Patent ID: 8272479

Claim:
A hunting tree stand mountable to a tree, comprising: a first mounting bracket removably securable to the tree; and a first generally C-shaped platform section removably and supportably positionable on the first mounting bracket, the first platform section including a fixed position portion and first and second adjacent portions, an edge of the first adjacent portion being hingedly positioned adjacent an edge of the fixed position portion by a first hinge, and an edge of the second adjacent portion being hingedly positioned adjacent an edge of the first adjacent portion by a second hinge opposite the fixed position portion, wherein the first hinge permits the first platform section to be folded substantially in half for ease of storage and transportation, and wherein the second hinge emits the second adjacent portion to be folded relative to the first adjacent portion to enable a user climbing up the tree to gain access to the platform section from below the platform section, wherein the hunting tree stand further comprises a second mounting bracket removably securable to a tree; and a second generally C-shaped platform section removably and supportably positionable on the second mounting bracket, wherein the second mounting bracket is mounted onto the tree opposite the first mounting bracket and the second platform section is positioned opposite the first mounting bracket such that the first and second platform sections encircle the tree to provide an encircling platform, with the second platform section including a fixed position portion and first and second adjacent portions, an edge of the first adjacent portion of the second platform section being hingedly positioned adjacent an edge of the fixed position portion of the second platform section by a third hinge, and an edge of the second adjacent portion of the second platform section being hingedly positioned adjacent an edge of the first adjacent portion of the second platform section by a fourth hinge opposite the fixed position portion of the second platform section, wherein the second adjacent portion of the second platform section overlies the second adjacent portion of the first platform section, and wherein the fourth hinge permits the second adjacent portion of the second platform section to be folded upwardly relative to the first adjacent portion of the second platform section, such that a user gains access to the encircling platform from below the encircling platform by folding the second adjacent portion of the first platform section and the section adjacent section of the second platform section.