US 2008/0156588 A1Published application

Pivotally foldable ladder module apparatus, and method of using same

AssigneeEastman Outdoors, Inc.

InventorRobert Butcher

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Abstract

A pivotally foldable ladder module apparatus, for use by hunters and wildlife enthusiasts, includes upper and lower body segments which are pivotally connected to one another. The apparatus includes a locking fastener for temporarily fixing the position of the lower body segment relative to the upper body segment. The apparatus may also include an adjustable strap attached to a central shaft of the upper body segment, to permit fastening of the apparatus to a tree. The apparatus is pivotally movable between an extended position and a folded position used for storage and transport. Each segment includes a central shaft, and a pair of tree-contacting bracket members for aligning the apparatus with a tree. When the apparatus is in the folded position, the tree-contacting bracket members are displaced from one another, and the respective central shafts are spaced apart from one another and are oriented substantially parallel to one another.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A pivotally foldable climbing stick apparatus, comprising an upper body segment, a lower body segment pivotally connected to said upper body segment, and a locking fastener for temporarily fixing the position of the lower body segment relative to the upper body segment, wherein said lower body segment is pivotally movable between an extended position and a folded position,

said upper body segment comprising:
an upper central shaft;
a first set of step rungs extending outwardly in opposite directions from a bottom portion of said upper central shaft;
a second set of step rungs extending outwardly in opposite directions from a top portion of said upper central shaft;
an upper pair of tree-contacting bracket members extending outwardly from a top portion of said upper central shaft and defining a trunk-receiving space therebetween;
a pivot boss attached to the bottom portion of said upper central shaft and extending forwardly thereon, said pivot boss having a hollow bore formed therethrough to receive a bolt;
and
a strap support structure attached to said upper central shaft for supporting a strap used to attach the apparatus to a tree trunk;
and said lower body segment comprising:
a lower central shaft;
a third set of step rungs extending outwardly in opposite directions from a bottom portion of said lower central shaft;
a lower pair of tree-contacting bracket members extending outwardly from a bottom portion of said lower central shaft and defining a trunk-receiving space therebetween;
a pair of parallel spaced apart connector flanges extending upwardly from a top portion of said lower central shaft, said connector flanges defining a hollow receptacle therebetween for receiving a lower end of said upper body segment, said connector flanges having respective holes formed therethrough which are alignable with the hollow bore of the pivot boss.

10 more elements

A foldable climbing stick apparatus, comprising an upper body segment, a lower body segment pivotally connected to said upper body segment, and said lower body segment is pivotally movable between an extended position and a folded position,

said upper body segment comprising:
an upper central shaft;
a first set of step rungs extending from a bottom portion of said upper central shaft;
a second set of step rungs extending from a top portion of said upper central shaft;
a pair of tree-contacting bracket members extending outwardly from a top portion of the central shaft and defining a substantially V-shaped trunk receiving space therebetween;
a pivot boss attached to the bottom portion of said upper central shaft, and
a strap support structure;
and
said lower body segment comprising:
a lower central shaft;
a third set of step rungs extending outwardly from a bottom portion of said lower central shaft;
a pair of tree-contacting bracket members extending outwardly from a bottom portion of said lower central shaft and defining a substantially V-shaped trunk-receiving space therebetween;
a pair of parallel spaced apart connector flanges extending from said lower central shaft, said connector flanges defining a hollow receptacle therebetween, said connector flanges further having holes formed therein which align with a hollow bore in said pivot boss to form a pivot connection.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.