Aider for tree climbing

Abstract

A tree climbing aider assembly includes at least one flexible support having portions spaced laterally from one another for suspended attachment to a tree climbing stick. At least one rigid or semi-rigid step member is provided having a width extending between laterally opposite side edges of the at least one step member and a depth extending laterally between opposite fore and aft edges of the at least one step member. The at least one step member is supported by and spans the lateral space between the flexible support portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aider assembly, comprising:
 at least one step plate having an upper step surface;   a flexible suspension line engagable with or suspended at an upper end thereof from a tree climbing stick or other structure mountable to a trunk of a tree to be climbed and supporting the at least one step plate in a manner that provides side-to-side and front-to-back stability to the step plate.   
     
     
         2 . The aider assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible suspension line comprises at least one rope. 
     
     
         3 . The aider assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one step plate is supported at four spaced locations. 
     
     
         4 . The aider assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the four spaced locations comprise corner regions of the at least one step plate. 
     
     
         5 . The aider assembly of  claim 1  wherein the suspension line includes at least two bridging portions that extend beneath and engage an underside of the at least one step plate at spaced fore and aft locations. 
     
     
         6 . The aider assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension line comprises a rope having four main line portions which engage the at least one step plate adjacent it opposite sides at a rear location and a front location, and wherein the main line portions extend beneath and engage an underside surface of the at least one step plate to support to the at least one step plate with side-to-side and front to back stability. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one step plate includes lateral channels provided on an underside surface in which the mail line portions are received. 
     
     
         8 . The aider assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one step plate includes side notches registered with the lateral channels in which the main line portions are received. 
     
     
         9 . The aider assembly of  claim 1 , including photo-luminescent friction tape disposed on the upper step surface of the at least one step plate. 
     
     
         10 . The aider assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one step plate includes a forwardly projecting stand-off portion for engaging the trunk of the tree and supporting the upper step surface in spaced relation to the tree trunk. 
     
     
         11 . The aider assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the stand-off portion includes a notch. 
     
     
         12 . The aider assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the notch includes tree-gripping teeth. 
     
     
         13 . The aider assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an upper end of the suspension line includes at least one mounting loop for attachment to the climbing stick or the other tree-mountable structure. 
     
     
         14 . The aider assembly of  claim 1 , wherein there are at least two step plates suspended by the suspension line. 
     
     
         15 . An aider assembly, comprising:
 at least one step plate having a step surface on a top side thereof, an opposite bottom side, first and second side edges, a front edge and a rear edge;   a flexible and substantially inelastic suspension line supporting the at least one step, the suspension line including a left side line portion and a right side line portion ach having a mounting loop at an upper end thereof for attachment to a structure mounted to a tree to be climbed, each of the left and right line portions branching into respective fore and aft line portions below the loops; the fore line portions of the left and right lines engaging front corner portions of the at least one step plate and the aft line portions engaging back corner portions of the at least one step plate; each of the fore and aft line portions engaging respective fore and aft edge surfaces of the at least one step plate spaced below the upper step surface to provide lateral and fore-aft stability to the step plate and supporting the step surface of the at least one step plate in a generally horizontal orientation when the left and right lines are suspended vertically.   
     
     
         16 . The aider assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one step includes laterally extending fore and aft channels disposed on an bottom side thereof and receiving the fore and aft line portions across the width of the at least one step plate. 
     
     
         17 . The aider assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the step plate includes a forward projecting stand-off for engaging the trunk of the tree and supporting the step surface in outward spaced relation to the tree. 
     
     
         18 . The aider assembly of  claim 17 , wherein in there are at least two step plates. 
     
     
         19 . A method for extending the reach of a climbing stick used for climbing a tree, said method comprising:
 preparing an aider having at least one step plate supported by a flexible line;   securing the line to the climbing stick with the at least one step plate suspended by the line such that the at least one step plate is stabilized by the line side-to-side and fore-to-aft with an upper step surface thereof self-oriented transverse to the tree for ready and stable support of the foot of a user.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one step plate includes a stand-off and wherein the stand-off is positioned to directly engage a trunk of the tree.