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Option for climbing platform

I’ve been holding out for a long time on sharing this, but in 2021 myself and a friend patented a SaddleClimber design and are working with a saddle company. I am not allowed to share the name of the company yet. That’s about all I can say for now other than it is highly functional and you guys are getting warmer… I’m stoked to share more but I can’t yet.

I don't know if this helps at all, but I use the treestand stabilizer straps on my modded Lone Wolf Sit and Climb climbing platform with the short end buckles girth hitched through MOLLE loops on my saddle. I pull them just about tight at my standing height.

Using two stabilizer straps lengthened so is better protection against the platform getting away from you and hung up out of reach than a single line.

I disconnect them once I attach my platform cam strap.

The thing to remember is to unbuckle those straps before you step off your platform when you've climbed down, lol.

Also, rigid footholds vs webbing or rope loops seem to have two advantages, on paper. Freeing feet if something goes wrong doesn't require loosening or cutting anything and they are solidly responsive to your moves without any extra steps like cinching straps down. I've never tried bungee (bungee and zip tie), that would probably answer the mail on safety but it's an extra thing to set up on a small platform where touching toes may be a challenge and they would require maintenance.

Anyway, I'm sure you've put together a great plan already and can't wait to see what you've patented.
 
This is a cool idea. I want it to be a lot lighter of course, but...

Is the hand part better for climbing than just using a saddle to sit in while lifting the base?

I'm also wondering about adding a little foot/platform extension to the foot bar, so that you have more foot room should you need/want to stand or pivot for a shot. Wouldn't need much. Just a little bit of aluminum tubing that flops over and is supported by amsteel or cables.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
 
I’ve been holding out for a long time on sharing this, but in 2021 myself and a friend patented a SaddleClimber design and are working with a saddle company. I am not allowed to share the name of the company yet. That’s about all I can say for now other than it is highly functional and you guys are getting warmer… I’m stoked to share more but I can’t yet.

I'm guessing it's called the SaddleClimber(tm) then?

Sure you don't want to name it after something from 80's underoos. It's a proven marketing ploy.
 
Call it a moment of weakness

Haha I get it.

That said, if your patent has been granted, and your IP is as tight as you are telling yourself, no harm in sharing at this point. Worst case someone comes up with an idea you can monetize. Best case you can avoid the reputation hit of hinting at secrets!
 
Sam's Stealth climb...ing hand climber aid?
No, not really. This is a really old method of building a hand climber. I learned about it a while back on leatherwall. When loggy first cam out with their climbers, they didnt offer a climbing aid. People started building these and using them with bakers and loggys. Heres the thread from the leatherwall: https://leatherwall.bowsite.com/TF/lw/thread2.cfm?threadid=318297&category=88#4800121

At one point, API offered one in the golden buck series of gear that was extremely similar, just with an aluminum handle. I think one could be made very well with an amsteel daisy chain and almost soft shackle like setup of some sort as well.

Actually works quite well. and the wholes setup is just over 14lbs. I got to work out some kinds still though, the foot rest is surprisingly squeaky in the cold, and i'm still trying to figure out the balance point for the foot straps to climb and hone in the whole method.
 
No, not really. This is a really old method of building a hand climber. I learned about it a while back on leatherwall. When loggy first cam out with their climbers, they didnt offer a climbing aid. People started building these and using them with bakers and loggys. Heres the thread from the leatherwall: https://leatherwall.bowsite.com/TF/lw/thread2.cfm?threadid=318297&category=88#4800121

At one point, API offered one in the golden buck series of gear that was extremely similar, just with an aluminum handle. I think one could be made very well with an amsteel daisy chain and almost soft shackle like setup of some sort as well.

Actually works quite well. and the wholes setup is just over 14lbs. I got to work out some kinds still though, the foot rest is surprisingly squeaky in the cold, and i'm still trying to figure out the balance point for the foot straps to climb and hone in the whole method.

Neat.

My dad had both Baker and Loggy. He used to climb and I sat at the base of a tree with orders not to move an inch. Can't remember what his rig was, stock or some diy. He had a friend who was pretty innovative with gear, maybe he picked something like that up from him. I'll have to ask.

It's fun seeing (learning of) this kind of thing.
 
Neat.

My dad had both Baker and Loggy. He used to climb and I sat at the base of a tree with orders not to move an inch. Can't remember what his rig was, stock or some diy. He had a friend who was pretty innovative with gear, maybe he picked something like that up from him. I'll have to ask.

It's fun seeing (learning of) this kind of thing.
Yeah, theres a lot of really neat stuff thats already been done to solve problems we are still having today....but without the web at that point, you had to actually talk to people to learn about it. IT took me 5 minutes to build that hand climber...simple and works great...
 
Haha I get it.

That said, if your patent has been granted, and your IP is as tight as you are telling yourself, no harm in sharing at this point. Worst case someone comes up with an idea you can monetize. Best case you can avoid the reputation hit of hinting at secrets!
That’s fair and your right. I probably shouldn’t have said anything. The reality is this is my first go round ever patenting anything and it’s been an exciting process is all. I’m just a normal guy who makes his living as a youth pastor. There’s a lot I have learned through the process and much I still have to learn. I don’t expect to make much $ off of this, but the endeavor was worth it just in who we were able to interact with along the way. And I think it would be really cool to see our design available to the public one day. We made 4 different prototypes and finally landed on one that we felt was a winner. We made a video and shared it with a company who was excited to partner with us. Due to their request that’s all I can say for now. And honestly the timing of when it comes to market is completely out of my control. It might not be for a long time… Again, lessons learned.

So like you said, it’s dumb to tease and I don’t want that reputation but perhaps here is a takeaway:

I’d recommend anybody to go after their ideas and if you don’t have time start your own company there may be a company already in existence who would be excited to partner with you. I’ve sat on many ideas for far too long and this process showed me I can have fun and DIY stuff, make prototypes, and if I happen upon a winner of an idea maybe I could even make some money in the process..but that’s bonus. I love the idea, design and prototype phase which is also why I love this forum - it’s filled with guys like me.
again, sorry for being that guy!
 
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That’s fair and your right. I probably shouldn’t have said anything. The reality is this is my first go round ever patenting anything and it’s been an exciting process is all. I’m just a normal guy who makes his living as a youth pastor. There’s a lot I have learned through the process and much I still have to learn. I don’t expect to make much $ off of this, but the endeavor was worth it just in who we were able to interact with along the way. And I think it would be really cool to see our design available to the public one day. We made 4 different prototypes and finally landed on one that we felt was a winner. We made a video and shared it with a company who was excited to partner with us. Due to their request that’s all I can say for now. And honestly the timing of when it comes to market is completely out of my control. It might not be for a long time… Again, lessons learned.

So like you said, it’s dumb to tease and I don’t want that reputation but perhaps here is a takeaway:

I’d recommend anybody to go after their ideas and if you don’t have time start your own company there may be a company already in existence who would be excited to partner with you. I’ve sat on many ideas for far too long and this process showed me I can have fun and DIY stuff, make prototypes, and if I happen upon a winner of an idea maybe I could even make some money in the process..but that’s bonus. I love the idea, design and prototype phase which is also why I love this forum - it’s filled with guys like me.

My dream one day would be to instead of licensing an idea, rather start my own company - I’m not at that point yet, but I trust I’ll know when the timing is right.

again, sorry for being that guy!
So everyone is searching the web for the patent? LOL.
 
That’s fair and your right. I probably shouldn’t have said anything. The reality is this is my first go round ever patenting anything and it’s been an exciting process is all. I’m just a normal guy who makes his living as a youth pastor. There’s a lot I have learned through the process and much I still have to learn. I don’t expect to make much $ off of this, but the endeavor was worth it just in who we were able to interact with along the way. And I think it would be really cool to see our design available to the public one day. We made 4 different prototypes and finally landed on one that we felt was a winner. We made a video and shared it with a company who was excited to partner with us. Due to their request that’s all I can say for now. And honestly the timing of when it comes to market is completely out of my control. It might not be for a long time… Again, lessons learned.

So like you said, it’s dumb to tease and I don’t want that reputation but perhaps here is a takeaway:

I’d recommend anybody to go after their ideas and if you don’t have time start your own company there may be a company already in existence who would be excited to partner with you. I’ve sat on many ideas for far too long and this process showed me I can have fun and DIY stuff, make prototypes, and if I happen upon a winner of an idea maybe I could even make some money in the process..but that’s bonus. I love the idea, design and prototype phase which is also why I love this forum - it’s filled with guys like me.

My dream one day would be to instead of licensing an idea, rather start my own company - I’m not at that point yet, but I trust I’ll know when the timing is right.

again, sorry for being that guy!
I just hope it's not tethrd, and is instead one of the companies that prioritizes manufacturing and testing over profits. While still being profitable.
 
Seeing the summit open shot from earlier with the welded aluminum I thought about the climber I just got in the mail yesterday. I purchased the new XOP sit and climb style climber. I feel like you could easily do the open shot mod to the seat also and have the benefit of it folding flat. I may give it a try.

 

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Seeing the summit open shot from earlier with the welded aluminum I thought about the climber I just got in the mail yesterday. I purchased the new XOP sit and climb style climber. I feel like you could easily do the open shot mod to the seat also and have the benefit of it folding flat. I may give it a try.


Don't know how it's working out for him, but...28B06726-49DB-469F-92B2-8A20B87FA3C1.pngC3FE6586-A070-4EA3-9D7F-33E69D13330C.pngE0688A6B-D05F-455E-B0F7-3AFA02780C2A.pngFCBCDFF1-2B5E-4F64-BF4B-A3D4F4FE1CEB.pngEAB8956E-0A9E-4D72-97CB-C64B82CD54ED.png
 
I converted my old Open Shot top into a saddle climber for my dad a couple years ago. I removed the seat bracket and sawzalled the little raised hinge pieces off flat. Cut, painted, and mounted a piece of plywood on it.

It's functional and was like 7 or 8 lbs if I remember. Too bulky for me, but for him, I thought going from a 20+ lb Viper to the mini platform paired with my Kestrel would be a huge improvement. He used it once, to my knowledge. Can't teach an old dog new tricks, I guess...

Screenshot_20221208-104401.png

Screenshot_20221208-104431.png
 

@mtsrunner and @Bwhana have messed around with a lot of this stuff and are vaults of knowledge on climbing platform experimentation.

For the Open Shot style climbing platform @Bwhana added PVC stirrups and found them to be an improvement. (below)

The Sit and Climb platform mod doesn't need any sort of strapping or stirrup, you just angle your feet duckfooted like in the two Vs made by the supports and climb.

ECC8BD84-5564-47F6-AEDB-D598F5624E80.jpeg8434D0CD-A7CE-4E90-BE6D-D29A464EE3FD.jpeg
 
what is the real advantage to the climbing platform? Does it really make it easier? If your going to drag that along, why not take the top and sit. Way more comfortable. Seems hard to swing around the tree if needed. Climbing a strait limbless tree is the easiest to get up. Is it faster? How much faster? Safer? how much safer? Quieter? I guess depends on the user. Eassier?
What am I missing? Or is it something I have to try and see if I like it?
 
what is the real advantage to the climbing platform? Does it really make it easier? If your going to drag that along, why not take the top and sit. Way more comfortable. Seems hard to swing around the tree if needed. Climbing a strait limbless tree is the easiest to get up. Is it faster? How much faster? Safer? how much safer? Quieter? I guess depends on the user. Eassier?
What am I missing? Or is it something I have to try and see if I like it?
That’s what I’m asking. If you’re climbing a straight limbless tree of 18” then 2TC is going to do it easier, quieter and faster. Then you have more options for a platform too. You also don’t have to worry about it getting away from you or kicking out.
 
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