Patent Publication Number: US-10306985-B1

Title: Auxiliary shelf for hunting stand

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
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     REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
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     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of hunting equipment, more specifically, an auxiliary shelf for a hunting stand. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The auxiliary shelf for hunting stand is an extension shelf that may be added adjacent to a hunting stand. The shelf comprises a metal mesh covering coupled to a tubular frame. A pair of parallel support arms are coupled to the bottom of the frame and extend away from the shelf so that they may be place under the tree stand. A pair of locking bars couple to the tree stand such that each locking bar squeezes both support arms between the locking bar and the tree stand. The locking bars each couple to the tree stand using a hook. 
     An object of the invention is to provide an extension shelf adjacent to a tree stand. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of support arms coupled to the shelf for attaching the shelf to the tree sand. 
     A further object of the invention is to attach the support arms to the tree sand by capturing the support arms between the tree stand and a pair of locking bars. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to attach each locking bar to the tree stand using a hook. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the auxiliary shelf for hunting stand will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the auxiliary shelf for hunting stand in detail, it is to be understood that the auxiliary shelf for hunting stand is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of the other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the auxiliary shelf for hunting stand. 
     It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the auxiliary shelf for hunting stand. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating the shelf attached to a tree stand. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. As used herein, the word “or” is intended to be inclusive. 
     Detailed reference will now be made to a first potential embodiment of the disclosure, which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 . 
     The auxiliary shelf for hunting stand  100  (hereinafter invention) comprises a shelf  200 , a first lock bar  300 , and a second lock bar  310 . The shelf  200  may be configured to attach to a tree stand  900  using the first lock bar  300  and the second lock bar  310 . The shelf  200  may provide space for holding a hunting bag, supplies, and/or hunting accessories while hunting. 
     The shelf  200  comprises a frame  210 , a covering  220 , a first support arm  250 , and a second support arm  255 . The shelf  200  may be configured to attach to the tree stand  900  such that the shelf  200  provides a horizontal surface adjacent to the tree stand  900 . 
     The frame  210  comprises a border  212  and one or more cross braces  214 . The frame  210  may support the covering  220  and the weight of items placed on the shelf  200 . 
     The border  212  may comprise one or more lengths of tubing that are bent and/or coupled to each other to form a rectangular edge for the shelf  200 . As a non-limiting example, the coupling between the one or more lengths of tubing may be welds. 
     The one or more cross braces  214  may be one or more lengths of tubing that are coupled to opposing side of the border  212 . The one or more cross braces  214  may provide additional support for the covering  220  and the weight of items placed on the shelf  200 . 
     The covering  220  may be a metal mesh applied to the top of the shelf  200  and coupled to the border  212  and to the one or more cross braces  214 . The covering  220  may prevent items from falling through the shelf  200 . The covering  220  may be a mesh to avoid reducing visibility. 
     The first support arm  250  and the second support arm  255  may be armatures that couple at a distal end  260  of the armatures to the frame  210 . The first support arm  250  and the second support arm  255  may each couple to the frame  210  at two or more contact points—on the border  212  and/or on the one or more cross braces  214 . A proximal end  265  of the first support arm  250  and of the second support arm  255  may extend away from the border  212  to a point under the tree stand  900 . The first support arm  250  and the second support arm  255  may be oriented to be parallel to each other. 
     The first lock bar  300  and the second lock bar  310  may attach the first support arm  250  and the second support arm  255  to the tree stand  900 . The first lock bar  300  may be removably coupled to the tree stand  900  from underneath at one side of the tree stand  900 . The second lock bar  310  may be removably coupled to the tree stand  900  from underneath at the opposing side of the tree stand  900 . 
     An individual lock bar  320  selected from the first lock bar  300  or the second lock bar  310  may comprise a lock bar armature  325  and a lock bar hook  330 . The lock bar armature  325  may be a bar or tubing at least as long as the lateral distance between the first support arm  250  and the second arm  255 . The lock bar hook  330  may be coupled to the center of the lock bar armature  325 . The individual lock bar  320  may be removably coupled to the tree stand  900  such that the first support arm  250  and the second support arm  255  are captured between the tree stand  900  and the individual lock bar  320 . 
     Specifically, the shelf  200  may be placed next to the tree stand  900  with the first support arm  250  and the second support arm  255  extending beneath the tree stand  900 . The individual lock bar  320  may be placed under the tree stand  900  and the lock bar hook  330  may be hooked onto mesh or a brace comprising the tree stand  900 . The individual lock bar  320  may be rotated to bring the ends of the lock bar armature  325  beneath the first support arm  250  and the second support arm  255 . Both the first lock bar  300  and the second lock bar  310  may be installed with separation between them. The separation distance may be at least the length of the individual lock bar  320 . 
     In use, the tree stand  900  and the invention  100  may be carried to a location where the tree stand  900  is to be installed. The tree stand  900  may be assembled and the shelf  200  may be placed next to the tree stand  900  with the first support arm  250  and the second support arm  255  extending beneath the tree stand  900 . The first lock bar  300  and the second lock bar  310  may be installed by placing them beneath the tree stand  900 , hooking the lock bar hook  330  of the individual lock bars  320  onto the tree stand  900 , and rotating the first lock bar  300  and the second lock bar  310  to capture the first support arm  250  and the second support arm  255  between the individual lock bars  320  and the tree stand  900 . The tree stand  900 , with the shelf  200  attached may then be elevated to a position in a tree for further use. 
     Definitions 
     Unless otherwise stated, the words “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, and “lower” should be interpreted within a gravitational framework. “Down” is the direction that gravity would pull an object. “Up” is the opposite of “down”. “Bottom” is the part of an object that is down farther than any other part of the object. “Top” is the part of an object that is up farther than any other part of the object. “Upper” refers to top and “lower” refers to the bottom. As a non-limiting example, the upper end of a vertical shaft is the top end of the vertical shaft. 
     As used in this disclosure, a “brace” is a structural element that is used to support or otherwise steady an object. 
     As used herein, the words “couple”, “couples”, “coupled” or “coupling”, refer to connecting, either directly or indirectly, and does not necessarily imply a mechanical connection. 
     As used in this disclosure, the terms “distal” and “proximal” may be used to describe relative positions. Distal refers to the object, or the end of an object, that is situated away from the point of origin, point of reference, or point of attachment. Proximal refers to the object, or end of an object, that is situated towards the point of origin, point of reference, or point of attachment. Distal implies ‘farther away from’ and proximal implies ‘closer to’. In some instances, the point of attachment may be the where an operator or user of the object makes contact with the object. In some instances, the point of origin or point of reference may be a center point or a central axis of an object and the direction of comparison may be in a radial or lateral direction. 
     As used in this disclosure, a “hook” is an object that is curved or bent at an angle such that items can be hung on or caught by the object or such that the object may be suspended from another object. 
     As used in this disclosure, “horizontal” is a directional term that refers to a direction that is perpendicular to the local force of gravity. Unless specifically noted in this disclosure, the horizontal direction is always perpendicular to the vertical direction. 
     As used in this disclosure, the word “lateral” refers to the sides of an object or movement towards a side. Lateral directions are generally perpendicular to longitudinal directions. “Laterally” refers to movement in a lateral direction. 
     With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention. 
     It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.