HAMMOCK ASSEMBLY FOR BOATS AND RELATED METHODS

Abstract

A hammock assembly for a sailboat may include a hull with a plurality of sides and a mast connected to the hull. The hammock assembly may include a frame comprising first and second frame members each having a proximal end and a distal end, respective first connectors connecting the proximal ends of the first and second frame members to at least one of the sides of the sailboat in spaced apart relation, and a second connector connecting the distal ends of the first and second frame members together so that the first and second frame members define a V shape. A halyard may be connected between the mast and the frame adjacent the distal ends of the first and second frame members, and a hammock may be suspended between the first and second frame members.

Claims

1. A hammock assembly for a sailboat comprising a hull with a plurality of sides and a mast connected to the hull, the hammock assembly comprising: a frame comprising first and second frame members each having a proximal end and a distal end; respective first connectors connecting the proximal ends of the first and second frame members to at least one of the sides of the sailboat in spaced apart relation; a second connector connecting the distal ends of the first and second frame members together so that the first and second frame members define a V shape; a halyard connected between the mast and the frame adjacent the distal ends of the first and second frame members; and a hammock suspended between the first and second frame members.

2. The hammock assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second frame members comprise telescoping frame members.

3. The hammock assembly of claim 1 further comprising a hammock support member coupled between the proximal ends of the first and second frame members; and wherein a first end of the hammock is coupled to the hammock support member.

4. The hammock assembly of claim 3 wherein the hammock support member comprises a chain.

5. The hammock assembly of claim 1 further comprising a hammock attachment bracket coupled to the second connector and having a hammock attachment point at a first end thereof coupled to a second end of the hammock.

6. The hammock assembly of claim 5 wherein the hammock attachment bracket further comprises a halyard attachment point at a second end thereof opposite the first end.

7. The hammock assembly of claim 1 further comprising a cover connected to the first and second frame members above the hammock.

8. The hammock assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second frame members are pivotable about the first connectors; and wherein the halyard is configured to pivot the frame about the first connectors to raise and lower the distal ends of the first and second frame members between stowed and deployed positions.

9. A hammock assembly for a boat comprising a hull with a plurality of sides, the hammock assembly comprising: a frame comprising first and second frame members each having a proximal end and a distal end; respective first connectors connecting the proximal ends of the first and second frame members to at least one of the sides of the boat in spaced apart relation; a second connector connecting the distal ends of the first and second frame members together so that the first and second frame members define a V shape; and a hammock suspended between the first and second frame members.

10. The hammock assembly of claim 9 wherein the first and second frame members comprise telescoping frame members.

11. The hammock assembly of claim 9 further comprising a hammock support member coupled between the proximal ends of the first and second frame members; and wherein a first end of the hammock is coupled to the hammock support member.

12. The hammock assembly of claim 9 further comprising a hammock attachment bracket coupled to the second connector and having a hammock attachment point at a first end thereof coupled to a second end of the hammock.

13. The hammock assembly of claim 12 wherein the hammock attachment bracket further comprises a halyard attachment point at a second end thereof opposite the first end.

14. The hammock assembly of claim 9 further comprising a cover connected to the first and second frame members above the hammock.

15. A method comprising: connecting proximal ends of first and second frame members of a hammock frame to at least one side of a sailboat in spaced apart relation using respective first connectors, the sailboat comprising a mast; connecting distal ends of the first and second frame members together with a second connector so that the first and second frame members define a V shape; connecting a halyard between the mast and the hammock frame adjacent the distal ends of the first and second frame members; and suspending a hammock between the first and second frame members.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first and second frame members comprise telescoping frame members.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising a hammock support member coupled between the proximal ends of the first and second frame members; and wherein a first end of the hammock is coupled to the hammock support member.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the second connector comprises a through bolt; and further comprising a hammock attachment bracket carried by the through bolt and having a hammock attachment point at a first end thereof coupled to a second end of the hammock.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the hammock attachment bracket further comprises a halyard attachment point at a second end thereof opposite the first end.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the first and second frame members are pivotable about the first connectors; and further comprising raising and lowering the distal ends of the first and second frame members between stowed and deployed positions using the halyard.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hammock assembly for a boat in accordance with an example implementation.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hammock assembly of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 3 is bottom perspective view showing an example attachment configuration for attaching the hammock assembly to FIG. 1 to a boat.

[0013] FIG. 4 is an end view bottom view showing the example attachment configuration of FIG. 3.

[0014] FIG. 5 is an end view showing an example end point connection configuration for the hammock assembly of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view showing the underside of the hammock assembly of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a view of an optional sun cover for the hammock assembly of FIG. 1 attached to the hammock assembly frame members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The present disclosure is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various implementations are shown. However, other implementations in many different forms may be used, and the disclosure should not be construed as limited to the particular implementations set forth herein. Rather, these implementations are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the claim scope to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0018] Referring initially to FIGS. 1-6, a hammock assembly 20 for a boat (a sailboat 30 in the illustrated example) in accordance with an example implementation is first described. As shown in FIG. 1, the hammock assembly 20 attaches to a side of the sailboat 30 and extends outward over the water 35. A hammock 40 is secured to a frame 25 of the hammock assembly 20 so that a person in the hammock hangs over the water 35.

[0019] In the illustrated example of the hammock assembly 20, a first member 22 and a second member 24 are connected together to form a V, as shown in FIG. 2. The proximal ends of the first and second members 22, 24 at the wide part of the V are connected to a side of the sailboat 30, which in the present example is the starboard side. It should be noted that the hammock assembly 20 may be connected to other sides (port, bow, stern) of a vessel, and could event straddle two sides of the vessel in some configurations (e.g., at a corner between sides). The opposite distal ends of the first and second members 22, 24 at the point of the V are secured to the sailboat 30 using a rope (e.g., halyard) 26 from the top of a mast 27 on the sailboat 30.

[0020] In particular, a pair of spaced apart brackets 54 are coupled to the sailboat 30, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each bracket 54 is coupled to a respective proximal end of the first member 22 or the second member 24. A bolt 50 and nut 52 are used in the present example to secure the ends of the first and second members 22, 24 to the respective brackets 54, although other suitable attachment hardware may also be used, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. A chain 60 or other suitable support member is coupled to the distal ends of the first and second members 22, 24 and optionally secured to the sailboat 30 as well. One end 56 of the hammock 40 is coupled to a midpoint of the chain 60 (FIG. 1) using a snap hook (not shown), although other suitable hardware (e.g., an eyelet, etc.) may also be used for connecting the end 56 of the hammock 40 to the boat.

[0021] In some implementations, multiple hammocks 40 may be used with the frame, e.g., one underneath each of the first and second members 22, 24. In this implementation, the connection point for the ends 56 of the hammocks 40 may be on the first and second members 22, 24 (e.g., an eyelet extending downward from each section), or the connection points may be at the boat as described above (chain, eyelets, etc.).

[0022] The other end 58 of the hammock(s) 40 is coupled to a bracket 64 that is positioned between the distal ends of the first and second members 22, 24, which are coupled together at the connection point of the V by a connector 28 (e.g., a through bolt, etc.), as shown in FIG. 5. The rope 26 from the mast 27 is also coupled to the bracket 64. A snap hook may be used to secure a second end of the hammock 40 to the bracket 64, although other suitable attachments or direct tie to the bracket may be used as well.

[0023] The rope 26 advantageously helps distribute the weight of the user between the mast and the attachment brackets 54, which results in less torque on the brackets. In some implementations, the brackets 54 may be hinged so that the first and second members 22, 24 may be raised and lowered by the rope 36 between stowed and deployed positions, if desired. The V-shaped configuration of the first and second members 22, 24 allows for relatively easy access from the boat, and this also helps to keep the hammock assembly 20 pointed straight out from the boat, whether its position is offset from the mast or not.

[0024] In the illustrated implementation, the frame 25 is collapsible for removal and storage. This may be particularly advantageous on certain boats like sailboats, where storage space is relatively limited. In the present example, the first and second members 22, 24 are each telescoping in length. As seen in FIG. 6, the first member 22 includes telescopic sections 22(1) and 22(2). Similarly, the second member 24 includes telescoping sections 24(1) and 24(2). However, it should be noted that the first and second members 22, 24, need not be telescopic in all implementations. By way of example, the first and second members 22, 24 may be fabricated out of a suitable material such as steel or aluminum. The bolts 50 and nuts 52 are removeable from the brackets 54 so that the first and second members 22, 24 no longer extend over the water 35.

[0025] Referring additionally to FIG. 7, the hammock assembly 20 also allows an optional sun cover 70 to be secured to the first and second members 22, 24, as shown. The sun cover 70 may be attached with various types of fasteners, such as hook and loop fasteners, snaps, etc., and may be fabricated out of cloth, canvas, or other suitable materials, for example.

[0026] Many modifications and other implementations will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the foregoing is not to be limited to the example implementations, and that modifications and other implementations that will be apparent to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.