Patent ID: 7306074

Claim:
An apparatus for attaching to a trunk of a tree to provide support for an operator while in an elevated position in the tree, the apparatus comprising: a seat support frame having upper and lower extremities and comprising: substantially coplanar and opposing first and second seat support arms, each having a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the distal end operable to be suspended outward from the trunk of the tree; and a transverse rail attached to and between the distal ends of first and second seat support arms, the first and second seat support arms inclining upwardly from the transverse rail; an upper cantilever frame attached to the seat support frame between the first and second seat support arms; an upper tree-engagement cleat attached to the upper cantilever frame between the first and second seat support arms and above the transverse rail, the upper tree-engagement cleat for contacting the trunk of the tree at an upper engagement location; an upper tree-engagement strap for attaching at one end thereof to the first seat support arm, wrapping around the trunk of the tree, and attaching at an opposing end thereof to the second seat support arm, the tree-engagement strap for pulling the upper extremity of the seat support frame toward and adjacent the trunk of the tree, thereby causing the seat support frame to be cantilevered on the upper cantilever frame, such that the lower extremity of the seat support frame is suspended outward from the trunk of the tree; and a seat assembly suspended from the seat support frame in an upper seating position for bow hunting and in a lower seating position for gun hunting, the seat assembly comprising: a seat, and a back attached to the seat, where in the upper seating position the seat is above the transverse rail and below the upper tree-engagement cleat, the back is above the transverse rail, and where in the lower seating position the seat is below the transverse rail the back is entirely below the upper tree-engagement cleat, and the seat assembly is directly attached to the transverse rail.