Tree Climbing Stick Coupler for Secure Nesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tree climbing stick nesting systems fail to securely lock sticks together, leading to movement and noise during transportation, and are cumbersome to use.

Innovation Solution

A tree climbing stick nesting system comprising a stick body with a step and standoff for tree engagement, and a coupler with mating members that securely orient and connect multiple stick assemblies, reducing noise and facilitating storage and transportation by allowing parallel alignment of stick axes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing nesting systems are used to connect tree climbing sticks, then the sticks can be nested together for storage and transport, but the sticks are not securely locked and move against each other causing noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of connectionVSAvoidnoise during transportation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The nesting system is designed to be self-aligning and self-securing. The recess in the distal end of one stick receives the protrusion from another stick, automatically aligning and securing the connection without requiring additional locking mechanisms or user intervention beyond the initial nesting action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The tree climbing sticks are designed with nested geometry where one stick contains a recess at its distal end that receives the protrusion of another stick. This nested structure allows multiple sticks to be compactly stored while maintaining secure connections that prevent movement and noise during transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If existing nesting systems are used to connect tree climbing sticks, then the sticks can be nested together, but the connecting means are not easily manipulated and the nesting process becomes onerous and frustrating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of nesting operationVSAvoidease of manipulation of connecting means

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is segmented into two distinct components: a protrusion element on one stick and a recess element on the other stick. This segmentation allows each component to be independently designed for optimal manipulation - the protrusion can be easily inserted into the recess, making the nesting process quick and frustration-free.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex locking mechanisms that require multiple steps, the design inverts the approach by using a simple protrusion-recess interface. The protrusion actively engages with the recess, creating a secure connection through a single intuitive motion rather than requiring manipulation of separate locking components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11808085B2Tree stick climbing stick nesting system

Publication Date: 2023.11.07 TETHRD INC

AI summary

A tree climbing stick nesting system includes a plurality of tree climbing stick assemblies each including a stick body. A step and a standoff are each attached to the stick body. A coupler is attached to the stick body and releasably secures together a pair of the tree climbing stick assemblies to define secured tree sticks such that longitudinal axes of the secured tree sticks are orientated parallel to each other. The coupler includes a first mating member and a second mating member. The first mating member of one of the tree climbing stick assemblies is vertically engageable with the second mating member of another one of the tree climbing stick assemblies when the stick bodies of the secured tree sticks are vertically orientated.