Tree step including an integrated shank

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a tree step including an integrated shank. In one embodiment, the tree step includes: a threaded tree attacher having a tapered, threaded free end; a bracing member extending transversely from the tree attacher; a step extending transversely from the bracing member; a support member extending transversely from the step; and a driver attachment member extending transversely from the support member and having a free end terminating in an integrated shank. The longitudinal axis of the tree attacher and the longitudinal axis of the integrated shank are coaxial with one another and with a rotational axis, which is the axis about which the tree step rotates when being attached to a tree.

The invention is claimed as follows:  
     
         1 . A tree step comprising:
 a tree attacher having a longitudinal axis,   a bracing member connected to and extending transversely from the tree attacher;   a step connected to and extending transversely from the bracing member,   a support member connected to and extending transversely from the step, and   a driver attachment member connected to and extending transversely from the support member, the driver attachment member including an integrated shank and having a longitudinal axis that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher, the integrated shank being insertable into and engageable by a chuck of a driver.   
     
     
         2 . The tree step of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the driver attachment member and the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher are coaxial with a rotational axis about which the tree step is rotatable when the integrated shank is engaged by the chuck of the driver. 
     
     
         3 . The tree step of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the step is parallel to, and offset from, the longitudinal axis of the driver attachment member and the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher. 
     
     
         4 . The tree step of  claim 3 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the step, the longitudinal axis of the driver attachment member, and the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher are coplanar. 
     
     
         5 . The tree step of  claim 1 , wherein the bracing member includes a first end connected to the tree attacher and a second opposing end connected to the step. 
     
     
         6 . The tree step of  claim 5 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the step, the longitudinal axis of the driver attachment member, the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher, and a longitudinal axis of the bracing member are coplanar. 
     
     
         7 . The tree step of  claim 1 , wherein the support includes a first end connected to the step and a second opposing end connected to the driver attachment member. 
     
     
         8 . The tree step of  claim 7 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the step, the longitudinal axis of the driver attachment member, the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher, and a longitudinal axis of the support are coplanar. 
     
     
         9 . The tree step of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the step, the longitudinal axis of the driver attachment member, the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher, a longitudinal axis of the bracing member, and a longitudinal axis of the support are coplanar. 
     
     
         10 . The tree step of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated shank is one selected from the group consisting of: (a) a straight shank, (b) a brace shank, (c) a hex shank, (d) a Special Direct System shank, (e) a triangle shank, (f) a Morse taper shank, and (g) a square shank. 
     
     
         11 . The tree step of  claim 1 , wherein the tree attacher is at least partially threaded. 
     
     
         12 . The tree step of  claim 1 , wherein the tree attacher, the bracing member, the step, the support member, and the driver attachment member are integrally formed with one another. 
     
     
         13 . A tree step comprising:
 a tree attacher having a longitudinal axis,   a bracing member connected to and extending transversely from the tree attacher;   a step having a longitudinal axis and connected to and extending transversely from the bracing member,   a support member connected to and extending transversely from the step, and   a driver attachment member connected to and extending transversely from the support member, the driver attachment member including an integrated shank and having a longitudinal axis that is coaxial with and coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher and that is coplanar with and offset from the longitudinal axis of the step, the integrated shank being insertable into and engageable by a chuck of a driver.   
     
     
         14 . The tree step of  claim 13 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the driver attachment member and the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher are coaxial with a rotational axis about which the tree step is rotatable when the integrated shank is engaged by the chuck of the driver. 
     
     
         15 . The tree step of  claim 13 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the step, the longitudinal axis of the integrated shank, and the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher are parallel. 
     
     
         16 . The tree step of  claim 13 , wherein the bracing member includes a first end connected to the tree attacher and a second opposing end connected to the step. 
     
     
         17 . The tree step of  claim 16 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the step, the longitudinal axis of the integrated shank, the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher, and a longitudinal axis of the bracing member are coplanar. 
     
     
         18 . The tree step of  claim 13 , wherein the support includes a first end connected to the step and a second opposing end connected to the driver attachment member. 
     
     
         19 . The tree step of  claim 18 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the step, the longitudinal axis of the integrated shank, the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher, and a longitudinal axis of the support are coplanar. 
     
     
         20 . A tree step comprising:
 a tree attacher having a longitudinal axis,   a bracing member having a longitudinal axis and connected to and extending transversely from the tree attacher;   a step having a longitudinal axis and connected to and extending transversely from the bracing member,   a support member having a longitudinal axis and connected to and extending transversely from the step, and   a driver attachment member having a longitudinal axis and connected to and extending transversely from the support member, wherein: (a) the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher and the longitudinal axis of the driver attachment member are coaxial; (b) the longitudinal axis of the tree attacher, the longitudinal axis of the bracing member, the longitudinal axis of the step, the longitudinal axis of the support member, and the longitudinal axis of the driver are coplanar; and (c) the integrated shank is insertable into and engageable by a chuck of a driver.