Abstract:
A deer stand is pivotally mountable on a back rack of an ATV. When erected to an upright position the deer stand is stabilized by the mass of the ATV, preventing collapse of the stand due to wind or other such forces. When being transported to the location, the stand is pivoted onto its side, with the front portion being securable to a front rack of the ATV.

Description:
The present invention relates to movable portable stands, supports, hunter&#39;s platforms, etc for use in the field. More specifically the present invention relegates to a stand, which may be carried on a small off road vehicle, such an all terrain vehicle, and erected on site by one or more persons. 
   Hunters, sport enthusiasts, nature photographers and other individuals have long appreciated an elevated position for viewing the surrounding area. Deer hunters are particularly interested in using a platform that is well elevated above the undergrowth to better spot animals in the field and in the forest. Some of the known platforms are mounted on trees, some are designed to elevate the person using hand operated winches, hydraulic winches, and other power machinery. Basically, most of the stands compromise some type of platform that can be accessible form the ground for the hunter by either a ladder, or movable chair and the like. Many hunters and sport enthusiasts prefer to use portable supports that do not require winches or trees for installation. The portable deer stands are usually transported to a site by a truck or other power vehicle where the stand is erected in the field. However, many deer platforms or deer stands are relatively heavy, requiring two or more persons for proper installation. If the support is lightweight, there is a danger of it being overturned by wind or movement of the hunter on the platform, which may lead to a collapse of the support and injury of the person or persons on the platform. 
   The present invention contemplates elimination of drawbacks associated with conventional deer stands and provision of a lightweight, portable, easily erectable support mountable on an all terrain vehicle, which provides stability to the erected super structure. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a utility stand for use by photographers, hunters, forest rangers, and other personnel who require a portable easily erectable elevated viewing platform. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an elevated viewing platform that can be erected by one person. 
   These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a provision of through a provision of a structure pivotally mountable on a rack of an all-terrain vehicle. The structure has a front portion, which pivotally engages the back rack of the ATV and a front portion, which defines a ladder. The upper ends of the front portion and the back portion support an elevated platform, which accommodates one or more users. The platform has a lightweight mesh floor with a solid plate mounted thereon. An opening in the solid plate allows positioning of a seat pedestal on the platform. 
   Each leg of the front portion and the back portion is provided with a means for independent leveling in relation to the ground. A lower portion of each leg carries an internally threaded nut, which receives a bolt in a threaded engagement therein. The bolt is configured for resting on the ground, and when the bolt is rotated, the nut with the attached leg moves a pre-determined distance up or down. 
   The platform is provided with a plurality of upright members extending from the floor. The upright members support a wrap-around railing, which serves as a rest for a rifle, photography equipment and the like. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the elevated stand in accordance with the present invention supported, in part, by an all terrain vehicle. 
       FIG. 2  is a detail perspective view of an elevated platform, which forms a part of the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a detail view of the pin connecting the support leg. 
       FIG. 4  is detail view of the top rail bracket. 
       FIG. 5  is detail view of the leg and a pin for securing the platform support. 
       FIG. 6  is a detail view of the bracket for supporting the leg. 
       FIG. 7  is a detail view illustrating connection of the top rail and the platform flow leg. 
       FIG. 8  is a detail view of the ladder portion of the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a detail view illustrating a means for adjusting and leveling of the legs of the structure. 
       FIG. 10  is a detail view of the ladder support brace. 
       FIG. 11  is a detail view of a pin and sleeve connection between the top of the ladder and the edge of the platform. 
       FIG. 12  is a detail view of the ladder portion showing telescopic connection. 
       FIG. 13  is detail view showing the platform lowered on its side. 
       FIG. 14  is detail view illustrating a pin and leg connection for the top rail. 
       FIG. 15  is detail view illustrating the leg detail supporting the top rail. 
       FIG. 16  is a detail view illustrating the front portion of the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 16   a  is a detail view illustrating the means for adjusting position of the front portion legs on the ground. 
       FIG. 17  is a detail view showing a portion of the pivotal attachment assembly of the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 18  is a detail view illustrating the means for securing an upper transverse brace of the front portion to a leg. 
       FIG. 19  is a detail perspective view of the central portion of the platform in accordance with the present invention showing a receiver for a seat pedestal. 
       FIG. 20  is detail view illustrating a means for securing the seat pedestal attachment plate to the floor of the platform. 
       FIG. 21  is a detail view of a receiving plate for securing the apparatus of the present invention to the vehicle rack. 
       FIG. 22  is a detail view of an attachment member for use with the receiving plate. 
       FIG. 23  is a side view of the receiving plate with an attachment member secured thereto. 
       FIG. 24  is a detail view illustrating a U-shaped bolt for attaching the receiving plate to the vehicle rack. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral  10  designates the apparatus of the present invention. The deer stand, or structure  10  comprises a front portion  12  and a rear portion  14 . The front portion  12  is adapted for pivotal engagement with a rack of an all terrain vehicle schematically shown in  FIG. 1  and designated by numeral  16 . 
   The front portion  12  comprises a pair of spaced-apart legs  18  and  20  that can be disassembled by breaking out connections  22  and  24  which help secure upper and lower parts of the legs  18 ,  20  together.  FIG. 12  illustrates a manner of connecting lower portions  26 ,  28  of the legs  18  and  20  and upper portions  30 ,  32  of the legs  18 ,  20 , respectively. As can be seen in  FIG. 12 , each upper portion  30 ,  32  is formed as a tubular body provided with one or more through openings  34 . The lower portions  26 ,  28  are each formed as a tubular body with through openings  36 . The external dimensions of the lower portions  26 ,  28  are slightly smaller than the size of an interior opening of the upper portions  30 , 32  allowing a slidable telescopic engagement between the portions  30 ,  32  and  26 ,  28 . A securing bolt  38  is provided for positioning through the openings  34  and  36 , once the lower portion  26 ,  28  is inserted into the upper part  30 ,  32 . The bolt passes through aligned openings  34  and  36  and is secured on the opposite side with a threaded nut  40 . 
   The lowermost portions of the legs  18  and  20  are provided with a means for leveling position of each of the legs on the ground. As can be seen in  FIGS. 16 and 16A , the lowermost portion  42  and  44  carries an internally threaded nut  46 . An elongated bolt  48  is threadably received within the nut  46 . The lower portion of the bolt  48  can be driven into the ground  50  or can simply rest on the ground. By rotating the bolt  48 , the user moves the nut  46  and the associated leg  42  along the vertical height of the bolt  48 , thereby allowing adjusting individual position of a respective leg on the ground. 
   A lower transverse brace  54  is secured between opposing legs  18  and  20 . The transverse bar  52  carries a pair of securing bracket assemblies  56 ,  58 . Each bracket assembly  56  and  58  comprises a pair of locking sleeves  60 ,  62 , mounted in a surrounded relationship over the transverse brace  54 . Secured to the transverse bar between the locking sleeves  60 ,  62  is a means for pivotally securing of the front portion on a vehicle rack. The pivotal securing means comprises a receiving plate and an attachment plate. The attachment plate  64  is secured on the transverse brace  54  with the help of a tubular sleeve  66 . The sleeve is adapted for free pivotal movement about the transverse brace  54 . The sleeve  66  is unitary connected to the plate  64 . 
   An opening  68  is defined in the plate  64  and is adapted to receiving an attachment pin  70  ( FIGS. 22 ,  23 ) therein. The attachment pin  70  comprise a pin head  72  formed with a through opening  74  and a threaded portion  76  which extends on the opposite side of the plate  64  once the attachment pin is passed through the opening  68 . A securing nut  78  secures position of the pin  70 . A locking pin  80  has a stem  82  and the pull ring  84 . The pin stem  82  is adapted for passing through the opening  74  of the attachment pin  70 . 
   Each of the bracket assemblies  56  and  58  further comprises a receiving plate  90  configured as an L-shaped body having a first portion  92  and a second portion  94 . The first portion  92  is provided with a plurality of bolt receiving openings  96  which are sized an shaped to receive opposing legs  95 ,  97  of a U-shaped bolt  98 . Depending on the orientation of the bars on a back rack  100  of the vehicle  16 , the U-Shaped bolt is engaged through respective openings  96 . A pair of securing nuts  102  and  104  are provided for securing position of the U-shaped bolt  98  in relation to the receiving plate  90  and the bars of the rack  100 . 
   As can be seen in the drawings, the portion  94  of the receiving plate  90  is oriented at a substantially right angle in relation to the portion  92 . The portion  94  of the receiving plate  90  is provided with a through opening  106 . When the receiving plate  90  is installed on the back rack  100 , the attachment plate  64  is moved into contact with the back  108  of the vertical part  94 . The openings  68  and  106  are aligned and the attachment pin  70  is passed through the opening  106 , through the opening  68 , thereby attaching the plate  64  with the receiving plate  90  by the pin  70  and the securing pin  80 . Once the assembly is in place, the structure  10  can pivot about the lower transverse brace  54  while being secured to the transverse brace  54  and the back rack  100 . 
   When the securing pin  80  is removed, the pivotal movement of the super structure  10  in relation to the back rack  100  is allowed. Such pivotal may be needed when the deer stand is transported from one location to another without the need to disassemble the stand into it smaller components. In the down position, the stand  10  is moved to elevate the legs from the ground and cause the front portion  12  to lie against the ATV structure. The front portion is temporarily secured to the front rack, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. 
   Turning back to  FIG. 17 , the detail of engagement of the transverse brace  54  with the leg  18  is shown is further detail. As can be seen in the drawings, an outermost end of the transverse brace  54  carries a sleeve  110  with a cap  112  for engaging with the leg  18 . It will be understood that the opposite end of the lower transverse brace  54  similarly engages the leg  20 . 
   As can be seen in more detail in  FIGS. 16 and 18 , the front portion  12  of the structure  10  is provided with an upper transverse brace  120 . The transverse brace  120  has a pair of engaging rods  122  extending at a right angle on opposite ends of the brace  120 . A rod  122  is configured for slidable engagement with the tubular legs  18  and more specifically the upper portions  30  and  32  of the legs  18  and  20 . The telescoping connection allows to easily assemble and disassemble the upper brace  120  from the legs  18 ,  20 . 
   The rear portion  14  of the structure  10  comprises a stepladder allowing the user to climb to the top of the structure  10  up to the platform  130 . The back portion  14  comprises a pair of parallel legs  132 ,  134  and a plurality of cross bars, or steps  136  extending between the legs  132  and  134 . As can be seen in more detail in  FIGS. 1 and 8 , the rear portion  14 , similarly to the front portion  12 , has legs that can be disassembled into the lower and upper parts  132  and  134 . The break down connection is shown in  FIG. 12  and is similar to the break-apart connection described in relation to the legs  18  and  20  above. The breakdown connections on the legs  132  and  134  are designated by numerals  138  and  140  in  FIG. 8 . 
   The lowermost ends  142 ,  144  of the legs  132  and  134  respectively, rest on and engage with a support bar  146 . The support bar  146  extends transversely to the longitudinal extension of the legs  132  and  134 . The longitudinal dimension of the bar  146  may be greater than the space between the legs  132 ,  134 , such that the ends of the support bar  146  extend outwardly of the legs  132  and  134 , as can be better seen in  FIGS. 1 and 8 . 
   The support bar  146  is adapted to rest on the ground  50 , in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 , with the lower portions  142  and  144  engaging open ends of receiving members  148  and  150 , which may be fixedly secured to the support bar  146 . Opposite ends of the support bar  146  each carry internally threaded nuts  152  which are adapted to move along a support rod  154  that is either driven into the ground  50  or rests on the ground. The rotation of the rod  154  will cause movement of the nut  152  along the height of the rod  154 . As a result, vertical and horizontal leveling of the legs  132  and  134  is accomplished for each leg individually. 
   The uppermost cross bar  160  of the ladder portion  14  is adapted for engagement with the platform  130 . The uppermost cross bar  160  is engaged within a receiving sleeve  162 , which is formed as a tubular body. The outermost end of the sleeve  162  is provided with a through opening for receiving a securing pin  164  therethrough. A wire pull  166  is secured to the pin  164  to allow withdrawing of the pin  164  and disengagement of the sleeve  162  from its engagement with the uppermost cross bar  160 . 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  8  and  10 , the portions  12  and  14  are secured together with detachable support braces  170 . Each of the support braces  170  carries a supporting member  172 , which allows engagement of the legs  132  with legs  26 ,  132  and  28 ,  154  together. 
   Turing now to  FIGS. 2-7  and  13 - 15 , the platform of the apparatus of the present invention is seen in more detail. As can be seen in the drawings, the platform  130  comprises a floor  180  formed from a wire or metal lightweight mesh material. The floor  180  rests on the uppermost cross bars  120  and  160  of the portions  12  and  14 . 
   Extending outwardly from the floor  180  is a plurality of upright supports  182 ,  184 ,  186  and  188 . The lowermost ends of each support  182 ,  184 ,  186  and  188  has a threaded bolt  190 , which is securable with a corresponding nut  196 . The bolts  190  pass through corresponding openings (not shown) formed in the bars  192  and  194 , which are secured along the opposing edges of the floor  180 . As can be seen in more detail in  FIGS. 13 and 15 , the bolt  190  secured on the underside of the bars  192  and  194  with the retaining nut  196 . 
   The platform  130  is provided with a means for detachable engaging with the legs  18 ,  20 ,  132 , and  134 . The leg engaging means is shown in  FIG. 2  and is designated by numeral  200 . The engaging rods  200  extend from the bars  192  and  194 , downwardly and fit into an open top of each of the tubular legs  18 ,  20 ,  132 , and  134 . A similar extension  202  ( FIG. 3 ) secures the upright supports to the bars  192  and  194 . 
   To further provide for stability of the platform  130  in relation to the legs of the structure, each leg carries a brace  204  which extents at a angle between the leg and the underside of the reinforcing bars  192 ,  193 ,  194  and  195 , which are secured to the edges of the floor  180 . 
   The center portion of the floor  180  is provided with an opening for receiving a seat pedestal. As can be seen in detail in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , a reinforcing frame  210  is secured about a reinforcing plate  222  and longitudinal rails  212 ,  214  extending along the length of the floor  180 . The reinforcing plate  222  has a generally rectangular configuration with a central opening  216 , which allows access to a seat pedestal-receiving sleeve  218  extending downwardly from the floor  180 . A reinforcing ring  220  surrounds the opening  216  to further prevent damage to the mesh floor  180 . The reinforcing plate  222  may be bolted to the floor  180  by a plurality of bolts  224  ( FIG. 20 ), each of which is secured to the underside with a nut  226 . The bolted down engagement may be provided in a plurality of strategic locations  228 . 
   Resting on top of the upright supports  182 ,  184 ,  186  and  188  is a top railing assembly  230 . The railing assembly  230  comprises tubular members forming an enclosure and defining a support surface for a telescope, photography or video equipment, rifles and other such equipment brought to the viewing site by a person using the platform  130 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a top of an upright member  186  secured with the rail member  231  by a telescoping engagement of the portions  234  with the portion  186 , and further securing with a bolt  236  and nut  238 . A reduced size portion  189  provided in the uppermost end of an upright member  186  facilitates easy positioning of the upper end within the portion  234 . 
     FIG. 7  illustrates a detail of an alternative securing assembly for the top rail  230 . In this embodiment, the top rail has an extension  234 , which is provided with a threaded bolt  240  welded thereto. A sleeve  242  is provided for enclosing the bolt portion  240 , while the lower part of the bolt  240  is engaged with a nut, which secures the upper part of the upright support  182 ,  184 ,  186  and  188  with the rail extension portion  234 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the manner of attachment of the structure  10  to the racks of the all terrain vehicle  16  is shown in more detail. As can be seen in the side detail views, the receiving plate  90  is secured with U-shaped bolt  98  to a bar  300  of the ATV rack  302 . When the structure is erected and secured, transferring load to the back of the ATV, the stability of the structure can be significantly increased, since the weight of the ATV is a dead weight supporting the upright position of the structure  10 . 
   When the structure  10  is being transported to the desired sight, the structure  10  is pivotally moved forward such that a portion of the structure  10  rests on a front rack  304  of the vehicle  16 . In that case, a securing plate, similar to the receiving plate  90  is used for making a connection between the front rack  304  and the structure  10 . One or more U-shaped bolts  98  provided for securing the legs  18  and  20  to the rack  304 . In this condition the structure  10  can be transported or repositioned at the desired location. 
   The structure  10  of the present invention is formed from lightweight tubular and mesh materials; it can be easily assembled by disassembled by disengaging the legs, the platform members and the supports to rest on a truck bed or in a luggage compartment of a car. The structure can be easily assembled by one person, using readily available hand held tools by inserting the appropriate bolts, pins, etc. into the corresponding receivers. The erected stand  10  is supported by the full weight of the all terrain vehicle and provides outstanding stability as compared to conventional deer stands. 
   Many changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without depart from the spirit thereof. I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.