Abstract:
A hammock with quadrecline geometry is disclosed. The hammock includes a bed having a bed surface, a head end and a foot end located opposite the head end. The head end has an attachment point to suspend the head end of the bed. The bed further has a leg rest portion at the foot end defined by four, connected suspension lines. A foot spreader is configured and arranged to spread the four suspension lines apart, providing support to the leg rest portion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/824,489, filed May 17, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present patent document relates generally to hammocks and more particularly to a hammock with unique quadrecline geometry. 
     2. Background of the Related Art 
     Prior art hammocks are difficult or uncomfortable to lie in because they do not support the body properly and naturally. The bed surface of the hammock, because it is suspended between two poles or tress, takes the shape of an inverted arch, like a banana, that provides no lumbar support, leads to crowding, and also hyper extends the knees. Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved hammock that is comfortable and properly supports a person resting therein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The hammock with quadrecline geometry solves the problems of the prior art by providing a unique configuration of the hammock support and bed that prevents hyperextension of the knees, crowding and is also comfortable. Specifically, the hammock includes a bed having a bed surface, a head end and a foot end located opposite the head end. The head end has an attachment point to suspend the head end of the bed. The bed further has a leg rest portion at the foot end defined by four, connected suspension lines. A foot spreader is configured and arranged to spread the four suspension lines apart, providing support to the leg rest portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the hammock; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of a hammock made in accordance herein; 
         FIG. 3 a    is a view of a top spreader of the hammock; 
         FIG. 3 b    is a view of a leg spreader; 
         FIG. 3 c    is a view of the lumbar spreader; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the hammock with a person lying therein. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a hammock with quadrecline geometry is shown generally at  10 . The hammock  10  includes a bed  12  having a bed surface  11 . The bed  12  is preferably a flexible material such as a film, textile or fabric, synthetic or natural, and more preferably rip-stop nylon, which is durable, strong and lightweight. The bed  12  may be made from one or more pieces and/or plies sewn together, preferably with ¼″ double needle lock stitch joining and may optionally include a reinforced center (or spine) seam  12   a  along the length of the bed  12 . 
     The edges  15  of the bed  19  are reinforced with an edge band  14  that functions as a suspension line, integral to the bed  12 . Webbing loops  16   a - h  are further sewn into the edge band  11 , with loops  16   e - h  providing anchor points for the suspension lines  18   a - d , described further below. 
     The bed  12  includes a head  20  end and foot end  22 . The head end  20  tapers and includes a head anchor point  24  for securing the head end  20  of the hammock  10  to a support, such as a pole, tree, or frame, to suspend the hammock  10  above the ground. 
     From the head end  20 , the bed of the hammock widens substantially to accommodate an occupant&#39;s body  36  ( FIG. 4 ) and, more specifically, to accommodate the occupant&#39;s body  36  when the average occupants&#39; elbows  36   a  would rest on the bed  12  when their index fingers touch their navel (best seen in  FIG. 4 ). From there, the bed  12  tapers slightly, but leaves sufficient room for an average occupant&#39;s legs  36   c , generally forming a rectangular-shaped piece, which will form a flat leg rest portion  26 . 
     Four suspension lines  18   a - d  are connected to the bed  12  to the webbing loops  16   e - h  at the four anchor points on the edge band  14 . Two suspension lines  18   c ,  18   d  connect at the foot portion  22  (the bottom most area of the leg rest portion  26 ) and two suspension lines  18   a ,  18   b  connect to the webbing loops  16   e ,  16   f  on the edge band  14  at a point where the average occupant&#39;s knees  36   b  would be while lying in the bed  12  (best seen in  FIG. 4 ). The four suspension lines  13   a - d  are gathered together at a foot anchor point  28  for securing the foot end  22  of the hammock  10  to a support, such as a pole, tree, or frame, to suspend the hammock  10  above the ground. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 a   , a head spreader  30  is retained in the head end  20  of the bed  12  of the hammock  10 , between the edge bands  14 , and forces the bed surface  11  open by preventing the bed surface  11  from collapsing inwardly and crowding the occupant  36 . The head spreader  30  is preferably a short length of material, such as a straight splint of wood, with each end  31   a ,  31   b  configured to be retained in the webbing loops (or pockets)  16   a ,  16   b  formed in the edge band  14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 b   , a lumbar spreader  32  is a bow-shaped piece of rigid, durable material, such as exterior grade plywood, that spans between the opposing edge bands  14  and is located under the bed  12 , perpendicular to the occupant&#39;s spine and the longitudinal axis of the hammock  10 . Further, the lumbar spreader  32  is positioned at a point on the hammock  10  where the average occupants&#39; elbows  36   a  would rest on the bed  12  when their index fingers touch their navel. (See  FIG. 4  at.) Each end  32   a ,  32   b  of the lumbar spreader  32  is configured to be retained in the webbing loops (or pockets)  16   c ,  16   d  formed in the edge band  14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 c   , a foot spreader  34  (also called an “X” spreader or cross spreader) spreads the suspension lines  18   a - d  while the longitudinal axis of the hammock  10  is suspended from the head anchor point  24  and foot anchor point  28 . The longitudinal axis is extends between the anchor points  24 ,  28 . The foot spreader  34  functions similar to a suspension bridge, where the “X” is the suspension tower and the leg rest section  26  of the hammock  10  is the “road bed.” The foot spreader  34  is formed from three rods  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c , such as solid wood sticks. Rods  34   b ,  34   c  are connected together with a bracket  34   d . Rod  34   a  is hinged or rotatably connected to the bracket  34   d  by a pin  37  or other mechanism so that the “X” can change angle and close completely for storage. Preferably; the bracket  34   d  is metal. Each end  33   a - d  of each rod includes a notch  34   e  for receiving a suspension line  18   a - d , respectively, to prevent slippage of the suspension lines  18   a - d  from the foot spreader  34 . 
     Therefore, it can be seen that the present invention provides a unique solution to the problem of providing a hammock that prevents hyperextension of the knees, crowding and is also comfortable. 
     It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be within the scope of the present invention except as limited by the scope of the appended claims.