Portable Hammock Frame Shiftable Between Multiple Stable Positions

Abstract

A hammock assembly comprises a conventional hammock on a hammock frame, which comprises two curved support members diverging from opposite ends at an angle. Each support member is formed of curved sections that are joined end to end to end. Disassembly of these curved sections or tube in the field provides portability. The hammock assembly will tilt when the occupant positions his or her center of gravity to the side of the center point of the hammock frame, so that the occupant can sit, partially recline or lie in a number of stable positions.

1 . A hammock frame comprising two elongate support members connected at opposite ends thereof; each support member including curved sections over most of its length between the opposite ends, with the curvature of the two support members being equal; the two support members being attached to each other by a pin extending through aligned holes in the two support members at the opposite ends and lying in transverse planes at an acute angle relative to each other, and hammock attachment members attachable to the pins at each of the opposite ends so that a hammock can be deployed between the two opposite ends; the hammock being free to rotate to tilted positions dependent upon an occupant's center of gravity relative to the hammock frame wherein the hammock frame will support the occupant in stable reclining and multiple stable sitting positions as well as in multiple stable positions in which an occupant will be inclined relative to horizontal and vertical planes. 
     
     
         2 . The hammock frame of  claim 1  wherein curved sections of the support members are interrupted by multiple straight portions shorter than the curved sections, the hammock being stable in any angular position when occupied but rotating when the center of gravity of the occupant changes despite the multiple, shorter straight portions. 
     
     
         3 . The hammock frame of  claim 1  wherein adjacent curved sections are joined by mating straight portions at opposite ends of the curved sections. 
     
     
         4 . The hammock frame of  claim 3  wherein each straight portion is substantially smaller than a curved portion extending therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The hammock frame of  claim 4  wherein straight portions of adjacent curved sections abut each other when curved sections are joined to form the support members. 
     
     
         6 . The hammock frame of  claim 5  wherein a straight connector extends through adjacent straight portions to join adjacent curved sections. 
     
     
         7 . The hammock frame of  claim 1  wherein the curved sections comprise curved tubes. 
     
     
         8 . The hammock frame of  claim 1  wherein the height of the hammock frame is less than thirty percent of the distance between opposite ends of the hammock frame. 
     
     
         9 . The hammock frame of  claim 1  wherein a lateral strap extends between opposite support members. 
     
     
         10 . The hammock frame of  claim 1  wherein curved sections are attachable to each other and detachable from each other so that the hammock frame is portable. 
     
     
         11 . A portable hammock support frame comprising multiple curved tubes connectable end to end to end to form a tubular support member, two tubular support members being attachable to each other at both opposite ends thereof: the two tubular support members being connectable at both opposite ends thereof and diverging from the opposite ends to maximum intermediate lateral spacing to rest on a ground surface to prevent lateral displacement of the hammock frame when supporting a user on a hammock attachable between opposite ends of the support frame; an attachment member comprising a pin extending through aligned holes in the two support members with an attachment member located at opposite ends of the hammock frame for attaching a hammock to the hammock frame, each attachment member being attachable at an exposed end of tubular support members adjacent the opposite ends of the hammock support frame, the hammock support frame, when fully assembled, being free to rock longitudinally transverse to the lateral spacing between the diverging tubular support members; the curved tubes being disconnectable for portability. 
     
     
         12 . The portable hammock support frame of  claim 11  wherein a hammock attachable between opposite ends of the hammock support frame and the hammock support frame are free to rotate to tilted positions dependent upon location of an occupant's center of gravity relative to the hammock frame, wherein the hammock frame will support the occupant in stable reclining and multiple stable sitting positions as well as in multiple stable positions in which an occupant will be inclined relative to horizontal and vertical planes. 
     
     
         13 . The portable hammock support frame of  claim 11  wherein the curved tubes, each have a straight portion at opposite ends thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The portable hammock support frame of  claim 13  wherein a curved portion between opposite straight portions of each curved tube is longer than the combined widths of the straight portions. 
     
     
         15 . The portable hammock support frame of  claim 11  wherein a connecting tube secures adjacent curved tubes to each other. 
     
     
         16 . The portable hammock support frame of  claim 15  wherein the connecting tube is insertable into adjacent curved tube ends. 
     
     
         17 . The portable hammock support frame of  claim 16  wherein the connecting tube comprises a straight member insertable to a straight end portion of adjacent curved tubes. 
     
     
         18 . A portable hammock assembly comprising a hammock attachable to a field assembled and field disassembled hammock support frame progressively curved between opposite ends thereof, the hammock support frame comprises two support members attachable one to the other at opposite ends thereof by a pin extending through aligned holes in the two support members, the two support members laterally diverging therebetween so that the widest spacing of the support members is equidistant the opposite ends of the hammock support frame; each support frame being formed of a series of more than two, identical curved tubes for assembly and disassembly of the support members; hammock attachment members attachable to the pins at opposite ends of the hammock frame; wherein the hammock assembly is free to rotate and tilt between opposite ends of the hammock frame so that an occupant can be supported in different positions. 
     
     
         19 . The hammock assembly of  claim 18  wherein the hammock assembly is free to rotate to tilted positions dependent upon location of an occupant's center of gravity relative to the hammock frame, wherein the hammock frame will support the occupant in stable reclining and multiple stable sitting positions as well as in multiple stable positions in which an occupant will be inclined relative to horizontal and vertical planes. 
     
     
         20 . The hammock assembly of  claim 18  wherein each curved tube includes a straight portion at both ends thereof, adjacent curved tubes being joined by a straight connector member engaging straight portions of adjacent curved tubes.