Patent ID: 7497302

Claim:
A platform which a user can attach to a tree, comprising: a. a frame, having a treeward-facing side; b. a brace, located on said treeward-facing side of said frame, configured to bear against said tree; c. a first slider, slidably attached to said frame; d. locking means for locking said first slider to said frame; e. a flexible tensile member, having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is attached to said first slider and said second end is attached to said frame; f. wherein said slidable attachment between said first slider and said frame comprises said first slider sliding along a bar attached to said frame; g. wherein said locking means comprises unidirectional locking means, whereby said unidirectional locking means is configured to lock and hold said slider to said frame when a tensile load is applied to said slider such that said slider is free to slide along said bar in a direction away from said brace, but unable to travel along said bar in the opposite direction, unless said user releases said unidirectional locking means; and h. wherein said locking means comprises: (1)at least one lock plate; said at least one lock plate including a slot sized to admit said bar, wherein said slot is large enough to allow said at least one lock plate to rotate slightly with respect to said bar; said slot being passed over said bar so as to mount said at least one lock plate on said bar; said first slider including a lock plate opening; said at least one lock plate being pivotally mounted within said lock plate opening of said first slider; (2) a bearing point on said first slider positioned to bear against said at least one lock plate in a position distal from the centerline of said bar; and (3) pivotal biasing means for pressing said at least one lock plate against said bearing point so that said at least one lock plate rotates slightly with respect to said bar, thereby locking said slot in said at least one lock plate to said bar and thereby locking said first slider to said bar.