Tree stand retrieval tool

Be careful not to get too much excess epoxy on the disk face. Allow the epoxy to cure for the time indicated in the directions. Use the utility knife Exacto Knife to remove the excess epoxy from the face of the magnet disk. Excess epoxy on the magnet can inhibit the magnet's strength. Coating the hook with the Plastic Dip prevents the hook from rusting, makes it easier to see from the top of the stand, and also helps prevent the hook from damaging whatever you're retrieving.

Slowly submerge the hook into the dip to the desired depth then slowly remove from the dip at the same rate it was submerged. Hang the hook from the eye with a piece of wire, paper clip, etc. I place a small dowel over a trash can and hang the hook from there until dry. Normally it can be handled in about 30 minutes and can be re-dipped.

I usually dip the hook at least twice to give it some bulk. It will be completely cured in about 4 hours. Use the utility knife to remove the cured dip from the magnet face as you did with the epoxy. The PVC bushing is used to store the hook while it is in your pack and as a spool for the cord.

This cut in the edge can be used to catch and hold the end of the cord after it is wound on to the spool. Make the cut at a slight compound angle for a better grip. Cut an approximately 1" wide strip from the bicycle inner tube.

Use the leather punch to cut a large enough hole to allow the hook eye to pass through. You need to make a round hole for this application. A slit will result in a tear in the band when it is stretched. Use this band to stretch over the PVC fitting to keep the hook in place and to keep the cord from unraveling in your pack. After the plastic dip has cured and you have removed the excess from the magnet face you are ready to attach the cord and wind up the spool.

I use lb test nylon fishing line for my cord. Spool off 20 to 30 feet of cord depending on the usual height of your tree stand and singe both ends to keep the cord from unraveling. Tie one end of the cord to the hook eye.

Place the eye through the hole in the spool with the long end of the cord coming out of the spool one the side with the hook bends not the eye. This way you will not have to thread the spool off the line when it is unwound. Wind the line on to the spool and secure the tag end in the slot cut by the hack saw. Once the cord is wound onto the spool, stretch the inner tube band over it with the hook eye protruding through the hole in the band.

Bring the other side of the band over the hook bends to secure the hook in the spool. This should pack nicely in you day pack. Hopefully, you'll never drop anything from your stand. But, if you're like me, you probably will.

At least now you will be able to retrieve your lost item without climbing down. One final thought, since the magnets only come in a pack of 6 and once your hunting buddies see this little jewel they will most certainly want one, you might as well build 6 of these at a time and be the hero of your hunt club.

Love this idea, super functional, nicely documented and the parts to make it are readily available, I think I already have everything I need to do this in my workshop at home :D.

Reply 8 years ago on Introduction. That's a very nice job. Never heard of or seen that Plastic Dip before, but being in Bulgaria it is understandable. The present invention relates to retrieval tools and, more particularly, to a retrieval tool for retrieving dropped items from an elevated location, such as a hunting tree stand.

When someone in an elevated location, such as in a hunting tree stand, drops an item, they have to come down from their elevated location to get the dropped object. This can not only take time and effort, but can also be detrimental to a hunter in a hunting tree stand. Scent control is everything when hunting, and a hunter does not want to go back to the ground and ruin the hunt.

In addition, retrieving the object can also make noise, which can further cause detriment to the hunt. While grabbers are known in the art, these grabbers are typically mechanical, noisy and, most importantly, are often big and bulky, making it a difficult addition to a hunting tree stand.

As can be seen, there is a need for a retrieval device that can be used to silently, easily and effectively retrieve items, especially when the user is in an elevated location, such as in a hunting tree stand. In one aspect of the present invention, a retrieval tool comprises an upper tubing member; an upper wire extending through the upper tubing member; an upper ring having the upper wire threaded therethrough; a lower tubing member pivotably attached to the upper tubing member; a lower wire disposed in the lower tubing; a lower ring disposed at a bottom end of the lower tubing member; a first set of hooks disposed about the upper tubing member; and a lower set of hooks disposed about the lower tubing member.

In another aspect of the present invention, a retrieval tool comprises an upper tubing member; an upper wire extending through the upper tubing member; an upper ring having the upper wire threaded therethrough; a lower tubing member pivotably attached to the upper tubing member; a lower wire disposed in the lower tubing; a lower ring disposed at a bottom end of the lower tubing member; a first set of hooks disposed about the upper tubing member proximate an upper tubing member bottom side thereof; a lower set of hooks disposed about the lower tubing member proximate a lower tubing member bottom side thereof; and shrink tubing for securing the first set of hooks to the upper tubing member and the lower set of hooks to the lower tubing member.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention.

The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a non-mechanical retrieval tool for retrieving dropped items silently, such as gloves, hats, or the like, from an elevated position, such as in a hunting tree stand.

The retrieval tool includes an upper portion and a lower portion that and pivot relative to each other, each portion having a plurality of hooks extending therefrom. The retrieval tool is designed such that, when lowered from an elevated tree stand, it will set down in a 90 degree angle, allowing the center to pivot so that it causes the hooks to make a swooping and scooping action which, in turn, snaps the item, allowing the user to simply retrieve the item. The retrieval tool can be swung to the side and dropped through tree branches then dropped on the item without snagging the tree limbs.

The retrieval tool is small, compact and silent. The retrieval tool of the present invention solves the problem of having to come back down a tree from a hunting tree stand because an item has been dropped.

Without the retrieval tool, a hunter is left using a bulky, mechanical, and noisy grabber, or must descend the tree, risking being seen or spreading an undesirable scent. Referring now to FIGS. The upper section 11 can include an upper ring 15 having an upper wire 12 extended in an upper loop 13 about the upper ring The upper wire 12 can include a section of tubing 14 into which the wire extends and out of which the upper loop 13 extends.

The upper wire 12 can have a lower loop 19 extending from a lower end of the tubing A set of hooks 16 can be disposed about the tubing 14 , near a bottom end thereof.

In some embodiments, the set of hooks 16 can be a 14 mm, prong stainless, barbless hook that is slid over the tubing A heat shrink tubing 17 can be applied to secure the set of hooks 16 to the tubing Similarly, the lower portion 20 can include a lower wire 22 encased in a lower tubing 24 having an upper loop 23 attached to the lower loop 19 of the upper wire A lower set of hooks 26 can be disposed below a mid point of the tubing 24 , typically adjacent a lower end of the lower tubing A heat shrink tubing 27 can be used to secure the lower set of hooks 26 onto the tubing A lower ring 25 can be attached to a bottom side of the lower tubing In some embodiments, a filler material 28 can be disposed in the lower tubing 24 to adjust the diameter of the lower tubing Referring to FIG.