Patent Publication Number: US-2021186187-A1

Title: Collapsible single point hammock frame

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED CASE 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to U.S. provisional application No. 62/949,930 filed on Dec. 18, 2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hammocks require that opposing ends of the hammocks be supported. In the wilderness, as well as in one&#39;s own backyard, it is rare that trees are adequately spaced to allow for hammocks to be adequately supported. The trees may be too close together so that the hammocks drag on the ground. Other times, the trees may be too far apart and the user does not have an adequate length of strapping or rope to span the long distances. 
     There are a number of hammock supports that are made to fit the hammocks. However, these supports are typically not very portable and do not collapse to a size that is easily handled and carried to the camping locations. Even those hammock supports that can be attached to a tree at one end require a number of legs and interconnections at the other end that make them impractical to be transported and assembled with any ease. 
     Thus, there is a need for a collapsible single point hammock frame so that campers can take a hammock into the woods and not worry about finding two adequate structures on which to hang their hammock. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a non-permanent, collapsible frame for supporting a hammock that includes an overhead bar, at least one vertical support bar, a termination plate attachable to a support structure, the termination plate receiving a portion of the overhead bar, and a base to receive and support a portion of the at least one vertical support bar. 
     In some embodiments, the overhead bar in the vertical support bar include a plurality of sections. 
     In some embodiments, the termination plate includes a receiver for one end of the overhead bar, an opening for a hammock suspension device, and an opening for a termination plate suspension device. 
     In some embodiments, the plurality of sections of the overhead bar or removably attachable to each other and the plurality of sections of the vertical support bar are removably attachable to each other. 
     In some embodiments, the termination plate includes a receiver for one end of the overhead bar and an opening for a termination plate suspension device, but does not have an opening for a hammock suspension device. 
     In yet another aspect, there is a non-permanent, collapsible frame for supporting the hammock that includes a termination plate attachable to a support structure, a base having a vertical support bar extending upward from the base, and an overhead bar extending between the termination plate and the vertical support bar, the overhead bar beam removably attachable to the vertical support bar. 
     In yet another aspect, there is a non-permanent, collapsible frame for supporting a hammock that includes an overhead bar extending between the first end and a second end, a termination plate attachable to a support structure and to receive the first end of the overhead bar, a connection member to receive the second end of the overhead bar, and the first leg and the second leg, the first leg and the second leg attached to engage a second portion of the connection member. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of a non-permanent, collapsible frame for supporting a hammock according to the present invention with the representation of a hammock attached thereto; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the non-permanent, collapsible frame in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded, assembled view of the non-permanent, collapsible frame in  FIG. 2  that is ready to be transported; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the top end of the vertical support bar of the non-permanent, collapsible frame in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the termination plate of the non-permanent, collapsible frame in  FIG. 1  attached to a support structure; 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the termination plate with an alternative support; 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a termination plate according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the of the termination plate of the non-permanent, collapsible frame in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of the of the termination plate of the non-permanent, collapsible frame in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the base of the non-permanent, collapsible frame in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of a second embodiment of a non-permanent, collapsible frame according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the non-permanent, collapsible frame in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a close-up view of two legs to engage the connection member of the non-permanent, collapsible frame in  FIG. 11 ; and 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the connection member of the non-permanent, collapsible frame in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     A non-permanent, collapsible frame for supporting a hammock  100  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 . The non-permanent, collapsible frame  100  is generally comprised of four elements. There is the overhead bar  102 , the vertical support bar  104 , the base  106 , and the termination plate  108 . 
     The overhead bar  102  is preferably comprised of three sections,  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c . The three sections  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c  are removably attached to one another and therefore collapse to make transportation of the non-permanent, collapsible frame  100  easier and in a more compact fashion. The same is also true with the three other elements. There may be more or fewer sections than the three illustrated in the figures (e.g., two, four, five, etc.) and still fall within the scope of the present invention. The three sections  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c  could be connected to one another in a number of ways. For example, one of the sections  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c  could have a portion that slides into another of the sections and secured therein with snap button connectors and a pinned connection (a connector with threads is turned to retain the two sections to one another). It is also possible that the sections are telescoping (one section being retained within another of the sections) and a snap button connector retains the two sections in the desired position. The sections could also be a combination of these connections as well. Moreover, each of the sections could have a portion of one or both ends with a smaller diameter or cross section that fits into the end of another section—a necked arrangement. The sections could also be linked to one another with an elastic cord to keep them consolidated and together for easy packing and transport. 
     The three sections  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c  of the overhead bar  102  are illustrated as being circular tubes, but they could take on any cross-section configuration (e.g. round, oval, square, rectangular, etc.). 
     The second element of the non-permanent, collapsible frame  100  is at least one vertical support bar  104 . As with the overhead bar  102 , the at least one vertical support bar  104  may also include a plurality of sections  104   a , 104   b . Again, the at least one vertical support bar  104  may have more or fewer sections and still fall within the scope of the present invention. The plurality of sections  104   a , 104   b  may also be connected to one another in any of the ways noted above for the overhead bar  102 . For example, they could have a sliding relationship and snap button connectors, a pinned connection, or a telescoping connection and a snap button connector. They may also have a necked arrangement and/or be linked to one another with an elastic cord. 
     The vertical support bar  104  is illustrated as being an elongated tube with a square cross section but it could take on any cross-section configuration (e.g. round, oval, square, rectangular, etc.). The vertical support bar  104  engages and is removably connected to a base  106 . The base  106  has a coordinating configuration, which in this case is a square receiver  110 , to receive one end of the vertical support bar  104 . The vertical support bar  104  may be inserted to an opening or cavity  112  in the square receiver  110 . Alternatively, the square receiver  110  can be inserted into the vertical support bar  104 . There can be a pinned connection for the square receiver  110  and the vertical support bar  104 . See  FIGS. 1-3 . It is also possible to use bolts to secure the various pieces to one another as well. 
     The base  106  is preferably elongated and has at least two feet  114  on a bottom side  116 . The base  106  may also be made from two sections  106   a , 106   b  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . One of the two sections  106   a , 106   b  may be stored in the other (telescoping) or may be necked. If the base  106  has multiple sections, the two sections  106   a , 106   b  should be secured to one another before the non-permanent, collapsible frame  100  is used. The base  106  preferably has openings  106   c  on opposing sides of the two sections  106   a , 106   b  to allow for a spike  112  to be inserted into the openings  106   c  and into the ground or surface to assist in keeping the base  106  in place during use. 
     Towards the top end of one of the plurality of sections  104   a  of the vertical support bar  104  is a receiver  120  to receive an end of the overhead bar  102 . The receiver  120  preferably has the same configuration as that of the overhead bar  102  (circular, round, oval, square, rectangular, etc.). The overhead bar  102  is preferably secured to the receiver  120  in one of the manners disclosed above to prevent the two items from separating from one another during use. Also, while the receiver  120  is directly attached to one of the plurality of sections  104   a  of the vertical support bar  104 , it is possible that the receiver  120  could be a separate portion and be removably attached to the vertical support bar  104 . Additionally, the overhead bar  102  could be disposed within the receiver  120  or the receiver  120  could be disposed within the overhead bar  102 . 
     At the top end of one of the plurality of sections  104   a  of the vertical support bar  104  is also a support  122  to receive a hammock suspension device  124 . The hammock suspension device  124  could be a rope, webbing, or other item that is used to secure a hammock. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , the support  122  is a curved bar that is attached at two ends  126  at the top end of one of the plurality of sections  104   a  of the vertical support bar  104 . The hammock suspension device  124  is threaded through the space between the curved bar  122  and the vertical support bar  104  to support one end of the hammock. See  FIG. 4 . 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 5-9  is one embodiment of a termination plate  108  according to the present invention. The termination plate  108  is attachable to a support structure  130 , which is typically a tree, but could be any one of a number of objects, e.g., a fence post, a telephone pole, etc. See  FIG. 5 . The termination plate  108  has a receiver  132  to receive a second end of the overhead bar  102 . The receiver  132  and the overhead bar  102  can be dimensioned such that the second end of the overhead bar  102  can fit within the receiver  132  or it can fit around the receiver  132 . Again, the receiver  132  will have the same cross section configuration as the overhead bar  102 , but while that is preferred, it is not critical. The receiver  132  may have a hole or other opening  134  to allow for securing the overhead bar  102  to the receiver  132 . There may also be multiple openings  134  to allow for snap buttons or pins to be inserted through the receiver  132  and the overhead bar  102 . 
     The termination plate  108  has an opening or a slot  136  for a second hammock suspension device  124 . The opening  136  is preferably at the bottom of the termination plate  108  so as not to cover any other portions of the termination plate  108  during use. Additionally, the opening  136  is illustrated as being completely enclosed by portions of the termination plate  108  but it is possible to have a configuration so that the opening  136  is not completely enclosed. 
     An alternative embodiment of a termination plate is illustrated in  FIG. 6  that does not have the opening  136 , but rather has a loop  122 ′ to receive the second hammock suspension device  124 .  FIG. 7  illustrates yet another embodiment of a termination plate that does not have an opening or a loop for a hammock suspension device. For this termination plate, the hammock suspension device would be used with the support structure independent of the termination plate. 
     Returning to  FIG. 8 , the termination plate  108  has two openings or slots  140   a , 140   b  for a termination plate suspension device  142 . The termination plate suspension device  142  can be a rope, webbing, etc. to removably attach the termination plate  108  to the support structure  130 . The termination plate suspension device  142  can be looped through slot  140   a  and behind the termination plate  108  and out through the second slot  140   b  to be wrapped around the support structure  130 . There should be space behind the termination plate  108  and receiver  132  to allow the termination plate suspension device  142  to be moved relative to the termination plate  108 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 8 , there may be rearward extensions  144  to provide for spacing behind the receiver  132  of the termination plate  108 . The rearward extensions  144  are illustrated as being round in cross section. These extensions can take different forms and shapes and may be integrally make with the remainder of the termination plate or added subsequently. 
     A second embodiment of a non-permanent, collapsible frame for supporting a hammock  200  is illustrated in  FIGS. 11-14 . The non-permanent, collapsible frame  200  is generally comprised of four elements. There is the overhead bar  202 , two vertical support bars  204 , a connection member  206 , and the termination plate  208 . In this embodiment a non-permanent, collapsible frame  200 , the overhead bar  202  and the termination plate  208  are preferably the same as in the previous embodiment. The two vertical support bars  204  (or legs), and the connection member  206  provide for a different support at the other end of the overhead bar  202  from the termination plate  208 . The two vertical support bars  204  (or legs) are preferably comprised of at least two portions  204   a , 204   b . See  FIG. 12 . They too can be connected to each other as with the vertical support bar  104  discussed above. There is no need for a base, but one could be used if so desired. 
     The connection member  206  has a receiver  208  at a first end  206   a  and there are two receivers  210  at the second end  206   b . The two vertical support bars  204  (or legs) are connected to the connection member  206  at the second end  206   b  with the two vertical support bars  204  (or legs) being inserted into a respective one of the receivers  210 . As noted above, it is also possible that the two vertical support bars  204  (or legs) are on the outside of the receivers  210  of the connection member  206 . The overhead bar  202  is inserted into (or around the outside) of the receiver  208 . The non-permanent, collapsible frame  200  has a support  212  for a hammock suspension device  124 . In this case, the support  212  is a bar that is attached at opposite ends thereof to the two receivers  210 . There is a space  216  between the two receivers  210  and the support  212  spans at least a portion thereof. See  FIG. 13 . 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.