Abstract
The disclosure includes a hammock made of a flexible piece of material whose ends can be gathered into endpoints where the suspension system is attached so that the hammock can be suspended between two points (trees/posts/etc). The hammock is covered with a flexible material (such as mosquito netting/fabric/etc) so that the hammock is enclosed. On one or both sides of the hammock an adapter panel is attached between the canopy and the hammock body.
Claims
1. A hammock comprising: a hammock body having side edges and end edges; a canopy having a substantially diamond shape, the canopy joining to the hammock body along one of the side edges of the hammock body; an adapter panel with a shape corresponding to the shape of the canopy, the adapter panel having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge spaced apart by a body of the adapter panel, the adapter panel joining to the hammock body along only the first longitudinal edge of the adapter panel, and the adapter panel joining to the canopy along only the second longitudinal edge of the adapter panel, wherein the body of the adapter panel joins the hammock body to the canopy; a shelf formed at an intersection of said canopy joining to said adapter panel, said shelf formed from a portion of said adapter panel; and a foot box formed at an intersection of said hammock body joining to said adapter panel, said foot box formed from a portion of said hammock body.
2. The hammock of claim 1 wherein the second longitudinal edge of the adapter panel is on an opposite side of the adapter panel from the first longitudinal edge of the adapter panel.
3. The hammock of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the canopy comprises netting.
4. The hammock of claim 1 wherein the adapter panel is shaped substantially as an hour glass, having a narrow middle portion and large end portions.
5. The hammock of claim 1 wherein the adapter panel forms a pocket for storage adjacent at least one end of the hammock body.
6. The hammock of claim 1 wherein the adapter panel has a head end and a foot end, the foot end providing foot room.
7. The hammock of claim 6 wherein the foot end of the adapter panel is substantially triangular in shape.
8. The hammock of claim 6 wherein the foot end of the adapter panel is at least partly incorporated into the shape of the canopy.
9. The hammock of claim 1 wherein said adapter panel has one edge conforming to the contour of one edge of the hammock body and an opposite edge conforming to the contour of an edge of the canopy, with the adapter panel, the hammock body and the canopy being attached along the edges.
10. The hammock of claim 9 wherein the edge of the adapter panel attached to the edge of the hammock body conforms to a natural shape of a diagonal position to enable loose edges of the hammock body to assume a desired shape when in use.
11. The hammock of claim 1 wherein the adapter panel is removably attached to the hammock body.
12. The hammock of claim 1 wherein the adapter panel is removably attached to the hammock body by a zipper.
13. The hammock of claim 1 wherein the adapter panel is removably attached to the hammock by hook-and-loop combinations.
14. A hammock comprising: a hammock body gathered at opposite ends to form attachment points for suspension; a canopy attached to at least one side of the hammock body; and an adapter panel comprising a body with opposite longitudinal edges, the body of the adapter panel attached between the edges of the canopy and edges of the hammock body, the at least one adapter panel joining to the hammock body along only one of the longitudinal edges, and the at least one adapter panel joining to the canopy along only the other one of the longitudinal edge, wherein the body of the adapter panel spans between the opposite longitudinal edges of the adapter panel to join the hammock body to the canopy; a shelf formed at an intersection of said canopy joining to said adapter panel, said shelf formed from a portion of said adapter panel; and a foot box formed at an intersection of said hammock body joining to said adapter panel, said foot box formed from a portion of said hammock body.
15. The hammock of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the canopy comprises netting.
16. The hammock of claim 14 wherein the adapter panel is shaped substantially as an hour glass.
17. The hammock of claim 14 wherein the adapter panel has a narrow mid-section and wider portions toward the ends, corresponding to the head and foot ends of the hammock body when installed.
18. The hammock of claim 14 wherein the canopy has a substantially tear-drop shape or a substantially diamond shape.
19. A hammock comprising: a hammock body having side edges and end edges; a canopy having a substantially tear-drop shape, the canopy joining to the hammock body along one of the side edges of the hammock body; an adapter panel with a shape corresponding to the shape of the canopy, the adapter panel having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge spaced apart by a body of the adapter panel, the adapter panel joining to the hammock body along only the first longitudinal edge of the adapter panel, and the adapter panel joining to the canopy along only the second longitudinal edge of the adapter panel, wherein the body of the adapter panel joins the hammock body to the canopy; and wherein the adapter panel twists for use; a shelf formed at an intersection of said canopy joining to said adapter panel, said shelf formed from a portion of said adapter panel; and a foot box formed at an intersection of said hammock body joining to said adapter panel, said foot box formed from a portion of said hammock body.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
(1) FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a prior art hammock body.
(2) FIG. 2 shows an overhead view of FIG. 1 once each end has been gathered into a single point for the attachment of the suspension.
(3) FIG. 3A shows an overhead perspective view of FIG. 2 with an occupant inside.
(4) FIG. 3B shows the shape assumed by the loose edges of the hammock body when an occupant lies in the preferred diagonal position.
(5) FIG. 4 shows a side perspective view of FIG. 3A.
(6) FIG. 5A shows an overhead view of a hammock with the same hammock body as FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, where a constrictive shape is used for the shape of the netting/canopy.
(7) FIG. 5B is an overhead view of an occupied version of FIG. 5A.
(8) FIG. 5C is an outline of the general shape that the edges of the hammock body of FIGS. 5A and B are forced into as a result of the chosen canopy shape.
(9) FIG. 6A is an overhead view of an improved version of FIG. 5A, similar to the hammock of U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,757.
(10) FIG. 6B is an outline of the general shape that the edges of the hammock body from FIG. 6A are forced into as a result of the chosen canopy shape.
(11) FIG. 7A shows the hammock body.
(12) FIG. 7B shows the canopy/netting.
(13) FIG. 7C shows the adapter panel.
(14) FIG. 8A is a plan view of the adapter panel.
(15) FIG. 8B is an overhead view of the panel as it twists in actual use.
(16) FIG. 9A is an overhead view of a hammock made from the components of FIGS. 7A, B and C.
(17) FIG. 9B is an outline of the general shape that the edges of the hammock body of FIG. 9A are forced into as a result of the chosen shapes of the canopy and adapter panel.
(18) FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of FIG. 9A.
(19) FIG. 11 shows an end cross-section view of the hammock of FIGS. 9 and 10.
(20) FIG. 12A is a plan view of one example of another shape that could be used for the adapter panel.
(21) FIG. 12B is a plan view of the corresponding netting shape.
(22) FIG. 12C is an overhead view of the resulting shape that the edges of the hammock body will be forced into.
(23) FIG. 13A is a plan view of one example of yet another shape that could be used for the adapter panel.
(24) FIG. 13B is a plan view of the corresponding netting shape.
(25) FIG. 13C is an overhead view of the resulting shape that the edges of the hammock body will be forced into.
(26) FIG. 14A is a plan view of yet another example of another shape that could be used for the adapter panel.
(27) FIG. 14B is a plan view of the corresponding netting shape.
(28) FIG. 14C is an overhead view of the resulting shape that the edges of the hammock body will be forced into.
(29) FIG. 15A is a plan view of one example of yet another shape that could be used for the adapter panel.
(30) FIG. 15B is a plan view of the corresponding netting shape.
(31) FIG. 15C is an overhead view of the resulting shape that the edges of the hammock body will be forced into.
(32) FIG. 16A is an overhead view of an example of another embodiment of the disclosure.
(33) FIG. 16B shows an overhead view of the resulting shape that the hammock body will be forced into.
(34) FIG. 16C is a plan view of the two adapter panels.
(35) FIG. 16D is a plan view of the corresponding canopy shape.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(36) The disclosed embodiments, various forms of which are illustrated in FIG. 7-16, are improvements over the prior art designs shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
(37) In FIG. 1, the rectangular hammock body (10) has end-edges (12) that will be gathered into single points for the attachment of a suspension system (14). FIG. 2 shows the hammock body (10) of FIG. 1 after these two end-edges (12) have been gathered into points and a suspension system (14) has been attached creating a prior art hammock. Once the end-edges (12) of the hammock body (10) are gathered, folds or wrinkles (16) will often be created. The non-gathered edges (17) remain loose and flexible. Once the suspension line (14) is attached to supports (18) as shown in FIG. 3A, the prior art hammock (15) will support an occupant (20). Notice how the flexible edges (17) of the hammock body (10) will naturally conform to a certain shape when the occupant (20) lies in the preferred diagonal position. This shape is referred to as the natural shape of the diagonal position (23), as shown in FIG. 3B. For a shape to have the benefits of the natural shape of the diagonal position (23), it only needs to generally resemble the natural shape of the diagonal position (23)/FIG. 3B). The important aspects of such a shape being that the corner or obtrusion on one side of the shape protrudes closer to one suspension point, while the corner or obtrusion on the other side of the shape protrudes closer to the opposite suspension point so that the two protrusions are offset from one another (as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) rather than being even with one another as in FIG. 5. Ideally, these corners will correspond to the points on the hammock where the occupant's head and feet protrude the farthest. A shape having offset opposite corners or obtrusions as described above is referred to as generally resembling the natural shape of the diagonal position (27) (such as the shape seen in FIG. 9B), and if a hammock body's (10) flexible edges (17) assume this general shape, the hammock body will have all the benefits thereof, such as a roomy, flat, diagonal lay for the occupant (20). However, if the flexible edges (17) of a hammock body (10) assume a shape that has corners or obtrusions that are even with one another, the diagonal potential of the hammock body (10) will be restricted and comfort will be negatively effected as seen in FIG. 5B. If the corners were instead aligned with the head and feet, the hammock would provide a more comfortable and spacious sleeping area. A shape that does not allow for the protrusion of one's head and feet is referred to as a constrictive shape (25) because head and foot room would be diminished.
(38) As seen in FIG. 4 (which is simply a side perspective view of FIG. 3) the hammock body (10) will tend to conform to the contours (22) of the occupant's (20) body.
(39) As shown in FIG. 5, if the flexible edges (17) of the hammock body (10) are forced into a constrictive shape (25), the ability to lie diagonally (and as result the comfort) will be diminished. This is shown in FIGS. 5A, B and C. In FIG. 5B, the netting canopy is intentionally omitted to better show the hammock fabric and the occupant. The flexible edges (17) of the hammock body (10) are forced into a constrictive shape (25) which, in this case, is dictated mainly by the chosen shape of the mosquito netting canopy (24), and possibly to some extent by the guyline (26) (usually small diameter cordage that is attached and then tensioned via a tent stake (28) or equivalent. Guyline (26) made of static cordage could help to fix the flexible edges (17) into a constrictive shape (25) whereas guyline (26) made from elastic or stretchy cordage would not). As a result of the constrictive shape (25) forced onto the flexible edges (17) of the hammock of FIG. 5, the hammock body (10) no longer facilitates the preferred diagonal position. This loss of diagonal potential reduces roominess, flatness, and comfort as visible in FIG. 5B. However, as shown in FIG. 6, if the flexible edges (17) are allowed to conform to the natural shape of the diagonal position (23/FIG. 6B) as result of a netting canopy (24) of the same shape (23), the hammock body (10) will fully facilitate the preferred diagonal position for the occupant (20) and the comfort and roominess it provides will not be diminished.
(40) As shown in FIG. 7, the current disclosure (FIGS. 7-16) comprises a hammock body (10) with its yet-to-be-gathered end-edges (12), a canopy (24) and at least one adapter panel (31). FIGS. 7A, B and C show a plan view of one embodiment of these components. Also visible is a zipper (30), which is shown in FIG. 7A. As shown in FIG. 7C, this particular embodiment of the adapter panel (31) has two main parts, the shelf portion (32) and the footbox portion (34). FIG. 8 illustrates how the adapter panel (31) will twist in actual use, with FIG. 8A showing the plan view and FIG. 8B showing the overhead view of it twisted as it does in use. The adapter panel (31) will not twist in every embodiment of the disclosure, however this function is merely a result of the particular shapes used. For instance, a different canopy shape could be chosen that would require both portions of the adapter panel (31) to be shelf portions (32), and this embodiment of the adapter panel (31) would not twist. Components of such an embodiment can be seen in FIG. 15 where the netting canopy (24/FIG. 15B) requires an adapter panel (31/FIG. 15A) that is one long shelf portion (32). As seen in FIG. 15C, the flexible edges (17) of the hammock body (10) forms a shape that generally resembles the natural shape of the diagonal position (27), such a shape will provide ample head and foot room to the occupant (20). Another example of an embodiment (43) of the disclosure that is quite different from the current preferred embodiment (41) is shown in FIG. 16. Due to the shape of the canopy (24/FIG. 16D), two adapter panels (31/FIG. 16C) are used; each adapter panel (31) is comprised of only one portion, the shelf portion (32). Notice how the flexible edges (17) of the hammock body (10) still assume the natural shape of the diagonal position (23). FIG. 16A illustrates how these components fit together to form a hammock that is an embodiment of the disclosure (43). FIGS. 15 and 16 show how varied the components of the disclosure can be for various embodiments. Since the adapter panel makes it possible to use virtually any shape for the canopy, it creates a situation where widely varied canopy shapes will in turn create the need for widely varied adapter panels to fit them.
(41) Once the components of FIG. 7 are assembled together, they form a hammock that is a current preferred embodiment of the disclosure (41). (It is a current preferred embodiment for practical reasons; for instance, it has what has been determined to be an optimal combination of features, simplicity, value, effectiveness etc.) Notice how the hammock of FIG. 9A uses a netting/canopy shape other than the natural shape of the diagonal position (23); this canopy shape would be considered a constrictive shape (restrictive in the foot area), but because of the use of the adapter panel (32,34), the edges (17) of the hammock body (10) are still able to assume a shape that generally resembles the natural shape of the diagonal position (27/FIG. 9B), and no restriction is caused. As shown in FIG. 9A, the occupant (20) has the same opportunity for lying diagonal (with the flatter lay and ample head/foot room that it affords) as he does in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, but the designer is not restricted to using a canopy shape similar to that used in FIG. 6 to avoid causing restriction like that caused in FIG. 5. As with the prior art hammock of FIG. 6, the occupant (20) is able to achieve a comfortable diagonal position without restriction, and additionally has the benefit of a large, much-needed, out-of-the-way storage shelf (32), while the designer now has the ability to use many, various, creative shapes instead of being restricted only to canopy (24) shapes that generally resemble the natural shape of the diagonal position (27, FIG. 6, FIG. 12C, FIG. 13C, etc.) FIG. 9A also shows where the components of FIG. 7 are attached together. You can see the seam that attaches the netting canopy (24) to the adapter panel (32/34), which is labeled 36. Also visible is the seam that attaches the flexible edges (17) of the hammock body (10) to the adapter panel (32/34). This seam is labeled 38. And finally, the seam that attaches the netting canopy (24) to the flexible edges (17) of the hammock body (10) is labeled 40. In a current preferred embodiment of the disclosure (41) these components are attached together via sewn seams; however, other means could be used including (but not limited to) hook and loop combinations, zippers, button snaps, sufficient adhesive, some fabric welding, lamination, etc.
(42) In FIG. 10 you see a side perspective view of FIG. 9 with a different perspective of the components 10, 12, 24, 32, 34, 36 and 38. The location of the end cross-section view of FIG. 11 is shown as well. FIG. 11 shows items (42) being stored in the shelf (32) along with the seams (36, 38, and 40) that connect the three main components of FIG. 7 together. The netting canopy (24) hammock body (10) are visible as well as the approximate upper torso cross-section of the occupant (20) to give an idea of where the body rests in relation to the other components.
(43) FIGS. 12 and 13 show embodiments of the disclosure that are very similar in shape and use to the components of the current preferred embodiment (41) shown in FIGS. 7-11. They are shown to help show the relationship between the shape of the canopy (24), the shape of the edges (17) of the hammock body (10), and the shape of the adapter panel (31) needed to join them together. FIGS. 12B and 13B show possible canopy shapes. FIGS. 12C and 13C show the corresponding shapes taken on by the edges (17) of the hammock body (10) when an appropriate adapter panel is utilized. FIGS. 12A and 13A show the necessary adapter panel (31) shape that is needed to connect these three components together. It should be noted that the adapter panel (31) of both FIG. 12A and FIG. 13A will twist in actual use just like the adapter panel (31) of the current preferred embodiment of the disclosure (41) illustrated in FIG. 8B.
(44) FIG. 14 shows another example of an embodiment of the disclosure. It is meant to point out that, although not as practical as a preferred embodiment, the footbox portion (34) of the adapter panel (31) can be excluded from the adapter panel (31) altogether if its shape is incorporated into the shape of the canopy (24) itself (as seen in FIG. 14B). Again, you can see the relationship between the shape of the canopy (FIG. 14B), the shape taken on by the edges (17) of the hammock body (10) and the required shape of the adapter panel (FIG. 14) needed to join them together.
(45) As described in more detail earlier (in relation to FIG. 8), FIGS. 15 and 16 show embodiments of the disclosure that look and act somewhat differently than those embodiments shown in FIGS. 7, 12, 13 and 14. However, its the function of the adapter panel (31) (first explained on p. 3 line 15) that is important. Despite these differences, the shape of the adapter panel (31) is still determined by the two differently contoured edges (the edge of the desired shape (27) of the hammock body (10) and the edge of the canopy (24)) that it will join together.
(46) It should also be noted that while the disclosure is an improvement specifically to end-gathered hammocks, the adapter panel (and its resulting shelf) could be an improvement to non-end gathered hammocks such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 717,119, which is incorporated herein by reference. Also, the current disclosure describes hammock fabric that is generally rectangular; however, some variations to the rectangle would not affect the effectiveness of the disclosed components. Shapes such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,757 could also be improved upon by the disclosed components, so U.S. Pat. No. 6,865,757 is incorporated herein by reference as well. It should also be noted that the embodiments shown have all been hammocks having only two gathered ends, but hammocks with more gathered ends would be improved as well. A hammock designed for two people might have two head ends and one to two foot ends, for a total of 3-4 gathered ends. An example of such a hammock can be seen in the U.S. published patent application 20090265851, so U.S. Patent Application No. 20090265851 is incorporated herein by reference as well.
