Abstract:
The present invention is a portable self contained tree stand for elevating hunters above the ground. The tree stand comprises a motorized winch for elevating the hunter and for dragging animal carcasses. The present invention also has a lower attachment tube for adding various accessories, such as gambrels, footrests, trailer hitches, or skinning cables. In addition, the tree stand of the present invention has a remote control for operating the motorized winch. Moreover, a power supply for operating the winch can also be used for powering various other auxiliary devices, such as heating blankets or personal electronic devices.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/879,348, filed Jan. 9, 2007. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    This invention is directed primarily to the fields of hunting stands, animal carcass manipulation, and animal carcass skinning. Additional fields of use will include any application where a person attains an elevated position and performs tasks at an elevated position or applies a lift mechanism for purposes of dragging or elevating a load to include but not limited to military sniping and utility company pole climbing. 
         [0007]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0008]    In the field of hunting, hunters use tree stands to achieve elevated positions where they can sit and wait on deer or other game. Generally, the hunter ascends the tree stand via ladder or mechanical device. Once in place, the hunter may sit and wait for long periods of time before viewing a deer. Once a deer is killed by the hunter, the hunter must descend the tree stand and locate the animal carcass. The animal carcass is then dragged to a convenient location for field dressing. This makes the animal lighter and thus more easily removed from the woods. 
         [0009]    In recent years the average age of the hunting population has increased. In addition to the physical affects of aging, less fit persons, physically challenged, and wheelchair bound persons also enjoy the hunting sport. However, there are a number of physically difficult activities associated with hunting. The difficult activities include 1) achieving an elevated position, 2) dragging heavy game from point to point 3) hoisting the heavy game for field dressing 4) skinning the animal, and 5) loading of the heavy game into a vehicle for hauling out of the woods. All of these activities tend to make enjoying the hunting sport difficult if not impossible for older, less fit, physically challenged, and wheelchair bound persons. 
         [0010]    Various methods and devices have been used to address the above problems. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,517 to Payne discloses a power driven tree stand, U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,694 to Steele discloses a portable tree platform, U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,964 to Gearhart discloses a tree attached deer hoist, U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,317 to Timothy discloses a portable hanger for deer or large animal carcasses and U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,028 to Kelley discloses a portable power winch assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,748 to Homer discloses a powered big game hoist. 
         [0011]    Although Payne (517) and Steele (694) disclose methods of elevating disabled hunters, they do not address the additional needs of the disabled hunter—such as the need to drag and hang carcasses. A hunter of limited physical capacity may need to bring additional powered items for dragging, hanging, skinning and loading an animal carcass after it has been shot. However, it may not be practical for a hunter to transport all of the items necessary to the hunting location. 
         [0012]    Gearhart (964) and Timothy (317) disclose devices for hoisting and hanging carcasses, but neither is integral with the hunting stands. Timothy (317) addresses the need to make hunting items light and portable, however a need may still exist to lift an animal carcass once the gambrel hooks are placed. Gearhard (964) shows a tree attachable hoist for aid in lifting a carcass. However, since the device is not integral with a tree stand, a disabled hunter would still need to find a way to transport multiple items to the remote site. 
         [0013]    The Kelley (028) reference teaches a portable power winch for dragging game across the ground. But since this device is also not integral with other hunting items—such as a tree stand, a disabled hunter would still require multiple items to be brought into the woods. 
         [0014]    The Homer (748) reference teaches a motorized winch for hoisting big game up for gutting or loading purposes. This device is however attached to a vehicle. Therefore, the hunter would have to bring a vehicle to the kill point in order to avoid manipulating the carcass prior to field dressing. 
         [0015]    The disabled or elderly hunter may find devices such as the above useful, but will still find difficulty in transporting multiple devices to the hunting site. A need, therefore, exists for a lightweight portable tree stand with multiple functions tailored to the needs of the disabled or elderly hunter but convenient and cost effective for the hunting community in general. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The present invention provides a tree stand with multiple functions that enable the hunter to operate without lugging multiple bulky components to remote areas in the woods. 
         [0017]    The invention consists of a tree stand with a motorized winch and removable/rechargeable power supply. The motorized winch enables automatic ascension up the tree, dragging of the animal carcass, hoisting of the animal carcass and skinning of the animal carcass. The invention is equipped with a rechargeable power supply for powering various other items such as heaters or communications equipment. The tree stand is also equipped with multiple safety features should the winch fail. 
         [0018]    The tree stand has four primary modes of operation: 1) elevated mode, 2) animal carcass drag mode, 3) animal carcass hoisting mode, and 4) animal carcass skinning mode 
         [0019]    (1) Elevated Mode: When the hunter arrives at the site, the first mode they will operate the tree glider in is the Elevated Mode. The first step is attaching the tree glider to the base of the tree. The tree glider diagonal frame tube attaches to rear roller attachment tube in a slidable manner. The rear roller attachment tube carries back rollers and the tree glider platform carries the front rollers. The rear roller attachment tube is slid over the diagonal frame tube until front rollers and back rollers are in contact with the tree and the platform is level. A frame lock pin attaches the frame tubes together. The hunter then uses a pole, or other device known in the art, to attach the tree cable loop cable connector to a point 15-20 feet above the ground. The hunter then walks onto or rolls a wheelchair onto the tree glider platform and uses a remote control to operate the motorized winch. Once the tree stand platform reaches the correct elevated position, the hunter then locks the cable ascender in position. The hunter then attaches the safety strap around the tree and uses the ratchet tightener to lock the tree glider to the tree and attaches any other electrical devices, such as heaters or communications equipment to the tree glider power supply. The final step in elevation mode involves relaxation and observation until the animal is shot. 
         [0020]    (2) Animal Carcass Drag Mode: After shooting an animal, the hunter reverses the above steps to descend the tree. Once on the ground, the hunter uses the safety strap and ratchet tightener to lock the tree stand in the lower position followed by releasing the hook from the tree and using the remote control to operate the motorized winch and release 50 to 100 feet of cable. The hunter will then attach the cable to the animal carcass and use the remote control to have the motorized winch rewind the cable which will drag the animal carcass toward the tree glider. 
         [0021]    (3) Animal Carcass Hoisting Mode: Once the animal carcass has reached the base of the tree glider, the cable and hook are released from the animal carcass. The hook is re-attached to the cable connector on the tree cable loop. The safety strap and ratchet tightener are released from the tree. Next, a detachable gambrel is attached to a lower attachment tube at the base of the tree glider. The animal hocks are then attached to the detachable gambrel. Next the remote control is used to operate the winch and the animal carcass is raised off the ground. Finally, the animal is in a position to be field dressed which may include gutting or skinning. Upon completion of the action of field dressing, the carcass can be raised to a level necessary to load the carcass into a vehicle for removal from the woods. 
         [0022]    (4) Animal Carcass Skinning Mode: If the hunter desires to remove the carcass skin, he or she may use the tree glider to assist this operation. A cable is attached to the lower attachment tube of the tree glider, and the opposing end of the cable is looped around the animal neck. Cuts are made through the skin on the mid-point of each of the legs. A similar cut is made around the entire animal neck. A golf ball or rock is inserted under the hide at the back of the animal carcass neck. A loop of cable is closed around the outside of the protrusion formed by the golf ball. The other end of the cable is secured to the ground or to a substantial eye screw in the base of the tree. The tree glider is then used to pull the animal carcass upwards. The ground attached cable then pulls the hide off the deer. 
         [0023]    There has thus been outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In as much as the foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific methods and structures may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent methods and structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0024]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0025]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory Inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0027]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an elevating tree stand which is lightweight, durable and inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0028]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an elevating tree stand which can power various auxiliary devices required by a hunter. 
         [0029]    Even still another object of the present invention to provide an elevating tree stand which can drag animal carcasses from the kill point to the tree stand. 
         [0030]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an elevating tree stand which can hoist an animal carcass into the air for field dressing purposes. 
         [0031]    Yet another object of the present invention to provide an elevating tree stand which can hoist an animal carcass and lower into the cargo area of a vehicle. 
         [0032]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an elevating tree stand which can separate an animal carcass hide from the body. 
         [0033]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an elevating tree stand with a wireless or wired remote control for operation of the motorized winch. 
         [0034]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an elevating tree stand with means for connecting various auxiliary devices to the lower periphery, such as gambrels, footrests, trailer hitches or skinning cables. 
         [0035]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of this invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the present invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0036]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0037]      FIG. 1  Side View of the Tree Glider 
           [0038]      FIG. 2   FIG. 2   a  is a front view,  FIG. 2   b  is back view,  FIG. 2   c  is a top view 
           [0039]      FIG. 3  Tree Glider attachment components and Accessories 
           [0040]      FIG. 4  Horizontal Stabilizer 
           [0041]      FIG. 5  Tree Glider in Animal Carcass Dragging Mode 
           [0042]      FIG. 6  Tree Glider in Animal Carcass Hoisting Mode 
           [0043]      FIG. 7  Tree Glider in Animal Carcass Skinning Mode 
           [0044]      FIG. 8  Method of Use of Tree Glider 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0045]    With reference to  FIG. 1-3 , the present invention is shown in the elevated mode. Motorized winch  18  is a motorized tensioning device for raising and lowering a platform  2  by exerting a force on a winch cable  7  or any flexible tension element. A power supply  5  provides power for the motorized winch  18 . The power supply  5  also has one or more outlets for powering auxiliary devices such as an electric blanket or personal electronics. Power supply  5  contains rechargeable battery  31 . Power supply  5  is wired to supply electrical power to remote receiver  32 . Remote receiver  32  receives commands from remote control  10  through a wireless or wired connection. Remote receiver  32  supplies power to a motorized winch  18  in response to commands from hand held remote control  10 . Winch cable  7  is attached to tree cable loop  8  by cable connector  37 . Winch cable  7  passes through fair lead  14 . Fair lead  14  consists of four rollers which provide guidance to winch cable  7 . Winch cable  7  has a cable ascender  17  which can be locked to winch cable  7 . Cable ascender  17  attaches to the hunter safety belt and serves as safety measure should motorized winch  18  fail. Tree glider  1  or stand has platform  2  which supplies a standing or sitting location for hunter  53 . Tree glider  1  has front roller  3  and back roller  4  for providing smooth contact as tree glider  1  elevates and descends. Front rollers  3  are held by front roller attachment bar  38 . Back rollers  4  are attached to rear roller attachment tube  13 . Rear roller attachment tube  13  is slidably attached to diagonal frame tube  12 . Cable guard  41  is attached to platform  2  and creates a barrier between winch cable  7  and hunter  53 . For added safety, the hunter may inhibit movement of motorized winch  18  by inserting winch safety pin  57  through a drilled hole in motorized winch  18 . 
         [0046]    Tree  20  or vertical support element can be various elongated vertically oriented structures such as trees or utility poles. When setting up tree glider  1 , rear roller attachment tube  13  is slid over diagonal frame tube  12  until front roller  3  and back roller  4  contacts the tree  20  and platform  2  is level with the ground  22 . When rear roller attachment tube  13  reaches the desired position, frame lock pin  9  is inserted through lock pin aperture  54  in rear roller attachment tube  13  and diagonal frame tube  12 . With frame lock pin  9  in place, rear roller attachment tube  13  can no longer move relative to diagonal frame tube  12 . 
         [0047]    Tree cable loop  8  can be positioned at various heights along tree  20 . Initially, tree cable loop  8  is loose around tree  20 . To secure tree cable loop  8 , winch cable  7  is pulled toward the ground  22  while cable loop cincher  36  is pushed toward tree top  19 . Cable loop cincher  36  can have internal stop mechanism such that cable loop cincher  36  moves freely toward tree top  19  and resists movement in the opposite direction. Cable loop cincher  36  can further comprise a release button which when activated will allow free movement in either direction. To aid in positioning tree cable loop  8  at various heights, a tree cable attachment pole  33  is provided. A tree cable attachment pole  33  has a pole cable hook  34  for positioning tree cable loop  8  at tree top  19  and then tightening cable loop cincher  36 . Tree cable attachment pole  33  also is used to attach winch cable  7  to cable connector  37  when tree glider  1  is being used to elevate loads. 
         [0048]    As seen in  FIG. 3 , safety strap  15  is attached to tree  20  when tree glider  1  is elevated. Safety strap  15  is attached to strap attachment ring  39 . Two strap attachment rings  39  are attached to rear roller attachment tube  13 . Safety strap  15  is manually tightened by ratchet tightener  16 . Safety strap  15  can also aid in positioning tree cable loop  8  at further extended heights along tree  20 . Once the tree glider  1  is positioned at a first elevation on tree  20 , safety strap  15  can be tightened with ratchet tightener  16 . Next, tree cable loop  8  may be manually loosened by pulling cable loop cincher  36 . Tree cable loop  8  may then be placed at a higher location. Safety strap  15  is then released, and the tree glider  1  can be elevated further up tree  20  from ground  22 . 
         [0049]    Shooting rail  23  provides a rest for the hunter  53  when shooting a gun. Shooting rail  23  is slidably attached to adjustable shooting rail attachment  40 . A hunter  53  can change the position of shooting rail  23  by loosening thumb screw  35  and moving shooting rail  23  to the desired position for shooting. Adjustable shooting rail attachment  40  is welded to diagonal frame tube  12 . 
         [0050]    Tree glider  1  contains one or more lower attachment tubes  29  for attaching loads to the platform in addition to the person. When being used in animal carcass hoisting mode, a detachable gambrel  6  can be attached to lower attachment tube  29 . Lower attachment tube  29  has a lower attachment tube aperture  30  for receiving tube pin  26 . Detachable gambrel  6  has gambrel tube  24  extending from one side. Gambrel tube  24  slides into lower attachment tube  29  until lower attachment tube aperture  30  is aligned with gambrel tube aperture  27 . Tube pin  26  is then inserted through lower attachment tube aperture  30  and gambrel tube aperture  27  and causing the two to be locked together. Cotter pin  25  is then inserted through tube pin  26 . An animal carcass  52  may now be suspended by carcass suspension hook  28  and tree glider  1  can then be used to raise the animal carcass  52  from the ground  22 . 
         [0051]    Detachable gambrel  6  has a secondary use as a footrest. For footrest mode, detachable gambrel  6  is removed from lower attachment tube  29 . Detachable gambrel  6  is then rotated 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis of gambrel tube  24 . Gambrel tube  24  is then inserted back into lower attachment tube  29 . Tube pin  26  and cotter pin  25  are reassembled as described above. A foot rest bar  11  is now facing upward. This allows the hunter  53  to place his or her feet on foot rest bar  11  while he or she is waiting. 
         [0052]    When transporting tree glider  1  to or from the hunting site, detachable gambrel  6  may be removed as described above. A standard square tube trailer ball hitch may be inserted into lower attachment tube  29 . Tube pin  26  and cotter pin  25  may then be used to secure the square tube trailer hitch. 
         [0053]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a horizontal stabilizer  42  is slidably attached to the fair lead cross support  46  by stabilizer adjustment tube  45 . A rub surface mounting bar  44  is welded to stabilizer adjustment tube  45 . Rub surface  43  is welded to rub surface mounting bar  44 . Rub surface  43  can be fabricated by cutting a cylindrical metal pipe lengthwise. The resulting rub surface  43  is then semi cylindrical—which provides an appropriate leading edge for contacting the tree  20 . A second horizontal stabilizer  42  (not shown) is also attached to the fair lead cross support  46 . The two horizontal stabilizers  42  are independently adjustable toward and away from each other by sliding and locking the horizontal stabilizers  42  on the fair lead cross support  46 . This slidable adjustment provides for use with different width of tree  20 . 
         [0054]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an animal carcass  52  can be manipulated after the hunter  53  makes his or her kill. Hunter  53  can detach winch cable  7  from tree cable loop  8 . Motorized winch  18  is then manually reversed or reversed under power to release a sufficient length of winch cable  7  to reach animal carcass  52 . Winch cable  7  is then attached to animal carcass  52 . Remote control  10  is then used to operate motorized winch  18  and drag animal carcass  52  along the ground  22  until animal carcass  52  reaches the tree glider  1 . 
         [0055]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the animal carcass  52  can be elevated from the ground  22  for performing various operations such as field dressing. Tree glider  1  is lowered near to ground  22  where animal carcass  52  resides. Detachable gambrel  6  is inserted into lower attachment tube  29  with carcass suspension hook  28  facing away from ground  22 . Animal carcass hocks  56  are then pierced with carcass suspension hook  28 . Tree glider  1  is then elevated with motorized winch  18 . Animal carcass  52  is then suspended as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0056]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an animal hide  50  can be removed from animal carcass  52  using the tree glider  1 . A golf ball  49  is placed beneath the animal hide  50 . A ground anchor  48  is attached to the ground  22  or to tree base  21 . A skinning cable  47  is then attached to the ground anchor  48 . The opposing end of skinning cable  47  is then attached to the animal hide  50  by looping around the lump in animal hide  50  caused by golf ball  49 . A neck suspension cable  51  is then looped around the animal carcass neck  55  in the neck region. The opposing end of the neck suspension cable  51  is then hooked to the lower attachment tube aperture  30 . The tree glider  1  is then raised which causes separation of the animal carcass  52  from the animal hide  50 . 
         [0057]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a method of use for the tree glider  1  is described. 
         [0058]    A hunter  53  can be elevated toward tree top  19  by activating the motorized winch  18 . After making a kill, the hunter  53  can lower the tree glider  1  from the tree top  19  by activating the motorized winch  18 . Next, the hunter  53  can can detach the winch cable  7  from the tree  20 , attach winch cable  7  to the animal carcass  52 , and then move the animal carcass toward the tree glider  1  by activating the motorized winch  18 . Next the hunter  53  can disconnect the winch cable  7  from the animal carcass  52 , and re-attach the winch cable  7  to the tree  20 . The detachable gambrel  6  can then be attached with carcass suspension hooks  28  facing up. The animal carcass can then be attached to detachable gambrel  6 . Next, the animal carcass can be raised by tree glider  1 , and the animal carcass  52  can be field dressed. The animal carcass  52  is then lowered and detached from the tree glider. Next, the animal carcass neck can be attached to neck suspension cable  51 , and the opposing end of neck suspension cable  51  is then attached to lower attachment tube aperture  30 . The animal hide is then attached to ground  20  by skinning cable  47 . The tree glider  1  is then elevated, which causes separation of the hide from the animal carcass  52 . 
         [0059]    The embodiment described above is not meant to limit additional uses for the present invention. It is also contemplated that the tree glider may be used in ascending telephone poles by utility workers. In a utility pole application, the tree glider component materials could be electrically non-conductive so as to protect a utility worker from electrical shock. 
         [0060]    Moreover, the tree glider could be used in military environments whereby a sniper could ascend a tree and spot or fire at enemies. In such an embodiment, the tree glider could carry multiple armor plates for protecting the sniper from enemy fire. Cables, motor and power components could be appropriately upsized for this more demanding environment.