Abstract:
A stand is described for supporting a hammock, the stand comprising several tubular members which can be assembled into an arc shaped stand having a support hook on one end and two horizontally spaced support hooks on the opposite end.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention is directed to a hammock support structure comprised of several tubular members which can be assembled into an arc shaped stand having a support hook on one end and two horizontally spaced support hooks on the opposite end.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Hammocks are generally hung between trees, poles, and other upright stable structures. It has frequently developed, however, that the very environments which are most desirable and conducive to the use of a hammock, such as the beach or open sunny areas of the yard, are devoid of suitable structures to which the ends of a hammock can be attached. Accordingly, hammock stands have been developed to provide the necessary structure for suspending a hammock from its two ends so that it can swing freely above the ground. Such structures must be relatively large in order to support the fully extended hammock, and permit it to swing freely.  
         [0003]     Since these devices are of necessity, large and bulky, it is advantageous if they can be collapsed and shipped in a disassembled configuration. Various means have been employed to permit such disassembling such as laminated or interlocking members which can be joined together to form the hammock support structure or stand.  
         [0004]     One known type of hammock stand includes as its main element, an arc shaped stand, with its opposite ends extending upwardly. A hammock can be extended between these opposite ends. Attached to the bottom of the arc shaped stand, are two foot supports which extend perpendicularly from the stand. The joint between stand and the foot supports must be tight and stable when the hammock is in use, but also easily disassembled for convenient packaging and shipping. The hammock stand is subjected to substantial stress forces, particularly as the hammock swings and its weight is shifted from one side of its axis to the other.  
         [0005]     It should be noted that one factor which tends to make such hammock stands unstable and tippable, is that they provide just one support hook at each of the opposite ends. So the axis of the hammock is a single straight line between the opposite ends of the hammock stand.  
         [0006]     It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide a hammock stand that is more stable because it has two horizontally spaced support hooks on end of the stand, and one support hook on the opposite end. The axis of the hammock is thus triangulated, rather than being a straight line between opposite ends of the hammock stand. It is also within the scope of the present invention that both ends of the hammock stand would have two horizontally spaced support hooks, so that the axis of the hammock would be of rectangular configuration and even more stable.  
       DISCLOSURE OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0007]     The only prior art of which applicant is aware may be of possible relevance to the following prior patents and references cited against it:  
                                                       5,113,530   Branch           4,817,359   Colonias           4,737,047   Oshita           4,677,805   Schleisner           3,632,147   Finger           2,506,389   Samuelson                      
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the hammock stand and its foot supports, as disassembled components.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the hammock stand and foot supports as assembled into a unit.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side cross sectional view of the joint between the hammock stand and one of its foot supports.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates details of the saddle wedge that facilitates the joint between the hammock stand and each of its foot supports.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4   a  is a top plan view.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4   b  is a side elevational view with phantom lines  
         [0014]      FIG. 4   c  is the same as  4   b,  but with the saddle wedge turned 90° from the view illustrated.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the hammock, as it would be extended between the opposite ends of the hammock stand.  
     
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     In accordance with the present invention a hammock support structure is provided which comprises an elongated arc shaped stand formed of a mid section and two end sections. The arc shaped stand is attached to foot supports which extend outwardly from and perpendicularly to the said arc shaped stand. Each foot support is attached at its mid point to the bottom of the stand at the joint between the mid section and an end section. Each foot support is attached to the bottom of the arc shaped stand, by means of a saddling wedge, which stabilizes the joint between the two, and is secured by a single bolt which extends though aligned apertures in the joint, through the saddling wedge and through the support foot. A nut is screwed on to the bottom of a bolt which extends through the joint and protrudes beneath the foot support.  
         [0017]     At least one of the end sections is forked, providing two horizontally spaced support hooks on the end of the hammock stand. This triangulates the axis of the hammock, making it more stable and less tippable.  
         [0018]     The present invention in its various forms and embodiments will however, be more fully appreciated by having reference specifically to the drawing which illustrate an embodiment thereof.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     Directing attention to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the hammock support stand  1  is shown as the disassembled parts; mid section  2  of the arc shaped stand, right end section  3  and the forked left end section  4 . Each section is made of tubular aluminum. Both ends of mid section  2  have a circumferentially reduced portion  5 , which fits snugly into the open ends of sections  3  and  4 . Right foot support  7  and left foot support  8  are illustrated with aperture  17  extending through the mid point of foot support  7  and apertures  1   8 a and  1   8 b extending through two mid points of foot support  8 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows the hammock support stand assembled, and identifies the joints  9   a,    9   b  and  9   c  between the forked shaped hammock stand  1  and foot supports  7  and  8 . Toward the left end of mid section  2 , there is a fork  6 , from which prongs  6   a  and  6   b  extend, both of which have a circumferentially reduced end portions  5 , which fit snugly into the open ends of left end prong sections  4   a  and  4   b  at the point where they are attached to the foot support  8  at joints  9   b  and  9   c.  A support hook  24   a  is provided near the upper right end of right end section  3 . Support hooks  24   b  and  24   c  are provided near the upper left ends of left end prong sections  4   a  and  4   b.    
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows in greater details join  9 . Apertures  10 A are drilled through the open ends of sections  3  and  4 . Corresponding apertures  10 B are drilled through circumferentially reduced portions  5  of mid section  2 . The aligned apertures  10 A,  10 B,  10 C and  10 D form a shaft through which the bolt  14  is extended attaching the arc shaped stand  1 , to the foot support  7  through aperture  17 . The bolt head  15  is above the aperture  10 A. The opposite end of the bolt  14 , protrudes beneath the aperture  10 D in foot support  7  and is secured by nut  16 . Saddling wedge  11  is located between the bottom of arc shaped stand  1 , and foot support  7 .  
         [0022]      FIGS. 4a, 4   b  and  4   c  illustrate the saddling wedge  11  in greater detail. In  FIG. 4   a,  the outer periphery of saddling wedge  11  is square shaped and it has an aperture  10   c  through its center. From  FIG. 4   b,  it will be seen that the saddling wedge  11 , has an upper surface  12  which curves upwardly from the aperture  10   c.  The upper surface  12 , is curved upwardly to match the curvature of the aluminum tube that comprises stand  1 , or more specifically the joint between mid section  2  and end section  3  or  4 .  FIG. 4   c,  the same view as  FIG. 4   b,  but with the saddle wedge  11  turned 90° from the position shown in  FIG. 4   b.  From this angle, the saddle wedge  11  is seen to have a bottom surface  13 , which curves downwardly to match the curvature of the aluminum tube that comprises the foot supports  7  or  8 .  
         [0023]     The fact that this saddle wedge  11 , has an upwardly curved surface  12 , and a downwardly curved surface  13 , perpendicular to upwardly curved surface  12 , allows it to form a very tight and strong joint between the stand  1 , and the foot supports  7  and  8 . The saddle wedge  11 , accommodates and enables the curvature of both elements in perpendicular attachment.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates a hammock, as it would appear extended between the opposite ends of the forked hammock stand  1 . On the right end of the hammock is a spreader bar  19   a,  from which clew ropes  20  extend to and are attached to right terminal ring  22 . On the left end of the hammock is a spreader bar  19   b,  from which two sets of equally divided clew ropes  21   a  and  21   b  extend to and are attached to left terminal clew rings  23   a  and  23   b.  When in use, the right terminal ring  22  is looped on to the support hook  24   a;  the left terminal rings  23   a  and  23   b,  are looped on to support hooks  24   b  and  24   c.