Abstract:
The inventive concept is a safety device, which is an emergency safety system constructed so as to be clamped to a climbing tree stand typically used by an outdoorsman, particularly a hunter. The objective of the device is to safely expedite the vertical positioning of a tree mounting strap during ascent and/or descent of a tree. This is accomplished by means of symmetrical left and right assemblages of rigid mounting arms, brackets, and retention clasps which, when combined, hold a the tree mounting strap loosely around the circumference of a tree trunk. Should the climber experience an imminent fall from the tree, the arms of the safety device will cause the un-tensioned tree mounting strap (to which the hunter&#39;s body safety harness is attached) to collapse against the tree trunk. This tightening action will arrest the fall immediately and prevent serious injury.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Published patent application Ser. No. 14/484,913 filed on Sep. 12, 2014, which has been abandoned. Thus, this Continuation-in-Part application claims the benefit and the content of the previous application Ser. No. 14/484,913 by specific reference thereto as if fully appearing in the current application. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The inventive concept is involved with the use of climbing tree stands for ascending and descending from trees. Most climbing tree stands are comprised of a seat portion and a footstep for placement of the climber&#39;s feet. Climbers typically use a body harness, which includes an adjustable strap for wrapping around the trunk of the tree during ascent or descent. The adjustable strap will be referred to as a tree mounting strap for the purposes of this disclosure. The tree mounting strap may be fastened to the climbing tree stand with a bolt, pin, or tensioned buckle for easy adjustment for different tree sizes. The tree mounting strap may also be fastened to an overall body harness worn by the tree climber. 
     (2) Description of the Related Art, Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     US # 2012/0018250 A1 (Jan. 26, 2012 discloses a safety strap assembly which is used by a climber for ascending, remaining secured at height and descending from a tree or pole. The safety strap assembly includes a tubular strap; an elastic strap; a stiffening member; a string; a coupling; and a finger-pull. Optionally, an oval chain-link is included. The tubular strap fits around a tree. One end of the tubular strap is connected to an elastic strap. The other end is attachable to the climber. The stiffening member fits within the tubular member. A string extending from two holes in the tubular strap permit the stiffening member to be shifted. The coupling at the free end of the elastic strap connects to the tubular strap in a removable slidable engagement. The finger-pull at that connection breaks away if the climber falls enabling the tubular strap to engage the tree and prevent a fall to the ground. 
     US # 2009/0236178 A1 (Sep. 24, 2009 is an inventive device featuring a Tree Stand Safety Belt to prevent a wearer/user from falling out of a tree stand used for viewing or hunting wildlife. When properly positioned and securely attached, the device of this invention maintains substantially continuous contact of the wearer&#39;s back to a tree trunk. This contact not only provides a physical barrier to moving; that sense of contact also protects its wearer/user from experiencing height disorientation and possibly losing their balance. The device is designed for its wearer to use in either a sitting or standing position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,138 B1 (Mar. 27, 2001 discloses a tree stand safety belt to facilitate climbing of a tree with a climbing tree stand without interfering with climbing movement of the tree stand, and while allowing the belt to be curled up when not in use. The belt body is made of a flexible web of cloth-like material, such as polyester or nylon webbing, and has first and second ends. An attachment device, such as a clip, is provided at the second end, and a loop is typically formed at the first end that allows the second end to pass through it. A stiffening element, such as a chain, is provided at a central portion of the belt between the first and second ends, for example sandwiched between a strip of webbing stitched to the belt body and the belt body itself. During use the belt is connected by a releasable attachment device (such as a spring clamp) to a side support or tree engaging element of the upper frame of a tree stand. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject safety device, having a marketing name, “Possum Tail Tree Stand,” is an emergency safety system designed to simplify the task of continually adjusting a tree mounting strap while ascending or descending a tree on a climbing tree stand. The tree mounting strap is a component which is either fastened to the climbing tree stand or to a body harness typically used by a tree climber. The inventive concept is designed to be affixed to a climbing tree stand typically used by an outdoorsman, particularly a hunter. The objective of the device is to facilitate quick use of the tree mounting strap when repositioning the tree mounting strap at different vertical increments on the tree, whether ascending or descending utilizing a climbing tree stand. 
     The device enables the hunter to remain in his standard tree climbing safety harness from beginning ascent using a climbing tree stand, maintaining a selected tree position, and descending from the tree. The device eliminates the need for the climber to continuously cinch and un-cinch the tree mounting strap while ascending or descending. This is accomplished by means of an adjustable assemblage of metal (or plastic) mounting arms and brackets which, when combined, hold the tree mounting strap within a plurality of retention clasps. Should the hunter begin to fall from the tree through either hunter carelessness or a malfunctioning tree stand, the retention clasps will immediately release, causing the tree mounting strap (to which the hunter&#39;s body safety harness is connected) to tighten against the tree trunk. This tightening action will arrest the hunter&#39;s fall immediately and prevent serious injury. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a general view of the emergency safety system,  1 , and stylized portrayals of a climbing tree stand  3  and the outline of a tree trunk  5 . 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a view of the upper surface of the left attachment arm  10 . 
         FIG. 2A  depicts a typical wing nut  48  used in various places in the inventive concept. 
         FIG. 2B  is a view of the underside of the elbow  11  of the left attachment arm  10 , further showing the underside of the left front bracket  12 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the mid-left offset arm  20 , along with the left strap retention clasp  21 . 
         FIG. 4  presents a view of the upper surface of the outer left offset arm  30 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a view of the upper surface of the right attachment arm  40 . 
         FIG 5A  illustrates a view of the underside of the elbow  41  of the right attachment arm  40 . 
         FIG. 6  is a view of the upper surface of the mid-right offset arm  50 . 
         FIG. 7  presents a view of the upper surface of the outer-right offset arm  60 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a view of a strap retention clasp  51 , looking inward toward the machine screws  57  which secure the clasp. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the strap retention clasp  51  shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the front attachment bracket  12  utilized on the left attachment arm. 
         FIG. 11  displays a side view of the front attachment bracket  12  of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a rendering of the tensioned safety washer  17  utilized in fastening the attachment arms to the respective mid-offset arms. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates the pivot arm bolt  18  used in conjunction with a wing nut  48 . 
         FIG. 14  shows the manner in which the tree mounting strap  2  fits into the left side and right side retention clasps of the emergency safety system  1 ,  1 ( a ),  1 ( b ). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The objects, features, and advantages of the concept presented in this application are more readily understood when referring to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, totaling fifteen figures, show the basic components and functions of embodiments and/or methods of use. In the several figures, like reference numbers are used in each figure to correspond to the same component as may be depicted in other figures. 
     The discussion of the present inventive concept will be initiated with  FIG. 1 , which shows that the safety system  1  comprises symmetrical left and right sides. The left side safety harness  1 ( a ) consists of three sequentially-connected, rigid arms, being a left attachment arm  10 , a mid-left offset arm  20 , and an outer left offset arm  30 . Similarly, the right side safety harness  1 ( b ) comprises, in sequence, a right attachment arm  40 , a mid-right offset arm  50 , and an outer right offset arm  60 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , the left side safety harness  1 ( a ) and the right side safety harness  1 ( b ) of the safety system  1  are shown positioned just prior to the preliminary stage of encirclement of a tree trunk  5 . Shown is a portion of a tree mounting strap  2  which may be a component of the typical full body harness worn by tree climbers. A full body harness also typically includes two leg harnesses and a chest harness. The chest harness contains connections for adjusting and locking the tree mounting strap  2 , which strap  2  is then looped around the circumference of a tree trunk. The tree mounting strap  2  is incrementally un-cinched (or unlocked) and re-cinched as the climber ascends a tree. The tree mounting strap  2  may also be a flexible, strengthened material comprising a body harness which is also functional with the safety system  1 . 
     By way of contrast, as shown in  FIG. 1 , when a climber initiates use of the disclosed inventive concept, the tree mounting strap  2  will be inserted in the emergency safety system  1  within special elastomeric retention clasps  21 ,  32 ,  31  on the mid-left offset arm  20  and outer left offset arm  30 , respectively. The tree mounting strap  2  is further inserted through elastomeric retention clasps  61 ,  62 , and  51  on the outer-right offset arm  60  and the mid-right offset arm  50 , respectively. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a comprehensive view of the emergency safety system  1  in the configuration of attachment to a stylized climbing tree stand  3  and tree stand seat  4 . A left side brace  7  (or armrest) and a right side brace  6  (or armrest) of the climbing tree stand  3  provide the attachment points for the emergency safety harness  1 ( a ),  1 ( b ). The left attachment arm  10  of the safety system  1  is clamped to the left side brace  6  of the tree stand seat  4 , while the right attachment arm  40  is clamped to the right side brace  7  of the tree stand seat  4 . A left front attachment bracket  12 , a left rear attachment bracket  13 , a right front attachment bracket  42 , and a right rear attachment bracket  43  are used to attach both sides of the emergency safety harness  1 ( a ),  1 ( b ) to the right side brace  6  and the left side brace  7  of the climbing tree stand seat  4 . 
       FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4  display disconnected views of the top surfaces of the three components of the left side safety harness  1 ( a ). The topmost component shown in  FIG. 2  is the upper surface of the left attachment arm  10 . A left rear attachment bracket  13  and a left front attachment bracket  12  are affixed to the left attachment arm  10  by means of two machine screws  57 . These two attachment brackets  12 ,  13  are designed to clamp the left side harness  1 ( a ) to the left side brace  7  (or arm) of the tree stand seat  4 . 
     The rightmost end of the left attachment arm  10  comprises an elbow  11 , which protrudes orthogonally outwardly from alignment with the left attachment arm  10 . This protrusion provides for an offset connection of the left attachment arm  10  to the mid-left offset arm  20  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). The mid-left offset arm  20  is the center component of the left side safety harness  1 ( a ). 
     Reviewing more of the details in  FIG. 2 , the upper surface of the left attachment arm  10  further includes an aperture  16 , a tensioned safety washer  17 , and the orthogonal elbow  11 . The left front bracket  12  and the left rear bracket  13  are affixed to the left attachment arm  10  by means of a machine screw  57  passing through threads in each bracket  12 ,  13  and corresponding threads in the left attachment arm  10 . 
       FIG. 2B  depicts the underside of the elbow  11  and the underside of the left front bracket  12 , which terminates in two flanges  24 . The relative orientation of the two flanges  24  are illustrated more clearly in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , which is a view of the left front bracket  12  as seen from the perspective of section line  11 - 11 . A hexagonal head bolt  8  and corresponding nut  9  fasten the two flanges  24  together to securely encompass the left side brace  7  of a typical climbing tree stand seat  3 , as previously shown in  FIG. 1 . Similarly, the left rear bracket  13  utilizes the same arrangement of clamping components, being a hexagonal head bolt  8 , nut  9 , and two flanges  24 . 
     In the arrangement of the left side harness  1 ( a ), the left attachment arm  10  must be attached, at its elbow  11 , to the mid-left offset arm  20 . In referring to  FIG. 2B , the manner of fastening the left attachment arm  10  and the mid-left offset arm  20  is shown. Prior to attachment of the left elbow  11  to the mid-left offset arm  20 , a tensioned safety washer  17  is placed in axial alignment with the aperture  16  atop the left attachment arm  10 . An elastomeric bolt  18  (fully shown in  FIG. 13 ) is inserted through the undersurface of the elbow  11 . The mid-left offset arm  20  contains a rear aperture  22  corresponding to the aperture  16  of the left attachment arm  10 . Both apertures  16 ,  22 , are placed coaxially to allow insertion of the pivot arm elastomeric bolt  18  through the tensioned safety washer  17  and both apertures  16 ,  22 . A wing nut  48  is then used to securely tighten the connection of the left elbow  11  to the mid-left offset arm  20 . 
     An elastomeric left strap retention clasp  21  is shown affixed to the upper surface of the mid-left offset arm  20 . The left strap retention clasp  21  provides a grasp-like conduit through which the tree mounting strap  2  is inserted. The means by which the left strap retention clasp  21  retains the tree mounting strap  2  is illustrated in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 8  presents a downward-looking view of the right strap retention clasp, while  FIG. 9  presents a side view of the right strap retention clasp  51 , as seen from the perspective of section line  9 - 9 . The left strap retention clasp  21  is identical to the elastomeric right strap retention clasp  51 , and the left strap retention clasp  21  operates with the exact same components and in the same manner as the right strap retention clasp  51 . 
     The third component of the left side safety harness  1 ( a ), is an outer-left offset arm  30 , is shown in  FIG. 4 . The outer-left offset arm  30  is connected, via its aperture  33 , in sequence with the forward aperture  23  of the mid-left offset arm  20  by means of a tensioned safety washer  17 , a pivot arm elastomeric bolt  18 , and a wing nut  48 . An left front retention clasp  31  and an elastomeric left rear retention clasp,  32  are affixed to the upper surface of the outer left offset arm  30  to provide a grasp-like conduit for control and positioning, and retention of the tree mounting strap  2 . As discussed before, the means of positioning and grasping of the tree mounting strap  2  is illustrated in both  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , by virtue of the identical configuration and components of the right strap retention clasp  51 . 
     The left attachment arm  10 , mid-left attachment arm  20 , and the outer left offset arm  30  are sequentially attached to each other to form the left side harness  1 ( a ). 
       FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 7  present views of the top surfaces of the components of the right side harness  1 ( b ). The topmost component shown is the upper surface of the right attachment arm  40 . A rear attachment bracket  43  and a from attachment bracket  42  are affixed to the right attachment arm  40  and are designed to be coupled to the right side brace  7  of the tree stand seat  4 . The leftmost end of the right attachment arm  40  comprises an elbow  41 , which protrudes outwardly from alignment with the side brace  7  of the tree stand seat  4 . This protrusion enables connection of the right attachment arm  40  to the mid-right offset arm  50 , which is the center component shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Reviewing more of the details shown in  FIG. 5 , there is shown a view of the upper surface of the right attachment arm  40 , including a right front bracket  42 , a right rear bracket  43 , an aperture  46 , a tensioned safety washer  17 , and the orthogonal elbow  41 . The right front bracket  42 , and the right rear bracket  43  are permanently affixed to the right attachment arm  40  by means of a machine screw  57  passing through threads in each bracket  42 ,  43 .  FIG. 5A  depicts the underside of the elbow  41  and the underside of the right front bracket  42 , which terminates in two flanges  19 . A hexagonal head bolt  8  and nut  9  fasten the two flanges  24  together to encompass the right side brace  6  of a typical tree stand  3 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In the arrangement of the right side harness  1 ( b ), the right attachment arm  40  must be attached, at its elbow  41 , to the mid-right offset arm  50 , shown in  FIG. 6 . Prior to attachment of the right elbow  41  to the mid-right offset arm  50 , a tensioned safety washer  17  is placed in axial alignment with the aperture  46  atop the right attachment arm. An elastomeric bolt  18  (shown in  FIG. 13 ) is then inserted through the undersurface of the elbow  41 . The mid-right offset arm  50  has a rear aperture  52  corresponding to the aperture  46  of the right attachment arm  40 . Both apertures  46 ,  52 , are placed coaxially to allow insertion of the pivot arm elastomeric bolt  18  through the tensioned safety washer  17  and both apertures  46 ,  52 . A wing nut  48  (shown in  FIG. 2A ) is then used to securely tighten the connection of the right elbow  41  to the mid-right offset arm  50 . An elastomeric right strap retention clasp  51  is affixed to the upper surface of the mid-right offset arm  50 , which allows a grasp-like conduit for positioning, and securing the tree mounting strap  2  (illustrated in  FIG. 14 ). 
     The third component of the right side harness  1 ( b ), an outer-right offset arm  60 , is shown in  FIG. 7 . The outer-right offset arm  60  is connected, by means of an aperture  63 , in sequence with the forward aperture  53  of the mid-right offset arm  50  by means of a tensioned safety washer  17 , a pivot arm elastomeric bolt  18 , and a wing nut  48 . An elastomeric right front retention clasp  61  and an elastomeric right rear retention clasp,  62  are affixed to the upper surface of the outer right offset arm  60  to allow positioning and retention of the tree mounting strap  2  (not shown). 
     The right attachment arm  40 , mid-right attachment arm  50 , and the outer left offset arm  60  are sequentially attached to each other to form the right side harness  1 ( b ). 
       FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  illustrate the right strap retention clasp  51 , with  FIG. 9  presenting a cross-sectional view as seen through cutaway line  9 - 9 . The views shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  of the right strap retention clasp  51  also represent the exact structure of the right front retention clasp  61 , and the right rear retention clasp  62 , as well as the three retention clasps,  21 ,  31 , and  32 , depicted in  FIG. 1 . The details common to all the retention clasps are shown in  FIG. 8 , using the right strap retention clasp  51  as a model. The right strap retention clasp  51  comprises a vertical plate  55  forming an integral perpendicular angle to a horizontal plate  56 . 
       FIG. 9  presents a cross-sectional view of the retention clasp  51  as seen from section line  9 - 9 . An arcuate, tensioned locking plate  54  is fastened to the horizontal plate  56  by means of two machine screws  57 . The two machine screws  57  further continue into the mid-right offset arm  50  and thereby enable the right strap retention clasp  51  to engage and retain the body safety strap  2 . 
     As described earlier,  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  illustrate contrasting views of the left front bracket  12 . The left front bracket  12  has the same construction and function as the left rear bracket  13 , as well as the right front bracket  42  and the right rear bracket  43 .  FIG. 10  depicts an inward looking view of the right front bracket  42  showing a pair of parallel flanges  24  which have axially aligned holes permitting the insertion of a hexagonal head bolt  8  through both flanges  24  and ultimately secured by a nut  9 .  FIG. 11  presents a cross-sectional view, of the left front bracket  12 , as seen from section line  11 - 11 . The left front bracket  12  and the left rear bracket  13  serve to clamp the left attachment arm  10  of the safety harness  1  to the left side brace  7  of the stylized tree stand seat  4  shown in  FIG. 1 . The same clamping function is accomplished by the right front and rear brackets  42 ,  43 . 
       FIG. 14  shows the manner in which the tree mounting strap  2  fits into the left side retention clasps  21 ,  31 ,  32  and right side retention clasps  51 ,  61 ,  62  of the safety harness  1 ,  1 ( a ),  1 ( b ). The device eliminates the need for the climber to continuously cinch and un-cinch the tree mounting strap  2  while ascending or descending. This is accomplished by means of the arrangement of retention clasps  21 ,  31 ,  32   51 ,  61 ,  62  in a generally circular surrounding of the trunk of the tree  5 . The retention clasps  21 ,  31 ,  32 ,  51 ,  61 ,  62  are constructed of an elastomeric material, thus should the climber begin to fall from the tree through either accidentally or a malfunctioning climbing tree stand, the retention clasps will immediately bend and release their clasp on the tree mounting strap  2 . This causes the tree mounting strap  2  (to which the hunter&#39;s body safety harness is connected) to collapse against the tree trunk  5 . The collapse and tightening action of the tree mounting strap  2  will arrest the hunter&#39;s fall immediately and prevent serious injury. 
     While preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept have been shown and disclosed herein, it is noted that such embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the intent and scope of this inventive concept. Such variations, changes, and substitutions may involve other features which are already known per se and which may be used instead of, in combination with, or in addition to features already disclosed herein. This inventive concept is inclusive of such variations, changes, and substitutions, and by no means limited by the wording of the claims presented herein.