Tree Step System

Abstract

A tree step system 100 having a tubing 110; and a step lag screw 130, whereby the tubing 110 may be used as a hammer to drive the step lag screw 130 into a tree 20 and the tubing 110 may further be used for leverage to turn the step lag screw 130 into the tree. The tree step system 100 may include a rod step 150, and an adjustable fastener 170 for adjusting the depth of the adjustable fastener 170 and preventing the tree step system 100 from rotating. The rod step centerline may be offset ninety degrees from the centerline of the step lag screw 130, whereby the offset provides for ease of climbing and entering a tree stand with the proper foot. The tubing 110 may comprise an upper tubing 114 and a lower tubing 124 for ease of installation.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device that may be used by hunters and others interested in using climbing steps to climb a tree.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Many outdoor recreational activities require an individual to perch himself well above the ground. In deer hunting, for example, trees frequently provide the best means available to a hunter for avoiding early detection by his prey. Many hunters and other outdoor sports persons use a device commonly known as a tree step. The typical tree step is a simple single step placed in the tree or other object by screwing in one step at a time. There is a need for tree steps that may be mounted on a tree or object two at a time without the requirement for hammers, wrenches or other tools for affixing the tree steps.

SUMMARY

A tree step system having a tubing; and a step lag screw, whereby the tubing may be used as a hammer to drive the step lag screw into a tree and the tubing may further be used for leverage to turn the step lag screw into the tree. The tree step system may include a rod step, and an adjustable fastener for adjusting the depth of the adjustable fastener and preventing the tree step system from rotating. The rod step centerline may be offset ninety degrees from the centerline of the step lag screw, whereby the offset provides for ease of climbing and entering a tree stand with the proper foot. The tubing may comprise an upper tubing and a lower tubing for ease of installation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the tree step system installed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the tree step system assembled according to the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a side view of one embodiment of a step lag screw according to the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of one embodiment of the step lag screw assembly with tubing according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tree step system with a single member tubing according to the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an embodiment showing the assembly wherein one member is inserted into the other for a tree step system according to the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of yet another embodiment the tree step system assembled with the rod step offset 180 degrees from the embodiment in FIG. 5A according to the present invention;

FIG. 5C is a perspective view of yet another embodiment the tree step system assembled with the rod step offset 90 degrees from the embodiment in FIG. 5A according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of still another embodiment depicting an inner tubing for a tree step system according to the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a tree step system showing the inner tubing secured with the upper tubing according to the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the tree step system of FIG. 7A depicting the inner tubing secured with the upper tubing illustrating the use of fasteners with one embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a tree step system showing the inner tubing secured with the lower tubing according to the present invention;

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the tree step system of FIG. 8A depicting the inner tubing secured with the lower tubing illustrating the use of fasteners with one embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tree step system according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the rod step assembly with tubing according to the present invention;

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a tree step system showing an adjustable fastener with a top member and a bottom member according to the present invention;

FIG. 11B is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a tree step system showing another adjustable fastener with a top member and a bottom member according to the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tree step system illustrating one molded fabrication design according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of tree steps and more specifically this invention provides a built in apparatus for delivering the hammer blow to start the threaded screw as well as built in leverage to rotate the threaded step. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. For the purposes of this invention, the term tubing may also include and refer to solid material. The tubing term is useful here in the traditional sense of hollow materials but also expanded to include other solid materials especially with composite or plastic materials.

Overview:

As depicted in FIG. 1, a tree step system 100 and method for installation of the tree step system having a tubing 110; and a step lag screw 130 secured to the tubing 110, whereby the tubing 110 may be used as a hammer to drive the step lag screw 130 into a tree 20 and the tubing 110 may further be used for leverage to turn the step lag screw 130 into the tree 20. The tree step system 100 may include a rod step 150, and an adjustable fastener 170 for adjusting the depth of the adjustable fastener 170 and preventing the tree step system 100 from rotating. The rod step 150 centerline may be offset ninety degrees from the centerline of the step lag screw 130, whereby the offset may provide for ease of climbing and entering a tree stand with the proper foot. The tubing 110 may comprise an upper tubing 114 and a lower tubing 124 for ease of installation.

Design Specifications:

As depicted in different embodiments in FIGS. 1 through 12, a tree step system 100 includes a step lag screw 130 and a tubing 110. The step lag screw 130 includes a threaded portion 132 and a step portion 134. The step portion 134 and the threaded portion 132 may form an approximate straight alignment without any curves or bends as illustrated in FIG. 3A. One embodiment of the tree step system 100 may include a step lag screw 130 wherein the length of the step lag screw 130 is 7.5 inches, the diameter of the step portion 134 is 0.4375 inches, the threaded portion 132 is approximately 2.5 inches and a step lag screw pin aperture 136 is 2.8 from the threaded portion end of the step lag screw 130 with a step lag screw pin aperture 136 of 0.156 inches. One embodiment may include a metal step lag screw; other embodiments may include a composite or plastic step lag screw while even other embodiments may include the metal step lag screw embedded in the plastic or composite. The tubing 110 may be a single member tubing as illustrated in FIG. 4 or multi-member tubing having an upper tubing 114 and a lower tubing 124 as illustrated in FIG. 5, in addition the tubing 110 may further include an inner tubing 128 as illustrated in FIG. 6. The tubing 110 may be geometric shaped tubing 110 including but not limited to square, round, or rectangular tubing and may have fabricated material including but not limited to ferrous and non-ferrous metals, steel, aluminum, steel, plastics, and composites. As shown in FIG. 4, one embodiment may include a single member tubing 110. Where multiple tubing members are used, the tree system 100 may be described in two sections: a top member 200 and a bottom member 300. As illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, a multiple member embodiment may include an upper tubing 114 and a lower tubing 124 where one tubing is small enough to be inserted into the other tubing but large enough to produce a snug fit for security of the two members. As shown in FIG. 6, another embodiment may include an upper tubing 114, a lower tubing 124, and an inner tubing 128 where the inner tubing 128 may be inserted into the upper tubing 114 and the lower tubing 124 to aid in attaching the top member 200 and the bottom member 300. In this embodiment the upper and lower tubing 114, 124 may be the same size with the inner tubing 128 smaller than the upper or lower tubing 114, 124 so that the inner tubing 128 may be inserted in the upper and lower tubing 114, 124. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the inner tubing 128 may be secured to the upper tubing 114 and inserted into the lower tubing 124 during assembly in one embodiment; or as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B the inner tubing 128 may be secured to the lower tubing 124 and inserted into the upper tubing 114 during assembly in another embodiment. A positive stop results from the lower tubing 124 contacting the upper tubing 114 thus aligning the top member adjustable fastener aperture 260 and bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360. The combination of the step lag screw 130 and the tubing 110 secured together as shown in FIG. 9 allow the tree step system 100 to be used as a hammer to drive the step lag screw 130 into a tree and the tubing 110 further used for leverage to turn the step lag screw 130 into the tree to further secure the tree step system 100 in the tree. The step lag screw 130 and the tubing 110 may be secured together by being formed as one molding or formed separately and joined together. As depicted in FIG. 3B, one embodiment may comprise a tubing 110 with having a step lag screw aperture 212 or hole for the step lag screw 130 to be inserted into and the tubing 110 and the step lag screw 130 having a step lag screw pin aperture 136 wherein a step lag screw pin 138 may be inserted into the step lag screw aperture 212 to secure the step lag screw 130 with the tubing 110. Other embodiments for securing the step lag screw 130 with the tubing 110 may include but not be limited to pins, conventional nuts and bolts, welding, glue, rivets, or clips. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 11A, and 11B, the tree step system 100 may include an adjustable fastener 170. The adjustable fastener 170 may accommodate different tree diameters and prohibit the tree step system 100 from rotating to a perpendicular position which might limit foot accessibility to the lower step. The adjustable fastener 170 provides adjustability for the depth of the adjustable fastener 170, and whereby the adjustable fastener 170 may contact a tree curvature preventing the tree step system 100 from rotating. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 12, with the adjustable fastener 170, the tubing 110 further comprises an adjustable fastener aperture 176 wherein the adjustable fastener aperture centerline may be parallel with the centerline of the step lag screw 130. The adjustable fastener aperture 176 may pass through the tubing 110 where the embodiment is a single tubing 100, or through the upper and lower tubing 114, 124 where the embodiment is a multi-member embodiment, or through either the upper or lower tubing 114, 124 and the inner tubing 128 where the multi-member embodiment includes an inner tubing 128. With the multi-member embodiments, the adjustable fastener 170 may attach the top member 200 with bottom member 300. The adjustable fastener 170 may be inserted in the top member adjustable fastener aperture 260 and the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360. The adjustable fastener 170 may include but is not limited to thumb screw, jamb nut, wing nut combinations, clevis pin, hairpin combinations, conventional nut, bolt combinations, or a pin with a clip combination. As shown in FIGS. 7B and 8B, the adjustable fastener 170 may have at least one adjustable clip aperture 174 in the adjustable fastener 170 and an adjustable clip 172 such that the disposition of the adjustable clip 172 in the desired adjustable clip aperture 174 may adjust the depth of the adjustable fastener 170, and such that the adjustable fastener 170 may secure the top member 200 and bottom member 300 together. As shown in FIG. 10, the tree step system 100 may include a rod step 150 secured with the tubing 110 distal from the step lag screw. For a multi-member embodiment, the rod step 150 may be secured with the lower tubing 124 distal from the end of the lower tubing 124 that attaches with the upper tubing. The rod step 150 and the tubing 110 may be secured together by being formed as one molding or formed separately and joined together. One embodiment may include a metal rod step, other embodiments may include a composite or plastic rod step while even other embodiments may include the metal rod step embedded in the plastic or composite. One embodiment may comprise a tubing 110 with having a rod step aperture 312 or hole for the rod step 150 to be inserted into and the tubing 110 and the rod step 150 having a rod step pin aperture 332 wherein a rod step pin 340 may be inserted into the rod step aperture 312 to secure the rod step 150 with the tubing 110. Other embodiments for securing the rod step 150 with the tubing 110 may include but not be limited to pins, conventional nuts and bolts, welding, glue, rivets, or clips. The tree step system may be finished with material coating including but not limited to painting, plating, powder coating, or camouflage taping.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, one embodiment may include a top member 200 that includes an upper tubing 114, a top member adjustable fastener aperture 260, a step lag screw 130 wherein the step lag screw 130 is secured to the upper tubing 114, a bottom member 300 that includes a lower tubing 124, a bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360, a rod step 150 wherein the rod step 150 is secured to the lower tubing 124, and an adjustable fastener 170 wherein the top member 200 and the bottom member 300 may be attached by inserting one member into the other member and the top member 200 and the bottom member 300 may be attached by inserting the adjustable fastener 170 in the top member adjustable fastener aperture 260 and the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360. Normally, the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360 centerline is ninety degrees offset from the rod step 150 as depicted in FIGS. 5B, 5A, and 8A. However, the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture may be parallel with the rod step 150 as depicted in FIG. 5C as a bottom member ninety degree adjustable fastener aperture 362. Another embodiment may include both the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360 which is offset from the rod step 150 ninety degrees and the bottom member ninety degree adjustable fastener aperture 362 bottom member ninety degree adjustable fastener aperture 362 which is parallel with the rod step 150. With the dual configuration bottom member adjustable fastener apertures 360, 362 the rod step may be positioned in ninety degree increments from ninety degrees offset from the step lag screw 130 in one direction, to parallel with the step lag screw 130, to ninety degrees offset from the step lag screw 130 in the other direction. As previously described the adjustable fastener 170 with the adjustable clip apertures 174 and the adjustable clip 172 may be used to adjust the depth of the adjustable fastener 170 for the diameter of the tree and the resulting tree curvature. In another embodiment as depicted in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the tree step system 100 may further comprise an inner tubing 128 wherein the inner tubing 128 may be inserted into the upper tubing 114 and the lower tubing 124 to aid in attaching the top member 200 and the bottom member 300; or as depicted in FIGS. 8A and 8B, in one embodiment the tree step system top member 200 may further comprise an inner tubing 128 wherein the inner tubing 128 may be inserted into the upper tubing 114 and the lower tubing 124 to aid in attaching the top member 200 and the bottom member 300, wherein the inner tubing 128 is secured with the upper tubing 114 and the top member inner tubing 128 may be inserted into the lower tubing; or as depicted in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C in yet another embodiment, the tree step system 100 wherein the bottom member 300 further comprises a bottom member ninety degree adjustable fastener aperture 362 rotated ninety degrees from the bottom member adjustable fastener 170 on the plane of the lower tubing 124 such that the bottom member 300 may be inserted into the upper member at ninety degree increments such that the rod step 150 may be positioned in alignment with the step lag screw 130; or in still another embodiment, the tree step system 100 wherein the top member 200 and the bottom member 300 may be constructed of steel; or in another embodiment wherein the top member 200 and the bottom member 300 may be attached together with a positive stop aligning the top member adjustable fastener aperture 260 and the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360. In another embodiment as depicted in FIG. 12, the tree step system 100 wherein the upper tubing 114 and the step lag screw 130 may comprise a plastic composite molded together and wherein the lower tubing 124 and the rod step 150 may comprise a plastic composite molded together and wherein the top member 200 further comprises a radius section 235 joining the step portion 134 of the step lag screw 130 and the upper tubing 114 for support and wherein the bottom member 300 further comprises a radius section 355 joining the rod step 150 and the lower tubing 124 for support and wherein the bottom member 300 further comprises an outer sleeve 325 on the distal end of the lower tubing 124 from the rod step 150 for receiving the top member 200 whereby the top member 200 and the bottom member 300 may be attached.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, another embodiment may include a top member 200 that includes an upper tubing 114, a top member adjustable fastener aperture 260, a step lag screw 130 wherein the step lag screw 130 is secured to the upper tubing 114, a bottom member 300 that includes a lower tubing 124, a bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360, a rod step 150 wherein the rod step 150 is secured to the lower tubing 124, and an adjustable fastener 170 wherein the top member 200 and the bottom member 300 may be attached by inserting one member into the other member and the top member 200 and the bottom member 300 may be attached by inserting the adjustable fastener 170 in the top member adjustable fastener aperture 260 and the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360. The bottom member 300 may further include an inner tubing 128 wherein the inner tubing 128 may be inserted in the lower tubing 124, wherein the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360 is an inner tubing adjustable fastener aperture 324 and the inner tubing 128 is secured with the lower tubing 124 and the bottom member 300 such that the inner tubing 128 may be inserted into the upper tubing 114 and attached with the adjustable fastener 170 wherein the top member adjustable fastener aperture 260 is the upper tubing 114 adjustable fastener aperture 176 and the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 360 is the inner tubing adjustable fastener aperture 324, wherein the adjustable fastener centerline is parallel with the step lag screw centerline and the rod step centerline is ninety degrees from the step lag screw centerline. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B, 8A, 8B, 10, 11A, and 11B, in another embodiment, the tree step system 100: the upper tubing 114 may further have a step lag screw aperture 212, and an upper tubing step lag screw pin aperture 214; the step lag screw 130 may further have a step lag screw pin aperture 136, wherein the step lag screw 130, the threaded portion 132, and the step portion 134 is straight without curves and bends; the top member 200 may further include a step lag screw pin 138, wherein the step lag screw 130 is inserted in the step lag screw aperture 212 in the upper tubing 114 and the step lag screw pin 138 may be inserted through the upper tubing step lag screw pin aperture 214 and the step lag screw pin aperture 136; the lower tubing 124 may further have a lower tubing rod step aperture 312, a lower tubing rod step pin aperture 314, and a lower inner tubing pin aperture 318; the bottom member 300 may further include a rod step pin 340, the rod step 150 having a rod step pin aperture 332, wherein the rod step 150 is inserted in the lower tubing rod step aperture 312 and the rod step pin 340 may be inserted through the lower tubing rod step pin aperture 314 and the rod step pin aperture 332 wherein the rod step 150 is secured to the lower tubing 124, and wherein the inner tubing 128 having an inner lower tubing pin aperture 322 and wherein the bottom member 300 further including a lower inner tubing pin 350 that may be inserted in the inner lower tubing pin aperture 322 and the lower inner tubing pin aperture 318, whereby the lower tubing 124 is secured to the inner tubing 128. In still another embodiment, the tree step system bottom member 300 may be rotated 180 degrees whereby the rod step 150 may be disposed on the opposite side of the tree step system 100 to enable the user to climb around limbs and enter a tree stand with the proper foot. The inner tubing 128 may be secured with the upper or lower tubing 114, 124 by securing methods including but not limited to welding, pining, gluing, bolting, or screwing.

Manner of use:

A method of assembling a tree step system 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 8B comprising the steps of: grasping an end of an upper tubing 114 opposite a threaded portion 132 of a top member 200 of a tree system; swinging the top member 200 of the tree step system 100 toward a tree 20 similar to a hammer whereby the threaded portion 132 of the tree assembly starts to penetrate the tree 20; rotating the top member 200 of the tree step system 100 by gripping the upper tubing 114 opposite the threaded portion 132 such that the upper tubing 114 provides leverage for turning the threaded portion 132 and further penetrating the tree 20; stopping the rotation of the top member 200 wherein the upper tubing 114 opposite the threaded portion 132 is offset from the centerline of the tree such that a bottom member 300 of the tree step system 100 may be inserted in the top member 200 of the tree step system 100 and an adjustable fastener 170 may be inserted in the top and bottom members 200, 300 to keep the tree step system 100 from rotating when weight is applied to a bottom member rod step 150; inserting the bottom member 300 in the top member 200 with the rod step centerline 90 degrees offset from the threaded portion 132; inserting the adjustable fastener 170 in a top and bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 260, 360; and inserting a adjustable fastener clip 172 in an adjustable fastener clip aperture 174 such that the adjustable fastener 170 is the depth needed for the tree diameter to prevent rotation of the tree step system 100 when weight is applied to the bottom member rod step 150.

Another embodiment of the method of assembling a tree step system 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 8B comprising the steps of: grasping an end of an upper tubing 114 opposite a threaded portion 132 of a top member 200 of a tree system; swinging the top member 200 of the tree step system 100 toward a tree 20 similar to a hammer whereby the threaded portion 132 of the tree assembly starts to penetrate the tree 20; rotating the top member 200 of the tree step system 100 by gripping the upper tubing 114 opposite the threaded portion 132 such that the upper tubing 114 provides leverage for turning the threaded portion and further penetrating the tree 20; stopping the rotation of the top member 200 wherein the upper tubing 114 opposite the threaded portion 132 is offset from the centerline of the tree such that a bottom member 300 of the tree step system 100 may be inserted in the top member 200 of the tree step system 100 and an adjustable fastener 170 may be inserted in the top and bottom members 200, 300 to keep the tree step system 100 from rotating when weight is applied to a bottom member rod step 150; rotating the bottom member step 180 degrees when desired such that the step is on the opposite side for avoiding a tree branch and for entering a tree stand with the proper foot; inserting the bottom member 300 in the top member 200 with the rod step centerline 90 degrees offset from the threaded portion; inserting the adjustable fastener 170 in a top and bottom member adjustable fastener aperture 260, 360; and inserting a adjustable fastener clip 172 in an adjustable fastener clip aperture 174 such that the adjustable fastener 170 is the depth needed for the tree diameter to prevent rotation of the tree step system 100 when weight is applied to the bottom member rod step 150.

Another feature of the tree step system 100 is an inherent theft deterrent capability when the bottom member 300 is removed from the tree step system 100 after installation on the tree as shown in FIG. 1. Some or all of the bottom members 300 may be removed to deter thieves from climbing the steps and stealing the tree step system 100. With the removal of these steps it would be difficult for the thief to negotiate the gap between the remaining steps.

Claims

1. A tree step system comprising:

a tubing; and

a step lag screw, having a threaded portion, a step portion wherein the step lag screw having an approximate straight alignment;

whereby the step lag screw is secured to the tubing and the tubing may be used as a hammer to drive the step lag screw into a tree and the tubing may further be used for leverage to turn the step lag screw into the tree.

2. The tree step system according to claim 1 wherein the tubing further comprises an adjustable fastener aperture wherein the adjustable fastener aperture centerline is parallel with the centerline of the step lag screw, and the tree step system further comprising:

a rod step, wherein the rod step is secured to the tubing; and

an adjustable fastener wherein the adjustable fastener may adjust the depth of the adjustable fastener, and whereby the adjustable fastener may contact a tree curvature preventing the tree step system from rotating.

3. The tree step system according to claim 2 wherein the rod step centerline is ninety degrees offset from the centerline of the step lag screw, whereby the offset provides for ease of climbing and entering a tree stand with the proper foot.

4. A tree step system comprising:

a top member including: an upper tubing; a top member adjustable fastener aperture; a step lag screw, having a threaded portion, a step portion; and whereby the step lag screw is secured to the upper tubing and the upper tubing may be used as a hammer to drive the step lag screw into a tree and the upper tubing may further be used for leverage to turn the step lag screw into the tree;

a bottom member including: a lower tubing; a bottom member adjustable fastener aperture; a rod step, wherein the rod step is secured to the lower tubing; and

an adjustable fastener wherein the top member and the bottom member may be attached by inserting one member into the other member, and wherein when the top member is attached with bottom member the adjustable fastener may be inserted in the top member adjustable fastener aperture and the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture wherein the adjustable fastener having at least one adjustable clip aperture in the adjustable fastener and an adjustable clip whereby the disposition of the adjustable clip in the desired adjustable clip aperture may adjust the depth of the adjustable fastener, and whereby the adjustable fastener may secure the top member and bottom member together and contact a tree curvature preventing the tree step system from rotating.

5. The tree step system according to claim 4 further comprising an inner tubing wherein the inner tubing may be inserted into the upper tubing and the lower tubing to aid in attaching the top member and the bottom member.

6. The tree step system according to claim 4 wherein the top member further comprises an inner tubing wherein the inner tubing may be inserted into the upper tubing and the lower tubing to aid in attaching the top member and the bottom member, wherein the inner tubing is secured with the upper tubing and the top member inner tubing may be inserted into the lower tubing.

7. The tree step system according to claim 4 wherein the bottom member further comprises a bottom member ninety degree adjustable fastener aperture rotated ninety degrees from the bottom member adjustable fastener on the plane of the lower tubing such that the bottom member may be inserted into the upper member at ninety degree increments such that the rod step may be positioned in alignment with the step lag screw.

8. The tree step system according to claim 4 wherein the top member and the bottom member are constructed of steel.

9. The tree step system according to claim 4 wherein the top member and the bottom member may be attached together with a positive stop aligning the top member adjustable fastener aperture and the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture.

10. The tree step system according to claim 4 wherein the bottom member further includes an inner tubing wherein the inner tubing may be inserted in the lower tubing, wherein the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture is an inner tubing adjustable fastener aperture and the inner tubing is secured with the lower tubing and the bottom member such that the inner tubing may be inserted into the upper tubing and attached with the adjustable fastener wherein the top member adjustable fastener aperture is the upper tubing adjustable fastener aperture and the bottom member adjustable fastener aperture is the inner tubing adjustable fastener aperture, wherein the adjustable fastener centerline is parallel with the step lag screw centerline and the rod step centerline is ninety degrees from the step lag screw centerline.

11. The tree step system according to claim 10, wherein:

the upper tubing further having a step lag screw aperture, and an upper tubing step lag screw pin aperture,

the step lag screw further having a step lag screw pin aperture, wherein the step lag screw, the threaded portion, and the step portion is straight without curves and bends,

the top member further including a step lag screw pin, wherein the step lag screw is inserted in the step lag screw aperture in the upper tubing and the step lag screw pin may be inserted through the upper tubing step lag screw pin aperture and the step lag screw pin aperture,

the lower tubing having a lower tubing rod step aperture, a lower tubing rod step pin aperture, and a lower inner tubing pin aperture,

the bottom member further including a rod step pin,

the rod step having a rod step pin aperture, wherein the rod step is inserted in the lower tubing rod step aperture and the rod step pin may be inserted through the lower tubing rod step pin aperture and the rod step pin aperture wherein the rod step is secured to the lower tubing, and

wherein the inner tubing having an inner lower tubing pin aperture and wherein the bottom member further including a lower inner tubing pin that may be inserted in the inner lower tubing pin aperture and the lower inner tubing pin aperture, whereby the lower tubing is secured to the inner tubing.

12. The tree step system according to claim 10 wherein the bottom member may be rotated 180 degrees whereby the rod step may be disposed on the opposite side of the tree step system to enable the user to climb around limbs and enter a tree stand with the proper foot.

13. The tree step system according to claim 4 wherein the upper tubing is a molded plastic composite and wherein the lower tubing is a molded plastic composite and wherein the top member further comprises a radius section joining the step portion and the upper tubing for support and wherein the bottom member further comprises a radius section joining the rod step and the lower tubing for support and wherein the bottom member further comprises an outer sleeve on the distal end of the lower tubing from the rod step for receiving the top member whereby the top member and the bottom member may be attached.

14. The tree step system according to claim 13 wherein the step lag screw threaded portion is metal.

15. The tree step system according to claim 4 wherein the upper tubing and the step lag screw are a plastic composite molded together and wherein the lower tubing and the rod step are a plastic composite molded together and wherein the top member further comprises a radius section joining the step portion and the upper tubing for support and wherein the bottom member further comprises a radius section joining the rod step and the lower tubing for support and wherein the bottom member further comprises an outer sleeve on the distal end of the lower tubing from the rod step for receiving the top member whereby the top member and the bottom member may be attached.

16. A method of assembling a tree step system comprising the steps of:

grasping an end of an upper tubing opposite a threaded portion of a top member of a tree system;

swinging the top member of the tree step system toward a tree similar to a hammer whereby the threaded portion of the tree assembly starts to penetrate the tree;

rotating the top member of the tree step system by gripping the upper tubing opposite the threaded portion such that the upper tubing provides leverage for turning the threaded portion and further penetrating the tree;

stopping the rotation of the top member wherein the upper tubing opposite the threaded portion is offset from the centerline of the tree such that a bottom member of the tree step system may be inserted in the top member of the tree step system and an adjustable fastener may be inserted in the top and bottom members to keep the tree step system from rotating when weight is applied to a bottom member rod step;

inserting the bottom member in the top member with the rod step centerline 90 degrees offset from the threaded portion;

inserting the adjustable fastener in a top and bottom member adjustable fastener aperture; and

inserting a adjustable fastener clip in an adjustable fastener clip aperture such that the adjustable fastener is the depth needed for the tree diameter to prevent rotation of the tree step system when weight is applied to the bottom member rod step.

17. A method of claim 16, wherein the step of stopping the rotation of the top member when the upper tubing opposite the threaded portion is offset from the centerline of the tree such that a bottom member of the tree step system may be inserted in the top member of the tree step system further comprises the step of: rotating the bottom member step 180 degrees when desired such that the step is on the opposite side for avoiding the tree and for entering a tree stand with the proper foot.