IP Library › Granted Patent US 12662875
Granted Patent B2
US 12662875 · App. 17/890,182 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Climbing stick with unitary step and tree engaging structure

Inventors: Mario Trafficante, Jr. (Sussex, WI); Daniel M. Infalt (Helenville, WI)
Assignee: HBTek, Inc.
E06C1/381A01M31/02E06C1/34E06C1/38A63B27/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12662875
App. No.
17/890,182
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A climbing system includes a treestand and a plurality of climbing sticks. The treestand includes a monolithic platform formed from strengthened material. Each of the climbing sticks includes a frame having a plurality of weight-reduction apertures formed therethrough. Tree engaging structures include ramped surfaces to facilitate smooth downward sliding on a tree. Methods of manufacturing a treestand and climbing sticks are also disclosed. The method of manufacturing a treestand includes providing a solid, strengthened piece of material and removing portions of the material to form openings between structural supports. The method of manufacturing a climbing stick includes providing a frame and forming a plurality of weight-reduction apertures therethrough.

Claims (78)

1 . A tree climbing stick comprising:

a frame having a top portion, an opposite bottom portion, a front facing surface extending from said top portion to said bottom portion, a rear facing surface opposite said front facing surface, said rear facing surface extending from said top portion to said bottom portion of said frame;

a first rigid fastener; and

a first monolithic structure rigidly affixed to said top portion of said frame with said first rigid fastener, said first monolithic structure including a first tree engaging structure and a first step;

a second monolithic structure rigidly affixed to said bottom portion of said frame, said second monolithic structure including a second tree engaging structure and a second step;

a second rigid fastener; and wherein

said frame, said first rigid fastener, said first monolithic structure, said second rigid fastener, and said second monolithic structure, together, form a rigid body;

said first tree engaging structure includes a first portion extending away from a first side of said frame, said first portion of said first tree engaging structure defining at least two teeth adapted to bite into a tree; and

said first tree engaging structure includes a second portion extending away from a second side of said frame, said second portion of said first tree engaging structure defining at least two teeth adapted to bite into a tree.

2 . The tree climbing stick of claim 1 , wherein:

said first monolithic structure defines a first aperture extending in a first direction; and

said top portion of said frame is disposed through said aperture.

3 . The tree climbing stick of claim 2 , wherein:

said first monolithic structure defines a second aperture extending in a second direction that is perpendicular to said first direction;

said top portion of said frame defines a third aperture extending in said second direction;

said third aperture of said frame is coaxially aligned with said second aperture of said first monolithic structure; and

said first rigid fastener is disposed through said second aperture and said third aperture, thereby fastening said first monolithic structure to said frame.

4 . The tree climbing stick of claim 3 , wherein:

said third aperture extends from said front facing surface of said frame into said frame;

said rear facing surface of said frame defines a fourth aperture extending from said rear facing surface of said frame into said frame; and

said first rigid fastener is disposed through said second aperture, said third aperture, and said fourth aperture.

5 . The tree climbing stick of claim 1 , wherein said frame is tubular.

6 . The tree climbing stick of claim 5 , wherein:

said first monolithic structure defines a first aperture extending in a first direction; and

said top portion of said frame is disposed in said first aperture.

7 . The tree climbing stick of claim 6 , wherein:

said first monolithic structure further defines a second aperture extending in a second direction that is perpendicular to said first direction;

said top portion of said frame defines a third aperture extending in said second direction;

said third aperture of said frame is coaxially aligned with said second aperture of said first monolithic structure; and

said first rigid fastener is disposed through said second aperture and said third aperture, thereby fastening said first monolithic structure to said frame.

8 . The tree climbing stick of claim 1 , wherein:

said top portion of said frame includes a planar top end surface;

said first monolithic structure includes a planar top surface; and

said planar top end surface of said frame and said planar top surface of said first monolithic structure are coplanar.

9 . The tree climbing stick of claim 1 , wherein said first monolithic structure defines a recess configured to cradle a frame of another tree climbing stick.

10 . The tree climbing stick of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two teeth of said first portion of said tree engaging structure and at least one of said two teeth of said second portion of said first tree engaging structure have points that are defined by an acute angle.

11 . The tree climbing stick of claim 1 , wherein said second monolithic structure and said first monolithic structure are geometric duplicates of one another.

12 . The tree climbing stick of claim 5 , wherein:

said top portion of said frame defines a first aperture;

said first monolithic structure defines a second aperture that is coaxially aligned with said first aperture;

said first rigid fastener is disposed through said first aperture and said second aperture;

said bottom portion of said frame defines a third aperture;

said second monolithic structure defines a fourth aperture that is coaxially aligned with said third aperture; and

said second rigid fastener is disposed through said third aperture and said fourth aperture.

13 . The tree climbing stick of claim 1 , wherein:

said first step includes a first portion extending away from said first side of said frame; and

said first step includes a second portion extending away from said second side of said frame.

14 . The tree climbing stick of claim 13 , wherein:

said first portion of said first step includes an upper surface;

said second portion of said first step includes an upper surface;

said first tree engaging structure includes an upper surface; and

said upper surface of said first portion, said upper surface of said second portion, and

said upper surface of said first tree engaging structure are all coplanar.

15 . The tree climbing stick of claim 14 , further comprising:

a second monolithic structure cut from a single piece of material and rigidly affixed to said bottom portion of said frame, said second monolithic structure including a second tree engaging structure and a second step;

said second step includes a first portion extending away from said first side of said frame and a second portion extending away from said second side of said frame.

16 . The tree climbing stick of claim 1 , wherein

said first monolithic structure is cut from a single solid piece of material; and

said second monolithic structure is cut from a single solid piece of material.

17 . A tree climbing stick comprising:

a frame having a top portion, an opposite bottom portion, a front facing surface extending from said top portion to said bottom portion, a rear facing surface opposite said front facing surface, said rear facing surface extending from said top portion to said bottom portion of said frame;

a first rigid fastener; and

a first monolithic structure rigidly affixed to said top portion of said frame with said first rigid fastener, said first monolithic structure including a first tree engaging structure and a first step; and wherein

said frame, said first rigid fastener, and said first monolithic structure, together, form a rigid body;

said first tree engaging structure includes a first portion extending away from a first side of said frame, said first portion of said first tree engaging structure defining at least two teeth adapted to bite into a tree; and

said first tree engaging structure includes a second portion extending away from a second side of said frame, said second portion of said first tree engaging structure defining at least two teeth adapted to bite into a tree;

said first step includes a first portion extending away from said first side of said frame;

said first step includes a second portion extending away from said second side of said frame;

said first portion of said first step includes an upper surface;

said second portion of said first step includes an upper surface;

said first tree engaging structure includes an upper surface; and

said upper surface of said first portion, said upper surface of said second portion, and

said upper surface of said first tree engaging structure are all coplanar.

18 . The tree climbing stick of claim 17 , wherein said first monolithic structure is cut from a single solid piece of material.

19 . The tree climbing stick of claim 17 , wherein:

said first monolithic structure defines a first aperture extending in a first direction; and

said top portion of said frame is disposed through said aperture.

20 . The tree climbing stick of claim 17 , wherein at least one of said two teeth of said first portion of said tree engaging structure and at least one of said two teeth of said second portion of said first tree engaging structure have points that are defined by an acute angle.