Improvements relating to Hammocks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1897.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Hammocks.
1, ISAAC EMERSON PALMER, of Middleton, in the County of Middlesex and
State of Connecticut, United States of America, Manufacturor, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My iuvention relates to an improvement in seat attachments for hammocks in
which provision is made for causing a portion of the hammock body to assume
at pleasure a position other than that which it would normally assume when
suspended for the purpose of affording the occupant a seat and leg rest, or, both,
which shall conform to the position which the body of the occupant would naturally
assume when at rest and lying on the back.
With these ends in view, my invention consists, broadly, in a rigid frame
capable of attachment to the hammock body and provided with bearing points for
the hammock body, such that the latter will be caused throughout a portion of
its length-to assume a position to form a natural seat or leg rest or both.
In the accompanying drawings,
.
Figure 1 shows, in side elevation, a seat and leg rest attachment in which both
the seat and leg rest sections are inade adjustable in length and connected in such a
manner as to be made to assume different angles,
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the sent and leg.rest
sections,
Figure 3 is a top plan view,
Figure 4 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the sent and leg rest
attachment, showing a form in which the seat and leg rest sections are fixed
relatively to each other and the leg rest section only made adjustable.
Figure 5 is a similar view, showing the back rest omitted from the seat.
section,
Figure 6 is a modified form in which the seat and leg rest sections are formed
by upholstering or padding on the face of a rigid frame.
Figure 7 represents a form in which the seat and leg rest sections are rigidly
fixed with relation to one another, in which the back and foot rests are omitted and
the seat and leg rest sections non-adjustable as to length,
Figure 8 represents in longitudinal central section a form, in which the hammock
body is folded back after passing around the foot rung, and
Figure 9 represents a top plan view of the same.
Referring to the form shown in Figures 1, 2, 3; the hammock body is denoted
by A aud is provided at its opposite ends with suspension devices of any well known
or approved form; such for example as bunches of suspension loops a connected by
suspension cords a' with suitable supports, not shown.
The attachment for causing the, body of the hammock or a portion thereof to
assume a position which shall be natural and restful for the body of the occupant
when lying upon the back therein consists, so far as the seat sectionis concerned, of
side rails B, B, each made in two sections, denoted by b, b', the one b being
provided with an elongated slot and with an outwardly extending lug b, and the
other section 6 being provided with an inwardly projecting T-shaped lug b*, the
head of the T being adapted to rest, as shown in Figure 2, transversely across

page_text: the elongated alot b in the section 6 when the parts are in the position for use and
the lug being adapted, at the same time, to rest in one of several notches 6*
in the upper edge of the section b'.
The parts b, which constitute the rail B or B are assembled by turning the
parts 6 substantially at right angles to the parts & and then inserting the T heads
of the lugs & through the slots and then turning the parts b back into alignment
with the parts.
In like manner, the side rails of the leg rest section, denoted as a whole by C, C,
each consists of two sections c and e' locked together and capable of longitudinal
adjustment in a manner quite similar to that already described in reference to the
parts b, b'.
The side rails B, B' are rigidly connected together by cross pieces D, D' made
in the present instance flat, and having considerable breadth; the former D being
located between the portion of the rails B, B' which form the seat proper and the
latter D' being located between upward extensions B, B of the side rails to form
a low down back rest. The side rails C, C are connected at the foot by a
rung d and their upward extensions C2, C3 are connected by a rung d¹ to form a
foot rest.
The seat frame and the leg rest frame are hinged together at their adjacent ends,
in the present instance by pivoting their adjacent ends on a cross rung E and they
are held at the desired angle with respect to each other by means of stay rods e,
one on each side of the frame, pivoted at one end to the seat frame and at the
opposite end provided with a hook for engaging, some one of the perforations e
arranged at intervals in the sides of the leg rest frame.
The framework as thus constructed may be attached to the hammock by passing
the body A of the hammock over the rung d' at the foot rest, thence under the
rung d, thence over the rung E, thence over the Hat cross brace D and under the
brace D' and theuce to the point of support. The hammock body will thus have a
bearing at three or more points on the frame and when'suspended, as represented
in Figures 1, 2 and 3, will be forced to assume the angles which the frame assumes,
so that a person seated upon that portion occupied by the seat section, will be
prevented from slipping along down the body of the hammock aud the legs of the
occupant, when so seated, will be allowed to rest naturally upon the leg rest
section of the frame, without bearing the weight at the heels and leaving the leg
intermediate of the heel and the body unsupported, as is common in connection
with hammocksias commonly in use.
In order to give additional support to the framework and at the same time hold
it in various desired adjustments longitudinally of the body of the hammock, I may
provide suspension cords F, F leading from the same supports from. which the
hammock is suspended, or from supports in proximity thereto along the side rails
of the framework. By providing any suitable means for securing the said cords
to the framework at its opposite ends, as for example by providing the frame work
with knobs around the neck of which a half-hitch of the cord F, F may be
taken at pleasure, the frame may be prevented from slipping or changing its
position while in use whatever may be the inclination at which the hammock is.
supported and at the same time the frame may be adjusted to different positions
along the body of the hammock by simply loosening the half hitches and sliding it
aloug the body and then again fastening it. It is obvious that other woll known
devices than the knob and half-hitch might be employed for purposes of attaching
the cords F, F to the framework.
The cords F, F in addition to their funotions of assisting in the support of the
framework and hammock and serving as a practical means for adjusting and holding
the framework in position, also serve at their ends beyond the ends of the framework
as a support for the body of the hammock and hence for the back of the occupant
of the hammock when pressing against the body of the hammock where it lies over
the suspension cords, as shown at the right hand end of Figure 3.
Where it is desired to utilize a simpler form of framework the hinge at the

page_text: adjacent ends of the seat and leg rest section may be omitted and the seat and leg
rest sections formed rigid as shown in Figure 4, where the side rails of the seat and
portions of the leg rest section are denoted by B. In this form, the foot rest
extension, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 is also omitted. In other respects the structurė
and arrangement of the frame, and its manner of attachment to and adjustment.
along the body of the hammock is quite similar to that already described. "
In Figure 5 the back extension of the seat frame is omitted and in place of the
wide, flat. cross brace D, a round rung D is employed. In other respects the
structure is quite similar to that shown in Figure 4.
In the forin shown in Figure 6, the framework consists of straight side rails B
connected by a flat cross brace or back board D, the latter being built up-on its
face by a pad G of suitable material, such for example as hair, cotton or excelsior.
The rails B are further connected by rungs D and d', under which the body of
the bammock passes after passing over the padded portion G. This form serves
to throw the body of the hammock out of its normal position to form seat and leg
rests of such shape as to afford the body a natural rest.
In the form shown in Figure 7, the side rails of the seat and leg rest sections
are each formed in a single piece or rigidly connected, noither seat nor leg sections
are adjustable longitudinally and the back and foot rest extensions are omitted.
In this form, the side rails are denoted by B and they are connected by
rungs D, ds, respectively at the head and foot, and by an intermediate rung E
The hammock body passes over the rung E' and beneath the rung D' and d'. In
this form and also in the form shown in Figures 4 and 5, the angle between the
seat and leg rest sections is fixed, being made originally of such a degree as
experience has found most satisfactory.
lu the form shown in Figures 8 and 9, the framework is supported by the
suspension cords F, F¹ which are attached to the ends of the framework in a
manner quite similar to that herein before described. The hammock body in this
form is passed under the rung D', over the rung E', around the rung ds and then
turned back and passed over the rung E¹ between the said rung and the portion of
the hammock body which has already been passed over the rung. The hammock
body may then be absolutely held against unintentional slipping along the frame-
work by causing said body to be engaged by suitable retaining devices carried by
the framework, in the present instance a number of hooks, G on the rung El are
shown to accomplish this result.
It is obvious that.other slight changes in the form and arrangement of the parts
of the frame and attachment might be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of my invention, hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to
the structure herein shown, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A hammock attachment comprising a frame independent of the body of the
hammock and provided with beariugs for the body of the hammock, the said
bearings being so located with respect to one another that the hammock body
when engaged therewith and suspended will have its natural curve interrupted to
form a seat, substantially as set forth.
2. A hammock attachment comprising a rigid frame provided with bearings for
the body of the hammock, the said bearings being so located with respect to one
another that the hammock body when engaged therewith and suspended will have
its natural curve interrupted to form a seat, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the body of a hammock, of a rigid frame provided with
three or more bearing points for the body of the hammock, an intermediate bearing
point being in a different plane from the bearing points upon opposite sides of it,
whereby the natural curve of the hammock, when suspended is interrupted: to form
a seat, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 4. The combination with the body of a hammock, of a removable frame provided
with three or more bearings for the body of the hammock, an intermediate bearing
being out of the plane of adjacent bearings and suspending.cords engaged with the
framework for holding it in the desired adjustment along the body of the hammock,
substantially as set forth.
5. A hammock attachment, comprising a rigid frame consisting of side, rails
"connected by cross bars or braces, the side rails each. being angular in shape, the
..said cross braces being arranged to form bearings for the body of the hammock
when the hammock is passed under cortain of the braces and over an intermediate
-brace, substantially as set forth.
6. The hammock attachment, comprising a framework having side rails angular
in shape and connected by cross braces and means for adjusting the length of the
side rails, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with the body of the hammock of the hammock attachment,
comprising side rails connected by oross braces, the said side rails being hinged
intermediate of their euds and, means for locking the hinged parts at different
angles to one another, substantially as set forth.,
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.