Tree stand winch apparatus and method

A method for lifting a hunter's gear from the ground to a desired position in a tree, comprising the steps of:

• attaching a winch device to a convenient position on a user at ground level;
• paying out an end portion of the line on the winch device from the spool of the winch and attaching the end of the line to the hunter's gear to be lifted;
• the user ascending the tree to a desired position;
• removing the winch device from the user and securing the winch to the tree at the desired position on the tree with an attachment mechanism;
• stabilizing said winch device to the tree with cleat means which engages the tree in a straddling arrangement for maintaining a support plate of the winch device in a generally upright position and substantially parallel to the length of the tree so that the winch device is stabilized from movement about the tree;
• securing to the tree a stabilizer bar extending downwardly from and attached to the winch for preventing the winch from pivoting and moving away from the tree;
• actuating the winch device by operating a crank wheel of the winch and reeling in the hunter's gear attached to the end of the line from the ground level up to the desired position in the tree;
• and
• braking the movement of the spool via a braking mechanism once the items have been hoisted to the desired position.

A tree stand winch for mounting in a tree and for lifting and lowering a hunter's gear, comprising:

• a spool having a line wound thereon;
• support means including a support plate for mounting parallel to the length of the tree, said support means for rotatably supporting said spool;
• crank means mechanically connected to said spool for rotating said spool and for paying out and reeling in said line;
• and
• stabilizer means attached to said support means and extending on opposite sides of and away from said spool and said crank means for straddling engagement with the tree, so that when the hunter rotates said crank means and said spool and the line of said spool lifts or lowers the hunter's gear, said stabilizer means maintains said support plate in a generally upright position and juxtaposed the adjacent surface of the tree, said stabilizer means being shaped for resisting movement of said winch about the tree;
• and
• a stabilizer bar extending downwardly from said support plate adjacent the tree for being secured to the tree and preventing said winch from pivoting and moving away from the tree while in operation.

A tree stand winch for mounting in a tree and for lifting and lowering hunter's gear comprising:

• a support plate having an edge portion for facing a tree;
• a spool rotatably mounted on one side of said support plate with a line wound about said spool;
• a crank means mounted on the other side of said support plate for rotating said spool with respect to said support plate for paying out and reeling in said line for lifting and lowering the hunter's gear;
• attachment means connected to said support plate for extending upwardly from said support plate and for suspending said support plate from the tree so that said support plate is parallel to the length of the tree;
• stabilizer means mounted to said support plate and including tree engaging cleat means spaced on opposite sides of said support plate and extending from said support plate beyond said edge portion for straddling engagement with the tree and for securing said support plate in an upright position and with its edge portion in engagement with the tree, said stabilizer means being shaped for resisting movement of said winch about the tree;
• a stabilizer bar extending downwardly from said support plate adjacent the tree;
• and
• means for securing said stabilizer bar to the tree for preventing said winch from pivoting and moving away from the tree.