Hammock and spreading rod

Abstract

A fabric for outdoor furniture is formed from synthetic material with a stretch characteristic of 5% to 50%. The fabric may have differential stretch characteristics in a first direction and greater stretch characteristics in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The fabric is preferably warp knitted and used in the manufacture of a hammock or hammock chair. A hammock may have a lesser stretch characteristic along its length and a greater stretch characteristic transverse and preferably includes a plurality of ventilation apertures. Indicia may be printed on the surface of the fabric when used in a hammock or hammock chair and may indicate ownership, club loyalties, personalized visual signs or other special interests. A flexible spreading rod for use in a hammock is preferably located in a sleeve at either end of the hammock or may be supported directly by a hammock stand.

1 . A fabric for use in furniture, including outdoor furniture, the fabric formed, at least in part, from a synthetic material wherein the synthetic material is woven or knitted to provide a stretch characteristic of from 5% to 50%.  
   
   
       2 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic material is warp knitted.  
   
   
       3 . The fabric of  claim 2 , wherein the synthetic material is warp knitted in an interlocking weave pattern adapted to provide the stretch characteristics.  
   
   
       4 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic material comprises one or more of nylon, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene or a polyolefin material.  
   
   
       5 . The fabric of  claim 4 , wherein the synthetic material is nylon.  
   
   
       6 . The fabric of  claim 2 , wherein the fabric includes a component of cotton.  
   
   
       7 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric has a first stretch characteristic in a first direction and a second greater stretch characteristic in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.  
   
   
       8 . The fabric of  claim 7 , wherein the stretch characteristic in the first direction is 10% or less.  
   
   
       9 . The fabric of  claim 7 , wherein the stretch characteristic in the second direction is from 10% to 50%.  
   
   
       10 . The fabric of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ventilation holes.  
   
   
       11 . The fabric of  claim 10 , wherein the ventilation holes are distributed in a regular pattern.  
   
   
       12 . The fabric of  claim 10 , wherein the ventilation holes are present in a sufficient number to provide a ratio of material holes from 70%/30% to 80%/20%.  
   
   
       13 . The fabric of  claim 10 , wherein the ventilation holes vary in diameter from 2 mm to 50 mm.  
   
   
       14 . The fabric of  claim 13 , wherein the ventilation holes are around 5 mm in diameter.  
   
   
       15 . The fabric of  claim 10 , wherein the ventilation holes are slit-like, rectangular or ellipsoidal.  
   
   
       16 . A hammock or hammock chair including fabric of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       17 . The hammock or hammock chair of  claim 16 , wherein the fabric is arranged to have its first direction with a lesser stretch characteristic aligned, in use, approximately along the head to tail axis of a user and its second direction with a greater stretch characteristic aligned transverse to the head to tail axis of a user.  
   
   
       18 . The hammock of  claim 16 , wherein the fabric has its first direction of a lesser stretch characteristic aligned along the length of the hammock and its second direction of a greater stretch characteristic aligned across the width of the hammock.  
   
   
       19 . The hammock or hammock chair of  claim 16 , further comprising printed visible indicia, the indicia including text and/or graphic elements.  
   
   
       20 . The hammock or hammock chair of  claim 19 , wherein the indicia are adapted to identify ownership of the hammock or hammock chair or to advertise products and/or services.  
   
   
       21 . The hammock or hammock chair of  claim 19 , wherein the indicia are personalized for an owner.  
   
   
       22 . The hammock or hammock chair of  claim 16 , further comprising a spreading rod formed as a flexible elongate member adapted to deform under load in a hammock or hammock chair while substantially assuming its undeformed configuration when not under load.  
   
   
       23 . The hammock or hammock chair of  claim 22 , wherein the spreading rod has a plurality of apertures dimensioned to receive supporting cords.  
   
   
       24 . The hammock or hammock chair of  claim 23 , wherein the spreading rod is located in a sleeve in the hammock or hammock chair.  
   
   
       25 . The hammock or hammock chair of  claim 22 , wherein the spreading rod is formed integrally with or supported directly by a frame support of the hammock or hammock chair.  
   
   
       26 . The hammock or hammock chair of  claim 22 , wherein the flexible elongate member is formed from one or more of plastic, rubber, spring steel, wood or polyvinyl chloride tubing.  
   
   
       27 . The hammock or hammock chair of  claim 22 , wherein the spreading rod is formed from polyvinyl chloride plastic tube with a diameter of froml 0 mm to 30 mm.  
   
   
       28 . A spreading rod for a hammock or hammock chair formed as a flexible elongate member adapted to deform under load and to assume its undeformed configuration when not under load.  
   
   
       29 . The spreading rod of  claim 28  comprising a plurality of spaced apertures dimensioned to received supporting cords.  
   
   
       30 . The spreading rod of  claim 28  formed from one or more of plastic, rubber, spring steel, wood and polyvinyl chloride plastic tubing.  
   
   
       31 . The spreading rod of  claim 30 , wherein the spreading rod is formed from polyvinyl chloride plastic tubing with a diameter of from 10 mm to 30 mm.  
   
   
       32 . A method of forming a hammock, the method with a diameter of from 10 mm to 30 mm.  
   
   
       33 . A method of forming a hammock, the method comprising the steps of : warp knitting a fabric from a synthetic material and having a lesser stretch characteristic in a first direction and a greater stretch characteristic in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; aligning the first direction along a length of the hammock and the second direction across the width of the hammock; forming a supporting body of the hammock with the fabric.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising the step of forming the fabric with a first stretch characteristic of 10% or less and a second stretch characteristic between 10% and 50%.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising the step of forming a plurality of ventilation apertures in the fabric.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising the step of fixing a flexible spreading rod at each end of the hammock.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the step of fixing a plurality of supporting cords to each of the flexible spreading rods.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising the step of printing visible indicia on the surface of the fabric.  
   
   
       39 . A method of promoting a product or event, said method comprising the step of printing relevant material on a hammock or hammock chair of  claim 16 .  
   
   
       40 . A method of displaying an interest or affiliation, the method comprising the step of printing relevant indicia on a hammock or hammock chair of  claim 16 .  
   
   
       41 . A method of identifying ownership of a hammock, the method comprising the step of printing identifying indicia on a hammock or hammock chair of  claim 16.