Abstract:
Four cross member struts, two on each long side of an open hammock frame, permit full collapse of the frame for closure and transportation when the cross member struts are composed of an unbroken tube pivotally connected with a second tube divided into two overlapping sections.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a Continuation of Application No. China 200520059944.2, filed Jun. 16, 2005. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Research and development of this invention and Application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   NOT APPLICABLE 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to hammocks, in general, and to a collapsible, easily portable folding hammock stand or frame for outdoor use, in particular. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Because of the recreational popularity of hammocks, collapsible hammock support structures have been suggested for holding a hammock in its opened position. One disadvantage of those that are available is that they are complex in construction and difficult to set up for use and later collapse. A second disadvantage is that they are hard to transport from place to place due to their weight and bulkiness. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   As will become clear from the following description, the folding hammock stand or frame of the present invention overcomes these disadvantages—and, through the use of four special “X” cross member struts appropriately pivot connected at prescribed locations so that the structure, when pushed to close, will fold the four “Xs”, flipping them together in overlapping relationship. As will be seen, the overlapping “Xs” include a pivot connection where they meet midway, and with the ends of the member struts then connected and riveted to other members. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, if the folding hammock stand or frame were constructed otherwise, not only would the frame not close, but the frame could not be folded upwards—locking, instead, at ¼ of the way. 
   In accordance with the teachings of the invention, the folding hammock stand or frame is fabricated with four such special “Xs”, two on each longside of the frame. Each “X” is composed of two tubes, one of which is further divided into two sections; with an overlapping “drill hole” in each section, a pin is inserted through the hole to allow the full collapse to take place and to put back the rigidity to that “X” when the stand or frame is opened. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of the folding hammock stand or frame of the invention in its open position, ready to receive a recreation hammock to rest upon; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a closing of the hammock stand from its  FIG. 1  set up; and 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of the end result of the closing of  FIG. 2 , with the hammock stand or frame totally collapsed. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The folding hammock stand or frame of the invention  10  includes a pair of end frames  12 , each having first and second stand up legs  14 ,  16 . A post connector  18  joins each of the legs  14 ,  16  at one end, pivoted as at  20 , and with cushioning feet  22  inserted at the opposite ends of the frame legs. A hook for the hammock bed to be installed is shown at  24 . 
   First, second, third and fourth metallic members, struts or tubes are provided, each having a first end pivotally connected to a to a lower end of one of the first and second legs  14 ,  16  of the end frames  12 . Such tubes are shown at  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  connected as at  27 ,  29 ,  31  and  33  respectively. As more particularly shown in  FIG. 1 , the second opposite end of the tubes  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  are similarly pivotally connected—the tube  26  with the tube  30  at the connection  35 , and the tube  28  with the tube  32  at the connection  37 . As will be appreciated, each of the tubes  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  are thus provided with apertures adjacent their respective opposite ends to receive the pivot connections, preferably in the form of rivets. As will become clear from the following description, furthermore, each of these tubes  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  are provided with yet another aperture to receive pivot connections, substantially midway between their opposite ends. 
   Four additional metallic tubes are provided  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46 . Such tubes are also provided with multiple apertures—one for pivotally connecting the lower ends of the tubes  40  and  44  at a pivot L-connection  41  and for joining the lower ends of the legs  42  and  46  at a pivot L-connection  43 —a second for joining the tube  26  with the tube  40  at a midway pivot connection  45 , for joining the tubes  28  and  42  at a midway pivot connection  47 , for joining the tubes  30  and  44  at a midway pivot connection  49 , and for joining the tubes  32  and  46  at a midway pivot connection  51 . Rivets may similarly be used to pivotally connect the tubes  26  &amp;  40 ,  28  &amp;  42 ,  30  &amp;  44  and  32  &amp;  46  in this manner. 
   Four further metallic tubes are provided  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56 , each also with multiple apertures—one for pivotally connecting the upper end of the tube  40  with the tube  50  at a pivot connection  61 , for joining the upper end of the tube  42  with the tube  52  at a pivot connection  63 , for joining the upper end of the tube  44  with the tube  54  at a pivot connection  65 , and for joining the upper end of the tube  46  with the tube  56  at a pivot connection  67 . As before, rivets may be used to pivotally connect these tubes  40  &amp;  50 ,  42  &amp;  52 ,  44  &amp;  54  and  46  &amp;  56 . A fourth aperture is provided in each of the legs  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  to afford the upwards folding of the hammock stand or frame for transportation or storage and collapse to the closure position of  FIG. 3 . 
   More specifically, as  FIG. 1  illustrates, the tubes  50  and  52  respectively pivotally connect with the tubes  40  and  42  by the rivet connections through the third apertures on the tubes  40  and  42 , at  61  and  63 . Similarly, the tube  44  pivotally connects with the tube  54  while the tubes  46  and  56  pivotally connect, at  65  and  67 , also through the third aperture on the tubes  44 ,  46 . On the tubes  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46 , however, there is yet a fourth aperture while on the tubes  50 ,  52 .  54  and  56  there is yet a second aperture. 
   In accordance with the teachings of the invention, for the hammock stand or frame  10  to fold, the four “X” crossings (two on each of the longside of the frame  10 ) are broken into two sections by the tubes  40 / 50 ,  42 / 52 ,  44 / 54  and  46 / 56 . Furthermore, as  FIG. 1  illustrates, the orientation of these special “X” crossings is for the tube  40  to fit inwardly of the tube  50 , the tube  42  to reside outwardly of the tube  52 , the tube  44  to reside outwardly of the tube  54 , and the tube  46  to reside inwardly of the tube  56 . A pint  70  hanging from a line  72  ( FIG. 2 ) is configured to lock the hammock into its open position by passing through a second aperture adjacent the lower end of the tube  50  into the fourth aperture of the tube  40  with the pins being inserted similarly through the fourth aperture of the tube  42  into a second aperture at the lower end of the tube  52 , through the fourth aperture of the tube  44  into a second aperture at the lower end of the tube  54 , and through a second aperture at the lower end of the tube  56  into the fourth aperture of the tube  46 . Pulling of the pins  70  unlocks the securement in allowing the end frames  12  to be rotated towards one another, pulling the “X” crossed legs with them through the pivot connections. Straps  80  join with yet another, third aperture at the upper ends of the tubes  50 ,  52  on the one hand, and of  54 ,  56  on the other hand, along with pivot connections on the stand up legs  14 ,  16  to provide support for the hammock bed when hooked into position. Cushioning feet  58  are inserted at the lower ends of the tubes  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  ( FIG. 2 ). 
   To complete the construction, two additional tubes  82  and  84  are utilized. The tube  84 , as shown, joins with the pivot L-connection  41  of the tubes  40 ,  44  at one end, and with the pivot connection  37  of the tubes  28 ,  32  at the other end. The tube  82 , on the other hand, joins the pivot connection  35  of the tubes  26 ,  30  with the pivot L-connection  43  of the tubes  42 ,  46 . As indicated at  85 , the tubes  82 ,  84  are pivotally connected together midway along their respective lengths. 
   As will be appreciated, the overlapping tubes  40  &amp;  50 ,  42  &amp;  52 ,  44  &amp;  54  and  46  &amp;  56  may be considered as one tube each, broken into two sections—which however are extensions of each other due to the inclusion of the extra pivot connection to hold each two-section portion together. With the special “X” construction of one complete tube and its criss-crossing tube partner broken into two parts (as at  26  and  40 - 50 ; at  28  and  42 - 52 ; at  30  and  44 - 54 ; and at  32  and  46 - 56 ), one pivot connection joins the unbroken tube to one section of the broken tubes (as at  45 , through tubes  26  and  40 ), and one pivot connection joins the two broken tubes together (as at  61 , between the tubes  40  and  50 ). Because of the two overlying broken sections of the tubes  40  &amp;  50 ,  42  &amp;  52 ,  44  &amp;  54  and  46  &amp;  56 , a complete, foldable collapsing action results for easy transportation and storage of the hammock stand or frame ( FIG. 3 ). 
   While there has been described what is considered to be preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the teachings of the invention. For at least such reason, therefore, resort should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true understanding of the invention.