The present invention relates to at least a foldable step. The step features an upper and a lower step supported by a structure including a right side each having a vertical support member, an angled support member, and upper and lower step support members. A horizontal front support member provides support for the lower step. Left and right diagonal support members are slidably coupled to the upper step support members. A rear horizontal support member and optional diagonal members provide additional support to the upper step. The step is foldable into a folded position, by folding both the upper and lower steps upwardly. The step has a minimal profile in the folded position.

The present invention relates to at least a foldable step. The step features an upper and a lower step supported by a structure including a right side each having a vertical support member, an angled support member, and upper and lower step support members. A horizontal front support member provides support for the lower step. Left and right diagonal support members are slidably coupled to the upper step support members. A rear horizontal support member and optional diagonal members provide additional support to the upper step. The step is foldable into a folded position, by folding both the upper and lower steps upwardly. The step has a minimal profile in the folded position.

A standing seam mounting bracket and a method of using two or three to provide attachment points along a standing seam roof is provided. The standing seam mounting brackets enable complementary use of commonly-owned equipment for enabling roof maintenance and construction. The standing seam mounting brackets may be used in concert with roof jacks, roof ladders, scaffolding members and the like that are commonly owned by most contractors so as to facilitate safe and easy horizontal and vertical movement along the sloped roof.

A vertical ladder has two side stiles and at least one front vertical rail. Two sets of half treads are supported by each stile and horizontal rung members connected between at least one rail and a respective half tread or stile. Each horizontal rung member only has a front straight bar portion that terminates orthogonally at the at least one rail (i.e. at a T-junction), thereby allowing a vertical grab rail portion for gripping (including for counterbalance) and an orthogonal side straight bar portion. The rung members and half treads are alternately vertically staggered. As such, a user may ascend the ladder by stepping sideways onto the inward facing half treads and shift the user's weight from side to side, thereby being able to climb the ladder even without holding on and, when holding on, the vertical grab rail portions may be used for counterbalance.

A vertical ladder has two side stiles and at least one front vertical rail. Two sets of half treads are supported by each stile and horizontal rung members connected between at least one rail and a respective half tread or stile. Each horizontal rung member only has a front straight bar portion that terminates orthogonally at the at least one rail (i.e. at a T-junction), thereby allowing a vertical grab rail portion for gripping (including for counterbalance) and an orthogonal side straight bar portion. The rung members and half treads are alternately vertically staggered. As such, a user may ascend the ladder by stepping sideways onto the inward facing half treads and shift the user's weight from side to side, thereby being able to climb the ladder even without holding on and, when holding on, the vertical grab rail portions may be used for counterbalance.

A shipping container includes: a bottom plate onto which cargo is to be placed, columns vertically extending from the bottom plate, and top plates detachably supported by the columns. Since the top plates are detachable from the columns, it is possible to smoothly load long objects into the shipping container from above the container, by removing the top plates in advance. When the loading is completed, the top plates are attached back to the columns again to reinforce the columns, thereby ensuring the strength of the shipping container as a whole. A plurality of these shipping containers can therefore be stacked one on another in a container ship, in the same manner as ordinary shipping containers.

A shipping container includes: a bottom plate onto which cargo is to be placed, columns vertically extending from the bottom plate, and top plates detachably supported by the columns. Since the top plates are detachable from the columns, it is possible to smoothly load long objects into the shipping container from above the container, by removing the top plates in advance. When the loading is completed, the top plates are attached back to the columns again to reinforce the columns, thereby ensuring the strength of the shipping container as a whole. A plurality of these shipping containers can therefore be stacked one on another in a container ship, in the same manner as ordinary shipping containers.

A ladder tree stand raising apparatus for raising a ladder tree stand into position adjacent to a tree. The apparatus comprising an elongated member, a first lateral member, and a second lateral member. The elongated member having a first end and a second end. The first end of the elongated member is connectable to the tree. The first lateral member is connected to the second end of the elongated member. The second lateral member is connected to the elongated member and spaced a distance from the first lateral member. The second lateral member has at least one arm having a substantially U-shaped configuration. The at least one arm is engageable with a rung of the ladder tree stand. An open end of the at least one arm extends away from the second lateral member.

A ladder tree stand raising apparatus for raising a ladder tree stand into position adjacent to a tree. The apparatus comprising an elongated member, a first lateral member, and a second lateral member. The elongated member having a first end and a second end. The first end of the elongated member is connectable to the tree. The first lateral member is connected to the second end of the elongated member. The second lateral member is connected to the elongated member and spaced a distance from the first lateral member. The second lateral member has at least one arm having a substantially U-shaped configuration. The at least one arm is engageable with a rung of the ladder tree stand. An open end of the at least one arm extends away from the second lateral member.

Embodiments of tree climbing sticks adapted to be secured to a tree and provide a tree climbing assist are provided. In one embodiment, for example, a tree climbing stick is provided including a retractable aider step. The retractable aider step is adapted to be extended from the tree climbing stick during use and at least partially retracted within the tree climbing stick for transport and storage. In another embodiment, a tree climbing stick is adapted to be stacked and nested with another tree climbing stick. In this embodiment, a clip of the tree climbing stick is adapted to engage a button of an adjacent tree climbing stick and standoffs of the tree climbing sticks are adapted to nest so that the tree climbing sticks can be stacked vertically without axially extending from each other.