Tree section lowering assembly

1. A tree section lowering assembly comprising:

a support member having a first side, an opposing second side, a first end, and an opposing second end;

a plurality of rung members extending from the first side of the support member, each of the plurality of rung members having an outer surface configured to facilitate a frictional, sliding engagement with an interlaced rigging line;

a reinforcement member extending from the second side of the support member and configured to structurally support the support member;

an upper line guide extending from a rung member at the located first end of the support member, the upper line guide having a spiral shape;

a lower line guide extending from a different rung member located at the second end of the support member, the lower line guide having a spiral shape; and

a rigging line connected at a first end to a tree section, an opposing second end retained by an operator, and an intermediate portion engaged with the plurality of rung members, wherein a wrap of the rigging line around each of the plurality of rung members is no greater than 180°.

2. The tree section lowering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member includes a plurality of attachment apertures configured to facilitate attachment of the tree section lowering assembly to a stable structure.

3. The tree section lowering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member includes a plurality of cutouts configured to reduce a weight of the tree section lowering assembly.

4. The tree section lowering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member has a length that extends beyond an outermost rung member.

5. The tree section lowering assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rung members has a longitudinal axis that forms an angle of about 90° with a longitudinal axis of the support member.

6. The tree section lowering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rung members includes opposing outermost rung members and a plurality of inner rung members, and wherein the outermost rung members have a solid cylindrical form.

7. The tree section lowering assembly of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of inner rung members have a hollow cylindrical form.

8. The tree section lowering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member extends from one outermost rung member to an opposing outermost rung member.

9. The tree section lowering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member includes a plurality of apertures configured to reduce a weight of the tree section lowering assembly.

10. The tree section lowering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member, the plurality of rung members and the reinforcement member are formed as a unitary, one piece structure.

11. A method of using a tree section lowering assembly comprising the steps of:

attaching the tree section lowering assembly to a stable structure, the tree section lowering assembly have a plurality of rung members extending from a support member, an upper line guide extending from a rung member located at a first end of the support member and having a spiral shape and a lower line guide extending from a different rung member located at a second end of the support member and having a spiral shape;

extending a rigging line from a ground location through the plurality of rung members of the tree section lowering assembly in an interlacing manner;

extending the rigging line from the tree section lowering assembly and securing the rigging line to a section of the tree to be removed and lowered to a ground surface;

separating the section of the tree to be removed and lowered to a ground surface from the tree;

tensioning the rigging line;

facilitating a frictional, sliding engagement of the interlaced rigging line with the plurality of rung members, thereby controlling lowering of the section of the tree to the ground surface, wherein a wrap of the rigging line around each of the rung members is no greater than 180°.

12. The method of using a tree section lowering assembly of claim 11 , including the step of attaching the tree section lowering assembly using any of a plurality of attachment apertures positioned in the support member.

13. The method of using a tree section lowering assembly of claim 11 , including the step of inserting a plurality of cutouts into the support member, the plurality of cutouts configured to reduce a weight of the tree section lowering assembly.

14. The method of using a tree section lowering assembly of claim 11 , including the step of extending a length of the support member beyond an outermost rung member.

15. The method of using a tree section lowering assembly of claim 11 , including the step of forming an angle of about 90° between a longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of rung members and a longitudinal axis of the support member.

16. The method of using a tree section lowering assembly of claim 11 , including the step of forming outermost rung members having a solid cylindrical form.

17. The method of using a tree section lowering assembly of claim 11 , including the step of forming inner rung members having a hollow cylindrical form.

18. The method of using a tree section lowering assembly of claim 11 , including the step of forming a reinforcement member adjacent the support member, wherein the reinforcement member extends from one outermost rung member to an opposing outermost rung member.

19. The method of using a tree section lowering assembly of claim 18 , including the step of forming a plurality of apertures in the reinforcement member, the plurality of apertures configured to reduce a weight of the tree section lowering assembly.

20. The method of using a tree section lowering assembly of claim 18 , including the step of forming the support member, the plurality of rung members and the reinforcement member are formed as a unitary, one piece structure.