Abstract:
An improved tent covers a hammock suspended from a pair of upright members by suspending means at each end of the hammock. The tent is formed from top and bottom portions that interact to provide a tent opening that prevents the entry of atmospheric precipitation when the tent opening is open. The tent also provides improved visibility from inside the tent, by enabling a horizontal field of view.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a nonprovisional of, and claims benefit of priority under 35 USC 119 from, U.S. Ser. No. 60/908,475, filed 28 Mar. 2007, which is incorporated by reference as if fully recited herein. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to an improved hammock tent having an improved means of suspending a hammock. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
   The inventor herein is the inventor and owner of U.S. Pat. No. 7,020,915 (“the &#39;915 patent”), issued 4 Apr. 2005, which is incorporated by reference as if fully recited herein. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the &#39;915 patent, the hammock tent 60 comprises overlapping sections that completely surround the hammock 1. FIGS. 5 and 6 also show flap 69 that serves as a door. The tent 60 is supported by a supporting system having a ridge support, side supports and suspension supports. 
   Referring to FIG. 6 of the &#39;915 patent, the door 69 of the tent 60 is located in the inclined upper portion of the tent 1. As a result, the occupier of the hammock cannot enter or exit the hammock, or leave the door open, without potential atmospheric precipitation entering the tent. Also, when the door is open, the field of view of the occupant is limited to an upward direction. 
   As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B of the &#39;915 patent, the hammock 1 is connected to suspending means by way of cargo hook 90. The cargo hook 90 is also connected to suspending strap 99 as described in FIGS. 9A and 9B. The suspending strap 99 is secured to an upright structure by means of cam buckle 200, as depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12. 
   In order to suspend the hammock, first the hammock and the suspending strap must be attached to the cargo hook. Second, the suspending strap must be wrapped around the structure and then fitted into the slot of the cam buckle. Accordingly, a simpler method of suspending the hammock is preferable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an improved tent constructed such that no atmospheric precipitation can enter the tent when the tent door is open. This allows the hammock occupier to keep the door open, as well as enter and exit the tent without exposing the hammock to atmospheric precipitation. In addition the present invention provides improved visibility from inside the tent, by enabling a horizontal field of view. 
   The tent of the present invention consists of two portions, a top portion and a bottom portion. The bottom portion fits around the bottom of the hammock. The bottom portion is secured to the hammock by means such as ties, snaps or hook and loop fastener, such as that available commercially under the brand name VELCRO®. The bottom portion preferably contains vents at both ends. 
   The top portion fits overtop the tent support structure taught in the &#39;915 patent and is equipped with means such as ties, snaps or hook and loop fastener, such as that available commercially under the brand VELCRO® to secure it to both the bottom portion as well as the side supports of the supporting system. When both the top and bottom portions are secured in place, a tent structure is constructed with an opening on each side of the hammock. 
   The opening in the tent is located under the inclined top portion of the tent, such that the top portion overhangs the opening. Therefore, potential atmospheric precipitation falling on the tent rolls down and off the sides of the top portion, without entering the tent through the opening. 
   The opening is provided with a door to permit an occupant of the hammock to close the tent. The door consists of two parts: a bug screen and a curtain that can be operated independent of one another. The bug screen and curtain can also be attached to one another by means such as ties, snaps or hook and loop fastener, such as that available commercially under the brand VELCRO®, and be operated as one unit. 
   Both the bug screen and curtain consist of a single piece of material extending from one side of the hammock to the other, covering both lateral openings of the tent. The bug screen and curtain are fitted through the space between the hammock and the bottom portion of the tent. Accordingly, when the hammock occupier opens the door, the bug screen and curtain can simply be dropped and stored therein. 
   In order to close the door, the hammock occupier can attach the bug screen and curtain to the inside of the two side-supports by means of ties, snaps or hook and loop fastener. 
   The present invention also provides an improved means of suspending the hammock to an upright structure. The improved means of suspending the hammock comprises a cam buckle that is permanently attached to each end of the hammock and which replaces the cargo hook of the &#39;915 patent. 
   Also attached to the cam buckle is one end of the suspending strap. The other end of the suspending strap is attached to a cargo hook. In order to secure the hammock to an upright structure the suspending strap is wrapped around the structure and the cargo hook is secured to a D-ring through which the suspending strap is fitted. Alternatively, a snap or open hook may be used instead of the cargo hook to secure the suspending strap to the upright structure. The improved means of suspending the hammock makes the installation of the hammock much simpler and faster than the existing method. 
   Further features of the invention will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the disclosed embodiments may be more clearly understood, they are now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which identical parts are identified with identical reference numerals and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of the hammock tent; 
       FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C are perspective views of a cam buckle with the bottom portion of the tent attached thereto; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the hammock with the bottom portion of the tent attached; 
       FIG. 4  is a further perspective view of the hammock with the bottom and top portions of the tent attached; 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are perspective views of the point of attachment between the bottom and top portions of the tent; 
       FIG. 6  is a view showing the attachment of the top portion of the tent at a suspending point; 
       FIG. 7  is a view showing the tent opening being covered with a bug screen; 
       FIG. 8  is a view showing the inside of the tent with the bug screen closed on one side; 
       FIG. 9  is a view showing the inside of the tent with the curtain closed on both sides; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a cam buckle attached to the hammock and the suspending strap; and 
       FIG. 11  is a view showing the means of suspending the hammock to an upright structure. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the tent  1  of the present invention comprises a bottom portion  2  and a top portion  3 . An opening  4  is formed when bottom portion  2  and top portion  3  are fully installed. Bottom portion  2  and top portion  3  attach to suspending points  5  of hammock  1  by means of ties and hook and loop fastener, such as that available commercially under the brand VELCRO®, as described in detail in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2A , the bottom portion  2  is shown having flat strap  6  and hook and loop fastener pieces  7 . As shown in  FIG. 2C  flat strap  6  is looped through the cam buckle  8  and held in place by hook and loop fastener, as further shown in  FIG. 2B . At the same time the hook and loop fastener pieces  7  attach to one another, as shown in  FIG. 2B , thus enclosing the hammock completely. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 2A , bottom portion  2  has mesh vent  10  in proximity to suspending point  5 . Mesh vent  10  can be closed by way of attaching hook and loop fastener pieces  9  to one another. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the bottom portion  2  is shown fully installed.  FIG. 3  shows ridge support  11  between suspending points  5 , as well as side supports  12  on each side of the tent. At each point  13  the bottom portion  2  has hook and loop fastener in order to attach to top portion  3  in the manner shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the top portion  3  is shown fitted overtop the ridge support  11  and suspending points  5 . At each end, top portion  3  has hook and loop fastener pieces  14 , which attach to one another in order to enclose the hammock. Top portion  3  also has mesh vent  15  at each end, in proximity to suspending point  5 . As seen in  FIG. 6 , the mesh vent  15  is shown when top portion  3  is completely closed at suspending point  5 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5A , at each point  13  bottom portion  2  has hook and loop fastener portion  16  and top portion  3  has mating hook and loop fastener portion  17 . Hook and loop fastener pieces  16  and  17  attach to one another, as shown in  FIG. 5B , such that the tent formed by the bottom portion  2  and top portion  3  completely enclose the hammock. 
     FIG. 7  shows the tent opening  4  covered by bug screen  18 . In the closed position, the bug screen  18  is secured into place, as shown in  FIG. 8 . The bug screen  18  is fitted underneath the hammock between the hammock and the bottom cover  2  from one side of the hammock to the other. In the open position, the bug screen is simply dropped and stored in the space between the hammock and the bottom portion  2  as shown at point  19  of  FIG. 8 . In the closed position, the bug screen is raised and secured to the side supports  12  by means of ties, snaps or hook and loop fastener. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the curtain  20  extends similar to the bug screen from one side of the tent to the other, in the space between the hammock and the bottom piece. When the curtain  20  is closed, the curtain can simply be raised and secured to the side supports  12  by means of ties, snaps or hook and loop fastener. 
   The bug screen  18  and curtain  20  can be opened and closed independent of one another. The edges of the bug screen  18  and curtain  20  can also be attached to one another by means of hook and loop fastener, such that they can be opened and closed as one unit. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 10 , the improved suspending means of the present invention comprises cam buckle  8  and bolt  21 . Side straps  22  of the hammock attach to bolt  21  of cam buckle  8 . Also attached to cam buckle  8  is suspending strap  23 .  FIG. 10  also shows the strap comprising ridge support  11  attached to bolt  21  of cam buckle  8  by means of snap hook  24 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 11 , suspending strap  23  is shown threaded through D-ring  27 . The end of suspending strap  23  is secured to cargo hook  26 . After suspending strap  23  is wrapped around upright structure  25 , cargo hook  26  is easily attached to D-ring  27 . Unwrapping suspending strap  23  from the upright structure  25  can just as easily be accomplished after detaching cargo hook  26  from D-ring  27 . 
   Other advantages which are inherent to the structure are obvious to one skilled in the art. The embodiments are described herein illustratively and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as claimed. Variations of the foregoing embodiments will be evident to a person of ordinary skill and are intended by the inventor to be encompassed by the following claims.