Abstract:
A folding stirrup for use with a climbing tree stand utilizes a peg pivotally mounted to a bracket attached to the support arms of the stand such that the peg may be selectively moved between a stowed position and a working position wherein a user&#39;s feet maybe inserted between the platform, the peg, and the support arm to manipulate the platform.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/309,339 entitled FOLDING CLIMBING STIRRUP, filed on Mar. 16, 2016. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to tree stands and more particularly to climbing tree stands used by hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to position themselves at an elevation above the terrain in a readily available tree. In greater particularity, the present invention relates to an improvement in the climbing stirrups used in such climbing tree stands. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Climbing tree stands feature two separate members operating cooperatively yet independently of each other, with the user&#39;s feet operating the lower device usually called a foot climber, and the user&#39;s arms operating the upper unit or stand. Climbing tree stands have incorporated some form straps or webbing for securing the user&#39;s feet to climbing tree stand platforms. U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,123, owned by the assignee of this application and incorporated herein by reference, disclosed a significant advance in solving the problems with such straps which required the user to be physically able to bend over and lift the strap to insert one&#39;s feet. The present invention advances the art by providing the same advantages over straps as the above patented invention by enabling the user to engage his feet with the climbing stirrup for upward or downward movement on the tree and to displace the stirrup from any interference with his feet while he is in a stationary position in the tree stand. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Referring to the drawings which are appended hereto and which form a portion of this disclosure, it may be seen that: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of my improved stirrup shown in position on a climbing platform of a tree stand. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the bracket portion of my invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an opposite side elevation view of the bracket portion of my invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is front view of the bracket portion of my invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the bracket portion of my invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the peg portion of my invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the peg portion of my invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The objects of my invention can be achieved in the embodiment shown, by providing a traditional tree stand  10 . The climbing tree stand  10  includes a rigid platform indicated at  11  and a cable attachment indicated at  27 . The rigid platform  11  includes a peripheral frame  13  and a series of slats, such as slats  15 . The peripheral frame  13  extends across the width of the platform  11  and rearwardly along a pair of side frame members. The platform  11  includes a rear horizontal brace  17  extending between the side frame members. Side frame members and rear horizontal brace  17  connect to a serrated tree engaging blade  19 , which is used to engage the tree in a known manner. 
         [0013]    Two upwardly inclined arms  21  for supporting the platform assembly adjacent a tree are hingedly attached at  23  to peripheral frame  13 . Upwardly inclined arms  21  terminate in cable retention cleats  27  which may be slotted clasps or sockets for receiving and securing a cable or other strap to the platform  11  and encircling the tree in a well-known manner. A V-shaped vertical frame  25  extends between the brace  17  and the cable retention cleats  27  of the upwardly inclined arms  21 . The peripheral frame  13 , slats  15 , brace  17 , and arms  21  may be made from 18 gauge steel tubing, 13/16 inches square or any other suitable material. The individual pieces of platform  11  may be welded together and then powder coated (painted) to avoid corrosion. 
         [0014]    My folding climbing stirrups  30  are attached to the arms  21  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Note that in  FIG. 1 , I show one stirrup in a stored position and the other in an operative or foot engaging position. Referring to  FIG. 2 through 5 , note that the stirrups  30  include a mounting bracket  31  made of opposing walls  33  and  35  integral with a connecting base  37 . As may be seen in  FIG. 1 , the mounting brackets connect to the arms  21  of the rigid platform  11 . The portion  43  of walls  33  and  35  distal base  37  are curved in an arc which, in the embodiment shown, has a 0.615 inch radius. It is to be understood that this specific size may vary depending on the overall size of the product and arms to which it is attached. An aperture  39  is formed in each wall  33  and  35  to receive a mounting bolt  41  there through. Bolt  41  passes through a selected mounting hole in arm  21  and receives a nut, not shown, thereon to secure the bracket  31  to the respective arm  21 . Circumscribing aperture  39  on wall  35  is a boss  44  that reinforces the wall about the head of bolt  41 . A gusset  45  is formed on the outside of wall  35  and continues beneath the lower surface of base  37  to provide reinforcement to the bracket  31 . A detent aperture  55  is formed in each wall  33  below aperture  39 . Bracket  31  is preferably made from toughened nylon resin such as Dupont® Zytel® ST801 or equivalent material and is injection molded. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , each stirrup  30  also includes a peg  40 , also made from the same toughened nylon resin and formed with an elongated web  47  which is about ⅛ inch thick and partially bounded by a flange  51  which extends generally perpendicularly from each face of the web  47 . Web  47  includes a first end coextensive in width and height with wall  33  and a second end having a width less than wall  33 , with said flange  51  extending from a point on said upper portion along an outer margin of said elongate web about said second end of said peg on both sides of said second end. An aperture  49  is formed in web  47  to accept bolt  41  there through and thus connect the peg  40  to either wall  33  or  35  of bracket  31 . A protuberance  53  is formed on each surface of web  47  at a distance from aperture  49  such that the protuberance  53  may engage detent aperture  55  when bracket  31  and peg  40  are appropriately aligned. 
         [0016]    It will be noted that flange  51  is thickened in the area proximal aperture  39  and only extends partially around the first end of web  47 . When peg  40  is connected to bracket  31  by bolt  41 , the peg can rotate between the two positions shown in  FIG. 1 , namely a stowed position aligned with the arm  21  to which the stirrup  30  is attached and a working position perpendicular to the arm  21  to which the stirrup  30  is attached. In the stowed position, the thickened end of flange  51  abuts against wall  33  of bracket  31  and prevents the peg  40  from rotating upwardly. Also in the stowed position, protuberance  53  is frictionally engaged with the edge of wall  33  to resist gravitational movement of peg  40  downwardly. The user may move the peg  40  to the work position by pushing downward on the peg to disengage the protuberance to rotate the peg until protuberance  53  registers in detent aperture  55  and the thinner end of flange abuts the bracket. At this point the peg is in the working position and will not move beyond this position, such that the user may insert his feet between pegs  40 , arms  21  and platform  11  to facilitate raising and lowering platform  11 . To return the peg to the stowed position, the user simply uses his foot to push the peg forwardly and upwardly, thereby disengaging the protuberance  55  from the detent aperture  55  and urging the peg to the stowed position. Accordingly, the user never has to bend over to utilize his hands to engage his feet with any straps and the stirrups can be removed from any interference with the surface of the platform, thus providing the user with greater area for the placement of his feet while in the stand. 
         [0017]    While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain embodiments thereof, and many details have been put forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.