Rocking Hammock

A hammock includes an arcuate support frame configured for periodic rotational locomotion. A resilient support surface is configured for supporting a mass of at least one user thereon during a periodic rotational locomotion. The support surface may be suspended by suspension members between opposing ends of the support frame. The suspension member may be configured for a range of center of mass adjustment points for modifying a collective center of mass location for the rotational locomotion.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The field of invention relates generally to hammocks, and more specifically, to a hammock with a rocking feature.

BACKGROUND

Hammocks provide sleeping and reclining accommodation for users. Hammocks are usually affixed to a tree or post. Some hammocks are used for camping to elevate the user from a ground surface. There is a need for another hammock design to create a fluid and versatile rocking movement.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a rocking hammock. In one aspect, a hammock includes an arcuate support frame configured for periodic rotational locomotion. A flexible support surface is configured for supporting a mass of at least one user thereon during periodic rotational locomotion. At least two suspension members are provided for suspending the support surface between each of the first end and the second end of the arcuate support frame during the periodic rotational locomotion.

In another aspect, a hammock includes an arcuate support frame configured for periodic rotational locomotion. A flexible support surface is configured for supporting a mass of at least one user thereon during periodic rotational locomotion. The support surface may be suspended by a suspension member with a range of center of mass adjustment points for modifying a collective center of mass location for the periodic rotational locomotion.

In yet another aspect, a hammock includes a support frame having an arcuate portion configured for periodic rotational locomotion on a surface and the support frame has opposing ends. A flexible support surface is suspended by suspension members disposed between the opposing end and the support surface is configured for supporting a mass of at least one user thereon during the periodic rotational locomotion.

In one aspect, at least one of the suspension members enables incremental length adjustment. In another aspect, at least one of the suspension members enables variable length adjustment. In yet another aspect, at least one of the suspension members is length-adjustable. In another aspect, the hammock includes at least one rotational stop disposed on a rotational perimeter of the support frame. In yet another aspect, at least two adjustable suspensions members are configured for modifying a collective center of mass along a longitudinal direction of the support frame.

In one aspect, length-adjusting members allow for a movable collective center of mass in a rocking stand for a hammock for single or multiple users.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated inFIGS. 1-10in accordance with various constructions, a rocking hammock system100(“hammock”) is disclosed for placement in a suitable indoor or outdoor area, such as a room, a play gym, lawn, park, playground or similar area. The hammock100has a support surface110made of any number of materials. For example, the material could be a stretchable elastic woven fiber, a plurality of inelastic fibers or a resilient sheet material for supporting the mass/weight of at least one user160in-static use or in dynamic movement. The support surface110may be mounted to a rocking support frame200. Users can sit on the support surface110of hammock100and rock or pivot from the head-to-foot longitudinal direction. Users can sit, or lay on the support surface110to create variety of rocking or pivotal motions at varying intensities and speeds or remain stationary. For example, hammock100enables periodic rotational mechanical movement when two users are disposed toward each other foot to foot on the hammock or orientated differently (seeFIG. 10).

According to the teachings of the present disclosure, the support surface110can be of multiple planar geometric shapes, including rectilinear shapes. In one construction shown in theFIGS. 1-10, support surface110is provided as a rectangular shape. The head and foot ends of the support surface110includes a sleeve120sized to receive an elongated suspension bar130. The ends of the suspension bar130may protrude from the ends of the sleeve120. Respective ends of the bar130are attached to one end of a suspension line or member140and the opposing end of the suspension line140is connected to an anchor point210of the frame200. At least two anchor points210are disposed at the first end150and the second end152of the support frame200. The anchor points210can be of multiple different constructions, such as, for example, an eyehook, or loop bolt. It should be noted that the distal ends of the suspension line140could retain any number of quick release devices, such as a non-locking carabiner device. The support surface100can be suspended above a ground or floor surface and be pulled with the suspension lines140.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, in accordance with at least one construction, support frame200has a tubular configuration in the form of a large arcuate ground-engaging tube or rails. The radius of curvature (R) of the arc enables a periodic rotational locomotion of support frame200. The support frame200can be made of any number of suitable materials, such as a molded or casted construction of high strength materials, such as aluminum or steel or high strength plastic or composite material. The support frame200can be constructed for an assembly of multiple tubes or could be one single tube molded or formed. In one configuration, the frame200could be constructed using 3D printing technology for printing in plastic or metal.

As shown in the Figures, support surface110may be suspended by a non-adjustable suspension line140between each of the first end150and the second end152of the arcuate support frame200during the periodic rotational locomotion or an adjustable suspension line140system with a plurality or ranges of center of mass adjustment points configured to modify a center of mass location for periodic rotary movement of the arcuate support frame200. Referring toFIG. 2, the adjustable suspension line140system allows for the incremental or variable adjusting of support surface110by enabling tuning of the periodic rotational movement of the support frame200by way of moving the collective center of gravity Mcgin the longitudinal head-to-foot direction (e.g. “x” direction) closer to the center of support frame200. Without this system, the user's head would go closer to the ground and their feet would be high in the air during a rocking motion. For ease of explanation, directional orientation is based on a user lying generally flat on the support surface110within the hammock100. A foot-end is defined at the end of the support frame200nearest to the user's feet (e.g., the left side ofFIG. 2). A head-end is defined at the end of the support frame200nearest to the user's head (e.g., the right side ofFIG. 2).

Referring toFIG. 3, for ease of explanation of hammock system100, the mass of an object, such as a human user, is defined as M1. Likewise, the mass of a second object, such as a human user, is defined M2. Of course, mass can be measured in any number of units, such as pounds in the English system and kilograms in the metric system. The hammock100and support frame200have a mass defined as MH. It is assumed in this example that the center of gravity of the MH is disposed at the center of the support frame200(e.g., ½ longitudinal length L). Further, is it assumed that x1is the longitudinal distance of M1from the foot end of the support frame200. That is a reference point can be measured at the foot end (e.g., left end of support frame200as shown inFIG. 3). X2is the respective distance of M2the foot-end of the support frame200. As such, the foot-end of the support frame200serves as reference point for the center of mass adjustment. According to the present disclosure, the distance of the collective center of gravity for the hammock system100from a reference point is defined by: the sum of the masses of each object times its respective distance from a designated reference point divided by the sum of the object masses (e.g., the formula:

As noted previously, adjustable suspension line140of the hammock system100enables the length adjustment of the collective center of gravity. With continued reference toFIG. 3, the suspension line140can be defined by a longitudinal distance Da. And the longitudinal distance from the end of Da to the center of M1is D1. Accordingly, distance xl equals the sum of Da and D1. In other words, the distance x1of the mass M1from the reference point is a function of Da. Likewise, the distance x2of the mass M2from the reference point is a function of Da. Hence, theoretically, a formula can be considered: Xcg=F(Da) or F(Db). It should be noted that the magnitude value of the M1and M2effects the collective center of gravity location as well as the respective distances from a reference point.

Because the distance Da is length-changeable, the collective center of gravity longitudinal location of hammock100can be incrementally or continuously modified when considering the users stay in the same location on the support surface110. Nevertheless, the reference point can be measured at the head-end (e.g., right end of support frame as shown inFIG. 3) such that distance Db is defined.

In the constructions shown inFIGS. 4-6, the suspension lines140may be constructed of any number of different configurations; including, for example, guy line, guide wire, straps, ropes, wire, or tension cable. In one construction, suspension lines140may have multiple lengths allowing for different incremental center of mass adjustment points. In an alternative construction, suspension lines140may have be continuously variable thereby allowing for an infinite number of different center of mass adjustment points, such as, in the case of a pulley/cable system. In one construction shown inFIG. 4, the suspension line140may have a single rope or cable with multiple releasable connection members144along the length. A shorten length can be a one-person setting while a longer length can be a dual-person setting.

In yet another construction shown inFIG. 5, suspension line140comprises a rope142with the ends having releasable connection member144. The connection member144can be a multiple mechanical devices, including a non-locking or locking carabiner device. In another construction, the ropes142can have the ends formed in a loop with a swage148(compression fitting) which mechanically retains the ends together. In another construction shown inFIG. 6, the suspension line140may be a strap with a plurality of ribbons146of equal length or of differing length. As shown inFIG. 9, suspension lines140are provided with one rope142length suspending the bar130to the support frame200. This configuration shortens the length towards the foot-end of the support frame200for users on disposed on the support surface110. Shown in the example ofFIG. 10, a two-person/two-user configuration may have the foot-end of support frame200with suspension line140longer than the suspension line140at the head-end. Referring back toFIG. 3and the example ofFIG. 10, longitudinal distance Db is shorter than longitudinal distance Da.

Referring toFIG. 7, one or more rotational stops220are provided to resist over rotation of the support frame200so as to prevent excessive rotational or potential longitudinal travel. According to one construction, the support frame200has periodic rotational movement along an arcuate portion or a defined rotational perimeter (“l”) rather than a single fulcrum point of conventional see-saws. To determine rotational perimeter l, an arcuate center of the support frame200can be determined such that a center angle ⊖ can be measured between the rotational stops220. Rotational perimeter l can be determined by using the mathematical formula:

where R defined as the radius of curvature of the support frame200. Additionally, the total rotational perimeter (“TL”) of the support frame200can be determined with the same formula except that a center angle α can be measured from the foot-end to the head-end. According to the present disclosure, a ratio of the rotational perimeter l to the total rotational perimeter TL:

is less the 1.0 so to prevent over periodic rotational movement and to keep the user at a suitable vertical distance above a ground surface. In various constructions, the above noted ratio can be small for a short rotational movement (e.g., 0.10, 0.25, 0.33, and 0.50) and larger for a longer rotational movement (e.g., 0.60, 0.70, and 0.75). Nevertheless, other specific numerical parameters can be used. Referring toFIG. 10, it can be seen that the head-end of the support frame200is higher than the foot-end and the rotational stops220can prevent excessive counter-clockwise rotation of the foot-end of the support frame200.

Aspects of the disclosure have been described in terms of illustrative constructions and embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Numerous other embodiments, modifications, and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of this disclosure.