Tree stand

Abstract

A tree stand comprising a stand portion adapted for releasable attachment to a loop formed from an elongated flexible member that is placed in circumferential relationship with a tree or post.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stand adapted for attachment to a tree or post, comprising, in combination, a flexible, elongated support means adapted to form a variable sized, closed loop and to be placed in circumferential relationship with a tree or post, and a stand portion, comprising: a substantially vertically deposed support frame, said support frame further including near the upper terminus thereof an attachment means adapted to be releasably attached to said loop, said attachment means comprising one or more projections extending laterally behind said support frame and angularly downward to describe one or more tapered faces adapted to contact said loop and one or more rear edges adapted to contact the surface of the tree or post such that downward force from the weight of the stand portion increasingly tightens the loop and causes the rear edge of the attachment means to press more tightly against the tree or post, or   a platform means attached to the support frame near the lower terminus thereof.   
     
     
       2. A stand according to claim 1 wherein the platform means is rotatably attached to the support frame and held in substantially horizontal position in front of said support frame when in use by a bracing means connected to said support frame. 
     
     
       3. A stand according to claim 2 additionally comprising a seat means rotatably attached to the support frame near the upper terminus thereof and adapted to be held in substantially horizontal position above the platform in front of the support frame when in use. 
     
     
       4. A stand according to claim 2 wherein the platform bracing means is adjustable so that the platform may be raised or lowered from the horizontal plane. .Iadd. 
     
     
       5.  A stand according to claim 1, additionally comprising at least one stand-off disposed along said flexible, elongated support means for engaging a surface of said tree or post and spatially separating a portion of said flexible, elongated support means from said surface..Iaddend..Iadd.6. A stand according to claim 1, additionally comprising: a bracket having longitudinally juxtaposed legs extending from and attached to said support frame, each engaging said tree or post and stabilizing the stand on said tree or post..Iaddend..Iadd.7. A stand according to claim 1, wherein said flexible, elongated support means comprises a cable..Iaddend..Iadd.8. A stand according to claim 1, wherein said flexible, elongated support means comprises a chain..Iaddend..Iadd.9. A stand according to claim 1, wherein said tapered faces include a portion oriented substantially parallel to said support frame..Iaddend..Iadd.10. A stand according to claim 5, additionally comprising a polymeric covering receiving at least a portion of said flexible, elongated support means for preventing damage to said tree or post by said flexible, elongated support means when tightened about said tree or post by said attachment means..Iaddend..Iadd.11. A stand according to claim 6, additionally comprising at least one pad on a portion of each leg and adapted to contact said tree or post for preventing damage to said tree or post by   
     
     
        abrasion of said projections..Iaddend..Iadd.12.  A tree stand assembly, comprising in combination: a flexible, elongated member adapted to form a variable sized, closed loop and placed in circumferential relationship with a tree or post;   at least one stand-off disposed along said flexible, elongated member for spatially separating a portion of said flexible, elongated member from said tree or post;   a tree stand having a vertically disposed support frame releasably attached to said portion of said flexible, elongated member by at least one attachment member, said at least one attachment member having at least a tapered portion and configured to be received in the space between the flexible, elongated member and the tree or post..Iaddend..Iadd.13. A stand according to claim 12, additionally comprising a polymeric covering receiving at least a portion of said flexible, elongated member for preventing damage to said tree or post by said flexible, elongated member when tightened about said tree or post..Iaddend..Iadd.14. A support according to claim 12, wherein said at least one stand-off includes disks made from a flexible material..Iaddend..Iadd.15. A stand adapted for attachment to a tree, comprising:   a flexible member adapted to form a variable sized, closed loop in circumferential relationship with the tree;   at least one stand-off disposed on said flexible member to spatially separate a portion of said flexible member from the tree with said flexible member looped around said tree; and   a support frame having an attachment member proximate one end and extending laterally behind and downward generally parallel to said support frame, said attachment member adapted to be received between the tree and said flexible member in the space created by said stand-off, said attachment member, having a tapered face, engaging said flexible member and tightening said flexible member about the tree and moving at least a portion of said attachment member toward the tree..Iaddend..Iadd.16. A stand as defined in claim 15, wherein said attachment member includes at least one projection engaging said portion of said flexible member and said tree for moving said portion of said flexible member away from said tree and tightening said flexible member about said tree..Iaddend..Iadd.17. A stand as defined in claim 15, wherein said flexible member is selected from the group consisting essentially of cable, chain, and rope..Iaddend..Iadd.18. A stand as defined in claim 15, wherein said at least one stand-off is formed from a flexible material..Iaddend..Iadd.19. A stand as defined in claim 16, wherein a lower portion of said projection includes at least one said tapered face defined by at least a portion of one edge of said lower portion..Iaddend..Iadd.20. A stand as defined in claim 16, wherein a line tangent to at least a portion of an edge of said projection extends   
     
     
        angularly downward..Iaddend..Iadd.21.  A stand adapted for attachment to a tree, comprising: a flexible member adapted to form a variable sized, closed loop in circumferential relationship with the tree;   at least one stand-off on said flexible member to spatially separate a portion of said flexible member from the tree with said flexible member looped around the tree; and   a support frame having an attachment member proximate one end and extending laterally behind said support frame and downward generally parallel to said support frame, said attachment member including at least one projection, having an upper portion extending from said support frame, and a lower portion extending downwardly from said upper portion, at least one tapered face defined on at least a portion of said lower portion, said attachment member adapted to be received between said tree and said flexible member in a space created by said stand-off to move a portion of said flexible member away from said tree..Iaddend.