Bow hunting stand

Abstract

A bow hunting tree stand has a lower base that is horizontal with the ground. The lower base has a rectangular shape with an indentation at the back rail to accept the tree. An upper, vertical, hollow seat post is attached near the rear of the lower platform. An inner vertical seat post slides within the outer vertical post. Aligning adjusting and securing holes and placing a pin through the aligned holes adjusts the height of the inner vertical post. At the top of the inner vertical seat post is a horizontal seat support. A comfortable banana or other adjustable seat is attached to the seat support. Various braces support the lower platform and the outer vertical post and the inner vertical post and the horizontal seat support. Flexible support wires are also connected between the upper part of the outer seat post and the outer front part of the lower base. An adjustable thigh support may also be located at the outer end of the horizontal seat support. Straps that run from one side of the outer vertical seat post and around the tree to the other side of the post strap the entire device to a tree at a suitable height. A hunter may stand and lean easily and conveniently when making a bow shot without unnecessary motion or structural obstructions to get in the way of the shot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of hunting, and more particularly to the field of bow hunting. A portable hunting stand is presented which may be strapped to a tree and which allows a hunter to lean towards the prey as he hunts deer with a bow.

In the hunting sport, it is common for hunters to carry tree stands during their hunting expeditions. The tree stand is normally secured to a tree above the ground. The stand allows the hunter to be elevated from the ground, where the game is found. A tree stand may include both a seat, a platform and a means to attach the stand to the tree.

When most bow hunters practice shooting, they shoot from a standing position. When shooting from a standing position the upper body of a hunter has more freedom to move or twist into a more comfortable or natural position to shoot. With more flexibility, the hunter's shooting zone increases and thus his success rate would increase. Additionally, when a deer walks up and surprises the hunter, the hunter should be ready to react in a standing position quickly. It would be an improvement from the prior art to provide a bow hunting tree stand that allows a hunter to shoot from a standing position by simply and quickly raising up on the hunter's legs, without encountering obstructions to the movement upwards or to the subsequent shot. It is a primary object of this invention to provide a tree stand upon which a hunter normally stands, and to provide a convenient adjustable seat upon which the hunter may rest.

A number of tree stands have previously been disclosed, but many are bulky and difficult to attach to a tree. Other drawbacks of known tree stands include the fact that they are seldom adjustable, and that their structure inhibits the easy and convenient movement of the hunter from a seated position to a standing position. Oftentimes the movement of the hunter from a seated to a standing position in cumbersome tree stands would alert the game and foil the hunters' plans.

A common type of tree stand previously disclosed in the art is the 2002 Adjustable Hunting Stand System illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,585 issued to Fast. Fast utilized standard equipment for attaching the stand to the tree and also provided a seat that is pivotable. The pivotable seat of Fast was an important feature since many trees do not grow completely vertical to the ground. Attaching a tree stand to a tree with an oblique orientation would necessarily mean that the perpendicular seat support is not a horizontal position. This lack of a horizontal orientation of the tree stand seat can cause discomfort to the user. After long hours of sitting in a tree stand, this discomfort could become a problem to the hunter. Fast utilizes a pivoting tree stand to address this problem. Fast also has a vertical adjustment, using a narrow ad unstable support to an oblique brace. This unstable system could cause problems for heavier hunters or hunters with a lot of heavy gear. It is another object of this invention to provide a sturdy vertical adjustment for a tree stand, with a stable construction.

Another tree stand that approaches the problem of the comfort of the hunter is found in the 1992 US patent issued to Amacker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,935. Amacker provides a seat assembly with a collapsible frame. The seat assembly is adjustable to accommodate hunters of different heights. While Amacker does use a seat assembly that is partially adjustable up and down in the vertical direction, the Amacker assembly lacks versatility since it is only capable of being adjusted more than a few inches. It is an object of this invention to provide a portable tree stand that is adjustable across a height of several feet to accommodate various different sizes of hunters.

A final example of a portable tree stand is found in the 1987 patent issued to Davis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,773. Davis utilizes a strap, as illustrated in FIG. 1 of Davis, to hold the bow hunter as he leans forward in making a shot at game.

One drawback of each of the above listed patents is the fact that the hunter lacks versatility in movement and convenience in overall adjustment. Further, the above-disclosed stands tend to inhibit the standing shot of a bow hunter. It is another object of this invention to provide a portable tree stand whose structure and attaching means to a tree does not inhibit the quick and convenient movement of a hunter when he rises from a seated position to a standing position to take a shot.

Another object of this invention is to provide a thigh brace for a hunter, standing on a tree stand in an upright position, such that the hunter may lean forward towards the shot while still being supported by the structure of the tree stand. Other and further objects of this invention will become obvious upon reading the below described specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVICE

A portable tree stand is presented which provides vertical adjustability of the seat and a supporting structure that will not inhibit a standing shot from a bow hunter. A vertical, hollow, outer seat post is attached to a horizontal platform. The vertical post and horizontal platform are attached to a tree in a forest by means of straps. An inner vertical seat post slides within the outer, hollow seat post and may be adjusted in vertical height from about 24 to 38 inches by adjusting holes which are aligned and then secured in position with a cross shear pin. The hunter may adjust the seat across a range of approximately 14 inches. This adjustment makes it easier for a hunter to stand and periodically rest on the seat while eliminating most movement.

The inner vertical seat post has a horizontal seat support that projects horizontally from the side of the tree. A seat is attached to the horizontal seat support. A brace is connected between the horizontal base and the outer vertical seat post and between the horizontal seat support and the inner vertical seat post to strengthen the structure and provide stable support for heavier hunters. The horizontal seat support may have an outer thigh support that may be attached to the outer end of the hollow horizontal seat support to brace the hunter when leaning into a bowshot. The device may be collapsible, easily transportable, and conveniently mounted to a tree for bow hunting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the bow hunting stand, shown attached to a tree.

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the bow hunting stand showing its attachment to a tree and the various structural parts of the stand.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bow hunting stand showing the construction of the stand.

FIG. 4 is a side, exploded view of the bow hunting stand showing the vertical height seat adjustment mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFRRED EMBODIMENT

A bow hunting tree stand 1 is attached to a tree 2 by a plurality of tree stand straps 3, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The tree stand has an essentially horizontal base 4 that includes various horizontal structural members, as best shown in FIG. 3.

The horizontal base 4 is comprised of essentially straight front 5′ and side 5 rails. The front rail 5′ is perpendicular to the side rails 5 as shown in the drawing figures. The horizontal base 4 has an irregularly shaped back rail 6. This irregular shape has a geometric configuration of a trapezoid in the preferred embodiment. This irregularly shaped trapezoidal back rail 6 accommodates the tree 2 when the tree stand is attached to a tree with the straps 3. The shape of the back rail could also be semicircular or any other convenient shape.

Inside the outer perimeter comprised of the straight front rail 5′, side rails 5 and irregularly shaped back rail 6, are inner support rails 7. These inner structural support rails 7 may be attached to the side rails and front and rear rails at appropriate points throughout the lower base 4, as shown in the drawing figures, to provide additional support to the lower base platform 4. Any number of inner support rails may be provided and the drawing figures are merely illustrative of a preferred system of inner support rails as shown.

Attached to the horizontal base platform 4 is a hollow outer vertical seat post 8. This hollow vertical outer seat post 8 is adapted to receive a vertical inner seat post 11. The hollow outer seat post 8 has an upper part 9. The lower part 10 of the outer seat post 8 is attached to the irregularly shaped back rail 6 and inner supports 7 such that the outer vertical post 8 has an open lower end. The lower end allows the inner vertical seat post 11 to protrude below the horizontal base platform 4 when the seat is in a lower vertical position.

The inner vertical seat post 11 has a cross section similar to the cross section of the hollow vertical seat post 8. As shown in the drawing figures this cross section is rectangular. However, another embodiment of this invention would have vertical inner and outer seat posts with a circular cross section. This would allow the seat to rotate in a 180-degree direction. The cross section of the inner and outer seat posts shown here is meant as a means of illustration only and not as a limitation on this invention.

A horizontal seat support 12 is permanently attached to the upper part of the vertical inner seat post 11 as shown in the drawing figures. The vertical 11 and horizontal 12 seat posts and are slidably and adjustably connected to each other for selected vertical seat height adjustment.

In order to strengthen this generally C-shaped hunting stand, a number of braces are provided. A lower brace 13 is attached between the vertical outer seat post 8 and the horizontal base platform 4. An upper seat brace 14 is also attached between the vertical inner post 11 and horizontal seat support 12. The seat brace 14 not only supports the horizontal seat support 12, but also limits the downward vertical distance of the inner seat post 11 inside the outer seat post 8.

It has been found that it may also be desirable to include usually flexible braces 15. These usually flexible braces 15 have one end attached to the upper part of the outer vertical seat post 8 and the other end attached to the outer edges of the front rail 5′. The usually flexible braces 15 are attached by means of front rail eyelets 16 and outer vertical post eyelets 16′.

In order to attach the bow hunting stand to a tree, securing holes 17 and 18 are provided, as best shown in FIG. 4. An upper securing hole 17 is provided near the top of the inner vertical seat post 11. The outer seat post 8 also has a plurality of securing holes. A middle outer seat post securing hole 18 is located above the lower outer seat post securing 18′. These securing holes 17, 18, and 18′ are adapted to receive the straps 3 which may be secured around the tree 2 to attach the bow hunting stand to the tree.

As best shown in FIG. 4 the inner vertical seat post 11 has a plurality of seat height adjusting holes 19. There are at least two such inner seat post adjusting holes. However, there may be as many as twelve to twenty-four seat post adjusting holes, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The outer seat post 8 also has several seat height securing holes. An upper outer seat post securing hole 20 is located above a lower seat height securing hole 20′. A seat securing pin, such as a cotter pin or shear pin 21, is adapted to be inserted into the aligned inner 19 and outer 20 or 20′ vertical post holes. In order to adjust the height of the seat, one simply aligns the appropriate inner seat post height adjusting hole 19 with either the upper 20 or lower 20′ outer seat post seat height adjusting hole. The height of the seat is fixed by inserting the seat securing pin 21 through the aligned holes. The seat securing pin 21 may also be a bolt and nut that is inserted through the aligned holes to adjust the height of the seat.

The inner vertical seat post 11 may be of almost any length although the inner and outer posts are designed to vary the height of seat from 24 inches to 38 inches from the platform 26. Normally, a hunter is allowed at least 15 different settings for the seat height, depending on the number and location of holes.

The vertical inner seat post 11 and the outer, hollow vertical seat post 8 are arranged such that the vertical inner seat post 11 may slide downwardly until the brace 14 contacts the upper portion of the vertical outer seat post 8. As shown in FIG. 2 part of the lower portion 27 of the vertical inner seat post 11 may protrude beneath the surface of the horizontal base 4.

Attached to the upper horizontal seat support 12 is, in the preferred embodiment, a banana seat 22 as best shown in the FIG. 4. This banana seat 22 provides comfort for the hunter as well as convenience when the hunter stands up. The seat 22 may be installed in varying sizes and may vary in length and width. Additionally, the height of the seat may be varied vertically, depending on the preference of the individual hunter. Because of the above-described versatile adjustments, the user of this device may readily rest on the seat and then rise rapidly to take a shot with the bow as required.

In taking a standing shot with the bow, it is often necessary for the hunter to lean forward into the shot. In order to provide support for a hunter during a standing and leaning shot, an optional thigh support 23 is provided. The thigh support 23 is attached to the outer end of the seat support 12. This thigh support 23 comprises two perpendicular pieces, including a thigh support attaching rail 24 and a perpendicular thigh support 25. This thigh support piece 23 may be adapted such that the parallel thigh support attaching rail 24 is slidably and removably attached inside the hollow horizontal seat support 12. The distance between the hunter and the perpendicular thigh support 25 may be adjusted by a plurality of adjusting holes. The thigh support distance would be adjusted in much the same manner as the vertical height of the seat 22. Alternatively, this thigh support 23 could be bolted to the horizontal seat support 12 or it could be permanently affixed as, for example, by welding.

The horizontal base 4 may have an upper floor 26 as shown in FIG. 2. This upper floor could be made of small lightweight plywood, wire mesh, or another type of suitable platform material. The horizontal base floor 26 should be lightweight, yet strong enough to support a fully geared hunter when he stands on the platform.

Screen supports 28 may also be attached to this device at each of the four corners of the platform. These vertical rods 28 would be secured to the corners of the horizontal base 4, as best shown on FIG. 4. Windscreens could be attached to these vertical rods 28 to screen the hunter from wind or from oncoming deer. The windscreens could be camouflage in color to help conceal the hunter and tree stand.

An optional ladder may also accompany this stand to enable the hunter to climb into the stand once it has been elevated and attached to a tree.

The bow hunting stand can increase the hunter's comfort and success in many ways. It gives a more comfortable and enjoyable hunt due to the many features and customized abilities of the device. The bow hunting stand is designed for the hunter to stand for most of the time but allows the hunter to rest periodically by moving down onto the adjustable seat. Since the seat is adjustable, the downward distance to the seat may be conveniently and adjustably set to the individual hunter's preferences.

The bow hunting tree stand allows the hunter to arise quickly and without cumbersome obstructions from a sitting position. The tree stand herein eliminates most of the movement required to sit and then stand found in the hunting platforms currently on the market. Due to the fact that the platform does not have much structure above the actual platform base, the shooting zone of the hunter is increased. Because of all of these features, this particular platform allows the hunter to react to deer that might surprise the hunter and increases the hunters' chance of success when making a bow shot.

The instant bow hunting stand disclosed herein also provides an extremely comfortable platform upon which to stand, and occasionally rest, while waiting for a deer or other game. Being more comfortable during the hunt allows a hunter to stay out in the woods longer. While in standard tree stands a hunter could be sitting in a motionless position for long periods of time, this particular tree stand allows the hunter to stand and sit down easily and conveniently without creating a lot of movement when changing positions. Deer and other game are able to discern movement. Keeping the movement of the hunter to a minimum while stretching or exercising during long waits allows the hunter to be more successful.

Key features of this invention are the sturdy design of the seat and base of the stand as well as the vertical adjustability of the seat height. Since the seat of the stand is similar to an adjustable saddle or banana bicycle seat, the seat can be made to be to fit a range of inseams. The seat has a molded comfortable surface conducive to long waits in the woods. Vertical adjustability and width selection make the device more comfortable and versatile for the user.

It is within the contemplation of the invention that the stand is collapsible. For example, while the outer vertical seat post 8 may be welded to the horizontal base 4 it may also be hingedly attached to the horizontal base. The inner vertical seat post 11 is completely removeable from the outer seat post 8 and may be carried in a collapsed condition.

The thigh support 23, allows a hunter to leverage or lean his thighs against the brace thus leaning away from the tree, is also an important aspect of this device. The thigh support 23 allows the hunter lean out away from the tree and stand and to obtain a standing and unobstructed bow shot.

Claims

1: A bow hunting stand for attachment to a tree, comprising:

(a) a lower, essentially horizontal platform;

(b) a vertical, outer hollow seat post perpendicular and attached to said lower platform;

(c) an inner, vertical seat post slidably and adjustably attached inside said vertical outer post;

(d) a horizontal seat support attached to the upper part of said inner vertical post;

(e) an adjustable seat attached to said seat support.

(f) a plurality of straps adapted to secure said stand to a tree.

2: A bow hunting stand as in claim 1, wherein said outer seat post has a plurality of height adjusting holes and wherein said inner post has a plurality of height adjusting holes, further comprising a securing pin for securing said inner and outer posts at a selected height.

3: A bow hunting stand as in claim 1, further comprising a thigh support adjustably attached to the outer end of said horizontal seat support.