IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMMOCKS AND IN SUSPENSION ATTACHMENTS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th July 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMMOCKS AND IN SUSPENSION
ATTACHMENTS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from
abroad by Vincent Paul Travers, of New York, in the County and State of New
York, United States of America.
.
This Invention relates to a new construction of hammock, and has for its object
to avoid the costly interweaving of the cords that make up the body of the
hammock, and to substitute therefor a system of longitudinal cords and cross bands
so arranged that the cross bands have tubular openings to allow the longitudinal
cords to be passed through them, in this manner obtaining the proper spacing of
the longitudinal cords and great durability of the entire fabric. The longitudinal
cords of the hammock are at the ends made to converge, and are there continued
into the fastening rope if desired, or secured to a suitable ring, and by their
converging they are brought into oblique positions, whereby they will prevent the
cross bands from slipping out of the position assigned to them respectively.
The Invention also relates to a new attachment for the suspension ropes of
hammocks and the like. The attachment is a metal clasp, which has an eye or
hole at one end and a hook or pair of hooks at the other end, and is intended to
operate as a friction clasp, and slide on the rope that is passed through the eye and
caught in the hook thereof.
In the annexed Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved
hammock; Figure 2 is a top view of a portion thereof, and Figure 3 a cross section
of the same on the line c, c, Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a hammock

page_text: -
suspended with the assistance of the improved clasp; Figures 5, 6, and 7 are side
views of the clasp.
With special reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the letters A, A, represent the
longitudinal cords of the hammock, and the letters B, B, the cross bands of the
same. Each longitudinal cord is a cord of usual construction. The cross bands
are made with tubular openings through them so that the cords A can be passed
through them, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. The tubular passages through the
cross bands are preferably at equal distances apart, as shown, and the cords are
passed through them with the aid of a suitable needle or otherwise. There is
nothing new in weaving the cross bands B with the tubular passages, as such
fabrics are of common construction: The cords A converge at the ends of the
hammock, and are united at the knots a. Beyond these knots the cords may be braided
or twisted into ropes C, by means of which the hammock can be suspended from
suitable supports. But instead of making the ropes C from the continuations of
the cords A, the cords may where they join be united to a ring, to which suitable
fastening ropes may be secured. The cords A converging prevent the cross bands
slipping on them, and the cross bands always hold the cords at the desired distances
apart. In the body of the hammock it is not essential that the cords A should be
parallel to each other, as in Figure 2, as the central bands B may be made longer
than the bands that are nearer to the ends of the hammock, but good results will
also be produced by making the bands B all of equal length.
A hammock constructed on this system will be much more durable than the
ordinary Mexican hammocks that are so much used, and far less liable to get out
of order. If one of the cords A breaks, the hammock can be readily repaired,
whereas with the Mexican or interwoven hammocks, if one of the cords breaks, the
entire structure goes to pieces and cannot well be repaired. And even if one of
the bands B in the improved hammock should be broken, torn, or worn through, it
will be easily replaced by another by simply untying the cords at the knot and
slipping a new band into position.
'
In Figures 5, 6, and 7, the letter D represents the improved clasp; f is the eye
at one end thereof; and b, b, are the hooks at the other end thereof. The rope E
having a loop dat its end is drawn through-the eye f, and the hook or hooks bare
then put through the loop d, as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6. Upon strain
being applied to the rope, the loop end of the clasp D bites on the rope, as shown
by the bend in the rope where it passes-through the oye f-in-Figures 5 and 6, and-
the clasp thus forms a friction holder or button, which will permit the rope to be
made longer or shorter without any difficulty, and hold it secure in the length to
which it has been adjusted.
The Invention is particularly advantageous for use on hammocks, as shown in
Figure 4, where the letter F represents a hammock, and E, E, are the ropes by
which it is suspended from suitable trees or other supports. Here the ropes are
fastened to the trees and passed through eyes at the ends of the hammock, and
then secured to the clasps D as shown. If the hammock is to be adjusted further
up or down, it is very easy to slide the end of each clasp D that has the eye f upon
the rope that passes through the eye, and yet as soon as any weight is placed in the
hammock the eye portion of the clasp will bite on the rope, and ensure positive
safety in sustaining the hammock.
The Invention is equally applicable to fastening other things than hammocks,
and may be applied instead of looping the rope through the eye of the hammock
to adjust the rope that is placed around the tree or post. The attachment or
clasp D is made of suitable metal of suitable size, and preferably with the two
hooks b, b, so that it can be used in the manner shown in Figure 5, but it will be
effective though not quite so good if it is used in the manner shown in Figure 6.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,-
1st. A hammock constructed of longitudinal cords A that converge at the ends,

page_text: and of cross bands B having tubular passages through which the cords A are
drawn, all arranged substantially as herein shown and described.
2nd. A hammock composed of longitudinal cords A and cross bands B, the
longitudinal cords converging at the knots a, and of the ropes C, C, which are
formed by twisting the ends of the cords A beyond the said knots, substantially as
specified.
3rd. The rope clasp D having the eye fat one end and the hook at the other
end, in combination with the rope that is passed loosely through said eye,
substantially as described.
4th. As a new article of manufacture, the rope clasp D made with the eye f at
one end, and the hooks b, b, at the other end, substantially as herein shown and
described.
5th. The combination of the bammock F and rope E with the clasp D having
eye fand hook or hooks b, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of July, A.D. 1881.
15 AT DE
(-1)
M. CLARK.
V