Triangular clew ring

Abstract

A hammock is described, which has clew ropes which extend from the hammock bed, through spaced apertures in the spreader bars and further extend toward a convergence where they are braided into a conventional “sword mat”, the ends of which are looped over one side of a triangular clew ring, opposite the side to which the clew ropes are attached.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

Hammocks are by nature readily collapsible, so that they can be easily folded into a small package for storage when not in use. Therefore, hammocks are made of fabric, rope and other very flexible materials. But one non-flexible, rigid element of a hammock, is the spreader bar which is on each end of the hammock bed. The spreader bars maintain the hammock bed in an extended position, able to support a body instead of collapsing around it. Clew ropes extend from the hammock bed, through spaced apertures in the spreader bars, toward a convergence some three or four feet beyond the spreader bars, where they are braided into a conventional “sword mat”, the ends of which are looped around a clew ring. (See the Ashley Book of Knots, p. 588).

The clew ring is traditionally a circular ring, which has some inherent disadvantages. The bottom half of the ring, where the clew ropes are attached, is “u” shaped; i.e., high on the sides, low at the middle. The clew rope loops tend to bunch toward the lower, middle section of the ring. The outer clew ropes are farther extended from the hammock bed than the more central clew ropes, and therefore subject to more tension. Also, those portions of the clew ropes that are looped over the clew ring abrade each other, particularly those center ones which are toward the bottom, middle section of the ring.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hammock, which has triangular shaped clew rings. This avoids the bunching tendency of the clew ropes looped around a circular clew ring. All of the clew rope loops line up in an even row on one side of the triangular ring. The corner of the triangular ring, on the opposite side (from the even row of clew rope loops) provides a secure place to attached the chain link support attachment that connects to the support structure (e.g., adjacent trees, posts, hammock stand).

(2) Description of Related Art

Applicant is aware of not prior art directly relevant to the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a hammock is provided with clew ropes which extend from the hammock bed, through spaced apertures in the spreader bars and further extend toward a convergence where they are braided into a conventional “sword mat”, the ends of which are looped over one side of a triangular clew ring, opposite the side to which the clew ropes are attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the triangular clew ring

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the triangular clew ring, with clew ropes and chain link supports attached

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the triangular clew ring and the chain link support attachment

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates the triangular clew ring 3. It is in the form of an equilateral triangle. It includes side 4, over which clew ropes are looped, and corner 5, which is opposite side 4.

FIG. 2 illustrates the triangular ring 3 in the context of its use. Clew ropes 6 extend from a hammock bed, through a conventional spreader bar to a point of convergence where they are braided into a “sword mat”, 7 (see Ashley Book of Knots, p. 588, copy attached hereto). Clew rope loops 8 encircle side 4 of the triangular clew ring 3. A chain link support 9, extends from a support structure such as a tree, a post or a hammock stand. An “S” link 10 is at the end of chain link support 9. The top half of “S” shaped link 10, is closed so that it cannot be detached from the link support 9. The bottom half of “S” shaped link 10, is open so that it is detachable from its engagement with corner 5 of the triangular clew ring 3.

FIG. 3 further illustrates the triangular clew ring 3, the chain link support 9, and the “S” shaped link 10.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing, that all of the clew ropes 8 line up in an even row, encircling side 4 of the triangular clew ring 3. The outer most of loops 8, are under no more stress than the more central of loops 8, therefore the loops 8 are less inclined to abrade each other.

It will be further apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the devise and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A hammock support system comprising:

a plurality of clew ropes extending outwardly from the hammock and terminating in loops

a triangular clew ring, encircled by said loops on one side, and having a corner opposite said side

a detachable means to engage said opposite corner

a connective link extending from said detachable means, to a support structure

2. The hammock support system of claim 1, wherein the clew ropes are braided into a sword mat at their convergence adjacent engagement with the triangular clew ring

3. The hammock support system of claim 1, wherein the said detachable means is an “S” shaped link, the bottom half of which is open

4. The hammock support system of claim 3, wherein the connective link is a chain link having at one end the said “S” shaped link permanently attached