Abstract:
A tree stand for use at an elevated position on a tree trunk and adapted to support a tent or other complete covering. The stand comprises a generally horizontal platform for providing a floor of the tent. A first support is connected to the platform and adapted for securing releasably a proximal end of the platform at a fixed first position on the tree trunk. the support has spikes and a racheting mechanism to help anchor the stand to the tree. A cross-member has a second support and is adapted for securing releasably the cross-member at a second fixed position on the tree trunk higher than the first position.  
     The stand also has a pair of proximal tensioning members for connecting the cross-member to either side of a proximal end of the platform, and a pair of distal tensioning members for connecting the cross-member to either side of a distal end of the platform. When used, the tree stand operates such that the tensioning members and platform form a generally triangular prism.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a tree stand and more particularly to an integrated tree stand and blind system.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    The sport of hunting large animals requires a hunting blind or tree stand for helping to conceal a hunter&#39;s presence in the animals&#39; general vicinity. Stands are typically situated above ground attached to a tree, primarily used for large game hunting. Blinds are typically situated on the ground, primarily used in fowl hunting, and employ a tent or other partial covering attached to a blind structure. Tree stands can take various forms, usually suspended in trees. Tree stands are used to improve the hunter&#39;s overview of the surroundings, as well as helping to prevent injury to the hunter from direct contact with neighbouring animals. Tree stands generally consist of a platform with supporting structure for securing the platform in a fixed horizontal orientation and height above the ground.  
           [0005]    One disadvantage of tree stands, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,918, is that the hunter is exposed to inclement weather. One solution is to attach a cover to the tree stand. However, disadvantages with current tree stand and cover arrangements are that their structures typically require many structural elements, and therefore can be heavy and awkward to assemble and then lift into the tree. Examples of these complex structured stand and cover arrangements can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,218,982 and 6,053,190. A further disadvantage is that the tree stands employ structural members to support both the front and rear portions of the platform, thus adding to the weight of the stand structure, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,918. Further, typically stands gain extra weight when structural members are added in order to attach a complete covering, otherwise most lighter stands use a roof only.  
           [0006]    Another disadvantage of the current tree stand and cover arrangements is that once the stand structure is assembled and fastened up in the tree, the hunter must then climb up on the platform, assemble the cover separately, and attach it to the structure at an elevated height. The erection of the cover in this manner can be dangerous due to the typically small platform size, as well as the absence of adequate railings or other guards on the structure.  
           [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an integrated tree stand and blind system to obviate or mitigate at least some of the above-presented disadvantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    Accordingly, to the present invention there is provided a tree stand for use at an elevated position on a tree trunk and adapted to support a tent. The stand comprises, a platform for providing a floor of the tent; a first support connected to the platform and adapted for securing releasably a proximal end of the platform at a fixed first position on the tree trunk; a cross-member having a second support, the second support adapted for securing releasably the cross-member at a second fixed position on the tree trunk higher than the first position; a pair of proximal tensioning members for connecting the cross-member to either side of a proximal end of the platform; and a pair of distal tensioning members for connecting the cross-member to either side of a distal end of the platform; wherein when erected, the tensioning members and platform for a generally triangular prism. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    These and other features of the preferred embodiments of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings by way of example only, wherein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support structure of a tree tent;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the structure of FIG. 1 with a tent attached;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a platform frame of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a further view of an end member of the frame of FIG. 3;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a partially assembled view of the platform of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the platform of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a further view of a cross member of the structure of FIG. 1; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a further perspective view of a support of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    Referring to FIG. 1, an integrated tree tent structure  10  (tent omitted for clarity) is raised into position on a tree  12  by a raising mechanism such as but not limited to a pulley  14  and an associated rope  16  or a solitary length of the rope  16 . The pulley  14  is attached to the tree  12  by a cable  18  and the rope  16  is attached at one end to a horizontal cross member  20  of the tree tent structure  10 . The structure  10  also includes four cables  21 ,  22  connected at one end to either side of the cross member  20  and connected at the other end to respective corners of a platform  24 . This configuration of the cables  21 ,  22  forms the vertical edges of a substantially right angled prism, such that the platform  24  forms a base and the cross member  20  forms an apex of the prism. It is recognised that the prism can consist of other triangle types and that the cables  21 ,  22  could be attached adjacent to the platform  24  corners, if desired. The platform  24  comprises a series of slats  26  to form a floor  28 , capable of supporting at least one person when situated on the platform  24 . A pair of supports  30  connect the structure  10  to the trunk of the tree  12 , one of the supports  30  is connected to the cross member  20  and the other of the supports  30  is connected to a proximal end of the platform  24 , as further explained below. The supports  30  are fastened to the tree  12  by a series of belt and ratchet mechanisms  32 . Accordingly, the platform  24  of the structure  10  can be secured releasably to the tree  12  by means of the supports  30  and associated cross member  20  and cables  21 ,  22 . It should be noted that cables  22  can provide support for erecting a tent  34  (see FIG. 2) and preferably do not provide support for the weight of the platform  24 , which is accomplished by means of the supports  30 , the tree  12  trunk between the supports  30 , and the cables  21 .  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 2, the structure  10  is shown with the tent  34  attached. The tent  34  is supported on the structure  10  through multiple pairs of fabric straps  36 , which can be connected at one end to the tent corners  80  and are wrapped around the cables  21 ,  22  at the other end of the straps  36  by loops  37 . For example, the straps  36  can use, such as but not limited to, Velcro™ to help form and secure releasably the loop  37  around the cable  21 ,  22 . Other types of connections of the tent  34  to the cables  21 ,  22  can include such as but not limited to ring connectors and sleeves situated along the corners  80  of the tent  34 . Referring to FIG. 4, the top of the tent  34  is connected releasably to the cross member  20  by means of a metal rod  57  (see FIG. 4) inserted through a tent sleeve (not shown) situated along corner  81  (see FIG. 2). The bottom  83  of the tent  34  can be secured releasably to the platform  24  by means of Velcro™ strips. Other forms of attachment can include such as but not limited to ties, snaps, and other fasteners as is known in the art. The tent  34  has windows  38  at the sides of the tent  34  for access by a hunter  40 . Flaps  42  can close the windows  38 , for enclosing the tent  34  in situations such as inclement weather and/or sleeping by the hunter  40 . Once enclosed, if desired, the hunter  40  can rest inside the tent  34  on the platform  24 . The tent  34  also can have pockets  43  attached to the interior for storing the hunter&#39;s belongings.  
         [0020]    Referring to FIG. 3, the platform  24  (slats  26  omitted for clarity) has a frame  42 , comprising structural members  44 , such as but not limited to metal tubes, that can connect at either end by complementary male  46  and female  48  connectors. The structural members  44  are preferably composed in sections to help facilitate portability of the disassembled platform  24 . The assembled male  46  and female  48  connectors are secured releasably by fasteners as is known in the art, such as but not limited to complementary pin  49  and hole  51  arrangements. The frame  42  also has end members  50 ,  53  having connectors  46 ,  48 , that position the members  44  at predefined distances along the length of the end members  50 ,  53 . For example, distance D1 can be less than distance D2 to provide adequate access to the hunter  40 , when entering through the platform  24  from the underside  52  (see FIG. 2). Further, it should be noted that the end member  53  is connected to the support  30 . For example, end member  53  is similar in form to cross member  20  with the attached support  30 , such that the members  20  and  53  with attached supports  30  anchor the top and bottom of the stand  10  to the tree  12 . The members  20 ,  53  and associated supports  30  allow the tree  12  trunk to act as a proximal structural component of the stand  10 .  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 4, the cross member  20  can have the cables  21 ,  22  attached to a flange  54 , for example by clips  56 . Further, the metal rod  57  is inserted into the sleeve of the tent  34 , shown in ghosted view, prior to the rod  57  being inserted into a hole  59  of the flange  54 . For example, cotter pins  61  are inserted into corresponding holes  63 , on either side of the rod  57 , which can be used to secure the rod  57  and attached tent  34  to the cross-member  20 . Further, the rod  57  could also be attached at either end to the cross member  20  by such as but not limited to hooks or any other appropriate mechanism as is known in the art.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 5, outside ones of the members  44  have a channel  58  for receiving the slats  26 . A Pin  60  is used to secure the last slat  26  in the channel  58  through aligned holes (not shown) in the slat  26  and members  44 , thereby securing all slats  26  resident in the channel  58 . The last four (such as but not limited to) slats  26  (shown in ghosted view) may not be contained within the channel  58 , rather may be free to rest unconstrained on the upper surface  62  of the member  44 . Referring to FIG. 6, the unconstrained slats  26  (forming a section  66 ) can have attached straps  64  providing hinge members, in order to couple adjacent slats  26  to one another. Further, the straps  64 , for example such as but not limited to elastic material strips, can be placed alternating on the upper and lower surfaces of the slats  26 , such that the unconstrained section  66  can open in an accordion fashion. It is recognised that the unconstrained section  66  may also contain decoupled slats  26 , if desired. Further, the slats  26  may be made of wood or another material with insulating properties.  
         [0023]    Referring to FIG. 7, the support  30  has attached belts  33  for wrapping around the trunk of the tree  12 . The body  68  of the support  30  can be curved to help accommodate the curvature of the trunk. The body  68  also has spikes  70  or other tapered projections positioned in pairs, one at a top  72  and one at a bottom  74  of the support  30 . The spikes  70  are to help the cross member  20  grip the tree  12  and to help stop the cross member  20  from rotating about a centre of gravity  76 , when unequal tension forces are applied to the cables  21 ,  22 . Further, the support  30  has a ratchet  78  attached to each belt  33  to assist in tightening of the belt  33 , by the hunter  40 , around the tree  12 . Operation of the ratchet  78  is as known in the art. It is considered that the support  30  on the platform  24  can have a similar configuration to that of the support  30  attached to the cross member  20 . Further, only one belt  33  (not shown) can also be used attach the body  68  of the support  30  to the tree  12 , if desired. Referring to FIG. 8, the spikes  70  are oriented to project into the tree (not shown) when the belts  32  are tightened.  
         [0024]    In operation, referring to FIG. 3, the members  44  and the end members  50  are assembled by use of the connectors  46 ,  48  and appropriate fasteners to construct the frame  42 . Referring to FIG. 5, the slats  26  received by the channel  58 , with the last slat  26  in the channel  58  attached using the pins  60  to the top surface  62  of the members  44 . The section  66  (see FIG. 6) remains unattached to the frame  42 , in order to allow access of the hunter  40  to the platform  24  once the structure is raised into the tree  12  (see FIG. 1). Referring to FIG. 2, the straps  36  of the tent  34  are connected to the cables  21 ,  22 , which are then subsequently attached to the four corners of the assembled platform  24  at the proximal/distal ends and to each end of the cross member  20 . At this point, it should be noted that the tent  34  is collapsed and the platform  24  is on the ground.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 1, the hunter  40  (see FIG. 2) then attaches the pulley  14  by means of the cable  18  to the tree  12 , and then proceeds to raise the cross member  20  by pulling on the rope  16 . At a certain height, the cross member  20  is raised such that the cables  21 ,  22  begin to support the weight of the platform  24 , which is still resting on the ground. At this point, since the tent  34  is attached to the platform  24  and the cross member  20 , the tent  34  will now be completely erected in a triangular shape (see FIG. 2) which corresponds to the shape of the structure  10 . The four corners  80  of the tent  34  are now supported by the cables  21 ,  22 , such that the tent  34  now mimics the rectangular prism shape of the structure  10 . It should be noted that the tent  34  has been erected automatically as the prism shape of the structure  10  has formed. Further raising of the cross member  20 , by pulling on the rope  16 , causes the combination erected tent  34  and structure  10  to be placed into the upper reaches of the tree  12 . The hunter  40  then secures the rope  16  such that the height of the tent  34  and structure  10  remains stable. The hunter  40  then climbs up to the platform  24  (such as by use of a ladder) and then ratchets the supports  30  to the tree  12 , as described below.  
         [0026]    The hunter  40  then proceeds to wrap the belts  33 , see FIGS. 7 and 1, around the tree  12  and then tightens the ratchet  78 , such that the spikes  70  are embedded into the trunk. The tightening of the belts  33  is done at both the supports  30  attached to the cross member  20  and the platform  24 . In this configuration, the tree  12  trunk now supports the weight of the platform  24  between the upper and lower supports  30 , hence cables  22  may not be required for supporting the dead weight of the platform  24 . Further, the cables  21  now support the front portion of the platform  24 , as they are now coupled to the tree  12  through the cross member  20 . It is noted that cables  22  can provide some torsional rigidity to the structure  10  about the tree  12  trunk.  
         [0027]    At this point the platform  24  and integrated tent  34  is assembled and ready for use. The hunter  40  can then enter the erected tent  34  through the accordion section  66 . Once inside the tent  34 , the accordion section  66  is placed in a flat orientation, thereby forming the finished floor  28 . Otherwise, the hunter  40  can enter the tent  34  through the windows  38 .  
         [0028]    Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims appended hereto. For example, telescopic poles or other such devices could be used instead of the cables  21 ,  22 , such that the poles/devices are capable of resisting appropriate tension forces generated by the weight of the platform  24 , tent  34 , and occupants. Further, it is recognised that the structure  10  could be erected and used by the hunter  40  independently of the tent  34 .