Patent Publication Number: US-6665896-B1

Title: Hammock assembly with foldable left and right frames

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a hammock assembly, more particularly to a hammock assembly with foldable left and right frames so as to facilitate transport and storage thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a first conventional hammock assembly  1  is shown to include a support frame  11  having two transverse bases  112  and a longitudinally extending U-shaped sheet-support  111  fixed on the transverse bases  112 , and a bedding sheet  12  that is disposed above the support frame  11  and that has two opposing ends  122  fastened to top ends  113  of the sheet-support  111  via two sets of ropes  123  and rings  124 . 
     One disadvantage of the first conventional hammock assembly resides in that, although the bedding sheet  12  can be detached from the support frame  11 , the support frame  11  is difficult to transport and occupies a relatively large amount of storage space. Moreover, the support frame  11  cannot be detached into minor parts, and is hardly appreciated and liked by users. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a second conventional hammock assembly  2  is shown to include a base support  21  and a bedding sheet  22 . The base support  21  includes two transverse parts  211 , two curved support rods  212  fastened on the transverse parts  211 , and two pairs of suspension rods  213 , 214  extending respectively and detachably from opposite ends of the curved support rods  212 . The bedding sheet  22  is disposed above the base support  21 , and has two opposite ends respectively and detachably fastened to the suspension rods  213 ,  214  of the base support  21  via two sets of ropes  221  and hooks  215 . 
     Although the base support  21  of the aforesaid conventional hammock assembly  2  can be detached into minor parts so as to facilitate transport and storage, detachment of the base support  21  is both time-consuming and inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a hammock assembly which includes pivotally connected left and right frames so as to eliminate the aforesaid disadvantages that are generally associated with the conventional hammock assemblies. 
     Accordingly, the hammock assembly of this invention includes: a left frame having a mounting end; a right frame having a mounting end and opposite to and pivoted to the left frame about a pivot such that the left and right frames are rotatable relative to each other between an unfolded position, in which, the mounting ends of the left and right frames are moved away from each other, and a folded position, in which, the mounting ends of the left and right frames are moved toward each other; and a bedding sheet disposed above the left and right frames, and having two opposite ends respectively connected to the mounting ends of the left and right frames such that the bedding sheet will be stretched when the left and right frames are disposed at the unfolded position and that the bedding sheet will be folded when the left and right frames are disposed at the folded position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first conventional hammock assembly; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second conventional hammock assembly; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of a hammock assembly according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrated in an unfolded state; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the preferred embodiment, illustrated in the unfolded state; FIG. 6 illustrates the preferred embodiment in a folded state. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 to  5 , the preferred embodiment of a hammock assembly according to this invention is shown to include a left frame  31 , a right frame  31 , and a bedding sheet  41 . 
     As illustrated, the left frame  31  has a mounting end  31 ″. 
     The right frame  31  has,a mounting end  31 ″, and is disposed opposite to and is pivoted to the left frame  31  about a pivot such that the left and right frames  31  are rotatable relative to each other between an unfolded position (see FIG.  5 ), in which, the mounting ends  31 ″ of the left and right frames  31  are moved away from each other, and a folded position (see FIG.  6 ), in which, the mounting ends  31 ″ of the left and right frames  31  are moved toward each other. 
     The bedding sheet  41  is disposed above the left and right frames  31 , and has two opposite ends  412  respectively connected to the mounting ends  31 ″ of the left and right frames  31  via two pairs of chains  42  such that the bedding sheet  41  will be stretched when the left and right frames  31  are disposed at the unfolded position, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and that the bedding sheet  41  will be folded when the left and right frames  31  are disposed at the folded position, as best shown in FIG.  6 . Each of the chains  42  includes an annular ring  421  sleeved securely on one of the opposite ends  412  of the bedding sheet  41 , and a hook  422  detachably hooked to the mounting end  31 ″ of a respective one of the left and right frames  31 . 
     In this embodiment, each of the left and right frames  31  includes a pair of parallel horizontal ground contact parts  311  that are adapted to be disposed on a ground surface, and a generally U-shaped supporting part  313 . The supporting part  313  has two opposing arm portions  312  that are respectively angled away from the ground contact parts  311 , and a mounting portion  313 ″ that interconnects the arm portions  312  and that defines a respective one of the mounting ends  31 ″ of the left and right frames  31 . The pivot is in the form of an elongated rod  32  that is transverse to and that extends through the ground contact parts  311  of the left and right frames  31 . Preferably, each of the arm portions  312  is formed by two rod sections  316 ,  317  which cooperatively define an obtuse angle therebetween. Each of the arm portions  312  is connected to the mounting portion  313 ″ and the respective ground contact part  311  by plug-and-socket units  38 ,  39  so as to facilitate assembly and detachment thereof. Thus, transport and storage of the hammock assembly is convenient to conduct. 
     The preferred embodiment of the hammock assembly according to the present invention further includes a canopy unit  6  for providing shade to the bedding sheet  41 . The canopy unit  6  includes left and right brackets  33  fixed to the mounting portions  313 ″ of the supporting parts  313  of the left and right frames  31 , left and right support rods  5  respectively extending into the left and right brackets  33 , left and right pivots  51  respectively extending through the left and right brackets  33  and lower ends  52  of the support rods  5  so that each of the support rods  5  is turnable relative to a respective one of the mounting portions  313 ″ between a position of use, in which the left and right support rods  5  stand upright relative to the mounting portions  313 ″ and abut against the mounting portions  313 ″ so as to be prevented from moving toward each other when the left and right frame members  31  are disposed at the unfolded position, and a position of non-use, in which the left and right support rods  5  extend downwardly from the mounting portions  313 ″ (see FIG. 6) when the left and right frame members  31  are disposed at the folded position. The canopy unit  6  further includes a canopy  61  that is disposed above the bedding sheet  41 , and that has two opposite ends  62  respectively and detachably connected to upper ends  53  of the left and right support rods  5  via two sets of hooks  64  and strings  63  so as to shade the bedding sheet  41  from the sun when the left and right frame members  31  are disposed at the unfolded position. Preferably, two pairs of ropes  65  interconnect the opposite ends  62  of the canopy  61  and the opposite ends  412  of the bedding sheet  41  so as to further stabilize the canopy  61  relative to the bedding sheet  41 . 
     A generally C-shaped fastener hook  7  is used for hooking the mounting portions  313 ″ of the supporting parts  313  of the left and right frames  31  when the left and right frame members  31  are disposed at the folded position. 
     With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated in the appended claims.