Adjustable tree stand

Abstract

A tree stand for supporting a user between two limbs of a tree at an elevated position above a ground surface includes an outer frame rail and an inner frame rail. The inner rail is telescopingly engaged within the outer rail, thereby allowing the frames to be adjustable along a longitudinal axis. One of the rails includes a plurality of locking features and the other includes a lever having a head adapted to be engaged with the locking features. At least one of the head or the locking features are adapted to be disengaged from the other when the inner and outer frame rails are telescopingly moved outwardly, and at least one of the head and the locking features is further adapted to prevent movement of the rails when the inner and outer frame rails are forced inwardly.

1 . A tree stand for supporting a user between two limbs of a tree at an elevated position above a ground surface, the tree stand comprising: 
 a outer frame having a first end adapted to be engaged with a first limb of a tree and including at least one tubular outer frame rail;    a inner frame having a first end adapted to be engaged with a second limb of a tree and including at least one inner frame rail, the inner rail telescopingly engaged within the outer rail, thereby allowing the inner and outer frames to be adjustable along a longitudinal axis; and    one of the inner rail or the outer rail including a plurality of locking features disposed longitudinally at discrete locations along the frame rail, the other of the inner rail or the outer rail including a lever;    wherein at least a portion of the lever is adapted to be positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of locking features to prevent telescoping movement of the inner and outer frame rails, and the lever is further adapted to be withdrawn from the at least one of the plurality of locking features, thereby allowing telescoping movement of the inner and outer frame rails.    
   
   
       2 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the lever includes a head adapted to be engaged with at least one of the plurality of locking features; 
 wherein further at least one of the head or the at least one of the plurality of locking features are adapted to be disengaged from the other of the head or the at least one of the plurality of locking features when the inner and outer frame rails are telescopingly moved outwardly, and at least one of the head or the at least one of the plurality of locking features is further adapted to prevent movement of the inner and outer frame rails when the inner and outer frame rails are forced inwardly.    
   
   
       3 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the outer frame includes two generally parallel tubular outer frame rails and the inner frame includes two generally parallel tubular inner frame rails, each of the inner rails telescopingly engaged within one of the outer rails, thereby allowing the inner and outer frames to be adjustable along a longitudinal axis; 
 wherein further at least one of the inner rail or the outer rail includes a plurality of locking devices and at least one of the other of the inner rail or the outer rail includes a lever.    
   
   
       4 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the outer and inner frame include a covering adapted to support a user thereon.  
   
   
       5 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the locking features are openings.  
   
   
       6 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the locking features are teeth.  
   
   
       7 . The tree stand of  claim 3 , wherein the locking devices are disposed on an inside edge of at least one of the inner rail or the outer rail and the lever is disposed on an inside edge of the other at least one of the inner rail or the outer rail.  
   
   
       8 . The tree stand of  claim 3 , wherein the locking devices are disposed on an inside edge of one of the inner rails and the lever is disposed longitudinally on an inside edge of the outer rail which is telescopingly engaged with the one of the inner rails having the locking features.  
   
   
       9 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the inner frame and the outer frame include a plurality of fastening features which are adapted to receive and at least temporarily retain a strap.  
   
   
       10 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the inner frame rail and the outer frame rail include a plurality of longitudinally disposed apertures, the inner frame rail and the outer frame rail apertures disposed adjacently for collinear alignment; 
 wherein at least one stop pin is adapted to be received within at least one of the plurality of apertures of the inner frame rail and the outer frame rail when the apertures of the inner frame rail and the outer frame rail are collinear aligned, thereby preventing the inner and outer frames from telescoping movement.    
   
   
       11 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner frame and the outer frame include a foot rest attached thereto.  
   
   
       12 . The tree stand of  claim 11 , wherein the foot rest includes an angularly adjustable trunk and an angularly adjustable rest for optimizing the angle of the trunk and the rest in relation to the inner frame and the outer frames, thereby providing maximum comfort for the user.  
   
   
       13 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the inner frame first end and the outer frame first end are disposed opposite one another, the inner frame and the outer frame first ends including a generally V-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       14 . The tree stand of  claim 4 , wherein the covering includes a steel mesh.  
   
   
       15 . A tree stand for supporting a user between two limbs of a tree at an elevated position above a ground surface, the tree stand comprising: 
 a outer frame including at least one tubular outer frame rail;    a inner frame including at least one inner frame rail, the inner rail telescopingly engaged within the outer rail, thereby allowing the inner and outer frames to be adjustable along a longitudinal axis;    at least one of the outer frame and inner frame including a covering, the covering adapted to support a user thereon;    one of the inner rail or the outer rail including a plurality of locking features disposed longitudinally at discrete locations along the frame rail, the other of the inner rail or the outer rail including a lever; and    the lever including a head adapted to be engaged with at least one of the plurality of locking features;    wherein at least one of the head or the at least one of the plurality of locking features are adapted to be disengaged from the other of the head or the at least one of the plurality of locking features when the inner and outer frame rails are telescopingly moved outwardly, and at least one of the head or the at least one of the plurality of locking features is further adapted to prevent movement of the inner and outer frame rails when the inner and outer frame rails are forced inwardly.    
   
   
       16 . The tree stand of  claim 15 , wherein the outer frame includes a first end adapted to be engaged with a first limb of a tree and the inner frame includes a first end adapted to be engaged with a second limb of a tree and disposed opposite the first end of the outer frame.  
   
   
       17 . The tree stand of  claim 16 , wherein the inner frame and the outer frame first ends include a generally V-shaped configuration.  
   
   
       18 . The tree stand of  claim 15 , wherein the outer frame includes two generally parallel tubular outer frame rails and the inner frame includes two generally parallel tubular inner frame rails, each of the inner rails telescopingly engaged within one of the outer rails, thereby allowing the inner and outer frames to be adjustable along a longitudinal axis; 
 wherein further at least one of the inner rail or the outer rail includes a plurality of locking features and at least one of the other of the inner rail or the outer rail includes a lever.    
   
   
       19 . The tree stand of  claim 15 , wherein the inner frame rail is tubular.  
   
   
       20 . The tree stand of  claim 15 , wherein the outer and inner frame covering is steel mesh.  
   
   
       21 . The tree stand of  claim 15 , wherein the locking features are openings.  
   
   
       22 . The tree stand of  claim 15 , wherein the locking features are teeth.  
   
   
       23 . The tree stand of  claim 15 , wherein the locking features are disposed on an inside edge of at least one of the inner rail or the outer rail and the lever is disposed on an inside edge of the other at least one of the inner rail or the outer rail.  
   
   
       24 . The tree stand of  claim 18 , wherein the locking features are disposed on an inside edge of one of the inner rails and the lever is disposed longitudinally on an inside edge the outer rail which is telescopingly engaged with the one of the inner rail having the locking features.  
   
   
       25 . The tree stand of  claim 15 , wherein the inner frame and the outer frame include a plurality of fastening features which are adapted to receive and at least temporarily retain a strap.  
   
   
       26 . The tree stand of  claim 15 , wherein the inner frame rail and the outer frame rail include a plurality of longitudinally disposed apertures, the inner frame rail and the outer frame rail apertures disposed adjacently for collinear alignment; 
 wherein at least one stop pin is adapted to be received within at least one of the plurality of apertures of the inner frame rail and the outer frame rail when the apertures of the inner frame rail and the outer frame rail are collinear aligned, thereby preventing the inner and outer frames from telescoping movement.    
   
   
       27 . The tree stand of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the inner frame and the outer frame include a foot rest attached thereto.  
   
   
       28 . The tree stand of  claim 27 , wherein the foot rest includes an angularly adjustable trunk and an angularly adjustable rest for optimizing the angle of the trunk and the rest in relation to the inner frame and the outer frames, thereby providing maximum comfort for the user.  
   
   
       29 . The tree stand of  claim 17 , wherein the covering includes a steel mesh.  
   
   
       30 . A tree stand for supporting a user between two limbs of a tree at an elevated position above a ground surface, the tree stand comprising: 
 a outer frame including a generally V-shaped first end adapted to be engaged with a first tree limb and a pair of generally tubular outer frame rails;    a inner frame including a generally V-shaped first end adapted to be engaged with a second tree limb and a pair of generally tubular inner frame rails, each of the inner rails telescopingly engaged within one of the outer rails, thereby allowing the inner and outer frames to be adjustable along a longitudinal axis;    at least one of the outer frame and inner frame each include a covering disposed thereon, the covering adapted to support a user thereon;    at least one of the inner frame and the outer frame include a foot rest attached thereto, the foot rest including an angularly adjustable trunk and an angularly adjustable rest; and    at least one of the inner rails and the outer rails includes a plurality of locking features disposed longitudinally at discrete locations along the frame rail, the other of the inner rail or the outer rail including a lever, the lever including a head adapted to be engaged with at least one of the plurality of locking features;    wherein at least one of the head and the locking features are adapted to be disengaged from the other of the head and the locking features when the inner and outer frame rails are telescopingly moved outwardly, and at least one of the head and the locking features are further adapted to prevent movement of the inner and outer frame rails when the inner and outer frame rails are forced inwardly.    
   
   
       31 . The tree stand of  claim 30 , wherein the outer and inner frame covering is steel mesh.  
   
   
       32 . The tree stand of  claim 30 , wherein the locking features are openings.  
   
   
       33 . The tree stand of  claim 30 , wherein the locking features are teeth.  
   
   
       34 . The tree stand of  claim 30 , wherein the locking features are disposed on an inside edge of one of the inner rails and the lever is disposed longitudinally on an inside edge of the outer rail which is telescopingly engaged with the one of the inner rails having the locking features.  
   
   
       35 . The tree stand of  claim 30 , wherein the inner frame and the outer frame include a plurality of fastening features which are adapted to receive and at least temporarily retain a strap.  
   
   
       36 . The tree stand of  claim 30 , wherein the inner frame rail and the outer frame rail include a plurality of longitudinally disposed apertures, the inner frame rail and the outer frame rail apertures disposed adjacently for collinear alignment; 
 wherein at least one stop pin is adapted to be received within at least one of the plurality of apertures of the inner frame rail and the outer frame rail when the apertures of the inner frame rail and the outer frame rail are collinear aligned, thereby preventing the inner and outer frames from telescoping movement.    
   
   
       37 . The tree stand of  claim 30 , wherein the covering is a flat plate.