Folding climbing stirrup

Abstract

A folding stirrup for use with a climbing tree stand utilizes a peg pivotally mounted to a bracket attached to the support arms of the stand such that the peg may be selectively moved between a stowed position and a working position wherein a user's feet maybe inserted between the platform, the peg, and the support arm to manipulate the platform.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A folding stirrup for use with a climbing tree stand, wherein the tree stand includes inclined arms connecting the outer portion of a platform portion of the stand with the tree, comprising:
 a. A bracket adapted for securement to one of said inclined arms and   b. A peg pivotally secured to said bracket for selective movement between a stowed position parallel to said one of said inclined arms and a work position perpendicular to said one of said inclined arms.   
     
     
         2 . A folding stirrup as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said bracket includes at least one wall having an upper portion formed in an arc with said peg pivotally secured to said one wall and including a flange along at least one side of said peg, said flange engaging said upper portion to constrain the pivotal movement of said peg relative to said bracket. 
     
     
         3 . A folding stirrup as defined in  claim 2  wherein said bracket comprises said at least one wall, an integral connecting base and a second wall parallel said at least one wall and spaced therefrom to receive said inclined arm therebetween, said at least one wall and said second wall having aligned apertures therein for receiving a connector passing through said apertures and said inclined arm. 
     
     
         4 . A folding stirrup as defined in  claim 3  wherein said peg is secured to said at least one bracket by said connector passing through said apertures and a pivot aperture formed proximate a first end of said peg. 
     
     
         5 . A folding stirrup as defined in  claim 4  wherein said peg has an elongated web portion bounded in part by said flange, said first end of said peg defined by a face of said elongated web being coextensive in width with said at least one wall and a second end of said peg defined by said face of said elongated web having a width less than said at least one wall, with said flange extending from a point on said upper portion along an outer margin of said elongate web about said second end of said peg on both sides of said second end. 
     
     
         6 . A folding stirrup as defined in  claim 5  wherein said flange extends perpendicular to each face of said web such that rotational movement of said peg about said bolt in a first direction is limited by abutment of said flange formed on said second end with said at least one wall when in said work position and rotation of said peg about said bolt in an opposite direction is limited by abutment of said flange formed on said first end with said at least one wall when in said stowed position. 
     
     
         7 . A folding stirrup as defined in  claim 5  further comprising a protuberance formed on said face of said web in said first end of said peg and a receptacle for said protuberance formed on said at least one wall, wherein said protuberance is selectively moved into registration with said receptacle by movement of said peg in said first direction to said work position. 
     
     
         8 . A folding stirrup for use with a climbing tree stand, wherein the tree stand includes inclined arms connecting the outer portion of a platform portion of the stand with the tree, comprising:
 a. A bracket including a first wall and a second wall integrally connected to a base portion for receiving one of said inclined arms there in and adapted for securement to said one of said inclined arms and   b. A peg pivotally secured to said bracket for selective movement between a stowed position parallel to said one of said inclined arms and a work position perpendicular to said one of said inclined arms, said peg defined by an elongated web having a flange extending perpendicular thereto about a portion of the periphery thereof such that such that rotational movement of said peg in a first direction is limited by abutment of said flange with said first wall when in said work position and rotation of said peg in an opposite direction is limited by abutment of said flange with said first wall when in said stowed position.   
     
     
         9 . A folding stirrup as defined in  claim 8  further comprising a protuberance formed on said face of said web and a receptacle for said protuberance formed on said first wall, wherein said protuberance is selectively moved into registration with said receptacle by movement of said peg in said first direction to said work position and into abutment with an edge of said first wall when in said stowed position. 
     
     
         10 . A folding stirrup as defined in  claim 9  wherein said peg includes a first end defined by a face of said elongated web being coextensive in width with said at least one wall and a second end defined by said face of said elongated web having a width less than said first wall, with said flange extending from a point on said first end along an outer margin of said elongate web about said second end of said peg on both sides of said second end.