Bolt-mounted shelf for use with hunters' tree stands

摘要

A shelf is mountable on a crank-shaped support that threads into the trunk of a tree, preferably in association with a hunter's tree stand. The crank-shaped support forms a threaded lag bolt at one end, perpendicular to an intermediate crank arm. At the opposite end of the crank arm from the lag bolt, an elongated mounting portion protrudes outwardly relative to the tree. When the lag bolt is threaded into the tree trunk, the crank arm depends vertically. The shelf part has a receptacle such as a square tube along the underside of a planar shelf part that receives the mounting portion of the crank-shaped support. Complementary non-round cross sections of the mounting portion and the tube hold the planar member horizontal to support items in convenient reach of the hunter. The planar shelf part can have an upwardly protruding rim around its perimeter or at least partly bounding the available surface and confining the items. The lag bolt is threaded into the tree in a cranking motion, preferably to a depth where friction resists further rotation. The weight of an item aligned to the crank arm does not tilt the shelf because the force is along the crank arm. If the item is laterally off center, rotation of the mounted shelf and consequent tilting of the shelf are minimized because the shelf is spaced well below the rotation axis, namely the axis of the lag bolt. Rotation is also resisted frictionally. Affixation to the tree is quick and easy due to the leverage provided by the intermediate length of the crank when rotating the lag bolt. No tools are required. The crank member can be dimensioned to fit within the contour of the planar shelf part for easy transport. A round handle receptacle can be placed upon the mounting portion and grasped when turning the crank. The support minimizes dropping of items by the hunter and thus avoids the need to descend to retrieve dropped items.