Tree Seat

Abstract

A self-supporting, easily portable tree seat is disclosed as including a seat member, a seat frame underlying the seat member and means for attaching the frame to the seat member such that the frame is rotatable relative thereto. Also attached to the seat member is a seat brace rotatably attached to the seat frame such that the brace is capable of assuming a position bearing against an object, such as a tree, to which the seat is attachable. A support rod underlies the seat member and includes an upstanding arm generally parallel to the brace and a threaded arm projecting through the base for threadable insertion to the tree. The support rod acts as a cantilever support for the seat, thus avoiding the necessity for chains and the like common in the prior art for supporting tree seats.

Description

This invention relates primarily to tree seats and more particularly to such seats commonly used by hunters.

With the current emphasis upon leisure activities in today's economy, it becomes increasingly important to provide convenient appliances and implements with which leisure activities may be performed. One important leisure activity today is hunting which commonly requires a hunter to perch on a tree while awaiting his game. Furthermore, since frequently a hunter must wait long periods of time for his game, it is important that the hunter be comfortable. To sit on a tree limb can be extremely uncomfortable and occasionally a hunter only finds trees with limbs that are too high or unsuitable for his perch.

Presently available tree seats require cumbersome chains and/or metal straps for securing the tree seat to the tree. Also, available tree seats are inconvenient relative to changing height or relative to portability of the tree seat. Such available tree seats suffer from the further disadvantage of complexity in setting up the tree seat at the hunting site and from excessive cost of manufacture relative to the function performed.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a portable, convenient and economical tree seat for use by hunters while awaiting game or while resting.

A further and more particular object is to provide a portable tree seat which is lightweight and of a construction lending itself easily to quick set-up and convenient detachability from a tree or other supporting object.

These and other objects are provided in a self-supporting tree seat construction for attachment to a supporting object. The tree seat includes a seat member defining a first seat opening and a seat frame for underlying the seat member and being rotatably attached thereto. A seat brace, defining a brace opening, is rotatably attached to the seat frame such that the brace assumes a position perpendicular to and upstanding from the seat member. A cantilever support rod is shaped to include a seat arm underlying the seat member, an upright arm projecting through the seat opening and perpendicular to and upstanding from the seat arm and a threaded arm for projecting through the brace opening into the tree. The construction of the tree seat is such that the seat frame and the brace each assume a plurality of positions lending to convenience in on-site assembly of the tree seat and further provide a convenient, single plane storage position for all components of the tree seat.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated with reference to the following detailed description of a preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tree seat according to the present invention in mounted position on a tree;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the tree seat of FIG. 1 but with its components in storage or carrying positions;

FIG. 3 is a side, sectional view of the tree seat of FIG. 1 taken along the line 3--3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, showing particularly the use of a diagonal support arm and a downstanding brace for providing additional support to a tree seat, and further showing the use of a side hinge for the seat frame and seat member;

FIG. 5 is a partial, sectional view of a support rod in mounted position including a coupling means at the midpoint of the upright arm thereof according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of one form of a corner brace useful with a tree seat according to the present invention to provide in an alternative embodiment further support therefor;

FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiment of the corner brace of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a plan, sectional view of the coupling means of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 3 thereof, a tree seat, generally designated 10 according to the present invention is shown in mounted position on a tree 12. The tree seat 10 is shown as including a seat member 14, defining therethrough a first seat opening 16 and a second seat opening 18. A hinge 20 is attached by rivets 22 or the like to seat member 14 for rotatably supporting a seat frame 24, which generally underlies the periphery of seat member 14. A seat brace 26 extends in an upstanding relationship from seat frame 24 and is rotatably attached thereto by means of a seat brace wrap-around portion 26a which encircles the seat frame. Seat brace 26 defines a U-shaped projection 26b whose function will be described further in this specification. Seat brace 26 further defines seat brace opening 27.

The tree seat further includes a support rod, generally designated 28, which is constructed with a seat arm 28a for underlying and supporting seat member 14, a seat projection arm 28b for projecting through second seat opening 18, upright arm 28c projecting through first seat opening 16 and a threaded arm 28d for threadable attachment to tree 12 through seat brace opening 27. Coupling means,generally designated 30, connects two main portions of support rod 28 approximately at the midpoint of upright arm 28c for storage and carrying convenience as will be described hereinafter and for convenience of assembly as will also be described hereinafter. Coupling means 30 includes a lock washer 30a encircling a threaded male stud 30b projecting from one portion of support rod 28. Coupling means 30 further includes a threaded female bore defined by the other part of support rod 28 for receiving stud 30b. Thus, the coupling means may be loosened so that support rod 28 may be turned to the support rod position shown in FIG. 2 for storage and carrying and may be tightened when the tree seat is ready for threadable insertion to tree 12.

Support rod 28 is braced in a vertical position by means of U-shaped projection 26b, as shown particularly in FIG. 3. Thus, support rod 28 provides a cantilever support for tree seat member 14 without the necessity for tree-encircling chains or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 2, tree seat 10 is shown with its components in storage or carrying positions. Accordingly, seat brace 26 has been rotated to a position horizontal with and underlying seat member 14 such that it fits within slot 32 defined by the underside of seat member 14. Seat brace 26 is secured in this storage or carrying position by means of catch 34, rotatably affixed to the underside of seat member 14. Furthermore, support rod 28 is rotated at coupling means 30 and secured to the underside of seat member 14 by means of brackets 36 suitably attached to seat member 14. A single plane storage and carrying position is thus provided to ensure convenience for the user of the tree seat.

In the preferred embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1-3 it should be understood that a variety of materials are usable for the various components. For instance, seat brace 26 may be formed from sheet steel or aluminum and seat member 14 may be formed from suitable exterior grade plywood. Furthermore, 1/4 inch steel rod may be used for the seat frame and 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch steel rod is usable for the support rod.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4 as including seat member 14', seat frame 24', support rod 28' and seat brace 26', assembled as described for corresponding components in FIG. 1. The tree seat of FIG. 4, on the other hand, further includes downstanding brace 40 rotatably attached to seat frame 24' by means of wrap-around portions 40a. The lower part of downstanding brace 40 includes reinforcing member 40b defining therethrough support arm opening 40c. A diagonally oriented support arm 42 projects through opening 40c at one of its ends and attaches to the underside of seat member 14' by any suitable meanswell known in the art. For instance, the upper end of support arm 42, as shown in FIG. 4, defines bore 42c for insertion of a suitably angled stud 44 depending from the underside of seat member 14'.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 further includes side hinge 46 for rotatable attachment of seat frame 24' and seat member 14'. Hinge 46 is located along one side of the tree seat rather than at an end of the tree seat as with hinge 20 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3.

Further support-enhancing constructions may be used in either the embodiments of FIG. 4 or FIG. 1, with examples of such support-enhancing structures being shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 illustrates a lightweight form of support which includes a pair of support braces 50 (only one being shown, but the other being a reverse duplicate thereof), such support braces being connected by rivets 52, or the like. Wrap-around portions 50a at either end of support brace 50 are used to mount support brace 50 onto knee 54 of support rod 28' in the embodiment of FIG. 4 or knee 56 of support rod 28 of FIGS. 2 and 3.

A further example of support-enhancing components is shown in FIG. 7 as including a full support brace 50' completely covering the corner defined by knee 54 of support rod 28' (or knee 56 of support rod 28). Furthermore, the wrap-around portions 50a' thereof extend to fully cover the knee 54.

In FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of coupling means 30' is shown for connecting the portions of support rod 28. Coupling means 30' includes lower stud 60 having threaded stud projection 60a. Coupling means 30' further includes female stud 58 defining threaded stud opening 58a for receiving stud projection 60a. Female stud 58 and stud 60 each define shoulders at point 63 in FIG. 5 for abutment at final assembly. Female stud 58 defines bearing opening 58b in which a spring-and-ball bearing member is inserted by appropriate fixed attachment. Similarly, stud 60 defines bearing opening 60b into which is fixedly attached spring-and-ball bearing member 64. Studs 58 and 60 both define square outer surfaces as shown particularly in FIG. 8. Sliding slip lock 62 defining square center opening 62a is provided to encircle such outer surfaces. The length of sliding slip lock 62 is such as to be less than the total extent of the combination of studs 58, 60 when they are assembled. Also, sliding slip lock 62 defines curved bearing slots 62b near its upper and lower limits for mating with bearing members 64, 66 as follows: The purpose of sliding slip lock 62 is to hold the cantilever support rod portions in tight engagement, even when threaded arm 28d is being screwed into a tree. Coupling means 30' is assembled by inserting sliding slip lock 62 to its uppermost position as shown by ghost lines 62c in FIG. 5. Thus, the two portions of support rod 28 may then be coupled with maximum tightness with squared outer surfaces of studs 58, 60 in alignment. In this uppermost position, the upper bearing slot 62b of sliding slip lock 62 is in holding engagement with bearing member 66. After the two portions of rod 28 are securely joined, support rod 28 is now locked by moving sliding slip lock 62 downwardly and support rod 28 is ready to be cranked into the tree trunk.

In order to provide a more complete understanding of the present invention, a typical series of assembly operations will now be described with reference to the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-3: Beginning with the storage or carrying position of FIG. 2, support rod 28 is removed from brackets 36 and the seat frame rotated away from seat member 14. Coupling means 30 is tightened to maximum tightness so that support rod 28 assumes a "Z" shape (FIG. 3). Support rod 28 is inserted to seat brace opening 27 and then screwed into tree 12. Frame 24 is moved to underlie seat member 14 so that seat brace 26 is rotated to a position upstanding from and generally perpendicular to seat member 14. The support rod is placed through openings 16, 18 of the seat and the assembly is thus completed.

A tree seat is thereby provided for use with a tree of any girth. The tree seat is economical and yet strong and provides a lightweight applicance for the use and enjoyment of hunters and others.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A self-supporting tree seat for attachment to a support object comprising a seat member defining a first seat opening, a seat frame for underlying said seat member, means attaching said seat frame to said seat member, a seat brace defining a seat brace opening and rotatably attached to said seat frame such that said seat brace assumes at least one position perpendicular to and upstanding from said seat member and a support rod having a seat arm for underlying said seat member, an upright arm generally perpendicular to and upstanding from said seat arm and a threaded arm for securing said seat member to said support object, said upright arm projecting upwardly through said first seat opening and said threaded arm projecting generally horizontally through said seat brace opening.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said tree seat further comprises a downstanding brace defining a support hole and rotatably attached to said frame such that said downstanding brace assumes at least one position perpendicular to and downstanding from said seat member and a support arm removably connected to said seat member and projectable through said support hole.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said support rod comprises a coupling means at approximately the midpoint of said upright arm enabling rotation of a part of said rod.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said coupling means comprises a threaded stud, a female stud opening matable with said stud and a lock washer encircling said stud.

5. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said coupling means comprises a threaded male stud, an opening-defining stud defining a female stud opening matable with said male stud, said studs including first and second projecting, adjustable bearings, respectively, a sliding slip lock for assuming first and second positions and defining a square center opening for encircling said opening-defining stud and said slip lock defining first and second bearing holes for consecutively receiving said first and second adjustable bearings in said first and second positions, respectively.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said adjustable bearings each include a ball bearing attached to a spring.

7. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said seat member further defines a second seat opening and said rod includes a seat projection arm for projecting through said second seat opening.

8. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said seat member includes mounting means for mounting said rod during non-use of said seat.

9. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said seat brace defines a U-shaped projection for insuring a vertical orientation for said upright arm.

10. A self-supporting tree seat for attachment to a support object comprising: a seat member, a support rod removably secured to said seat member for supporting said seat member, means for maintaining said support rod in a storage position when said support rod is not supporting said seat member, a seat brace attached to said support rod such that said seat brace assumes at least one position perpendicular to and upstanding from said seat member, said support rod having a seat arm for underlying said seat member, an upright arm generally perpendicular to and upstanding from said seat arm and a threaded arm for securing said tree seat to said support object, said upright arm projecting upwardly and being generally perpendicular to said seat member and said threaded arm projecting generally horizontally from said upright arm to said support object.

11. The invention according to claim 10 wherein said seat member defines at least one seat opening and said support rod includes a seat projection arm adapted to be removably inserted into said at least one seat opening.

12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said seat member defines a seat notch and said upright arm is adapted to be removably inserted into said seat notch.