Integral tree stand

Abstract

An integral tree stand, disposable on a trunk of a tree, includes a seat assembly being rearwardly directed, facing the trunk of the tree when disposed on the trunk of the tree and being spaced apart from the trunk of the tree, thereby accommodating a person seated on a seat assembly seat and facing the trunk of the tree.

1 . An integral tree stand, disposable on a trunk of a tree, a rear portion of the tree stand being disposable adjacent to the trunk of a tree and a front portion of the tree stand being disposable extending from the trunk of a tree, the tree stand comprising: 
 a platform assembly having a platform, a first side of the platform being a support surface and having a second opposed side of the platform, the platform being defined by a rear, proximal margin, a pair of spaced apart side margins, and a front, distal margin;    a transverse support assembly operably coupled to the platform assembly proximate the rear, proximal margin of the platform and disposed substantially transverse to the platform when disposed on the trunk of the tree; and    a seat assembly being rearwardly directed and having a first mounting means for operably coupling the seat assembly to the platform assembly, the seat assembly being disposable spaced apart from the support surface in a disposition proximate the front, distal margin of the platform.    
   
   
       2 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , the seat assembly being shiftable between a collapsed disposition proximate the platform and the elevated disposition.  
   
   
       3 . The tree stand of  claim 1  the seat assembly having a main support pivotally coupled at a proximal end to the platform.  
   
   
       4 . The tree stand of  claim 3  the seat assembly having a transverse support pivotally coupled at a proximal end to the transverse support, a distal end of the transverse support being pivotally coupled to a distal end of the main support.  
   
   
       5 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , the first mounting means being disposed proximate the platform distal margin for mounting the seat assembly in a rearward direction and a second mounting means operably coupled to the platform and being disposed proximate the platform proximal margin for mounting the seat assembly in a forward direction as desired.  
   
   
       6 . An integral tree stand, disposable on a trunk of a tree, comprising: 
 a seat assembly being rearwardly directed, facing the trunk of the tree when disposed on the trunk of the tree and being spaced apart from the trunk of the tree, thereby accommodating a person seated on a seat and facing the trunk of the tree.    
   
   
       7 . The tree stand of  claim 6 , including: 
 a platform assembly having a platform, a first side of the platform being a support surface and having a second opposed side of the platform, the platform being defined by a rear, proximal margin, a pair of spaced apart side margins, and a front, distal margin;    a transverse support assembly operably coupled to the platform assembly proximate the rear, proximal margin of the platform and disposed substantially transverse to the platform when disposed on the trunk of the tree; and    the seat assembly having a first mounting means for operably coupling the seat assembly to the platform assembly, the seat assembly being disposable spaced apart from the support surface in a disposition proximate the front, distal margin of the platform.    
   
   
       8 . The tree stand of  claim 6 , the seat assembly being shiftable between a collapsed disposition proximate the platform and the elevated disposition.  
   
   
       9 . The tree stand of  claim 6  the seat assembly having a main support pivotally coupled at a proximal end to the platform.  
   
   
       10 . The tree stand of  claim 9  the seat assembly having a transverse support pivotally coupled at a proximal end to the transverse support, a distal end of the transverse support being pivotally coupled to a distal end of the main support.  
   
   
       11 . The tree stand of  claim 6 , the first mounting means being disposed proximate the platform distal margin for mounting the seat assembly in a rearward direction and having a second mounting means operably coupled to the platform and being disposed proximate the platform proximal margin for mounting the seat assembly in a forward direction as desired.  
   
   
       12 . A method of forming a tree stand, disposable on a trunk of a tree, comprising: 
 disposing a seat assembly in a rearward directed disposition facing the trunk of the tree when disposed thereon and spacing the seat assembly apart from the trunk of the tree.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , including shifting the seat assembly between a collapsed disposition proximate a platform and the elevated disposition as desired.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  including pivotally coupling a main support of the seat assembly at a proximal end to the platform.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  including pivotally coupling a transverse support of the seat assembly at a proximal end to the transverse support and pivotally coupling a distal end of the transverse support to a distal end of the main support.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , including operably coupling a first mounting means to a platform proximate a platform distal margin for mounting the seat assembly in a rearward direction and operably coupling a second mounting means to the platform proximate a platform proximal margin for selectively mounting the seat assembly in a forward direction as desired.  
   
   
       17 . A rear facing seat kit for use with an integral tree stand, the integral tree stand having an operably coupled platform assembly and transverse support assembly and being disposable on a trunk of a tree, comprising: 
 a seat assembly being rearwardly directed, facing the trunk of the tree when disposed on the trunk of the tree and being spaced apart from the trunk of the tree, thereby accommodating a person seated on a seat and facing the trunk of the tree, the seat assembly being operably couplable to the platform assembly and disposable in an erect hunting disposition spaced apart from the platform assembly proximate a distal margin of the platform assembly.    
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 17 , including; 
 a transverse support assembly operably coupled to the platform assembly proximate the rear, proximal margin of the platform and disposed substantially transverse to the platform when disposed on the trunk of the tree; and    the seat assembly having a first mounting means for operably coupling the seat assembly to the platform assembly, the seat assembly being disposable spaced apart from the support surface in a disposition proximate the front, distal margin of the platform.    
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 17  the seat assembly having a main support pivotally coupled at a proximal end to the platform and having a transverse support pivotally coupled at a proximal end to the transverse support, a distal end of the transverse support being pivotally coupled to a distal end of the main support.  
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 17 , the first mounting means being disposed proximate a platform assembly distal margin for mounting the seat assembly in a rearward direction and having a second mounting means operably coupled to the platform assembly and being disposed proximate a platform proximal margin for mounting the seat assembly in a forward direction as desired.