Hammock

Abstract

A hammock assembly which provides a lightweight and low cost support for a hammock which requires a medium or a higher tension than currently used. This allows the stand to carry a very low profile with upward arm elevation of only around 30 degrees. In a preferred use the support is easily folded and installed without tools, tensioning of the hammock can be provided by a single action overcenter device; also some pre-tensioning anti-flip ropes can provide extra safety. A hammock bed provides increased lifting at its mid length through a combination of X-shaped fabric formations with transverse strengthening band including dismantling of the straight and curved spreader bars. A second hammock support stand assembly which provides a hammock seat combination that allows indoor use, including a very strong asymmetric support formed as a horizontal X shape.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A hammock stand comprising:
 a) a pair of horizontal support members having a first a second ends;   b) a pair of support legs operatively connected to the horizontal support members;   c) a pair of upward arms fastened to each end of the horizontal support member by some attachment means;   d) a pair of attachment means at the upper end of the support arm whereby a hammock can be hung.   
     
     
         2 . The hammock of  claim 1  wherein the hammock is hung or released by a clamp lever of similar quick release device. 
     
     
         3 . The hammock stand of  claim 2  wherein the support legs are fastened by bolts with nuts or clamp levers. 
     
     
         4 . The hammock stand of  claim 3  wherein the upward arms are fastened by a single bolt with nut or clamp lever. 
     
     
         5 . The hammock of  claim 4  wherein the support legs are fastened to the horizontal members at each end by a single attachment and clamping means. 
     
     
         6 . The hammock of  claim 5  wherein unfolding or folding is easily achieved by manual release and tightening of fasteners, rotating legs by 90 degrees and upward arms by around 150 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The hammock of  claim 2  wherein one attachment mean is a tensioning device with optional length adjustment in order to provide easy hanging of a hammock. 
     
     
         8 . The hammock of  claim 7  wherein the tensioning device is a basic overcenter device. 
     
     
         9 . The hammock of  claim 2  wherein the support members are mostly straight beams made out of wood. 
     
     
         10 . The hammock of  claim 2  wherein the opening angle formed by the horizontal member to the upward arm is around 150 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The hammock stand of  claim 10  wherein at least one wheel is fastened to the horizontal support members by an attachment device permitting transportation. 
     
     
         12 . The hammock of  claim 10  wherein the X tensioned hammock side entry is less than 36 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The hammock of  claim 12  wherein a slightly tensioned anti-flip mean provides extra stability when climbing in or out. 
     
     
         14 . An overcenter assembly comprising:
 a) an outer shell is operatively fastened to a hammock stand upper arm end;   b) an inner mechanical lever arm is operatively fastened to the outer shell by two fasteners;   c) an inner tensioning member being fastened at one end of the inner lever arm in such position to permit overcenter position upon lever closure whereby the other end of the tensioning member allows tensioning of a hammock.   
     
     
         15 . The overcenter assembly of  claim 14  wherein the outer shell of the overcenter device is part and built into the upward support arm of a hammock stand. 
     
     
         16 . A hammock comprising:
 a) a near rectangular sheet of material;   b) two large bands of material diagonally located lengthwise;   c) the fabric bed being fastened to two spreader bars whereby the hammock is supported by ropes of similar supporting means.   
     
     
         17 . The hammock of  claim 16  wherein the diagonal band of fabric makes a wide X pattern fastened to spreader bars with at least one being curved and connected to the hammock rings by a set of two ropes fastened around the middle of each diagonal band end. 
     
     
         18 . The hammock of  claim 17  wherein the spreader bars are removable by releasing two anchoring devices. 
     
     
         19 . The hammock of  claim 16  wherein the diagonally located large band of fabric forms an X only over two thirds of the length of the hammock only to fold near the lateral edges of the hammock and reaches the foot end of the hammock at the curved spreader bar; a large band of fabric is located crosswise of the hammock at the end of the X portion to support the upper parts of the users legs. 
     
     
         20 . A compact hammock stand assembly comprising:
 a) a wide central board fastened to a leg member at one end, a hammock support member at the other end with a transverse fastening plate near its center;   b) a set of two outer narrower boards located at each side of the central board with fastening to a single foot member at one end another single wide support hammock member at the other end;   c) on each board the transverse fastener plates are fastened to an axle linking them into a single assembly providing unfolding and folding capability.   
     
     
         21 . A compact hammock stand assembly of  claim 20  wherein the hammock tensioning is provided by strap or rope devices. 
     
     
         22 . A compact hammock stand assembly of  claim 20  wherein the hammock tensioning is provided by mechanical control devices. 
     
     
         23 . A compact hammock stand assembly of  claim 20  wherein a seat support sub-assembly is supported operatively by the reaction member and the three boards whereby transforming the compact hammock stand into a multiple seat bench.