Tree stand and climbing devices

Details Tree stand and climbing devices Tree stand and climbing devices

1999-11-09

2001-07-24

Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)

Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold

Pole or strand grasping-type climber

Alternate grasping

C182S187000, C024S0160PB

Reexamination Certificate

active

06264000

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a removable, portable stand and climbing steps for temporary or permanent attachment to a tree to obtain an observation point at a desired height for use while hunting, wildlife photography, and observation and the like. This invention allows an individual to climb a wide range of tree diameters from small to very large, including trees with branches that would typically be obstacles when climbing trees with currently available tree stands.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There are presently a wide variety of devices for climbing trees and poles which are commercially available. All of these devices are attached and/or supported about the tree or pole by means of straps, rods, bars, or blades. All of these devices have a number of disadvantages. Many of these stands cause considerable damage to the trees to which they are attached due to the sharp blades or bark penetrating spikes affixed to the tree engaging edges. Another major disadvantage is the required manipulation of nuts, bolts, and/or knobs necessary to attach and remove these devices. Such manipulations are consistently difficult, time consuming and noisy. More importantly, such stands cannot be adjusted for tree taper as the user ascends and descends the tree or pole. This lack of adjustment causes vertical slippage of the tree engaging edges and causes these devices to tilt downward in an unsafe manner. Another disadvantage that can arise with most conventional climbing tree stands is that the tree must have in general a diameter of between 6 to 24 inches. Traditionally, most blade style climbing stands are limited to diameters ranging between 8 to 20 inches. Some other stands such as steel strap, cable, or chain style designs will adjust to a slightly smaller or larger diameter such as 6 to 24 inches. Trees below 6 inches and larger than 24 inches in diameter are very difficult if not impossible to climb. Thus trees such as a mature white oak, that produces acorns, a favorite forage food for wildlife such as deer and turkey, are virtually impossible to climb because of the larger diameter of the girth of the tree.
Other factors to consider are the straightness and the height that the tree stand can reach due to limbs or forks in the trees which form obstacles for traditional tree stands. Trees that have limbs or forks at lower levels create problems for the hunter, wildlife observer, or photographer. The field of view is reduced greatly from a lower vantage point due to existing brush, smaller trees, etc. Also, the lower observation point greatly increases an animal's awareness of the individual and could possibly alert the animal, by either sight or smell, and spoil the opportunity for a closer appearance of the animal.
Thus, individuals having traditional climbing style tree stands generally have to avoid the above mentioned style trees and climb a straight tree of certain diameter that has no limbs or forks up to the desired height of observation. This greatly reduces the number of trees which may be climbed and makes the individual select another site or a tree that may not be as preferred. For example, difficult to climb trees such as oak trees, apple trees or other trees having forks or low branches may prevent an individual from locating their tree stand next to trails and water holes typically frequented by animals such as deer, antelope, moose and the like.
The present invention provides some greatly improved designs among portable tree stands and climbing devices, thus eliminating the problems mentioned above. The stand of the invention may be a single stand which may be positioned in a tree at a desired elevation by any means including the use of commercially available portable ladders, climbing belts, climbing boots, ropes, spikes, etc. or can be positioned in the tree manually. In a preferred aspect, an upper and lower stand combination is used. The upper stand in such dual design is typically used as the climber (which enables a person to climb the tree) and the lower stand functions as the main platform for wildlife observation once the desired height is reached. In a preferred aspect, the upper stand or climber may comprise one or more seats allowing one or more individuals to sit once the main platform is in place. Examples of dual stands are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,240 to Cotton issued Jun. 1, 1976; U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,526 to Amacker issued Feb. 3, 1982; U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,216 to Amacker issued May 25, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,645 to Uniz issued Nov. 29, 1983; U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,338 to Uniz issued Jun. 5, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,447 to Gibson et al issued Feb. 23, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,662 to Porter issued Sep. 4, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,538 to Amacker issued Nov. 13, 1990; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,925 to Walker.
The present invention enables an individual to safely climb most trees including both small and large diameter trees. The invention also enables the individual to climb past limbs or to climb forked trees safely. Thus, the invention provides a means to climb any tree to a height above the canopy thus providing an advantage of concealment or camouflage. By being above the limbs, the individual is hidden by natural vegetation such as limbs and leaves. This allows the hunter, observer, or wildlife photographer to move more easily without alerting the animal of the individual's presence.
The preferred stand of the invention comprises a load-supporting structure or platform and at least one belt (preferably two, three, four, five or more belts) which are used to hold the load-supporting structure or platform in a fixed position in a tree or other structure. The belt(s) may be attached or fastened to the platform directly or indirectly. Direct attachment may involve connecting the belt with one or more attachment devices (such as bolts, screws, glue, bonding cement, wires, etc.) to the platform, but preferably involves connecting the belt with at least one locking device which is attached to the platform. Indirect attachment may involve connection of the belt to one or more supports (such as pipes, rods, tubes, etc.) which are attached to the platform. Preferably, such belt or belts are flexible enough to conform to the tree as weight is applied downward on the load-supporting structure or platform from the individual. As weight is lifted, the belt or belts release their grip from the tree allowing vertical movement up or down the tree.
To climb using the dual stand design, the climber and main platform (where the individual's feet typically rest) work together in unison. When the individual's weight is shifted to the main platform, this allows the climber to be moved or repositioned. The climber is moved up to ascend the tree or down when descending the tree. Weight or force is then applied downward to the climber by the individual thus locking the climber into place. This allows the main platform to be raised or lowered by shifting the weight from the main platform to the climber. The stand can now be raised or lowered by the simple method of the individual tilting his or her feet, which are secured to the main stand (e.g., with one or more foot traps). Such action disengages the main platform so that it may be moved or repositioned up or down the tree. Once positioned in the desired location, weight or force is applied to the platform (preferably by the individual standing on the platform) thereby allowing the main platform to reengage the tree. This procedure is repeated any number of times to ascend or descend the tree. In the dual stand design, the climber and main platform or both may comprise the one or more belts of the invention. In another aspect, the climber and stand may be operably connected.
In a preferred aspect, two belts or more (e.g. two, three, four, five or more) are used to allow safe movement around limbs, or to climb a forked tree. Preferably, one belt is unfastened while the second holds the stand secure. Then the first belt may be positioned over or above the fork or limb a

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