Lateral Motion Freestanding Hammock

Abstract

A lateral motion freestanding hammock has a base frame assembly for standing on a floor, and the base frame assembly further comprises a first end structure, at a first end, a second end structure at a second end, and a first middle bar connecting the first end structure to the second end structure. A net supported by the base frame assembly has a first rocker formed as a curved structure and has a contact surface for a floor. The curved structure has a curvature in a lateral direction for rocking in a lateral direction. The first end structure comprises a first upright at the first end. A second rocker is formed as a curved structure and has a contact surface for a floor. The curved structure has a curvature in a lateral direction for rocking in a lateral direction.

Description

application claims priority from provisional application filed Jan. 20, 2009 Ser. 60/205,503 entitled Lateral Motion Freestanding Hammock by inventor Yong S. Chu.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Cross-References to Related Applications

N/A

2. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to furniture for indoor and outdoor to hold a user up in a lying down position and to provide the user a natural rocking motion while in position.

3. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

The present invention is a freestanding hammock for a user to lie down on a supporting area that is preferably cushioned and to experience a lateral rocking motion while lying down. The hammock has a base frame assembly comprising at least two and spaced-apart curved parts against a floor and an upstanding structure on each curved part and a hold area over the upstanding structure to fix a net over the base frame assembly. The base frame assembly is shaped to flex when the weight of the user is applied on the net over the base frame assembly to provide a cushion on the net. This apparatus thus requires a compact floor space and a simple structure to provide a similar rocking motion of a traditional hammock with its two ends tied to fixed poles standing on the ground.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a system having advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide such a device that is compact in overall size and requires a minimum floor space for installation.

Another objective is to provide such a system that provides a simple structure so it is relatively easy to manufacture.

Another objective is to provide such a system that provides a lateral rocking motion to a user that is similar to a traditional hammock with its two ends tied to fixed poles standing on the ground.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment on a floor.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment with optional height adjustment on a floor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The lateral direction is the direction sideways from which a person's arms would extend if a person were laying on the hammock. The lateral direction is the width of the hammock net. The lengthwise dimension is greater than the lateral dimension single person hammock. If there were a double person hammock, the lengthwise dimension may be approximately about the same as the lateral dimension. The rectangular net would have a lengthwise dimension and a lateral dimension. In this hammock just as in traditional hammocks, the rectangular net would be rigidly supported along a lateral edge and not supported along a lengthwise edge.

The above described drawing FIG. 1 illustrates the invention, a lateral motion freestanding hammock 10, comprising a base frame assembly 12 standing on a floor and a net 50 supported by and over base frame assembly 12. Base frame assembly 12 comprises a first end structure 24, at one end, a second end structure 34 at the other end, and a first middle bar 20 and a second middle bar 22 connecting first end structure 24 and second end structure 34. First end structure 24 comprises a first rocker 26 as a curved structure and contact surface on the floor, a first right upright 28 at one end of first rocker 26 and stretching substantially upward thereon, a first left upright 30 at the other end of first rocker 26 and stretching substantially upward thereon, a first net holder 32 horizontally placed over uprights 28, 30 for receiving one side of a net 50. In FIG. 1, in first end structure 24, two uprights 28, 30 are shown but essentially only one upright is sufficient to support first net holder 32 and the single upright may be placed on any section of first rocker 26 stretching generally upward thereon. A second end structure 34 comprises a second rocker 36 that is a curved structure with a contact point or contact segment on the floor at any given position just like first rocker 26, a second right upright 38 fixedly attached at one end of second rocker 36 stretching substantially upward thereon and a second left upright 40 fixedly attached at the other end of second rocker 36 stretching substantially upward thereon, a second net holder 42 placed horizontally over uprights 38, 40 to receive the other side of net 50. Uprights 38, 40 may be replaced with a single upright post upwardly fixed on second rocker 36. First middle bar 20 and second middle bar 22 structurally connect and support first end structure 24 and second end structure 34 as shown in FIG. 1.

Net 50 is tied on first net holder 32 of first end structure 24 and second net holder 42 of second end structure 34. Net 50 preferably has a pair of sleeves, the first sleeve fitting over the first net holder, and the second sleeve fitting over the second net holder. Net 50 is of a flexible material or a combination of segments of hard material and links that conforms to the user's body for comfort and distributes pressure on the user's body when the user lies down on it. In FIG. 1, net 50 has sleeves on two opposite ends to hold net holders 32, 42, but the sleeves can be replaced with a number of string loops over the net holders or strings with ends and the ends can be anchored to the top portion of end structures 24, 34. Net 50 may be a stretching material to provide some cushion for the user, or it can also be non-stretching material but flexible and base frame assembly 12 may provide the cushion effect on the net by flexing the frame. The material for the frame can be sized to provide some flex when the user puts her or his weight on net 50. For more cushion effect, only one of middle bars 20, 22 may be used to connect end structures 24, 34.

FIG. 1 shows the embodiment with end structures 24, 34 angled outward from each other as they stretch upward from their floor contact points. Because the floor contact points may create pinching points for the user's feet they are placed under and inside the net area to clear the user's feet in most circumstances.

An adjustment means is a device for adjusting a height of the end structures relative to the ground. End structures 24, 34 may be different in height so that net 50 can be installed at an angle to provide the user a preferred position when lying down. The height of at least one of end structures 24, 34 may be adjustable for the user so he or she may set a preferred angle for the net. The adjustment means can be on the uprights of end structures 24, 34, and one way to perform the height adjustment is a set of telescoping tubes with holes on them to use a pin 52 to fix the height as widely used in the field of the art. Telescoping tubes can be of different diameter with the larger diameter tube fitting in a sliding configuration relative to a smaller diameter tube. The larger diameter tube could be the higher or lower tube, and the smaller diameter tube could be the higher or lower tube. The telescopic tube configuration can be fixed with a pin, a bolt, or a clip or other means.

The apparatus rocks laterally on the floor by a pair of curved edges or bars as shown in FIG. 1. The contact surface on the curved parts may damage the wood floor if the curved parts are of harder material than the wood floor. In such case, the curved parts can be covered with softer material such as rubber or equivalent to protect the floor.

The user may access to the bedding area of the apparatus preferably from open side edges, not the sides with end structures 24, 34, of net 50 that is hung between two end structures. He or she lies down on the net and simply by alternately shifting her or his body weight slightly from the left to the right or vice versa, the apparatus rocks laterally. And with the structure tuned to flex upon a person's body weight on the net, the apparatus also provides cushion effect on the net.

Although the invention has been disclosed in detail with reference only to the embodiments shown and described above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other embodiments can be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined only by the claims set forth below.

CALL OUT LIST OF THE ELEMENT

• 10 Freestanding Hammock
• 12 Base Frame Assembly
• 20 First Middle Bar
• 22 Second Middle Bar
• 24 First End Structure
• 26 First Rocker
• 28 First Right Upright
• 30 First Left Upright
• 32 First Net Holder
• 34 Second End Structure
• 36 Second Rocker
• 38 Second Right Upright
• 40 Second Left Upright
• 42 Second Net Holder
• 50 Net
• 52 Pin

Claims

1. A lateral motion freestanding hammock, comprising:

a. a base frame assembly for standing on a floor, wherein the base frame assembly further comprises: i. a first end structure, at a first end, ii. a second end structure at a second end, and iii. a first middle bar connecting the first end structure to the second end structure;

b. a net supported by the base frame assembly, wherein the net has a lateral dimension and a lengthwise dimension greater than the lateral dimension;

c. a first rocker formed as a curved structure and having a contact surface for a floor, wherein the curved structure has a curvature in a lateral direction for rocking in a lateral direction, wherein the first end structure comprises a first upright at the first end, wherein the first middle bar is above the first rocker and below the net;

d. a second rocker formed as a curved structure and having a contact surface for a floor, wherein the curved structure has a curvature in a lateral direction for rocking in a lateral direction, wherein the second end structure comprises a second upright at the first end;

e. a first net holder horizontally fixed above the first rocker, for receiving a first side of a net along the lateral dimension of the net, wherein the first net holder is generally parallel to the first rocker; and

f. a second net holder horizontally fixed above the second rocker, for receiving a second side of a net along the lateral dimension of the net, wherein the second net holder is generally parallel to the second rocker.

2. The lateral motion freestanding hammock, of claim 1 further comprising: an adjustment means.

3. The lateral motion freestanding hammock, of claim 1 further comprising: a second set of upright members comprising an auxiliary first upright, and an auxiliary second upright, wherein the auxiliary first upright rigidly connects between the first rocker and the first net holder, and wherein the second upright rigidly connects between the second rocker and the second net holder.

4. The lateral motion freestanding hammock, of claim 1 further comprising: a second middle bar connecting the first end structure to the second end structure.

5. The lateral motion freestanding hammock, of claim 1 wherein the net further comprises a first sleeve and a second sleeve, wherein the first sleeve fits over the first net holder, and wherein the second sleeve fits over the second net holder.

6. The lateral motion freestanding hammock, of claim 1 further comprising: an adjustment means; and a second set of upright members comprising an auxiliary first upright, and an auxiliary second upright, wherein the auxiliary first upright rigidly connects between the first rocker and the first net holder, and wherein the second upright rigidly connects between the second rocker and the second net holder.

7. The lateral motion freestanding hammock, of claim 1 further comprising: an adjustment means; and a second middle bar connecting the first end structure to the second end structure.

8. The lateral motion freestanding hammock, of claim 1 further comprising: an adjustment means; and wherein the net further comprises a first sleeve and a second sleeve, wherein the first sleeve fits over the first net holder, and wherein the second sleeve fits over the second net holder.

9. The lateral motion freestanding hammock, of claim 1 further comprising: a second middle bar connecting the first end structure to the second end structure, wherein the net further comprises a first sleeve and a second sleeve, wherein the first sleeve fits over the first net holder, and wherein the second sleeve fits over the second net holder.

10. The lateral motion freestanding hammock, of claim 1 further comprising: a second set of upright members comprising an auxiliary first upright, and an auxiliary second upright, wherein the auxiliary first upright rigidly connects between the first rocker and the first net holder, and wherein the second upright rigidly connects between the second rocker and the second net holder; and a second middle bar connecting the first end structure to the second end structure.

11. The lateral motion freestanding hammock, of claim 1 further comprising: a second set of upright members comprising an auxiliary first upright, and an auxiliary second upright, wherein the auxiliary first upright rigidly connects between the first rocker and the first net holder, and wherein the second upright rigidly connects between the second rocker and the second net holder, wherein the net further comprises a first sleeve and a second sleeve, wherein the first sleeve fits over the first net holder, and wherein the second sleeve fits over the second net holder.