Title: Arched hammock stand
Abstract: A stand is described for supporting a hammock, the stand having a set of two legs on each end. The two sets of legs are joined together by a covering arch which extends up and over the hammock providing shade therefor.
Patent Number: 6,842,920 Issued on 01/18/2005 to Branch, III
| Inventors:
|
Branch, III; Jesse A. (Winterville, NC)
|
| Assignee:
|
Hatteras Hammocks, Inc. (Greenville, NC)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
719497 |
| Filed:
|
November 24, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
5/128; 5/121; 5/127 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A45F 003/22; A45F003/24 |
| Field of Search: |
5/128,127,121,120,113,414
135/96,117
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 298515 | May., 1884 | Sutphen | 5/128.
|
| 769913 | Sep., 1904 | Noble | 5/128.
|
| 811166 | Jan., 1906 | Nuessen | 5/128.
|
| 957644 | May., 1910 | Berger | 135/144.
|
| 1011789 | Dec., 1911 | Hoffman | 5/129.
|
| 1054251 | Feb., 1913 | Stone | 5/128.
|
| 1062950 | May., 1913 | Boss | 5/121.
|
| 1097941 | May., 1914 | Rector | 5/129.
|
| 2353220 | Jul., 1944 | Charlop | 5/128.
|
| 4229845 | Oct., 1980 | de Cuadros | 5/127.
|
| 4757563 | Jul., 1988 | An | 5/121.
|
| 5035012 | Jul., 1991 | Westrich | 5/139.
|
| 5046203 | Sep., 1991 | de Cuadros | 5/128.
|
| 5080123 | Jan., 1992 | Stein | 135/97.
|
| 5240021 | Aug., 1993 | Snodgrass | 135/96.
|
| 5425753 | Jun., 1995 | Wege et al. | 607/83.
|
| 6665896 | Dec., 2003 | Tseng | 5/121.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 857051 | Aug., 1940 | FR | 5/121.
|
| 11214 | Mar., 1899 | GB | 5/113.
|
| 21109 | Sep., 1912 | GB | 5/128.
|
| 203267 | Sep., 1923 | GB | 5/128.
|
| 451968 | Aug., 1936 | GB | 5/128.
|
Primary Examiner: Santos; Robert G.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hammock stand for supporting a hammock comprising:
a covering arch, supported on each of its opposite ends by at least two leg
members extending to a supporting surface; and
means to attach opposite ends of a hammock to opposite ends of said
covering arch and/or said adjacent leg members, said covering arch
comprising unitary curved end sections, the upper ends of which are
positioned between and affixed to two curved connection sections.
2. The stand of claim 1, which includes a canopy supported by said covering
arch.
3. The stand of claim 2 wherein said canopy is formed of flexible sheet
material suspended over battens extending perpendicularly from said
covering arch.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a hammock stand which does not have
perpendicular base members extending into the area adjacent the sides of
the hammock, and also provides shade over the hammock.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hammocks were initially designed to be attached to and extended between
preexisting natural supports, most commonly trees. The overhead foliage of
the trees also provided shade for the hammock. But trees are often not
available or appropriately positioned to support a hammock where it is
needed. Trees can be planted where needed; but such trees must grow for at
least twenty years to achieve a size adequate to support a hammock. Many
years ago, impatient hammock fanciers conceived the idea of a hammock
stand, that is a free-standing structure--the sole purpose of which is to
support a hammock. Such hammock stands have been produced in a variety of
forms. But generally they all include base members that are beneath and
extend perpendicularly to the axis of the supported hammock. These
perpendicular base members are connected to a central base member beneath
the hammock and parallel to its axis. Upright stanchions are connected to
opposite ends of the central base member and are supported thereby. The
upright stanchions extend upwardly from the central base and provide the
actual supports between which the hammock is extended.
Among the disadvantages of such hammock stands is that (unlike trees) they
have no overhead foliage to provide shade for the hammock. Also, the
perpendicular base members must necessarily extend substantially beyond
the axis of the hammock and into the area the hammock user must traverse
in the process of getting into and out of the hammock. This often results
in tripping and falling or, stubbing toes.
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an
improved hammock stand which does not have perpendicular base members
extending into the area adjacent the sides of the hammock. Another object
of this invention is an improved hammock stand that provides shade over
the hammock.
DISCLOSURE OF THE PRIOR ART
Applicant is aware of no prior art directly relevant to the present
invention.
Description of a conventional hammock stand can be seen in such prior art
as U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,538.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the hammock stand of the
invention without the canopy.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the hammock stand of the
invention with the canopy in place.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the underside of the canopy and
its supporting structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention a hammock stand has two leg
members on each end. Each set of legs is wide apart at the bottom but
joined at the top. The two different set of legs are joined together by an
arched member which extends up and over the hammock. Because each set of
legs is some distance before or behind the hammock, such legs do not
extend into the area adjacent the sides of the hammock. The arched member
extending up and over the hammock can be used to support a canopy to shade
the hammock.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will now be made to the present preferred embodiment of the
invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In FIG. 1, a hammock 1 comprises a hammock bed 2, extending between
spreader bars 3a and 3b, which are supported by clews 4a and 4b. The clews
4a and 4b terminate in clew rings 10a and 10b. The hammock 1, is supported
by the hammock stand, which comprises leg members 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d, the
upper ends of which are joined to arch 6, by means of bolts 7a and 7b. The
joint is further strengthened by the cross braces 8a and 8b, which extend
across the underside of the upper ends of two leg members 5, and the
proximate bottom end of arch 6. The cross braces 8a and 8b are secured by
bolts to the proximate two leg members 5 and the approximate bottom end of
arch 6. Extending inwardly from the cross braces 8a and 8b, are attaching
hooks 9a and 9b. The clew rings 10a and 10b fit on to the attaching hooks
9a and 9b.
FIG. 2 shows the canopy 11 positioned on arch 6 and extending directly over
the hammock 1. The canopy is made of flexible, lightweight, water
resistant sheet material such as canvas or plastic.
From FIG. 1, it will seen that arch 6 is comprised of four wooden lengths.
Arch end sections 12a and 12b are attached at their lower ends to leg
members 5a and 5b, or 5c and 5d, respectively. The upper ends of sections
12a and 12b, are positioned between and affixed to arch connecting
sections 13a and 13b. Forming arch 6 from the four different sections has
at least two advantages. First, it is easier and less expensive than
forming the arch 6 from a single piece of wood. Second, the connecting
sections 13a and 13b, make the arch 6 wider at its mid section, where
width is most needed because that is also where canopy 11 is widest and
extends farther from the arch 6. Lateral support battens 14a, 14b and 14c
are positioned above and supported by arch 6 and extend outwardly from it
at right angles thereto. In the preferred embodiment, battens 14a, 14b and
14c are fiberglass, but they could be any relatively rigid but flexible
material.
Around the canopy 11, and hanging down therefrom is the curtain 15. It is
attached to the canopy 11, by seam 16. The curtain 15 enhances the
effective shade provided by canopy 11. In the preferred embodiment, the
curtain 15 is divided into three sections, 15a, 15b and 15c. This
facilitates fabrication of the product and allows the curtain 15 to hang
down from canopy 11 more evenly and without buckling.
It will be further apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the device 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.
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