ADJUSTABLE TREE SEAT FOR HUNTERS

Abstract

An adjustable tree seat for hunters includes a base member adapted to be secured to a tree or the like by a pair of elongated flexible straps having separable fastener means on their opposed ends. An open and tubular support member is retained on the base and a seat post projects out of the top of the support member and telescopes within the support member. Holes at spaced intervals on the seat post may be aligned with a hole in the base and a pin passed through the aligned holes to secure the seat post at a controlled elevation relative to the base. A bicycle-type seat is supported on the free end of the seat post and a foot platform is pivotably attached to the bottom end of the base by flexible straps which allow the platform to extend normally to the tubular member or to be aligned parallel to the tubular member for transportation and storage.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/730,119 filed Oct. 25, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a tree seat which may be adjustably attached to a tree trunk, post or the like, to support a seat for a hunter at an elevated height and includes a footrest and adjustable support to separate the seat from the footrest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of tree stands for use by hunters have been proposed. These generally include a seat member which may be supported at an adjustable height along a tree trunk, post or the like. Certain of these tree stands incorporate platforms upon which the hunter may stand or support his feet when seated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward such a tree stand which is simple in construction and versatile in application. It incorporates a support member which may be attached to a vertical member such as a tree trunk or the like by adjustable straps which surround the vertical member. The support retains a base including a vertically aligned tubular member having an open top. A seat post telescopes within the tubular member and has a plurality of adjustment holes formed along its length. It may be adjustably supported at a chosen height with respect to the base by a pin that extends through a hole in the base and into one of the adjustment holes in the seat post.

A seat for the hunter is carried at the top end of the post and may preferably take the form of a padded bicycle seat. A platform on which the hunter may stand or may support his feet while seated is pivotably supported to the bottom of the base for motion in a vertical plane and is retained by support straps that have one end fixed to the base and one end fixed to the platform. This allows the platform to be extended at a right angle to the base for use or folded up so that it extends along the seat base and the seat post for carrying or storage purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, advantages and applications of the invention will be made apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The description makes reference to the accompany drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my tree stand with a hunter seated on the stand;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of my tree stand with the platform extended laterally; and

FIG. 3 is a front view of my tree stand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of my invention constitutes a tree seat, built about a planar vertical base member 10. The base member is adapted to be secured to a tree trunk 12 by two or more adjustable straps 14. The straps have free ends 16 which may be secured together by Velcro fasteners, buckles or the like. The straps 14 are adapted to loop about the tree trunk 12, a vertical post such as a telephone pole, or the like. The straps pass through slots in the base 10 and/or in a vertically aligned tubular base member 18 which is secured to the base 10 so as to be aligned against and bear against the tree trunk 12.

The tubular member 18 has an open end and is adapted to receive an elongated tubular seat post 20 which telescopes within the tubular member 18. The seat post 20 has a plurality of holes 22 formed at spaced intervals along its length. One of the holes may be aligned with a hole formed near the top of the tubular member 18 and a pin 24 may be inserted from the exterior of the tubular member 18, through one of the holes 22, to lock the seat post 20 at a controlled extension above the tubular member 18 in the base 10.

The seat post 20 supports a seat 26 which may be a flat platform or a bicycle-type seat with a forward extending crotch support section. The bicycle seat is preferably padded so as to provide a comfortable support for the hunter, generally indicated at 28, who may thus be supported on the seat in an elevated height along the tree trunk or post 12.

The hunter's feet may be supported on a platform 30 which has one end pivotably attached to the lower end of the base 10. The platform 30 may be supported in an operative, horizontal position, as indicated in the drawings, by means of a pair of straps 32 which each have one end fixed to an elevated point on the base 10 and the other ends affixed to opposed side edges of the platform 30 near its free edge. The straps 32 and the pivot connection allow the platform 30 to be elevated parallel to the tube 18 and the seat post 20, for the purpose of making the seat post portable for carrying to and from the place of use and for storage.

It is therefore seen that the adjustable tree seat of the present invention is simple in construction so as to be reliable in operation and low in cost, and may be easily supported when disposed with the foot support folded upwardly in carrying position.

Claims

1. A tree seat for a hunter, comprising:

a tubular seat post base;

strap means for retaining the base at a selected height along a tree or the like with the base extending parallel to the central axis of a tree or the like;

an elongated cylindrical seat post adapted to extend telescopically within the tubular seat post base;

an adjustable lock for retaining the seat post at a selected extended position with respect to the base;

a seat secured to the top end of the seat post; and

a foot platform secured to the lower end of the seat post base.

2. The tree seat of claim 1 wherein the foot platform is pivotably supported at one end with respect to the seat post base so that it may be positioned to project substantially horizontally from the base or to fold up into a position along the base.

3. The tree seat of claim 1 wherein the seat has a pair of parallel sides and a central extending crotch section.

4. The tree seat of claim 2 including flexible straps extending between the base and the platform, the straps being taut when the platform projects horizontally from the base, and the straps allow the platform to fold into position along the base for carrying.

5. The tree seat of claim 1 wherein the adjustable lock for retaining the seat post to the selected extended position with respect to the base comprises a plurality of holes formed through the sides of the seat post at spaced intervals, a hole formed through the base, and a pin adapted to be inserted through aligned holes in the seat post and the base for retaining the seat post at a selected position with respect to the base.

6. A tree seat for a hunter, comprising:

a base member;

at least two straps passing through apertures in the base member, the straps having separable fastener means on their free ends, and the straps being adapted to be wrapped about a tree trunk or the like to retain the base with respect to the tree trunk;

a tubular seat post supported on the base in a vertical attitude when the base is attached to a vertical post, and having a hole formed near its upper end;

an elongated tubular seat post adapted to extend telescopically within the tubular post, the seat post having a plurality of holes formed at spaced intervals along its end;

pin means for passing through the hole in the tubular member and a selected hole in the seat post, to retain the seat post at a selected elevation with respect to the base;

a bicycle-type seat having an extending crotch support section supported on the upper end of the seat post;

a foot support platform having one end pivotably attached to the base, for motion in a plane passing through the central axis of the seat post; and

strap means having one end affixed to the base and the opposite end fixed to the foot platform at a point spaced from the pivot point of the platform, adapted, when extended, to retain the platform in a horizontal attitude, at substantially right angles to the tubular member, or to allow the platform to be folded into alignment with the tubular member and the seat post for transportation and storage.