Hammock
A hammock including an opposing pair of hinge brackets. Each of the hinge brackets includes a pair of slots formed therein. Support poles having opposing top and bottom ends are disposed within the slots formed in the opposing hinge brackets. The top ends of the opposing support poles are joined at opposing apexes. A sling is connected to the support poles. The support poles are angularly movable within the slots formed in the opposing hinge brackets in response to the weight of a user wherein the opposing apexes move angularly apart for stabilizing the hammock.
The invention relates to hammocks and with more particularity to freestanding hammocks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONKnown hammocks include the type that has a sling or bed portion with two ropes extending from the ends of the sling. The ropes may be tied or attached to opposing supports such as trees or hooks or other supporting type structures. The ropes suspend the sling above the ground from the appropriate support structures. Hammocks of this design have a drawback in that they can only be used when suspended between opposing support structures. Such a hammock design cannot be used without the support structures.
In an effort to alleviate the problem with support structures outlined above, it is known in the art to provide hammocks with a self-supporting stand or structure. Such support structures and stands are usually large and are not easily moved or transported to another location.
There is therefore a need in the art for a hammock that is self-standing and does not require separate support structures for use. Additionally, there is a need in the art for a hammock that is portable and stowable such that it can be easily moved from one location to another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn a first aspect, there is disclosed a hammock including an opposing pair of hinge brackets. Each of the hinge brackets includes a pair of slots formed therein. Support poles having opposing top and bottom ends are disposed within the slots formed in the opposing hinge brackets. The top ends of the opposing support poles are joined at opposing apexes. A sling is connected to the support poles. The support poles are angularly movable within the slots formed in the opposing hinge brackets in response to the weight of a user wherein the opposing apexes move angularly apart for stabilizing the hammock.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a hammock kit including a bag and an opposing pair of hinge brackets. Each of the hinge brackets includes a pair of slots formed therein. Support poles are disposed in the slots formed in the opposing hinge brackets. A sling is connected to the support poles. The hammock is movable from a use position supporting a user to a stowed position wherein the support poles are moved within the slots of the hinge bracket for disposing the support poles, hinge brackets, and sling within the bag.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to
In one aspect of the invention, the opposing pair of hinge brackets 10 include multiple pieces joined by fasteners 45. The multiple pieces include, as best shown in
Referring to
The bottom ends 30 of the support poles 20 may include feet 32 disposed thereon to facilitate engagement of the support poles 20 with the ground. Additionally, the bottom ends 30 of the support poles 20 may be connected by joining members 24, as shown in
As stated above, the support poles 20 include opposing top and bottom ends 25, 30, and are disposed within the slots 15 formed in the opposing hinge brackets 10. In one aspect of the invention, the top ends 25 of the opposing support poles 20 are joined at opposing apexes 35 by end caps 50, as best shown in
The sling 40 is connected to the support poles 20 such that the sling 40 is suspended above the ground to support a user. In one aspect of the invention, the sling 40 includes a plurality of grommets 60 disposed about an edge of the sling 40. The cable or rope 55 is then woven through the plurality of grommets 60 and about the support poles 20 for suspending the sling 40 from the support poles 20. The cable or rope 55 is also disposed about the end cap 50, as best shown in
The support poles 20 of the present invention may include multiple sections 22 joined by telescoping couplings 65 such that a length of the support poles 20 can be adjusted. The telescoping couplings 65 allow one of the multiple sections 22 to slide within the hollow inner core 24 of another support pole section 22, as detailed in
As discussed above, the support poles 20 are angularly movable within the slots 15 of the opposing hinge brackets 10. The slots 15 allow movement of the support poles 20 in a range of from 10 to 75 degrees as measured from a horizontal plane. This range of motion assures that the hammock 5 will be in a stable position for supporting a user.
In another aspect of the invention, the hammock 5 of the present invention can include a bag 70, as well as the hinge brackets 10, support poles 20 and sling 40 discussed above. As stated above, the hammock 5 may be movable from a use position supporting a user to a stowed position where the support poles 20 are moved within the slots 15 of the hinge bracket 10 such that they may be disposed within the bag 70, as best shown in
Referring to
In use, a user, as best shown in
After a user is done sitting in the hammock 5, the hammock 5 may be moved from a use position, as shown in
In another aspect of the invention, the hammock 5 may include a cover 100 disposed about the hammock 5, as shown in
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
Claims
1. A hammock comprising:
- an opposing pair of hinge brackets, each of the hinge brackets having a pair of slots formed therein;
- support poles having opposing top and bottom ends, the support poles disposed in the slots formed in the opposing hinge brackets, the top ends of the opposing support poles joined at opposing apexes;
- a sling connected to the support poles;
- the support poles angularly moveable within the slots formed in the opposing hinge brackets in response to the weight of a user wherein the opposing apexes move angularly apart for stabilizing the hammock.
2. The hammock of claim 1 wherein the slots formed in the hinge brackets are oval shaped.
3. The hammock of claim 1 wherein the slots formed in each hinge plate are offset relative to each other.
4. The hammock of claim 1 wherein the support poles include multiple sections joined by telescoping couplings for adjusting a length of the support poles.
5. The hammock of claim 1 wherein the sling includes a plurality of grommets disposed about an edge of the sling.
6. The hammock of claim 5 including an attachment cable woven through the plurality of grommets and about the support poles for suspending the sling from the support poles.
7. The hammock of claim 5 including a plurality of rings coupled to the plurality of grommets, the plurality of rings disposed about the support poles for suspending the sling from the support poles.
8. The hammock of claim 1 including end caps attached at the top ends of the opposing support poles.
9. The hammock of claim 1 including feet attached to the bottom ends of the opposing support poles.
10. The hammock of claim 1 wherein the support poles are angularly moveable in the slots of the opposing hinge members in a range of from 10 to 75 degrees measured from a horizontal plane.
11. The hammock of claim 1 including an additional support pole connected at the opposing apexes, the additional support pole having a cover disposed thereon.
12. A hammock comprising:
- a bag;
- an opposing pair of hinge brackets, each of the hinge brackets having a pair of slots formed therein;
- support poles moveable within the slots formed in the opposing hinge brackets;
- a sling connected to the support poles;
- the hammock moveable from a use position supporting a user to a stowed position
- wherein the support poles are positioned adjacent each other for disposing the support poles, hinge brackets, and sling within the bag.
13. The hammock of claim 12 wherein the support poles include multiple sections joined by telescoping couplings for adjusting a length of the support poles for disposal of the support poles within the bag.
14. The hammock of claim 12 wherein the sling includes a plurality of grommets disposed about an edge of the sling.
15. The hammock of claim 14 including an attachment cable woven through the plurality of grommets and about the support poles for suspending the sling from the support poles and allowing sliding movement of the sling about the support poles.
16. The hammock of claim 12 including flexible end caps attached at the top ends of the opposing support poles allowing adjacent positioning of the support poles in the stowed position.
17. The hammock of claim 12 including feet attached to the bottom ends of the opposing support poles.
18. The hammock of claim 12 wherein the support poles are angularly moveable in the slots of the opposing hinge members in a range of from 10 to 75 degrees measured from a horizontal plane.
19. A hammock comprising:
- A hammock comprising:
- an opposing pair of hinge brackets, each of the hinge brackets having a pair of slots formed therein;
- support poles having opposing top and bottom ends, the support poles disposed in the slots formed in the opposing hinge brackets, the top ends of the opposing support poles joined at opposing apexes;
- a sling connected to the support poles;
- the support poles angularly moveable within the slots formed in the opposing hinge brackets wherein the weight of a user is translated into a plurality of reaction forces for stabilizing the hammock.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 11, 2005
Publication Date: Apr 12, 2007
Inventor: Stephen Stoll (Rochester Hills, MI)
Application Number: 11/247,741
International Classification: A45F 3/22 (20060101); A45F 3/24 (20060101);