Apparatus and methods for attaching objects to trees

Abstract

Devices and methods for attaching objects to living trees. Various forms of the devices employ a flexible member and mounting member that are configured to be looped and secured around a tree portion at a beginning of a predetermined time period. The mounting member and flexible member are configured to slide relative to each other to accommodate growth of the tree portion such that the device remains secured to the tree portion for at least the duration of the predetermined period of time without the need for human intervention. In other embodiments, the mounting member is integrally formed with the object or no mounting member is employed.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus for securing an object to a portion of a living tree that includes an expected circumference at a predetermined period of time, said apparatus comprising:
 a cable including a first end and a second end and a length that is greater than the expected circumference of the living tree portion at an end of the predetermined period of time;   a mounting member having a first portion secured to said first end of said cable, said mounting member further having an opening therethrough that is dimensioned to receive said second end of said cable therethrough after the cable has been wrapped around a portion of the tree portion; and   at least one springless friction generating member configured to be secured in a sliding frictional engagement onto a portion of said cable extending beyond said opening in said mounting member to cinch the cable around the tree portion, said at least one friction generating member dimensioned so as to interact with said mounting member as the tree portion expands to thereby permit said cable portion to frictionally slip relative to said friction generating member.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said at least one friction generating member is configured relative to said opening in said mounting member such that said at least one friction generating member is unable to pass through said opening. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the mounting member comprises a portion of the object. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the mounting member is configured to support the object. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a hanger member supportable on at least one of said mounting member and said cable and wherein the hanger member is configured to support the object. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the object is attachable to the hanger member with a fastener arrangement selected from the group of fastener arrangements consisting of screws, bolts, adhesive, clamps, paper fastener brads, and double-sided tape. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one springless friction generating member comprises at least one ferrule. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of said at least one springless friction generating member comprises:
 a disc-like body; and   a friction hole through said disc-like body, said friction hole sized relative to said cable portion to establish said sliding frictional engagement therewith as said cable portion extends therethrough.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising an access slot extending from an outer perimeter of said disc-like body to said friction hole. 
     
     
         30 . Apparatus for securing an object to a portion of a living tree at a fixed elevation_that includes an expected circumference at a predetermined period of time, said apparatus comprising:
 a cable including a first end and a second end and a length that is greater than the expected circumference of the living tree portion at an end of the predetermined period of time;   a mounting member secured to said first end of said cable;   a friction generating hole through said mounting member sized to receive therein a portion of said cable therethrough in sliding frictional engagement, said friction generating hole defining a hole axis; and   an access slot extending from an outer perimeter of said mounting member to said friction generating hole along a slot axis that is substantially transverse to said hole axis to enable the cable portion to be inserted into said friction-generating hole in said frictional sliding engagement therewith to cinch the cable to the tree portion such that as the tree portion expands, the cable is configured to frictionally slide through said friction generating hole while remaining cinched to the tree portion.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the access slot has a first width at the outer perimeter of the mounting member and a second width wherein the access slot meets the friction generating hole and wherein the second width is less than the first width. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the second width is less than a diameter of the friction generating hole. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the friction generating hole extends through the mounting member at an acute angle relative to at least one outer surface of the mounting member. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the access slot has opposing teeth formed on each side thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the mounting member is configured to support the object. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising a hanger member supportable on at least one of said mounting member and said cable and wherein the hanger member is configured to support the object. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the object is attachable to the hanger member with a fastener arrangement selected from the group of fastener arrangements consisting of screws, bolts, adhesive, clamps, paper fastener brads, and double-sided tape. 
     
     
         38 . Apparatus for securing an object to a portion of a living tree at a fixed elevation that includes an expected circumference at a predetermined period of time, said apparatus comprising:
 a mounting member comprising a first hole therethrough and a second hole therethrough;   a cable including a first end and a second end and a length that is greater than the expected circumference of the living tree portion at an end of the predetermined period of time, the first end extending through said first hole in said mounting member and said second end extending through said second hole in said mounting member;   at least one first friction generating member configured to be secured in a sliding frictional engagement onto a portion of said cable extending beyond said first hole in said mounting member, said at least one first friction generating member dimensioned so as to interact with said mounting member as the tree portion expands to thereby permit said cable portion to frictionally slip relative to said at least one first friction generating member; and   at least one second friction generating member configured to be secured in a sliding frictional engagement onto another portion of said cable extending beyond said second hole in said mounting member to cinch the cable to the tree portion, said at least one second friction generating member dimensioned so as to interact with said mounting member as the tree portion expands to thereby permit said cable portion to frictionally slip relative to said at least one second friction generating member.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein at least one of said at least one first friction generating member and said at least one second friction generating member is springless. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the object is attachable to the mounting member with a fastener arrangement selected from the group of fastener arrangements consisting of screws, bolts, adhesive, clamps, paper fastener brads, and double-sided tape.