Tree suspended enclosure

United States Patent

[”] 3,545,461

<td> [72]</td><td> Inventor</td><td> Everett R. Carlson 940 Lashley, Boulder, Colorado 80302</td>

<td> [21]</td><td> Appl. No.</td><td> 754,026</td>

<td> [22]</td><td> Filed</td><td> Aug. 20,1968</td>

<td> [45]</td><td> Patented</td><td> Dec. 8,1970</td>

<td> 1,116,074</td><td> 11/1914</td><td> Jones.........................</td><td> 135/1</td>

<td> 1,411,272</td><td> 4/1922</td><td> Eaton........................</td><td> 135/IX</td>

<td> 1,557,382</td><td> 10/1925</td><td> Sundback..................</td><td> I35/1UX</td>

<td> 1,581,180</td><td> 4/1926</td><td> Csajaghy et al............</td><td> 135/8X</td>

<td> 1,897,382</td><td> 2/1933</td><td> Blair..........................</td><td> 135/IX</td>

<td> 2,849,010</td><td> 8/1958</td><td> Marino......................</td><td> 135/8</td>

[54] TREE SUSPENDED ENCLOSURE

Claims, 8 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S.C1......................................... 135/1,

135/8

[51] tot. Cl.........................................................A45f 01/00,

A45f03/04, A45f 04/04

[50] Field of Search............................................ 135/1,8

[56] References Cited

UNITED STATES PATENTS 23,582 4/1859 Johns.......................... 135/1

255,093 3/1882 Wittenberg................... 135/8

Primary Examiner—Peter M. Caun

Attorneys—Clarence A. O’Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson

ABSTRACT: A device when suspended from a tree in an upright position above the ground forms a shelter for a person and when supported on the ground in an upright position may serve as a blind or other similar-type shelter for a hunter or sportsman. The device when supported in a horizontal position from a tree or other upright support provides a shelter hammock for campers or sportsmen. The exterior of the device may carry designs such as a rocket ship or other space vehicle to be attractive to children to thereby be used as a toy.

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PATENTEDoec 81970 3’545’461

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PATENTED DEC 81970 3 545 461

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PATENTED DEC 81970 3:545/461

SHEET 3 OF 3

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Everett R. Car/son

INVENTOR.

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3,545,461

2

TREE SUSPENDED ENCLOSURE

Heretofore shelters that sportsmen could carry on their backs were limited to small tents that were pitched on the ground. In order to insulate against the coldness of the ground or dampness from rain, etc. heavy waterproof insulating ground cloths were required to be carried along with the portable closure. Also, such tents would not readily lend themselves to use as a blind or similar protection.

The present invention relates to a collapsible tentlike structure that is means to be supported in three positions. The first position would be in an upright position suspended from a tree limb or other point above the surface of the ground. When thus suspended it provides a shelter free of ground conditions or marauding animals for a sportsman. A second position of support would be in an upright position resting on the ground. When in this position it could serve as a duck blind or other shelter from the elements for use by a person seated therein. A third position would be supported horizontally between a number of trees or other vertical supports wherein the flexible tentlike structure could then serve as a hammock providing protection from insects and rain. The device folds compactly onto its supporting base and is strapped thereto so that it may be carried on the back of the user. Thus the shelter is extremely portable and can be carried by a hunter or hiker. When carried on the back of the sportsman other supplies may be enclosed within the flaps so as to provide a single carrying device for both the shelter and such supplies. The device also readily lends itself to use as a toy by children, since in its supported position on takeoff, it would represent a rocket prior to launch and in its suspended position above the ground it would simulate a rocket shortly after takeoff, and similarly the horizontal position could represent the rocket in flight. A simple change in the exterior decoration of the tent to simulate a rocket would enhance the appeal of the device as such a toy.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple but unique portable enclosure for sportsmen.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a portable enclosure to protect sportsmen that can be easily transported by the user.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a portable enclosure for sportsmen that can be supported above the ground to protect the user from undesirable ground conditions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a portable enclosure that can be supported on the ground for use as a duck blind.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a portable enclosure for sportsmen that can be utilized as a hammock to protect the user from the elements and insects.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a portable enclosure for sportsmen that can be utilized as a container for supplies when carried on the back.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device suspended above the ground for use as a vantage point or protected enclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device supported in a horizontal position for use as a hammock.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cutaway perspective view of the device showing the details of construction.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cutaway perspective of one of the upper comers of the device showing the rolled up flap and other details of construction.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base of the device showing the hinge points and backpacking straps as well as the packing flaps.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device partially folded up into a backpack.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view partly in section of the device completely folded and carried on the back of a user.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the device with outside decoration resembling that of a space capsule for use by children as a toy.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the enclosure. The enclosure is comprised of two main parts, the framework 12 and the tentlike covering 14 which covers the frame thereby producing the enclosure. The framework 12 has a main suspension rope 16'which is fixed at one end to the four free ends of two main comer support ropes or lines 18, which extend under the enclosure, by a knot 20 or other such fastening means. A rigid upper brace 22 is substantially square in shape and has a hole 24 at the four comers thereof. The comer ropes 18 are threaded through the holes in the brace 22 thereby providing a spacer for the ropes and rigid support for the tentlike covering. Four knots 26 are tied in each of the comer ropes to support the brace 22 in the proper position. Also mounted on the comer ropes are two pairs of spacer links 28,28 and30,30. The links 28,28 are shorter than the links 30,30 and are mounted on the front and back of the comer ropes, while the longer links 30,30 are mounted on the sides thereof. The links have apertures in the ends thereof through which are threaded the comer ropes 18. A knot 32 is tied in each of the comer ropes at the same distance from the upper knots 26 to space the four links at the proper height. The four links being thus disposed to extend and brace the comer ropes 18, while providing a framework on which to support a sling seat 34. The sling seat 34 has a main web 36 that is attached to the side links 30,30 and a rear web 38 which is mounted at one end to the rear link 28 and at the free end thereof is attached to the midpoint of the main web 36.

A bottom or floor assembly 40 lies in a plane parallel to the planes determined by the links 28,28 and 30,30 and the plane defined by the rigid upper brace 22. The floor assembly 49 compriser a large front floor section 42 and a smaller rear floor section 44, and the two sections being hinged together along a common side 45 by the hinges 46. The hinges are located on the underside of the sections and when opened out the sections form a rectangle. With the floor sections 42 and 44 opened out to form the rectangular floor assembly, a hole 48 is located adjacent each comer thereof, and an externally extending loop 50 is located at each comer of the assembly. The corner ropes 18 then extend downwardly from the knots 32 and through the holes in the floor assembly 48. The two forward comer ropes 18 form a loop under the front edge of the front floor section 42 and are protected from chafing and wear by a U-shaped channel section 52 which extends across the width of the floor assembly between the holes 48. Similarly, the rear two comer ropes form a loop under the rear edge of the rear floor section 44 of the floor assembly and are similarly protected by a channel 52 thereon. Since the hinges 46 are on the underside of the floor assembly, any weight placed on the top of the floor assembly would farther rigidify the floor assembly and would not collapse it. This arrangement of the hinge and floor sections 42 and 44 permits a large rectangular floor area when the enclosure is in use and permits the floor assembly to fold into a smaller area for back packing or storage. There are two holes 54 drilled through the front edge of the floor section 42 spaced inwardly of the holes 48 along the front edge thereof, for the attachment of a rope ladder 56 to provide access to the enclosure when it is suspended above the ground. The rope ladder 56 thereby provides access for the enclosure when suspended without the need to carry any other climbing apparatus and could be detachable therefrom to be used for other situations.

The packing apparatus 58 is attached to the underside of the rigid base or floor assembly. At the front edge of the floor section 42 a large flap 60 is attached across the width thereof inside of the channel 52 and the rope ladder 56. A flap 62 of the same size and configuration as the front flap 60 is attached to the rear of the floor assembly along the edge of floor section 44 also within the U-shaped channel 52 attached thereto. Two side flaps 64 are attached along the sides of floor detachable 42 from the hinge point to the front edge thereof. Four packing straps 66 are attached to the floor assembly in spaced

3,545 relation, one pair behind each side flap 64 along the side of the front floor section 42. One end of each opposed pair of straps has a buckle 68 thereon to facilitate the strapping down of the collapsed enclosure and other supplies that may be desired to be attached to the folded floor assembly. A shoulder harness 70 is attached to the underside of section 42 of the floor assembly, and comprises two pair of straps 72 extending in parallel relationship to the long sides of the section 42 and adapted to receive the arms of the person carrying it therethrough. As thus described it can be seen that when the framework 12 is suspended from a tree by the main suspension rope 16 the framework 22, the links 28,28 and 30,30, and the rigid floor assembly 40 stretch the comer ropes 18 into rigid support members for the tentlike structure that is draped over the framework. To facilitate erecting the enclosure, a large weighted hook 74 is mounted on the end of the suspension rope 16 to provide a convenient means to throw the rope over the limb of a tree and form a loop around the trunk of a tree, as shown in FIG. 1.

The tentlike covering 14 is adapted to slip over the framework 12. The top of the tentlike structure is composed of four equal triangular panels or sections 76. Since the rigid upper brace 22 is square in cross section the panels 76 form a pyramidlike structure with their angular seams meeting along the ropes 18 and their lower edges coinciding with the brace 22. A front panel or section 78 of the tentlike structure is adapted to be attached to the lower edge of a panel 76 and extend downward to the rigid platform. A zipper 80 is attached to the middle of the front panel 78 and extends from a point slightly above the front link 28 down to the lower edge of the panel so that when opened it provide easy access into the interior of the enclosure for a person climbing up the ladder 56. The lower edge of the panel 78 has a loop 79 sewn therein on each side of the zipper whose function will be described hereinafter. A long zipper 82 is arranged in a U-shape to begin at the upper edge of the panel 78 and run parallel to the edge thereof and extend across the width of the section slightly above the end of zipper 82 and then up the opposite edge of the panel 78 to terminate at a point parallel to the original point ofthe zipper. The zipper 82 thus forms a U-shaped flap 84 on the upper half of the front panel 78. The flap 84 has a window 86 on the lower half thereof which may have a screened insert so that the window may be opened from the inside and air allowed to circulate therethrough without insects being permitted into the interior. A strap 88 is attached near the upper edge of the front section 78, its attaching point being parallel to the ends of the zipper 82, and the strap hangs down in parallel relation to the sides of the zipper. Thus, when the zipper 82 is open the flap 84 can be rolled upwardly and the strap 88 extended outwardly around the roll and then tucked inwardly between the inside of the panel 78 and cross brace 22 to hold the flap 84 in its rolled up configuration. This is shown in detail in FIG. 4. A rear panel or section 90 of the tentlike structure is substantially the same in size as the front panel 78 and is similarly attached to the lower edge of a triangular panel 76. The only difference between the front panel 78 and the rear panel 90 is that there is no need for the zipper on the rear panel. Also, the lower edge of the panel 90 adjacent the rigid platform 40 is hemmed so as to form a closed loop therealong. A side panel or section 92 of the tentlike structure is adapted at its upper edge to attach to a lower edge of a triangular section 76 and extend downwardly to a lower edge adjacent the rigid platform 40, with the side edges thereof attached on one side to the front section 78 and on the opposite side to be connected to the rear section 90. The side section 92 has an elongated zipper 94 which begins at a point near the upper edge of the section and extends parallel to a side thereof to a point adjacent the lower edge of the flap 86 on the front section 78, where the zipper then extends across the section 92 and upward along the opposite side thereof to a point where it ends adjacent the beginning of the zipper. The zipper 94 thus forms a U-shaped flap 96 similar to the flaps in the front and rear sections. A window 98 is located in the lower ,461 portion of flap 96 and is held therein by a zipper 100. A screened insert is normally provided in such windows in tents so that the window may be lowered into the interior of the tent with the screened insert left therein to prevent insects from getting in. The lower edge of the section 92 is hemmed to form a closed loop 102 like the loop along the lower edge of the front section 78 and the rear section 90. A strap 104 is attached in the same relative position as the strap 88 on the front section 78 and is attached at its upper edge near the end ofthe zipper 94. Thus, the flap 96 can be rolled upwardly and the strap 104 extended around the roll and fastened on the interior of the tent between the upper brace 22 and the section 92. While one side section 92 has been described it is understood that the two side sections are identical. Having thus been described, the tentlike structure is shown as providing an outline substantially conforming to the outline of the supporting framework. The lower edges of the front section 78 and the two side sections 92 and the rear section 90 have a loop thereon forming a loop along the lower edges of the four sides thereof. A rope 106 is threaded through this loop, and the rope is used as a drawstring so that when the tentlike structure is arranged over the frame the loop with the rope therein extends just below the surface of the rigid floor assembly 40, and when the drawstring or rope 106 is pulled tightly the tentlike structure will be attached thereon. To provide a completely waterproof interior, a rubber rain stop 108 is provided on the top of the enclosure. The rubber rain stop 108 is conicalshaped with a hole 110 through the apex thereof which is smaller in circumference than the thickness of the main suspension rope 16. Thereby, when the rain stop is slipped over the rope 16 into place at the apex of the four sides 76 the rope will be sealingly engaged in the hole 110 and the rain will be prevented from entering the apex of the flaps 76 where the rope 16 enters therein.

Four auxiliary ropes 112 are attached to the external eyelets 50 at the exterior comers of the rigid floor assembly 40 to aid in the maintaining of the enclosure in a stable condition when it is erected for use. In FIG. 1 the enclosure is shown suspended by the main suspension rope 16 mounted over the limb of a tree and fastened to the trunk to raise the enclosure off the ground. The four auxiliary ropes 112 are stretched radially outward from the base to maintain the enclosure in a steady position. The ladder is then extended to the ground to provide access to the enclosure. Thus mounted the enclosure provides an elevated vantage point or could serve to get above damp or marshy ground, or provide safety from marauding animals. A second mounting position is possible in this configuration. The rope can be allowed to slip over the branch until the rigid floor section of the enclosure is in contact with the ground. In this position the enclosure is much like that of an ordinary tent. In this configuration, however, the guy ropes 112 would be stretched out along the surface of the ground to maintain the enclosure in a stable position, while the tension on the main support rope 16 would be maintained to hold the framework in an erected position. A third mounting position is shown in FIG. 2 wherein the enclosure is used as a hammock with full protection being afforded therein from mosquitoes or the elements, much like a “jungle tent”. In this mounting position the main support rope 16 is secured to the trunk of one tree while the auxiliary ropes 112 on the front surface of the enclosure are attached in spaced relation on one tree and the auxiliary ropes 112 on the rear of the enclosure are attached to another tree in spaced relation. This being accomplished, the side link 30 which would now be orientated on the lower surface of the hammock, is removed or slid upward on the comer ropes 18 so as tabe out of the way of a person reclining on the side section 92 of the hammock. Similarly, the zipper 80 when opened, provides easy access into and out of the enclosure in this hammock mounting position.

The folding of the enclosure for back packing or storage thereof can be readily is folded by referring to FIG. 6. The main support rope 16 is detached from wherever mounted and the rigid floor assembly 40 is folded with the section 44

3,545,461 thereof being folded under the section 42 and laid on the ground. This being accomplished, the framework 12 and the tentlike covering 14 are allowed to collapse in folding relationship on the top surface of floor section 42. The guy ropes 112 are also folded or coiled onto the top of the pile of the tentlike covering 14. At this point if desired, supplies of clothing or other articles usually carried by a person utilizing this device may then be deposited on the top of the pile. With everything desired to be enclosed thereon the front and rear flaps, 60 and 62 respectively, and the side flaps 64 are then folded upwardly over the pile created therebetween. When the four flaps have been overlapped on the top of the pile the packing straps 66 are then engaged and firmly drawn down tightly thereon. This creates a tight bundle or pack as is shown in FIG. 7. With the pack thus firmly tied together the user can suspend it from his shoulders by means of the pair of packing straps 70. From the procedure in packing the enclosure, it can readily be seen the ease and simplicity of erecting the enclosure when it is desired to be used. The reverse procedure would be followed, that is, the straps 66 would be unbuckled and laid out flat on the ground, and the four flaps would then similarly be removed from the top of the pile. Any other articles that have been packed thereon would then be removed and the main support rope 16 would be thrown over a limb by means of the heavy weighted hook 74. The rope would then be drawn upwardly until the structure had erected itself by means of the inner framework 12. The rope 16 would then be secured to the trunk of a tree with the enclosure suspended at whatever height desired- The tightening of the drawstring 106 and the securing of the ropes 112 would then complete the installation.

While the enclosure has been disclosed as a vantage point for sportsmen or hammock to be used outdoors, it can readily be seen from the configuration in FIG. 8 that the enclosure has great merit as a toy or amusement device for children. As seen therein, the structure remains basically the same except that suitable indicia or designs would be applied to the four sides of the tentlike structure. Similarly, if desired, the four flaps that hang down from the rigid floor assembly could be configured to represent flames such as would be the exhaust of a rocket. The device as configured could be mounted in any one of the three aforementioned positions to be utilized by children representing in the second position mentioned above a rocket shortly before launching. The first position mentioned above would represent the rocket shortly after blastoff, while the third or hammock position mentioned above could represent the rocket in flight. Further, it can readily be seen that the device would be utilized by children as a tree house, tent on the ground, or hammock to sleep in. The various uses of such a configuration would be limited only by the imagination of the children using it.

While the rigid floor assembly 40 has been disclosed as a two-part section, it can readily be seen that a section similar to 44 could be hinged to section 42 in front thereof in the same manner thereby providing a larger floor area for the tent enclosure. This, similarly points out that the dimensions of the enclosure may be expanded or contracted as the needs of the user require by simple and obvious modification of the basic structure disclosed herein.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, failing within the scope of the invention.