Tree stand with seat lift

Abstract

The tree stand with seat lift is adapted to be mounted to a tree or other upstanding object and includes a vertical support frame, a means for securing the vertical support frame around the tree, a seat member, and a strut. The vertical support frame has an upper end and a lower end and is supported against the tree with a means for securing the vertical support frame around the tree. The seat member is hingedly attached to the upper end of the vertical support frame and is pivotable between a position in which the seat member is substantially normal to the vertical support frame and a position in which the seat member is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame. The strut extends between the vertical support frame and the seat member and acts to bias the seat member into the up position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hunting stands, and more specifically to a tree stand for hunting that includes a self-lifting seat.

2. Description of the Related Art

A wide variety of portable tree stands are currently in use. Hunters carry the tree stands into wooded areas to provide an elevated position and a wide field of view while at the same time shielding the hunter from detection by forest wildlife. The tree stands are typically secured to the trunk of a tree at a desired elevation for use. Most typical tree stands include a seating area that is elevated above a platform, allowing a user to be seated until the need arises to stand, typically on the platform, in order to take aim at the hunted wildlife. However, the nature of the design of these tree stands makes it difficult for the hunter to stand on the platform while avoiding contact with the projecting seat.

What is needed is a tree stand with a hinged, self-lifting seat that can act as a horizontal seat support when sat upon, but will return to an upright position when not in use. Thus, a tree stand with seat lift solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The tree stand with seat lift is adapted to be mounted to a tree or other upstanding object and includes a vertical support frame, a means for securing the vertical support frame around the tree, a seat member, and a strut. The vertical support frame has an upper end and a lower end and is supported against the tree with a means for securing the vertical support frame around the tree. The means for securing the vertical support frame around the tree will generally consist of a strap that encircles the trunk portion of the tree. The seat member is hingedly attached to the upper end of the vertical support frame and is pivotable between a position in which the seat member is substantially normal to the vertical support frame and a position in which the seat member is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame. The strut extends between the vertical support frame and the seat member and acts to bias the seat member into the position in which the seat member is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame.

The tree stand may also include a platform extending from the lower end of the vertical support frame and a pair of support wires, each support wire extending from the vertical support frame to the platform. These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a tree stand with seat lift according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of a tree stand with seat lift according to the present invention with the seat member in the seated position.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of a tree stand with seat lift according to the present invention with the seat member in the upright position.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a tree stand with a lifting seat, designated generally as 10 in the drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, tree stand 10 is adapted for mounting on a tree T and includes a vertical support frame, a means for securing the vertical support frame around the tree, a seat member 14, and a strut 18. The vertical support frame is designed to engage the tree T and has an upper end and a lower end. Seat member 14 is hingedly attached to the upper end of the vertical support frame and is pivotable between a position in which seat member 14 is substantially normal to the vertical support frame (as shown in FIG. 2) and a position in which seat member 14 is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame (as shown in FIG. 3). Strut 18 extends between the vertical support frame and seat member 14 with strut 18 biasing seat member 14 into the position in which seat member 14 is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame. In this manner, seat member 14 can act as a horizontal seat and support the weight of a user when sat upon, but will return to an upright position when not in use, providing more space for the user to operate in the vicinity of tree stand 10.

A preferred embodiment of tree stand 10 is shown in FIG. 1 with the vertical support frame including a pair of vertical support bars 12. Means for securing the vertical support frame around the tree T is a strap 20 that extends between vertical support bars 12 around the trunk portion of tree T. Seat member 14 is hingedly attached to the upper ends of vertical support bars 12 and is pivotable between a position in which seat member 14 is substantially normal to vertical support bars 12 and a position in which seat member 14 is substantially parallel to vertical support bars 12. Strut 18 extends between a single vertical support bar 12 and seat member 14 with strut 18 biasing seat member 14 into the position in which seat member 14 is substantially parallel to vertical support bars 12. A platform 16, provided for standing, extends from the lower end of vertical support bars 12 and is supported by a pair of support wires 22, each support wire 22 extending from a vertical support bar 12 to platform 16. In the preferred embodiment, strut 18 is a standard gas shock absorber.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A tree stand with a lifting seat adapted for mounting on a tree, the tree stand comprising:

a vertical support frame for engaging the tree, the vertical support frame having an upper end and a lower end;

a means for securing the vertical support frame around the tree;

a seat member hingedly attached to the upper end of the vertical support frame, the seat member being pivotable between a position in which the seat member is substantially normal to the vertical support frame and a position in which the seat member is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame; and

a strut extending between the vertical support frame and the seat member, the strut biasing the seat member into the position in which the seat member is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame.

2. The tree stand according to claim 1, wherein the strut is a standard gas shock absorber.

3. The tree stand according to claim 1, wherein the vertical support frame comprises at least one vertical support bar.

4. The tree stand according to claim 3, wherein the vertical support frame comprises a pair of vertical supports bars.

5. The tree stand according to claim 4, wherein the means for securing the vertical support frame around the tree is a strap, the strap extending between the vertical support bars.

6. The tree stand according to claim 5, further comprising a platform extending from the lower end of the vertical support frame.

7. The tree stand according to claim 6, further comprising a pair of support wires, each support wire extending from a vertical support bar to the platform.

8. The tree stand according to claim 7, wherein the strut is a standard gas shock absorber.

9. A tree stand with a lifting seat adapted for mounting on a tree, the tree stand comprising:

a vertical support frame for engaging the tree, the vertical support frame having an upper end and a lower end;

a strap extending from the vertical support frame, the strap for securing the vertical support frame around the tree;

a seat member hingedly attached to the upper end of the vertical support frame, the seat member being pivotable between a position in which the seat member is substantially normal to the vertical support frame and a position in which the seat member is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame;

a strut extending between the vertical support frame and the seat member, the strut biasing the seat member into the position in which the seat member is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame; and

a platform extending from the lower end of the vertical support frame.

10. The tree stand according to claim 9, wherein the strut is a standard gas shock absorber.

11. The tree stand according to claim 9, wherein the vertical support frame comprises at least one vertical support bar.

12. The tree stand according to claim 11, wherein the vertical support frame comprises a pair of vertical supports bars.

13. The tree stand according to claim 12, further comprising a pair of support wires, each support wire extending from a vertical support bar to the platform.

14. The tree stand according to claim 13, wherein the strut is a standard gas shock absorber.

15. A tree stand with a lifting seat adapted for mounting on a tree, the tree stand comprising:

a vertical support frame for engaging the tree, the vertical support frame having a pair of vertical support bars, the vertical support frame having an upper end and a lower end;

a strap extending between the vertical support bars, the strap for securing the vertical support frame around the tree;

a seat member hingedly attached to the upper end of the vertical support frame, the seat member being pivotable between a position in which the seat member is substantially normal to the vertical support frame and a position in which the seat member is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame;

a strut extending between the vertical support frame and the seat member, the strut biasing the seat member into the position in which the seat member is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame; and

a platform extending from the lower end of the vertical support frame.

16. The tree stand according to claim 15, further comprising a pair of support wires, each support wire extending from a vertical support bar to the platform.

17. The tree stand according to claim 16, wherein the strut is a standard gas shock absorber.