Hunter's Tree Stand

The tree platform disclosed herein can be supported above the ground between two adjacent tree trunks or between two branches of a forked tree. The platform can be rigidly anchored in place by the turnbuckle and downwardly extending legs so that the platform will be rigid, strong and safe to stand or sit on. A hunter can climb the rope ladder which is attached to the platform and then pull the ladder up after him so that it will not frighten game and he can use the rope ladder as a harness for dragging deer or other large game once they are bagged.

Previous hunters' stands have been suitable for support to the side of a tree for hunters to sit upon and have not been strong and safe for use. Applicant has provided an improved tree stand that is simple, rigid in construction and strong for use and requires no nails or other anchoring devices that would permanently injure a tree trunk and be illegal in certain areas.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved tree stand. Another object of the invention is to provide a tree stand that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and simple and efficient to use. Another object of the invention is to provide a tree stand that requires no permanent anchoring device to be supported in a tree.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a partial view of the tree platform supported between two branches of a tree according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the platform.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the platform.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the turnbuckle partly in cross section.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the turnbuckle and ladder according to the invention.

Now with more particular reference to the drawing, the tree support is shown generally at 10 made up of a platform 11 having two notches 12 and 13 formed in the ends of the platform. The platform has a flat top surface 14 on which a hunter can stand with his feet or could sit.

Two spaced legs 15 and 16 are hinged to the platform 11 and they connect to the bottom of the platform by means of hinges 17 and 18 and the turnbuckle 19 has the elliptical shaped ends 34 and 35 each of which have peripheral grooves 28 and 29 which receive the loops 26 and 27 of the rope ladder.

The male threaded members 20 and 21 are integrally formed on the elliptical members 34 and 35 and male threaded members are threadably received inside the hollow threaded sleeve 36 of the turnbuckle 19.

The loops 26 and 27 of the ropes 24 and 25 are received in the grooves 28 and 29 and the step 30, 31 and 32 have holes in their ends that receive the ropes 24 and 25 and knots 40 and 41 are tied below the steps so that the steps will not slide downwardly. The ladder is shown with steps 19, 30 and 31 but could have more or less steps depending on the desire of the user. The rope ends 33 can be attached to a bow or firearm to pull it up after the hunter has climbed to his position on the platform. In use the hunter inserts the pointed ends 34 and 35 in the openings in the legs 15 and 16 after supporting the plank 11 between two proper tree branches. The word "branch" is used instead of trunk to designate a branch of a tree or trunk since the seat could be used between two adjacent tree trunks or between two branches of a single tree. The hunter can pull the rope ladder up after him and can use it as a sling to drag game he may have bagged.

The safety rope 35 may be wrapped at 36 around tree trunk 37 and at 38 around tree trunk 39. The two ends of the rope may be knotted or otherwise attached together at 42 and the plastic sleeve 43 may be fastened around the rope adjacent one of the tree trunks to hold the ends of the rope together. The hunter may then stand between the two parts 44 and 45 of the rope elevating the rope 35 to a position waist-high above the platform thereby providing a safety rope on each side of his body to prevent him from falling off of the platform. He may lean against the rope without fear of falling from the stand.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred, practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.