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.

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.