Stackable tree sticks
AssigneeAvid Strategic LLC
InventorScott Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved tree-climbing stick includes an elongated central post with an upper step and a lower step, and upper and lower standoff brackets each having laterally spaced jaws configured to cradle a tree trunk. The standoff brackets are dimensioned to nest with like brackets of a second, identical stick so that, in a nested condition, the posts and steps of the sticks are disposed in substantial longitudinal alignment without increasing effective end-to-end length. Complementary linking features carried by the jaws of at least one of the standoff brackets are operative, when the jaws of two sticks are nested, to releasably lock the sticks together while maintaining minimal lateral spacing between their respective posts, thereby forming a compact, low-profile stack suitable for transport.
Claims10
A tree-climbing stick comprising:
- post extending longitudinally between an upper end and a lower end;
- an upper step fixed to the post adjacent the upper end;
- a lower step fixed to the post adjacent the lower end;
- an upper standoff bracket secured to the post adjacent the upper end and having laterally spaced jaws configured to cradle a portion of a tree trunk in use;
- a lower standoff bracket secured to the post adjacent the lower end and having laterally spaced jaws configured to cradle a portion of a tree trunk in use;
- the upper and lower standoff brackets being dimensioned to nest with corresponding standoff brackets of a second, identical stick so that the posts and steps of the nested sticks are disposed in substantial longitudinal alignment;
- and
- complementary linking features carried by the jaws of at least one of the upper and lower standoff brackets and configured to releasably interengage with complementary linking features of the second, identical stick in response to relative movement of the sticks into nested relation to thereby releasably lock the sticks together against reverse separation.
A method of preparing a plurality of tree-climbing sticks for transport, each stick including a post extending longitudinally between upper end and a lower end, an upper step and a lower step fixed to the post, and upper and lower standoff brackets mounted on the post, each standoff bracket including a pair of laterally spaced jaws carrying complementary releasably interengageable linking formations, the method comprising:
- positioning a first stick of the plurality of tree-climbing sticks with the jaws of one of the standoff brackets oriented to receive the jaws of a second stick of the plurality of tree-climbing sticks and moving the sticks relative to one another into nested relation until the linking formations of the two sticks releasably interengage to thereby releasably lock the first stick and the second stick together against reverse separation in a nested condition in which the upper and lower ends of the posts and the steps of the nested sticks are disposed in substantial longitudinal alignment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.