Abstract:
A portable hammock for outdoor use has a suspended sleeping surface being suspended on a position above and untouchable to the ground, and has a support frame consisted of a pair of inclined erecting means, between which there is a X-shaped scissor linkage or its assembly being connected therewith. There are two connecting means providing connections to scissor linkage and/or a pair of legs with the inclined erecting means, of which one is a slidable connector disposed over the inclined erecting means, and the other is fixed at the bottom end thereof. The advantages are its flexibility in design, which can meet various demands in use, and it also consist in its environment protection without hurting the trees.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) for Chinese Patent Applications No. 03270263.9, filed Sep. 23, 2003, titled “Portable Folding Suspended Bed” and No. 200410078916.5, filed Sep. 20, 2004, titled “Portable Folding Suspended Bed.” 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a hammock, and, more particularly, a portable folding hammock.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     The present invention relate to a portable hammock for outdoor use. More particularly, the invention relates to a collapsible and folding one having scissor linkage as a length adjustable connecting member.  
         [0004]     Inventors have provided a great variety of devices for support and confining a baby or toddler, but it is hard to find a portable sleeping unit for adults use to enjoy outdoor fun, which needs strong, rigid, and stable supports at the same time possessing the merits without hurting trees, easy to pitch and collapse, easy to transport and use, particularly for camping and other outdoor recreational activities. We know the conventional hammock for outdoor use needs the aid of tree to be fastened thereto, it often hurting the tree. The portable hammock as is shown in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,113,537 is weak to support an adult people, and is only suitable for child use.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a portable collapsible outdoor-use hammock which can be easily set up, and which knocks down to a very small, lightweight, and easy-to-carry package. It is mainly for outdoor use, for instance, camping in forest, sleeping on sunshine-sheltered grass or private garden.  
         [0006]     The further object is to provide a hammock for outdoor use, which can bear a heavy burden of sleeper&#39;s weight.  
         [0007]     The other object of the present invention is to provide an environment-protecting hammock for outdoor use, it would not hurt the trees being needed for providing fastening the bed.  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide the designs of the hammock capable of flexibly changing its construction to achieve different demands in use.  
         [0009]     These objects are realized in a portable folding suspended sleeping bed, which includes a characterized support frame and a sleeping surface supported thereby. It preferably has at least two wheels to facilitate the bed being moved in the site. And its collapsible construction is convenient to be transported as well. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1 . is an elevation view of the frame of the first embodiment of the present invention in its collapsed condition.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the frame of the first embodiment in its extended condition.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the frame of the first embodiment in its half-extended condition.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a bed of first embodiment in use condition.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is an elevation view of the bed of the second embodiment.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a local enlargement perspective view of the second embodiment reflecting the connection and locking relationship between the components, inclined erecting pole, x-scissor, a pair of leg, of the frame.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the bed of the second embodiment reflecting in its use condition.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the bed of the third embodiment reflecting in its use condition.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a multi-direction lower connector of the portable folding hammock of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     The present invention provides a novel suspended sleeping bed, which has a quickly stretchable, pitchable frame and also has a removable suspended sleeping surface removably fastened on the frame. The bed has an enough support for adult use. The longitudinally arranged suspended sleeping surface made of flexible or textile materials, which has the hanging or suspension means such as hooks, ropes, width maintaining bars etc., at two longitudinally opposite ends for having the suspended sleeping surface securely fastened at the erecting support means maintaining on a position untouchable the ground.  
         [0020]     The support frame provides a rotating connection to the suspended sleeping surface by means of rope fastening. The characteristics are: the support frame comprises a pair of erecting support means which stand at both the opposite end of longitudinally suspended sleeping surface for providing a rotating connection to said suspended sleeping surface. The pair of erecting support means preferably is an inclined “one-pole” configuration standing at each end of longitudinally suspended sleeping surface, which have at least one extensible x-shaped scissor linkage connected there between, each said extensible x-shaped scissor linkage has an one-point hinged joint constituted by two intersected cross bars hingedly joining at their central position.  
         [0021]     According to demand for different length of the bed, the choice of the number of x-scissor linkage can meet the demand to the length of the bed. One or more in series arrangement of x-scissor linkage may be used so that desirable length of the bed can be reached. As to stability of the bed, the arrangement using two x-scissor linkages in each side paralleled with the longitudinal-line of the bed can increase the stability of thereof, thus it can bear heavier weight of the sleeper. The four x-scissor linkages arrangement (each side of the bed have two scissor linkage in serial connection according to the longitudinal direction) is available for both increasing of stability and enlarging the length of the bed for the special use such as simultaneously accommodating two peoples.  
         [0022]     The longitudinally arranged suspended sleeping surface has a width confining rigid bar at each longitudinal end thereof, through fastening rope and said rigid bar, the two ends of the suspended sleeping surface respectively being connected with a inclined erecting support means of the support frame at two longitudinal opposite ends thereof. As an option the arrangement of directly connection between the suspended sleeping surface and the erecting support means without width confining rigid bar is available.  
         [0023]     The inclined erecting support means are two inclined erecting poles, each of them is respectively disposed at one end of two longitudinal opposite ends of said suspended sleeping surface, which maintains an inclined angle ranging from 45° to 85° in respect to the ground for increasing the capability of bearing burden of the sleeper&#39;s weight and to provide the sleeper a more wide and more open space facing the sky. There is a locking hole being disposed on a inner-oriented surface of the inclined erecting pole to provide a stop of upward moving of the upper sliding connector by means of a lock-pin so that it prevent a pair of inclined erecting poles from rotating respectively around their connecting pins avoiding them being collapsed inwardly.  
         [0024]     There are one or more extensible x-shaped scissor assembly being hingedly connected there between forming a overall support frame. Each inclined erecting support pole has at least two leg-bars hinged therewith through the connection means at lower part thereof.  
         [0025]     The connection means includes a lower connection seat fixed at bottom end of the inclined erecting pole, and a slid able upper connector seat disposed over the inclined erecting pole, and which may be a multi-direction connector providing a hinged connections between the pole and the legs or between the pole and an “X-shaped” scissor assembly.  
         [0026]     The two leg bars lock ably hinged joining with said upper connector through its multi-direction seat. The two leg bars may also be lock ably hinged joining with said lower connector through its multi-direction seat are kept a substantial aligned horizontally ground-engaging state.  
         [0027]     The extensible “x-shaped” scissor assembly is constituted of at least one “X-shaped” scissor linkage forming a rigid plane configuration between two inclined erecting poles for securing therewith when it being extended, and which is connected with the inclined erecting poles via an sliding upper connector and through a fixed lower connector of said inclined erecting poles. Said rigid plane configuration may comprise two “X-shaped” scissor linkages when the bed needs more long length along its longitudinal direction.  
         [0028]     The inclined erecting support means may have its modifiers, for example, an “A” shaped frame can be substituted for the “one-pole” construction above mentioned for providing more stable support and bearing more heavy load. In such a case, the “A” frame constitutes of two inclined tubes preferably having rectangular or square section, which intersect at their top ends forming a joint, and has a cross brace horizontally disposed there between for increment of rigidity and strength of the “A” frame. There are an upper sliding lockable connector and a lower fixed connector, which are disposed on the lower part of each inclined tubing member of the “A” shaped frame. Between two “A” frames there are two lines of “X-shaped” scissor linkage(s), each of them is disposed on each side of the bed in parallel with longitudinal direction of the bed for connecting therewith, and providing a formation of an overall support frame of the bed. Each A-frame includes a pair of inclined tubing members hinged together at their upper end and normally spread apart by a cross-brace which can be collapsed to allow the A-frame to fold together.  
         [0029]     The present invention provides more flexible options to change the length of the bed and its stabilities to meet different demands when it is in use. Through selecting the number of scissor-linkage can achieve the length changing of the bed. And the A-frame as an inclined erecting member may maintain an inclined angle in respect to the ground to increase the stabilities of the bed for support heavy weighted people. Such merits have not been found in the art. The “A” shaped frames maintain an inclined angle ranging from 45° to 85° in respect to the ground.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  show the first embodiment of the present invention. It is comprises mainly two parts, which are a suspended sleeping surface designated by reference numeral  12  and an easily stretchable and collapsible support frame thereof.  
         [0031]     The longitudinally arranged suspended sleeping surface  12  made of flexible materials, which has the hanging or suspension means such as hooks  1 , ropes  13 , width maintaining bars  21  etc., at their two longitudinally opposite ends for being tied to be maintained on a position untouchable the ground.  
         [0032]     The support frame for providing an oscillating able connection to said suspended sleeping surface  12  by means of rope tying. The characteristics are: said support frame comprising the inclined erecting support means  2  which stand at each end of longitudinally arranged suspended sleeping surface  12  providing an oscillate able connection to the suspended sleeping surface  12 , the collapsible and extensible x-shaped scissor assembly which consists of two scissor linkages is hingedly connected between two above mentioned inclined erecting support poles  2 . Each linkage further consists of two scissors-bars being connected together through a hinged joint. The first scissor-linkage is consists of the bar  5  and  8  with hinge point  16 . The second scissor-linkage is formed by intersecting two scissor bar  7  and  10  through a hinged point  18 .  
         [0033]     The inclined erecting support means  2  may be aluminum alloy or steel tube having a rectangular or square section, the section of scissor-bars are also as the same.  
         [0034]     The longitudinally arranged suspended sleeping surface  12  has a width maintaining rigid bar  21  at each longitudinal end thereof, through tying rope  13  and said rigid bar  21  the two ends of the suspended sleeping surface  12  respectively being connected with a inclined erecting pole  2  of the support frame at two longitudinal opposite ends thereof. The aforementioned inclined erecting pole  2  is an “one-pole” support member, it means that at each end of the sleeping surface in longitudinal direction there is only one standing inclined erecting pole  2  existing. The inclined erecting support means of the bed totally have two inclined erecting poles  2 , each of the two is respectively disposed at one end of two longitudinal opposite ends of said suspended sleeping surface  12 , and which forms hinged connections with the extensible x-shaped scissors assembly and with at least two leg-bars  3  through the connection means. The connection means is a lower connector  17  fixed at bottom end of said inclined erecting pole  2 , and is a slid able upper connector  15  disposed over said inclined erecting pole  2 . Each one-pole inclined erecting support means has two connectors thereon, that is an upper connector  15  and a lower connector  17 . The upper connector  15  has a multi-direction connecting seat (refer to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  but no enlarged drawing with reference numbers illustrating each member thereof) providing the hinged connections between the pole  2  and a pair of legs  3 , and between pole  2  and scissor linkage  10 . Two legs  3  exhibit a “_” shaped pose standing on the ground. The upper sliding connector  15  is disposed over the erecting support pole  2 , and which consists of a multi-direction seat having three pairs of hinge plate thereon. Each pair of hinge plates are fixed with a hinge pin. There are at least two locking holes (not shown) opened on a hinge plate, which is for accommodating a spring biased locking nipple (not shown) entering to maintain the leg  3  securing at its stretched or collapsed state. When it is stretched a pair of leg members exhibit a “_” shaped pose, the lower connector  17  has no such seat similar as upper connector  15 .  
         [0035]     The wheels  4  provide the convenience to move the sleeping bed for changing place. A hook  1  secured at the top of the inclined erecting pole  2 , provides an anchor for tying one end of the sleeping surface  12  through width maintaining bar  21  and rope  13 .  
         [0036]     The extensible “X-shaped” scissors assembly is constituted of two “X-shaped” scissor linkages which are mutually hinged joining together through joint  6  and  9 . In order to acquire a long length of the bed, two “X-shaped” scissor linkages are used. The scissor bar  5  and  8  form a first scissor linkage while the scissor bar  7  and  10  form a second-scissor linkage, two linkages jointly form a rigid plane configuration between two inclined erecting poles  2  for connecting and securing with two inclined erecting poles  2  which respectively stands at an longitudinal end place of the sleeping surface  12 .  
         [0037]     The first scissor linkage has a hinge point  16 , while the second scissor linkage has a hinge point  18 . First scissor linkage connects to second scissor linkage through the hinged connectors  6  or  9  in series connection. The two-linkage scissors assembly is connected with the inclined erecting poles  2  via a sliding upper connector  15  and through a fixed lower connector  17 . The scissor bar  7  and  8  have their outer ends hinged with the lower connector  17  through hinge pin  11 .  
         [0038]     Every scissor linkage have their two connecting ends respectively connects with upper connector  15  which is slidingly disposed over the inclined erecting poles  2  and lower connector  17  which is fixed at the bottom end of the inclined erecting poles  2 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. This is an example of variation in the basic configuration of the portable folding hammock. It is generally similar as the first embodiment. The differences lies on followings: (1) only one scissor linkage being used that is third scissor linkage which consists of bar  19  and  20  with hinge point  27 . thus the length of the bed is shortened, (2) the multi-direction connector seat  22  is used only by lower connector  17  (refer to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 ) and not by the upper connector  15  which is slidably disposed over the inclined erecting poles  2  without connecting with two leg bars  3 , but connecting with one end of the X-scissor bar, (3) the lower connector  17  is fixed at the bottom end of the inclined erecting poles  2 , which is hinged with two leg-bars being in same plane, keeping an lateral aligned and stretched POSE and resting upon the ground.  
         [0040]     The lower connector  17  also connects with an end of a X-scissor bar. The multi-direction connector seat  22  also has two vertical erecting hinge plate  25 , there is a lock-pin  24  fixed there between, and there are two locking holes  23  opened thereon. The locking holes  23  is provided for accommodating the spring-biased locking nipple  23 ′ to maintain an extended or collapsed condition of the leg-bars  3 . In direction perpendicular to vertical erecting hinge plate  25  the seat has another pair of hinge plate  26  for connecting to a scissor linkage. The sliding upper connector  15  also has a locking function by means of a “pin-hole” construction. In order to prevent the inclined erecting poles from being collapsed owing to the sleeper&#39;s weight the locking hole (not shown) is opened above the upper sliding connector  15  on the inward surface of inclined erecting pole  2  while the pin with a ring  16  is freely tied on any suitable place. The purpose of setting the locking “pin-hole” construction is to guarantee the stability of inclined erecting pole  2  and prevent it from being collapsed and closed each together when the weight of human body act on the sleeping surface  12 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 8  illustrates the third embodiment of the present invention, wherein, the inclined erecting support means are two “A” shaped frames, each of them is substituted for the one-pole construction above mentioned to provide more stable support for the heavy weighted sleeper. In such a case, the suspended sleeping surface  12  is connected to the top end of the inclined A-frame through rope fastener  13  and width maintaining bar  21 . There are an upper sliding connector  15  and a lower connector  17  simultaneously disposed on each inclined tubing member of the “A” shaped frame. Between two “A” shaped frame there are two “X-shaped” scissor linkages, i.e. fourth and fifth scissor linkages disposed on each of the two side of the bed in longitudinal direction. Fourth scissor linkage consists of the bar  28  and  29  with a hinge point  30 , and fifth scissor linkage consists of the bar  31  and  32  with their hinge point  33 , which are connected between two A-frames side by side. The plane of the X-shaped scissor linkage runs parallel with the longitudinal direction of suspended sleeping surface ( 12 ) of the bed.  
         [0042]     Each A-frame includes a pair of inclined tubing members  2  hinged together at their upper end and normally spread apart by a cross-brace  26  which can be collapsed to allow two tubing member  2  of the A-frame to fold together. The upper connector  15  is slidingly disposed over the tubing member  2  while the lower connector  17  is fixed at the bottom end of the tubing member  2 , which all form a hinged connections with scissor bar  19 , and  20 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 9  illustrates the multi-direction connecting seat, it can be used either for upper sliding connector or for lower connector, both are connected with a pole. It can be disposed over or fixed at the bottom end of the inclined erecting pole for providing a hinged connection with scissor linkage and/or two leg bars. Each multi-direction connector seat may provide 1 to 3 different directional hinged joint for connecting with scissor linkage and/or leg bars, while being connected to the pole per se. Each hinged joint includes a pair of side erecting plate (i.e. hinge plates  25  and  26  are rotatably a fixed with a connecting pin). The hinged connected means such as X-bars of scissor linkage or the bars of a pair of leg, which have rectangular or square section, are hingedly connected thereon.  
         [0044]     The present invention provides more flexible options to change the length of the bed and its stabilities to meet different demands when it is in use. Through selecting the number of scissor-linkage can achieve the length changing of the bed, And the A-frame as an inclined erecting member may maintain an inclined angle in respect to the ground to increase the stabilities of the bed for support heavy weighted people. Such merits have not been found in the art.  
         [0045]     Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless such changes and modifications otherwise depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.