U.S. patent application number 10/102295 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-25 for hunting safety strap bracket.
Invention is credited to Auer, Wade G..
Application Number | 20030178255 10/102295 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28040178 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030178255 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Auer, Wade G. |
September 25, 2003 |
Hunting safety strap bracket
Abstract
A triangular tree bracket is vertically strapped to a tree trunk
above a tree stand for a hunter with an outer end of the bracket
positioned vertically above the hunter in the center of the tree
stand. A safety strap attached to the end of the tree bracket hangs
vertically downward connecting to the hunter. The hunter is able to
turn 360.degree. while attached to the safety strap hanging
vertically from the tree bracket. A plate having a horizontal
arched array of teeth extends laterally from a top and a bottom end
of the bracket and into contact with and piercing the tree trunk.
Straps are cinched around the tree trunk hooked to the ends of the
plate to secure the bracket to the tree with the teeth piercing the
tree trunk.
Inventors: |
Auer, Wade G.; (Fredonia,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DONALD W. MEEKER
PATENT AGENT
924 EAST OCEAN FRONT, # E
NEWPORT BEACH
CA
92661
US
|
Family ID: |
28040178 |
Appl. No.: |
10/102295 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
182/187 ;
182/142 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01M 31/00 20130101;
A01M 31/02 20130101; A62B 35/0068 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/187 ;
182/142 |
International
Class: |
E04G 003/10 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A tree bracket device for a safety strap used with a tree stand
used by a hunter, the tree bracket device mountable on a trunk of a
tree above the tree stand, the tree bracket device comprising: a
bracket comprising a rigid structural frame having a rigid vertical
member and a rigid horizontal member rigidly connected to the
vertical member, the vertical member having a laterally extending
means to engage the tree trunk rigidly connected to the vertical
member at a top end and a bottom end, and the horizontal member
extending away from the tree trunk, the bracket being capable of
mounting on the tree trunk above a tree stand for a hunter; a
safety strap attaching means attached to the horizontal member at a
position vertically above the hunter positioned centrally on the
tree stand; a safety strap capable of being attached to the safety
strap attaching means and capable of hanging vertically downward to
attach to the hunter, the safety strap and the bracket being
capable of supporting the hunter and capable of allowing the hunter
to turn 360.degree.; a securing means for binding the vertical
member to the tree trunk at a top end and a bottom end to force the
means to engage the tree trunk against the tree trunk for
engagement to maintain the vertical member in contact with the tree
trunk.
2. The tree bracket device of claim 1 wherein the means to engage
the tree trunk comprises a top plate rigidly attached at a top end
of the vertical member and a bottom plate rigidly attached at a
bottom end of the vertical member, the pair of rigid plates each
having a horizontal arched array of tree gripping elements facing
away from the vertical member toward the tree trunk.
3. The tree bracket device of claim 2 wherein the tree gripping
elements comprise a concave arched array of pointed teeth formed in
each of the pair of plates, the teeth capable of engaging and
piercing the tree trunk.
4. The tree bracket device of claim 1 wherein the bracket further
comprises a rigid angled member between a distal end of the
horizontal member relative to the tree and the bottom end of the
vertical member to create a bracket triangular in shape.
5. The tree bracket device of claim 4 further comprising a first
interior rigid element rigidly attached between the angled member
and the horizontal member and a second interior rigid element
rigidly attached between the angled member and the vertical member
to strengthen the bracket.
6. The tree bracket device of claim 5 wherein each of the interior
rigid element is capable of supporting a safety strap wrapped
around the angled member above each of the interior rigid
elements.
7. The tree bracket device of claim 1 wherein the securing means
for binding the vertical member to the tree trunk comprises a pair
of flexible strap members each having an attaching means at each
end, the strap members capable of encircling the trunk of the tree
with the attaching means attached to the laterally extending means
to engage the tree trunk, the securing means being capable of
securing the bracket to the tree trunk with the tree gripping
elements engaging the tree trunk.
8. The tree bracket device of claim 7 wherein the pair of flexible
tension members comprise straps having cinching means to tighten
the straps around the tree trunk and the vertical member.
9. The tree bracket of claim 7 wherein the laterally extending
means to engage the tree trunk comprises a plate having an arched
array of teeth to engage the tree trunk, the plate having a hole
adjacent to each end and the attaching means at each end of each
flexible strap member comprises a hook capable of engaging the hole
in the laterally extending means.
10. The tree bracket device of claim 1 wherein the safety strap
attaching means comprises an eye bolt secured to the distal end of
the horizontal member and the safety strap is provided with a
locking hook for engaging the eye bolt.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to tree stands for hunting and
in particular to a bracket attachable to a tree for suspending a
safety strap vertically directly over the head of the hunter
standing on the tree stand.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Hunting from a tree stand poses a unique danger in that the
hunter is perched high off the ground on a very small platform
which the hunter has just attached to the tree, usually by a strap
encircling the tree. During the excitement of trying to get a clean
shot at the prey, the hunter may move quickly and pivot and lean
over on the small platform perch. Or while waiting for the prey to
show up, the hunter tired from rising too early may fall asleep. Or
the tiny platform might slip and fall out from under the
hunter.
[0005] Because of this danger of falling for any number of reasons,
a safety strap is usually attached between the hunter and the tree.
Usually the strap encircles the tree and then attaches to a belt or
harness on the hunter. This arrangement restricts the movement of
the hunter to some extent enabling the hunter to pivot only to the
sides and front. Furthermore, if the hunter slips off the tree
stand or the tree stand collapses, the hunter will swing downwards
in an arc and smash against the tree.
[0006] A number of prior art patents have addressed the problem of
creating an effective safety strap for tree stands.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,074, issued Aug. 18, 1987 to Green,
provides a tree harness which hangs vertically, but it is just
looped over a tree branch, which is much more likely to snap than
the tree trunk. The Green invention also has a seat sling at the
end of the strap attached to the branch. There is no stand provided
to stand or sit on. It would be very difficult for a hunter to
shoot with such a device since the hunter would have to hold on to
the strap to maintain balance and not flip upside down.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,891, issued Jan. 25, 2000 to Sava, shows
a tree stand harness system which provides pegs on a tree stand
encircling the tree and the looped belt or strap goes around the
pegs rather than contacting the tree. If the hunter should fall,
which is likely with only a very thin ring to stand on, the belt is
supposed to cinch itself tightly around the trunk of the tree. The
hunter is likely to fall part way or all the way to the ground
before the belt cinches itself around the tree.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,773, issued May 26, 1987 to Davis, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,236,602, issued Dec. 2, 1980 to Leggett, U.S. Pat. No.
5,738,046, issued Apr. 14, 1998 to Williams, U.S. Pat. No.
6,305,024, issued Oct. 23, 2001 to Schweer, and U.S. Pat. No.
6,101,631, issued Aug. 15, 2000 to Ferguson, all claim safety
straps for hunting which encircle the tree and do not hang
vertically with the inherent problems of restricted movement on the
stand and smashing into the tree trunk upon falling off the
stand.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,019, issued May 10, 1994 to Paul,
describes a tree stand having a safety strap attached to a bracket
extending from the tree, but it is actually a safety belt
arrangement encircling the waist of the hunter but not cinched
tight and very much restricting movement to a seated position.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,891, issued Jan. 24, 1978 to McClung,
discloses a tree bracket extending from the tree, but it is a top
part of a structural support for an enclosed hunting observation
stand and does not support a vertically hanging safety strap.
[0012] None of the prior art patents provide 360.degree. movement
for the hunter and none of them prevent the hunter from slamming
into the tree should the hunter fall from the tree stand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a strong
triangulated metal bracket having a top and bottom plate each with
a set or arched teeth conforming to the circumference of the trunk
at the top and bottom of the bracket to bite into the tree and two
spaced apart belts cinched securely around the tree trunk with a
hook at each end of each strap hooked into a hole adjacent to the
end of the side of the plate, for a secure means to hang a safety
strap for a hunter. Upon slipping off the stand the weight of the
hunter would be distributed between the two straps on the bracket
and the bottom teeth of the stand would be driven in further to
prevent slipping of the bracket down the tree.
[0014] An additional object of the present invention is to provide
the arched teeth of the bracket formed in a thick metal plate
welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the triangulated frame of
the bracket and extending out on both sides of the bracket
confirming to the contour of the tree to prevent side to side
movement of the bracket.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
bracket which extends outwardly from the tree a sufficient distance
to hang a safety strap on a pivot connection vertically above the
hunter to enable 360.degree. movement for the hunter and causing
the hunter to hang straight down upon slipping off the stand rather
than slamming into the trunk of the tree.
[0016] One more object of the present invention is to fabricate a
lightweight bracket for a tree stand safety strap fabricated of a
minimal triangulated structure of tubular aluminum, iron or steel
members so that the bracket is easily transported to the hunting
site and easily carried up the tree for installing the bracket.
[0017] In brief, a triangulated bracket of rigid, but lightweight
square tubular elements has a plate welded to a top and bottom with
an arched array of teeth facing backward to bite into a tree trunk.
The bracket is firmly secured to the tree trunk by two heavy duty
straps cinched around the tree trunk and hooked into the plates
with the teeth engaging the trunk.
[0018] An eye bolt is pivotally secured to the outer end of the
bracket for receiving the safety strap clipped onto the eye bolt.
The other end of the safety strap is attached to the belt or
harness of the hunter.
[0019] An advantage of the present invention is that it provides
360.degree. movement for the hunter
[0020] Another advantage of the present invention is that it holds
the hunter upright away from the trunk of the tree upon falling
rather than slamming the hunter into the tree trunk.
[0021] An additional advantage of the present invention is that it
provides a secure safety strap bracket which is lightweight and
easy to carry and install.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] These and other details of my invention will be described in
connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only
by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and
in which drawings:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view looking up at the invention
mounted on the trunk of a tree;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view looking up at a hunter shooting
from a hunting stand, with the hunter strapped to the vertical
safety strap of the safety strap bracket showing two extremes of
pivotal positioning out of the fill range of 360.degree. of
movement.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0025] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention comprises a tree bracket
device for a safety strap 40 used with a tree stand 70 attached to
a tree trunk 50 by a strap 71 or other means and used by a hunter
60, the tree bracket device being mountable on a trunk of a tree
above the tree stand. The tree bracket device comprises a bracket
20 comprising a rigid structural frame having a rigid vertical
member 26 and a rigid horizontal member 23 rigidly connected to the
vertical member 26.
[0026] The vertical member 26 has a means to engage the tree trunk
50 rigidly attached by welding or bolts or other means at a top end
and a bottom end of the vertical member 26, preferably forked
plates 21 having an arched array of teeth 22 facing away from the
vertical member 26 toward the tree trunk 50 for piercing the tree
trunk 50 to secure the bracket 20 from slipping. Each of the forked
plates 21 has a hook hole 29 in each side adjacent to the end.
[0027] Each plate 21 is attachable to a tree trunk 50 by a
removable attaching means, such as a pair of straps 30 or other
flexible tension members capable of encircling the trunk of the
tree and engaging the hook holes 29 by means of a hook 33 attached
to each end of the strap 30. The strap 30 also has a tightening
means 31, such as a cinch or ratchet mechanism, for tightening the
strap 30 around the tree trunk 50 with the teeth 22 biting into the
tree trunk to help prevent slipping for a secure safe attachment to
the tree trunk.
[0028] The teeth 22 are positioned in an arched concave array
conforming to the roughly circular cross-sectional shape of the
tree trunk 50 to pierce the tree trunk 50 to maintain the vertical
member 26 in penetrating contact with the tree trunk 50 to prevent
any slipping of the bracket 20.
[0029] As seen in FIG. 2, the bracket 20 can be mounted on the tree
trunk 50 above a tree stand 70 where a hunter 60 stands. The
horizontal member 23 extends away from the tree trunk 50 so the
outer end of the horizontal member 23 is positioned vertically
above the hunter 60 standing on the tree stand 70.
[0030] A safety strap attaching means, such as an eye bolt 25 is
attached to the outer end of the horizontal member 23 at a position
vertically above the hunter 60 when the hunter is positioned
centrally on the tree stand 70.
[0031] A safety strap 40 is attached to the eye bolt 25 by a
locking hook 41 and hangs vertically downward to attach to the
hunter 60. The safety strap 40 and the bracket 20 can support the
hunter should the hunter fall with the hunter hanging vertically
under the eye bolt and not slamming into the tree trunk, just as
the bottom lock hook 41 on the safety strap 40 hangs straight down
from the eye bolt 25 well away from the tree trunk 50, as seen in
FIG. 1. The vertical safety strap 40 enables the hunter to turn
360.degree. as is shown in FIG. 2 with the hunter 60 shown in two
extremes of pivotal positioning 60A and 60B out of the full range
of 360.degree. of movement.
[0032] The bracket further comprises a rigid angled member 24
between a distal end of the horizontal member 23 relative to the
tree and the bottom end of the vertical member 26 to create a tree
bracket 20 triangular in shape for greater strength and
rigidity.
[0033] For additional strength and rigidity the tree bracket 20 may
further comprise a first interior rigid element 27 rigidly attached
between the angled member 24 and the horizontal member 23 and a
second interior rigid element 28 rigidly attached between the
angled member 24 and the vertical member 2.
[0034] In FIG. 1 each of the interior rigid elements 27 and 28 is
capable of supporting a safety strap 40A (shown dashed) wrapped
around the angled member above each of the interior rigid elements
27 and 28. More eye bolts may be installed at these locations if
desired.
[0035] The rigid members 23, 24, and 26 and rigid interior elements
27 and 28 are preferably fabricated of square metal tubing
(aluminum or steel) to provide a lightweight but strong structure.
The securing straps 30 and safety strap 40 are preferably
fabricated of heavy duty nylon or other type packing straps.
[0036] In use, the hunter 60 climbs up the tree trunk 50 and
installs the tree stand 70 and safety strap bracket 20 and hooks
the safety strap to a belt or harness 61 worn by the hunter 60. The
hunter can then turn 360.degree. and safely watch for and shoot the
game. The lightweight tree bracket 20 is easy to carry, easy to
install and easy to uninstall.
[0037] It is understood that the preceding description is given
merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the
invention and that various modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.
* * * * *