Hammock

Abstract

A hammock which includes a pair of suspension points provided on opposed sides that the hammock is arranged to suspend from in use. The hammock has a mid-section for supporting a user's body in a direction perpendicular to a line between the suspension points. The mid-section suspends from a pair of wings extending outwardly from opposing lateral edges of the mid-section to the suspension points. On each side of the hammock there may be provided a line of adjustable length for raising a first portion of the mid-section, for example, for inclining the back of the hammock. Second lines of adjustable length may be provided for raising a second portion of the mid-section to change the shape of the hammock further, for example raising the knees of the user to bring him or her into a fully-seated position.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A hammock comprising:
 a pair of suspension points provided on opposed sides of the hammock that the hammock is arranged to suspend from in use;   an approximately rectangular mid-section for supporting a user's body from head to foot when lying in a sleeping position in a direction substantially transverse to a line between the suspension points, the mid-section including a pocket for receiving a sleeping pad to stiffen the mid-section, wherein the longer edges of the pocket provide a pair of opposing lateral edges of the mid-section;   a pair of wings, each extending outwardly from one of the opposing lateral edges of the mid-section substantially to a respective suspension point, wherein the wings are cut with a profile that is configured to provide a substantially flat mid-section for the user when the hammock is under load from the user resting on the mid-section in the sleeping position;   a pair of first lines of adjustable length, each first line descending from a respective suspension point and being connected to a first location along a respective lateral edge of the mid-section by a web of fabric, the first lines being for reducing, whilst in use, a distance between the respective first location and the respective suspension point, so as to raise a first portion of the mid-section corresponding to the first locations and thereby change the shape of the mid-section from a first, reclined configuration to a second, raised or seated configuration,   a pair of second lines of adjustable length on each opposed side of the hammock, each second line descending from a respective suspension point and being connected to a second location along a respective lateral edge of the mid-section by the web or a further web of fabric on that side, the second lines being for reducing, whilst in use, a distance between the respective second location and the respective suspension point, so as to raise a second portion of the mid-section corresponding to the second locations and thereby change the shape of the mid-section to a third, fully-seated configuration,   wherein the web of fabric connected to each first line or second line is arranged to distribute tension from the respective first line or second across a length of the respective lateral edge of the midsection when the first lines and second lines are under load.   
     
     
         22 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the wings each comprise woven fabric panels. 
     
     
         23 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the wings each extend from a suspension point to a head end of the mid-section and to a foot end of the mid-section. 
     
     
         24 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the wings are each substantially bell-shaped. 
     
     
         25 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein a base edge of each of the wings comprises a convex section. 
     
     
         26 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein a base edge of each of the wings comprises a pair of spaced convex sections and a centrally positioned concave section between. 
     
     
         27 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the fabric comprises a warp and a weft which are orientated at about 45 degrees to a principal direction of tension in each of the wings when under load. 
     
     
         28 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the first location on each of the opposing lateral edges is arranged so that, when in use, reducing the distance between the first location and the respective suspension point elevates a shoulder region of the user when lying along the mid-section. 
     
     
         29 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the second location on each of the opposing lateral edges is arranged so that, when in use, reducing the distance between the second location and the respective suspension point elevates a knee region of a user supported by the mid-section. 
     
     
         30 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein each line of adjustable length is looped through a return device. 
     
     
         31 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the lines of adjustable length are straps. 
     
     
         32 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising a foot pocket formed at a foot end of the mid-section to receive the feet of a user resting on the mid-section. 
     
     
         33 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein a ridgeline is provided between the suspension points and is adapted to be under tension when the hammock is under load. 
     
     
         34 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the hammock further comprises one or more inflatable members. 
     
     
         35 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the one or more inflatable members are each in the form of inflatable tubes extending either side of the mid-section. 
     
     
         36 . The hammock as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the mid-section is configured to accommodate two users in a side by side arrangement.