A method of preventing or minimizing trespassing of a hunting tree stand and an apparatus therefor

Abstract

A method of preventing or minimizing trespassing of a hunting tree stand and an apparatus therefor. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure comprising:
 a frame comprising longer members spaced apart and disposed essentially parallel to one another, and shorter members spaced apart and disposed essentially parallel to one another, which said shorter members are disposed transverse to said longer members;   said shorter members being configured to serve as climbing rungs to support a foot of a climber to permit climbing on said hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure;   a lockable door arrangement being attached to said frame;   said door arrangement being movable with respect to said frame between a closed position in which said door arrangement covers at least said shorter members to prevent access by a trespasser to at least said shorter members, and an open position in which said door arrangement is moved away from said shorter members to permit access by a climber to at least said shorter members;   said frame comprising a first connecting structure disposed at a first end of said frame, and a second connecting structure disposed at a second end of said frame, opposite said first end of said frame; and   said first connecting structure being configured to be connected to a climbing stick, and said second connecting structure being configured to be connected to an additional climbing stick, to thereby form a tree-climbing structure.   
     
     
         10 . The hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure further comprises a supporting piece connected to said frame and configured to brace said frame on a trunk of a tree; and   said supporting piece is disposed to project away from said frame and configured to space said frame a distance from a trunk of a tree.   
     
     
         11 . The hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said frame comprises a front side configured to face away from a tree upon installation of the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure, and a back side configured to face toward a tree upon installation of the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure;   said door arrangement is disposed on said front side of said frame;   the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure further comprises first and second back doors attached to said frame and disposed on said back side of said frame; and   said back doors are movable with respect to said frame between a closed position in which said back doors cover at least one of said shorter members to prevent access by a trespasser to said at least one of said shorter members from said back side of said frame, and an open position in which said back doors are moved away from said at least one of said shorter members to provide sufficient space for a climber to place his foot on said at least one of said shorter members.   
     
     
         12 . The hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure further comprises carrying straps attached to said frame; and   said carrying straps are configured to permit carrying of said hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure by a person.   
     
     
         13 . The hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 said door arrangement comprises first and second doors;   said first door is attached by hinges to one of said longer members; and   said second door is attached by hinges to another one of said longer members.   
     
     
         14 . The hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 said frame comprises a front side configured to face away from a tree upon installation of the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure, and a back side configured to face toward a tree upon installation of the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure;   said door arrangement is disposed on said front side of said frame;   the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure further comprises first and second back doors attached to said frame and disposed on said back side of said frame; and   said back doors are movable with respect to said frame between a closed position in which said back doors cover at least one of said shorter members to prevent access by a trespasser to said at least one of said shorter members from said back side of said frame, and an open position in which said back doors are moved away from said at least one of said shorter members to provide sufficient space for a climber to place his foot on said at least one of said shorter members.   
     
     
         15 . The hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure further comprises carrying straps attached to said frame; and   said carrying straps are configured to permit carrying of said hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure by a person.   
     
     
         16 . The hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 said door arrangement comprises first and second doors;   said first door is attached by hinges to one of said longer members; and   said second door is attached by hinges to another one of said longer members.   
     
     
         17 . The hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure according to  claim 9 , in combination with a first climbing stick and a second climbing stick. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure according to  claim 9 , said method comprising the steps of:
 connecting said first connecting structure to a first climbing stick, and connecting said second connecting structure to a second climbing stick, and thereby forming a tree-climbing structure;   placing said tree-climbing structure against a tree in which a hunting tree stand is located;   moving said door arrangement to said open position;   climbing up said tree-climbing structure by climbing up on said first climbing stick, then climbing up on said shorter members of said frame, and then climbing up on said second climbing stick;   accessing said hunting tree stand;   climbing down said tree-climbing structure by climbing down on said second climbing stick, then climbing down on said shorter members of said frame, and then climbing down on said first climbing stick;   moving said door arrangement to said closed position; and   locking said door arrangement in said closed position and thereby preventing access to at least said shorter members by a trespasser.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure further comprises a supporting piece connected to said frame and configured to brace said frame on a trunk of a tree;   said supporting piece is disposed to project away from said frame and configured to space said frame a distance from a trunk of a tree;   said step of placing said tree-climbing structure against the tree in which the hunting tree stand is located comprises placing said supporting piece against the trunk of the tree, and thereby spacing said frame a distance from the trunk of the tree.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 said frame comprises a front side configured to face away from a tree upon installation of the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure, and a back side configured to face toward a tree upon installation of the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure;   said door arrangement is disposed on said front side of said frame;   the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure further comprises first and second back doors attached to said frame and disposed on said back side of said frame;   said back doors are movable with respect to said frame between a closed position in which said back doors cover at least one of said shorter members to prevent access by a trespasser to said at least one of said shorter members from said back side of said frame, and an open position in which said back doors are moved away from said at least one of said shorter members to provide sufficient space for a climber to place his foot on said at least one of said shorter members;   said method further comprises moving said back doors away from at least one of said shorter members and into contact with the trunk of the tree and thereby:
 providing sufficient space for the climber to place his foot on said at least one of said shorter members; and 
 restricting or preventing access by a trespasser to said at least one of said shorter members from said back side of said frame. 
   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein:
 the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure further comprises carrying straps attached to said frame;   said carrying straps are configured to permit carrying of said hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure by a person; and   said method further comprises carrying said frame by said carrying straps to the tree in which the hunting tree stand is located.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 said door arrangement comprises first and second doors;   said first door is attached by hinges to one of said longer members;   said second door is attached by hinges to another one of said longer members; and   said step of moving said door arrangement to said open position comprises pivoting each of said first and second doors away from said shorter members.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 said frame comprises a front side configured to face away from a tree upon installation of the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure, and a back side configured to face toward a tree upon installation of the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure;   said door arrangement is disposed on said front side of said frame;   the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure further comprises first and second back doors attached to said frame and disposed on said back side of said frame;   said back doors are movable with respect to said frame between a closed position in which said back doors cover at least one of said shorter members to prevent access by a trespasser to said at least one of said shorter members from said back side of said frame, and an open position in which said back doors are moved away from said at least one of said shorter members to provide sufficient space for a climber to place his foot on said at least one of said shorter members;   said method further comprises moving said back doors away from at least one of said shorter members and into contact with the trunk of the tree and thereby:
 providing sufficient space for the climber to place his foot on said at least one of said shorter members; and 
 restricting or preventing access by a trespasser to said at least one of said shorter members from said back side of said frame. 
   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure further comprises carrying straps attached to said frame;   said carrying straps are configured to permit carrying of said hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure by a person; and   said method further comprises carrying said frame by said carrying straps to the tree in which the hunting tree stand is located.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 said door arrangement comprises first and second doors;   said first door is attached by hinges to one of said longer members;   said second door is attached by hinges to another one of said longer members; and   said step of moving said door arrangement to said open position comprises pivoting each of said first and second doors away from said shorter members.   
     
     
         26 . A method of using a hunting tree stand anti-trespassing door structure according to  claim 17 , said method comprising the steps of:
 connecting said first connecting structure to said first climbing stick, and connecting said second connecting structure to said second climbing stick, and thereby forming a tree-climbing structure;   placing said tree-climbing structure against a tree in which a hunting tree stand is located;   moving said door arrangement to said open position;   climbing up said tree-climbing structure by climbing up on said first climbing stick, then climbing up on said shorter members of said frame, and then climbing up on said second climbing stick;   accessing said hunting tree stand;   climbing down said tree-climbing structure by climbing down on said second climbing stick, then climbing down on said shorter members of said frame, and then climbing down on said first climbing stick;   moving said door arrangement to said closed position; and   locking said door arrangement in said closed position and thereby preventing access to at least said shorter members by a trespasser.