Portable observation stand

Claim 1

A portable observation stand comprising: a collapsible ladder with a base supporting bottom portion and a top portion; a platform mounted pivotally to said top portion of said ladder and including a tree embracing edge and a top surface; a flexible line with one end attached to said platform and an opposite free end and having sufficient length to extend around a tree; tightening means engagable with said free end of said line and operable to pull said line tight to force said tree embracing edge against a tree; platform erecting means mounted on said ladder and engagable with said platform operable to hold said platform horizontally until secured to a tree by said line and tightening means; said ladder when erected includes a vertically extending pole with outwardly extending footholds, said pole including multiple sections pivotally connected together and collapsible against said platform when in a stored position; said sections include a pair of aligned and adjacent sections having arms extending outwardly and pivotally interconnected with one of said pair of sections having a first pin receiving hole and the other having a first tab with aperture alignable with said hole when said sections are erected, said ladder including a first pin removable extendable through said aperture and hole to secure said pair of sections together; said tightening means includes a threaded member rotatably mounted to said platform and a hook engagable with said line and pivotally mounted to said platform, said threaded member is operably engaged with said hook to pull said line past said tree embracing edge with said edge and line gripping said tree therebetween; said sections include a third section aligned and adjacent one section of said pair of sections with a second tab and second pin securing said third section to said one section of said pair, said second tab and said second pin located on a side of said ladder opposite said first pin and said first tab stabilizing said ladder when erected; a seat with a pair of rear legs pivotally attached thereto and extending downwardly and pivotally mounted to said platform adjacent said tree embracing edge and further including one front leg pivotally mounted to said seat and abuttable atop and against said platform.