PHASS

Abstract

A portable hammock stand with a plurality of components that can be easily disassembled for transport or storage. The components are preferably made of lightweight metal tubing or other material of similar strength and rigidity. The lateral component on each side consists of an upwardly extending telescoping shaft of adjustable length, detachably fastened at an angle to a horizontal shaft which extends above the ground between two legs or pairs of legs on which the whole structure rests on the ground. The telescoping shaft of the lateral component is connected to the outer ends of the legs by chains which connect to a set of extension springs at the upper end of the telescoping shaft. Each chain is constrained in the middle by an extension spring that is attached to the middle of the telescoping shaft. The lateral components are held in place by chains that stretch between the upwardly extending shafts and the horizontal shaft. The tension in the springs maintains the structure of the hammock stand which can thus be lifted and moved as a whole. The hammock is connected to the upper ends of the telescoping shafts and when occupied, the weight of the occupant further stretches the springs resulting in an inward tilting of the upwardly extending shafts with a vertical springing movement of the hammock. The stretching of the springs also allows a side to side swaying of the shafts which prolongs the swinging of the hammock. The combination of movements provides a uniquely relaxing experience for an occupant of the hammock.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a stand for hanging a hammock on hooks suspended above a surface. More particularly, the invention relates to a stand of light, strong and rigid material which can be easily disassembled into a set of components to facilitate transportation or storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A hammock generally consists of a sheet of light material with cords at each end which are slung on hooks or otherwise fastened to posts, trees or other sturdy, immovable support structures. Without a portable stand, hammocks are limited in where they can be set up, and where such portable stands have been built they are generally too big and too heavy to be easily moved around. Light and portable hammock stands are generally frames that do not accommodate swinging of the hammock, or at best have upwardly extending shafts that are rigidly attached to unyielding support structures on the ground that only allow a gentle side to side movement of the hammock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention allows much more movement than any of the prior art hammock stands by incorporating springs at key points in the assembly. Whereas, prior art stands require firm contact with the surface, particularly at the centre of the assembly, the present invention raises the central support off the surface and incorporates extension springs in the lateral components with the tension in the springs maintaining the structure of the hammock stand. Unlike any of the prior art hammock stands, this allows the upwardly extended support shafts to tilt inwards and sway sideways when the hammock is occupied, with such movement limited only by the tension in the springs.

The whole structure of the present invention incorporates extension springs at six points which allows the upwardly extended support shafts to tilt inwards and sway from side to side with the swinging of the hammock, thus reducing the stress on the junctions between these shafts and the horizontal support shaft to which they are detachably fastened. This swaying of the upright support shafts also accentuates the swinging of the hammock.

The combined movements of the present invention result in a uniquely relaxing experience for the occupant of the hammock. Furthermore, the incorporation of levers and springs reduces the strain on the various junctions in the support structure which means that lighter material can be used in its construction with increased portability.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention with an unoccupied hammock slung between the supporting shafts of the lateral components.

FIG. 2 is a view of the assembly of one of the lateral components showing a) the chains and the set of extension springs that hold the upwardly extending shaft in place and allow the tilting and swaying of the said shaft, b) the extension springs between the chains and the central section of the upwardly extending shaft that maintain the tension in the chains when the shaft sways, and c) the chain descending from the upwardly extending shaft to the horizontal shaft that maintains the tension in the springs and thus holds the whole lateral component in place.

FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the invention with the hammock occupied which shows how the weight of the occupant is supported by the extension springs while allowing the unique relaxing movements of the hammock

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the disassembled components, folded and ready for placing in a carrying case (not shown).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which an unoccupied hammock is suspended in place between the upright, telescoping shafts 1, 2 of the lateral component. By extending or retracting the inner shafts 2, the height of the supporting hooks can be adjusted to allow sufficient space between the bottom of the hammock, when occupied, and the top of the central horizontal shaft 3.

The upright shafts in the preferred embodiment are movably connected at their lower ends at an angle A of approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal shaft 3, which is removably attached at its outer extents to two legs each consisting of a horizontal shaft 5, resting on the ground at its outer ends.

FIG. 2. is a detailed view of the lateral component of the stand. Two chains 4, connect the outer ends of the legs to a set of extension springs 6 at the upper end of the telescoping shaft. Another extension spring 7, connects the middle of each chain to the middle section of the telescoping shaft.

A chain 8, connects the lateral component on each side to the horizontal shaft 3. Tightening this chain creates tension in the extension springs 6, 7, and holds the lateral component in place allowing the whole assembly to be lifted and moved as one unit.

FIG. 3 is a lateral view of a preferred embodiment of the invention when the hammock is occupied. The weight of the occupant stretches the extension springs 6,7 further and replaces the pull in chain 8, as the telescoping shafts 1, 2, tilt inwards. The weight of the occupant is thus fully supported by the springs 6, 7, which allow smooth vertical springing of the hammock, and swaying movements of the upright shafts 1, 2, when the occupant of the hammock initiates a swinging movement. The swaying accentuates the said swinging of the hammock.

The structure is easily disassembled by detaching the central shaft from the lateral components at points B, C and D. Each component is then further disassembled and folded, as shown in FIG. 4, so that the whole structure can fit in a carrying case of approximately three feet in length.

Claims

1. A collapsible stand for hanging a hammock, comprising: a central horizontal shaft that extends above ground between two legs that rest on the ground and support the whole structure; two lateral components detachably connected to the outer extents of the central shaft, each consisting of an upwardly extending telescoping shaft of adjustable length with a hook at the upper end for the hammock; a leg or pair of legs at the base of each lateral component with chains that extend from the outer ends of the legs to the upper extent of the telescoping shaft where said chains connect to a set of extension springs.

2. The hammock stand of claim 1, wherein two lateral components are each detachably fastened at their lower ends to the outer extents of a horizontal shaft and each consisting of an upwardly extending, telescoping shaft with a hook at the upper end with the telescoping of the shaft allowing adjustments in the height of the lateral component.

3. The hammock stand according to claim 1, wherein the lateral component includes a set of extension springs at the upper end of an upwardly extending telescoping shaft to which two supporting chains are attached, with the other ends of the chains attached to the outer ends of the leg or pair of legs.

4. The hammock stand according to claim 1, wherein the chains of the lateral component which are attached to the set of extension springs of the upwardly extending telescoping shaft according to claim 2 are constrained by extension springs between the middle of the chains and the central section of the telescoping shaft.

5. The hammock stand of claim 1, wherein each lateral component is held in place by a chain that extends from the central section of the upwardly extending shaft to the horizontal shaft and maintains the tension in the extension springs as described in claims 2 and 3.

6. The hammock stand of claim 1, wherein the weight of an occupant of the hammock is supported by the extension springs according to claims 2 and 3 with a vertical springing movement of the hammock.

7. The hammock stand of claim 1, claim 2 and claim 3, wherein the lateral swaying of the upwardly extending shafts with the stretching of the springs accentuates the swinging of the hammock.