Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Scaffold external of shaft
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-07
2001-12-04
Chin-Shue, Alvin (Department: 3634)
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Scaffold external of shaft
C182S116000, C248S230800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325174
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of devices for observing or hunting wildlife. More particularly, the invention pertains to a lightweight, stable, portable tree stand and seat.
2. Description of Related Art
To observe or hunt wildlife, it is advantageous for an individual to be positioned so as to view the wildlife from a distance. It is also advantageous to be so positioned that the wildlife does not detect the presence of the observer or hunter. A device to accommodate both such needs is a tree stand providing an elevated position on a tree from which to observe or hunt. From such a height, wildlife over a large area can be seen, and ground animals that sense danger primarily along the ground are less likely to be frightened off.
A number of tree stands providing an elevated position are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,855,980, PORTABLE SEAT FOR HUNTERS (Konieczka, 1958), discloses a tree stand having a vertical shaft, with a ‘V’ on the back to grip a tree. A chain is attaches the tree stand to the tree, and a drop-down seat is included. U.S. Pat. No. 2,982,337, TREE SEAT (Arena, 1961), shows a tree seat with a pipe bent into “d” shape. A vertical pipe section having arcuate plates at top and bottom grips the tree. The seat is held to the tree by chains around the tree at the plates. The seat is fixed on the pipe. U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,379, TREE STAND AND SEAT (Carter, 1978), discloses a tree stand with a vertical frame and a seat. The frame has two vertical pipe segments. The seat is fastened to the tree by ropes. The stand and seat collapse for carrying. U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,602, TREE STAND AND SEAT (Leggett, 1980), discloses a tree stand having a vertical pipe, a drop-down seat at the top of the stand, and a foot plate at the bottom. The stand is fastened to the tree by a strap at the top. There are no stabilizing elements. U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,666, ADJUSTABLE TREE STAND (Woodall, 1998), shows a tree stand with a vertical shaft held to the tree by two straps. Solid ‘W’ or ‘V’ shaped pieces of flat stock, to which the straps attach, grip the tree. U.S. Pat. No. Re. 36,276, TREE STAND (Smith, 1999), discloses a tree stand having a vertical shaft, a non-hinged ‘V’ grip at the bottom, and a rope at the top to strap the stand to the tree.
Although the above devices provide elevation for advantageous hunting and/or observation of wildlife, they generally constitute permanent fixtures to a tree (or other vertical support). Additionally, they can be cumbersome to adjust, carry, or relocate, and modularity is generally missing, so that the user is “stuck” with whatever footrest or seat comes as part of the stand. Finally, the extra weight of the seat and footrest cause the stand to pull away from the tree during installation, thus rendering more difficult the act of securing the stand at an elevated position on the tree with one hand while holding onto the tree with the other. Accordingly, there is a need for a lightweight tree stand which provides a safe platform for the user, having stabilizing supports and modular installation of seat and footrest for ease of installation and of switching the seat or footrest.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a tree stand that solves the above problems, providing an elevated and safe platform for the hunter or wildlife observer (hereinafter, the “user”), having stabilizing elements and modularly attachable seat and footrest for ease of switching the same. Briefly stated, the invented apparatus comprises a vertical frame having a top end and a bottom end; a sleeve attached at the top end to receive a seat; a sleeve attached at the bottom end to receive a footrest; a pair of wings rotatably attached to the frame, each having, at one or more places, holes or hooks or other means for attachment of a strap; and one or more load-holding ratcheting tie straps attached to both wings, which, when tightened around the back of the tree, hold the wings back against the tree for stabilization, thus bracing the frame against the tree so that it does not swivel in place or slide down the tree. When the device is not in use, the wings rotate together to provide a convenient carrying handle. The device is preferably light weight, and hence is preferably made from aluminum. The device can also be made from steel or any other substance having sufficient strength to hold the user.
The invented device also preferably includes a seat and footrest which are removable from the sleeves at the top and bottom, respectively, of the frame. Such removability, or modularity, facilitates easy replacing or switching of the seat and/or footrest without having to obtain another frame or remove an installed frame from the tree upon which it is installed. Such modularity also facilitates installation of the device at an elevated height upon the tree. The reason is that, prior to installation the footrest and seat can be removed, and their absence during installation renders the invented device less likely to pull away from the tree during installation. As a result, the installer more easily positions the device and tightens the ratcheting tie strap(s) around the back of the tree.
The wings rotate backward to fit any tree and, once in place, do not move, either side to side or downward upon the tree. In addition, with no seat or footrest permanently attached, the device is multi-functional (see below). The frame may be left in place upon the tree after removing the seat and footrest, so it is set to return to for subsequent use.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 36276 (1999-08-01), Smith
patent: 2855980 (1958-10-01), Konieczka
patent: 2982337 (1961-05-01), Arena
patent: 4120379 (1978-10-01), Carter
patent: 4236602 (1980-12-01), Leggett
patent: 4244445 (1981-01-01), Strode
patent: 4819763 (1989-04-01), Grofe
patent: 5105910 (1992-04-01), Engstrom
patent: 5131496 (1992-07-01), White
patent: 5282520 (1994-02-01), Walker
patent: 5336922 (1994-08-01), Beechler
patent: 5363941 (1994-11-01), Richard
patent: 5454445 (1995-10-01), Berryman
patent: 5507362 (1996-04-01), Krueger
patent: 5848666 (1998-12-01), Woodall
patent: 5853066 (1998-12-01), Gohn
Brown & Michaels PC
Chin-Shue Alvin
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