Patent Publication Number: US-7895686-B1

Title: Portable folding hammock

Description:
This application is a continuation in part of non-provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/536,431 currently in art unit 3673 which was filed Aug. 5, 2009 now abandoned Zhaosheng Chen entitled folding hammock, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the field of portable folding hammocks. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     A variety of portable folding hammocks have been created. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 337,792 to Rudd and Manning, issued Mar. 9, 1886 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, a hammock comprises a portable arrangement of cords and ropes in a canopy suspending frame. A device comprising a collapsible, self-supporting hammock assembly with ground engaging stabilizers is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,422 to Bayless, issued Nov. 16, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 342,841 to Campanello, issued Jan. 4, 1994 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, the folding portable hammock comprises a support frame with attached hammock assembly. The ornamental design for a foldable hammock is shown in U.S. Pat. No. D565,861 to Erickson, issued Apr. 8, 2008 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     A folding hammock comprises a rectangular top frame and similar heavier bottom frame, held together by fabric forming the sides as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,240,499 to Sisbower and Pittoni, issued Sep. 18, 1917 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,089,610 to Zhong, issued Aug. 15, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, a portable collapsible hammock has a suspended body support surface and frame consisting of inclined upright arms connected by x-scissor linkages. Also for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 408,166 to Bayless, issued Apr. 20, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, a collapsible hammock comprises a fabric surface suspended over a collapsible frame. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A folding hammock has a frame formed of seven segments including elongated members connected in swivel connection to each other. The frame includes a front segment, a rear segment, a middle segment formed between the front segment and the rear segment and a pair of right segments and a pair of left segments. The pair of right segments and the pair of left segments join the front segment, the rear segment and the middle segment together. The pair of right segments includes a rear right segment and a rear left segment. The pair of left segments includes a rear left segment and a front left segment. Each segment is made of a crossing scissor structure having ‘x’ shaped configuration. A pair of front inside connection members is attached to a pair of front corner posts. The pair of front corner posts defines the bounds of the front segment. 
     A front left inside connection member is connected to the front left segment. Eight front right inside connection member is connected to the front right segment. A pair of rear inside connection members is attached to the pair of rear corner posts. The pair of rear corner posts defines the bounds of the rear segment. A rear left inside connection member is connected to the rear left segment. A rear right connection member is connected to the rear right segment. A pair of feet is mounted to a front end of the folding hammock. 
     The folding hammock may have a canopy mounted on canopy extension members extending from the pair of front corner posts and the pair of rear corner posts. The canopy extension members are in telescopic connection with the pair of front corner posts and the pair of rear corner posts and they may be pulled out of their retracted positions my hand. 
     Preferably, a line is mounted on line clips, wherein the line clips are mounted on the pair of front corner posts and the pair of rear corner posts. One line clip hook can be installed on each of the pair of front corner posts and the pair of rear corner posts. Each of the line clips may terminate with a line clip carabiner. The pair of front inside connection members and the pair of rear inside connection members are oriented to swivel upward from an inside connection member bottom clips that detach from a bottom clip connection area. A canopy can be mounted on canopy extension members extending from the pair of front corner posts and the pair of rear corner posts. The canopy extension members are in telescopic connection with the pair of front corner posts and the pair of rear corner posts. 
     A pair of rear inside connection members are attached to a pair of rear corner posts. The pair of rear corner posts defines the bounds of the rear segment. A rear left inside connection member is connected to the rear left segment. A rear right connection member is connected to the rear right segment. Inside connection joints formed on inside connection member top brackets may provide a deployed angle of side members and the inside connection members that increase beyond 180° when the folding hammock folds into a folded position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the hammock in the deployed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the hammock without the canopy and line. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the hammock. 
     
    
    
     The following call out list of elements may be useful as a guide in referencing the elements of the drawings.
       10  Canopy Extension Member     12  Canopy Extension Member Opening     20  Line Clip     21  Line Clip Hook     22  Line Clip Carabiner     30  Rear Corner Post     31  Clip Connection     32  Rear Inside Connection Member Top Bracket     33  Corner Post Connection     40  Rear Inside Connection Member     41  Rear Inside Top Connection Joint     42  Rear Inside Bottom Connection Joint     43  Rear Bottom Clip Connection Area     44  Rear Inside Connection Member Bottom Clip     50  Hammock Bed     60  Side Rear Double Member     61  Side Rear Single-Member     51  Rear Hammock Bed Section     52  Front Hammock Bed Section     71  Line Corner     72  Line Front Edge     73  Line Rear Edge     74  Line Side Edge     80  Canopy     90  Side Front Single Member     91  Side Bottom Middle Connection     93  Side Front Double Member     92  Front Inside Bottom Connection Joint     100  Front Inside Connection Member     101  Front Inside Top Connection Joint     102  Front Inside Connection Member Top Bracket     103  Front Bottom Clip Connection Area     104  Front Inside Connection Member Bottom Clip     110  Front Corner Post     120  Front Segment     121  Front Segment First Member     122  Front Segment Second Member     150  Rear Segment     123  Rear Segment First Member     125  Rear Segment Middle Joint     154  Rear Segment Second Member     128  Lower Right Rear Corner Connection     129  Lower Left Rear Corner Connection     137  Upper Left Rear Corner Connection     156  Upper Right Rear Corner Connection     140  Middle Segment     141  First Middle Member     142  Second Middle Member     143  Middle Middle Joint     130  Foot     131  Foot Concave     132  Foot Connection     160  Wheel Assembly     161  Wheel Axle   

     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The hammock described can fold up into a bundle of sticks and covered with a bag, or wheeled around for easy transportation. The plurality of elongated members formed as sticks provide structure to the folding hammock. The hammock has a rectangular figure eight structure made of folding members. The folding members comprise seven separate segments analogous to a seven segment display. The seven segments include a front segment toward the feet of the hammock, a rear segment toward the wheels of the hammock, a middle segment between the front segment and the rear segment, and a pair of right segments and a pair of left segments. The pair of right segments include a right rear segment and a right front segment. The pair of left segments include a left rear segment and a left front segment. Each segment is made of a crossing scissor structure where the members are in pin joint swivel connection having ‘x’ shaped configuration. Additionally, a pair of front inside connection members and a pair of rear inside connection members are connected to each of the pair of right segments and the pair of left segments. 
     The canopy extension member  10  extends from a corner post such as rear corner post  30 . A line clip  20  provides a clip connection  31  with a line that extends above the user. The line may be formed in the shape of a sheet such as a fabric shade. The canopy extension member has telescopic extension from a corner post such as rear corner post  30 . The line clip  20  can be mounted on a line clip hook  21  and terminate with a line clip carabiner  22 . 
     When folding, the inside connection members swivel on a top bracket such as rear inside connection member top bracket  32 . The rear inside connection member  40  swivels upward and the rear inside connection member bottom clip  44  detaches from the rear bottom clip connection area  43 . The rear inside top connection joint  41  is formed on the rear inside connection member top bracket  32 . The rear inside bottom connecting joint  42  swivels in relation to the side rear double member  60 . The deployed angle of the side rear double member  60  and the rear inside connection member  40  increases beyond 180° when the folding hammock is folding into a folded position. The rear inside connection member bottom clip  44  engages with the rear bottom clip connection area  43  in a snug fit and can be attached and reattached. The rear bottom clip connection area  43  can be formed as a sheet or sleeve disposed over the rear corner post  30 . The side rear double member  60  is formed of a pair of members parallel to each other and sandwiching the rear inside bottom connection joint  42  as well as sandwiching the side front single-member  90 . Also sandwiched is the side rear single-member  61  so that in combination the members hold up the hammock bed  50  which is formed and a pair of sections, namely a rear hammock bed section  51  and a front hammock bed section  52 . 
     The corner post connection  33  is in swivel connection with the corner post  30 . The lower portion of the foot  130  may include a foot concave  131  for gripping the ground. The foot is preferably in swivel connection on a foot connection  132 . 
     The line held on the line clip  20  forms four corners in a rectangular profile which can be filled in with a net such as mosquito netting, or a shade. The line has a line corner, and forms a line front edge  72 , a line rear edge  73  and a line side edge  74 . The canopy  80  is placed over the line. The line can allow a user to attach additional objects to the hammock such as camping equipment like lights or a compass. 
     The front inside connection member  100  is in similar configuration to the rear inside connection member  40  in that it is connected at a front inside top connection joint  101  to the front corner post  110  just like the rear inside connection member  40  was connected at a rear inside top connection joint to a rear corner post. The front inside connection member  100  also swivels upward during folding on the top connection joint  101  so that it rotates on front inside bottom connection joint  92  and rotates on the front inside top connection joint  101 . When the front inside connection member  100  rotates upward, it releases the front inside connection member bottom clip  104  from the front corner post  110 . Analogous to the rear construction, the front inside top connection joint  101  is connected on the front inside connection member top bracket  102 . The front inside connection member bottom clip  104  is released and reattached to the front bottom clip connection area  103 . 
     The front segment  120  includes a front segment first member  121  and a front segment second member  122  mounted in a swivel connection. The segments are not necessarily attached in a coplanar fashion, but can be offset or bent for better folding. Similarly, the rear segment includes a rear segment first member  123 , a rear segment middle joint  125  connecting a rear segment second member  154 . The rear segment is connected at its bottom portion to the side rear single-members  61  at a lower right rear corner connection  128  and a lower left rear corner connection  129 . The rear segment is connected at its top portion to the upper left rear corner connection  137  and the upper right rear corner connection  156 . The upper left rear corner connection  137  and the upper right rear corner connection  156  connect to the inside bottom connection joint  42  or alternatively to the corner post. 
     The middle segment  140  includes a first middle member  141  and a second middle member  142  connected at a middle middle joint  143 . At each of the four corners of the middle segment  140 , a bracket connects to the middle connections which include the side bottom middle connection  91 , as well as the side top middle connections. The entire structure thus is foldable from a deployed position into a collapsed position where the sticklike rod members are substantially all parallel to each other.