IMPROVEMENTS IN AWNINGS FOR HAMMOCKS COTS. AND CONCHES AND IN FIXING OR SUPPORTING PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Oscar Seydel of Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Merchant and Manufacturer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AWNINGS FOR HAMMOCKS COTS. AND CONCHES AND IN FIXING OR SUPPORTING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Oscar Seydel at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th July 1882.
OSCAR SEYDEL of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Merchant and
Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN AWNINGS FOR HAMMOCKS COTS AND COUCHES
AND IN FIXING OR SUPPORTING AWNINGS TO HAMMOCKS COTS AND COUCHES
"
My improvements are applicable principally to awnings for hammocks and in
fixing or supporting the same, but are also applicable in part to cots and couches.
I will describe my invention in connection with a hammock.
In making an awning according to my invention I make at the end of the awning,
which when the awning is in use, covers the head of the person occupying the
hammock, a curtain or flap consisting either of a continuation of the fabric of which
the awning is made, or of a separate piece of fabric attached to an ordinary awning;
and in some cases I also add side curtains or flaps at or near the head end of the
awning. These curtains or flaps protect the head and upper part of the person
occupying the hammock from the heat and light of the sun and sky. These flaps
or curtains may be extended towards the foot end of the hammock or extend all
round the awning. By means of strings with buttons or other simple fastenings
the curtains or flaps or other parts of the awnings may be secured to the hammock
in the required position and their disturbance by wind prevented. Or the curtains
or flaps may have pockets into which articles or weights can be put and the
curtains or flaps thus steadied. Awnings made according to my invention as
well as ordinary awnings may be steadied by being connected with the hammock
itself.
In making the sticks which are inserted in tucks or gussets at the head and foot
of the awning I form them in several parts. These parts may be hinged together
so that they can fold upon one another in one direction but open on being

page_text: unfolded, into a straight stick or rod. By this construction, the awning when not
in use, can be folded into a small parcel. Instead of jointing the several parts of
each stick together they may be provided with sockets by which they can be
connected together.
The curtain at the head of the awning may be slit or divided at its middle to
permit it to pass the supporting string and lie fat on the awning when desired.
In supporting the awning, the sticks at the ends have each a string passing
through a slot in the tuck or gusset in which it is inserted. This slot permits of
the stick being so placed that the string shall either be situated midway between
the sides of the awning or nearer one side than the other.
Or the slot may be
made in the stick and the supporting string passing through the slot may be moved
to the required position in the said slot to give the desired inclination to the
awning. By this arrangement the awning can either be supported horizontally or
be inclined to either side. This slotted tuck or gusset may be used with sticks of
the ordinary kind.
For the purpose of giving a more effectual protection from the sun's heat the
awning may be made double. In this case the two layers of fabric may not exceed
in weight the ordinary awning and the under one is so connected to the upper one
as to have an air space between them.
Where the hammock is supported by single or cross sticks I elongate the single
stick, or one or both of the cross sticks of each pair, to such an extent as may be
necessary to support the awning at the required height. The awning may either
be attached by its strings to the tops of the lengthened single stick or cross sticks,
or the said strings may pass over the tops of the sticks and be fastened to the
ground or other fixed body, or to the hammock in which last case the person in the
hammock can tighten or slacken the awning without getting out of the hammock.
Or the said strings may pass over the tops of the sticks and terminate in weights
which preserve the required tension in the strings.
The inclination of the awning may also be effected by connecting a string some-
what longer than the stick to each stick of the awning. The strings by which the
awning is supported are connected to the last named strings by sliding knots so
that the supporting strings may be brought opposite to the middle of the awning
sticks or on either side thereof and the horizontal or inclined position of the awning
be thus determined.
The application of my invention to cots and couches differs in no essential respect
from its application to hammocks as herein before explained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Oscar Şeydel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd January
1883.
OSCAR SEYDEL of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Merchant and
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AWNINGS FOR HAMMOCKS, COTS AND COUCHES
AND IN FIXING OR SUPPORTING AWNINGS TO HAMMOCKS, COTS AND COUCHES
"
My improvements are applicable principally to awnings for hammocks and in
fixing or supporting the same, but are also applicable in part to cots and couches.
I will describe my invention in connection with a hammock.
In making an awning according to my invention I make at the end of the
awning, which when the awning is in use, covers the head of the person occupying
the hammock, a curtain or flap consisting either of a continuation of the fabric of
which the awning is made, or of a separate piece of fabric attached to an ordinary
awning, and in some cases I also add side curtains or flaps at or near the head
end of the awning. These curtains or flaps protect the head and upper part of the
person occupying the hammock from the heat and light of the sun and sky. The
Hlaps or curtains may be extended towards the foot end of the hammock or extend
all round the awning. By means of strings with buttons or other simple fastenings,
the curtains or flaps or other parts of the awnings may be secured to the hammock
in the required position and their disturbance by wind prevented. Or the curtains
or flaps may have pockets into which articles or weights can be put and the
curtains or flaps thus steadied. Awnings made according to my invention as
well as ordinary awnings may be steadied by being connected with the hammock
itself.
In making the sticks which are inserted in tucks or gussets at the head and
foot of the awning, I form them in several parts. These parts, may be hinged
together so that they can fold upon one another in one direction but open on being
unfolded into a straight stick, or rod. By this construction, the awning when not
in use can be folded into a small parcel. Instead of jointing the several parts of
each stick together they may be provided with sockets by which they can be
connected together.
The curtain at the head of the awning may be slit or divided at its middle to
permit it to pass the supporting string and lie flat on the awning when desired.
In supporting the awning, the sticks at the ends have each a string passing
through a slot in the tuck or gusset in which it is inserted. This slot permits of
the stick being so placed that the string shall either be situated midway between
the sides of the awning or nearer one side than the other. Or the slot may be
made in the stick and the supporting string passing through the slot may be
moved to the required position in the said slot to give the desired inclination to
the awning. By this arrangement the awning can either be supported horizontally
or be inclined to either side.. This slotted tuck or gusset may be used with sticks
of the ordinary kind.
For the purpose of giving a more effectual protection from the sun's heat the
awning may be made double. In this case the two layers of fabric may not exceed
in weight the ordinary awning and the under one is so connected to the upper one
as to have an air space between them.
Where the hammock is supported by single or cross sticks I elongate the single
stick or one or both of the cross sticks of each pair, to such an extent as may be
necessary to support the awning at the required height. The awning may either

page_text: be attached by its strings to the tops of the lengthened single sticks or cross sticks,
or the said strings may pass over the tops of the sticks and he fastened to the
ground or other fixed body or to the hammock, in which last case the person in the
hammock can tighten or slacken the awning without getting out of the hammock.
Or the said strings may pass over the tops of the sticks and terminate in weights
which preserve the required tension in the strings.
The inclination of the awning may also be effected by connecting a string
somewhat longer than the stick to each stick of the awning. The strings by which
the awning is supported are connected to the last named strings by sliding knots
so that the supporting strings may be brought opposite to the middle of the
awning sticks or on either side thereof and the horizontal or inclined position of the
awning be thus determined.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing
the manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figures 1 and 2 represent in perspective, hammocks provided with awnings
made and supported or fixed according to my invention; Figure 3 represents a
portion of a hammock and the head end of the awning. The other Figures
represent parts of my invention as herein after explained.
a is the hammock and b is the awning supported by the strings c, c, fixed to the
pairs of cross sticks d, d, Figure 1, or to the single sticks or poles or trees e, e,
Figure 2. In Figure 1 one of the sticks of each pair is extended to the extent
necessary to support the awning at the required height as represented.
At the head end of the awning b, is a curtain or flap ƒ (see Figures 1 and 3)
This curtain or flap fmay consist either of a continuation of the fabric of the
awning bor of a separate piece of fabric attached or sewn to, the awning. The
curtain or flap fat the head of the awning may be slit or divided at its middle as
represented in Figure 3 so as to permit it to pass the supporting strings of the
hammock and to be turned up and lie flat on the top of the awning when desired.
In addition to the head curtain or flap f, side curtains or flaps g, g, at the head
part of the awning may be used as represented in Figure 2. Or the side curtains
or flaps may extend towards the foot end of the hammock or extend all round the
awning, but the construction represented in Figure 2 answers satisfactorily for
general purposes.
The awning b may be secured to the hammock a, by means of the strings h, h,
provided with buttons it, it, or other simple fastenings. By passing one or other of
these buttons between the meshes of the hammock, the awning is secured in the
required position and its disturbance by wind prevented. The flaps 9, 9, may be
secured to the hammock by means of buttons or hooks on their edges engaging
with the meshes of the hammock.
Pockets as represented in Figure 2 and marked k, may be made in the curtains
or flaps g, g, for containing weights so as to steady the said curtains or flaps.
The side curtains g, g, may be buttoned or otherwise fastened to the end flap or
curtain (see Figure 2) and when wanted out of the way, the side curtains g, g,
may be thrown over the top of the awning and fastened by a button.
The sticks which are inserted in cases, tucks or gussets at the head and foot of
the awning b are marked i, i. The said sticks are made in three pieces i, i², i³,
hinged together by hinges at 8, k², as represented in the enlarged views Figures 4
and 5, so that they can fold upon one another as seen in Figure 5 or be opened
out into a straight stick or rod as represented in Figure 4. The hinges, k², are
inclined so that the end parts i, 3, of the stick may be folded side by side in the
same plane upon the middle part . Or the several parts of each stick may be
made into a straight stick or separated from one another by means of sockets or
ferrules as illustrated in Figure 7, where the middle part i is furnished with a
socket or ferrule at each end into which the end parts 3, 3, of the stick are
inserted. The extension sticks may be made in two or more than three pieces.
By making the sticks in either of the ways described and illustrated the awning

page_text: when not in use may be folded into a small parcel. The strings c, c, by which the
awning is supported are connected to the middle of the sticks i, i, in the head
and foot of the awning, each string passing through a slot in the case, tuck or
gusset. One of these slots in the tucks or gussets is shewn in Figure 6 and is
marked m. By moving the strings c, c, in the slots m, m, in one or other direction,
the sticks may be moved in their tucks or gussets into such positions as to cause
the awning to take the desired inclination the awning being fixed in the desired
inclination by ineans of the strings h, h. Or the slot may be made in the stick
instead of in the tuck or gusset with nearly the same effect. In this way, the
awning b can either be supported horizontally as represented, or be inclined to
either side.
Instead of supporting the awning by strings connected to the middle of the
sticks in the tucks or gussets, the supporting string may be connected to the ends
of the sticks so as to form a loop to which loop the string or cord c passing to the
pole or support is tied by a fast knot as represented in Figure 8 or by a sliding or
running knot as represented in Figure 9. When a sliding or running knot is used
as in Figure 9, the inclination of the awning may be effected by moving the knot
of the supporting string c, to one or other side of the middle of the loop as indicated
in dotted lines. When the running knot is in its middle position, the awning is
horizontal and when moved to one or other side of its middle position, the awning
is inclined in one or other direction.
The awning can be used as a punkah if raised sufficiently high to avoid touching
the person in the hammock. In using the awning to act as a punkah it is only
necessary to give it an oscillating motion, the awning turning or.oscillating upon
the supporting strings c, c. Or the same object may be attained by suspending the
awning at one edge and swinging the lower part; it then becomes virtually a
punkah.
The application of my invention to cots and couches differs in no essential
respect from its application to hammocks as herein before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawing.
Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention of
Improvements in awnings for hammocks, cots and couches and in fixing or
supporting awnings to hammocks, cots and couches.―
"
First. The combination with awnings of end curtains or flaps and side curtains
or flaps, whether the said end and side curtains or flaps be used separately or in
combination for the purpose and substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. The use of a slot in the case tuck or gusset in which the awning
stick is inserted for the supporting string of the awning to pass through and work
in, for permitting of the desired inclination to be given to the awning, or making a
slot in the awning stick itself for the same purpose as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing; also the modification represented in
Figures 8 and 9 for the same purpose.
Thirdly. Extending one of the cross sticks of each pair of the cross sticks or
extending the single sticks by which the hammock is supported for the purpose of
supporting the awning at the required height as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Fourthly. Constructing the awning extension sticks in several parts hinged
together so as to be capable of folding up for transit and of being unfolded into
a straight stick for use; or joining together the several parts of the awning sticks
by means of ferrules or sockets as herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing,
Fifthly. Fixing the awning to the hammock in any required position by means
of strings or cords and buttons or other fastenings as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.

page_text: Lastly Making the awning of two layers of fabric separated by an air spaco
for the purpose and as herein before described.
In witness whereof I the said Oscar Seydel have hereunto set my hand
and seal this seventeenth day of January in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.