Portable treestand and climbing stick system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treestand systems are either too heavy and bulky due to the use of cast metals, which are brittle and prone to catastrophic failure, or they are lightweight but noisy and lack structural integrity, making them unsafe and ineffective for hunting.
Innovation Solution
A portable treestand system is designed using a monolithic platform and climbing sticks made from strengthened metal, such as aluminum alloys, with CNC machining to create structural supports and weight reduction apertures, reducing weight while maintaining strength and silence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If cast metal platforms are used to minimize weld points, then noise is reduced, but the platform becomes heavier and bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using pre-strengthened aluminum alloy plates with specific temper designations (e.g., T6, T651) that provide both strength and ductility. This allows the platform to be made from thinner, lighter material while maintaining structural integrity and reducing noise from material flexing, thereby resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and weight reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by combining strengthened aluminum alloy plates with structural supports and webbing patterns that create a lightweight yet strong platform. This composite approach allows the platform to achieve the strength of cast metal without the weight and brittleness, while also minimizing noise through the distributed structure that reduces flexing.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If cast metal platforms are used to minimize weld points, then noise is reduced, but the platform becomes more prone to catastrophic failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using pre-strengthened aluminum alloy plates with specific temper designations (e.g., T6, T651) that provide both strength and ductility. This allows the platform to be made from thinner, lighter material while maintaining structural integrity and reducing noise from material flexing, thereby resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and weight reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates design features that prevent catastrophic failure by using ductile materials that bend rather than shatter, and by creating a structure with multiple load paths through the webbing pattern and structural supports. This beforehand cushioning approach ensures that if one element fails, the structure remains intact, resolving the reliability concern while maintaining noise reduction.
3Weight of moving object
If lightweight metal tubes with welded steps are used, then weight is reduced, but noise increases and structural integrity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using pre-strengthened aluminum alloy plates with specific temper designations (e.g., T6, T651) that provide both strength and ductility. This allows the platform to be made from thinner, lighter material while maintaining structural integrity and reducing noise from material flexing, thereby resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and weight reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by combining strengthened aluminum alloy plates with structural supports and webbing patterns that create a lightweight yet strong platform. This composite approach allows the platform to achieve the strength of cast metal without the weight and brittleness, while also minimizing noise through the distributed structure that reduces flexing.
4Weight of moving object
If lightweight metal tubes with welded steps are used, then weight is reduced, but structural integrity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using pre-strengthened aluminum alloy plates with specific temper designations (e.g., T6, T651) that provide both strength and ductility. This allows the platform to be made from thinner, lighter material while maintaining structural integrity and reducing noise from material flexing, thereby resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and weight reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by combining strengthened aluminum alloy plates with structural supports and webbing patterns that create a lightweight yet strong platform. This composite approach allows the platform to achieve the strength of cast metal without the weight and brittleness, while also minimizing noise through the distributed structure that reduces flexing.
Data Source
AI summary
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. 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.