HUNTING CHAIR
United States Patent 3731762
A hunting chair having a bow-shaped frame member including an intermediate back frame, a forwardly projecting upper head frame, and a forwardly projecting lower seat frame; a seat member detachably secured to the seat frame, a detachable lifting mechanism secured to the head frame, and a flexible linear member having one end fixed to the lifting mechanism and a free end adapted to be projected over an overhead support, such as a tree bough. The chair further includes a hanger rod having an arcuate upper portion for seating over the top of the bough and a lower portion attachable by swivel means to the head frame after the frame member has been elevated to a position adjacent the bough. A foot rest, safety belt, and rifle support are also detachably secured to the frame member. The seat member is provided with means for securing the detachable elements, normally secured to the frame member, to the seat member to provide a compact back-pack.
US Patent References:
CHILD'S CONVERTIBLE CHAIR
Spinola - November 1970 - 3542419
PORTABLE STEP FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
Wilson - July 1971 - 3590950
Collapsible hunter's seat
McBride - February 1966 - 3232664
Pack frame and tree seat structure
Brunes - November 1967 - 3353629
CHILD'S CONVERTIBLE CHAIR
Spinola - November 1970 - 3542419
PORTABLE STEP FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
Wilson - July 1971 - 3590950
Collapsible hunter's seat
McBride - February 1966 - 3232664
Pack frame and tree seat structure
Brunes - November 1967 - 3353629
Application Number:
05/187446
Publication Date:
05/08/1973
Filing Date:
10/07/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
182/150, 105/149.200
International Classes:
A01M31/00; A01M31/02; A47C9/10; A47C9/00; A63B71/00; A47C1/00; A47C7/52
Field of Search:
182/20,142,150,63 297/184,427,430,423,274,273,277 105/329SC,329S
Primary Examiner:
Machado, Reinaldo P.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A hunting chair comprising:
2. The invention according to claim 11 in which the stabilizing means comprises a hanger member having a lower portion and an arcuate upper end portion for fitting over the overhead support member, means detachably securing said lower portion to said upper frame portion to suspend said frame member in said elevated position, independently of said flexible linear member.
3. The invention according to claim 2 in which the means for securing the lower portion of the hanger member to said upper frame portion comprises swivel means to permit said frame member to rotate in a substantially horizontal plane relative to said overhead support member.
4. The invention according to claim 3 in which the lower portion of the hanger member comprises an elongated hanger rod, said upper frame portion comprising a substantially horizontally disposed rod member, said swivel means comprising a saddle bracket supported on said hanger rod for rotatable movement about the longitudinal axis of said hanger rod, said saddle bracket being adapted to engage said rod member.
5. The invention according to claim 1 in which said lower frame portion comprises a substantially horizontally disposed, forward projecting seat frame terminating in a tubular socket, a foot rest member having a rear tongue member adapted to slip-fit within said socket member, said foot rest member further comprising foot supports below said seat member.
6. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising a seat belt, first means for detachably securing said seat belt to said frame member for holding an occupant seated upon said seat member, second means for detachably securing said seat belt to said seat member to provide a shoulder harness for carrying the detached seat member upon the back of the occupant.
7. The invention according to claim 1 in which said lifting means comprises a rotary winch, said linear member being secured to said winch for winding and unwinding.
8. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising a rifle support arm having front and rear end portions, means detachably fixing said rear end portion into the front end of said upper frame portion, a flexible linear strand depending from the front end portion of said rifle support arm for grasping by the occupant while seated upon the seat member for aiming his rifle.
1. A hunting chair comprising:
2. The invention according to claim 11 in which the stabilizing means comprises a hanger member having a lower portion and an arcuate upper end portion for fitting over the overhead support member, means detachably securing said lower portion to said upper frame portion to suspend said frame member in said elevated position, independently of said flexible linear member.
3. The invention according to claim 2 in which the means for securing the lower portion of the hanger member to said upper frame portion comprises swivel means to permit said frame member to rotate in a substantially horizontal plane relative to said overhead support member.
4. The invention according to claim 3 in which the lower portion of the hanger member comprises an elongated hanger rod, said upper frame portion comprising a substantially horizontally disposed rod member, said swivel means comprising a saddle bracket supported on said hanger rod for rotatable movement about the longitudinal axis of said hanger rod, said saddle bracket being adapted to engage said rod member.
5. The invention according to claim 1 in which said lower frame portion comprises a substantially horizontally disposed, forward projecting seat frame terminating in a tubular socket, a foot rest member having a rear tongue member adapted to slip-fit within said socket member, said foot rest member further comprising foot supports below said seat member.
6. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising a seat belt, first means for detachably securing said seat belt to said frame member for holding an occupant seated upon said seat member, second means for detachably securing said seat belt to said seat member to provide a shoulder harness for carrying the detached seat member upon the back of the occupant.
7. The invention according to claim 1 in which said lifting means comprises a rotary winch, said linear member being secured to said winch for winding and unwinding.
8. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising a rifle support arm having front and rear end portions, means detachably fixing said rear end portion into the front end of said upper frame portion, a flexible linear strand depending from the front end portion of said rifle support arm for grasping by the occupant while seated upon the seat member for aiming his rifle.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a hunting chair, and more particularly to a portable, knock-down chair adapted to be suspended from an overhead support, when assembled.
The advantages of hunting game from an elevated position are well-known. The vision of the elevated hunter is no longer obstructed by underbrush, and in fact, the area of vision is magnified considerably. Furthermore, the elevated hunter is no longer in the line of fire of fellow hunters on the ground. The elevated hunter may fire with increased safety to others, not only because of his better vision, but also because a wasted bullet terminates in the ground within a short distance rather than continuing on an unobstructed course for hundreds of yards above the ground and into the possible path of fellow hunters, other persons, animals or property within the range of the bullet.
In order to obtain the advantage of hunting from an elevated position, hunters sometimes climb a tree and sit upon a limb in a rather perilous and uncomfortable position. Other hunters hunt from pre-constructed elevated blinds or platforms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention overcomes the disadvantages of previously known methods for hunting from an elevated position, by providing a portable, knock-down, hunting chair. The hunting chair made in accordance with this invention is made of lightweight materials and may be easily dis-assembled into elements which can be compactly packaged and transported on the back of the hunter for long distance without undue burden.
The hunting chair made in accordance with this invention is provided essentially with a single bow-shaped frame member such as a single bow-shaped tubular frame. The frame has a substantially upright intermediate back portion terminating in upper and lower forwardly projecting head and seat frame members or arms. A seat member is detachably supported upon the seat frame arm. A lifting device, such as a rotary winch is detachably secured to the head frame arm, and is connected to an elongated cable adapted to be wound and unwound by the winch and having a free end adapted to be thrown or otherwise projected over an overhead support member, such as a tree bough.
A detachable foot rest may be formed of a single rod member declining forward from a tongue member adapted to slip-fit within the open socket end of the seat frame arm and terminating in a pair of foot support rods.
A seat belt is also preferably detachably secured to the back portion of the frame to support the hunter while seated in the chair. The seat belt is also adapted to be detached from the frame and attached to the bottom of the seat member to form part of a shoulder harness after the chair elements are knocked down and secured to the seat member.
A gun rest is also provided in the form of a rod member having a rear tongue member adapted to slip-fit within the open-socket end portion of the head frame arm. The gun support arm is bent to diverge at an angle away from the center plane of the frame. From the front end of the rod member, a strand, preferably knotted or otherwise provided with linearly spaced enlargements, depends to be grasped by the hand of the hunter supporting the rifle in a steady position for aiming and firing.
The hunting chair is also preferably provided with a hanger rod having an upper arcuate portion concave downward to fit over and seat upon the top of a bough of a tree. The lower straight portion of the hanger rod is fitted with a swivel device for attachment to the head frame arm after the chair frame has been elevated to a position adjacent the tree bough. The hunter may turn the chair frame and himself through a 360° arc relative to the tree bough, not only to obtain a panoramic vision, but also to permit aiming and firing in almost any horizontal position.
The single, tubular, bow-shaped chair frame is not only lightweight and strong, but also permits the hunter greater freedom of movement, not only for viewing, but also from manipulating his hunting weapon, whether it be a rifle or a bow and arrow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hunting chair, fully assembled, and suspended in an elevated position from a tree bough;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the seat member fixed to the chair frame in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation of the hanger member and lifting mechanism fixed to the upper portion of the chair frame;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the seat member supporting all of the other elements detached from the chair frame, for transportation on the back of the hunter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the hunting chair 10 made in accordance with this invention includes a chair frame 11, somewhat bow-shaped, and preferably made of a single elongated tubular member. The frame 11 includes a substantially upright intermediate back member 12. The upper end of the back member 12 is bent to form a forward projecting head frame member or arm 13, while the lower end of the back member 12 is bent to form a forward projecting lower or seat frame member or arm 14.
The tubular frame member 11 may be formed of a single integral piece, or it may be separated, as disclosed in FIG. 1 at the line 15 and secured by a tongue and socket connection held together by the pin 17, for convenience in disassembly.
Fixed to and straddling the free end portion of the seat frame member 14 is a seat bracket or bar 18 having apertures 19 therethrough.
Adapted to be secured to the seat frame member 14, is the seat member 20, preferably comprising a cushioned and covered top surface 21 and a flat bottom surface 22. The rear edge of the seat member 20 is notched at 23 to fit against and receive the back frame member 12. The bottom surface 22 is provided with a pair of depending threaded studs 24 adapted to project through the mating apertures 19 and be secured thereto by the wing nuts 25.
The free end of the seat frame member 14 is open to provide a tubular socket 27 for receiving in slip-fit engagement the rear end or tongue portion 28 of foot rest arm 29. The foot rest arm 29 is bent so that it declines forward and terminates in a pair of transverse foot supports or rods 30 at a sufficient distance from the seat frame member 14 to comfortably receive the feet of the occupant of the chair 10. As disclosed in the drawings, the tongue portion 28 of the foot rest arm 29 is also of tubular stock of a diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the tubular socket 27. The tongue portion 28 as well as the declining portion of the foot rest arm 29 are preferably integral.
Fixed to the top portion of the head frame member 13 is a flat, laterally disposed bracket plate 32. Adapted to slidably receive the bracket plate 32 is a channel-shaped bracket 33 fixed upon the winch or winch frame 34. The winch frame 34 supports a rotary drum 35 to which is fixed one end of a flexible linear member, such as the cable 36, adapted to be wound and unwound about the winch drum 35. The winch drum 35 is adapted to be wound and unwound by a pair of manually operated crank handles 37 through a reduction gear train 38. The head frame 13 is spaced above the head of the hunter or occupant of the chair 10, and the handles 37 are readily accessible to the hands of the occupant for winding and unwinding the winch drum 35.
After the winch bracket 33 is slidably moved to operative position over the bracket plate 32, the bracket plate 32 and bracket 33 may be locked in operative position by any convenient means, such as the cotter pins 39.
The gear train 38 is also provided with a stop pawl 40 to lock the winch drum 35 against unwinding.
A hanger member or rod 42 includes a straight rod portion 43 terminating at its upper end in an arcuate hanger bow 44 concave downward and provided on its inner or bottom surface with a plurality of arcuately spaced teeth 45. Fixed on the lower end portion of the hanger rod 42 is an annular swivel bearing 47 rotatably supporting a saddle bracket 48. The saddle bracket 48 is arcuately recessed, concave upward, to receive and support, for rotary movement about the axis of the hanger rod portion 43, the tubular head frame member 13. In order for the saddle bracket 48 to receive the tubular head frame member 13, a vertical slot 50 is formed in one side of the head frame member 13 to receive the straight hanger rod portion 43.
Fixed to the bottom end of the hanger rod 42, is a transverse handle rod 51 for grasping by the occupant in order to turn the chair frame 11 about the vertical axis of the hanger rod 42.
A gun rest arm 53 is also preferably made of tubular stock and is bent at its rear end to form a tongue member 54. The tongue member 54 is adapted to be received in the open free end 55 of the tubular head frame member 13. The connection between the tongue member 54 and the socket portion 55 may be a slip-fit connection and may be held in that position by a transverse pin 56. Another preferred method of securing the tongue 54 in the socket 55 is for the pin 56 to be a fixed transverse rod and the rear end portion of the tongue member 54 to be formed in diametrically opposed bayonet-shaped slots for receiving and engaging the transverse rod 56. The free end of the gun rest arm 53 is provided with a depending rope or strand 57 having spaced knots 58, or other protuberances, for grasping by the left hand of a right-handed hunter, in order to steady the rifle of the hunter while he is seated in the chair 10 for aiming and firing.
A belt bracket or loop 59 is fixed on the back of the back frame member 12 for receiving a seat belt 60 adapted to secure, when fastened, the occupant within the chair 10. The seat belt 60 is provided with a hook slot 61 adapted, when removed from the belt loop 59, to engage hook 62 on the bottom 22 of the seat member 20, so that the belt 60 will then function as one of the shoulder straps for securing the back pack, including the seat member 20, upon the back of the hunter. Another shoulder harness strap 63 is permanently attached at its opposite ends by fastening means, such as screws 64 and 65, to the other side of the bottom surface 22 of the seat member 20.
The bottom 22 of the seat member 20 may also be provided with reel bracket arms 66 about which the cable 36 may be coiled when not in use.
Also secured to the back of the back frame member 12 is a sling hook 67 upon which the sling of a rifle may be held when not in use.
When the hunting chair 10 is not in use, all of the detachable elements normally attached to the frame member 11 are assembled in any convenient method against the bottom surface 22 of the seat member 20 to form a compact back pack, as best disclosed in FIG. 5. Such detachable elements are the foot rest arm 29, seat belt 60, winch frame 34, hanger member 42, gun rest arm 53 and cable 36. If the frame member 11 is a single integral piece, it may be carried in one hand by the hunter, while the seat member 20, in the form of a back pack disclosed in FIG. 5, is supported upon the back of the hunter by the seat belt 60 and the shoulder strap 63. The hunter's rifle may be carried in his other hand, or may also be slung over his back.
If desired, the frame member 11 may be fabricated into two sections, disclosed in FIG. 1 as meeting at the joint line 15. The two frame sections may be secured in a convenient manner upon the back pack, or they may also be carried in the hand. Thus, all of the elements of the hunting chair 10 may be assembled into a single back pack, or all of the elements except the frame member 11 may be assembled into a single back pack.
When the hunter reaches a desired location in the forest beneath a tree where he desires to set up his elevated hunting position, he removes the back pack from his shoulders by slipping off the shoulder strap 63 and the seat belt 60, and proceeds to separate all of the detachable elements, previously mentioned, from the seat member 20. All of these elements are then assembled upon the frame member 11, as disclosed in the drawings, except the hanger member 42. The hanger member 42 is kept separate until the desired elevated position is attained. If desired, the hanger member 42 may be tied by the strand 57 to the gun support arm 53.
The free end of the cable 36 is projected, such as by throwing, over the desired limb 70 of the tree from which the hunter desires to be suspended in his chair 10. If the bough 70 is not too high and the hunter is adequately skilled, he may throw the cable 36 itself over the bough 70. However, preferably, a light line 72, supporting a lead weight 71, shown coiled up and supported on the hook 73 in FIG. 5, is unwound, and the lead weight 71 is thrown over the bough 70, to permit suspension of the hunting chair 10 from a higher position. After the weighted line 72 has been thrown over the bough 70, the other end of the line 72 is tied to the free end of the cable 36, and the cable 36 is pulled over the bough 70 by first pulling the string 72. After the cable 36 is pulled over to its desired position, it is tied to other trees, or to any fixed support, so that the cable 36 will be firmly anchored and will support the hunting chair 10. When the cable 36 is tied off or properly anchored, it is usually completely unwound from the drum 35.
The winch frame 34, in the tied off position, is preferably about shoulder high from the ground and disassembled from the frame member 11. In this position, the bracket plate 32 is slidably moved into engagement with the bracket 33 and locked by the cotter keys 39 or any other convenient latching means. The gun rest arm 53, seat belt 60, and foot rest arm 29 may have been previously attached to the frame member 11, or they may be attached in this position after the bracket plate 32 has been inserted and locked in the bracket 33.
The hunter then places the sling of his rifle over the sling hook 67, sits down upon the seat member 20, places his feet on the foot support rods 30, and secures himself in the chair 10 by buckling the seat belt 60. The hunter grasps the handles 37 and begins winding the winch drum 35 upon the cable 36, thus elevating the chair 10. After the chair frame 11 has reached an elevated position, slightly above the position disclosed in FIG. 1, the hunter ceases winding, and the chair 10 is held in that position by virtue of the locking pawl or dog 40 engaging the gear train 38.
The hunter then disconnects the hanger member 42 from the gun rest strand 57, and seats the hanger bow 44 over the limb 70 by forcing the teeth 45 into the top of the limb, so that the hanger rod 33 depends substantially vertically. The vertical slot 50 in the head frame member 13 is maneuvered to engage and receive the straight hanger rod portion 43 so that the saddle bracket 48 is vertically aligned below the tubular head frame member 13. The hunter then releases the dog 40 and grasps the handles 37 to gradually lower the head frame member 13 into the saddle bracket 48. After the head frame member 13 is properly seated within the saddle bracket 48 so that the hanger member 42 fully sustains the weight of the chair 10 and the hunter, and sufficient slack is developed in cable 36, the winch frame 34 is disassembled from the head frame member 13 by removing the winch bracket 33 from the bracket plate 32. The winch drum 35, now free of the chair frame 11, may be wound upward and locked with the dog 40 to a position above the head frame member 13 and out of the hunter's way.
By grasping the transverse hanger handle 51, the hunter may rotate himself and the chair frame 11 through a full 360° arc about the substantially vertical axis of the hanger rod portion 43, if desired.
When game is sighted, the hunter may remove his rifle from the sling hook 67, grasp the gun rest strand 57 in his left hand by any of the knots 58 and aim his rifle with stability and accuracy.
When the hunter desires to descend, he merely carries out the previous steps in reverse. He lowers the winch frame 34 and attaches it to the bracket plate 32, removes the hanger member 42, lifts the dog 40 and unwinds the winch 35 until he has again reached the ground.
All the parts are then dis-assembled and re-assembled on the back pack disclosed in FIG. 5.
It will be understood that other types of lifting means or devices may be employed instead of the winch 34. For example, the cable 36 could be reeved through a block and tackle assembly, which could be detachably connected to the head frame member 13, if desired.
The hanger member 42 not only provides swivelling action for the chair frame 11 about a 360° arc, but also stabilizes the frame member 11 at the elevated position to prevent free swinging about the limb 70.
The single tubular frame member 11, particularly as it forms the back member 12, gives great freedom of movement, particularly for the arms of the hunter in manipulating his hunting weapon, whether it be a rifle or bow and arrow.
The single frame member 11 also permits the hunter to more easily wrap himself in weatherproofed apparel with a minimum of obstruction from the frame member 11. Applicant has actually used the chair 10 in very cold weather wrapped in a shroud-like cover resembling a large sleeping bag. He has also suspended a kerosene lantern from the bottom of the seat within the shroud, which provides sufficient heat to maintain the hunter in an elevated position in complete comfort for hours.
The single-piece frame member 11, foot rest 29, gun support arm 53, and hanger member 42 provide all the strength that is necessary for the functions of these parts and with a minimum of bulk and weight, therefore facilitating the assembly and manageability of the back pack disclosed in FIG. 5.
This invention relates to a hunting chair, and more particularly to a portable, knock-down chair adapted to be suspended from an overhead support, when assembled.
The advantages of hunting game from an elevated position are well-known. The vision of the elevated hunter is no longer obstructed by underbrush, and in fact, the area of vision is magnified considerably. Furthermore, the elevated hunter is no longer in the line of fire of fellow hunters on the ground. The elevated hunter may fire with increased safety to others, not only because of his better vision, but also because a wasted bullet terminates in the ground within a short distance rather than continuing on an unobstructed course for hundreds of yards above the ground and into the possible path of fellow hunters, other persons, animals or property within the range of the bullet.
In order to obtain the advantage of hunting from an elevated position, hunters sometimes climb a tree and sit upon a limb in a rather perilous and uncomfortable position. Other hunters hunt from pre-constructed elevated blinds or platforms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention overcomes the disadvantages of previously known methods for hunting from an elevated position, by providing a portable, knock-down, hunting chair. The hunting chair made in accordance with this invention is made of lightweight materials and may be easily dis-assembled into elements which can be compactly packaged and transported on the back of the hunter for long distance without undue burden.
The hunting chair made in accordance with this invention is provided essentially with a single bow-shaped frame member such as a single bow-shaped tubular frame. The frame has a substantially upright intermediate back portion terminating in upper and lower forwardly projecting head and seat frame members or arms. A seat member is detachably supported upon the seat frame arm. A lifting device, such as a rotary winch is detachably secured to the head frame arm, and is connected to an elongated cable adapted to be wound and unwound by the winch and having a free end adapted to be thrown or otherwise projected over an overhead support member, such as a tree bough.
A detachable foot rest may be formed of a single rod member declining forward from a tongue member adapted to slip-fit within the open socket end of the seat frame arm and terminating in a pair of foot support rods.
A seat belt is also preferably detachably secured to the back portion of the frame to support the hunter while seated in the chair. The seat belt is also adapted to be detached from the frame and attached to the bottom of the seat member to form part of a shoulder harness after the chair elements are knocked down and secured to the seat member.
A gun rest is also provided in the form of a rod member having a rear tongue member adapted to slip-fit within the open-socket end portion of the head frame arm. The gun support arm is bent to diverge at an angle away from the center plane of the frame. From the front end of the rod member, a strand, preferably knotted or otherwise provided with linearly spaced enlargements, depends to be grasped by the hand of the hunter supporting the rifle in a steady position for aiming and firing.
The hunting chair is also preferably provided with a hanger rod having an upper arcuate portion concave downward to fit over and seat upon the top of a bough of a tree. The lower straight portion of the hanger rod is fitted with a swivel device for attachment to the head frame arm after the chair frame has been elevated to a position adjacent the tree bough. The hunter may turn the chair frame and himself through a 360° arc relative to the tree bough, not only to obtain a panoramic vision, but also to permit aiming and firing in almost any horizontal position.
The single, tubular, bow-shaped chair frame is not only lightweight and strong, but also permits the hunter greater freedom of movement, not only for viewing, but also from manipulating his hunting weapon, whether it be a rifle or a bow and arrow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hunting chair, fully assembled, and suspended in an elevated position from a tree bough;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the seat member fixed to the chair frame in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation of the hanger member and lifting mechanism fixed to the upper portion of the chair frame;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the seat member supporting all of the other elements detached from the chair frame, for transportation on the back of the hunter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the hunting chair 10 made in accordance with this invention includes a chair frame 11, somewhat bow-shaped, and preferably made of a single elongated tubular member. The frame 11 includes a substantially upright intermediate back member 12. The upper end of the back member 12 is bent to form a forward projecting head frame member or arm 13, while the lower end of the back member 12 is bent to form a forward projecting lower or seat frame member or arm 14.
The tubular frame member 11 may be formed of a single integral piece, or it may be separated, as disclosed in FIG. 1 at the line 15 and secured by a tongue and socket connection held together by the pin 17, for convenience in disassembly.
Fixed to and straddling the free end portion of the seat frame member 14 is a seat bracket or bar 18 having apertures 19 therethrough.
Adapted to be secured to the seat frame member 14, is the seat member 20, preferably comprising a cushioned and covered top surface 21 and a flat bottom surface 22. The rear edge of the seat member 20 is notched at 23 to fit against and receive the back frame member 12. The bottom surface 22 is provided with a pair of depending threaded studs 24 adapted to project through the mating apertures 19 and be secured thereto by the wing nuts 25.
The free end of the seat frame member 14 is open to provide a tubular socket 27 for receiving in slip-fit engagement the rear end or tongue portion 28 of foot rest arm 29. The foot rest arm 29 is bent so that it declines forward and terminates in a pair of transverse foot supports or rods 30 at a sufficient distance from the seat frame member 14 to comfortably receive the feet of the occupant of the chair 10. As disclosed in the drawings, the tongue portion 28 of the foot rest arm 29 is also of tubular stock of a diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the tubular socket 27. The tongue portion 28 as well as the declining portion of the foot rest arm 29 are preferably integral.
Fixed to the top portion of the head frame member 13 is a flat, laterally disposed bracket plate 32. Adapted to slidably receive the bracket plate 32 is a channel-shaped bracket 33 fixed upon the winch or winch frame 34. The winch frame 34 supports a rotary drum 35 to which is fixed one end of a flexible linear member, such as the cable 36, adapted to be wound and unwound about the winch drum 35. The winch drum 35 is adapted to be wound and unwound by a pair of manually operated crank handles 37 through a reduction gear train 38. The head frame 13 is spaced above the head of the hunter or occupant of the chair 10, and the handles 37 are readily accessible to the hands of the occupant for winding and unwinding the winch drum 35.
After the winch bracket 33 is slidably moved to operative position over the bracket plate 32, the bracket plate 32 and bracket 33 may be locked in operative position by any convenient means, such as the cotter pins 39.
The gear train 38 is also provided with a stop pawl 40 to lock the winch drum 35 against unwinding.
A hanger member or rod 42 includes a straight rod portion 43 terminating at its upper end in an arcuate hanger bow 44 concave downward and provided on its inner or bottom surface with a plurality of arcuately spaced teeth 45. Fixed on the lower end portion of the hanger rod 42 is an annular swivel bearing 47 rotatably supporting a saddle bracket 48. The saddle bracket 48 is arcuately recessed, concave upward, to receive and support, for rotary movement about the axis of the hanger rod portion 43, the tubular head frame member 13. In order for the saddle bracket 48 to receive the tubular head frame member 13, a vertical slot 50 is formed in one side of the head frame member 13 to receive the straight hanger rod portion 43.
Fixed to the bottom end of the hanger rod 42, is a transverse handle rod 51 for grasping by the occupant in order to turn the chair frame 11 about the vertical axis of the hanger rod 42.
A gun rest arm 53 is also preferably made of tubular stock and is bent at its rear end to form a tongue member 54. The tongue member 54 is adapted to be received in the open free end 55 of the tubular head frame member 13. The connection between the tongue member 54 and the socket portion 55 may be a slip-fit connection and may be held in that position by a transverse pin 56. Another preferred method of securing the tongue 54 in the socket 55 is for the pin 56 to be a fixed transverse rod and the rear end portion of the tongue member 54 to be formed in diametrically opposed bayonet-shaped slots for receiving and engaging the transverse rod 56. The free end of the gun rest arm 53 is provided with a depending rope or strand 57 having spaced knots 58, or other protuberances, for grasping by the left hand of a right-handed hunter, in order to steady the rifle of the hunter while he is seated in the chair 10 for aiming and firing.
A belt bracket or loop 59 is fixed on the back of the back frame member 12 for receiving a seat belt 60 adapted to secure, when fastened, the occupant within the chair 10. The seat belt 60 is provided with a hook slot 61 adapted, when removed from the belt loop 59, to engage hook 62 on the bottom 22 of the seat member 20, so that the belt 60 will then function as one of the shoulder straps for securing the back pack, including the seat member 20, upon the back of the hunter. Another shoulder harness strap 63 is permanently attached at its opposite ends by fastening means, such as screws 64 and 65, to the other side of the bottom surface 22 of the seat member 20.
The bottom 22 of the seat member 20 may also be provided with reel bracket arms 66 about which the cable 36 may be coiled when not in use.
Also secured to the back of the back frame member 12 is a sling hook 67 upon which the sling of a rifle may be held when not in use.
When the hunting chair 10 is not in use, all of the detachable elements normally attached to the frame member 11 are assembled in any convenient method against the bottom surface 22 of the seat member 20 to form a compact back pack, as best disclosed in FIG. 5. Such detachable elements are the foot rest arm 29, seat belt 60, winch frame 34, hanger member 42, gun rest arm 53 and cable 36. If the frame member 11 is a single integral piece, it may be carried in one hand by the hunter, while the seat member 20, in the form of a back pack disclosed in FIG. 5, is supported upon the back of the hunter by the seat belt 60 and the shoulder strap 63. The hunter's rifle may be carried in his other hand, or may also be slung over his back.
If desired, the frame member 11 may be fabricated into two sections, disclosed in FIG. 1 as meeting at the joint line 15. The two frame sections may be secured in a convenient manner upon the back pack, or they may also be carried in the hand. Thus, all of the elements of the hunting chair 10 may be assembled into a single back pack, or all of the elements except the frame member 11 may be assembled into a single back pack.
When the hunter reaches a desired location in the forest beneath a tree where he desires to set up his elevated hunting position, he removes the back pack from his shoulders by slipping off the shoulder strap 63 and the seat belt 60, and proceeds to separate all of the detachable elements, previously mentioned, from the seat member 20. All of these elements are then assembled upon the frame member 11, as disclosed in the drawings, except the hanger member 42. The hanger member 42 is kept separate until the desired elevated position is attained. If desired, the hanger member 42 may be tied by the strand 57 to the gun support arm 53.
The free end of the cable 36 is projected, such as by throwing, over the desired limb 70 of the tree from which the hunter desires to be suspended in his chair 10. If the bough 70 is not too high and the hunter is adequately skilled, he may throw the cable 36 itself over the bough 70. However, preferably, a light line 72, supporting a lead weight 71, shown coiled up and supported on the hook 73 in FIG. 5, is unwound, and the lead weight 71 is thrown over the bough 70, to permit suspension of the hunting chair 10 from a higher position. After the weighted line 72 has been thrown over the bough 70, the other end of the line 72 is tied to the free end of the cable 36, and the cable 36 is pulled over the bough 70 by first pulling the string 72. After the cable 36 is pulled over to its desired position, it is tied to other trees, or to any fixed support, so that the cable 36 will be firmly anchored and will support the hunting chair 10. When the cable 36 is tied off or properly anchored, it is usually completely unwound from the drum 35.
The winch frame 34, in the tied off position, is preferably about shoulder high from the ground and disassembled from the frame member 11. In this position, the bracket plate 32 is slidably moved into engagement with the bracket 33 and locked by the cotter keys 39 or any other convenient latching means. The gun rest arm 53, seat belt 60, and foot rest arm 29 may have been previously attached to the frame member 11, or they may be attached in this position after the bracket plate 32 has been inserted and locked in the bracket 33.
The hunter then places the sling of his rifle over the sling hook 67, sits down upon the seat member 20, places his feet on the foot support rods 30, and secures himself in the chair 10 by buckling the seat belt 60. The hunter grasps the handles 37 and begins winding the winch drum 35 upon the cable 36, thus elevating the chair 10. After the chair frame 11 has reached an elevated position, slightly above the position disclosed in FIG. 1, the hunter ceases winding, and the chair 10 is held in that position by virtue of the locking pawl or dog 40 engaging the gear train 38.
The hunter then disconnects the hanger member 42 from the gun rest strand 57, and seats the hanger bow 44 over the limb 70 by forcing the teeth 45 into the top of the limb, so that the hanger rod 33 depends substantially vertically. The vertical slot 50 in the head frame member 13 is maneuvered to engage and receive the straight hanger rod portion 43 so that the saddle bracket 48 is vertically aligned below the tubular head frame member 13. The hunter then releases the dog 40 and grasps the handles 37 to gradually lower the head frame member 13 into the saddle bracket 48. After the head frame member 13 is properly seated within the saddle bracket 48 so that the hanger member 42 fully sustains the weight of the chair 10 and the hunter, and sufficient slack is developed in cable 36, the winch frame 34 is disassembled from the head frame member 13 by removing the winch bracket 33 from the bracket plate 32. The winch drum 35, now free of the chair frame 11, may be wound upward and locked with the dog 40 to a position above the head frame member 13 and out of the hunter's way.
By grasping the transverse hanger handle 51, the hunter may rotate himself and the chair frame 11 through a full 360° arc about the substantially vertical axis of the hanger rod portion 43, if desired.
When game is sighted, the hunter may remove his rifle from the sling hook 67, grasp the gun rest strand 57 in his left hand by any of the knots 58 and aim his rifle with stability and accuracy.
When the hunter desires to descend, he merely carries out the previous steps in reverse. He lowers the winch frame 34 and attaches it to the bracket plate 32, removes the hanger member 42, lifts the dog 40 and unwinds the winch 35 until he has again reached the ground.
All the parts are then dis-assembled and re-assembled on the back pack disclosed in FIG. 5.
It will be understood that other types of lifting means or devices may be employed instead of the winch 34. For example, the cable 36 could be reeved through a block and tackle assembly, which could be detachably connected to the head frame member 13, if desired.
The hanger member 42 not only provides swivelling action for the chair frame 11 about a 360° arc, but also stabilizes the frame member 11 at the elevated position to prevent free swinging about the limb 70.
The single tubular frame member 11, particularly as it forms the back member 12, gives great freedom of movement, particularly for the arms of the hunter in manipulating his hunting weapon, whether it be a rifle or bow and arrow.
The single frame member 11 also permits the hunter to more easily wrap himself in weatherproofed apparel with a minimum of obstruction from the frame member 11. Applicant has actually used the chair 10 in very cold weather wrapped in a shroud-like cover resembling a large sleeping bag. He has also suspended a kerosene lantern from the bottom of the seat within the shroud, which provides sufficient heat to maintain the hunter in an elevated position in complete comfort for hours.
The single-piece frame member 11, foot rest 29, gun support arm 53, and hanger member 42 provide all the strength that is necessary for the functions of these parts and with a minimum of bulk and weight, therefore facilitating the assembly and manageability of the back pack disclosed in FIG. 5.