which the tree stand is mounted; 
       FIG. 2A  is a greatly enlarged view of the J-hook for coupling the tree stand to a tree trunk; 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view thereof, taken along the line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 , with the seat up and one of the platform access doors open; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view, taken along the line  44  of  FIG. 1 , which illustrates the seat in the horizontal position and the platform access doors closed; 
       FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view, taken along the line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 1 , wherein the seat is illustrated in the horizontal position and the platform access doors are closed; 
       FIG. 6  is an opposite front elevational view, taken along the line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the apparatus constructed according to the present invention with the seat in the horizontal position and the platform access doors closed, parts being broken away to better illustrate the pivot pins for mounting the seat and the platform; 
       FIG. 6A  is a greatly enlarged front sectional view more particularly illustrating one of the seat mounting pivot parts illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of the tree stand illustrated in  FIG. 9  with the seat up and both platform access doors open; 
       FIG. 8  is a front elevational view of the tree stand illustrated in  FIG. 9  with the seat up and the platform access doors open; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8  mounted on an upstanding support, such as a tree trunk, with the seat in a horizontal position and the platform access doors in an open position opening the access passage. 
       FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  but illustrating the seat in a lower horizontal position and the platform access doors in closed positions, closing the access passage; 
       FIG. 11  is a greatly enlarged, partially broken away, sectional side view, taken along the section line  11 — 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a greatly enlarged front sectional view taken along the section line  1212  of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a side perspective view of a slightly modified tree stand illustrating the platform and the modified access doors in co-planar horizontal positions and the tree seat in a vertical position; 
       FIG. 14  is an opposite side perspective view of the tree stand illustrated in  FIG. 13  illustrating the platform and seat in horizontal positions and the access doors in partially open positions; 
       FIG. 15  is a bottom perspective view of the tree stand illustrated in  FIG. 13  but illustrating the seat in a horizontal position; 
       FIG. 16  is a side perspective view, similar to  FIG. 13 , but illustrating the access doors in open transverse positions; and 
       FIG. 17  is a greatly enlarged, sectional view, taken along the line  17 A— 17 A of FIG.  14 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   A tree stand, generally designated  10 , constructed according to the present invention, comprises a foldable chair, generally designated  11 , pivotally mounted on a platform, generally designated  13 , via pivot pins  15  (FIG.  6 ). The tree stand  10  is particularly adapted to be mounted in an elevated position on the side of an upstanding support, such as a tree trunk  12 . The chair  11  includes a pair of upstanding laterally spaced, rearwardly disposed, rearwardly upwardly inclined frame bars  17  provided with lower vertical ends  19 , through which the pivot pins  15  are coupled, and upwardly converging upper ends  21  mounting, a back rest  28 . The chair  11  includes a generally rectangular back frame  14  having upper and lower frame bars  16  integrally coupled, at there ends, to a pair of vertical side bars  18  via 90° corner elbows  20 . The back frame  14  is welded or otherwise suitably coupled to frame bars  17 . 
   The chair  11  also includes a seat  30  fixed to a pair of L-shaped mounts  32 , which are pivotally mounted on the end frame members  18 , via pivot pins  34 . The seat  30  can swing between the raised vertical or up positions, illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and the horizontal or down position illustrated in  FIG. 1. A  pair of flaccid lines or chains, generally designated  36 , coupled between the end frame members  18  and the seat  30  prevent downward swinging movement of seat  30  below the horizontal position illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
   The platform  13  includes a platform frame, generally designated  38 , having front and rear angle members  40  and  42  respectively spanned by laterally spaced side members  44  and  46 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 9-12 , the platform frame members  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  are laterally spaced L-shaped or right angle shaped frame bars. The L-shaped platform frame members  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  including horizontal flanges  41 ,  43 ,  45  and  47  (FIGS.  11  and  12 ), respectively. 
   The frame members  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  of platform  13  form an access passage or opening  53  through which an individual can upwardly or downwardly pass to gain access to, or to remove from, the upper side of platform  13 . 
   Hingedly mounted on the front and rear end platform frame angle members  40  and  42 , via pivot pins  52 , for swinging movement thereon is a pair of platform closure doors, generally designated  48  and  50 . The doors  48  and  50  include front and rear inverted L-shaped angle frame members, generally designated  54  and  56 , respectively, spanned by laterally outer and inner inverted L-shaped angle frame members  58  and  60 . Welded or otherwise or suitably secured to the horizontal flanges  55 ,  57 ,  59  and  61  of frame members  54 ,  56 ,  58  and  60 , respectively, is an expanded metal sheet or screen  62 . A central brace  64  spans spaced side frame Members  58  and  60  for supporting the central portion of the expanded metal sheet or screen  62 . 
   Flaccid cables  65  are coupled to the back frame members  18  and the laterally outer seat side, frame members  44  and  46  for supporting the platform  13  on the back frame member  14  to preclude its downward swinging movement beyond the horizontal position illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
   Welded or otherwise suitably fixed to the back of the rear platform frame bar  42  of the platform frame  38  is a pair of tree receiving brackets, generally designated  66  and  68 , ( FIG. 4 ) which form rearwardly diverging surfaces  70  and  72 , respectively, for bearing against the front  73  of the tree trunk  12 . 
   The tree stand  10  is detachably mounted on the front  73  of the tree trunk  12  via a J-hook, generally designated  74 , having a long rear leg  76  and a short front leg  78  coupled together via a U-shaped curvilinear connector bar  80  which forms a saddle for receiving the upper back frame bar  16 . The longer back leg  76  is tightly clamped to the tree trunk  12  via an adjustable length strap  82  which has opposite ends that extend around opposite sides of the tree trunk and are detachably tied together or coupled together with suitable fasteners (not shown). 
   It should be noted that the back frame bars  17  and back frame  14  are rearwardly upwardly inclined so that the upper frame bar  16  ( FIG. 2 ) is immediately adjacent the front  73  of the tree trunk  12  and the platform  38  is spaced forwardly of the tree trunk  12 , as illustrated. The rearwardly diverging tree receiving bracket  70  and  72  project rearwardly relative to the frame  38  so to generally underlie the frame bar  16  and receive a lower portion of the tree trunk  12 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11  the doors  48  and  50  are, when closed, basically co-planar, in the plane  75  of the platform  38  ( FIG. 6 ) and are supported by platform flanges  41 ,  43 ,  45  and  47  to provide a strong, lightweight floor which will support a hunter thereon. 
   The Operation 
   The tree stand  10  can be folded for transport to the field with the seat  30  in the raised or vertical position illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 9 , and the platform  13  swung upwardly, in the direction of the arrow  84 , to the position illustrated in chain lines in  FIG. 1 , facilitating easy transport of the tree stand  20  to the field. In the field, the user will use a ladder or install vertically spaced foot pegs (not shown) in the tree trunk  12  to climb the tree trunk  12  and carry the folded tree stand  10  up to the desired elevation thereon. 
   The J-hook  74  is coupled to the tree trunk  12  via the strap  82  passing around the rear J-hook leg  78  and the tree trunk  12 . The upper frame bar member  16  is then deposited into the saddle  80  of J-hook  74  ( FIG. 2A ) with the rearwardly converging frame bars  68 ,  66  bearing against the front surface  73  of tree trunk  12  as illustrated in FIG.  4 . When so positioned, the platform  13  can be lowered from the raised vertical position, illustrated in chain lines  FIG. 1 , to the lower horizontal position, illustrated in the solid lines in  FIG. 1 , supported on the back frame member  14  by the side cables  65 . The seat  30  will initially remain in the raised vertical position illustrated in solid lines in FIG.  2 . 
   The tree stand can remain so positioned for periodic use by a hunter. When the user desires to gain access to the platform  13 , the user, need only, via a ladder or foot pegs, (not shown), approach the underside  86  of the platform  13 , and push the laterally adjacent, inner door frame members  60  upwardly to swing the doors  48  and  50  about the pivot pins  52  to the raised, open positions illustrated in FIG.  9 . In the transverse positions of the doors  48  &amp;  50 , illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 , the user can easily move upwardly through the access opening  53  between the open doors  48  and  50  and stand on a portion of the rear brace  42 , and/or braces  66  &amp;  68 , with one foot and pull one of the doors  50 , for example, closed with the other foot and then step on the closed door  50  with the other foot and use the one foot to close the opposite door  48 . In the lowered, closed positions of the doors  48  and  50  illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the doors  48  and  50  close the opening  53  and provide a strong a durable platform to support the user. 
   When the hunter desires to remove himself from the platform  13 , he need only open the doors  48  and  50  to the transverse position illustrated in  FIG. 9 , and lower himself through the opening  43  onto the pegs or underlying ladder. 
   Alternate Embodiment 
   Referring now more particularly to  FIGS. 13-16 , a slightly modified tree stand, generally designated  10 A, is illustrated and generally similar parts will be identified by generally similar reference characters followed by the letter A subscript. The tree stand  10 A primarily differs from the tree stand  10  in that the laterally adjacent doors  48  and  50  are replaced by front and rear doors  48 A and  50 A, respectively. The front door  48 A includes a pair of laterally spaced apart tubular bars  88  having front ends  90  pivotally coupled to brackets  92  on the front frame bar  40 A via pivot pins  94 . 
   Mounted on the laterally spaced bars tubular bars  88  is a plurality of spaced apart laterally extending tubular frame bars  96  which are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the top sides of the spaced apart tubular bars  88  for supporting, in the lowered position illustrated in  FIG. 15 , a person thereon. 
   The rearward door  50 A includes a pair of laterally spaced apart tubular bars  98  supporting a plurality of longitudinally cross bars  100  for supporting a user thereon. The cross bars  100  are welded or otherwise suitably affixed to the tubular bars  98 . The front ends  102  of the bars  98  are pivotally coupled to the rear ends  104  of the front tubular bars  88 . The rearward end  106  of one of the side rails  98  is slidably received on the horizontal leg  47 A of the platform side rail  46 A via a pair of U-shaped clips, T, welded to opposite ends of the rearward most crossbar  101  coupled to the bars  98 , which receives the lower frame leg  47 A. The guides  108  force the rear ends  106  of the rear bars  98  to move in a linear path as the doors  48 A and  58 A are being swung between the co-planar positions, illustrated in  FIG. 13 , to the upstanding, folded, co-extensive positions alongside each other (FIG.  16 ). A handle  11 ( ) is coupled to one of the cross bars  100  to assist this movement. 
   The rear brace  66 A may be constructed identically to the tree braces  66  &amp;  68  but is schematically illustrated as an elongate bar. 
   In the position of the doors  48 A &amp;  50 A illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the opening  53 A provides an easy access opening for users to gain access to the topside of the platform  13 A. By merely pulling on the handle  110  on the open rear door  50 A, both doors  48 A and  50 A will rearwardly unfold to reassume the co-planar positions as illustrated in  FIG. 15  in which the doors  48 A and  50 A are co-planar. And close the opening  53 A. 
   It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made in various elements to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.