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  Hammock support frameRelated Patent Categories: Beds, Hammocks, SupportsHammock support frame description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070017026, Hammock support frame. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to hammocks and, more particularly, to a novel collapsible and portable hammock support. DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART [0002] Hammocks are considered by many to provide more comfort than a traditional couch, chair, futon, or other type of lounger. Hammocks typically have a supporting frame that rests on the ground and supports at two ends a woven fabric hammock in a stable manner such that swinging of the hammock does not cause the support to tip. Such hammocks and their supporting frames often are bulkier and larger than many such prior art loungers, and as such tend to be more difficult to transport. [0003] Several attempts have been made in the prior art to provide for portable and collapsible hammocks and hammock support frames. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,008 to Chen on Aug. 21, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,422 to Bayless on Nov. 16, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,570 to Hsieh on Apr. 21, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,476 to Williams on Feb. 28, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,203 to de Cuadros on Sep. 10, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,652 to Bayless on Apr. 2, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,138 to Rawlins on May 15, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,961 to Pasquariello on Jan. 17, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,394 to Woo on Sep. 8, 1987; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,845 to de Cuadros on Oct. 28, 1980 are all examples of prior art devices featuring portable or collapsible hammocks. [0004] There are degrees of portability, and the aforementioned prior art devices all disclose portable or collapsible hammocks that are relatively more portable than the traditional hammock and hammock stand that is designed for permanent or non-portable placement. However, all of the prior art devices are only slightly more portable and easily transported than the traditional hammock. Many of the prior art devices still weigh a considerable amount and would be difficult to carry, for example, over the sand at a beach or through the woods to the edge of a lake. None of these prior art devices are so portable that they may be carried by the average person easily for even a distance of 500 yards or more. Many of these prior art devices are designed, in fact, to only be carried from a user's garage to their backyard, making them perhaps more storable but certainly not extremely portable. [0005] Therefore, there is a need for an inexpensive hammock and hammock support that is easily transported over a fairly long distance, such as from a user's car to the shore of a body of water some distance away. Such a needed device would be relatively light and compact when in a collapsed position, yet would provide sufficient strength and support for the hammock when in its unfolded, expanded position. The present invention accomplishes these objectives. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present device is a collapsible hammock support, well-suited for carrying when in a collapsed configuration and stored in a nylon or other suitable travel bag. The hammock support comprises a pair of generally parallel horizontal support members, each having connected thereto at each end thereof a pair of upright support members. Each upright support member is connected to one of the horizontal support member by support member connecting means, such as a simple bracket pivotally attached with a support pin to the upright support member. A support brace is further included with each support member connecting means, the support brace pivotally connected at one end thereof with a support pin to the lower end of the upright support. The other end of the support brace has a notch formed therein to engage a notch pin protruding laterally at the end of the horizontal support member. As such, when the support brace is engaged with the notch pin of the horizontal support member, the upright support member is locked in position with respect to the horizontal support member. [0007] The upright support members are each connected to one other upright support member at their upper ends by a pivoting upright support connecting means. Each pivoting upright support connecting means further includes a hook. A hook is attached to the bearing and is formed to hold one end of the hammock. To further limit the angle between the upright support members, a cross brace may be included between the upright support connecting means and the support member connecting means. [0008] In use, the hammock support is removed from its nylon bag and the horizontal support members are laid onto a flat surface. Then the upright support members are pivoted up and away from the horizontal support members until the notch on the support brace of each upright support member may be engaged with the notch pin at each end of each horizontal support member. In this manner the upright support members each form roughly a 120-degree angle with respect to the horizontal support members. Then the horizontal support members are pulled away from each other until the pivoting cross braces are fully extended. At this point the hammock support is in its fully extended position. Each end of the hammock is engaged with one of the hooks so that the hammock is suspended between the hooks over the hammock support. The hammock may now be used. The reverse process is followed when the user desires to collapse the hammock support after use. [0009] The present invention provides a strong and rugged yet light-weight collapsible hammock support that may be readily collapsed and carried some distance relatively easily. The components of the present invention are relatively simple to manufacture and assemble, providing a hammock support that is aesthetically pleasing, strong, light-weight, yet inexpensive. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is perspective illustration of a hammock support of the present invention, illustrating collapsible horizontal and upright support members in an expanded configuration; [0011] FIG. 1B is a perspective illustration of the hammock support, illustrating collapsible horizontal and upright support members in a collapsed configuration; [0012] FIG. 2 is front elevational view of a cross brace of the present invention, illustrating the front and back of the cross brace in an expanded position; [0013] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the invention, taken generally along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1, illustrating a support member connecting means of the present invention in an expanded position; [0014] FIG. 4 is a partial top perspective view of the invention, taken generally along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1, illustrating a pivoting upright support connecting means; and [0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of the hammock support of the present invention, shown supporting a person in a hammock. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0016] The present invention is a collapsible hammock support 10, illustrated in FIG. 1 as in an expanded configuration. The hammock support 10 comprises a pair of horizontal support members 20, each having connected thereto at each end thereof a pair of upright support members 30. Each upright support member 30 is connected to one of the horizontal support member 10 by support member connecting means 60 (FIG. 3). [0017] The horizontal and upright support members 20,30 are comprised of tubular steel or aluminum, preferably powder coated to ensure durability when exposed to outside elements. In one embodiment of the invention, however, such horizontal and upright support members 20,30 are comprised of tubular or cylindrical fiberglass or other relatively strong plastic resin material. As the support members 20,30 together comprise most of the weight of the present invention, preference is given to lighter materials as long as they are strong enough to withstand the strong bending forces generated with each support member 20,30 when supporting a plurality of people in a hammock 15 (FIG. 5). [0018] Each support member connecting means 60 (FIG. 3) preferably comprises a pair of obtuse triangle-shaped plates 61 fixed to one end of one of the horizontal support members 20 with a pair of support pins 65. The horizontal support member 20 in this way is fixed proximate to and parallel to one of the shorter sides of each of the triangular plates 61, the support pins 65 being proximate to corners thereof and traveling through the plates 61 and the support member 20 and tightened to hold the plates 61 firmly to the support member 20. Further, each triangular plate 61 is pivotally attached with one of the support pins 65 near its most acute corner, opposite the side fixed to the horizontal support member 20, to a lower end 32 of one of the upright supports 30. As such, the upright support 30 may pivot with respect to the horizontal support member 30 to take an expanded position, as shown in FIG. 1, where the upright support 30 forms an angle with the horizontal support of roughly 120 degrees. In a collapsed position, shown in FIG. 1B, the upright support 30 lies generally parallel to and proximate to the horizontal support member 20. [0019] A support brace 68 is further included in each support member connecting means 60, the support brace 68 pivotally connected at one end thereof with a support pin 65 to the one end 32 of the upright support 30. The other end of the support brace 68 has a notch 67 formed therein to engage a notch pin 66 protruding laterally at the end of the horizontal support member 30. As such, when the support brace 68 is engaged with the notch pin 66 of the horizontal support member 30, the upright support member 30 is locked in position with respect to the horizontal support member 30. Continue reading about Hammock support frame... Full patent description for Hammock support frame Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Hammock support frame patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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