SE543390C2

SE543390C2 - A device arranged for attachment to a vertical stand and a method thereof

Info

Publication number: SE543390C2
Application number: SE1851565A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Kent Hansson; Wessel Groothuis
Original assignee: Kent Hansson; Wessel Groothuis
Priority date: 2018-12-12
Filing date: 2018-12-12
Publication date: 2020-12-29
Also published as: SE1851565A1

Abstract

A device (100, 200, 300), arranged for attachment to a vertical stand (640) without damaging the vertical stand. The device uses at least two fixture pads (1 16) with inner surfaces facing towards the vertical stand (640) void of elements, such as spikes, protruding into the vertical stand (640), using at least two fixture rods (118) with ball joints (123) towards the fixture pads (116). The at least two fixture pads (116) together with the at least one strap (120) provides for that the device (100, 200, 300) is fastened to the vertical stand (640).

Description

A DEVICE ARRANGED FOR ATTACHMENT TO A VERTICAL STAND AND A METHOD THEREOF Technical Field The invention relates to a device arranged for attachment to a vertical stand, such as a tree, and a method thereof.

Background Art Today it is commonly known to use different types of devices for reaching a better view when out in nature, e.g. when hunting, bird watching or enjoying nature photography.

In the example of hunting, in order for a hunter to have the best conditions for a successful hunt, it is necessary to have a good view and to be well camouflaged. To overcome these necessities, hunters typically use a fixed shooting tower standing on the ground.

An advantage with the shooting towers is that the hunters reach a higher position and in this way sometimes also a better shooting position. These shooting towers are usually covered by a camouflage rag to give the hunter as much cover as possible.

A drawback with these shooting towers may be that they are usually fixed positioned together with that the camouflage rag might not provide a perfect covering.

Instead of using the fixed shooting stands, there are other arrangements available. One example is having the shooting tower attached to a vertical stand, e.g. a tree, such that the hunter merges with nature in a better way. This arrangement is commonly known as hunting stands or observation stands. Several techniques for attaching the tower to a vertical stand have been presented. There are several advantages using these hunting stands or observation stands, e.g. in that they are more flexible and mobile compared to the fixed shooting towers.

Even if it is known to attach a device to a vertical stand, such as a tree, the prior art does not offer any solutions for mounting and demounting the device in an easy way by one person.

Summary It is an objective to at least partly overcome one or more of the aboveidentified limitations of the prior art. In particular it is an objective to provide a device for attachment to a vertical stand that can easily be mounted and demounted by one person. Further, it is an objective to have the device designed such that this can be securely attached to the vertical stand without damaging this.

Still further, it is an objective to have the device designed such that a permanent need for a ladder can be avoided.

According to a first aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a device, arranged for attachment to a vertical stand, the device may comprise: a main body comprising a first bar, having a first end and a second end; at least two fixture pads attached to the main body, wherein the at least two fixture pads have inner surfaces facing towards the vertical stand, wherein the at least two fixture pads may be void of elements, such as spikes, protruding into the vertical stand, and wherein the at least two fixture pads may be attached to the main body via at least two fixture rods, such that distances between the at least two fixture pads and the main body may be adjustable; and at least one strap, wherein the at least one strap in a closed state may be attached to the first end and the second end of the first bar, and in an open state the at least one strap may be detached from at least one of the first end or the second end of the first bar, wherein the at least two fixture pads together with the at least one strap may provide for that the device is fastened to the vertical stand.

The device may further comprise a second bar, having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end of the second bar may be attached to the first bar.

The third end of the second bar may further be attached perpendicularly to the mid-section of the first bar.

The vertical stand may be a tree.

The fixture pads and the at least one strap may be covered by a rubber material.

The device can provide less damage to the vertical stand compared to known solutions. There are no elements, such as spikes, protruding into the vertical stand, but instead fixture pads and straps can be used. The rubber material, which may cover the fixture pads and the straps, contributes to less damage to the vertical stand. Further, the rubber material also contributes to a flexible and controlled abutment towards the vertical stand.

The device can, when connecting the fixture pads and the fixture rods via a ball joint together with the strap, enable the attachment of the device to be adapted to different circumferences and different shapes of the vertical stand. Further, this may result in that gaps between the device and the vertical stand, which may occur within known solutions, can be avoided.

The device may mainly be manufactured from a lightweight material, such as metal, fiberglass, carbon fiber, plastics or bamboo.

The device provides an enhanced security and a simplified use compared to known solutions, without damaging the vertical stand. The device may mainly be manufactured from a lightweight material and may further be easy for one person to both carry and attach to a vertical stand.

The device may be in a non-tightened state, a height above ground is adjustable, and in a tightened state, the height above ground is fixed.

The device may further comprise a number of mounting devices.

The device may further comprise at least one detachable element or at least one detachable supporting bar attached to the main body via the number of mounting devices, to attach at least one component.

The device may further comprise a length control arrangement.

The length control arrangement can provide for that the detachable elements can be adjusted such that these may form horizontal support for a platform or similar.

The device may be designed to be foldable to a size of a height of 1.5 m or less, a length of 1 m or less, and a width of 1 m or less.

The device may further comprise a pin placed on the main body. The pin may be used for attaching the device to a ladder. After having attached the device to the ladder, by using the pin, the ladder and the device may be leaned against the vertical stand such that the device is positioned with respect to the vertical stand. After having the device positioned, a user may climb up the ladder and attach the device to the vertical stand. After having attached the device to the vertical stand, the ladder and the device may detached from each other such that the ladder can be removed from the vertical stand.

According to a second aspect, it is provided a method, for attaching a device to a vertical stand, wherein the device may comprise a main body comprises a first bar, having a first end and a second end, at least two fixture pads attached to the main body via at least two fixture rods, and at least one strap, wherein the at least one strap can be in a closed state or in an open state, the method may comprise the steps of: detaching the at least one strap from at least one of the first end or the second end of the first bar, such that the at least one strap is set in an open state; placing the main body of the device towards the vertical stand such that the at least two fixture pads are facing the vertical stand; attaching the at least one strap of the device to the first end and the second end of the first bar, such that the at least one strap is set in a closed state and in a non-tightened state; adjusting the at least two fixture pads of the device to fit a shape of the vertical stand; and setting the device in a tightened state by using a tightening device.

The method may further comprise attaching the device to a ladder by using the pin, leaning the ladder towards the vertical stand, and adjusting the height of the device by moving the ladder upwards and downwards with respect to the vertical stand.

Optionally, the height of the device may be adjusted by sliding the device upwards and downwards the vertical stand.

The method may further comprise attaching at least one detachable element to a mounting device or attaching at least one detachable supporting bar to the mounting device.

Still other objectives, features, aspects, and advantages will appear from the following detailed description as well as from the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device where the main body comprises a first bar and a second bar.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another device where the main body comprises a first bar, a second bar, and a third bar.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in fig. 2 with detachable elements mounted thereon.

Fig. 4 illustrates another perspective view of the device illustrated in fig. 3. Fig. 5A illustrates an example of the device in a closed state.

Fig. 5B illustrates an example of the device in an open state.

Fig. 6A illustrates an example of the device in a non-tightened state mounted on a tree.

Fig. 6B illustrates an example of the device in a tightened state mounted on a tree.

Fig. 7 illustrates an example of the device mounted on a tree with a platform component attached to it.

Fig. 8 illustrates an example of the device mounted on a tree with a bench attached to it.

Fig. 9 illustrates an example of the device mounted on a tree with a washing rack attached to it.

Fig. 10 illustrates an example of the device mounted on a tree with antennas attached to it.

Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for attaching the device to a vertical stand.

Detailed description With reference to figure 1, a device 100 arranged for attachment to a vertical stand is generally illustrated by way of example. In this particular example, the device 100 comprises a main body 102, three fixture pads 116 and two straps 120.

The main body 102 can comprise a first horizontal, bar 104 and a second vertical, bar 110. The first bar 104 may have a first end 106 and a second end 108. The second bar 110 may have a third end 112 and a fourth end 114.

The first bar 104 may further comprise a number of mounting devices 124 for support different detachable bars and elements (not shown in the figure, see figure 3-4 for examples).

The first end 106 and the second end 108 may have a strap attachment element 122 for attaching the strap 120 to the first bar 104. However, the strap attachment element 122 may be positioned at any part of the first bar 104. The fourth end 114 may have two strap attachment elements 122 on each side of the second bar 110 for attaching the strap 120 to the second bar 110.

The first bar 104 and the second bar 110 may be built in one section, but may also be built in two or more sections attached to each other. The second bar 110 may be connected perpendicularly to a mid-section of the first bar 104. However, the second bar 110 may be connected to any section of the first bar 104. The first bar 104 and the second bar 110 may also be connected to each other by any angle other than 90 degrees, which is illustrated in this figure.

According to another example, the device 100 may comprise a main body 102, two fixture pads 116 and one strap 120. In this particular example (not shown in any figure), the main body 102 only comprises a first, horizontal, bar 104, having a first end 106 and a second end 108.

The fixture pads 116 can be attached to the main body 102 via fixture rods 118. The fixture pads 116 may be attached to either the first bar 104 or the second bar 110, but they may also be attached to both the first bar 104 and the second bar 110, as illustrated in this figure. The fixture rods 118 may be coupled to the fixture pads 116 via a ball joint (not shown in the figure). The fixture pads 116 together with the fixture rods 118 and the ball joints may be arranged to control the distance between the main body 102 and the vertical stand, such that the fixture pads 116 can be tightly arranged with respect to the vertical stand.

An advantage obtained, by using the fixture pads 116 in combination with the fixture rods 118 and the ball joints, can be that the fixture pads 116 may be positioned towards the vertical stand based on the shape and circumference of the vertical stand.

The fixture pads 116 may be covered by a rubber material or any other material that provide friction without damaging the vertical stand. Further, the fixture pads 116 enable the exclusion of elements, such as spikes, protruding into the vertical stand, such damaging the vertical stand, e.g. a tree, can be avoided.

The strap 120 can be releasably connected to the main body 102 via a strap attachment element 122. The strap 120 may be releasably connected to the first end 106 and the second end 108, as illustrated in this figure, but may also be releasably connected to any part of the first bar 104. The strap 120 may also be releasably connected to the fourth end 114 via a strap attachment element 122.

The strap 120 may be a chain or a belt, which may be a piece of woven material.

The strap 120 can comprise a tightening device 126 that can be used for controlling the distance between the strap 120 and the vertical stand. The strap 120 may be in a tightened or a non-tightened state, which is illustrated in figure 5A and 5B.

The fixture pads 116 together with the strap 120 can be arranged such that the device 100 can be fastened to the vertical stand in a tight and secure manner.

An advantage obtained by using the fixture pads 116 together with the strap 120 is that the device 100 can be fixed to the vertical stand without causing damages.

The device 100 may further comprise a pin (not shown in the figure). The pin may be positioned at the mid-section of the first bar 104. The pin may be used for attaching the device 100 to a ladder. After having attached the device to the ladder, the ladder can be placed towards the vertical stand at a desired height. When attaching the device 100 to the ladder in this way the device 100 may easily be positioned at different heights of the vertical stand and attached to the vertical stand by one person only.

The main body 102 may be placed towards the vertical stand. The fixture pads 116 may be facing towards the vertical stand and the strap 120 may be placed around the vertical stand.

When the device 100 is attached to the vertical stand, the strap 120 can be tightened and fixed to the vertical stand by using the fixture pads 116 and the tightening device 126.

The device 100 may mainly be manufactured of a lightweight material such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, plastics, bamboo, or metal, such as Aluminum.

An advantage obtained by using a lightweight material is that the device can be carried and mounted as well as demounted by one person.

The first bar 104 may have a curved shaped as illustrated in fig. 1, although other shapes are possible. The second bar 110 may have a straight shape as illustrated in fig. 1, although other shapes are possible.

The fixture pads 116 may be disc-shaped as illustrated in fig. 1, although other shapes are possible (such as rectangular, quadratic, or triangular shape).

The device 100 may be designed to be foldable to a size of a height of 1.5 m or less, a length of 1 m or less, and a width of 1 m or less. Put differently, the device may be folded such that this can be fitted in a carrying bag measuring 1.5 m or less x 1 m or less x 1 m or less. When the device 100 is foldable to this size it may be easy for one person to carry the device 100. One option is that the carrying bag is a backpack.

Figure 2 illustrates another example of a device 200 arranged for attachment to a vertical stand. The difference between the device 200 illustrated in fig 2 and the device 100 illustrated in figure 1 is that the device 200 comprises a third horizontal bar 238 located at an opposite end of the second bar 110 compared to the first bar 104.

The third bar 238 may be built in one section together with the first bar 104 and the second bar 110. However, the three bars 104, 110, 238 may also be built in two or more sections attached to each other.

The second bar 110 may be connected perpendicularly to the mid-section of the third bar 238. However, the second bar 110 may be connected to any section of the third bar 238. The second bar 110 and the third bar 238 may also be connected to each other by any angle than 90 degrees, which is illustrated in this figure. The first bar 104 and the third bar 238 may be parallel The third bar 238 may have a curved shaped as illustrated in fig. 2, although other shapes are possible as well.

Referring to figure 3 and 4, a device 300 according to yet another example is illustrated. In this example, the device 300 further comprises two detachable elements 330 and two detachable supporting bars 332.

The detachable elements 330 may be attached to the main body 102 via mounting devices 124 positioned at the first bar 104. The detachable elements may be detachable arms as illustrated in fig. 3. Another option is that the detachable elements are components, e.g. pieces of board.

The detachable supporting bars 332 may be connected to the detachable elements 330 via a peripheral supporting element mounting elements 336 and to the main body 102 via a number of mounting devices 124 positioned at the third bar 238.

The device 102 can comprise a length control arrangement 338. The length control arrangement 338 may enable the angle between the detachable supporting bars 332 and the main body 102 to be adjustable. When adjusting the angle between the detachable supporting bars 332 and the main body 102, the angle between the detachable elements 330 and the main body 102 may be 90 degrees. To compensate for that the angle has been amended, lengths of the detachable supporting bars 332 may be changed using supporting bar length control devices 328.

The detachable elements 330 and the detachable supporting bars 332 may be designed to enable attachment of the components or other types of objects. Figures 7-10 illustrates different examples of arrangements that can be attached to the device 300. These are just examples and the device 300 is not restricted to these arrangements.

An advantage obtained by using the length control arrangement 338 can be that the detachable elements may be positioned horizontal and further the attached platform component or object may be horizontal as well.

The device 300 may be constructed to withstand pulling force and weight of at least one person.

Figure 5A illustrates the device 100 illustrated in fig. 1 in further detail. More particularly, the device 100 is illustrated in a closed state 500A. The closed state may be described as that the strap 120 is attached to the first bar 104 via the strap attachment element 122.

If the device 100 comprises more than one strap 120, the closed state may be described as when all straps 120 are attached to the main body 102 via strap attachment element 122.

Figure 5B illustrates the device 100 illustrated in fig. 1 in an open state 500B. The open state may be described as that the strap 120 is detached from the first bar 104 via the strap attachment element 122. In figure 5B, the strap 120 is detached from both the first end 106 and the second end 108. However, the device 100 may also be in an open state even if the strap 120 only is detached from one of the first end 106 and the second end 108.

If the device 100 comprises more than one strap 120, the open state may be described as when at least one of the two ends of each strap 120 is detached from the main body 102.

Figure 6A illustrates the device 100 in a non-tightened state 600A. The nontightened state may be described as that the device 100 is in the closed state 500A and that there is a distance between the device 100 and the vertical stand 640. The distance between the main body 102 and the vertical stand 640 may be adjusted by the fixture pads 116 together with the fixture rods 118. The distance between the strap 120 and the vertical stand 640, may be adjusted by using the tightening device 126.

Figure 6B illustrates the device 100 in a tightened state 600B. The tightened state may be described as the device 100 is tightly closed around the vertical stand 640 such that the device 100 is fixedly arranged. In the tightened state, there is ideally no distance, i.e. void space, between the device 100 and the vertical stand 640.

By way of example, fig. 7 illustrates a tower 700 comprising the device 300 illustrated in fig. 3 and a platform component 742 attached to the detachable elements 330. In order to arrange the platform component 742 in horizontal position the length control arrangement 338 may be used.

The tower 700 further comprises a safety railing and a ladder to easily reach the platform component 742.

It should be noted that the shape of the platform component 742 is just an example and any shapes may be possible. It should also be noted that the platform component 742 may be in one section or may be in different sections attached to the device 700 separately.

The platform component 742 may be manufactured of a lightweight material, such as a fiber laminated honeycomb core, although other lightweight materials are possible as well.

By way of example, fig. 8 illustrates a bench 800 comprising the device 100 illustrated in fig. 1 attached to the vertical stand 640, and a bench section 842, which may be attached to the device 100 via the mounting devices 124.

By way of example, fig. 9 illustrates a drying rack system 900 attached to a vertical stand 640 by using the device 200 illustrated in fig. 2. The drying rack system 900 comprises a drying rack 942 which may be attached to the device 200 via the mounting devices 124.

By way of example, fig. 10 illustrates an antenna system 1000 attached to the vertical stand 640 by using the device 200 illustrated in fig. 2. The antenna system 1000 comprises antennas 1042 which may be attached to the device 200 via the mounting devices 124.

In figure 11 it is presented a flowchart illustrating a method 1100 for attaching a device 100 to a vertical stand. In a first step 1102, the at least one strap 120 may be detached from at least one of the first end 106 and the second end 108 of the main body 102. In a second step 1104, the main body 102 can be placed towards the vertical stand, optionally with help of a ladder, such that the at least two fixture pads 116 are facing the vertical stand. In a third step 1106, the at least one strap 120 may be attached to the main body 102. In a fourth step 1108, adjusting the fixture pads 116 for the device 100 to fit the vertical stand. In a fifth step 1110, the device 100 may be set in a tightened state.

Optionally, in a sixth step 1112, at least one detachable element 330 or at least one detachable supporting bar 332 may be attached to the main body 102. From the description above follows that, although various embodiments of the invention have been described and shown, the invention is not restricted thereto, but may also be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject-matter defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A device (100, 200, 300), arranged for attachment to a vertical stand (640), comprising: - a main body (102) comprising a first bar (104), having a first end (106) and a second end (108); - at least two fixture pads (116) attached to the main body (102), wherein the at least two fixture pads (116) have inner surfaces facing towards the vertical stand (640), wherein the at least two fixture pads (116) are void of elements, such as spikes, protruding into the vertical stand (640), and wherein the at least two fixture pads (116) are attached to the main body (102) via at least two fixture rods (118), such that distances between the at least two fixture pads (116) and the main body (102) are adjustable; and - at least one strap (120), wherein the at least one strap (120) in a closed state (500A) is attached to the first end (106) and the second end (108) of the first bar (104), and in an open state (500B) the at least one strap (120) is detached from at least one of the first end (106) or the second end (108) of the first bar (104), wherein the at least two fixture pads (116) together with the at least one strap (120) provides for that the device (100, 200, 300) is fastened to the vertical stand (640).

2. The device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 1, comprising a second bar (110), having a third end (112) and a fourth end (114), wherein the third end (112) of the second bar (110) is attached to the first bar (104).

3. The device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 2, wherein the third end (112) of the second bar (110) is attached perpendicularly to the mid-section of the first bar (104).

4. The device (100, 200, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vertical stand (640) is a tree.

5. The device (100, 200, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two fixture pads (116) and the at least one strap (120) are covered by rubber material.

6. The device (100, 200, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the device (100, 200, 300) is selected from the group consisting of metal, fiberglass, carbon fiber, plastics or bamboo.

7. The device (100, 200, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (100, 200, 300) in a non-tightened state (600A), a height above ground is adjustable and in a tightened state (600B), the height above ground is fixed.

8. The device (100, 200, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main body (102) further comprising a number of mounting devices (124).

9. The device (100, 200, 300,) according to claim 8, wherein at least one detachable element (330) or at least one detachable supporting bar (332) are attached to the main body (102) via the number of mounting devices (124), to attach at least one component.

10. The device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 9, wherein the device comprises a length control arrangement (338).

11. The device (100, 200, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (100, 200, 300) is designed to be foldable to a size of a height of 1.5 m or less, a length of 1 m or less, and a width of 1 m or less.

12. A method (1100), for attaching a device (100, 200, 300) to a vertical stand (640), wherein the device (100, 200, 300) comprising a main body (102) comprising a first bar (104), having a first end (106) and a second end (108), at least two fixture pads (116) attached to the main body (102) via at least two fixture rods (118), and at least one strap (120), wherein the at least one strap (120) can be in a closed state (500A) or in an open state (500B), the method comprising the steps of: - detaching the at least one strap (120) from at least one of the first end (106) or the second end (108) of the first bar (104), such that the at least one strap (120) is set in an open state (500B); - placing the main body (102) of the device (100, 200, 300) towards the vertical stand (640) such that the at least two fixture pads (116) are facing the vertical stand (640); - attaching the at least one strap (120) of the device (100, 200, 300) to the first end (106) and the second end (108) of the first bar (104), such that the at least one strap (120) is set in a closed state (500A) and in a non-tightened state (600A); - adjusting the at least two fixture pads (116) of the device (100, 200, 300) to fit a shape of the vertical stand (640); and - setting the device (100, 200, 300) in a tightened state (600B) by using a tightening device (126).

13. The method (1100) according to claim 12, wherein the device (100, 200, 300) is used as a construction base, further comprising the steps of attaching at least one detachable element (330) to a mounting device (124) or attaching at least one detachable supporting bar (332) to the mounting device (124).