Aquatic hammock

Abstract

An aquatic hammock for attachment across a liquid containment structure such as a spa, a pool or the like. The liquid containment structure defines a basin for containing a liquid and a basin peripheral edge. The aquatic hammock includes a supporting sheet made of a generally deformable and liquid resistant material. The supporting sheet defining a sheet peripheral edge. The aquatic hammock also includes a releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the aquatic hammock to the liquid containment structure so that at least a section of the aquatic hammock extends generally across at least a section of the basin. The attachment means is positionable between the supporting sheet and the liquid containment structure generally adjacent the sheet peripheral edge and the basin peripheral edge. The supporting sheet is preferably made out of a generally soft, buoyant and resiliently deformable material.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A combination of a liquid containment structure and a aquatic hammock, said liquid containment structure defining a basin for containing a liquid and a basin peripheral edge, said aquatic hammock comprising: 
 I. a supporting sheet, said supporting sheet being made of a generally deformable and liquid resistant material, said supporting sheet defining a sheet peripheral edge;    II. an attachment means for attaching said aquatic hammock to said liquid containment structure so that at least a section of said aquatic hammock extends generally across at least a section of said basin, said attachment means being positionable between said supporting sheet and said liquid containment structure generally adjacent said sheet peripheral edge and said basin peripheral edge.    
     
     
         2 . A combination as recited in  claim 1  wherein said attachment means is a releasable attachment means.  
     
     
         3 . A combination as recited in  claim 1  wherein said sheet peripheral edge defines a pair of generally opposed sheet edge attachment sections and said basin peripheral edge defines a corresponding pair of generally opposed basin edge attachment sections, said supporting sheet being configured and sized so that when said sheet attachment sections are attached to said corresponding basin edge attachment sections, said supporting sheet extends across said basin in a predetermined relationship relative to said liquid.  
     
     
         4 . A combination as recited in  claim 3  wherein said sheet peripheral edge also defines a pair of generally opposed sheet edge spacing segments extending between said sheet edge attachment sections, said supporting sheet being provided with at least one reinforcement strip attached thereto adjacent at least a corresponding one of said sheet edge spacing segments in a direction generally parallel to said at least corresponding one of said sheet edge spacing segments and at least partially therealong.  
     
     
         5 . A combination as recited in  claim 4  wherein said reinforcement strip is made out of a generally resiliently deformable material.  
     
     
         6 . A combination as recited in  claim 3  further comprising at least one handle extending from said supporting sheet generally adjacent at least one of said sheet edge spacing segments.  
     
     
         7 . A combination as recited in  claim 1  wherein said attachment means includes at least one first strip of miniature hook or loop fiber and at least one complementary second strip of miniature hook or loop fiber, said first strip of miniature hook or loop fiber being attached to said supporting sheet and said second strip of miniature hook or loop fiber being attached to said basin, said first and second strips of miniature hook or loop fiber being configured, sized and positioned so as to be able to cooperate with each other for releasably attaching at least a segment of said supporting sheet to said basin.  
     
     
         8 . A combination as recited in  claim 7  wherein at least one of said first and second strips of miniature hook or loop fiber is made of a water resistant material.  
     
     
         9 . A combination as recited in  claim 7  wherein said liquid containment structure is a spa, said spa defining a spa peripheral wall and a spa peripheral flange depending therefrom, said spa peripheral flange defining a spa flange spacing segment extending generally perpendicularly from said spa peripheral wall and a spa flange outer segment extending from said spa flange spacing segment in a generally parallel and spaced relationship relative to said spa peripheral wall, said second strip of miniature hook or loop fiber being attached to said spa flange outer segment so that when said first strip of miniature hook or loop fiber is attached to said second strip of miniature hook or loop fiber a generally adjacent overriding portion of said supporting sheet is in frictional contact with at least a portion of said spa flange spacing segment.  
     
     
         10 . A combination as recited in  claim 1  wherein said attachment means includes at least one attachment pin insertable through said supporting sheet and at least one corresponding attachment recess formed in said basin, said attachment pin and said attachment recess being configured, sized and positioned so as to be able to cooperate with each other for releasably attaching at least a segment of said supporting sheet to said basin.  
     
     
         11 . A combination as recited in  claim 9  further comprising a pin grommet attached to said supporting sheet for receiving at least a section of said attachment pin and a sleeve positioned in said attachment recess for receiving at least a section of said attachment pin.  
     
     
         12 . A combination as recited in  claim 10  wherein said liquid containment structure is an in-ground swimming pool, said in-ground swimming pool having an in-ground swimming pool peripheral wall and an in-ground swimming pool border depending therefrom, said in-ground swimming pool border defining a pool border spacing segment extending generally perpendicularly from said in-ground swimming pool peripheral wall, said attachment recess being formed in said pool border spacing segment so that when said attachment pin is inserted into said attachment recess a generally adjacent overriding portion of said supporting sheet is in frictional contact with at least a portion of said pool border spacing segment.  
     
     
         13 . A combination as recited in  claim 1  wherein said attachment means includes a hooking component attached to said supporting sheet, said hooking component being configured, sized and positioned so as to be attachable to at least a portion of said basin.  
     
     
         14 . A combination as recited in  claim 13  wherein said hooking component has a generally “L”-shaped cross-sectional configuration defining a hook spacing segment, a hook abutment segment extending from said hook spacing segment and a hook retaining segment extending from said hook abutment segment in a generally parallel relationship relative to said hook spacing segment; said aquatic hammock has an attachment cable attached thereto generally adjacent said sheet peripheral edge, said hook spacing segment being attached to said attachment cable.  
     
     
         15 . A combination as recited in  claim 14  wherein said hooking component also includes a hook sleeve extending from said hook spacing segment for receiving at least a section of said attachment cable, said aquatic hammock including a hem attached thereto adjacent said sheet peripheral edge, said hem (turned under and sewn down) forming a cable receiving channel for receiving said attachment cable, said hem defining a hem recess formed therein for receiving said hook sleeve, said hook sleeve being pivotally mounted around a section of said attachment cable, said hem recess being configured and sized to allow said hooking component to pivot at least partially about said attachment cable.  
     
     
         16 . A combination as recited in  claim 13  wherein said hooking component defines a hook first retaining segment and a generally opposed hook second retaining segment, said supporting sheet further comprising a hook grommet extending therethrough adjacent one of said sheet edge attachment sections, said hook first retaining segment being attachable to said liquid containment structure and said hook second retaining segment being attachable to said hook grommet.  
     
     
         17 . A combination as recited in  claim 13  wherein said liquid containment structure is an above-ground swimming pool, said above ground swimming pool having an above-ground swimming pool peripheral wall and an above-ground swimming pool border extending from an upper peripheral edge of said above-ground swimming pool peripheral wall, said hooking component being attachable to said above-ground swimming pool border.  
     
     
         18 . A combination as recited in  claim 1  wherein said supporting sheet and said attachment means are configured and sized so that at least a portion of said supporting sheet contacts said liquid when said attachment means is attached to said liquid containment structure.  
     
     
         19 . A combination as recited in  claim 1  wherein said supporting sheet defines a sheet first surface and an opposed sheet second surface, said supporting sheet having at least one sheet aperture extending therethrough for allowing passage of said liquid between said sheet first and second surfaces.  
     
     
         20 . A combination as recited in  claim 19  wherein said supporting sheet is provided with a plurality of sheet apertures extending therethrough, said sheet apertures being surrounded by peripheral sheet supporting segments of said supporting sheet, said sheet apertures and sheet supporting segments together forming a generally checkered pattern on at least a section of said supporting sheet, said sheet apertures being configured and sized for allowing through passage of said liquid.  
     
     
         21 . A combination as recited in  claim 20  wherein said sheet supporting segments have a minimal width of approximately ⅛ of an inch.  
     
     
         22 . A combination as recited in  claim 1  wherein said supporting sheet is made out of a generally soft, buoyant and resiliently deformable material.  
     
     
         23 . A combination as recited in  claim 1  wherein said supporting sheet is made out of polyester coated with polyvinyl chloride.  
     
     
         24 . An aquatic hammock for attachment across a liquid containment structure, said liquid containment structure defining a basin for containing a liquid and a basin peripheral edge, said aquatic hammock comprising: 
 I. a supporting sheet, said supporting sheet being made of a generally deformable and liquid resistant material, said supporting sheet defining a sheet peripheral edge;    II. a releasable attachment means for releasably attaching said aquatic hammock to said liquid containment structure so that at least a section of said aquatic hammock extends generally across at least a section of said basin, said attachment means being positionable between said supporting sheet and said liquid containment structure generally adjacent said sheet peripheral edge and said basin peripheral edge.    
     
     
         25 . An aquatic hammock as recited in  claim 24  wherein said supporting sheet is made out of a generally soft, buoyant and resiliently deformable material.