Patent Publication Number: US-2009229917-A1

Title: Tree Stand

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/035,766, filed Mar. 12, 2008, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     A tree stand is used to support a hunter in an elevated position on a tree above game. The tree stand is secured to the tree trunk and must be capable of supporting weight of the hunter in the elevated position. Typically, the tree stand includes a seat and a footrest for the hunter. One type of tree stand is sized and shaped to support two or more hunters. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, a tree stand for securing to a tree trunk to support a user at an elevated position on the tree trunk generally comprises a mounting frame and a platform mounted on the mounting frame and arranged for supporting weight of the user. An engagement component is secured to the mounting frame for engaging the tree trunk. The engagement component includes spaced apart engagement arms. Each engagement arm is pivotable relative to the mounting frame generally toward the other engagement arm generally within a plane so that the engagement component is generally conformable to a circumferential segment of the tree trunk. 
     In another aspect, a tree stand for securing to a tree trunk to support a user at an elevated position on the tree trunk generally comprises a mounting frame and a platform mounted on the mounting frame and arranged for supporting weight of the user. Rails are spaced apart from one another and extend generally forward from the mounting frame. The rails are disposed above and generally adjacent to either side of the platform to at least partially define a confined space between the rails. The rails are operatively connected to the mounting frame for selective, independent lateral movement relative to the mounting frame to increase and decrease the confined space. 
     In yet another aspect, a tree stand for securing to a tree trunk to support a user at an elevated position on the tree trunk generally comprises a platform mounted on the mounting frame and arranged for supporting weight of the user. Rails are secured to the mounting frame. Each rail includes a rear rail arm extending from the mounting frame and a front rail arm extending from the rear rail arm. The front rail arm is selectively pivotable relative to the rear rail arm. 
     In another aspect, a tree stand for securing to a tree trunk to support a user at an elevated position on the tree trunk generally comprises a mounting frame and a platform mounted on the mounting frame and arranged for supporting weight of the user. A canopy assembly is secured to the mounting frame and adapted to cover the platform. The canopy assembly comprises a frame and a cover secured to the frame. The frame includes a rear member and a front member pivotably secured to the rear member. By pivoting the front member relative to the rear member, the canopy assembly is configurable between an extended, covering position, in which the front member covers at least part of the platform, and a retracted, uncovering position, in which the front member covers less of the platform than in the extended, covering position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective of a tree stand with a ladder secured thereto; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the tree stand; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective of the tree stand; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan of the tree stand secured to a tree trunk shown in phantom; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation of the tree stand with rails of the stand being in laterally outermost positions and front arms of the rails being in a horizontal position; 
         FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5  but with the rails being in a laterally innermost position; 
         FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 5  but with the front arm of one of the rails extending at an upward angle relative to horizontal position; 
         FIG. 8  is a fragmentary, left elevation of the tree stand with the front arm of the left rail being in a horizontal position; 
         FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 8  with the front arm extending at an upward angle relative to horizontal position. 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective of a canopy assembly removed from the tree stand, with the canopy assembly being in an extended, covering position; and 
         FIG. 11  is similar to  FIG. 10  but with the canopy assembly being in a retracted, uncovering position. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now the drawings, a tree stand for securing to a tree trunk to support a user at an elevated position on the tree trunk is generally indicated at  10 . Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the tree stand  10  includes a mounting frame, generally indicated at  12 , on which a seat  14  (broadly, a first platform), a footrest  16  (broadly, a second platform), a securement assembly, generally indicate at  18 , a rail assembly, generally indicated at  20 , and a canopy assembly, generally indicated at  22 , are mounted. The mounting frame  12  includes a central, upright support structure  24  and a horizontal or cross-wise support structure  26  secured to and extending generally transversely to an upper portion of the upright support structure. The cross-wise support structure  26  may be secured to the upright support structure  24  by fasteners (e.g., bolts) or in other ways, such as by welding. The upright support structure  24  and the cross-wise support structure  26  each comprises a plurality of generally rigid frame members that may be formed from tubular steel stock, for example, and may be secured to one another by fasteners (e.g., bolts) or welding or in other suitable ways. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a ladder  28  is removably securable to the lower portion of the upright support structure  24 , such as by removable pins  29 . 
     The seat  14  of the tree stand  10  is secured to an intermediate portion of the upright support structure  24  that projects forward from the upper portion. The seat  14  may be secured to the upright support structure  24  by fasteners (e.g., bolts) or in other ways. The seat  14  comprises a generally planar grating structure that is sized and shaped to support two seated persons. The seat  14  may be of other configurations without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The footrest  16  is secured to a lower portion of the upright support structure  24  that extends downward from the intermediate portion. The footrest  16  is generally parallel to the seat  14  and at least a portion of the footrest is forward of the seat. Lateral braces  31  connect the seat  14  to the footrest  16 . The footrest comprises a generally planar grating structure that is sized and shaped to support feet of the two seated persons on the seat. The footrest  16  may be of other configurations without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the securement assembly  18  includes an engagement component  34  and a ratchet strap  36 . The engagement component  34  is secured at rear side of the upper portion of the upright support structure  24 . The ratchet strap  36  of the securement assembly  18  includes hooks  38  at opposite ends of the strap and a ratcheting mechanism  40  for tightening the strap around the tree trunk T ( FIG. 4 ). The ratchet strap  36  may comprise two or more strap segments secured to the ratcheting mechanism  40 . A buckle  42  allows the length of the ratchet strap  36  to be adjusted. 
     The engagement component  34  of the securement assembly  18  includes an elongate engagement base  46  extending generally horizontally or cross-wise with respect to the upright support structure  24 . The engagement base  46  includes teeth  48  spaced apart along a length of the base and projecting rearward from the base. Engagement arms  52  are secured adjacent to opposite longitudinal ends of the engagement base  46  by pivot fasteners  54  (e.g., bolts). The engagement arms  52  are freely pivotable with respect to the engagement base  46  and the mounting frame  12  about generally vertical imaginary axes so that the arms can pivot toward and away from one another within a generally horizontal plane. Each engagement arm  52  includes outwardly projecting teeth  56  spaced apart along a length of the arm. As explained below, each engagement arm  52  has an opening  58  at a free end margin for receiving a respective one of the hooks  38  of the ratchet strap  36 . The engagement base  46  and the engagement arms  52  may be formed from metal plates, such as steel plates, or in other ways. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1-4 , the securement assembly  18  is used to secure the tree stand  10  to a tree trunk T. In use, the tree stand  10  is positioned at an elevated position on the tree T so that the teeth  48  of the engagement base  46  of the engagement component  34  engage the tree trunk T. The engagement arms  52  may be pivoted inward toward one another and the tree trunk T so that the teeth  56  on the arms engage the tree trunk and so that engagement component  34  generally conforms to a segment of the circumference of the tree trunk. One of the hooks  38  of the ratchet strap  36  is inserted into the opening  58  in one of the engagement arms  52 . The ratchet strap  36  is then wrapped around the circumference of the tree trunk T, around the upper portion of the upright support structure  24  and back around the tree trunk where the hook  38  at the other end of the ratchet strap is inserted into the opening  58  in the other engagement arm  52 . It will be appreciated that each end segment of the ratchet strap  36  is wrapped around the tree trunk T and hooked into the respective engagement arm  52  on the opposite side. When both of the hooks  38  are inserted in the respective openings  58  in the engagement arms  52 , the ratcheting mechanism  40  should be in front of the upright support structure  24 . If necessary, a coarse adjustment of the length of the ratchet strap  36  can be made using the buckle  42  to properly position the ratcheting mechanism  40 . 
     With the ratchet strap  36  properly wrapped around the tree trunk T and the upright support structure  24 , the strap is tightened using the ratcheting mechanism  40 . Tightening the ratchet strap  36  moves the stand  10  rearward, toward the tree trunk T so that the teeth  48  on the engagement base  46  bite into the tree trunk. Simultaneously, tightening the ratchet strap  36  pivots the engagement arms  52  inward toward one another and the tree trunk T so that the teeth  56  on the engagement arms  52  also bite into and grip the tree trunk. 
     Referring to FIGS.  1  and  5 - 9 , the rail assembly  20  includes two rails  62  mounted on opposite ends of the cross-wise support structure  26 . The rails  62  may be used for propping up a weapon or supporting a shooting stance of the user(s). The rails  62  are also used to confine the user(s) within a defined space between the rails and to restrain the user(s) from falling out of the stand  10 . As will be explained below, the rails  62  are adapted for selective, independent lateral movement relative to the mounting frame  12  to increase and decrease the confined space. Each rail  62  includes generally L-shaped upper and lower rear rail arms  64  and a generally L-shaped front rail arm  66 . The use of upper and lower rear rail arms  64  help to rigidify the rails  62  so they are steady when used as gun supports. It is understood that each rail  62  may include only one rear rail arm without departing from the scope of the present invention. The upper and lower rear rail arms  64  are telescopingly secured to a respective one of the ends of the cross-wise support structure  26 , and the generally L-shaped front rail arms  66  are pivotally secured to the rear arms. Together, the rear and front rail arms,  64 ,  66 , respectively, make the rails  62  generally C-shaped defining a front portion, a rear portion and an intermediate portion between the front and rear portions. 
     The upper and lower rear rail arms  64  of each rail  62  are telescopingly received in and extend laterally outward from the cross-wise support structure  26 . Openings  70  spaced apart along a length of the cross-wise support structure  26  selectively receive a retractable, spring-biased pin  72  (broadly, a locking mechanism) extending radially outward from at least one of the upper and lower rear rail arms  64  to fix a lateral position of the corresponding rail  62  with respect to the cross-wise support structure. As will be appreciated, the user(s) can easily and independently adjust the lateral position of each rail  62  to his/her liking without affecting the lateral position of the other rail. Moreover, the user(s) can adjust the horizontal spacing or distance between the two rails  62  to increase or decrease the confined spaced defined by the rail assembly  20  and give the user(s) more or less space between another user seated on the stand  10  and the rails  62 . Other ways of releasably locking the lateral positions of the rails  62  relative to the mounting frame  12  do not depart from the scope of the present invention. 
     The upper and lower rear rail arms  64  are bent, or otherwise formed, so that the rear arms generally extend forward. The upper and lower rear rail arms  64  converge as they extend forward and are fixedly secured to a connection hub  74  that pivotally connects the front rail arm  66  of the rail to the upper and lower rear arms. Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the connection hub  74  includes a generally U-shaped bracket defining a channel in which the upper and lower rear rail arms  64  are fixedly secured. A bolt  76  extends through each associated upper and lower rear arms  64  and through each corresponding hub  74  to fixedly secure the connection hub  74  to the corresponding rear rail arms. In the illustrated embodiment, an entirety of each upper rear rail arm  64  lies in a same horizontal plane, while each lower rear arm is bent in an upward direction, toward the corresponding upper rear arm. Moreover, a portion of each lower rear rail arm  64  received in the connection hub  74  is swaged. 
     The front rail arm  66  of each rail  62  is pivotally secured to and extends forward from the connection hub  74 . Each front rail arm  66  is bent to extend inwardly toward the other one of the rails  62 . A pivot fastener  78  (e.g., a bolt) extends transversely through each connection hub  74  and the corresponding front rail arm  66  so that the front arm pivots freely about a generally horizontal axis of the pivot fastener. Each front rail arm  66  is secured to the hub  74  above the upper rear rail arm  64  so that the upper rear arm and/or the bolt  76  acts as a stop to prevent the front arm from pivoting downward past a lowermost vertical position. Other ways of limiting the rotation of the front rail arms  66 , including other ways of forming a stop in the connection hub  74 , is within the scope of the present invention. In the lowermost vertical position, the front rail arms  66  lie generally in a horizontal plane (i.e., they do not extend downward) generally parallel to a plane of the upper rear rail arms  64 . It is to be understood that the front arms may extend downward slightly in the lowermost vertical position or make another angle with the plane of the upper rear rail arms. 
     Each rail  62  includes a vertical positioning component  80  slidably received on the corresponding front rail arm  66  for adjusting the vertical position of the front arm. The vertical positioning component  80  includes a sleeve  82  and a wedge member  84  secured to an underside of the sleeve. To adjust the vertical position of each front rail arm  66  relative to the seat  14  of the stand  10 , the front arm is pivoted upward to a selected vertical position, and the vertical positioning component  80  is slid toward the connection hub  74  until the wedge member  84  engages the upper rear arm and/or bolt  76  or other stop member (see,  FIG. 9 ). With the wedge member  84  engaging the rear rail arm  64 , the front rail arm  66  extends at an angle other than horizontal so that the front arm is in a raised position. Because the wedge member  84  is sloped, the vertical positioning component  80  will maintain the front rail arm  66  in a plurality of different raised positions up to and including an uppermost position, in which the wedge is fully received between the upper rear arm and/or bolt  76  or other stop member and the front arm. 
     As can be appreciated, the front rail arm  66  of each rail  62  is pivotable independent of the front arm of the other rail. Accordingly, where two users are seated on the tree stand  10 , each user can adjust his/her own rail  62  to his/her own liking without affecting the position of the other user&#39;s rail. Alternatively, the rail assembly  20  includes a linking sleeve  90  (broadly, a linking member) slidably received on one of the front rail arms  66  ( FIGS. 5-7 ). The linking sleeve  90  can be slid to a linking position in which the sleeve is disposed over and connects the front rail arms  66  to form a single rail of the rail assembly  20  (see,  FIG. 1 ). The linking sleeve  90  comprises a generally elongate tube and a set screw  92  having a large knob for fixing the position of the tube over the rails  62 . Securing the rails  62  to one another using the linking sleeve  90  further rigidities and strengthens the front rail arms  66  of the rails for both improving support when the rails are used as a prop, and for improving safety because the users are essentially enclosed within the confined spaced defined by the cross-wise support structure  26  and the rail assembly  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  10  and  11 , the canopy assembly  22  includes a retractable frame, generally indicated at  98 , secured to two telescoping posts, each being indicated generally at  100 . The telescoping posts  100  have lower end portions that are swaged for removable insertion into the upper portion of the upright support structure  24 . Other ways of connecting the canopy assembly  22  to the mounting frame  12  do not depart from the scope of the present invention. Each telescoping post  100  comprises an upper post member  102  slidably received within a lower post member  104 , and a set screw  106  for fixing the position of the upper post member relative to the lower post member. As such, the height of the frame  98  above the seat is infinitely adjustable within a range ( FIG. 11 ). Other ways of making the posts  100  adjustable in height do not depart from the scope of the invention. Moreover, the posts  100  may not be adjustable in height without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The retractable frame  98  is secured to upper portions of the telescoping posts  100  by brackets or clamps  108  so that the frame extends forward from the posts, over the seat  14 . The retractable frame  98  includes a U-shaped rear member  110  secured to the posts  100 , and a U-shaped front member  112  pivotably secured to the rear member by a bracket  114  and pivot fasteners  116  (e.g., bolts). As shown in  FIG. 1 , a cover  118 , such as a waterproof cover, is secured around a perimeter of the frame  98 . For clarity of illustration the cover  118  has been removed in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In use, the front member  112  is pivotable relative to the rear member  110  about a generally horizontal axis to configure the canopy assembly  22  between an extended, covering position ( FIGS. 1 and 10 ), in which the front member covers at least part of the seat  14  below, and a retracted, uncovering position ( FIG. 11 ), in which the front member does not cover (or covers less of) the seat. Other ways of making the canopy assembly  22  retractable do not depart from the scope of the invention. Moreover, the canopy system  22  may not be retractable without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. 
     When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
     As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.