Abstract:
A preassembled, collapsible tree stand hunting blind which folds into a compact package, utilizing coilable steel frame members which may be collapsed. The enclosure is adapted to be attached to the trunk of the tree and to an associated platform, such as a hunter&#39;s tree stand. The enclosure is provided with camouflage elements to render the user relatively invisible to game in the surrounding environment.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This invention claims priority under Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/470,907, filed May 15, 2003. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to devices for concealing observers and hunters from game animals, and more particularly, such devices which are adapted to affixation to a tree or pole and used from an elevated position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hunters frequently utilize elevated seats or platforms, known as tree stands, as a vantage point from which to observe and to hunt wild game. Such platforms provide a suitable temporary observation station in which the hunter may be comfortably concealed from his surrounding environment. Because a hunter may occupy a tree stand for a long period of time in hard-to-access locations, and because of the patience required for a successful hunt of many species of game, it is preferable that tree stands be comfortable, roomy, well camouflaged and portable. 
     Tree stands have traditionally incorporated a number of collapsible features enabling them to be carried in a relatively compact package, yet quickly and easily erected to form a suitable enclosure and blind. A typical early effort found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,696, issued to Jones, features a pair of foldable grid work elements supported by a frame to which a camouflage material may be attached. This device, however, required a substantial number of assembly and disassembly steps, and even when folded, the Jones hunting stand is only as small as the smallest of the platform elements from which the unit was comprised. Similar limitations are present in U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,982, issued to Kenji. This tent-like tree-mounted hunting blind requires a complex collection of articulated components, and though collapsible, presents a collapsed volume at least as large as one of the several seating plates which form the base of the unit. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,512, Bean discloses a foldable hunting blind for tree-mounted use incorporating, like the prior art, a complex collection of frame elements which accordingly dictates equally complex assembly. 
     A better effort at solving the problem of the volume of the folded tree stand was made by Plinta, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,849, which utilizes a plurality of hoops to provide shape and rigidity to what is essentially a cylindrical blind, which may be collapsed, but only into a package as small as the circumference of the hoop-like frame elements. 
     These and other structures all suffer from the limitations that assembly and disassembly is either too complex or the resulting folded blind occupies too large a volume to be conveniently packed into the hunting area from a remote location. Likewise, most of the prior art structures are excessively heavy and expensive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a pre-assembled collapsible tree stand hunting blind which folds into an exceedingly compact package by virtue of the utilization of coilable steel frame members which may be collapsed into a package having a diameter roughly one-third of the diameter of the frame members when expanded. 
     The tree stand hunting blind includes at least three collapsible panels, which, when erected, are roughly circular in shape, and which are joined together with filler panels, to form a substantially multi-sided enclosure. The enclosure is likewise adapted to be affixed to the trunk of the tree and attached to a rigid tree stand. Preferably, the enclosure is provided with camouflage elements to render the user relatively invisible to game in the surrounding environment. The enclosure is open at the top to permit the user to sit or stand and to project a weapon above the upper edge of the enclosure. The enclosure is provided with openings in the bottom to allow the occupant to sit within the enclosure and, if required, to extend his or her legs through the bottom of the enclosure. 
     In a second embodiment of the invention, the framework which surrounds the enclosure, as well as the edges of the enclosure itself, are fitted with a 3-dimensional appearing fringe or applique tending to simulate the outlines of foliage. 
    
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention as mounted in the typical environment. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the invention as erected. 
         FIGS. 3-7  are a series of drawings showing the folding process for the enclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a view of the collapsed enclosure shown in relation to its carrying bag. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9A  is a detailed view of a section of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The invention will be best understood first by reference to  FIG. 1 . The invention is a hunting blind  10  attachable to a seat assembly  32  and is in the form of a multi-sided enclosure comprised of a plurality of panels  20 . Each panel  20  has an integral frame  24  defining a perimeter  22  which is generally circular in shape when the blind  10  is erected. In one embodiment, each of the panels  20  is preferably imprinted with a camouflage pattern  26 , and may further be provided with cutout elements which provide a 3-dimensional appearance to the panels  20  as will be later described. Sides of adjoining panels  20  are affixed together proximate a point on the perimeter  22  of adjoining panels  20 . This attachment creates a substantially multi-sided enclosure. The panels  20  are principally comprised of a flexible material such as natural or synthetic fabric, and the camouflage pattern  26  is selected to enhance the blending of the erected blind  10  into the surrounding environment in which it is intended to be used. The integral frame  24  within each panel  20  is constructed preferably of spring steel, which is desirable for its ability to be coiled and uncoiled. 
     Each of the panels  20  is constructed so as to be collapsible in a manner to be described further herein. 
     The panels  20  are further interconnected by filler panels  28  and  29  located near the top and the bottom of the blind, respectively. Filler panels  28  and  29  are preferably of fabric material identical to that used for the side panels  20 , and may be provided with a stiffener support (not shown). 
     The process of folding the hunting blind is depicted in  FIGS. 3-6 . It is by virtue of this folding process that the enclosure may be collapsed into an extremely compact package for transport. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the folding process begins by superimposing the panels  20  and their respective frame elements  24 A- 24 C in a stacked fashion. One edge of the stacked panels is then folded inward, resulting in the creation of three loops  70 ,  72  and  73  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The properties of the spring steel are such that the creation of these three loops is the natural response of the steel when folded as above-described. The three loops,  70 ,  72  and  73  can then be superimposed as shown in  FIG. 6 . Each completed loop  70 ,  72  and  73  is roughly one-third the diameter of the extended diameter of each frame member  24 . 
     Once the folding process is completed as shown in  FIG. 7 , the loose fabric material from the filler panels  28  and  29  may be folded over the coiled loops as shown in  FIG. 8  and inserted into a closable container  60  having carrying straps  62  and closure  64 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the multi-sided enclosure thus described is adapted to be affixed adjacent to a seat assembly  32  consisting of a seat  30 , a seat back  35  and a foot rest  34 , which are affixed to a tree  12  in a well known fashion, so that when installed provide a seat  30  and parallel foot rest  34  to create a comfortable seating position for the user of the blind. The seat  30  and foot rest  34  are typically affixed to a tree  12  using straps and gripper elements (not shown) which frictionally engage the circumference of the tree  12 . 
     Each panel  20  is provided with means for attachment such as straps  58  adapted to secure the bottom of the panels  20  to the seat assembly  32 , and further provided second attachment means such as straps  38  and  36  adapted to attach filler panels  59  associated with the sides of panels  20  to the trunk of the tree. Filler panels  59  are provided to extend from the upper rear section of panels  20  to engage the tree  12 , thereby further enhancing the completeness of the enclosure and effectively surrounding the occupant to provide security from observation, as well as protection from the elements. 
     Filler panels  29  are provided with a relieved section  42  where they pass near the forward corners of seat  34 , thereby allowing the occupant to extend his or her legs through the bottom of the enclosure  10  when seated. 
     In a second embodiment of my invention, as shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 9A , a 3-dimensional effect is achieved by the application of a fringe element  50  to the perimeter  22  of the panels  20  and the perimeter of the panels  28  and  59 . This fringe-like 3-dimensional element serves to break up the otherwise stark profile of the enclosure  10  and results in the enclosure  10  being more readily blended into the surrounding environment, by simulating nearby foliage. Because the fringe element  50  is flexible fabric, it is likewise readily collapsible, foldable and portable as above-described. 
     The fringe element  50  is preferably of a fabric material having a camouflage pattern complimentary or identical to the camouflage pattern  26  of panels  20 . This fabric material is lightweight and flexible and may be permanently or removably affixed to the perimeter  22  of the panels  20  of the exterior of enclosure  10 . The fringe element  50  may be configured to simulate the appearance of leaves, or may be configured with other geometric shapes such as triangles, circles or squares.