Tree stand warming apparatus

Abstract

Tree stand warming apparatus including a heater detachably mounted below the perforated platform of a tree stand and an insulated bag mounted atop the platform. The bag includes a bottom wall, on which a person can be positioned, having an aperture therein aligned with the underlying heater disposed below the platform. The bag also includes a collapsible vertically extendable side wall coupled to the bottom wall.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to apparatus for warming a person positioned atop a tree stand platform and more particularly, to warming apparatus having a heater mounted on the underside of the platform and an insulated body bag, having an opening therein aligned with the underlying heater, mounted atop the platform,

2. Description of Prior Art and Advantages

Hunters sitting in elevated tree blinds are generally subjected to more inclement weather conditions than hunters positioned at ground level. The hunter who is positioned in a tree blind generally has less protection from the wind. Apparatus constructed according to the present invention contemplates the mounting of a heater on the underside of a tree blind platform which typically is fabricated with a grid or expanded metal having several openings therethrough.

The apparatus constructed according to the present invention contemplates detachably mounting a heat source on the underside of a grid platform of any selected one of a plurality of different tree platforms.

The invention further contemplates mounting a heater on the underside of a tree stand platform including a plate having an upwardly opening burner receiving pocket disposed therein for directing the heat upwardly toward the tree stand platform.

The invention further contemplates cantileverly supporting the warming apparatus of the type described on the peripheral edge of the platform.

The invention further contemplates cantileverly supporting the burner on the peripheral edge of the tree platform via a U-shaped hook integral with a plate mounted on the underside of the platform.

The invention further contemplates an insulated body receiving bag which includes a bottom wall that can be mounted atop the platform and includes an aperture therein aligned with a heater on the underside of the platform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus for warming a person positioned on a grid like tree stand platform comprising apparatus for detachably mounting a heat source on the underside of the tree stand platform including mechanism for detachably coupling the mount to the platform to vertically support the mount on the underside of the platform. The apparatus also contemplates a body bag, mounted atop the above platform, including an opening for receiving heat emanating from the heat source.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a prior art tree stand on which apparatus constructed according to the present intention is mounted;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view, taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 3, illustrating body warming apparatus constructed according to the present invention mounted on the prior art tree stand illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view, taken along the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2, part of the U-shaped mounting bracket broken away to better illustrate the underlying platform;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a burner mounting device only for detachably mounting a heat source on the underside of the platform;

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective plan view of the burner mounting device illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the burner mounting device just prior to installation on the tree stand platform;

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the burner mounting device after being mounted on the platform;

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view more particularly illustrating the insulated body receiving bag portion of the body warming apparatus constructed according to the present with the insulated body bag being illustrated in an expanded position enveloping a person standing on the platform;

FIG. 9 is a sectional side view, similar to FIG. 2, illustrating a slightly modified embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a top plan sectional view taken along the section line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Body warming apparatus, generally designated 10 and constructed according to the present invention, is particularly adapted for use with a tree blind or stand, generally designated 12 that may be mounted on a tree for use by hunters, bird watchers, and others. The tree stand 12 typically includes a platform 14 having a perimetrically inverted extending angle bracket frame 16, defining an opening 17 spanned by perforated paneling such as expanded metal, a grid, or a mesh screen 20 defining a plurality of interstices or openings 22. The platform frame 16 includes front and rear frame bars 18 and 19, respectively, spanned by a pair of parallel side frame bars 21. A pair of reinforcing bars 23 also spans the side bars 21 and underlie the mesh screen 20. The mesh screen 20 may be welded or otherwise suitably fixed to the angle bracket frame 16.

A pair of curved tree engaging brackets 26 project horizontally rearwardly from the rear frame bar 19 and include oppositely extending terminal ends 28 which bear against a tree on which the tree blind 12 is to be mounted. An upstanding frame back, generally designated 32, is pivotally coupled to the rear of the platform 14 and projects upwardly to a level above the curved bars 26. The frame back 32 pivotally mounts, via hinges 33, a seat 34 which can swing from an inoperative raised position, illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 1 to a horizontal seating position, illustrated in FIG. 2. A chain or cable 35 (FIG. 8) is detachably coupled to the upper portion of the frame back 32 for surrounding a tree trunk to secure the tree blind.

The platform frame 14 and the seat 34, which are pivotally coupled to the back 32 can be folded when not in use for easy transport and storage. A pair of laterally spaced apart flaccid support cables 36 span upper portions of the back 32 and front portions of the side rails 21 of the chair frame 16. Another pair of similar flaccid cables 37 span the top portion of back 32 and the seat 34.

The warming apparatus 10 is provided for heating a person P positioned on the platform 14 and includes a heater, generally designated 40, which is disposed on the underside of the platform 16 and an insulated upwardly opening bag, blanket or robe, generally designated 42, (FIGS. 2 and 8) mounted atop the platform 14. The heater 40 includes a one-piece housing 43 comprising a flat plate or pan 44 having a centrally disposed, integral heating pot 46 provided with an upstanding side wall 48, defining an upwardly opening opening 51 having a diameter d, formed integrally with the plate 44. A bottom wall 50 spans the lower end of the side wall 48 and includes an aperture 52. The plate 44 has a breadth 45 substantially less than the breadth 47 of the platform 14.

A heat source 54, such as a commercially available propane burning heater head typically provided with commercially available Coleman® heaters, is disposed in the heating pot 46 and is coupled to a suitable source of fuel, such as a tank 58 of propane, via a fuel line 56 which passes through the aperture 52 in the bottom wall 50. A one pound propane fuel tank or other source of fuel, generally designated 58, may be stowed on a rear upwardly opening saddle or trough 60 supported by the tree engaging curved frame bars 26, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The hole 52 also allows ambient air to upwardly pass to the heater head 54 to provide sufficient oxygen to maintain a burning flame in the heating pot 46.

The heating pan 44 and integral heating pot 46 are cantileverly vertically supported on the front frame bar 17 via an integral, U or C-shaped bracket or clip 62, having a base 64 mounting a lower leg 66 integrally formed with the plate 44 and an upper leg 68 which is disposed above the platform 14 as illustrated in FIG. 2. To guard against inadvertent horizontal shifting of the heater plate 40, the rear portion of the plate 40 may be detachably secured to the platform 14 via fasteners 70 which extend through aligned apertures 72 in the plate 44 and the rear cross bars 23.

The body warming bag, generally designated 42 is provided for enveloping a person P positioned atop the grid 20. The body warming bag 42 includes a base 74 and a blanket, robe, or insulated flaccid side wall 76 having a lower end 78, coupled to the base 74, and an upwardly opening upper end 80 defining an opening 82 through which the user may enter the bag and stand on the base 74. The flaccid sidewall 76 will normally be disposed in a collapsed condition alongside the base 74 but can be vertically extended to a raised position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8 enveloping the user P. Suspenders, or other supports 84, may be coupled to the upper end 80 for supporting the bag sidewall 76 in the extended or raised position on the shoulders of a person P positioned on the platform 14.

The base 74 includes a central, heat ingress aperture 86 having a diameter D slightly greater than the diameter d of the heating pot 46, vertically aligned with the underlying heating pot 46 so that the heat emanating from the heat source 54 will pass upwardly, in the direction of the arrow X, through the grid openings 22 and the aligned aperture 86 into the cavity 88 in which the person is positioned.

The Operation

An individual wanting to utilize warming apparatus 10, constructed according to the present invention, will mount the heater head 54 in the heating pot 46. The user initially positions the heater 40 forwardly of the platform 14, as illustrated in FIG. 6, and then rearwardly slides the heater 40 to the cantileverly supported position, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7, in which the U-shaped clamp 62 vertically cantileverly supports the pot 46 beneath the central area of the grid 20. The user will then couple the burner 54 to a fuel source 58 via a fuel line 56. The user will then dispose the body bag in a collapsed condition with the bottom wall 74 of the insulated body bag 42 on the platform 14 and the opening or aperture 86 therein vertically aligned with the underlying heating pot 46. The user will then mount the tree stand 12 to a tree with cable 35 and tree mounted pegs or a ladder (not shown). The user will then position himself above the platform 14 and then step through the upper opening bag 80 onto the top side 90 of the base 74. The user may then upwardly extend the blanket side wall 76 to a position in which the suspenders 84 can be disposed over the user's shoulders to support the body bag in the elevated position, illustrated in FIG. 8.

It should be noted that the seat 34 in the horizontal position illustrated in FIG. 2 is disposed above the portion 92 of the frame mesh 20 disposed between the burner pot 46 and the rear frame bar 19. The heat generated by the heater head 54 will naturally escape upwardly through the expanded metal or mesh screen 20 in a direction of the arrow X to a position inside the body bag 42 to warm the person therein.

ALTERNATE EMBODIMENT

A slightly modified body warming apparatus 10A is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 and generally similar parts are identified by generally similar reference characters followed by the subscript A.

The warming apparatus 10A includes an air impervious drape or sheet S which may suitably comprise nylon or polyester. The sheet or drape S has one end 85 stitched or otherwise suitably coupled to a lower edge portion 87 of a portion of the flaccid sidewall 76A along the front side of the platform 14A. The sheet S includes an opposite free terminal end 88 and an intermediate sheet portion 89 disposed between the ends 85 and 88 which underlies the platform 14A and the healing pan 44A. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the sheet S spans the side rails 21A and 22A to inhibit ambient air from passing upwardly thru the orifices 20A not aligned with the heating pan 44A.

The breadth 91 of the sheet or drape S is substantially greater than the breadth 45 of the heating pan 44A.

The sheet S is detachably coupled to the tree mounting brackets 26A via one or more string ties T coupled to the free terminal end 88.

It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made in various elements to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tree stand heater for warming a person positioned atop a perforated tree stand platform of a predetermined breadth, said tree stand heater comprising:

a heat source; and

mount means coupled to said heat source for detachably mounting said source on the underside of the tree stand platform.

2. The tree stand heater set forth in claim 1 wherein said heat source comprises a burner adapted to be coupled to a fuel source, and

said mount means includes an open top burner receptacle for receiving said burner; and plate means coupled to said receptacle for bearing against the underside of the platform.

3. The tree stand heater set forth in claim 2 wherein said open top receptacle includes a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall, said plate means being fixed to said side wall.

4. The tree stand heater set forth in claim 3 wherein said plate means include a U-shaped terminal end which receives an edge portion of the tree platform for vertically supporting said plate means on the underside of the platform.

5. The tree stand heater set forth in claim 1 wherein said mount means includes a plate for detachably mounting on the underside of the tree stand platform, said plate including a depression therein for receiving said heat source.

6. The tree stand heater set forth in claim 5 wherein said mount means includes a U-shaped mount member having a base mounting a pair of vertically spaced apart legs, one of said legs being integral with a perimetrical edge portion of said plate and the other of said legs being cantileverly suspended in a position overlying a perimetrical edge portion of the platform to vertically support said plate on the underside of said platform.

7. The tree stand heater set forth in claim 5 wherein said mount means includes a portion for overlying a perimetrical edge portion of said platform and a portion coupled to said plate at a level below the platform.

8. The tree stand heater set forth in claim 8 wherein said mount means includes an upwardly opening container for receiving said heat source and a horizontal mounting plate coupled to said container for mounting said container on the underside of the platform.

9. The tree stand heater set forth in claim 8 wherein said mount means includes vertical support means coupled to said plate on the underside of said platform and including a vertically spaced portion for overlying a portion of the platform for cantileverly suspending said plate on said platform.

10. The tree stand heater set forth in claim 2 further including a drape for underlying said mount means and said platform for inhibiting any upward flow of ambient air thru said perforated tree stand.

11. The tree stand set forth in claim 9 wherein said plate means has a lesser predetermined breadth less than said predetermined breadth, and further including an air impervious drape having a predetermined breadth essentially equal to said predetermined breadth of said platform.

12. The tree stand set forth in claim 11 wherein said air impervious drape has one end cantileverly supported on said perimetrical edge portion of said plate and an opposite end; and coupling means is provided for detachably coupling said opposite end to said platform.

13. A tree stand heater for heating a person positioned atop a horizontally disposed tree stand platform with a heat source disposed on the underside of the platform, said tree stand heater comprising:

mount means for detachably mounting the heat source on the underside of the tree stand platform; and

vertical support means for detachably cantileverly suspending said mount means on a peripheral portion of the platform to vertically support the mount means on the underside of the platform.

14. The tree stand set forth in claim 13 wherein said vertical support means comprises a first portion for underlying the platform and coupled to the mount means, and a second portion for overlying the platform.

15. The tree stand set forth in claim 14 wherein said first and second portion comprises a pair of parallel legs, and further including a base mounting said pair of parallel legs in vertically spaced relation to provide a U-shaped mount.

16. The tree stand set forth in claim 15 wherein said mount means comprises a plate having a heat source receiving recess therein and a U-shaped coupling bracket having one leg integrally coupled to said mount means at a level below the level of the platform and a second vertically spaced apart leg for overlying the platform.

17. The tree stand set forth in claim 13 wherein said; heat source comprises a burner adapted to be coupled to a source of fuel to be burned;

said mount means comprises a plate, for underlying the platform, including a recess for receiving the burner.

18. The tree stand set forth in claim 17 wherein said support means includes a U-shaped clip having a first leg fixed to a first portion said plate at a level below the platform and a second leg, spaced above said first leg for overlying a portion of said platform to vertically support said plate; and further including fastener means for coupling a second spaced apart portion of said plate to said platform for precluding horizontal shifting of said plate.

19. The tree stand set forth in claim 17 further including an insulated bag having a bottom wall adapted to be disposed atop said platform and a sidewall having a lower end coupled to said bottom wall and an upwardly opening upper end for receiving a person standing on the bottom wall; said bottom wall having an aperture therethrough in alignment with said recess for receiving the burner.

20. The tree stand set forth in claim 19 wherein said recess has a predetermined breadth and said aperture in said bottom wall has a greater predetermined breadth greater than said predetermined breadth.

21. The tree stand set forth in claim 20 wherein said mount means comprises a plate having a heat source receiving, upwardly opening cavity therein, and said vertical support means comprises means for cantileverly supporting said plate on a peripheral edge portion of the platform.

22. The tree stand set forth in claim 21 wherein said for cantileverly supporting said plate comprises a U-shaped bracket integral with said plate.

23. The tree stand set forth in claim 21 including an air impervious drape having one end coupled to said insulated bag on one side of said platform, a central portion underlying said plate, and an opposite free terminal end, opposite said one end, and means for detachably coupling said opposite free terminal end to an opposite side of said platform.

24. Apparatus for warming a person positioned on a perforated tree stand platform comprising:

a burner housing having a bottom wall and an upstanding peripheral side wall mounted on said bottom wall and defining an upwardly opening upper end opening having a predetermined breadth;

a burner, adapted to be coupled to a source of fuel to be burned and disposed in said housing; and

mount means for detachably mounting said burner housing on the underside of the platform.

25. The apparatus set forth in claim 24 including an insulating bag for receiving the person having

a bottom wall on which the person can stand and adapted to be disposed atop said platform, and

a side wall adapted to surround a person positioned on said bottom wall, having a lower end coupled to said bottom wall, and an open ended upper end through which a person can enter the bag and stand on the bottom wall; said bottom wall having an aperture therethrough vertically aligned with said burner housing.

26. The apparatus set forth in claim 25 wherein said aperture has a breadth substantially equal to said breadth of said burner housing.

27. The apparatus set forth in claim 24 wherein said mount means includes plate means coupled to said burner housing and means for cantileverly supporting said plate means on a peripheral edge portion of the platform.

28. The apparatus set forth in claim 27 wherein said means for cantileverly supporting comprises a U-shaped bracket having a portion thereof overlying the peripheral edge portion of the platform.

29. The apparatus set forth in claim 27 wherein said means for cantileverly supporting comprises a bracket coupled to said plate at a level below the platform and a peripheral edge portion disposed above the peripheral edge portion.

30. The apparatus set forth in claim 28 including an air impervious flaccid drape having one end coupled to a portion said insulating bag adjacent one side of said platform.

31. The apparatus set forth in claim 25 wherein said side wall is flaccid and vertically extendible between an upstanding position enveloping the person and a collapsed condition adjacent said bottom wall.

32. Apparatus for warming a person positioned atop a platform having a plurality of openings therethrough said apparatus comprising:

mount means for mounting a heat source on the underside of the platform in alignment with at least one of said openings, said mount means including an integral hook having a terminal end portion for overlying the platform to cantileverly suspend the mounts means on the platform.

33. The apparatus set forth in claim 32 wherein said apparatus further comprises an insulated body bag having a bottom wall for mounting atop the platform; said bottom wall having an aperture therethrough for aligning with the heat source on the underside of the platform.

34. The apparatus set forth in claim 33 wherein said insulated body bag includes a flaccid sidewall integral with said bottom wall and extendable between a collapsed position adjacent said bottom wall and an upstanding position enveloping the person positioned atop the platform.

35. The apparatus set forth in claim 33 including an air impervious flaccid drape having one end coupled to a portion said insulated bag adjacent one side of said platform.

36. In combination:

a perforated horizontally disposed platform adapted to support an individual thereon;

means for supporting said platform in spaced relation with the underlying terrain;

an insulated body bag having a bottom wall, on which a person can be positioned, disposed atop said platform, and a flaccid sidewall, adapted to surround the person positioned on said bottom wall, having a lower end coupled to said bottom wall, and an upwardly opening upper end for receiving a person standing on said bottom wall; and

a device for mounting a heat source on the underside of said platform;

said bottom wall having an aperture therethrough disposed in vertical alignment with said heat source.

37. The combination set forth in claim 36 wherein said device for mounting a heat source comprises a plate having a recess therein forming a receptacle for receiving said heat source; and means for cantileverly detachably supporting said plate on a peripheral edge portion of the platform.

38. The combination set forth in claim 37 wherein said means for cantileverly supporting comprises a bracket having a portion coupled to said plate at a level below the platform and a terminal end portion disposed above said platform.

39. The combination set forth in claim 37 wherein said means for cantileverly supporting comprises a U-shaped bracket having a first lower leg integral with said plate and a second upper terminal end leg.

40. In combination;

a tree stand having a perforated platform;

an upstanding back on said platform;

a tree seat swingably mounted on said back between an upstanding, inoperative position, and a generally horizontal position overlying a portion of said perforated platform; and

means for detachably mounting a heat source on the underside of said portion of said perforated platform.

41. The combination set forth in claim 40 wherein a heat source is provided in alignment with said portion of said perforated platform including an insulated body bag for enveloping a person including

a bottom wall disposed atop said platform, for supporting a person thereon,

a side wall coupled to said bottom wall surrounding a person positioned on said bottom wall, and including an upwardly opening upper end for receiving a person;

said bottom wall having an aperture therethrough vertically aligned with said portion of said bottom wall and said heater.

42. The combination set forth in claim 41 wherein said side wall is flaccid and collapsible between an upstanding condition and a collapsed condition adjacent said bottom wall.