Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Scaffold external of shaft
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-01
2001-02-06
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Scaffold external of shaft
C182S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182792
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to climbing tree stands for attachment to trees.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Outdoorsmen, such as hunters, naturalists, and photographers, often need to gain an elevated vantage point. In this regard, it has been common to use a climbing tree stand to provide a stable platform above the ground and to provide access thereto. Numerous designs involving a variety of construction techniques for climbing tree stands are known.
A common arrangement for a climbing tree stand is a lower platform having an adjustable, rigid backbar which is placed about the tree and secured to the platform for securing the platform to the tree. The rigid backbar often has been made of tubular steel or heavy gauge plate steel. In one such arrangement shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,014 of Amacker, the backbar is rigidly secured to a first pair of steel tubes which are telescopically received in a slightly larger pair of steel tubes, with the position of the backbar then being adjusted by means of a locking pin inserted through the telescoping tubes into holes formed in the inner tube.
In recent years, it has become somewhat common to replace the rigid backbar with a length of cable or a chain in order to reduce weight. One difficulty in the use of cable or chain is that the resulting climbing tree stand often has less than optimal stability. Another problem is that the attachment and adjustment of the cable or chain to the platform can be difficult to accomplish, particularly under adverse conditions (such as in the dark or cold or rain). In this regard, it is pointed out that some of the known prior art climbing tree stands using cables or chains have used square tubing attached to the ends of the cables or chains and telescopically received in other pieces of tubing, as described in the Amacker patent above. Other known prior art arrangements have replaced the square tubing with round tubing, which in addition to requiring axial alignment of the tubes in order to insert the locking pin, further complicates matters by requiring radial alignment as well. This can be very difficult to accomplish in the field.
Accordingly, it can be seen that a need yet remains for a climbing tree stand which is lightweight, stable, easily adjusted, and easily used. It is to the provision of such a climbing tree stand that the present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, in a preferred form the present invention comprises a climbing tree stand for hunting or other outdoor activities. The climbing tree stand includes a platform and at least one tubular frame member connected thereto and at least partly supporting the platform. A yoke is connected to the platform for engaging the tree. A cable couples the platform to the tree, and at least one end of the cable has a series of nuts securely mounted thereadjacent. A cleat is adjacent an end of the at least one tubular frame member for releasably securing one of the nuts of the cable.
Preferably, an opposite end of the cable has another series of nuts securely mounted there-adjacent and there is a second tubular frame member having a cleat for releasably securing the other end of the cable by engaging one of the nuts of the other end.
Preferably, the ends of the cable are captured within the tubular frame members when the nuts are releasably secured to the cleats. Also preferably, the cleats comprise keyhole-shaped openings for receiving a section of the cable with a nut thereon and for avoiding accidental disengagement of the nut from the cleat. Preferably, the nuts comprise ferrules which have been swaged onto the cable.
Preferably, the cleats include safety covers for preventing the cable ends from being accidentally dislodged from the cleats. Preferably, the safety covers can be moved from a position covering the keyhole-shaped openings to a position uncovering the openings.
Preferably, the tubular frame members are oriented at an angle with respect to the platform. Also preferably, the yoke is adapted to at least partly straddle the tree and has scalloped, tree-engaging faces to resist slippage.
In another preferred form, the present invention comprises a climbing tree stand for use with the tree including a platform and a plurality of tubular frame members connected to the platform for supporting the platform adjacent a tree. The climbing tree stand further includes a cable and first and second cable retention cleats mounted to the tubular frame members for releasably retaining the cable. The cable retention cleats each include an opening for receiving an end of the cable therein. A movable cover is positioned adjacent the opening for covering and uncovering the opening such that when the opening is uncovered, the cable can be inserted into and removed from the cleat. With an opening covered, the cable is prevented from becoming accidentally disengaged or dislodged from the cleats.
In another preferred form, the invention comprises a climbing tree stand for use with a tree which includes a platform and at least one tubular frame member connected to the platform for at least partly supporting the platform next to a tree. A tree-engaging yoke is connected to the platform and comprises first and second section which are oriented at a non-zero acute angle with respect to one another.
The climbing tree stand according to the invention has numerous advantages. For example, the use of the cable helps to minimize weight and makes it easier to carry. Moreover, the use of the nuts formed on the cable together with the cleats makes it easy to attach and use the climbing tree stand on a tree. Also, the keyhole-shaped openings in the cleats and the safety covers make the engagement of the cleats with the nuts of the cable very stable, reliable, and fool-proof. The use of the cleats and a series of nuts on the ends of the cable also makes the climbing tree stand very easy to adjust, initially or as one ascends the tree (the diameter of the tree, of course, decreases as one climbs). Moreover, the resulting tree stand is very stable and has no projecting parts to snag clothing or equipment. Moreover, because the cables are captured within the tubular frame members, there is little likelihood that they can get caught on something during the ascent and then suddenly release, resulting in a loud noise, as often occurs with prior art designs. Also, the resulting climbing tree stand is extremely stable, even as the user's weight shifts around on the platform.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a climbing tree seat which is economical to manufacture, durable in use, and highly effective.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a climbing tree stand which is lightweight.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a climbing tree stand which can be easily operated, even in low light or other adverse conditions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a climbing tree stand which is simple in its construction and is easily adjusted.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a climbing tree stand which is stable in use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a climbing tree stand which is quiet in use and during transport.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1653092 (1927-12-01), Draper
patent: 5588499 (1996-12-01), Carriere
patent: 5836061 (1998-11-01), Castillo et al.
Woller John A.
Woller Ronald R.
Gardner & Goff, P.C.
Stodola Daniel P.
Thompson Hugh B.
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