Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the field tree stands utilized by hunters and sportsmen; and particularly to a portable tree stand for use with non-vertical trees whereby the standing and seating platforms may remain parallel and may be adjustable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The use of tree stands by sportsmen is well known in the prior art. Prior art tree stands have basically consisted of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations designed to fulfill a particular need or requirement. Very few prior art tree stands have addressed the issues surrounding the fact that tree stands are generally not installed on perfectly vertical trees. Such installations of conventional tree stands in non-vertical trees illustrate the myriad of issues that the prior art has left unsolved. A majority of these issues are very dangerous given that most tree stands are used during hunting.  
         [0003]     The portable tree stand of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus developed for offering a lightweight portable tree stand that securely attaches to virtually any tree in a quick and easy fashion, while providing improved safety via adjustable seating and standing platforms. While some of the prior art devices attempted to improve the state of the art, none have achieved the beneficial attributes of the present invention. With these capabilities taken into consideration, the instant invention addresses many of the shortcomings of the prior art and offers significant benefits heretofore unavailable. Further, none of the known prior art, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0004]     In its most general configuration, the present invention advances the state of the art with a variety of new capabilities and overcomes many of the shortcomings of prior devices in new and novel ways. In its most general sense, the present invention overcomes the shortcomings and limitations of the prior art in any of a number of generally effective configurations. The instant invention demonstrates such capabilities and overcomes many of the shortcomings of prior methods in new and novel ways.  
         [0005]     In one of the simplest configurations, the portable tree stand of the present invention is designed to be releasably secured to a non-vertical tree. It includes a standing platform, a seating platform, a mounting structure, and a seat support post that maintains a predetermined angular relationship between the standing platform and the seating platform.  
         [0006]     The standing platform has a standing platform deck, at least one standing platform support, a support post receiver, and at least one platform retainer releasably secured to the standing platform. The seating platform has a seating platform deck, a seating support assembly, and a support post mount. The mounting structure has a mounting chain and an attachment member to releasably secure the platform retainer and the mounting chain to the mounting structure. The seating platform assembly and standing platform are rotably connected to the mounting structure. Additionally, the attachment member is connected to the mounting structure and includes a chain tightening assembly attached to the mounting chain and a mounting chain receiver slot for releasably receiving the mounting chain encircling the tree. The mounting chain and chain tightening assembly may impart a tensile load on the mounting chain to grip the tree. Lastly, the seat support post has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the seat support post is rotably connected to the support post mount substantially near the distal end and the proximal end is adjustably received by the support post receiver.  
         [0007]     The unique construction and assembly of these components enable the standing platform deck and the seating platform deck to remain in a predetermined angular relationship despite a non-orthogonal relationship between the mounting structure and the standing platform deck or the seating platform deck. The configuration of the seat support post relative to the seating platform and the standing platform creates a parallelogram support that may act to keep the seating platform and the standing platform in any predetermined angular relationship. For example, if the seat support post were adjusted to give a slightly upwards tilt to the seating platform relative to the standing platform, a subsequent adjustment of the platform retainer would change the angulation of the seating platform and the standing platform relative to the tree or ground, but the slight upward tilt of the seating platform relative to the standing platform would be maintained. Additionally, the seat support post may be formed to have a plurality of adjustment receivers designed to cooperate with an adjustment pin. This configuration permits a user to quickly and easily adjust the position of the seating platform.  
         [0008]     The seat support post may be formed to be telescoping, or have at least one hinged joint, to facilitate compact storage of the apparatus. The standing platform supports may be bent, or formed, to allow for more compact storage when folded. The standing platform supports of the present embodiment are simply bolted to the mounting structure proximal end, thereby ensuring a reliable connection that is easy to rotate.  
         [0009]     The seating platform includes the seating platform deck, the seating platform assembly, and the support post mount. The seating platform deck may be constructed and configured in much the same way as the standing platform deck. The seating support assembly may include at least one receiver attached to the seating platform deck and at least one mount rotably attached to the mounting structure. The at least one receiver and the at least one mount are formed to cooperate with each other such that the seating platform deck and the at least one receiver may slide away from the mounting structure on the at least one mount.  
         [0010]     One knowledgeable in the field of tree stands will recognize the functional significance of this novel feature, as tree stands are very rarely installed on perfectly vertical trees. Conventional tree stands have often not facilitated installation on the forward leaning side of a tree thereby greatly limiting the utility, as, for instance, a forward leaning tree greatly reduces the user&#39;s seating area. The user would have to lean forward to accommodate the sloping tree, thereby causing great discomfort, and potential safety issues, during the long-hours spent in the tree stand. Fortunately, the sliding seating platform deck of the present invention alleviates such problems. As previously mentioned, the seating platform deck and the at least one receiver may slide away from the mounting structure on the at least one mount, thereby moving the user&#39;s seating position away from the tree and permitting the user to sit upright.  
         [0011]     A farther embodiment incorporates at least one adjustable standing platform support. The at least one adjustable standing platform support allows the standing platform deck to move away from the mounting structure. This feature is particularly useful in the situation of a forward leaning tree, as described above, where the seating platform deck has been moved away from the mounting structure thereby reducing the amount of foot room on the standing platform. Such an adjustable standing platform support permits the user to adjust the standing platform deck in proportion to the seating platform deck, thereby maintaining the same amount of foot room regardless of the adjustments that must be made to accommodate mounting the apparatus in non-vertical trees. The at least one adjustable platform support may include a first member that is slideably received onto a second member connected to the support structure.  
         [0012]     The receiver and the mount may be configured in any manner that permits the seating platform deck to be relocated away from the mounting structure. The mount may be bent, or formed, to allow for more compact storage when folded. The mounts may be simply bolted to the mounting structure distal end thereby ensuring a reliable connection that is easy to rotate.  
         [0013]     The mounting structure is connected to the at least one standing platform support and to the at least one seating support mount. The mounting structure may include at least one primary support and at least one secondary support, which may easily cooperate with each other to allow adjustability in the distance between the seating platform and the standing platform. A support interconnector may be added to increase the rigidity of the apparatus, as well as serve as a mounting point for the seat support mounts. Additionally, the mounting structure may include a mounting plate, most commonly attached to each of the primary supports, to increase the rigidity of the apparatus and provide a location for engaging a tree screw that may be secured to the tree.  
         [0014]     The mounting structure also includes a mounting chain, ultimately secured to the attachment member. The attachment member is rigidly attached to the mounting structure, and in one embodiment, to each of the primary supports. The attachment member serves as a convenient and flexible location to releasably secure the mounting chain and the at least one platform retainer. The attachment member is formed with a mounting chain receiver slot, sized and configured to cooperate with the mounting chain. The receiver slot permits one of the numerous chain links to slide into the receiver thereby blocking entry of an adjacent chain link, so that the user may easily wrap the mounting chain around the tree and engage the receiver slot. The chain tightening assembly may then be used to impart a tensile load on the mounting chain to lock the apparatus to the tree.  
         [0015]     The chain tightening assembly may include a mounting bracket, a threaded rod, a rod limiter, a coupling having a plurality of gripping studs, and a chain interface. The mounting bracket acts to rotably join the other components of the chain tightening assembly to the attachment member. The coupling is threadedly engaged with the threaded rod and the plurality of gripping studs permit a user to apply torque on the coupling thereby imparting more tensile force on the mounting chain through the threaded rod and the chain interface. The coupling is sized such that it is retained by the mounting bracket, and not capable of passing through the hole formed in the mounting bracket for the threaded rod. Additionally, the threaded rod has a rod limiter so that the threaded rod is incapable of passing through the coupling. Therefore, as the user applies force to the plurality of gripping studs the coupling rotates, thereby causing the threads of the coupling to travel the threads of the threaded rod, moving the threaded rod and tightening the mounting chain. The chain tightening assembly of the present invention may be used to impart at least hundreds of pounds of tensile force on the chain, thereby ensuring a solid grip on the tree. The mounting chain may be joined to the threaded rod via the chain interface, which may be a rigid connection, such as a simple weld. The mounting bracket rotates, to allow the chain tightening assembly to rotate and accommodate trees of varying diameters. This rotation allows the first end of the mounting chain to remain coaxial with the threaded rod no matter what the diameter of the tree, thereby transferring the tensile load to the mounting chain in the most effective manner.  
         [0016]     Overall, the instant invention advances the art by allowing, among other features, sliding adjustment of both the seating platform and standing platform, thus allowing the tree stand to be easily and safely used in trees that may be substantially vertical, or in trees with an angular lean. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     Without limiting the scope of the present invention as claimed below and referring now to the drawings and figures:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a portable tree stand constructed according to the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of a portable tree stand constructed according to the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a portable tree stand constructed according to the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a portable tree stand, with the standing platform deck and the seating platform deck removed for clarity, constructed according to the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is an elevated perspective view of the mounting structure constructed according to the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of a portable tree stand constructed according to the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of a portable tree stand constructed according to the present invention in a collapsed, or folded, configuration;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of a portable tree stand, mounted to a backward leaning tree, constructed according to the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of a portable tree stand, mounted to a forward leaning tree, constructed according to the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of a portable tree stand, mounted to a forward leaning tree, constructed according to the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of a portable tree stand, mounted to a forward leaning tree, constructed according to the present invention; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 12  is an elevated perspective view of the mounting structure constructed according to the present invention. 
     
    
       [0030]     Also, in the various figures and drawings, the following reference symbols and letters are used to identify the various elements described herein below in connection with the several figures and illustrations: T, R, and M.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]     The portable tree stand of the instant invention enables a significant advance in the state of the art. The preferred embodiments of the apparatus accomplish this by new and novel arrangements of elements and methods that are configured in unique and novel ways and which demonstrate previously unavailable but preferred and desirable capabilities. The detailed description set forth below in connection with the drawings is intended merely as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementing the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and features may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0032]     The portable tree stand  50  of the present invention is designed to be releasably secured to a non-vertical tree and includes a standing platform  100 , a seating platform  200 , a mounting structure  300 , and a seat support post  400  that maintains a predetermined angular relationship between the standing platform  100  and the seating platform  200 , as seen in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0033]     The standing platform  100  has a standing platform deck  110 , at least one standing platform support  120 , a support post receiver  112 , and at least one platform retainer  130  having a proximal end  132  and a distal end  134  wherein the proximal end  132  is releasably secured to the standing platform  100 , as illustrated best in  FIG. 6 . The seating platform  200  has a seating platform deck  210 , a seating support assembly  220 , and a support post mount  230 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . The mounting structure  300  has a proximal end  302 , a distal end  304 , a mounting chain  310  having a first end  312  and a second end  314 , and an attachment member  360  to releasably secure the at least one platform retainer  130  distal end  134  and the mounting chain  310  to the mounting structure  300 , seen best in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 . The seating platform assembly  200  is rotably connected substantially near the distal end  304  of the mounting structure  300  and the at least one standing platform support  120  is rotably connected substantially near the proximal end  302  of the mounting structure  300 . Additionally, the attachment member  360  is connected between the proximal end  302  and the distal end  304  and includes a chain tightening assembly  364  attached to the mounting chain  310  at the first end  312  and further includes a mounting chain receiver slot  362  for releasably receiving the mounting chain  310  upon encircling the tree T. The chain tightening assembly  364  may impart a tensile load on the mounting chain  310  thereby gripping the tree T. Lastly, the seat support post  400  has a proximal end  402  and a distal end  404 , wherein the seat support post  400  is rotably connected to the support post mount  230  substantially near the distal end  404  and the proximal end  402  is adjustably received by the support post receiver  112 . The unique construction and assembly of these components enable the standing platform deck  110  and the seating platform deck  210  to remain in a predetermined angular relationship despite a non-orthogonal relationship between the mounting structure  300  and the standing platform deck  110  or the seating platform deck  210 .  
         [0034]     Now, referring back to the standing platform  100 , it may be constructed of any number of materials and configured in a number of ways. In one particular embodiment, the standing platform deck  110  is constructed of weather-resistant plywood, or similar oriented strand board type material. Alternatively, one with skill in the art can appreciate that the standing platform deck  110  may be constructed of expanded metal grating and composite decking type products.  
         [0035]     Similarly, the standing platform support  120  may be constructed of any number of materials and configured in a number of ways. For example, in the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 11  the standing platform support  120  consists of two support members each rotably attached to the mounting structure proximal end  302 . In this particular embodiment the standing platform supports  120  are constructed of bent ¾″ electrical metallic tubing (EMT). Such EMT based construction facilitates the lightweight corrosion-resistant construction and low cost of the present invention. Alternatively, one with skill in the art can appreciate that the standing platform supports  120  may be constructed of any shape tubing, whether it is metallic, plastic, or composite. The standing platform supports  120  may be bent, or formed, as seen in  FIG. 7 , to allow for more compact storage when folded. The standing platform supports  120  of the present embodiment are simply bolted to the mounting structure proximal end  302  thereby ensuring a reliable connection that is easy to rotate.  
         [0036]     The at least one platform retainer  130  acts to transfer a portion of the load on the standing platform  100  to the mounting structure  300 . The embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 11  illustrate the at least one platform retainer  130  as a chain, however one with skill in the art can appreciate that alternative devices, such as cable, may be used. Chain is the preferred material because is provides for easy adjustability. For instance, the chain may be easily attached to the attachment member  360  by a chain retainer  372 , often a thumb-screw or wing nut assembly, which simply passes through a link in the chain, as seen in  FIG. 6 . Therefore, a user may easily adjust the angle of the standing platform  100  while always having a safe and secure attachment. The chain preferably has elastomeric coated links to reduce the likelihood of noise and to reduce the possibility of corrosion.  
         [0037]     Now moving on to the seating platform  200 , it consists of the seating platform deck  210 , the seating platform assembly  220 , and the support post mount  230 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . The seating platform deck  210  may be constructed and configured in much the same way as the previously discussed standing platform deck  110 . The seating support assembly  220  may include at least one receiver  222  attached to the seating platform deck  210  and at least one mount  224  rotably attached to the mounting structure  300 . The at least one receiver  222  and the at least one mount  224  are formed to cooperate with each other such that the seating platform deck  210  and the at least one receiver  222  may slide away from the mounting structure  300  on the at least one mount  224 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . The direction of motion M of the seating platform deck  210  is illustrated well in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0038]     The functional significance of this novel feature is illustrated in  FIG. 8  through  FIG. 11 . As one knowledgeable in the field of tree stands will recognize, tree stands are very rarely installed on perfectly vertical trees. The apparatus  50  is shown installed on a rearward leaning (relative to the stand) tree in  FIG. 8 . Alternatively, the apparatus  50  is shown installed on a forward leaning (relative to the stand) tree in  FIG. 9  through  FIG. 11 . Conventional tree stands have often not facilitated installation on a forward leaning tree thereby greatly limiting their utility. For instance, the forward leaning tree of  FIG. 9  greatly reduces the user&#39;s seating area. The user would have to lean forward to accommodate the sloping tree, thereby causing great discomfort, and potential safety issues, during the long-hours spent in the tree stand. Fortunately, the sliding seating platform deck  210  of the present invention alleviates such problems, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . As previously mentioned, the seating platform deck  210  and the at least one receiver  222  may slide away from the mounting structure  300  on the at least one mount  224 , thereby moving the user&#39;s seating position away from the tree and permitting the user to sit upright, as seen in  FIG. 8 . The travel length of the seating platform deck  210  may be limited in a number of ways. In one embodiment this safety feature incorporates a translation limiter  226  in the form of at least one wire secured at one end to the mounting structure  300  and secured at the opposing end to the seating platform deck  210  or the at least one receiver  222 . Alternative embodiments of the translation limiter  226  may feature structures built into the receiver  222  or the mount  224  to limit the travel. Additionally, the at least one receiver  222  and the at least one mount  224  may be releasably fixed with respect to one another with at least one locking device  228 , seen in  FIG. 6 . The at least one locking device  228  may include simple thumb screws that pass through the at least one receiver  222  and engage the at least one mount  224 .  
         [0039]     A further embodiment incorporates at least one adjustable standing platform support  122 , as seen in  FIG. 11 . The at least one adjustable standing platform support  122  allows the standing platform deck  110  to move away from the mounting structure  300 . This feature is particularly useful in the situation described above, and illustrated in  FIG. 10 , where the seating platform deck  210  has been moved away from the mounting structure  300 , thereby reducing the amount of foot room on the standing platform  100 . Referring again to  FIG. 11 , the adjustable standing platform support  122  permits the user to adjust the standing platform deck  110  in proportion to the seating platform deck  200 , thereby maintaining the same amount of foot room regardless of the adjustments that must be made to accommodate mounting the apparatus  50  in non-vertical trees. As seen in  FIG. 11 , the at least one adjustable platform support  122  may include a first member  124  that is slideably received onto a second member  126  that is connected to the support structure  300 . This standing platform  100  embodiment may incorporate the same translation limiters  226  and materials of construction discussed above regarding the seating platform  200 .  
         [0040]     As with the standing platform support  122 , the receiver  222  and the mount  224  may be constructed of EMT. Such construction is lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and offers low material and fabrication costs. However, one with skill in the art can appreciate that the receiver  222  and the mount  224  may be constructed of any shape member or tubing, whether it is metallic, plastic, or composite. Additionally, the receiver  222  and the mount  224  are not limited to the telescoping arrangement illustrated in the figures, they may be configured in any manner that permits the seating platform deck to be relocated away from the mounting structure  300 . The mount  224  may be bent,-or formed, as seen in  FIG. 7 , to allow for more compact storage when folded. Additionally, the mounts  224  of the present embodiment are simply bolted to the mounting structure distal end  304  thereby ensuring a reliable connection that is easy to rotate.  
         [0041]     Next, the mounting structure  300 , best illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 12 , is connected at the proximal end  302  to the at least one standing platform support  120 , and is connected at the distal end  304  to the at least one seating support mount  224 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . The mounting structure  300  may include at least one primary support  330  and at least one secondary support  340 . The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 12  shows the at least one primary support  330  and the at least one secondary support  340  configured in complementary shapes and sizes so that they may easily cooperate with each other thereby introducing adjustability in the distance between the seating platform  200  and the standing platform  100 . In one embodiment the secondary supports  340  slide into the primary supports  330 , each made of tube steel, thereby offering low material and fabrication costs. One with skill in the art can appreciate that the primary and secondary supports  330 ,  340  may be constructed of any shape member or tubing, whether it is metallic, plastic, or composite. Additionally, the primary and secondary supports  330 ,  340  are not limited to the telescoping arrangement illustrated in the figures. They may be configured in any manner that permits the seating platform  200  to be adjusted nearer to, or farther away from, the standing platform  100 . The apparatus  50  may include a plurality of locking devices  380  to releasably fix the relationship between the at least one primary support  330  and the at least one secondary support  340 . The plurality of locking devices  380  may include setscrews or wing nuts that extend through the primary support  330  to engage the secondary support  340 , or may consist of pins that extend through cooperating recesses formed in the primary support  330  and the secondary support  340 , as seen in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0042]     A support interconnector  342 , as seen in  FIG. 5 , may be added to increase the rigidity of the apparatus  50 , as well as serve as a mounting point for the seat support mounts  224 . The support interconnector  342  may be formed of a threaded rod extending through each of the secondary supports  340 . Additionally, the mounting structure  300  may include a mounting plate  350 , most commonly attached to each of the primary supports  330 , to increase the rigidity of the apparatus  50  and provide a location for engaging a tree screw  320  that may be secured to the tree.  
         [0043]     The mounting structure  300  also includes a mounting chain  310  having a first end  312  and a second end  314 . The mounting chain  310  is ultimately secured to the attachment member  360 . The attachment member  360  is rigidly attached to the mounting structure  300 , and more particularly in one embodiment, to each of the primary supports  330 , as seen in  FIG. 5 . This rigid connection may be made using virtually any mechanical joining means, however the connection is welded in a preferred embodiment. The attachment member  360  serves as a convenient and flexible location to releasably secure the mounting chain  310  and the at least one platform retainer  130 . The attachment member  360  is formed with a mounting chain receiver slot  362  sized and configured to cooperate with the mounting chain  310 . The receiver slot  362  permits one of the numerous chain links to slide into the receiver thereby blocking entry of an adjacent chain link. As such, the user may easily wrap the mounting chain  310  around the tree and engage the receiver slot  362 . The chain tightening assembly  364  may then be used to impart a tensile load on the mounting chain  310 , thereby locking the apparatus  50  to the tree.  
         [0044]     The chain tightening assembly  364  may include a mounting bracket  365 , a threaded rod  366 , a rod limiter  367 , a coupling  368  having a plurality of gripping studs  369 , and a chain interface  370 , as seen in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 12 . The mounting bracket  365  acts to rotably join the other components of the chain tightening assembly  364  to the attachment member  360 . The mounting bracket  365  may be formed to receive the threaded rod  366 . The coupling  368  is threadedly engaged with the threaded rod  366  and the plurality of gripping studs  369  permit a user to apply more torque on the coupling  368  thereby imparting more tensile force on the mounting chain  310  through the threaded rod  366  and the chain interface  370 . The coupling  368  is sized such that it is retained by the mounting bracket  365 , and not capable of passing through the hole formed in the mounting bracket  365  for the threaded rod  366 . Additionally, the threaded rod  365  has a rod limiter  367  so that the threaded rod  366  is incapable of passing through the coupling  368 . Therefore, as the user applies force to the plurality of gripping studs  369  the coupling  368  rotates thereby causing the threads of the coupling to travel the threads of the threaded rod  366 , moving the threaded rod  366  and tightening the mounting chain  310 . The chain tightening assembly  364  of the present invention may be used to impart at least hundreds of pounds of tensile force on the chain, thereby ensuring a solid grip on the tree. The mounting chain  310  may be joined to the threaded rod  366  via the chain interface  370 , which may be a rigid connection, such as a simple weld, such that the use of a turning coupling  368  on a threaded rod  366 , as seen in  FIGS. 5, 6 , and  8  through  12 , tends to minimize any turning effect on the threaded rod  366 . The rotable mounting bracket  365  rotates, as indicated by rotation indicator R in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 12 , to allow the chain tightening assembly  364  to rotate and accommodate trees of varying diameters. This rotation allows the first end  312  of the mounting chain  310  to remain coaxial with the threaded rod  366  no matter what the diameter of the tree, thereby transferring the tensile load to the mounting chain  310  in the most effective manner.  
         [0045]     The attachment member  360  and the mounting bracket  365  are constructed with common angle iron in the illustrated embodiment. Such construction is extremely strong, lightweight, and offers low material and fabrication costs. However, one with skill in the art can appreciate that the attachment member  360  and the mounting bracket  365  may be constructed of structural members of virtually any shape, whether it is metallic, plastic, or composite.  
         [0046]     Lastly, the seat support post  400  may be constructed of EMT, preferably ¾″ or 1″, or any shape tubing, whether it is metallic, plastic, or composite. Additionally, the seat support post  400  may be formed to have a plurality of adjustment receivers  410  designed to cooperate with an adjustment pin  420 . This configuration permits a user to quickly and easily adjust the position of the seating platform  200 . The configuration of the seat support post  400  relative to the seating platform  200  and the standing platform  100 , creates a parallelogram support that may act to keep the seating platform  200  and the standing platform  100  in any predetermined angular relationship. For example, if the seat support post  400  were adjusted to give a slightly upwards tilt to the seating platform  200  relative to the standing platform  100 , a subsequent adjustment of the platform retainer  130  would change the angulation of the seating platform  200  and the standing platform  100  relative to the tree or ground, but the slight upward tilt of the seating platform  200  relative to the standing platform  100  would be maintained. Additionally, the seat support post  400  may be formed to be telescoping, or have at least one hinged joint, to facilitate compact storage of the apparatus  50 .  
         [0047]     Numerous alterations, modifications, and variations of the preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art and they are all anticipated and contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the instant invention. For example, although specific embodiments have been described in detail, those with skill in the art will understand that the preceding embodiments and variations can be modified to incorporate various types of substitute and or additional or alternative materials, relative arrangement of elements, and dimensional configurations. Accordingly, even though only few variations of the present invention are described herein, it is to be understood that the practice of such additional modifications and variations and the equivalents thereof, are within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or acts for performing the functions in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.

Technology Category: 1