Abstract:
A novel lock for a tree stand for use in hunting and similar pursuits comprises a hardened metal loop for encircling the body of a tree, where the metal loop is retainable to brackets integrally attached to a tree stand. The tree stand lock further includes lockable hardened ends on said metal loop for retaining the metal loop to the brackets. The hardened metal loop is pivotable about a pivot pin that is formed from a hardened metal and where the pivot pin opens and closes the loop for assisting in the installation and removal of the tree stand lock from a tree stand.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates to a lock for a tree stand. More particularly, the present invention relates to a locking device that will prevent the unauthorized removal of a tree mounted hunting stand from the tree to which it is attached.  
         [0004]     Hunters are known to be resourceful people, the passion they generally have for their sport results in myriad products that are virtually all intended to provide that “edge” that will assist them in getting their kill. Hunters who target bigger game animals, like deer, elk and the like, confront challenges that are considered to be greater than for smaller game animals since their targets are much more wary and are difficult to approach. In many cases these hunters will use tree stands to hunt from since the elevated platform provides a desirable position to shoot from and it tends to keep the hunter out of the line of vision of the subject game animal.  
         [0005]     Tree stands are very well known in the field of hunting sport with many different designs being offered. Generally speaking, the tree stand will comprise a seat portion and a base portion which might or might not be interconnected. Both the base and the seat portions are, however, attachable to a tree trunk at some point well above ground level. The attachment may comprise a number of possible methods, such as wire cable, or nylon straps, or chains. Obviously the method of attachment takes into the consideration the need to encircle the tree trunk while retaining the base and seat portions of the tree stand and also to accommodate the weight of the tree stand and the hunter. The methods selected by those associated with the manufacture of tree stands have been successful and tree stands have enjoyed a great deal of popularity amongst hunters.  
         [0006]     In some parts of the country tree stand usage has become so commonplace that during the hunting season it is possible for one to find tree stands installed in position in many forests. Hunters will preferably deploy their tree stands in advance not only to eliminate the lost time in having to put the tree stand up and to take it down for each day of hunting, but the main reason the tree stands are left in place is to avoid making noise or movements that might be detected by the subject game animal. With the tree stand in place the hunter is free to make his/her way to the location of the tree stand as stealthy as possible and then climb up and onto the tree stand to take his/her position. Obviously, if the tree stand were to be removed daily, it could greatly interfere with the hunter&#39;s success, obviating the benefits of the tree stand altogether.  
         [0007]     This practice of leaving tree stands in place is widely accepted although in state and federal forest areas there may be posted prohibitions warning the hunters not to leave their equipment in place. Even in this circumstance many hunters will still continue to leave the tree stand in place, which is evidence more of their passionate commitment o bag their desired game animal than an outright disrespect for the law. Nonetheless, where permitted, whether on government or privately controlled lands, the typical large game hunter is very likely going to leave his necessary tree stand in place. Thus when he/she is not hunting, the tree stand is left unattended which presents some problems. The first one is the fact that in some areas, it is possible that conservation officers or other enforcement agents may take it upon themselves to remove unattended tree stands. Whether or not there are legal prohibitions against unattended tree stands, the hunter is left with the dilemma of sorting out what happened to the tree stand and thereafter attempting to affect a recovery of his/her property. Secondly, the popularity of tree stands is well known and it happens, with some frequency, that other hunters will steal unattended tree stands at times. In some cases this represents a loss of hundreds of dollars worth of investment which only adds to the frustration of not being able to use the tree stand as planned.  
         [0008]     Examples of tree stands of the type associated with the present invention may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,773 (Davis) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,585 (Overbaugh). The seat portion and base portion of the tree stands are shown and the approach for mounting onto the tree is typical of such devices in general although these references illustrate merely two ways of practicing a tree stand and it is understood that many additional design approaches are known in the art.  
         [0009]     Similarly, there have been attempts in the prior art to provide for anti-theft properties in a tree stand. Some examples include U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,239 (McClain) where a tree stand is secured by using a bracket that fits over the support for the tree stand construction and where the bracket can be screwed into the tree trunk with a large wood screw. Access to the wood screw is prevented by a locking body that fits into a chamber housing the wood screw thereby blocking access to the screw head. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,416 (Garon) a tree stand is fastened to a tree trunk through the use of a wire cable that can be affixed to the tree stand and tightened using a turnbuckle. One end of the cable includes a hasp arrangement that allows the cable to be padlocked to discourage removal.  
         [0010]     Other approaches to inhibit the unauthorized removal of tree stands are known in the art, however, the reality in the field is that many if not all of these devices are being defeated through the use of sophisticated techniques that are employed by thieves. In particular, bolt cutters have been used to cut through chains and cables, composite disc grinders (cordless) have been used to slice through high strength cable and padlocks, and it would not be out of the realm of possibilities that portable torches have been used to cut off securing devices in order to steal a tree stand. The point is that commonly used approaches are routinely being defeated because of the combination of tenacity and resourcefulness on the part of the thieves who are engaged in this activity. It has therefore become an ever increasing problem to find a way to protect a hunter&#39;s tree stand from theft.  
         [0011]     The present invention provides protection for a tree stand with a lockable security system. The tree stand lock of the present invention is resistant to many of the methods that persons have used to circumvent the tree stand locks known in the prior art. The features and benefits of the present invention will be discussed in more detail herein.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     A novel tree stand lock comprises a hardened metal loop for encircling the body of a tree, where the metal loop is retainable to brackets integrally attached to a tree stand, and lockable hardened ends on said metal loop for retaining the metal loop to the brackets. The hardened metal loop further includes a pivot pin for assisting in the installation and removal of the tree stand lock from a tree stand, where the pivot pin is made of a hardened metal.  
         [0013]     The lockable hardened ends of the present invention compatibly fit onto the ends of the metal loop and releaseably secure the metal loop to the tree stand. The lockable hardened ends are resistant to cutting or breakage by way of composition and design.  
         [0014]     These and other attributes and features of the present invention will be discussed in more detail below. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a tree stand mounted onto a tree with the tree stand being secured thereto by the tree stand lock of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the tree stand and the tree stand lock of  FIG. 1  shown from a slightly different perspective.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the tree stand lock of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the tree stand lock of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the tree stand lock of  FIG. 3  taken along Section Line  5 - 5 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a portion of the tree stand lock of  FIG. 3  showing the pivot pin area of the hardened metal loop.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a lockable hardened end of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 4 , and taken along Section Line  7 - 7 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a top view of one half of the hardened metal loop of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the half of the hardened metal loop of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a detail side view of the pivot ring end of the half of the hardened metal loop of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a detail front view of the pivot ring end of the half of the hardened metal loop of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a top view of a portion of the half of the hardened metal loop of  FIG. 8 , showing the front ring end in detail.  
         [0027]      FIG. 13  is close-up detail view from the right side of the stand bracket and the end lock as installed on the tree stand.  
         [0028]      FIG. 14  is close-up detail view from the left side of the stand bracket and the end lock as installed on the tree stand. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     A novel tree stand lock for securing a tree stand to a tree trunk (or a circumferential body such as a post) is shown in the drawings and is discussed in detail herein. The primary application of the present invention relates to tree stands used for hunting purposes, however, it is understood that the present invention may be adapted to other types of stands, displays, equipment, or other constructions that may be left unattended for periods of time and for which some method for ensuring the security of such property is desired. Where the teachings of the present invention may be extended therefore is generally understood by one skilled in the art and the illustrations and discussions of the uses of the present invention with respect to hunting applications is not meant or intended to be restrictive of the scope of the invention in any way.  
         [0030]     Turning now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a tree stand  20  is mounted onto a tree  10  and includes the seat  22 , the base  24 , the support  26 , and the straps  28 . The base  24  further includes the base bracket  30 . Securing the tree stand  20  to the tree  10  is the tree stand lock  40 .  
         [0031]     The tree stand lock  40  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and includes the hardened metal loop  42 , the pivot pin  44 , the stand bracket portion  46  and the end locks  48 . The stand bracket portion  46  includes the bracket sides  50 , the bracket top  52  and the bracket hole(s)  54 . In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the pivot pin  44  is shown in closer detail and includes the pin end(s)  60 , the pin body  62 , the pin bore  64  all of which are located in the pivot ring end  66 . In use, the metal loop  42  pivots about the pivot pin  44  and allows the metal loop  42  to open up to facilitate installation about the tree  10  and then closes to obtain the function of the present invention as described below. It is understood that the hardened metal loop  42  of the present invention is not a closed loop, but sufficiently encircles the circumference of the body to which it is fitted to ensure that the tree stand (in this instance)  20  is secured to the tree  10 .  
         [0032]     In  FIG. 7 , an end lock  48  is shown in cross section with the lock body  70 , the key  72 , the engagement portion  74  and with the front ring end  76  shown as having been inserted into the lock body  70  with front ring lugs  78  fully engaged therein. Continuing on to  FIGS. 8, 9 ,  10  and  11 , a portion (half) of the hardened metal loop  42  is shown with the front ring end  76  and the pivot ring end  66 . The pivot ring end  66  includes the pin bore  64 , and the radius  80 . Lastly, the front ring end  76  is shown in detail in  FIG. 12  and includes the front ring lugs  78 .  
         [0033]     As may now be appreciated, the tree stand lock  40  of the present invention is typically applied to a tree stand  20 . The actual design type of the tree stand  20  can vary greatly but for purposes of illustrating the use of the present invention, the tree stand  20  depicted in the drawings is basically comprised of a base portion  24  and a seat portion  22  that are interconnected by a support  26 . The tree stand  20  can be affixed to a tree  10  by wrapping straps  28  through the support  26  and around the tree  10  and cinching them tightly with buckles or other conventional hardware (not shown). In this manner, the tree stand  20 , independent from the tree stand lock  40 , will remain mounted to the tree  10  in a useable state.  
         [0034]     The tree stand lock  40  is installed by means of the stand bracket portion  46  which is either a component part that may be supplied with the tree stand lock  40 , or it may already form a part of the tree stand  20  and is integrally affixed to the stand bracket  30 . The stand bracket portion  46  may be welded to the stand bracket  30  or it may be glued, the method being a matter for one skilled in the art of affixing metal components to one another. The stand bracket  30  allows the base  24  to rotate between a stored (folded up) position and a user (folded down) position and is common in the art of tree stand designs. In the stored position the tree stand  20  is made more compact and is thus easier to stow away in a closet, garage or in the bed of a truck or the like. The stand bracket portion  46  is a feature, no matter which way it is supplied, that is permanently welded or affixed to the tree stand  20  itself It is suggested that the area of the stand bracket  30  may be an appropriate place for the stand bracket portion  46 , however, it may be installed in any place where it is attached to a substantial part of the tree stand  40  as a whole.  
         [0035]     The affixing of the stand bracket portion  46  to the tree stand  20  in a material manner allows for an anchor point for the tree stand lock  40 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the tree stand lock  40  relies on the stand bracket portion  46  for linkage to the tree stand  20  and is part of an underlying principle that if a thief clearly desires to remove the tree stand  20 , he/she can probably do so however with the present design it will result in a great deal of damage to the tree stand  20 , perhaps to the point of ruining the tree stand  20  structurally. Thus when a thief is confronted with the arduous task of ripping through substantial portions of the tree stand  20  in order to remove it, this itself may act as a deterrent, and in the alternative, if the thief continues and does rip through the tree stand  20  to remove it, the subsequent damage to the tree stand  20  will certainly impair its monetary and functional value, thereby creating a disincentive for the thief in the future.  
         [0036]     The tree stand lock  40  is comprised of a hardened metal loop  42  which itself is really formed from two complementary halves that are pivotally connected at the pivot pin  44 . The metal loop  42  is preferentially circular in shape but it can be configured in any shape that allows it to be connected to the tree stand  20  while being capable to encompass the circumference of the tree  10  at the same time. The metal loop  42  is of hardened steel in the preferred embodiment (although any other hardened metal suitable for resistance against disc grinders and/or bolt cutters and the like could be used as well). The metal loop  42  in the present embodiment forms a ring that encompasses the tree  10  and with two ends (front ring ends  76 ) that meet in the vicinity of the tree stand  20 . The front ring ends  76  can be inserted into the holes  54  in the stand bracket portions  46  which are integrally affixed to the tree stand  20 . The end locks  48  are then inserted onto the front ring ends  76  that are protruding through the stand bracket holes  54 .  
         [0037]     At this point, the end locks  48  engage the front ring lugs  78  and when the key  72  is withdrawn, the end locks  48  automatically lock onto the front ring lugs  78 . The resulting assembly cannot be removed and is also uniquely resistant to most of the typical methods that may be used in the field to steal tree stands  20 . The metal loop  42  provides no purchase for any cutting instrument and the end locks  48  have hardened cases that are also similarly resistant to attack. The unique design of the present invention repels attempts to remove the tree stand and even if this is accomplished (as described above) the end result may be fruitless. The reason why this approach is so effective is that the prior art methods have relied upon materials that are not hardened and/or installed in ways that can be circumvented with no disincentive to the thief.  
         [0038]     The tree stand lock  40  of the present invention may be provided as part of the original equipment of the tree stand  20 , or it may be provided as a kit. In the kit form, the stand bracket portions  46  would have to be welded to the tree stand at a location of substance. (The stand bracket portions  46  could also be glued using some of the high strength glues that are now available for metal to metal assembly)  
         [0039]     The present invention is illustrated herein for the purposes of teaching the relevant aspects of the tree stand lock  40 . The illustration of uses is not meant to be exclusive and the scope of the invention is not meant to be read as being limited to just the teachings herein.